My Aged Care Assessment
- 11 min read
A Quick Snapshot
What it is.
First steps.
How to apply.
Where the assessment will happen.
Some questions they may ask.
Some documents you need to have on hand.
What is a My Aged Care assessment?
If you, or someone you care for is finding it harder to manage at home, My Aged Care assessment is an important first step.
It isn’t an exam. You don’t have to pass or fail.
The assessor is trying to understand what everyday life is like for you now and what support could help you remain safe, independent and living at home.
They’ll talk to you about your needs, circumstances, health, current support and goals.
The assessment helps determine whether you’re eligible for government-funded aged care services, including Support at Home.
The assessment isn’t just about what’s wrong with you. It’s about what would help you live well at home.
What if I'm only at the beginning?
You may be reading this before you’ve even applied. Or perhaps you’ve already applied and are waiting for your assessment.
Maybe you’ve had the assessment and are waiting for the outcome. Or perhaps you’ve already received funding and are trying to work out what happens next.
All of those are perfectly good reasons to talk to My Guardian.
We can explain the aged care process, help you understand your options and, when you’re ready, talk about the support that could fit around your life.
We can explain the aged care process and help you understand your options
Wherever you are in the process, call My Guardian. You don’t need to work it all out before you call.
First things first: how do you apply?
Before you have an assessment, you need to apply for one. There are three main ways to do this.
You can apply online for yourself or on behalf of someone else. You’ll need your Medicare card and the online application takes around 10–15 minutes.
You can call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422.
If you need assistance with the call, accessible support options are available.
If you’d rather speak to someone face to face, you can make an appointment with an Aged Care Specialist Officer.
And you don’t have to do it all by yourself.
A trusted family member, friend or community representative can help you apply.
What happens after you apply?
Once your application is received, an assessment organisation will contact you. They’ll confirm information about your circumstances and needs and arrange a time for your assessment.
They’ll also check whether you need additional support, such as an interpreter or advocacy support.
The assessment is usually carried out in your own home.
Depending on your circumstances, it may also take place at another location or by telehealth or telephone. So you don’t normally have to travel somewhere for your assessment.
What happens during the assessment?
Think of it as a conversation about how you’re managing your life. Your assessor may ask about:
Looking after yourself
- Can you shower, dress, groom and use the toilet independently?
- Are you having difficulty getting in and out of bed or moving around safely?
- Can you prepare meals? Manage the shopping?
- Keep the house clean?
- Do the things around the home that you used to do?
Your health
- What health conditions or symptoms affect your everyday life?
- Do you need help managing medication?
- Are you receiving treatment or support from health professionals?
Getting around
- Can you get to medical appointments? Go shopping?
- Get out into the community?
- Use public transport or drive safely?
Your social life
- Are you able to see friends and family?
- Continue your hobbies?
- Take part in community, cultural or social activities?
The help you already receive
- Who helps you now?
- It might be a partner, daughter, son, neighbour, friend, carer or another service.
Tell the assessor about all of it.
The most important thing to tell your assessor
This is where people sometimes undersell themselves.
“How are you managing?”
And the automatic answer is: “I’m managing.”
But that may not tell the whole story. Think about what happens on the days when things aren’t going well.
Don’t describe your best day. Describe your real life.
If showering is becoming difficult, explain why. If you can cook but find standing at the kitchen bench painful, say so. If you can technically clean the house but it takes you three days and leaves you exhausted, say that. If you’re avoiding going out because getting there has become difficult, tell them.
The assessment is there to understand the support you actually need, not to see how much you can struggle through without help.
Think about what has changed
Before your assessment, ask yourself: What could I do a year ago that I find difficult now?
Perhaps your mobility has changed. Perhaps your balance isn’t what it was. Perhaps you’re finding it harder to manage the house, prepare meals or shower safely.
You’re simply not doing things you used to enjoy.
Or maybe you’re relying more on family or you’re simply not doing things you used to enjoy. These changes are important.
They help your assessor understand why you need support now.
And what do you want to keep doing?
Maybe you want to:
- Stay living in your own home
- Keep seeing your family
- Attend medical appointments independently
- Get back into the community
- Continue a favourite hobby
- Stay active
- Maintain your cultural or community connections
- Give your family carer a break
Tell the assessor what you want to be able to do. Your goals are part of the picture.
What should you have ready?
You don’t need to build a filing cabinet full of paperwork. But having a few things handy can make the assessment easier.
Your identification
Have your Medicare card and one other form of ID available, such as a driver’s licence, passport, healthcare card or DVA card.
Your health information
Have contact details for your GP and other health professionals ready.
Have relevant referrals, medical reports and information about your health conditions available. It can also help to have contact details for your GP and other health professionals.
Your current support
Your questions
Write down the things you’re wondering about.
Don’t rely on remembering everything on the day. Write it down.
Can someone be with me?
Yes.
You can choose to have a family member, friend, carer or registered supporter with you during the assessment.
Having someone there can be particularly useful if they know what support you currently receive or can help you remember things you’d otherwise forget.
If you want someone to be involved in aged care discussions and help you access information or communicate your decisions, you can ask to have them registered as your supporter.
There are also additional support options available for some people, including care finder services, advocacy services and culturally appropriate support.
You don’t have to navigate the assessment alone.
What happens after the assessment?
Once the assessment is complete, the assessor considers your needs and makes recommendations. You’ll then receive an assessment outcome explaining what aged care support you may be eligible for.
And this is where things can become confusing again.
Being assessed is not the same thing as choosing a provider.
What if my life changes?
Your needs aren’t frozen in time just because you’ve had an assessment. If your circumstances change, you can ask for a reassessment.
If your circumstances change, you can ask for a reassessment.
For example, you may have become less mobile, had a significant change in your health, started relying more heavily on family or found that your current support is no longer enough.
Don’t wait until things become overwhelming. If what you need has changed, ask about having your needs reviewed.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a My Aged Care assessment take?
The assessment itself is usually a conversation about your needs, health, daily activities and circumstances. The length can vary depending on your situation. When the assessment is arranged, the assessor can tell you what to expect and how much time to allow.
Where does an assessment take place?
Most assessments take place in your own home, so the assessor can better understand how you’re managing in your everyday environment. Depending on your circumstances, an assessment may also be conducted by telephone, telehealth or at another suitable location.
What questions do they ask?
The assessor will ask about things such as personal care, mobility, preparing meals, managing your home, health, getting around, social activities and the support you already receive. They’ll also want to understand what you would like to keep doing.
Can someone be with me?
Yes. You can have a family member, friend, carer or registered supporter with you. Having someone who knows your circumstances can be helpful and can make sure important information isn’t forgotten.
Can I have an interpreter?
Yes. If you need an interpreter or other communication support, let My Aged Care or the assessment organisation know. Support is available to help you participate in the assessment.
What documents do I need?
Have your Medicare card and another form of identification available. It can also help to have relevant medical information, GP and health-professional contact details, and a list of the support you currently receive.
What should I tell the assessor?
Be honest about how you’re managing in everyday life, including the difficult days. Explain what has changed, what you can no longer do easily, what help you already receive and what you’d like to keep doing. Don’t describe your best day; describe your real life.
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You’ve been assessed. You’ve received your letter confirming your Support at Home funding.
Aged Care fees can feel complicated, especially when you’re trying to understand.
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