Christmas may be the first time in months you've seen your parents together. How to notice the signs, when to raise Aged Care and what can wait.

If you or a family member are already receiving aged care support, the financial side of that arrangement isn't necessarily fixed. Programs change, fees are reassessed, and decisions made early on may be worth revisiting as circumstances evolve. Here are the check-in points we see matter most.

For many carers, the holiday season is the one time of year they can see family interstate, take a short break, or simply rest. For those caring for an ageing parent or partner, getting away takes planning, and the care arrangements usually need to be in place long before the bags are packed.

Staying at home isn't free, and a retirement village costs more than its entry price. Compare the real costs, Age Pension effects and exit costs of each.

The families who find aged care less stressful to navigate are, almost always, the ones who started the conversation before it became urgent. This article walks you through how to approach it.

Right now, more than 3,000 older Australians are waiting in hospital - because there is nowhere for them to go. No aged care bed available. No package in place.

What most families don't realise is that the decisions made in those first 48 hours - or the decisions that get delayed because no one knows where to start - can have a significant impact on the financial support available down the track. This isn't about adding pressure to an already stressful situation. It's about knowing which financial steps genuinely matter right now, and which ones can wait.

The benefits system, like Centrelink and the Department of Human Services, can be complex especially for eligibility for the blind pension.

Essential guide to Power of Attorney for aged care planning. Learn about financial and medical POA, when to establish them, and how they protect your parent's interests during aged care transitions.

Learn how to have compassionate conversations about aged care with your parent. Practical guidance from aged care financial specialists on timing, preparation, and navigating resistance with empathy.

Big changes have taken effect in home care with the new Aged Care Act that began on 1 November 2025.

When families begin navigating the aged care system, one of the most unexpected challenges can be locating essential documentation.

A person is considered to be a grandfathered resident if they meet either of the following conditions...

A move into residential care is triggered by the need to find a more suitable home – one that is safer and more appropriate for a person with increased care needs. As with any move to a new home, the person needs to pay for the right to reside. In residential care this is known as an accommodation payment (or for low-means residents it is called an accommodation contribution).

A low-means resident is a person who is assessed to have low financial capacity as at the date of entry into permanent residential care. Under current rates, this is a person whose means-test amount (MTA) is assessed to be lower than $69.79 as at the date of permanent entry.

A person may need to move into residential care when they are no longer able to live safely at home. Their change in circumstances means they need to find a new home, which can better support their daily needs.

Home care is increasing in popularity for older Australians as an alternative to residential care. This is because your client can choose where to live – either at home or in a retirement community or perhaps with the kids – and the care they need will come to them.

Rising cost of living pressures, significant changes to the home care and aged care systems, and increasing life expectancy have created a perfect storm of financial challenges for many Australians approaching or already in retirement.

If you're approaching or already in retirement and own your own home, you might have heard about the Home Equity Access Scheme (HEAS). This government program allows eligible older Australians to access the equity in their home through a voluntary non-taxable loan, providing additional income to support your retirement lifestyle.

As we prepare for the implementation of the new Aged Care Act and following the recent pay increases to support the attraction and retention of qualified staff in March 2025, now is an opportune time to examine how the announcements of the March Federal Budget 2025-26 are impacting the aged care landscape.