Aged Care Specialists Vic

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...

05/08/2026

💕

31/07/2026

We talk to a lot of families who are going through this for the first time. Mum’s had a fall, or Dad’s memory isn’t what it was and suddenly everyone’s trying to work out what happens next… not just where they will live, but how you actually pay for it.

Our latest article talks through how aged care financial advice works and how it could benefit your family, giving you peace of mind in what is usually a very stressful and emotional time.

We talk to a lot of families who are going through this for the first time. Mum’s had a fall, or Dad’s memory isn’t what it was and suddenly everyone’s trying to work out what happens next… not just where they will live, but how you actually pay for it. If that’s where you’re at, you.....

23/07/2026

When it comes to aged care accommodation costs, there are a lot of acronyms thrown around which can be confusing especially if you haven't dealt with them before. In our latest article, we walk through what a RAD and a DAP actually are and how to think about which one could work your family.

One of the first big decisions families face when a loved one needs to move into residential aged care is how to pay for the room itself. It comes down to two options… or a mix of the two: the RAD and the DAP. It’s easy for the acronyms to get confusing at a time when you’re already juggling a...

16/07/2026

An aged care financial adviser doesn’t just calculate the cost of entering aged care. We understand the entire picture. In most cases, we’ll meet with the Power of Attorney, as they’re usually responsible for making financial decisions on behalf of their loved one. While we may never actually meet the person moving into care, our focus is always on achieving the best possible outcome for them.

read more about what we do here:

What does an aged care financial adviser do and why do I need to see one?

08/07/2026

Lovely feedback from Sue which sums up our service perfectly.