This guide is for whoever is preparing for the aged care assessment — whether that's you, your partner, or a parent. The principles are the same. The assessment takes 45–75 minutes and determines years of funding.
A single point difference in how one domain is scored can shift the classification by one level — worth up to $8,260 in annual funding. The assessor sees 45–75 minutes. Most families walk in without knowing what's being scored. Preparation is the difference.
Free. Printable. Covers all 8 IAT domains. Hand it to the assessor when they arrive.
Whoever you're reading this for: the preparation is the same whether the assessment is for yourself, a partner, or a parent. The tool generates a statement you can hand to the assessor — so the documented evidence is there even if you have a better-than-usual day.
Three patterns account for most of the gap between real need and assessed need.
Carers quietly take over tasks without realising the baseline has shifted. By assessment day, the person appears more capable than they'd be without that invisible support. The assessor scores independent function — not what gets done with help.
The presence of a formal visitor often triggers better performance than the person's usual daily baseline. The assessor sees 45–75 minutes. You need to describe the other 23 hours.
Older people often understate difficulties out of fear that disclosing needs will lead somewhere they don't want to go. This is not dishonest — it's protective. But it leads to lower classifications and less funding.
Documenting specific incidents in advance counters all three patterns. The tool generates a written statement you hand to the assessor — so the evidence is there regardless of how the person presents on the day.
The IAT (Integrated Assessment Tool) scores across 8 domains. Specific incidents with dates score better than general descriptions. Here's what each domain covers and how to prepare.
Daily tasks — showering, dressing, cooking, moving around
Memory, orientation, decision-making, medication management
Mood, anxiety, depression, behavioural changes
Social connections, isolation, community activities
Falls history, environmental hazards, emergency response
Eating, hydration, weight change, ability to prepare food
Diagnosed conditions, medications, functional impact
Carer availability, capacity, and the carer's own health
These common responses actively reduce the assessed classification:
The assessor is not there to take away your independence. They are there to find out what support would help you keep it. Describing your difficulties honestly doesn't put your independence at risk — it's the only way to get the support that protects it.
An assessor visits at home and uses the IAT to score needs across 8 domains. The visit takes 45–75 minutes. Scores feed into an algorithm that generates a classification — which determines the quarterly funding budget. The assessor also applies clinical judgment to what they observe.
Three common patterns: carers adapt without realising they've changed the baseline; people perform better than usual when a visitor arrives; older people minimise difficulties out of fear. Documenting specific incidents in advance counters all three.
You have 28 days to request an internal review after receiving your Notice of Decision. Contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422. Bring specific documented incidents that weren't captured in the assessment.
How to prepare for your aged care assessment — full guide →
The complete guide covers all 8 domains in detail, the good day problem, what to say, and how to request a review if the outcome is wrong.
The tool walks you through all 8 IAT domains and generates a printable written statement. Hand it to the assessor when they arrive — so the documented evidence is there regardless of how the day goes.
Free. Printable. No account required.
Information only — not medical or legal advice. Verified against the Aged Care Rules 2025 and Aged Care Act 2024. Assessment duration 45–75 minutes sourced from IAT User Guide. Last updated: 27 April 2026.