QUALITY CARE FOR OLDER AUSTRALIANS
How Aged Care Assessment
Teams Can Help You (ACATs)
Information supplied by Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care
What can ACAT do?
ACATs help older people and their carers work out what kind of care will best meet their needs when they are no longer able to manage at home without assistance. ACATs provide information on suitable care options and can help arrange access or referral to appropriate residential or community care.
How can an ACAT help me?
ACAT teams are made up of doctors, social workers and other health professionals who can provide a thorough assessment of your care needs and offer advice on suitable and available care options. If care at home is agreed to as the most appropriate type of care, ACATs will be able to refer you to local community services. If residential care is agreed as the best care option, ACATs can approve nursing home or hostel type care and help arrange a place for you in a suitable service.
How does an ACAT assess the type of care I need?
Members of the ACAT will ask a series of questions in order to find the best care option for your particular situation. These questions are designed to work out how much help you need with daily and personal activities. Many people are assessed as needing community care services, such as Home and Community Care (HACC), to help them to stay in their own home for as long as possible. ACATs may also approve a Community Aged Care Package (a package of co-ordinated care services provided in your own home) if you have more complex needs and prefer to remain at home. If you need residential aged care, the ACAT can approve either high level (nursing home) care or low level (hostel) care. Some services will provide high level care only (like some nursing homes). Some will provide low level care only (like some hostels). Others may meet a wider range of care needs, or specialise -- for example dementia care. If you live in a residential care service and you need more intensive care, your needs will be reassessed by the ACAT in conjunction with the aged care provider so that you can continue to receive appropriate care.
How do I find an ACAT to talk to?
ACAT's work closely with doctors, health centres and local hospitals and further information on the ACAT in your area can be obtained from these contacts.
For More Information
Contact the Aged Care Information Line on 1800 500 853 or visit the Aged Care Internet website at http://www.health.gov.au/acc/
QUALITY CARE FOR OLDER AUSTRALIANS
Respite Care and Other Services for Carers
A carer is a person who, through family relationship or friendship, looks after a frail older person or someone with a disability or chronic illness. Carers look after these people in the community or in their own homes.Caring for someone full time is physically and emotionally demanding. So, from time to time, carers need to be able to take breaks from their caring.
Community Respite Services for Carers
A range of community-based respite care is available and includes: - a network of day care centres which provide respite for half a day or full day;
- in-home respite services, including overnight and home care and personal care services providing respite and support in the home; and
- activity programs.
The Government is improving the level of information about the range of respite and other support available to carers through Carer Resource Centres and Carer Respite Centres.
Carer Resource Centres
There is a Carer Resource Centre in each capital city. These Centres give carers support and information on how they can better manage the care needs of the person they are caring for, as well as information about other Government programs that can help them. Carer Resource Centres can be contacted anywhere is the country by calling 1800 242 636.
Carer Respite Centres
Carer Respite Centres have been set up in 58 regions across Australia. These Centres specialise in helping carers find and use respite services in their local area. The Centres work with carers to plan sensible approaches to respite and other support needs and will also provide 24 hour emergency respite cover.Carer Respite Centres can be contacted anywhere in the country by calling 1800 059 059.
Other Carer Support Services
Other services for carers are available through the Home and Community Care program. This program provides services to support frail older people and their carers so that they remain in the community. These services include home-help, personal care, meals on wheels and home nursing (see Information Sheet: Home and Community Care for more details).
Residential Respite Care
Residential respite provides short-term care in residential aged care services for people who are in temporary need of care and who intend to return to the community. Residential respite care may be used on a planned or emergency basis to help with carer stress, illness, holidays or the unavailability of the carer for any reason.
Access to Residential Respite Care
Before entry to the service, a person should be assessed as needing that respite care by an Aged Care Assessment Team.Team telephone numbers may be listed in the Age Page of the telephone book, or may be provided by local doctors or hospitals. Carer Respite Centres can also refer people to their local Aged Care Assessment Team. Respite Centres can be located by contacting 1800 059 059.A person can have up to 63 days of respite care in a financial year with the possibility of extensions of up to 21 days at a time if an Aged Care Assessment Team considers this necessary.Access to community-based respite is based on priority and need. Carers can approach these services themselves or can go to a Carer Respite Centre for help. They may also be referred to a service by the Aged Care Assessment Team.
Fees and Charges for Respite Care
People who enter and receive respite in residential aged care services will pay $23.46 per day*.An advance payment, or "booking fee" may be charged to assist in organising respite. This will secure a respite place. It is a prepayment of respite fee and not an additional payment. This fee however, cannot be more than a full week's fee or 25% of the fee for the entire stay, whichever is the lower.Respite residents do not pay an accommodation charge or accommodation bond. Nor do they have to pay any additional income tested charges.Community-based respite services charge fees according to the type of service being used. This can vary from a sessional fee for a morning or afternoon in a day care centre to an hourly rate for 'in-home' respite.
Other Financial Assistance for Carers
The Government provides financial support to carers through: - Payment Domiciliary Nursing Care Benefit; and
- Carer
The Domiciliary Nursing Care Benefit is a fortnightly allowance paid by the Commonwealth Government. It gives financial assistance to a person caring for a relative or friend at home. This allowance is payable to people who care for someone assessed as requiring nursing home level care -- those who are very frail or have severe dementia for example. It is not income tested.Carer Payment provides income support (similar to a pension) to people caring for someone who is in need of constant personal care or supervision at home for six months or more -- including frail older people. Carer Payment is income tested. It is not paid in addition to an existing pension.
Where do I get more Information?
Information about community-based services is available from: - Carer Resource Centres;
- Community based agencies;
- Home and Community Care service co-ordinators;
- Aged Care Assessment Teams;
- Community nurses;
- State and Territory Health;
- Community Services and Disability Departments; and
- Regional Carer Respite Centres.
Phone numbers may be listed on the Age Page in most telephone directories. Carer Resource Centres can be contacted by calling 1800 242 636. Carer Respite Centres can be contacted by calling 1800 059 059. Information and application forms for Carer Payment are available from Centrelink on 132300. Information and application forms for the Domiciliary Nursing Care Benefit are available from community nurses, some health professionals and the State and Territory Offices of the Department of Health and Aged Care. For information about respite care in residential aged care services phone the Aged Care Information Line on 1800 500 853 or visit the Aged Care Internet website at http://health.gov.au/acc/
* Note: Fees and charges are indexed and may increase in line with changes in the cost of living.
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