Aged Care Assessment Team
Service Description
Aged Care Assessment Teams (ACAT) assess older persons to assist them to gain access to the most appropriate Australian Government subsidised aged care services. The assessment identifies eligibility and approvals for packages of care to assist the person to remain in his/her own home or for respite or permanent care in a residential facility. The person has the choice as to whether he/she wishes to access the home care package, residential respite or permanent care in a facility once approved.
Services Provided
- Comprehensive assessment for older people to determine overall care needs
- Approvals to receive subsidised care services and packaged community care
Eligibility
Target groups for Commonwealth Home Support (CHSP) are:
- Frail older people aged 65 years and over (or 50 years and over for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people) who need assistance with daily living to remain living independently at home and in the community.
- Frail older Commonwealth Home Support clients aged 65 years and over (or 50 years and over for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people) who need planned respite services, to provide their regular carers with a break from their usual caring duties.
The target groups for the CHSP Assistance with Care and Housing (ACH) Sub-Program are:
- Frail older people 65 years and over and prematurely aged people 50 years and over (or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people 45 years and over) who are on a low income and who are homeless (or at risk of homelessness) as a result of experiencing housing stress or not having secure accommodation.
Referral
- Inpatient: Social workers, discharge facilitators
- Community: Self; family or friend with person’s consent, service providers, General Practitioners
Area Serviced
Sunshine Coast Hospital & Health Service (Sunshine Coast Regional Council, Noosa Shire Council and Gympie Regional Council) and Kilcoy town
Age Range
There is no age restriction limiting the delivery of aged care services under the Aged Care Act 1997 (the Aged Care Act). ACAT assessors are responsible for determining whether or not a person, including those under the age of 65, or 50 for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, are eligible to receive aged care services under the Aged Care Act.
Cost
- Nil for assessment
- While the Australian Government subsidises most aged care services there is a cost for Home Care Packages Level 1-4 and entry to Residential Care facilities (See the My Aged Care website for details and calculators)
How to Submit a Referral
My Aged Care* | Telephone Number | Facsimile | Opening Hours |
https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/ | 1800 200 422 | 1800 728 174 | Mon–Fri 8.00 am – 8.00 pm |
From July 1, 2015 the My Aged Care website has been established by the Australian Government to assist people to navigate the aged care system. The Gateway is part of the Australian Government’s changes to the aged care system which have been designed to give people more choice, more control and easier access to a full range of aged care services.
