*Please note that during COVID-19 restrictions, your My Aged Care assessment may occur over the phone rather than face-to-face.

Once you have registered with My Aged Care, either via their website or over the phone, and have been determined eligible for aged care services, an assessment will be arranged for you, this is called an ACAT assessment.

There are a lot of people waiting for aged care services, so you might have to wait a few weeks before your assessment takes place. If your needs are urgent, make sure you express this. You may be given priority status and your assessment process quickened.

After your first phone call to register with My Aged Care, you may be referred for an assessment.  My Aged Care will organise the assessment with an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) staff member. The ACAT member will travel to your home to assess you, running through a number of questions to determine the amount of support you might need.

During this process, you can have a family member or a friend with you to assist with answering questions, or just for moral support.

Preparing For Your Assessment

Before the ACAT assessor is due to arrive at your home, start to have a think about your current circumstances and write a list the things you are starting to find difficult around the home.  If you have any health problems, make sure you know what these are (some can have tricky medical names, so it might be a good idea to write these down too!).

You can have a family member or a friend with you during your assessment, so make sure you organise this with them beforehand.

If you require a translator or somebody to help you to communicate, the assessor can organise this for you – just make you let them know in advance.

What questions will I get asked during my ACAT Assessment?

Questions may vary depending on each assessor, but the general questions covered during your assessment will be:

• Why do you need aged care support?
• What are your health concerns?
• What can you do?
• What can’t you do?
• What is your mobility capability?

Things to have with you

• You will need your Medicare card and one other form of ID, such as your passport or driver’s licence.
• Any relevant medical information, such as referrals from your doctor
• Have your doctor’s contact details available in case the assessor wants to ask them any questions
• Write down a list of questions you would like to ask the assessor (examples below).

Some questions you might like to ask the assessor

• How long will I have to wait before I can receive some support?
• What level Home Care Package am I likely to get?
• What are the different types of support services available to me?
• What is the difference between Commonwealth Home Support (CHSP) and a Home Care Package?
• Can I access CHSP while I wait for my Home Care Package?
• How easy is it to find support services in my area?
• If I have a carer, what support services are available to them?
• Do the service providers in my area speak my language and cater to different religious and cultural beliefs?
• If I have forgotten to mention something, how do I contact the assessor after my assessment?

For further advice on how to prepare for your ACAT Assessment, speak to a CareAbout Adviser on 1300 036 028.