assessment may be undertaken. Another suitably qualified person (such as a local health worker) may attend the assessment with the client to assist the assessment process. When first attending the assessment location, assessors should inform the client about the assessment process. This will help to ensure the client has the context to consent to the assessment. Assessors should also inform the client of potential outcomes of the assessment. Setting expectations appropriately in this manner will help assessors to engage clients more effectively during the assessment. 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. For those clients in hospital requiring an ACAT assessment, they should be assessed in the same way as those assessed at home, including consideration of the home environment and social issues. A client will need to be in a stable condition for a hospital based ACAT assessment to take place as this will ensure that the care needs of the client outside of the hospital can be accurately assessed and the most appropriate care services recommended. In hospital assessments, the ACAT must ensure that a carer or other advocate is advised of the assessment in all circumstances, and should be present during an assessment where possible. Approvals for all types of care can be made following an assessment in a hospital environment and there should be no presumption that older people will progress from hospital to residential care, as they may be able to return to their previous living arrangements. This is especially appropriate following an acute incident where the individual may benefit from a reablement approach or reassessment in the home environment after the acute phase. ACATs need to be aware that for a client to be approved for the Transition Care Program the assessment must be conducted while the person is in hospital. Good Practice / Activities be clear to the client who you are and your organisation/role as an assessor on behalf of My Aged Care explain the assessment process and provide the broader aged care context (e.g. the role of My Aged Care, CHSP, Home Care Packages Program, Residential Care)
service and re-entered care within 28 days. Low level residential care Yes – if approved on or before 30 June 2013 and the person did not enter care within 12 months of the approval. Yes – for approvals dated on or before 30 June 2013: if there was a break in care for more than 28 days between 20 March 2008 and 1 July 2014, and after the 12 month entry period had ended. On 1 July 2014 approval for low and high levels of care was removed and care type became permanent residential care which does not lapse. Prior to 1 July 2014, section 23-3(1) of the Aged Care Act provided that an approval lapsed if the person did not enter care within 12 months. From 20 March 2008, a person’s approval for residential care did not lapse if they left a residential care service and re-entered care within 28 days. Permanent Residential care No – this care type does not lapse. This care type was introduced on 1 July 2014 to replace approval for levels of care in permanent residential care (high and low). 1 July 2014, this does not lapse. High level residential respite care No – for approvals dated on or after 1 July 2009. Lapsing of approval for respite care (at any level) was removed on 1 July 2009. Low level residential respite care No – for approvals dated on or after 1 July 2009. Yes – if has been a change to the person’s care needs and they need a higher level of care. Yes – if approved on or before 30 June 2008 and the person did not care within 12 months of the approval. Lapsing of approval for respite care was removed on 1 July 2009. Home Care Level 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 Yes – if there has been a change to the person’s care needs and they need a higher level of care. Home Care for Level 1 and 2 was introduced on 1 August 2013 and replaced Community Aged Care Packages (CACPs) Home Care for Level 3 and 4 was introduced on 1 August 2013 and replaced Extended Aged Care at Home (EACH) and Extended Aged Care at Home – Dementia Removal of broad banding for home care was introduced 27 February 2017. A person who was eligible for Levels 1-2 home care was taken to be eligible for level 2, and a person who was eligible for levels 3-4