Aged Care
Adjustments when your spouse moves to care
Life is filled with changes. But with preparation and good advice, you may be able to manage the changes more effectively and minimise the stress. In this article, we highlight five aspects that couples may need to think about and tips to help you to adjust when a...
Gifting considerations for your future
Many retirees want to help younger family members by gifting part of their savings or assets. However, if things go wrong in the future, the joy may turn to grief. Gifting may benefit children and grandchildren, but it could also have significant impacts on a...
Proactive care planning: achieving wellbeing and security
Taking steps to prepare for older age earlier in life, as well as during the retirement years, has been shown to improve the chances of positive wellbeing across physical and mental health, financial security, and social relationships. This was a finding from a recent...
What support is available for informal carers?
Are you currently an informal carer for an elderly parent, relative, or friend at home? With the number of Australians aged over 85 and the number of centenarians set to triple and increase six-fold over the next 40 years, many Australians are becoming informal care...
Understanding Daily Accommodation Payments
Accommodation Interest Rate is increasing. When it comes to paying for aged care accommodation, understanding the complexities can be overwhelming. There are multiple payment options that provide flexibility when arranging aged care accommodation, including lump sum...
RADs: 5 facts you need to know
Navigating the complexities of residential aged care can be a daunting task, especially when it comes to understanding the finances involved. One crucial aspect of this process revolves around Refundable Accommodation Deposits (RADs), which play an important role in...
Moving from retirement living to residential care
We often hear from our clients that moving to a retirement village is a lifestyle decision. When looking to downsize, they tell us there are several benefits. This includes the ability to continue to live independently, socialise with like-minded people and provide...
Six Aged Care Pitfalls to Avoid
Navigating the aged care system can be challenging and overwhelming. There are several pitfalls that can trip you up along the way, from unexpected costs to unsuitable care. By being aware of these common pitfalls and taking steps to avoid them, you can ensure that...
Is the RAD fully refundable?
Understanding the refund rules for RADs may remove some of the stress and worry with a move into residential care. Room prices in aged care are usually quoted as a lump sum. Often this is a big number, which can cause financial worry. But this is also one of the most...
Assessing the former home when moving to permanent residential care
Decisions regarding the family home can be complex. There are strict rules as to how the former home will be assessed when a person moves to permanent residential care. These rules are different depending on if the assessment is in relation to their aged care status...
Do I have to sell the house to pay for aged care?
Amongst the many decisions to make when someone you love needs to move into residential aged care lies the common question: Do we have to sell the house to pay for aged care fees? Families are often worried about the need to sell the home and ask about alternative...
Jillian Clarke – ACS Aged Care Adviser of the Year Finalist
We are pleased to announce that Jillian Clarke has been named a Finalist in the Aged Care Steps inaugural awards in the category Aged Care Adviser of the Year. This category recognises an individual adviser who is deemed to have demonstrated outstanding professional...
Winner – ACS Aged Care Advice Program of the Year
We are delighted to announce that Alteris has been named winner of the Aged Care Steps Aged Care Advice Program of the Year The Aged Care Adviser of the Year Awards formed part of the broader 2022 campaign launched by Aged Care Steps which aimed to raise awareness of...
Do I need to pay the aged care accommodation cost in full?
In residential aged care you generally have the choice to pay the accommodation cost as a lump sum payment, a daily payment or a combination of the two. Where the choice is to pay the accommodation amount as a daily payment an interest rate, referred to as the maximum...
Aged care and the family home
Deciding what to do with the family home can create additional complexity to the already stressful time of moving into aged care. There are different rules when it comes to assessing the former home for aged care and social security purposes, which makes it even more...
Explainer: The Means Tested Care Fee
Explainer: The Means Tested Care Fee Residential aged care fees can vary enormously as they are based on the financial position of the person entering care. The Means Tested Care fee is one of the aged care fees charged, and this can vary from $0 to $265 per day*....
How Bruce got his balcony room
When spritely centenarian and Alteris Lifestyle and Care client Bruce needed to transition to permanent residential aged care, the one thing he wanted seemed out of reach. As a respite care resident, 100 year old Bruce loved his room and its east-facing veranda which...
When do we start the aged care conversation?
When should the discussion about aged care commence? At what age should you start thinking about your aged care needs? The answer is simple, any age is the right time. Whether you find yourself in the early stages of retirement or well into this life phase, initiating...
What happens when a parent needs to go into a nursing home?
Our clients often tell us that the decision to move a parent into residential care leaves them feeling overwhelmed with emotion and apprehension. While they know permanent residential care is the right step for their loved one, the financial considerations can...
How do gifts affect aged care fees and the age pension?
It isn’t uncommon for parents to want to help their children or other family members financially through a gift of cash. But did you know that providing a financial gift can affect your age pension and aged care costs? If this is something you are considering, it is...
Good budget news for aged care
The good news is that this year's Budget did not increase how much we pay for the aged care services that we access. But an additional $17.7 billion spend – which will be fully paid for by the Government - was aimed at increasing access and improving quality. With an...