The Department of Health has moved to telephone and telehealth aged care assessments for ACAT assessments for residential and home care – but denied assessments will be paused or reduced because of COVID-19.

“It is important that clients continue to be able to access assessments or re-assessments where these are required during this challenging time,” a spokesperson for the Department said. “Face to face assessments are still permitted where necessary to support the needs of the client.  This will be reviewed as the situation evolves.”

If a client requires urgent access to services because of the coronavirus, they will be directly referred to the Commonwealth Home Support Programme services – without an assessment – for up to six weeks for existing or new clients.

“After this period an assessment would be required,” they said.