Needs Assessment and Co-ordination (NASC) Service

NASC for CALD over 65s

NASC helps older people and their care givers access support services, such as home based support, residential aged care, or respite services in the community. They work with patients and their families to assess and plan their support needs. NASC then coordinates support services for as long as they are applicable. Needs assessors will determine:

Whether respite care is appropriate by identifying carer stress.
Whether or not the person can live safely in the community with the available supports.
If the person needs long-term residential care indefinitely and  what level of care is needed in a residential aged care facility.
Respite care is a service that can be arranged by the NASC for planned and regular breaks, or for emergency situations such as main carer illness. The respite service can be used at home or in an age related residential care facility. There is no means testing for older people who require respite care.

Information about NASC for older adults and their caregivers to access support and services can be found on the Health Point website for Waitemata DHB, Auckland DHB and Counties Manukau DHB districts).

Here is a CALD Older Person Assessment Tool. It provides tips for NASC needs assessors who are assessing and coordinating care for older people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.