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Aged care assessments help more than the residents.
Margaret and Anne are two of APM’s qualified group of aged care assessors, who provide the quality assessments that ultimately help people obtain appropriate funding for the care that they need in the nursing home.
While some residents are very independent and can do a lot for themselves, many need a lot more care.
Assessors go into their homes to establish what care they require and how funding can best be utilised to provide that care for those people.
For Margaret, a Senior Assessor at APM Assessment Services, it’s an essential and satisfying role.
“A lot of the challenges are around appropriate funding, so it’s nice to feel like I play a part in that, to give the residents the best option for appropriate funding. They deserve to have the best care that they can, and this is one way to help them access that.”
Anne, a Registered Nurse with APM Assessment Services, understands the significance that assessments play in ensuring the quality of life for these people.
“It’s very important work. A lot of residents can’t do things for themselves, they require two staff to assist them, maybe three sometimes. You need the equipment. You need the facilities.
"All that needs to be available in order to be able to look after a person to the best of your ability and make sure that their life is the best possible life that they can live.”
Performing these assessments helps all people involved.
The residents are often happy to be included because our assessors spend time with them and listen to their individual needs, goals and what they want out of each day.
While the teams of carers at the aged care facilities they feel more involved in the process and appreciate the opportunity to give invaluable input.
The assessments are about taking the time to get to know someone and hearing their stories.
Margaret said, “Just recently, I was talking to a gentleman who had an amazing life. He showed me a children’s book that he’d written. I think it gave him the chance for me to really see him as a person, not just as another resident. That’s really heart-warming for me to have that experience and to be fully present with that gentleman during my assessment.”
For Anne, “It’s the most fantastic job.”