What the aged care assessment (IAT) asks: a section-by-section guide for families

Checked against official sources 12 November 2026 · carelevelready.com/guides/what-the-iat-asks-section-by-section

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This guide follows the structure of the official IAT offline form. The questions below are summaries in our own words, not the official wording.

Before the questions: who is there and why now

The assessor records who took part, whether an interpreter is needed, and the reason for the assessment — for example a fall, a hospital stay, difficulty with daily tasks, a change in care arrangements, or changes in memory.

What families can add: a clear, one-sentence answer to "why now?" and how long the problem has been building.

Carer profile — feeds the classification

The assessor asks who helps your parent, with what, and how often. They also ask whether there are factors affecting whether that care can continue: the carer's own health, work, distance, or strain.

This is one of the six compounding factors in the algorithm.

What families can add: hours per week, the tasks you do, whether you work full-time, whether there is a back-up plan if you get sick, and honestly, how close to the limit you are.

The assessor also asks about respite and emergency care arrangements, and whether your parent is a carer for someone else.

Medical and medicines

Main health conditions, hospital stays in the last 12 months, the number of medicines taken, and how health issues affect normal activities.

What families can add: a current medicines list, recent discharge summaries and GP letters.

Everyday tasks (function) — feeds the classification

This is the heart of the assessment. For each activity, the assessor records three things:

1. Can your parent do it? Without help, with some help, or completely unable. (Walking, transfers and using the toilet have four options.)
2. Who helps? No one, family or friends, aged care services, or someone else.
3. Is the need being met? Completely met, partially met, completely unmet, or no help needed. The assessors' guide tells them to answer this as if no aged care services were in place, so it reflects what your parent manages and the help family and friends give.

The activities cover getting out and running a home (transport, light and heavy housework, shopping, meals, medicines, money, phone, devices and online services), and personal care and mobility (walking or wheelchair use, stairs, showering, dressing, grooming, eating, getting in and out of a chair or bed, toileting, bladder and bowel control, and lifting about 5 kg).

What families can add: for each activity, a real example and how often it happens. "Mum can shower on her own" and "Mum showers on her own twice a week, but on other days she's too unsteady and I help" lead to very different records.

Clinical assessors may also run a short mobility check, such as standing up from a chair.

Personal health and frailty — feeds the classification

Pain, sleep, swallowing, feet, skin, alcohol, and falls in the last 12 months and last 4 weeks. The frailty questions ask about:

• how much of the past 4 weeks your parent felt tired
• difficulty walking up 10 steps without resting
• difficulty walking 300 metres or around the block
• the number of illnesses
• unplanned weight loss in the last 3 months

What families can add: a simple falls list with dates, and any weight change you've noticed (clothes getting loose, a lower reading on the scales).

Social — feeds the classification

Whether your parent ever feels lonely, down or socially isolated, how often they see or speak to other people, and their wider support network. Loneliness is one of the six compounding factors.

What families can add: how many days a week your parent actually sees someone, and whether that has changed. Older people often answer "no" to loneliness out of pride.

Cognition — feeds the classification

Whether there is a confirmed dementia diagnosis from a geriatrician or neurologist, and a short memory screen. A family member may be asked a few questions about changes they have noticed. First Nations clients may be offered a culturally appropriate alternative screen.

What families can add: specific changes — missed medicines, unpaid bills, getting lost on familiar routes, repeated questions — and when they started. If there is a diagnosis, bring the specialist letter.

Behaviour and psychological — mood feeds the classification

Behaviour covers things like agitation, wandering or refusing care. The psychological section includes four questions about the last two weeks: feeling nervous or on edge, not being able to stop worrying, losing interest in things, and feeling down or hopeless. These four make up one of the compounding factors.

What families can add: what you've observed, gently. Your parent may not volunteer these feelings in front of a stranger.

Home and personal safety

Stairs, the bathroom, moving around at night, the garden and home maintenance, and whether your parent has a personal alarm.

What families can add: specific hazards and near-misses — "she won't use the bath since slipping in June".

Financial or legal

Whether there is an enduring power of attorney or other substitute decision-maker, and who helps with health and money decisions. Bring copies of any documents.

Things you can do now

1. Ask the assessment organisation if you can be present, or speak to the assessor separately.
2. Go through the everyday tasks section and write down one real example for each task your parent struggles with.
3. Collect documents: medicines list, GP letter, discharge summaries, specialist letters, power of attorney.
4. Write down the carer hours and anything that makes the current arrangement hard to keep going.
5. Talk with your parent beforehand about why describing the bad days matters — it's about getting the right help, not about losing independence.

Official sources

Official guidance

• Integrated Assessment Tool (IAT) offline form (opens in a new tab) — Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
• Integrated Assessment Tool (IAT) user guide (opens in a new tab) — August 2026
• Support at Home classification system technical guide (opens in a new tab) — October 2026
• Easy read guide to aged care assessment (opens in a new tab) — My Aged Care

Common questions

How long does the assessment take?

It depends on the person's needs and how many sections apply. Ask the assessment organisation how long to allow when they book, and ask for a break if your parent tires.

Can family members be present?

Yes. Your parent can have family or another support person there, and that person can add information. If your parent prefers to speak alone, you can ask to give your observations to the assessor separately.

Do we need to answer every question?

The assessor has to complete the mandatory items. If a question is uncomfortable — continence, for example — it is fine to say so and answer briefly, or to provide the information in writing.

Can we practise the memory tests?

No, and there is no need to. The memory and mood checks are short standard screens the assessor runs. What helps is family describing the changes they have noticed in everyday life.

General information only, not medical, legal or financial advice. We are not affiliated with My Aged Care or the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. Confirm deadlines with My Aged Care or your assessment organisation.