Eumundi Voice Issue 114, 3 April 2025

HEALTH

Over 75’s annual health assessment

While you might have to wait a few years to get the Royal Birthday Card, there’s something you can organise now to help you maintain your health.

If you are 75yo or older, and not an in-patient of a hospital or a care recipient in a residential aged care facility, the Older Person's Health Assessment is provided to Medicare-eligible patients every 12 months.

Your GP will conduct the free assessment to determine whether preventive health care and education should be offered to improve your health and physical, psychological and social function.

The regulations for the assessment make it quite comprehensive. It must be done by personal attendance of a general practitioner (GP) or prescribed medical practitioner, and include blood pressure, pulse rate and rhythm. Also, an assessment of your medication, continence, immunisation status for influenza, tetanus and pneumococcus. In addition, assessment of the availability and adequacy of paid and unpaid help, and whether you are responsible for caring for another person.

A Doonan resident told Eumundi Voice, “I found this assessment valuable as it made me realise how well I am ageing and that in my case I am very fortunate not to have any nasty ailments and I don’t require any form of government assisted health care.”

The assessment is compiled by the nurse and takes about 1.5 hours for both the nurse and overview by your doctor. Also captured for future reference is an overview of your parents’ health history – what illnesses they had and the approximate age when the illness occurred. In the event you are rushed to hospital, most of the relevant medical information required is already recorded.

As well, when you reach the grand age of 75 the Qld Govt requires a medical certificate to be completed annually by a medical practitioner and forwarded to the Dept of Main Roads for verification that you are fit and able to drive. If you have completed the over 75 age health assessment a lot of the required information for the ‘fit to drive a motor vehicle’ is already captured.

What happens to the information about you? You will be offered a written report with recommendations. A copy or extracts of the report will be offered to your carer (if the practitioner considers it appropriate and you agree).

Visit: Aust Govt Dept of Health & Aged Care, Medicare Benefits Schedule for Annotated Note (AN. 0.36) t.ly/Ksqaw.