Is there a cost for an aged care assessment?
No. There is no cost for an aged care assessment.
What will the aged care assessor want to know?
All aged care assessments follow national guidelines that your assessor will adhere to. During the assessment, your assessor will seek information about your strengths and abilities, areas where you experience difficulty, and the support that will best meet your needs and goals. They may ask about the services you already access, and about the things you rely on for support, including a family member, carer, or Guide Dog!
If your support plan identifies a need for low-level funded supports, your assessor can start referring you directly to service providers who can assist.
What if the aged care assessor does not understand my needs?
Aged care assessors are highly experienced in their field, but some may need additional information to understand how to assist a person who is blind or has low vision. If your assessor is unsure of what support you may need, you can contact our Customer Service team on 1800 804 805.
We’ll reach out to the assessor and let them know about the range of services available to people who are blind or have low vision. Alternatively, ask the assessor to refer you to Guide Dogs Victoria. We’ll be able to review your support plan and ensure that you have everything you’ll need.
Why do I need an aged care assessment if I’m not physically frail?
Aged care assessments are not just about your level of physical fitness. An assessor can also make a referral for vision and mobility services like Occupational Therapy, Orthoptics, and Orientation & Mobility. Your assessor will take a holistic approach to ensuring your independence and safety is future-proofed.
What are low-level funded supports?
Depending on your situation, your assessor can include a range of services in your support plan. These are supports provided on an episodic, or low-level ongoing basis. Following your assessment, your assessor can start referring you directly to service providers for low-level funded supports.
These could include domestic assistance, meals, or personal care services. If it’s appropriate, your assessor can also make referrals for home maintenance or home modifications, and for allied health and therapy services. Many of these services can be provided by your local council. Your assessor will be able to explain whether any of these supports would require a co-payment from you.
What if I need a piece of equipment?
Generally your assessor can only make a referral for equipment valued below $500. If you need a piece of equipment to achieve your independence goals, ask your assessor to refer you to Guide Dogs Victoria. If the equipment exceeds $500 in value, we may still be able to provide it under long-term loan.
What if I need more than low-level funded supports?
If your assessor recognises that you have more comprehensive in-home care needs, then you may receive approval for a Home Care Package. A Home Care Package is a pool of funds that have been allocated to an individual, which can be used to pay for higher level in-home aged care services.
Not every aged care assessor will be able to determine your eligibility for a Home Care Package, so you may be asked to participate in a second assessment, with an assessor who can make that determination.
What is a Home Care Package?
A Home Care Package is a pool of funds that have been allocated to an individual, which can be used to pay for higher level in-home aged care services. Depending on your situation, your assessor may approve you for a Home Care Package at Level 1, 2, 3 or 4.
A Home Care Package (Level 1) provides you with an annual budget up to the amount of $8,250 to pay for basic care needs. Each level increases in value, up to a Home Care Package (Level 4), which has a maximum annual budget of $50,250 for high-level care needs. These funds are used to pay for the services and equipment needed to maintain your independence within your home and community.
A Home Care Package requires ongoing co-payments from you. The exact amount of your co-payments will be determined by an income test, but you can generally expect to pay at least $10.43 per day toward the cost of your in-home care services. This amount is equivalent to 17.5% of the basic age pension.
What happens after I’ve been approved for a Home Care Package?
A limited number of Home Care Packages are available in your local area. Depending on your level of urgency, you may be placed on a waiting list until a Home Care Package becomes available in your area. While you are on the waiting list, your assessor can continue making referrals directly to service providers for any low-level funded supports you may need.
When a Home Care Package becomes available, you will receive a letter from My Aged Care inviting you to activate your funding by selecting a Home Care Package provider. A Home Care Package provider is a registered organisation that manages the funds in a Home Care Package. There are many organisations that you can choose as your Home Care Package provider. You can ask your aged care assessor to help you select a provider suited to your preferences.
When you have selected your preferred provider, they will appoint a Case Manager to coordinate your in-home care and handle any invoices billed to your package. Your Case Manager will meet with you to discuss your in-home care needs, and will provide you with written confirmation of the range of funded supports they will pay for with the funds from your package.
