The Regional Assessment Service (RAS)
The assessment is all part of the process of receiving support offered by the Australian Government. It is done face to face and is certainly nothing to be scared of.
It can be done in your home or at another suitable place. Having your client record at My Aged Care means the RAS team won’t need to ask you to repeat your story. Assessors are appropriately skilled and trained and can identify the right services for a wide range of clients.
The assessment is guided by a document known as the National Screening and Assessment Form. This ensures a consistent and holistic screening process that is focused on you, the client.
This is the time for you to speak up and to state what you are still able to do for yourself and what help you need.
Remember
Remember working through your goals, interests and preferences will help you make informed choices about the assistance you would like. Two sets of ears are always more handy than one so it’s a good idea to have someone else with you.
There are no right or wrong answers, so just be as honest as possible. Some questions you could consider are:
- What is important to me (if this includes things like living in a clean house, or doing the gardening, of having clean windows then mention this.)
- What do I most enjoy doing
- What makes my life enjoyable and meaningful
- What’s good right now and what’s not?
- What’s missing? What would I have if I could choose anything?
- What sort of things might help to improve my day to day life?
- What support do I need to remain safe and well?
- Where and when do I want that support to be available?
- How do I want to be supported and by whom?
- How much could I be asked to contribute to my care costs?
The assessment services can help vulnerable clients who have complex care needs, by linking them to a range of aged care and other services, such as health, housing, disability and financial services.
Jill Donaldson
agedcare101 Physiotherapist
