Aged Care
Financial
Advice
Get the best care for your loved one, make informed decisions and gain peace of mind.
Make informed financial aged care decisions for your loved one
The difference between the best decision and the worst decision can add up to as much as $100,000 over five years.
Transitioning a loved one into aged care is an emotional and stressful time. The process can be complex and confusing. We can help you and other family members with the process, to ensure appropriate, and considered decisions are made for the care of your loved one and their estate.
We can help you answer questions like:
We work closely with Watson Legal to provide comprehensive financial and legal advice pertaining to aged care. Contact us to discuss your options. Even if your loved one is already in aged care, we can help you to ensure that their finances and estate are in order.
Our Newcastle, Singleton and Maitland financial advisers are here to help.
For expert aged care financial advice in Newcastle and beyond contact Elliot Watson Financial Planning.
Achieve the best care for your loved one, gain peace of mind
We can help you navigate and complete all steps in the aged care process, which usual requires both financial and legal advice. We work closely with Gary Watson from Watson Legal, who is an expert in aged care advice. Together we help liaise with Centrelink and give advice on existing investments and estate planning. We will provide guidance on questions like:
Aged care costs are complex and expensive, particularly if the wrong strategy is adopted. By making informed decisions, our clients can have some certainty that their assets and lifelong savings are not unnecessarily diminished by excessive charges or failure to fully access entitlements. Aged care financial management can generally save thousands of dollars. The difference between the best decision and the worst decision can add up to as much as $100,000 over 5 years.
Case Study
Martin is 83, he saved over $14,000 in one year, after seeking professional advice.
Martin has lived independently, at his family home since his wife, Sonia, of 55 years passed away, over three years ago. Martin has a daughter, Susan. After Sonia’s passing Martin decided to appoint Susan his Enduring Power of Attorney and Enduring Guardianship.
Unfortunately, Martin has recently had a fall and broken his hip and now needs to transition, as a permanent resident, into an aged care facility.
Martin owns the family home in Mayfield. Its current market value is $530,000 and he has $200,000 in bank savings. Martin is entitled to the Age Pension. He receives $926.20 per fortnight.
Susan has located an aged care home, at Waratah, that she thinks it will be suitable for Martin. The Refundable Accommodation Deposit (RAD) is $375,000. This amount can be paid in full or in part. Susan will be able to enter the residential agreement on behalf of Martin, in her capacity as his Attorney. Also, as Martin’s Guardian, she can be involved in developing his care plan and ongoing medical support.
Both Martin and Susan would prefer not to sell the family home. However, before getting financial advice, they believed there was no other option. Susan expects the net proceeds of the sale will be approximately $510,000 and thought they would invest the balance, after paying the RAD to pay ongoing costs.
Option 1 – Sell House
Before seeking advice, Susan planned to sell the home, and place any residual proceeds in Martin’s bank account to fund ongoing fees.
Option 2 – Retain and Rent House
After seeking advice from us, we recommended that the house be rented.
The recommendations would have left Martin $71,097 (or approx. $14,000 pa) better off, over the same five-year period.
