Moving towards integrated aged care assessment: A comparison of assessment tools across three regional Victorian services.
OBJECTIVE
Recent National Aged Care Policy Reforms are directed at streamlining entry into aged care services, building on the challenges associated with developing integrated assessment processes. Such reform is core to achieving a comprehensive, efficient process.


METHODS
Here, we report the first stage of a collaborative project with three regional aged care assessment services to explore how services can better work together and improve the assessment process. Specifically, this paper reports the collection of local demographic and assessment data to describe and compare assessment tools and processes across services.


RESULTS
Findings demonstrate the high level of need of those entering the community aged care system; the diversity of tools and processes utilised by the three services; and the high level of duplication and commonality across assessment categories.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings suggest the need for improved service integration to clarify the assessment process for older people and conserve regional aged care workforce.
John Richards Initiative, Faculty of Health Sciences, La Trobe University, Wodonga, Victoria, Australia.
Jeni
J
Warburton
John Richards Initiative, Faculty of Health Sciences, La Trobe University, Wodonga, Victoria, Australia.
Suzanne
S
Cowan
John Richards Initiative, Faculty of Health Sciences, La Trobe University, Wodonga, Victoria, Australia.
Pauline
P
Savy
Integrated Aged Care Assessment Service, Ovens and King Community Health Service, Wangaratta, Victoria, Australia.
Fiona
F
MacPhee
D000368:Aged; D019033:Delivery of Health Care, Integrated; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006299:Health Services for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014739:Victoria
aged care; assessment tools; policy reform