Aged Care Assessment Team ACAT
March 21, 2014
If you or someone you care for requires access to aged care services, your local Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) may be able to help.
ACAT health professionals are experts in assessing the needs of older people and helping them get the care they need. An ACAT assessment can help identify the type of care services needed to help people to stay at home. It can also provide people with eligibility for respite or permanent care in a residential aged care facility. ACAT ensure people’s wishes are always listened to and considered as part of the assessment.
The assessment is an opportunity to identify options and ensure people can make an informed decision once they have received the outcome of their assessment.
ACAT is referred to as the Aged Care Assessment
Service (ACAS) in Victoria. Jenny Harriott (pictured above right), Community Program Manager for ACAS, Bendigo Health, explains how the service assists older people and their carers.
Who does your service target?
ACAS provides service to frail older people over 65 and their carers, people from Aboriginal backgrounds over 50 and younger people with a disability who are eligible for assessment. There is an ACAS for every part of Australia. My service, the Bendigo ACAS, provides services to a huge area – 14 per cent of Victoria, covering from Macedon to Swan Hill, and Kyabram to Maryborough.
Why should people contact the ACAS?
People should contact an ACAS to identify what level of care will best meet their needs when they are no longer able to manage at home without assistance.
What is involved in the assessment?
For an older person to access Commonwealth funded residential care, residential respite, home care packages or flexible care, they must first be assessed as eligible by ACAS. ACAS can also approve people for Transition Care, which is aimed at improving independence and confidence immediately after a hospital stay. ACAS provides a comprehensive, holistic, medically-based assessment of care needs including information, advice and referral to a range of suitable care options.
What happens after the assessment?
What happens after the assessment depends on the outcome. If the person has been assessed as eligible for residential care or respite, the team will provide them with eligibility documents and information about residential care facilities. If they have been assessed as eligible for a home care package, their documents will include information about package providers in their area.
How long have you worked on the ACAS?
I have worked with ACAS for five years. I enjoy the challenge ACAS provides and the individuality of the needs of each client and their carers.
To find your local ACAT, call My Aged Care 1800 200 422. You can also visit the My Aged Care website www.myagedcare.gov.au
ACAT health professionals are experts in assessing the needs of older people and helping them get the care they need. An ACAT assessment can help identify the type of care services needed to help people to stay at home. It can also provide people with eligibility for respite or permanent care in a residential aged care facility. ACAT ensure people’s wishes are always listened to and considered as part of the assessment.
The assessment is an opportunity to identify options and ensure people can make an informed decision once they have received the outcome of their assessment.
ACAT is referred to as the Aged Care Assessment
Service (ACAS) in Victoria. Jenny Harriott (pictured above right), Community Program Manager for ACAS, Bendigo Health, explains how the service assists older people and their carers.
Who does your service target?
ACAS provides service to frail older people over 65 and their carers, people from Aboriginal backgrounds over 50 and younger people with a disability who are eligible for assessment. There is an ACAS for every part of Australia. My service, the Bendigo ACAS, provides services to a huge area – 14 per cent of Victoria, covering from Macedon to Swan Hill, and Kyabram to Maryborough.
Why should people contact the ACAS?
People should contact an ACAS to identify what level of care will best meet their needs when they are no longer able to manage at home without assistance.
What is involved in the assessment?
For an older person to access Commonwealth funded residential care, residential respite, home care packages or flexible care, they must first be assessed as eligible by ACAS. ACAS can also approve people for Transition Care, which is aimed at improving independence and confidence immediately after a hospital stay. ACAS provides a comprehensive, holistic, medically-based assessment of care needs including information, advice and referral to a range of suitable care options.
What happens after the assessment?
What happens after the assessment depends on the outcome. If the person has been assessed as eligible for residential care or respite, the team will provide them with eligibility documents and information about residential care facilities. If they have been assessed as eligible for a home care package, their documents will include information about package providers in their area.
How long have you worked on the ACAS?
I have worked with ACAS for five years. I enjoy the challenge ACAS provides and the individuality of the needs of each client and their carers.
To find your local ACAT, call My Aged Care 1800 200 422. You can also visit the My Aged Care website www.myagedcare.gov.au