Accommodation advice - aged care

The Aged Care Assessment Services (ACAS) are part of the National Aged Care Assessment Program. The assistance available through ACAS means many older people, and some younger people with a disability, can receive advice about:

• Appropriate community support services to enable them to continue living at home, including Community Aged Care Packages (CACPs), Extended Aged Care in the Home (EACH) and EACH Dementia packages
• Access to in-home or residential respite care
• Entering a low-level (hostel) or high-level (nursing home) residential aged care service.

Older people face important lifestyle choices

As people grow older and become more frail, they need to make important choices about the way they want to live. Some people may wish to stay at home with support services, while others may want to move into a hostel or nursing home.

ACAS provide assistance by health professionals

ACAS are teams of health professionals who can assess the total needs of each person. Usually, only one member of the team will visit you in your own home or current living arrangement.

Staff involved in the assessment may include:

• Nurses
• Geriatricians
• Social workers
• Physiotherapists
• Occupational therapists.

Help to assess your options

If you are getting older and your life circumstances are changing, ACAS can help you make well-informed choices about your future lifestyle. The professional staff can:

• Assess what you may need in the future
• Give you information about health issues and services
• Advise you about your options
• Help you to link up with other services.

ACAS can provide information about support in the home

Many frail older people may choose to stay in their homes with appropriate support services. ACAS can help consumers and carers find the services they need including:

• Community packaged care services that provide appropriate support
• Short-term respite care at home or in residential care
• Other health and community support services like day programs and social groups.

Who is eligible?

ACAS can provide assistance to:

• Older people who are becoming or have become frail
• In some circumstances, younger people with a disability
• Carers of older people or younger people with a disability.

Where to get help

• Your doctor
• Aged Care Australia Tel. 1800 200 422

Things to remember

• ACAS provides support to older people who want to stay at home or who are thinking about residential aged care. The ACAS can approve either high-level (nursing home) care or low-level (hostel) care.
• Some younger people with a disability are also eligible for assistance from ACAS.
• You can contact ACAS direct or ask your GP to refer you.
• No fees are charged for ACAS assessments.

You might also be interested in:

• Community services.
  
• Dementia - choosing residential care.
  
• Dementia - coping with placement.
  
• Supported residential services - your rights.
  

Want to know more?

Go to More information for support groups, related links and references.

This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:

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Last reviewed: September 2012

Content on this website is provided for education and information purposes only. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not imply endorsement and is not intended to replace advice from your doctor or other registered health professional. Content has been prepared for Victorian residents and wider Australian audiences, and was accurate at the time of publication. Readers should note that, over time, currency and completeness of the information may change. All users are urged to always seek advice from a registered health care professional for diagnosis and answers to their medical questions.

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Older people can get advice about accommodation from the Aged Care Assessment Services (ACAS). Younger people with a disability needing residential aged care may be assessed by ACAS if more age-appropriate accommodation is not available through Disability Services.

Content on this website is provided for education and information purposes only. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not imply endorsement and is not intended to replace advice from your qualified health professional. Content has been prepared for Victorian residence and wider Australian audiences, and was accurate at the time of publication. Readers should note that over time currency and completeness of the information may change. All users are urged to always seek advice from a qualified health care professional for diagnosis and answers to their medical questions.

For the latest updates and more information, visit www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au

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