Home care reassessments generate “bizarre” results

Home care reassessments conducted through the Integrated Assessment Tool (IAT) under the new Support at Home program are generating some unexpected results, according to numerous operators.

When older Australians’ care needs increase, to receive additional Government-funded care they must have their needs reassessed.

But since 1 November 2025, reassessments are regularly providing unexpected outcomes.

Sarah Newman, Chief Operating Officer – Home Care of national aged care provider BaptistCare, told The Weekly SOURCE that some their clients who were already fully utilising their Package and required additional support “have been offered lower-level funding than their existing Package” following reassessments.

This means consumers may need to “adjust their care arrangements, despite having demonstrated an ongoing need for their current level of support”, Sarah said.

“For BaptistCare, this requires careful management to ensure continuity of care while working within the revised funding parameters.”

The unexpected outcomes create “uncertainty”, Sarah said.

“Bizarre” outcomes

Adrian Morgan, General Manager of Queensland home care provider Flexi Care, said one of his clients with dementia and other health conditions already on a Home Care Package recently sought reassessment when her care needs escalated.

After the reassessment, she received a letter stating she did not qualify for home care at all – see de-identified lead image.

The outcome was “bizarre” and “confusing”, Adrian said.

The letter said: “Your access to funded aged care services has not been approved. You have not been approved to access any additional funded aged care services. This letter explains why.

Further down, it states: “After careful consideration, I have decided that you do not require access to any government-funded aged care services. I made this decision under section 65(1) of the Aged Care Act 2024 (the Act).

“This means that you have not been approved to access government-funded aged care services.”

The client needs more care, so Adrian has lodged an appeal – one of five he has lodged since the new Act took effect, having never lodged an appeal previously in his eight years working in the sector.

Early entry into residential aged care

Yvonne Timson, CEO of West Australian home care provider Community Vision, told The Weekly SOURCE that she has also seen reassessments generate recommendations for lower-level Packages than the client's existing Package.

“This is driving some clients prematurely to residential care, if they can find a bed,” she said, referring to WA’s shortage of aged care beds.

Manual override removed

Under the new Aged Care Act and Rules, the option for manual override of IAT decisions for Support at Home has been removed.

Manual override remains an option for residential aged care, the Restorative Care Program, the Transition Care Programme, and the End of Life pathway.