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How long does an ACAT approval last?
An assessment and approval for care services provided by an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT or ACAS in Victoria) (more information) for high care needs will remain valid indefinitely But you may need to seek a new ACAT Assessment if your care needs change and you were approved for low level care.
Also, you will need to be reassessed by the ACAT if you have been approved but have not received care for the following services:
- Community Aged Care Packages (CACP) - within 12 months
- Low level residential care - within 12 months
- Transition Care Program - within 4 weeks.
If you’re receiving care and support at home, when is reassessment necessary?
You’ll need to be reassessed if your care needs change so that the type of care approved is no longer able to meet those needs or if the ACAT approval is limited to a specific period of care and that period expires.
If you’re receiving short-term care, when is reassessment necessary?
If you have been approved for respite care in an aged care home (high or low care), you will not need to be reassessed by the ACAT as the approval will remain valid indefinitely. However, if your care needs increase beyond a low level of care, you will need to be reassessed to gain approval for high livel respite care in an aged care home.
If you’re receiving care on a permanent basis in an aged care home, when is reassessment necessary?
You’ll need to be reassessed if your care needs change and you need to move from low-level care (more information) to high-level care (more information) unless you have been in an aged care home for a while – in this case the aged care home will assess your needs themselves.
Please note that an aged care home can only assess your needs if you are going to be receiving the new level of care in that same home. If you are moving from a low-level care home to a different high-level care home, then an ACAT assessment may be necessary.
Who else can request a person be reassessed?
People who run aged care homes can ask for a person in their care to be reassessed if they believe:
- the ACAT assessment is not correct after they have assessed your care needs when you enter the aged care home: or
- your care needs have changed and you need to move from low-level care to a high-level care home.
