Aged Care Specialists Vic

15/10/2026

Aged care homes usually offer a list of services that come at an extra cost - eg WIFI, Foxtel, hairdressing etc. Our latest article goes through how the charges work and what you need to be aware of so you aren't overpaying.

Moving into aged care doesn’t have to mean giving up the little extras. A lot of homes offer services that go beyond the basics and the Higher Everyday Living Fee (HELF) is how those extras get charged. What are higher everyday living services? Every care home has to provide a standard set of serv...

09/10/2026

“My parents need to go into aged care but want to keep the home so I can take them there and they can spend their afternoons there. I just want to do the right thing by them.”

This question is common and shows part of the stress of going into aged care. The house is not assessable by Centrelink for 2 years, once assessable they may lose pensions if they are receiving them. It may also pay for them, to go in on separate days, the facility will be able to explain the options here and maybe the outcomes. We would recommend getting more through financial advice that includes both cashflow and all the outcomes.

29/09/2026

One of the questions we get asked often is what actually happens when it's time to get a Refundable Accommodation Deposit (RAD) back and who it's paid to. You can read more in our latest article:

One of the questions we get asked often is what actually happens when it’s time to get a Refundable Accommodation Deposit (RAD) back and who it’s paid to. It’s an important question, because a RAD isn’t small change. Depending on the facility and location, a RAD can range anywhere from aroun...

22/09/2026

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - thank you, Vanessa, for such amazing feedback. Sums up what we do here perfectly.

16/09/2026

If you’re planning for aged care – or already receiving the age pension you may or may not be aware of the impact of gifting money or assets to family or friends. Our latest article talks about limits and what to be mindful of to avoid any big surprises to your pension or aged care funding.

If you’re planning for aged care – or already receiving the age pension you may or may not be aware of the impact of gifting money or assets to family or friends. But when Centrelink and aged care fees are involved, gifting isn’t quite as simple as handing over the cash. Get it wrong and you c...

07/09/2026

This type of scenario happens a lot ”My mum has been in full-time care for over two years. She still owns her home, but my younger brother has lived there for 40+ years. Why has she suddenly lost her Age Pension?" What's likely happened- Centrelink has special rules for how your family home is treated once someone moves into permanent aged care. For the first two years, the home can usually be exempt from the assets test - even if a family member isn't living there as it's assumed you might sell it to help pay for care, or that circumstances might change. But once that two-year mark passes, the exemption generally ends. At that point, your mum's former home is counted as an assessable asset, and its value gets added to her overall assets. If that pushes her total assets over the relevant threshold, her pension can reduce or stop altogether.

People often assume having a family member living there make a difference which it can - but only in specific circumstances. Certain people, like a spouse, dependent child, or in some cases a close relative who meets particular criteria, can be classed as a "protected person." If someone in the home qualifies, the home may stay exempt from the assets test. The key word is may. A brother who has lived in the home for decades doesn't automatically qualify. There are strict conditions around things like age, income, and how long they've lived there and each situation needs to be individually assessed.

31/08/2026

What is the RAD? Should I pay the RAD? How do I pay the RAD? What do you mean the RAD is a million dollars... If you are new to aged care, a RAD is another acronym you are assumed to understand but it is certainly confusing. We have broked it down further in our latest article...

If you’ve started looking into aged care costs, chances are you’ve come across the term RAD aka Refundable Accommodation Deposit. Once you have looked at the finer details combined with the potential $$ amount you have probably thought – too hard and too much. It’s one of those terms that ge...

25/08/2026

Getting a Google review when you offer financial advice is hard - people are private, they are busy and I understand that. But... when we do get one - it is amazing. When you leave a business a review, they get an email immediately and it is such a buzz. I am always grateful for the time and kind words people put into our reviews.

Thank you, Trevor, for taking the time for this review.

21/08/2026

This is a surprisingly common type of question. I actually don't often meet the actual person requiring aged care. I usually deal with the children/ POA. As far as the meeting goes, you can have whoever you need to have involved - so we can do the whole thing via Zoom, or sometimes I would meet in person with one person and we phone or Zoom with others who couldn't be there but want to be part of the discussion.

14/08/2026

Choosing an aged care facility for your loved one can be incredibly daunting. You want to get it right but it can be hard to judge a place on a 15 minute tour. This is when respite could be a good chance to 'try before you buy'. Read more here:

Choosing an aged care facility for your loved one can be incredibly daunting. You want to know that your parent or family member will be both happy and well cared for. And while it’s natural to feel uneasy about making the right call – especially with everything that’s changed in the aged care...