topic Re: Aged Care Assessment, NSW in Community Spirit

Aged Care Assessment, NSW

azureline** — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 22:32:11 GMT

Can someone tell me the process please? OH is organising this today for his dad, he and his older sis have Enduring Guardianship and POA for him and are about to exercise it.

Younger sis is adamantly against it.

Does anyone know, if they do an assessment do we have to specify what they are assessing him for?

eg: nursing home or care at home? Dementia?

He called on the weekend wanting to know about ebay, as he wanted to buy a $40,000 motorbike for someone 😐 Access to those funds has now been stopped but he will be upset/angry when he finds out.

It's just so sad as he was/is the loveliest caring man.:-(

Re: Aged Care Assessment, NSW

lyndal1838 — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 23:02:35 GMT

Oh Az, I know how you feel...been there, done that for my own Dad.

Your first step will be to speak to his doctor, who will arrange everything. Once the ACAT team swings into action you have very little say in the matter. He will be assessed for the care that they think is appropriate for him.

In our case the assessment was started while Dad was at home and several services were put in place to help him and us, but he had another stroke and ended up in hospital where he had a very bad fall. His assessment was very quickly upgraded from home care to full nursing home care (high dependency).

Re: Aged Care Assessment, NSW

lyndal1838 — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 23:07:41 GMT

Just another tip....if dementia is involved you need to make sure the assessor is aware of it. In our case Dad was an expert at hiding it from outsiders. He was telling the assessors all sorts of tall tales that sounded completely plausible. I made sure that they were given the correct information.

Re: Aged Care Assessment, NSW

janeababe — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 23:19:17 GMT

The Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) Usually a RN, will come and visit with your FIL and Hubby and anyone can be present to ensure a friendly meeting for the relative being assessed.
They usually ask questions such as medical conditions, what they are and are not capable of doing by them selves eg: showering, toileting, preparing meals, cooking meals, taking own medicatioin at correct doses and correct times, attending to appointments by themselves etc..., they are trying to asertain your relatives limit of independance and their capabilities of remaining to live at home.

It is a necessary process and once it is done, then its on file should your FIl suddenly worsen and need higher care.
Before home care / nursing care can be given in the home (in NSW), it requires a current (less than 5yrs) ACAT assessment, so please dont be too concerned. This is a good thing. It will allow the team to give a quality assessment, listen to all your concerns with FIL's condition, its progress and be able to offer you some advice.

Re: Aged Care Assessment, NSW

syrupsmummy — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 23:34:00 GMT

Aged Care Assessment can be done at home. You can ring up to put your name for waiting list and they will ring you up for the set date. Some years back we needed to wait for 6 months to get my MIL assessed. But the system changed a few years back and you can get assessment within a month now. I think the last assessment done (2 years ago) was within 2 weeks after the phone call.

The team will assess your dad's entitlement to go in nursing home, low care, high care etc. It doesn't mean he has to go to nursing home but without the assessment he can't go to nursing home.

The assessment team will discuss choice of care he can have such as home care including carer/nurse home visit etc beside nursing home option.

The assessment team will do a test on him with verbal questions like "who is the priminister of Australia?" What is your address?" "what year is this year?" etc. They also run a test with a pen and a paper such as draw shapes etc. And memory test like "remember 3 words I tell you now and I will ask you what they are later on."

They will interview carer/family member about his health behaviour etc. They also check his house for safety issue for falling etc.

We looked after my MIL here at home till she wasn't capable to stand up and walk. She was assessed as low care to start with and became high care at the second assessment. But we didn't put her in nursing home straight away till it became impossible to look after her at home.

So the assessment doesn't mean nursing home. You can explain to your sister about assessment is find out better options for your dad and more supports provided from NSW health.

Re: Aged Care Assessment, NSW

lyndal1838 — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 23:41:25 GMT

Syrups, if the doctor initiates the assessment it can be done within a couple of days, depending on how urgent it is.

My father's first assessment was done in 2 weeks, but when the hospital requested an upgrade it was done in 36 hours.

Re: Aged Care Assessment, NSW

kengillard — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 23:46:32 GMT

sounds right syrups......my OH has early dementia and has been assessed by ACAT to allow home care services at a gov. funded discount. He has an appt with the Memory Clinic in March when they will assess his progress/or lack of it and we'll go from there.

Just ask your/his GP, and they'll advise you of the steps, Az. It's all very emotional, so be prepared for that. OH mum had dementia and ended up in a nursing home.

Re: Aged Care Assessment, NSW

polksaladallie — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 00:15:58 GMT

Google, Azure, there is a wealth of information available. In Queensland there are several agencies which provide information, and are very helpful, so I would assume it is the same in NSW.

Re: Aged Care Assessment, NSW

azureline** — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 01:26:03 GMT

Thank you all, OH called his Dr yesterday, she said it is not her area of responsibility. OH called ACAT this morning who said OH cannot authorise an assessment?? only his dad can. OH and his older sister have an Enduring Guardianship which clearly says otherwise as Dad knew this might happen a year ago.

So, just called the person who comes to him daily, who said he had an assessment last April and is now due for another and she will arrange it. I don't know which dept she is from and forgot to ask. Problem is, the younger sister will obstruct (as she is a control freak) and wants everything done to suit her, not Dad. (she wants to move in and be his carer but Dad made it clear a year ago to his legal guy that this was not an option, under any circumstances.)

My feelings are, she could care for his physical needs but not his emotional, psychological or social needs

My biggest fear is one day he will walk out of the house and get lost.

Now my OH says he is going to lease our business out and go to live with his dad. The opposite applies here, he could not take care of dad's physical needs.

I hate dementia!!!!

Re: Aged Care Assessment, NSW

kengillard — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 01:35:46 GMT

If a person lives with another person as their carer for any length of time, then that person has certain legal rights to a share of the will or the proceeds of the house in which they lived in to care to the patient......so I'd check that out with the legal advisor

Re: Aged Care Assessment, NSW

kengillard — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 01:37:24 GMT

Believe me Az...I hate it too...it's certainly not much fun watching your partner slowing gettting worse and not quite knowing if and when to do anything about it.

Re: Aged Care Assessment, NSW

azureline** — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 02:11:37 GMT

If a person lives with another person as their carer for any length of time, then that person has certain legal rights to a share of the will or the proceeds of the house in which they lived in to care to the patient......so I'd check that out with the legal advisor

yes, that is what she is hoping for, no doubt 😐 We all think that the money needs to be available for him, to make him comfortable for the rest of HIS life, no one elses. The legal guy says the will is stitched up as are dad's wishes.

I feel for you Gill:-x.... and I am dreading watching it happen.

Re: Aged Care Assessment, NSW

lyndal1838 — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 03:24:22 GMT

If a person lives with another person as their carer for any length of time, then that person has certain legal rights to a share of the will or the proceeds of the house in which they lived in to care to the patient......so I'd check that out with the legal advisor

Not only do they have certain legal rights, but in many cases they can over-ride a will, no matter what your FIL has in place.

I know of a case where a grand-daughter moved in with her grandmother to be on hand if needed. When the old lady eventually went into a nursing home it was ruled that the family had to pay the fees as the granddaughter could not be evicted in order to sell or let the house to pay them.

Az, if your FIL has already been assessed your OH is quite entitled to contact ACAT himself and request another one. If he has someone coming in regularly then obviously he has had some sort of assessment. All you need to do now is find out what hospital the ACAT team is attached to and contact them direct and request a review.

Re: Aged Care Assessment, NSW

azureline** — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 03:28:41 GMT

Thanks Lyndal,:-x I will get him to call them directly. There is a lot of info online but nothing seems clear.

Both MIL and FIL have always said no one can ever live in their home, so I feel it is wrong for anyone to do so, my OH included. I believe for his own security and his comfort as well as mental health, he should be in a facility. He has plenty of family to visit every day.

Re: Aged Care Assessment, NSW

katydidthat — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 04:27:16 GMT

Azureline, I'm sure you've read this site, but just in case ...

http://www.agedcareconnect.com.au/aged_care_assessment_team_nsw.php

You might want to give Legal Aid, NSW a call on their free advice line to double check the legal issues.

Re: Aged Care Assessment, NSW

izabsmiling — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 04:47:40 GMT

Hi Az, I hope that the advice you have been given is helpful.There has been some progress with the ACAT assessment and POA since your last thread.All I can do is wish you all thevery best :-x

Re: Aged Care Assessment, NSW

nicnacs_4u — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 04:54:32 GMT

Not only do they have certain legal rights, but in many cases they can over-ride a will, no matter what your FIL has in place.

I know of a case where a grand-daughter moved in with her grandmother to be on hand if needed. When the old lady eventually went into a nursing home it was ruled that the family had to pay the fees as the granddaughter could not be evicted in order to sell or let the house to pay them.

Az, if your FIL has already been assessed your OH is quite entitled to contact ACAT himself and request another one. If he has someone coming in regularly then obviously he has had some sort of assessment. All you need to do now is find out what hospital the ACAT team is attached to and contact them direct and request a review.

Hi Lyndal when you said above "the family had to pay the fees"do you mean the bond or the daily fee cost?Someone I know actually seperated and her OH went to live with her mother so that they didn`t have to sell the house for a bond..I don`t know what happened eventually as her OH passed away suddenly..Just a hint az when you get your FIL finally assessed for a nursing home I engaged a company Tender Loving Care to find a suitable nursing home,organise all the paper work,fees etc and it was well worth the $1,500,they certainly have "their foot in the door"so to speak:-)Good luck with it all

Re: Aged Care Assessment, NSW

kengillard — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 04:58:53 GMT

thanks for that Nic:-x

Re: Aged Care Assessment, NSW

kengillard — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 05:07:38 GMT

Unfortunately TLC is only in Victoria....sounds like a great idea tho.

Re: Aged Care Assessment, NSW

izabsmiling — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 05:13:53 GMT

Az does your FIL still say that he is not ready for that yet when you mention nursing homes ?

I don't know if anyone has added this ?

It may be of help so I will do so again .Sorry if you already have it here.

http://www.agedcareconnect.com.au/aged_care_assessment_team_service.php