Regional Assessment Service (RAS):
MyAgedCare is your point of contact. It has been expanded to make it easier for older people, their families, and carers to access Aged Care information, have their needs assessed, and be supported to access aged care services.
3. Programs
3.1. Regional Assessment Services (RAS)
https://agedcare.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/06_2018/my-aged-care-assessment-manual-june-2018-v1-1.pdf
You are looking at page 8 to 11.
The Commonwealth directly engages 14 RAS organisations to operate the RAS in Aged Care Planning Regions across Australia. Western Australia will commence My Aged Care RAS operations in July 2018. These organisations are responsible for the provision of Home Support Assessment services in those jurisdictions including the assessment of service eligibility for the CHSP.
The RAS may deliver Home Support Assessments through subcontracting arrangements subject to approval from the Department. The RAS is designed to give a clear access pathway and greater choice of entry level services to older Australians who wish to continue living at home and can do so with some support. RAS assess client needs, goals and preferences holistically and refer them to services that will help them achieve the best possible level of function and independence.
The RAS deliver the assessment of client needs independent of provider preferences and ensure clients are referred only to the services that will fulfil their needs and goals.
The RAS and ACAP aim to:
• Deliver timely, nationally consistent assessments of a high quality
• Ensure that older people from special needs groups have equitable access to assessment services
• Ensure that assessments of older people are holistic, incorporating physical, medical, psychological, cultural, social, environmental and wellness dimensions
• Involve clients and their carers, representatives and other service providers (where appropriate) in assessment and care planning processes
• Deliver tailored support plans that improve the health and wellbeing of older people, are based on a client’s goals and current care needs and consider wellness and reablement approaches
• Facilitate access to the combination of Commonwealth subsidised and non-subsidised aged care services that best meet the assessed needs
• Assist clients to remain in the setting most appropriate to their needs and that prevents premature or inappropriate admission to residential care
• Provide short-term linking assistance or care coordination to vulnerable clients to address barriers that affect their access to aged care services.
4. Types of Assessment
4.1. Home Support Assessment (usually by a RAS)
A Home Support Assessment builds on the information collected in contact centre registration and screening, with a further level of detail to determine a client’s eligibility to receive CHSP services. Home Support Assessments are generally conducted face-to-face in the client’s usual accommodation setting.
Home Support Assessments involve collecting information on the client’s:
• family, community engagement and support
• health and lifestyle
• level of function
• cognitive capacity
• psychosocial circumstances
• home and personal safety
• level of complexity and risk of vulnerability
• goals, motivations and preferences.
During the assessment, the assessor and client will work together to establish a support plan that reflects the client’s strengths and abilities, areas of difficulty, and the support that will best meet their needs and goals. This will include the consideration of formal and informal services as well as reablement pathways where appropriate.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
5.3. Consent Assessors must obtain consent, written or verbal, from the client prior to undertaking an assessment.
If the client is not able to give consent, the consent should be obtained from a person who has the role of a regular or authorised representative in My Aged Care. Where there is no representative to assist with consent, the person will need to be referred to an organisation in their state or territory that is responsible for appointing a guardian.
When obtaining the client’s consent to the assessment or before disclosing a client’s personal or protected information to other parties, the Department requires that assessment organisations establish policies and protocols that include the following considerations:
• The assessor should ensure the client understands the purpose for collecting the information and how it will be used and stored, and who the personal or sensitive 13 Version 1.1 information will be collected from (such as contacting a person’s GP, other health professionals, family members or carers)
• The client must be able to make an informed decision about whether they want personal information disclosed to others. When the client consents to an assessment, they are made aware that they are agreeing to their information being collected for the purposes of the assessment and where appropriate with other parties for the purposes of providing aged care or other community, health or social services to the person
• A client’s right to confidentiality must always be respected. If an Assessor considers that maintaining confidentiality will interfere with or compromise their role in relation to a client, the matter should be discussed with the client or their authorised representative
• When sharing client information with other parties, assessors should ensure the information is shared securely and is received by individuals who are authorised to receive the information and on a ‘need to know’ basis
• Ensuring that other parties who receive client information are aware of privacy requirements and have procedures in place to ensure that the client’s information is not misused
• The assessor must record the consent (and any circumstances of any disclosure of a client’s personal information) as ‘Notes’ in the My Aged Care client record. If there is a formal consent or disclosure form completed then it is uploaded in the client record through the ‘Attachments’ function
• Clients are aware that once consent for assessment is gained for the use and disclosure of personal information as authorised by the Act and when the Application for Care approval is finalised, that records need to be retained in accordance with the Archives Act 1983.
The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) website has resources that assist in the process of ensuring compliance with the Privacy Act.
- - - - - - - - - - -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQtsUgeLVWI&feature=youtu.be
My Aged Care - Overview of Home Care Packages
This video provides an overview of how to access aged care services under a Home Care Package. The video guides you through:
• the initial screening and assessment process undertaken by the My Aged Care contact centre
• receiving the outcome of your assessment
• researching providers and working out costs
• being assigned a home care package
• entering into a home care agreement
• managing your services.
SO – if you are seeking access to services for the first time, you will need to contact the My Aged Care contact centre on 1800 200 422.
Their staff will:
· Discuss your aged care needs and determine the appropriate next steps for you
· This may involve providing you with information about aged care or referring you for either a home support assessment - conducted by the RAS (Regional Assessment Service), or a comprehensive assessment conducted by an ACAT (Aged Care Assessment Team); and
· Create a client record for YOU
· The client record will enable appropriate sharing of your information with you, your representatives, assessors and service providers. You will be asked to provide permission to share the client record. Sharing this information will decrease the number of times you will have to repeat Your Story.
· The RAS will also provide short term case management for vulnerable clients with complex or multiple needs.
Contact: My Aged Care website or the My Aged Care contact centre on 1800 200 422.
Direct to Service Referrals:
Where a client has urgent needs which, if not met, would put the client's health and safety at risk, the contact centre will make a referral for appropriate service(s) as a High Priority.
The contact centre will also send a referral for assessment (either Home Support or Comprehensive Assessment) as a high priority. Clients will be informed that any direct referral for urgent services will also require an assessment to determine ongoing needs.
If you are referred to a RAS, they will contact you to arrange a time to speak with you face to face and work out the services you need. This could include domestic care, personal care such as showering, and transport to medical appointments or social activities. During the home support assessment, the RAS assessor will work with you to develop a support plan that reflects YOUR aged care needs, goals and preferences. The RAS assessor will then co-ordinate services through the local providers in your area. The support plan forms part of your client record that can be viewed online via the My Aged Care client portal.
Home support assessments are provided by a local assessor from a Regional Assessment Service or RAS. If you have been referred for a home support assessment, a member of a RAS will contact you. They will arrange a time to visit you at home and talk to you about your current situation.
Let the assessor know if you have any communication difficulties so they can arrange any special assistance you need for your assessment.
The assessor will ask you a few questions to ensure your and their safety when they visit.
The RAS assessor can approve you as eligible for entry level services under the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) to help you be independent in your home and actively participate in your community:
How do you know if you need help?
Not sure? Start here: https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/types-care
01 July 2019
My Health Record
Register for a My Health Record so that you and your doctors, hospitals and other healthcare providers can view and share your health information, to provide you with the best possible care.
What help is available?
You may be eligible to receive services such as:
Help at home
Short-term help
Care in an aged care home
If you find you need ongoing help with day-to-day tasks or health care, an aged care home lets you live in a supported environment where help is available 24 hours a day.
-----------------
RAS
Based upon the client’s needs, there are three priority categories a RAS referral for assessment may be classified outlined in the table below. The RAS are expected to complete 90% of required actions within the timeframes outlined.
Table 1 RAS priority categories:
Priority Level Definition Action referral Complete
High Requires ana urgent assessment which if not met 3 calendar days 10 calendar days after acceptance
may place the client's helath or safety at risk
Medium Not at immediate risk of harm but an assessment 3 calendar days 14 calendar days after acceptance
will be requuired in the short to medium term
Low Sufficient support available at present but the client 3 calendar days 21 calendar days after acceptance
requires an assessment in anticipation of their
future requirements
The Department of Health website for the RAS Quick Reference Guide 3 Managing referrals for assessment and reviews
and ACAT Quick Reference Guide 3 Managing referrals for assessments and support plan reviews
20 June 2019
Assessment in a Hospital Setting
RAS assessments cannot take place in a hospital environment; therefore the RAS assessor should arrange an appointment with the client and schedule it to take place 1-2 days after discharge (where possible). This ensures the client’s current needs and goals are being assessed. A RAS assessor may also refer a client to an ACAT for a Comprehensive Assessment (with the client’s consent) where it is identified the client has more complex needs.
Good Practice Steps/Activities
Assessors must observe the client’s activities to gain insight beyond information that is conveyed just verbally by the client or the representative. Confirm the support the client has available to them:
• that they understand the role of the RAS or ACAT and the assessment process
• confirm client, representatives and their consent (see 5 Privacy and Consent)
• consider informal supports first (e.g. can a family member/neighbour clean your windows).
Use a conversational approach when interacting with the client:
• use a conversational approach when asking questions, rather than simply running through the assessment questions and ticking boxes
• ensure your conversation is undertaken in a manner that is respectful, nonjudgmental and non-confrontational
• know when and how to best use closed, open, direct and indirect questioning
• use motivational interviewing techniques such as expressing empathy and eliciting self-motivational statements
• use active listening skills
• make eye contact with the client to ensure client is engaged with the process (unless culturally inappropriate to do so e.g. Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islanders)
• gauge the client’s level of engagement in the assessment. Look for signs of fatigue or discomfort and adjust approach accordingly. Use appropriate language when speaking with the client:
• use needs-focused language, explaining what could be short-term vs. long-term options to meet their needs
• use language that is positive and not dismissive
• use language that focuses on the client’s strengths, abilities and what they want to achieve and how these could be further supported – a focus on independence
• reflect the conversation back to the client to ensure you have understood what was said/agreed.
Consider wellness and reablement:
• focus on elements of functional tasks that a client can complete, and discuss what specific assistance they would benefit from in order to complete the task
discuss strategies a client can employ in order to more easily manage day-to-day tasks (e.g. transport planning to meet goals around the use of public transport to maintain usual activities)
• explore client’s opportunity for reablement (e.g. can the client benefit from timelimited support to regain their functional capability?).
Collect further information through additional means where appropriate:
• observe the client completing tasks in the home (‘show me’ assessment)
• advise the client what was observed/seen during the task
• use validated tools to collect further information (e.g. Mini Nutritional Assessment).
Consider all care options:
• Consideration should be given to both the availability and the capability of services to meet the client’s care needs
• Care options can include local supports, health and community services, CHSP, home care, residential care, TCP, STRC, respite services, other services subsidised under the Act.
• For home care package approvals, consideration should also be given as to whether the client has an immediate intention to access a package. You should discuss with the client and record them as ‘not seeking services’ if they are uncertain as to whether they need a home care package. You should then advise that if they change their mind at a later date, they can call My Aged Care to update their intentions to seek home care package services.
9.4. Recording Assessment Information
Recording assessment information in a consistent and effective manner will help to ensure that the client’s situation is accurately reflected. Recording assessment information in this manner will also make it more easily readable and usable for people who need to access it in the future. Service providers will benefit from well-recorded, consistent assessment information, as this will allow them to locate and understand the client’s service needs more easily.
Are you receiving assistance from a carer, family member,
friend or someone else? Yes No
What type of care does the carer provide? How often? on the Carer page of the assessment
Are you receiving aged care services? Yes No
Can you walk easily? Without Help or With Some Help or Completely Unable
Can you travel in the community? Without Help or With Some Help or Completely Unable
Can you go shopping for groceries? Without Help or With Some Help or Completely Unable
Can you prepare your own meals? Without Help or With Some Help or Completely Unable
Can you manage your medications? Without Help or With Some Help or Completely Unable
Can you do housework? Without Help or With Some Help or Completely Unable
Can you manage your money? Without Help or With Some Help or Completely Unable
Can you take a shower or have a bath? Without Help or With Some Help or Completely Unable
Can you get dressed? Without Help or With Some Help or Completely Unable
Can you eat your meals? Without Help or With Some Help or Completely Unable
Can you go to the toilet? Without Help or With Some Help or Completely Unable
Can you get out of bed or out of chairs? Without Help or With a little help or With a lot of help or Completely Unable
Note: If YOU want to stay with a preferred Provider, Do Tell the assessment team, as the service referrals will either be sent to services in your order of preference, broadcast to all suitable and available services if not, or given to you via a referral code. These Providers will be notified by an email, minus your identifying information when they have been sent a Referral.
Be aware also that your assessors will not directly refer clients to non-government funded services through the My Aged Care. If you want a particular Service Provider, you have to tell your assessor during your assessment time. Note too that for the first time, aged care service providers will have to give a reason for rejecting a service referral, which will help reduce any possible 'cherry picking' of clients.
The purpose of Support material to assist assessors The purpose of this document (Summary of Changes) is to help service providers and assessors understand the changes to My Aged Care that were introduced on 27 February 2017.
18 June 2019
For the purpose of this document:
• Assessment organisations are defined as:
o The My Aged Care Regional Assessment Service (RAS)
o Aged Care Assessment Teams (ACATs)
• Assessors are defined as:
o Home support assessors, as part of the RAS
o Comprehensive assessors and Delegates, as part of ACATs.
• RAS information pack for assessors. 20 June 2019
The outcome of your home support assessment may include referral to Commonwealth Home Support Programme services, such as:
- = - = - = - = - = - = - = Have you thought of enquiring into a Commonwealth Home Care Support Programme for your loved one?
Funded by the Australian Government, the CHSP is an entry level home help programme for older people who are mostly – but not completely – able to live and cope on their own, and don’t yet need higher levels of support at home. A home support assessment conducted by the Regional Assessment Service (RAS) is required to access Government subsidised support at home.
25 September 2018
Here is a list of services your loved one can receive: https://agedcare.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/05_2018/commonwealth_home_support_programme_service_catalogue.pdf
and YES, it includes that all Essential RESPITE for YOU - the Carer. Look under Care Relationships and Carer Support heading.
What happens if I am currently receiving aged care services?
If you are currently receiving services under the existing Commonwealth HACC, National Respite for Carers, the Day Therapy Centre, or the Assistance with Care and Housing for the Aged programs, you will continue to be supported under the CHSP. You do not need to contact My Aged Care. However, if your needs change and you want to consider different or additional services, you can contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 to receive a referral to the RAS or an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT).
25 November 2020
MyAgedCare is your point of contact. It has been expanded to make it easier for older people, their families, and carers to access Aged Care information, have their needs assessed, and be supported to access aged care services.
3. Programs
3.1. Regional Assessment Services (RAS)
https://agedcare.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/06_2018/my-aged-care-assessment-manual-june-2018-v1-1.pdf
You are looking at page 8 to 11.
The Commonwealth directly engages 14 RAS organisations to operate the RAS in Aged Care Planning Regions across Australia. Western Australia will commence My Aged Care RAS operations in July 2018. These organisations are responsible for the provision of Home Support Assessment services in those jurisdictions including the assessment of service eligibility for the CHSP.
The RAS may deliver Home Support Assessments through subcontracting arrangements subject to approval from the Department. The RAS is designed to give a clear access pathway and greater choice of entry level services to older Australians who wish to continue living at home and can do so with some support. RAS assess client needs, goals and preferences holistically and refer them to services that will help them achieve the best possible level of function and independence.
The RAS deliver the assessment of client needs independent of provider preferences and ensure clients are referred only to the services that will fulfil their needs and goals.
The RAS and ACAP aim to:
• Deliver timely, nationally consistent assessments of a high quality
• Ensure that older people from special needs groups have equitable access to assessment services
• Ensure that assessments of older people are holistic, incorporating physical, medical, psychological, cultural, social, environmental and wellness dimensions
• Involve clients and their carers, representatives and other service providers (where appropriate) in assessment and care planning processes
• Deliver tailored support plans that improve the health and wellbeing of older people, are based on a client’s goals and current care needs and consider wellness and reablement approaches
• Facilitate access to the combination of Commonwealth subsidised and non-subsidised aged care services that best meet the assessed needs
• Assist clients to remain in the setting most appropriate to their needs and that prevents premature or inappropriate admission to residential care
• Provide short-term linking assistance or care coordination to vulnerable clients to address barriers that affect their access to aged care services.
4. Types of Assessment
4.1. Home Support Assessment (usually by a RAS)
A Home Support Assessment builds on the information collected in contact centre registration and screening, with a further level of detail to determine a client’s eligibility to receive CHSP services. Home Support Assessments are generally conducted face-to-face in the client’s usual accommodation setting.
Home Support Assessments involve collecting information on the client’s:
• family, community engagement and support
• health and lifestyle
• level of function
• cognitive capacity
• psychosocial circumstances
• home and personal safety
• level of complexity and risk of vulnerability
• goals, motivations and preferences.
During the assessment, the assessor and client will work together to establish a support plan that reflects the client’s strengths and abilities, areas of difficulty, and the support that will best meet their needs and goals. This will include the consideration of formal and informal services as well as reablement pathways where appropriate.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
5.3. Consent Assessors must obtain consent, written or verbal, from the client prior to undertaking an assessment.
If the client is not able to give consent, the consent should be obtained from a person who has the role of a regular or authorised representative in My Aged Care. Where there is no representative to assist with consent, the person will need to be referred to an organisation in their state or territory that is responsible for appointing a guardian.
When obtaining the client’s consent to the assessment or before disclosing a client’s personal or protected information to other parties, the Department requires that assessment organisations establish policies and protocols that include the following considerations:
• The assessor should ensure the client understands the purpose for collecting the information and how it will be used and stored, and who the personal or sensitive 13 Version 1.1 information will be collected from (such as contacting a person’s GP, other health professionals, family members or carers)
• The client must be able to make an informed decision about whether they want personal information disclosed to others. When the client consents to an assessment, they are made aware that they are agreeing to their information being collected for the purposes of the assessment and where appropriate with other parties for the purposes of providing aged care or other community, health or social services to the person
• A client’s right to confidentiality must always be respected. If an Assessor considers that maintaining confidentiality will interfere with or compromise their role in relation to a client, the matter should be discussed with the client or their authorised representative
• When sharing client information with other parties, assessors should ensure the information is shared securely and is received by individuals who are authorised to receive the information and on a ‘need to know’ basis
• Ensuring that other parties who receive client information are aware of privacy requirements and have procedures in place to ensure that the client’s information is not misused
• The assessor must record the consent (and any circumstances of any disclosure of a client’s personal information) as ‘Notes’ in the My Aged Care client record. If there is a formal consent or disclosure form completed then it is uploaded in the client record through the ‘Attachments’ function
• Clients are aware that once consent for assessment is gained for the use and disclosure of personal information as authorised by the Act and when the Application for Care approval is finalised, that records need to be retained in accordance with the Archives Act 1983.
The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) website has resources that assist in the process of ensuring compliance with the Privacy Act.
- - - - - - - - - - -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQtsUgeLVWI&feature=youtu.be
My Aged Care - Overview of Home Care Packages
This video provides an overview of how to access aged care services under a Home Care Package. The video guides you through:
• the initial screening and assessment process undertaken by the My Aged Care contact centre
• receiving the outcome of your assessment
• researching providers and working out costs
• being assigned a home care package
• entering into a home care agreement
• managing your services.
SO – if you are seeking access to services for the first time, you will need to contact the My Aged Care contact centre on 1800 200 422.
Their staff will:
· Discuss your aged care needs and determine the appropriate next steps for you
· This may involve providing you with information about aged care or referring you for either a home support assessment - conducted by the RAS (Regional Assessment Service), or a comprehensive assessment conducted by an ACAT (Aged Care Assessment Team); and
· Create a client record for YOU
· The client record will enable appropriate sharing of your information with you, your representatives, assessors and service providers. You will be asked to provide permission to share the client record. Sharing this information will decrease the number of times you will have to repeat Your Story.
· The RAS will also provide short term case management for vulnerable clients with complex or multiple needs.
Contact: My Aged Care website or the My Aged Care contact centre on 1800 200 422.
Direct to Service Referrals:
Where a client has urgent needs which, if not met, would put the client's health and safety at risk, the contact centre will make a referral for appropriate service(s) as a High Priority.
The contact centre will also send a referral for assessment (either Home Support or Comprehensive Assessment) as a high priority. Clients will be informed that any direct referral for urgent services will also require an assessment to determine ongoing needs.
If you are referred to a RAS, they will contact you to arrange a time to speak with you face to face and work out the services you need. This could include domestic care, personal care such as showering, and transport to medical appointments or social activities. During the home support assessment, the RAS assessor will work with you to develop a support plan that reflects YOUR aged care needs, goals and preferences. The RAS assessor will then co-ordinate services through the local providers in your area. The support plan forms part of your client record that can be viewed online via the My Aged Care client portal.
Home support assessments are provided by a local assessor from a Regional Assessment Service or RAS. If you have been referred for a home support assessment, a member of a RAS will contact you. They will arrange a time to visit you at home and talk to you about your current situation.
Let the assessor know if you have any communication difficulties so they can arrange any special assistance you need for your assessment.
The assessor will ask you a few questions to ensure your and their safety when they visit.
The RAS assessor can approve you as eligible for entry level services under the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) to help you be independent in your home and actively participate in your community:
- The assessor can make a referral to a service provider on your behalf, including to a particular service provider of your choice.
- If you want to talk to service providers in your area, the assessor can give you the referral code.
- If you decide to take the referral code to a service provider of your choice, you can get help to find providers in your area. Call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 or use the help at home service finder.
How do you know if you need help?
Not sure? Start here: https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/types-care
01 July 2019
My Health Record
Register for a My Health Record so that you and your doctors, hospitals and other healthcare providers can view and share your health information, to provide you with the best possible care.
What help is available?
You may be eligible to receive services such as:
Help at home
- personal care like help getting dressed
- transport
- modifications to your home, such as hand rails or ramps
- nursing, physiotherapy and other care
- meals and help with cooking
- household jobs like cleaning or gardening
- equipment like walking frames
- social activities.
Short-term help
- when you have had a setback and want to get your independence back
- recovery from an accident or illness, including after a hospital stay
- when you or your carer needs a break (respite care).
Care in an aged care home
If you find you need ongoing help with day-to-day tasks or health care, an aged care home lets you live in a supported environment where help is available 24 hours a day.
-----------------
RAS
Based upon the client’s needs, there are three priority categories a RAS referral for assessment may be classified outlined in the table below. The RAS are expected to complete 90% of required actions within the timeframes outlined.
Table 1 RAS priority categories:
Priority Level Definition Action referral Complete
High Requires ana urgent assessment which if not met 3 calendar days 10 calendar days after acceptance
may place the client's helath or safety at risk
Medium Not at immediate risk of harm but an assessment 3 calendar days 14 calendar days after acceptance
will be requuired in the short to medium term
Low Sufficient support available at present but the client 3 calendar days 21 calendar days after acceptance
requires an assessment in anticipation of their
future requirements
The Department of Health website for the RAS Quick Reference Guide 3 Managing referrals for assessment and reviews
and ACAT Quick Reference Guide 3 Managing referrals for assessments and support plan reviews
20 June 2019
Assessment in a Hospital Setting
RAS assessments cannot take place in a hospital environment; therefore the RAS assessor should arrange an appointment with the client and schedule it to take place 1-2 days after discharge (where possible). This ensures the client’s current needs and goals are being assessed. A RAS assessor may also refer a client to an ACAT for a Comprehensive Assessment (with the client’s consent) where it is identified the client has more complex needs.
Good Practice Steps/Activities
Assessors must observe the client’s activities to gain insight beyond information that is conveyed just verbally by the client or the representative. Confirm the support the client has available to them:
• that they understand the role of the RAS or ACAT and the assessment process
• confirm client, representatives and their consent (see 5 Privacy and Consent)
• consider informal supports first (e.g. can a family member/neighbour clean your windows).
Use a conversational approach when interacting with the client:
• use a conversational approach when asking questions, rather than simply running through the assessment questions and ticking boxes
• ensure your conversation is undertaken in a manner that is respectful, nonjudgmental and non-confrontational
• know when and how to best use closed, open, direct and indirect questioning
• use motivational interviewing techniques such as expressing empathy and eliciting self-motivational statements
• use active listening skills
• make eye contact with the client to ensure client is engaged with the process (unless culturally inappropriate to do so e.g. Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islanders)
• gauge the client’s level of engagement in the assessment. Look for signs of fatigue or discomfort and adjust approach accordingly. Use appropriate language when speaking with the client:
• use needs-focused language, explaining what could be short-term vs. long-term options to meet their needs
• use language that is positive and not dismissive
• use language that focuses on the client’s strengths, abilities and what they want to achieve and how these could be further supported – a focus on independence
• reflect the conversation back to the client to ensure you have understood what was said/agreed.
Consider wellness and reablement:
• focus on elements of functional tasks that a client can complete, and discuss what specific assistance they would benefit from in order to complete the task
discuss strategies a client can employ in order to more easily manage day-to-day tasks (e.g. transport planning to meet goals around the use of public transport to maintain usual activities)
• explore client’s opportunity for reablement (e.g. can the client benefit from timelimited support to regain their functional capability?).
Collect further information through additional means where appropriate:
• observe the client completing tasks in the home (‘show me’ assessment)
• advise the client what was observed/seen during the task
• use validated tools to collect further information (e.g. Mini Nutritional Assessment).
Consider all care options:
• Consideration should be given to both the availability and the capability of services to meet the client’s care needs
• Care options can include local supports, health and community services, CHSP, home care, residential care, TCP, STRC, respite services, other services subsidised under the Act.
• For home care package approvals, consideration should also be given as to whether the client has an immediate intention to access a package. You should discuss with the client and record them as ‘not seeking services’ if they are uncertain as to whether they need a home care package. You should then advise that if they change their mind at a later date, they can call My Aged Care to update their intentions to seek home care package services.
9.4. Recording Assessment Information
Recording assessment information in a consistent and effective manner will help to ensure that the client’s situation is accurately reflected. Recording assessment information in this manner will also make it more easily readable and usable for people who need to access it in the future. Service providers will benefit from well-recorded, consistent assessment information, as this will allow them to locate and understand the client’s service needs more easily.
Are you receiving assistance from a carer, family member,
friend or someone else? Yes No
What type of care does the carer provide? How often? on the Carer page of the assessment
Are you receiving aged care services? Yes No
Can you walk easily? Without Help or With Some Help or Completely Unable
Can you travel in the community? Without Help or With Some Help or Completely Unable
Can you go shopping for groceries? Without Help or With Some Help or Completely Unable
Can you prepare your own meals? Without Help or With Some Help or Completely Unable
Can you manage your medications? Without Help or With Some Help or Completely Unable
Can you do housework? Without Help or With Some Help or Completely Unable
Can you manage your money? Without Help or With Some Help or Completely Unable
Can you take a shower or have a bath? Without Help or With Some Help or Completely Unable
Can you get dressed? Without Help or With Some Help or Completely Unable
Can you eat your meals? Without Help or With Some Help or Completely Unable
Can you go to the toilet? Without Help or With Some Help or Completely Unable
Can you get out of bed or out of chairs? Without Help or With a little help or With a lot of help or Completely Unable
Note: If YOU want to stay with a preferred Provider, Do Tell the assessment team, as the service referrals will either be sent to services in your order of preference, broadcast to all suitable and available services if not, or given to you via a referral code. These Providers will be notified by an email, minus your identifying information when they have been sent a Referral.
Be aware also that your assessors will not directly refer clients to non-government funded services through the My Aged Care. If you want a particular Service Provider, you have to tell your assessor during your assessment time. Note too that for the first time, aged care service providers will have to give a reason for rejecting a service referral, which will help reduce any possible 'cherry picking' of clients.
The purpose of Support material to assist assessors The purpose of this document (Summary of Changes) is to help service providers and assessors understand the changes to My Aged Care that were introduced on 27 February 2017.
18 June 2019
For the purpose of this document:
• Assessment organisations are defined as:
o The My Aged Care Regional Assessment Service (RAS)
o Aged Care Assessment Teams (ACATs)
• Assessors are defined as:
o Home support assessors, as part of the RAS
o Comprehensive assessors and Delegates, as part of ACATs.
• RAS information pack for assessors. 20 June 2019
The outcome of your home support assessment may include referral to Commonwealth Home Support Programme services, such as:
- transport,
- social support,
- domestic assistance,
- personal care,
- home maintenance,
- meals,
- home modification,
- nursing care and
- flexible respite services.
- = - = - = - = - = - = - = Have you thought of enquiring into a Commonwealth Home Care Support Programme for your loved one?
Funded by the Australian Government, the CHSP is an entry level home help programme for older people who are mostly – but not completely – able to live and cope on their own, and don’t yet need higher levels of support at home. A home support assessment conducted by the Regional Assessment Service (RAS) is required to access Government subsidised support at home.
25 September 2018
Here is a list of services your loved one can receive: https://agedcare.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/05_2018/commonwealth_home_support_programme_service_catalogue.pdf
and YES, it includes that all Essential RESPITE for YOU - the Carer. Look under Care Relationships and Carer Support heading.
What happens if I am currently receiving aged care services?
If you are currently receiving services under the existing Commonwealth HACC, National Respite for Carers, the Day Therapy Centre, or the Assistance with Care and Housing for the Aged programs, you will continue to be supported under the CHSP. You do not need to contact My Aged Care. However, if your needs change and you want to consider different or additional services, you can contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 to receive a referral to the RAS or an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT).
25 November 2020