ACAT assessment
How to get an ACAT assessment — and what to expect
The ACAT assessment is the free government assessment that approves your loved one for subsidised aged care. Without it, no aged care home place, respite stay or home care package can begin — so it's the first domino to push over.
What an ACAT assessment is
ACAT stands for Aged Care Assessment Team (called ACAS in Victoria). It's a team of health professionals — usually a nurse, social worker or occupational therapist — who assess what level of care a person needs and what government-subsidised services they're eligible for.
The assessment is free, and it can happen at home, in a clinic, or at a hospital bedside. In an urgent hospital situation, ask the social worker to arrange one on day one.
How to arrange one
- Call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422, or register at myagedcare.gov.au
- Answer screening questions about your loved one's health and daily life
- My Aged Care refers you to your local assessment team, who book a visit
- Wait times vary by region — from days in urgent cases to several weeks
How to prepare
- Have the Medicare card, pension details and a medication list ready
- Be honest about the hard days — families often downplay how much help is needed
- Have a family member present to fill gaps your loved one may miss
- Think ahead about what you're asking for: home care, respite or residential care
What happens afterwards
You'll receive a letter confirming the services your loved one is approved for — keep it safe, because aged care homes will ask for it. Approvals don't expire, but if needs change you can be reassessed.
Approval is not a place. The next steps are the means assessment (Centrelink or DVA) and finding a suitable home — which is where we take the workload off your family.
Talk it through with someone independent
Your first consultation is free and there's no obligation. We never take commissions from aged care homes, so our advice is based only on what's right for your family.