There is one step that unlocks everything else in the aged care journey, and it’s the assessment.
Your aged care assessment is the gateway to government-funded support that could allow you, or someone you love, to continue living at home safely and independently. Get it right, and you receive the funding level that genuinely reflects your needs. Go in underprepared, and you risk being allocated less support than you actually require.
This guide is here to take the mystery out of the process. If you’re a Perth senior navigating this for the first time, or an adult child trying to help a parent through an unfamiliar system, consider this your preparation handbook.
The 2026 Context: What’s Changed
If you’ve been researching Home Care Packages and keep coming across the term Support at Home instead, here’s the short version: from late 2025, the Australian Government transitioned to a unified programme called Support at Home, replacing the previous Home Care Package tiers. The assessment process remains the entry point, but the classifications, funding structure, and terminology have been updated.
Everything in this guide reflects the current 2026 framework.
The first step is to have an IAT (Integrated Assessment Tool) assessment. Assessors are typically from WA Health teams or approved organisations such as APM. The assessment most commonly takes place in your home, though it can sometimes occur in a hospital or via telehealth, depending on circumstances.
Your Pre-Assessment Checklist
Being prepared for your assessment makes a real difference, both to the outcome and to your confidence on the day. Here’s what to have ready.
Health Summary
- A current list of your medications (name, dosage, and prescribing doctor)
- Any recent specialist reports, hospital discharge summaries, or GP letters
- Details of any ongoing conditions, diagnosed or undiagnosed
- A summary of tasks you used to be able to do but no longer can
Identification
- Your Medicare card
- Any concession or pension cards
- DVA (Department of Veterans’ Affairs) card if applicable
Your Support System
- If a family member or trusted person will be present, arrange this in advance
- If you’ve set up a Representative or Supporter through My Aged Care, make sure they know the appointment date and time
- Have your GP’s contact details on hand, as the assessor may wish to follow up
What They’ll Ask: Key Discussion Areas
The assessment is a conversation, not an examination. There are no right or wrong answers, only honest ones. The assessor will cover several areas of daily life to build a complete picture of your current situation and needs.
Physical Function
Expect questions about how you manage everyday physical tasks: getting in and out of the shower, dressing, moving around the home, managing stairs, and your general mobility. If you use any aids such as a walker, grab rails, or a shower chair, mention these and explain why you need them.
Home Safety
The assessor will want to understand how you manage at home day to day. This includes cooking, cleaning, laundry, grocery shopping, and gardening. If any of these tasks have become difficult, unsafe, or impossible without assistance, say so clearly.
Social Health
Isolation is a significant concern in aged care, and assessors are trained to explore it. They may ask how often you leave the house, whether you have regular contact with family or friends, and how you’re feeling emotionally. Answer honestly, as social support needs are a legitimate part of your care classification.
Memory & Cognition
You may be asked some questions that help the assessor understand how you’re managing day-to-day decisions, medication schedules, and safety in the home. This is not a memory test. It’s about understanding whether additional support would help you live more safely and confidently.
Expert Tips for a Better Outcome
These are the things that experienced care professionals wish every family knew before assessment day.
The “Worst Day” Rule
When an assessor asks how you manage a task, your instinct may be to describe a good day. Resist this. Think about your most difficult days: the days when showering felt unsafe, when you skipped a meal because cooking was too hard, when the pain or fatigue was at its worst. That is the day you should describe. Assessments are meant to capture the full picture of your needs, not just how you are on good days.
Choose Honesty Over Independence
Many Perth seniors, particularly those of a generation that values self-reliance, tend to downplay their struggles. “I manage” is one of the most common phrases assessors hear, and it frequently leads to under-funding. There is no award for minimising your needs, and there is no shame in describing the reality of your situation. The assessment exists precisely to ensure you receive what you need.
Point Out the Hazards in Your Home
Walk the assessor through your home environment with fresh eyes. That step at the back door you’ve always caught yourself on. The high bath requires a difficult climb. The hallway that’s poorly lit at night. These environmental details are directly relevant to your care classification and your safety. Don’t assume the assessor will notice them without prompting.
After the Assessment: What Happens Next in WA?
Understanding the Wait
Once your assessment is complete, you will not necessarily receive funding immediately. Under the National Priority System, there is a queue, and wait times currently vary depending on your classification level and individual priority. The clock starts from your assessment date, which is why registering early matters.
Your place in the queue is held while you wait, so there is no benefit in delaying.
Interpreting Your Notice of Decision
You will receive a formal Notice of Decision by post. This document outlines your approved Support at Home classification (Level 1 to 8), a summary of your support plan, and your unique Referral Code. Once you receive this letter, you have 56 days from the point your funding is allocated to enter into a Service Agreement with a registered provider, so it’s worth having conversations with potential providers before the letter arrives.
Bridging the Gap: Interim Support
If there is a wait between your assessment and your funding being activated, you don’t have to go without support. At Perth Care Partners, we can discuss interim options that may be available to you and help you plan ahead so that when your funding does come through, the transition into care is seamless.
We can also help you navigate the My Aged Care system, understanding your Notice of Decision, and making sense of what your classification means in practical terms.
In Summary
A little preparation before your aged care assessment can make a significant difference to the level of support you’re approved for. To recap:
- Gather your health documents, identification, and support contacts in advance
- Be honest about your worst days, not your best
- Don’t gloss over home hazards or struggles with daily tasks
- After assessment, understand that wait times apply and that interim support is available
The right preparation means the right outcome. And the right outcome means the care and independence you or your loved one deserves.
If you’re not sure where to start, contact Perth Care Partners. We offer a free, no-obligation consultation to help you understand the My Aged Care process and what to expect from your assessment. You don’t have to figure this out alone. We’re here for you.
Related posts:
