The first step in accessing aged care

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Entering aged care is often an emotional time for many people and their families. The aged care process can be complex and over recent years, frequently impacted by reforms.

This article, the first in a series of pieces on strategies in aged care, will provide an outline on the types of aged care available and how you can help your clients access this care.

If they don’t already, at some point in the future your clients or their close family members may require access to aged care.

Types of care

Many people access informal networks such as family and friends to help them with their growing aged care needs. People may also choose to access privately funded help. 

There are also a number of Government subsidised aged care options available to clients ranging from help at home to entry to aged care homes such as residential aged care and respite care. 

In-home care

Aged care options providing help at home include:

• The Commonwealth Home Support Programme – provides access to a range of entry level aged care services; and
• Home care packages program – a more comprehensive and co-ordinated package of care and services.

Home care packages are offered on a consumer directed care basis. This gives those using this service more choice for home care services and control over how they are delivered. Providers work with the person receiving the package to develop a home care plan which will meet their needs. 

People generally want to stay in their home for as long as they can and home care packages can help them do this. However, a person’s health may decline, leading to a greater need for care. 

Individuals can access respite care services also known as short-term care. Its primary purpose is to give a carer or care recipient a short-term break from their usual care arrangement for a period of up to 63 days each financial year. Respite care may be given informally by family, friends or neighbours or by formal respite service providers such as a short stay in an aged care home.

Residential care

The highest level of care is residential aged care. This involves a physical move into a residential aged care home. Residential aged care provides 24-hour nursing care and includes help with day-to-day tasks and personal care. 

Accessing aged care

The first step in the process to accessing aged care services either for a home care package or residential aged care is by completing an assessment by the Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) – called an Aged Care Assessment Service (ACAS) in Victoria. It should be noted that a different assessment with a Regional Assessment Service (RAS) is required to access the Commonwealth Home Support Programme. 

These assessments help identify the type of care required. 

What do advisers need to know when a client asks about the ACAT approval process?

The ACAT approval process involves three key steps – request, assessment and result.

Request

ACATs are teams of health professionals, such as nurses and social workers, who provide information, advice and assistance to older people who are having difficulty living at home. 

The ACAT can:

• Assess eligibility for aged care and whether this is best served by home care or residential care.
• Provide information about residential and home care services in their area.
• Help people arrange residential respite care if needed.

Clients can request an appointment by contacting My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 or simply put in a request via the My Aged Care website. 

Assessment

The fully Government funded comprehensive assessment may take up to 1.5 hours. In terms of the assessment process, a member of the local ACAT will make a time to come to the client’s home (or the hospital, if they’re currently in hospital) and talk to them about how well they’re managing in their day-to-day life.  

They will generally ask a series of questions about the person’s health and how much help they need with daily living activities. They will also check regarding a client’s preference for home or residential care. It is often a good idea to have other family members or a carer present for support and to ensure questions are appropriately answered. 

The outcome

A letter will be sent to the assessed client advising the decisions on suitable care. This will indicate approval for one or more of:

• Home care package
• Permanent residential care
• Respite residential care
• Transition care

Approval is generally non-lapsing, although in some cases a time limit may be specified.

If the client is not happy with the ACAT result they have the right to appeal.

Once your client has received their ACAT assessment, the next step for them is to find a suitable provider for aged care services. Be it home care or residential care, they can find this information through the My Aged Care portal www.myagedcare.gov.au.

The portal provides referrals to assessment services, information on residential care services as well as information on aged care fees. 

In searching for a residential aged care place, it is generally recommended that clients or loved ones visit a few homes as each home is different. Visiting these homes will help your clients better assess their room preferences and ultimately give them a sense of what they want from a home. 

For more information please contact your Challenger BDM or visit challenger.com.au/careplus. 

This information is provided by Challenger Life Company Limited ABN 44 072 486 938, AFSL 234670 for licensed financial advisers. It is not intended to be financial product advice or legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. Examples are illustrative only and should not be relied on by individuals when making investment decisions.