The over 75 health assessment is a Medicare-funded review, offered once every 12 months, that looks at how you’re managing physically, mentally and socially as you get older, rather than focusing on a single health complaint. At Shire Family Medical’s Sutherland medical centre, this assessment is one of the GP Health Assessments available to eligible patients as part of ongoing, unhurried care.
Shire Family Medical, a GP medical centre at 154 Flora Street, Sutherland, has supported patients across the Sutherland Shire with general practice care for more than 11 years, including many long-term patients now old enough to be eligible for this assessment. This article explains who it’s for, what it covers, what questions typically come up, and how to prepare.
What Is the Over 75 Health Assessment?
The over 75 health assessment is a structured, Medicare-funded GP appointment designed specifically for patients aged 75 and over, whether or not they have any diagnosed health conditions. Rather than treating a specific symptom, it steps back to look at the whole picture: physical health, mobility, medicines, thinking and memory, and the practical and social support a person has around them.
It’s built around the idea that small, manageable issues, such as an early falls risk, a medication that’s no longer quite right, or a gap in everyday support, are often easier to address before they become bigger problems. The assessment is available annually and doesn’t require a referral; patients can simply raise it with their usual GP.
Who Is Eligible for the Over 75 Health Assessment?
Any patient aged 75 or over who is living in the community, rather than in residential aged care, is generally eligible for this assessment, regardless of how well they currently feel. There’s no requirement to have an existing diagnosis or a specific concern to raise first.
Many patients have it as a standing annual check-in alongside their other GP health assessments, while others come in because a family member has noticed a change, such as a fall, a memory lapse or increasing difficulty managing at home. Both are entirely reasonable starting points.
What Does the Over 75 Health Assessment Include?
The assessment typically brings together several areas in a single, longer appointment: a falls risk and mobility assessment, a review of current medicines, cognitive function screening, and a check of continence, nutrition and social support, with care planning and referrals arranged where needed.
- Falls risk and mobility: how you’re moving around at home, any recent falls or near-falls, and whether aids such as a walking frame or home modifications might help
- Medication review: checking that everything you’re currently taking, including anything bought over the counter, is still appropriate and working well together
- Cognitive function screening: a brief, conversational check of memory and thinking, not a formal diagnosis
- Continence, nutrition and social support: how you’re managing day to day, including diet, bladder and bowel health, and whether you have enough practical support
- Care planning and referrals: any follow-up steps, from a written plan you keep at home to a referral to an allied health professional
Some of these areas may lead to further tests, which can often be arranged through the practice’s own on-site pathology collection rather than needing a separate visit elsewhere.
What Questions Are Asked During the Assessment?
Questions during an over 75 health assessment are conversational rather than a fixed script, and they generally move through the same broad areas the assessment covers. Your GP may ask about how you’re managing everyday tasks around the home, whether you’ve had any falls or near-falls recently, what medicines you’re currently taking, whether you’ve noticed any changes in memory, concentration or mood, and whether you have enough day-to-day support from family, friends or services.
There’s no need to prepare specific answers in advance, and there’s no wrong response. The point of the conversation is to build an accurate, current picture of how things are going, and there’s always space to raise anything that’s on your mind, even if it wasn’t on the list.
How to Prepare for Your Over 75 Health Assessment
A little preparation can help the appointment run smoothly, though nothing elaborate is required. Bringing a current list of your medicines, or the medicines themselves in their original packaging, your Medicare card, and any glasses or hearing aids you normally use, are the main practical things worth having on hand.
It’s also worth thinking beforehand about anything that’s been on your mind, such as a recent fall, a change in appetite, or feeling less steady than usual, so it doesn’t get forgotten in conversation. If English isn’t your first language or you’d simply feel more comfortable with support, mentioning this when you book can help the practice plan accordingly.
Can a Family Member or Carer Be Involved?
Yes, many patients choose to bring a family member, adult child or carer along to their over 75 health assessment, and this is entirely welcome. Having a second person in the room can help if hearing, memory or simply keeping track of a longer conversation is a factor, and it means the person supporting you day to day hears the same information and any care plan firsthand.
If you’d prefer to have parts of the conversation privately, that’s equally fine. It’s ultimately your appointment, and your GP will follow your lead.
What Happens After the Assessment?
What follows depends entirely on what comes up during the appointment, and there’s no single outcome that applies to everyone. For many patients, the assessment simply confirms that things are on track and worth reviewing again in a year. For others, it may lead to a referral to an allied health professional such as a physiotherapist, dietitian or continence nurse, a change to current medicines, or a written care plan that sets out follow-up steps.
Your GP will talk through any results or recommendations with you directly, and where a family member has joined the appointment, they’ll usually be included in that conversation too.
How Does This Compare to Other Medicare Health Assessments?
The over 75 health assessment is one of several age- and population-specific health assessments available through Medicare, each covering a different eligible group with its own focus. Shire Family Medical also offers the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health assessment for eligible patients of any age, alongside general GP health checks that aren’t tied to a specific age group.
There’s no need to work out in advance which assessment applies to you. Your GP can confirm what you’re eligible for at your appointment.
Talking to Your GP About an Over 75 Health Assessment
If you or a family member are 75 or over and haven’t had this assessment before, or it’s been more than a year since the last one, it’s a reasonable thing to raise at your next appointment. Book an appointment with Shire Family Medical →
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the over 75 health assessment?
The over 75 health assessment is a Medicare-funded GP appointment for patients aged 75 and over that looks at physical health, mobility, medicines, thinking and memory, and everyday support, rather than focusing on one specific symptom. It’s designed to identify small issues early and is available once every 12 months.
Who is eligible for the over 75 health assessment?
Any patient aged 75 or over who is living in the community, rather than in residential aged care, is generally eligible for the over 75 health assessment, whether or not they have an existing diagnosis or specific health concern.
What questions are asked during an over 75 health assessment?
Questions typically cover how someone is managing everyday tasks at home, any recent falls or near-falls, current medicines, changes in memory, concentration or mood, and the level of day-to-day support available. The conversation is tailored to the individual rather than following a fixed script.
Do I need a referral for the over 75 health assessment?
No referral is needed for the over 75 health assessment. Eligible patients aged 75 and over can raise it directly with their usual GP as part of routine care, and it can be booked at a time that suits rather than needing a specific referral or trigger event.
Can a family member come to the appointment?
Yes, bringing a family member, adult child or carer to an over 75 health assessment is welcome and can help, particularly where hearing, memory or following a longer conversation is a factor. Patients who prefer parts of the appointment privately can also arrange this with their GP.
What happens after the assessment?
Outcomes vary by individual. Some patients simply continue with routine annual review, while others may receive a referral to an allied health professional, a medication change, or a written care plan setting out follow-up steps, which your GP will discuss with you directly.
How often can I have the over 75 health assessment?
The over 75 health assessment is available once every 12 months for eligible patients, and can be booked again each year as an ongoing part of preventative GP care. Many patients treat it as a standing annual check-in with their GP, rather than something to arrange only when a new concern comes up.
This article provides general health information only. It is not a substitute for personalised medical advice and does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Any treatment, test, procedure or vaccination mentioned is for illustrative purposes only. Suitability depends on individual circumstances and assessment by a qualified health professional. Medical information can change; always speak with your GP about your specific symptoms, health history and care options. In an emergency, call 000.
About Shire Family Medical
Shire Family Medical is an AGPAL-accredited general practice in Sutherland, providing patient-centred GP care for individuals and families at every stage of life. Led by Dr Louis Traynor and registered nurse Rebel Traynor, the practice offers a broad range of general practice services at 154 Flora Street, Sutherland — conveniently located near Sutherland Station and serving the wider Sutherland Shire community. All doctors practising at Shire Family Medical are registered medical practitioners with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
Shire Family Medical publishes general health information across preventive care, women’s and men’s health, children’s health, travel health and chronic disease management. Articles are written to help patients make informed decisions about their health in partnership with their GP.