We all want to be active, healthy and to remain independent, living in our own home. But as we grow older living independently may not always be easy. Home care is a natural next step in life for thousands of Australians every year. With our home care services, you can remain independent in the comfort of your own home and part of your community.
We’ll arrange the services important to you
Every client is unique. We’ll work with you to create a personal care plan for your exact needs. Those needs will be met by our friendly carers and nurses.
The Aged Care Quality Standards provide reassurance that you’ll be treated with kindness, dignity and respect. We continually evaluate our training, systems and processes and strive to exceed these standards. Our staff are all trained, qualified and police-checked, so you know you have trusted companions and assistants.
Southern Cross Care has supported older people in NSW and the ACT for over 50 years. As a not-for-profit organisation, we’re solely focused on providing the best care we can.
It’s my pleasure to welcome you to a new and improved version of Your Retirement Living, incorporating Home Care Guide.
After years of producing a practical guide with information to help retirees choose retirement living options as well as a stand-alone publication dedicated to home care options, DPS decided to transform these two publications into one magazine covering the broader retirement lifestyle as well as help preparing for the years where you may need to consider some basic support.
Retirement is an exciting time in most people’s lives, allowing you to wind down and enjoy the finer things in life, after years filled with work and family obligations. This life stage is really broken down in three phases, moving from an ‘active’ phase where you are generally in good health and able to enjoy life to the fullest, to the ‘quiet’ phase where things are starting to slow down a bit as you age, and finally the ‘care’ phase where people may need more assistance in day-to-day life.
We know that Australians are living longer than ever before and that most people want to remain in their own home and community as they get older. We also know that people are finding it hard to think about what may happen when old age sets in, let alone plan for this time in their life. But the reality is, the more you can plan ahead, the better prepared you will be when the time comes that you need some sort of assistance.
In this publication we set out to present useful and inspiring content to make the most of the retirement years while at the same time, assist with planning for
the future when you may need to start considering some basic supports to help you continue living an independent life for as long as possible.
We have designed this publication into two separate Guides so you can absorb the information most relevant to you and your situation.
The first part is all about Your Retirement Living filled with useful information to help with your retirement planning, all you need to know about your next travel adventure, tips and tricks to help you look after your mental and physical health as well as what to keep in mind if you are considering moving into a retirement community.
The Home Care Guide starting on page 80D will help you understand the different types of assistance that are available to make sure you can stay in your own community for longer and help you on your journey of living your best life at home.
Making the most of the supports available to you within your local community, as well as accessing those provided by the Government, can make a huge difference in helping you to remain living independently in the home and community that you know and love.
The ‘Third Age’ is a time to be enjoyed and everyone deserves to choose how and where they want to live.
I hope this Your Retirement Living, incorporating Home Care Guide will inspire you to take charge of this next stage in life and wish you all the best on your journey.
Margot White, Managing Editor
1300 186 688
The factual material contained in this publication has been obtained from information supplied by government departments, industry and organisations, by personal interview and by telephone and correspondence. At the time of going to press the publisher believed that all information submitted for publication was accurate and complete. However, the publisher can take no responsibility for inaccuracies or incomplete information that may have been supplied to them in the course of their enquiries detailed above. The facts published indicate the result of those enquiries and no warranty as to their accuracy can be given. The information in this publication is general in nature and does not constitute financial, legal or other professional advice. Readers should consider whether the information is appropriate to their needs and seek professional advice tailored to their personal circumstances. Images within this publication may have been altered from their original format.
© Copyright. No part of this publication can be used or reproduced in any format without express permission in writing from The Publisher.
® Aged Care Guide is a registered trademark. ® Your Retirement Living and Home Care Guide are pending registration.
They say ‘life begins at retirement’ and this publication was created to inspire you to make the most of this next stage in life.
Whether you have only just started thinking about what retirement could look like for you, are actively preparing to retire from the workforce, or are entering this exciting time of ‘new beginnings’. This Guide can help you on that journey to the next stage of your life.
Different people look for different lifestyles in retirement. For some people, the reward after many years in the workforce is to travel, live life on the road and discover new places. Others may choose to study and learn new skills or focus on family and spend time with children and grandchildren.
Whatever direction, they’ll have one thing in common; to make the most of the Golden Years.
The articles in this Guide can help you prepare your finances for retirement, assist in finding purpose and happiness in this time of your life, and inspire your next travel adventure.
We gathered expert advice on how you can make sure your physical and mental health are in tip-top
Welcome to the 10 th edition of Your Retirement Living, a title by DPS – Australia’s specialist information provider for the aged, community and retirement sector.
shape, as well as providing a range of considerations if you’re looking at retirement living options.
The demographics of ‘retirement living’ are changing as the life expectancy of Australians has increased well beyond the age of 80 years. Some retirees are happy to continue living where they are, while others may be planning a final move to a safe and secure environment in a retirement community where they know they’ll be supported well into their senior years.
The average age of entry into a retirement village is currently 75 years of age – well past the traditional age of retirement. But people as young as 55 are moving into these lifestyle communities where they find a supported environment with like - minded people.
Your Retirement Living will help you understand many of the things you need to know before choosing to live in a retirement village – the different types of villages/communities, the accommodation on offer, the purchasing options and financial implications.
To provide you with an even more comprehensive and accessible service, you can also find detailed
information about retirement living – including the latest retirement living news, and more in depth provider and village profiles – online at YourRetirementLiving.com.au
Throughout the publication you’ll find QR codes, just like the one on the bottom of this page, that link through to different online articles. They’ll provide you with even more useful information to help you make the right choice about retirement living.
You will also be able to further explore any retirement villages you see here in this publication by typing in the ‘Web ID’ that you can find in the tables section, alongside the individual listing, as part of the Resources section starting on page 121.
Find out more about our range of home, aged care and disability support resources on AgedCareGuide.com.au and DisabilitySupportGuide.com.au or call 1300 186 688.
to search online
You might also feel like you’re losing your sense of identity because you no longer work in a career that you have done for many years.
That’s why retirement is a process that doesn’t happen overnight, and in the years leading up to actually retiring you can think ahead to what you might take up to fill the time you are currently spending at work.
With all the time in the world to explore new hobbies and interests, rediscover old passions and connect with others on a social level, your retirement life can become more interesting than ever before.
It is important to understand there are three phases of retirement –pre-retirement stage, honeymoon stage and redevelopment stage.
In pre-retirement, your last five to ten years of working, your main focus will likely be on financially preparing for retirement, but after you finish work and enter the honeymoon stage you will be enjoying the chance to spend your time freely.
After a few weeks or months when you move out of the honeymoon phase you will likely have a low period as many retirees find it difficult to keep themselves busy. This period of adjustment and redevelopment to find how you want to spend your retirement usually takes about six months to a year.
To cope with each of these phases of retirement there are some strategies and activites you can use.
After the initial sense of freedom and relief that a lot of new retirees feel, many people fall into a period of adjustment in which they may struggle with negative feelings.
These feelings include grief and loss for a career that brought enjoyment, or a network of work colleagues that were a big part of social life.
Even if you are preparing mentally before retirement, remember it is normal to need an adjustment period. If you are feeling down and are struggling with negative thoughts, reach out to a mental health professional who can help you through the transition.
Finally, retirement has arrived! So how will you fill the time that you now have on your hands?
Finding a new purpose, cementing your identity and taking time to enjoy what life has to offer should all be part of your next move, and there are many ways you can achieve this.
Lifestyle in retirement is about a lot more than just your finances, so the journey to retirement should also include looking after your mental health and maintaining a sense of purpose.
Retirement is a process that doesn’t happen overnight.
Spending more precious moments with your children – and of course your grandchildren – is one of the perks of retirement.
There might be family members you would like to see more often than you have had time for previously –a brother or sister that lives a few hours away, or a cousin that lives overseas.
Catching up with friends you haven’t seen in years could rebuild strong connections, or you could expand your social circle by looking for new friends to share in the retirement journey, through community organisations, social clubs or events.
Getting fit, staying healthy and having good wellbeing are great goals for retirement, as you will have the time to spend planning out your healthy diet, exercising and looking after your mental health.
You may want to take up a new sport, look at modified options or join a group that shares the same interests for that added social connection.
Maybe you’ve been meaning to reconnect with your spiritual and religious beliefs, or you just want to spend more time taking in nature.
There is a huge range of hobbies to choose from, including gardening, reading, painting, knitting, carpentry, fishing – you name it!
Find a local hobby group through social media or your local Council, join an instructive class or practice on your own to master new skills.
After retirement it is becoming more common for people to take up some part-time work, to achieve a better balance of time to themselves while still earning money.
This could be an opportunity to try a different career you are interested in, or turn your hand to seasonal work in the outdoors.
If you want to stick with what you know, consultancy in your field of expertise is really common for retirees. This keeps you involved in the industry or career you love, but without the added stress of a 9-5 job.
Volunteering is a part of most retirees’ lives and can come in many shapes and sizes.
Being able to give back to your community or to others not only provides a sense of achievement, but it can give you the purpose you are looking for.
You can contact organisations directly to see if they have any opportunities, or search the Volunteering Australia directory, where you can find what volunteering opportunities are in your local city or town.
Ending your career can be a chance to return to studying your passions and interests in earnest.
Why not learn another language? Or take up a course in archaeology? It’s never too late to live the dreams you had as a child.
Most universities support mature -age students, including through flexible study options and support services.
Wanting to retire is different from actually being able to retire. Many people tend to have a set age in mind they want to retire at, but is that right for you?
It's not just about being mentally ready to finish work or knowing what you will fill your time with. But have you considered your financial position and how you will fund your lifestyle once you stop earning a salary?
When planning for your retirement financially it's important to consider:
◆ Superannuation
◆ Your home
◆ Debts
◆ Additional expenses
◆ Future health needs
The preservation age in Australia for retiring, which is when you can start accessing your superannuation, is between 55 - 60, but you need to be at least 65 before you can receive the age pension. So you need to look at whether this fits with your current wealth.
You need enough money not just to afford your bills, but also to fund the lifestyle you want to lead in retirement.
The Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) developed Retirement Standard benchmarks to help people gauge how much they may need a year to live modestly or comfortably in retirement.
For instance, based on current rates, to live a comfortable lifestyle as a single person, you would need $48,266 a year, or $68,014 as a couple.
Or to live modestly, a single person would need $30,582 a year, and a couple would require $44,034 a year.
The benchmarks also include a standard of $545,000 in savings for a single person retiring at 67 years of age, or $640,000 for a couple retiring at the same age.
These numbers are also based on the idea that you already own your home, have no mortgage, and are in good health, so they won’t work for everyone.
Consider your lifestyle, and expectations for retirement and balance the reality of your financial situation.
A big part of both your financial situation and your lifestyle is your home, so considering what your housing situation will look like for the first decade or so into retirement is important.
Do you own your home already or plan to finish paying off a mortgage before retiring? Is your house bigger than what you need and will you look to downsize or move into a retirement village?
Looking ahead, to what your home might look like if you become more frail or have impacted mobility, is also important. Do you see yourself living in the community with home care if you need it, or would you rather move into an aged care facility?
These are big decisions that you should think about now, so you’re not forced to decide in an emergency situation when you are stressed.
You need enough money not just to afford your bills, but also to fund your lifestyle.
Many Australians are racking up debts that take decades to pay off, and impact their financial situation well past the earliest retirement age. This debt can include:
◆ Mortgages
◆ Credit card repayments or loans
◆ Car loans
◆ Student loan debt
◆ Payday loans or afterpay you may have accrued
If you don’t pay these debts off before you retire, you will end up cutting into your superannuation and reducing how long you can live on your super.
While you may have a good idea of the day-to-day expenses you will have during retirement, there could be bigger once-off purchases that you will also want to consider in your retirement planning.
There are some common big ticket items that people buy in retirement to enjoy their time, for example:
◆ A new car
◆ Caravan or a boat
◆ An overseas trip or several smaller holidays each year
◆ Items for new hobbies or interests
◆ Deciding to go back to university or undertake an education course
◆ Upgrading your home
◆ New technology such as a replacement TV, tablet or smartphone
◆ Buying a new home or moving into a retirement village
A financial advisor can help you work through these expenses and determine whether it is better for you to make the purchases before you retire, so you will not be drawing on your superannuation, or whether it is better to wait a while.
As you get older the chance of developing serious health conditions, such as diabetes or a heart condition, increases. While Government-funded health care will contribute to the cost of managing health conditions you might develop, you will still need to pay for some aspects yourself, such as medications, elective surgeries and specialist appointments.
Having money set aside for these purposes will ensure you don’t have to compromise on your health.
Alongside potential health conditions, your overall mobility and energy may decrease over time and lead to you needing some care to stay living independently in your home.
If you have the ability to pay for a portion of your care you will be expected to, so understanding this potential future cost and how it factors into your retirement planning will mean you are less stressed when you look into accessing care in the future.
Am I in debt still or do I have a mortgage? If so, is it a lot?
What lifestyle do I want to live in retirement and can I afford that?
Do I have enough savings and how long will my savings last before I need my super?
How should I access my super when I get to that point?
Will I need the Age Pension?
What large expenses do I want to make in retirement?
Where am I planning to live? Am I going to move or sell my home?
Is aged care services considered in my financial retirement plan?
Have I talked to a financial planner to assist me with my retirement plan?
There is a lot to consider and it can be confusing to fully understand your own finances or strategies that help boost your funding for retirement. Asking lots of questions of your financial planner and understanding the answers can go a long way to being well prepared when entering your retirement years.
A financial advisor can help you work through all of these expenses.
Planning for retirement lets you enjoy your new‑found freedom to the fullest, feeling confident that you will be able to pursue all the interests and experiences you have been looking forward to.
Asmooth transition to a successful retirement is based on this strong planning, and starting the planning process as early as possible will give you the time to get the transition right.
You will likely have an idea in your head about how you will live in retirement, you might even have some goals you want to achieve after you finish working.
With so many options out there though, it can be difficult to narrow down exactly what you will do with all the time you have previously spent working, and how much income you will need to fund your new lifestyle.
CASE STUDY
Commonly, people put off planning a transition to retirement until later in the process, if they plan for a transition at all.
There are some common reasons why people leave out transition planning, such as feeling like they don’t have time to think about it with the amount of work they are doing, financial uncertainty, a reluctance to accept they are getting older and the feeling of not knowing what the future holds. But each of these worries can be addressed through the planning process, to make it a positive transition into retirement.
This is why planning is so important. It sets you up for exactly the lifestyle you want to lead, spending time doing the activities you love and making the most of your retirement.
With the current Australian life expectancy of 83 years, you are likely to have at least 15 years to live it up once you retire.
Most of this time is likely to be in good enough health to travel, socialise and fill your time with activities – which is quite different to
Glenn and his wife Robyn have decided to ease out of their electrical contracting business over time, working to maximise its value, ensure a smooth operational handover, while also focusing on their personal transition into retirement.
But what’s the best way to leave a successful business?
For Glenn, 62, and Robyn, years of hard work have resulted in a business that
delivers high margins, combined with low overheads and efficient work teams.
Working with a Transition Planning Consultant, the first step for Glenn and Robyn was to develop a personal transition plan to decide what to do after full-time work.
This allowed them to take this to their financial advisor to work out how much would be needed to fund their retirement.
Then, their business transition plan covers issues such as the worth of the business, the value of goodwill, and the potential to increase the value of the business with new systems and processes.
Glenn and Robyn are exploring two main strategies, with the first being that their two electricians, Sam and Bridget, take over the business.
the retirement life your parents and grandparents were likely to have.
Transition Planning Australia, an organisation that provides advice and education on retirement planning, says your retirement plan for those 15 plus years should include all five keys to happiness:
◆ Financial security
◆ Physical health
◆ Mental health
◆ Social connectedness
◆ A sense of purpose in life
Peter McKnoulty, Founder of Transition Planning Australia says, “One of our exercises revolves around helping people work out what their identity is and what is
important to them, and one of the things we suggest to people is what did they like doing when they were younger. It gives a bit of guidance on what you can try in the future.
“A lot of our identity is tied into that business or work. You really have to reinvent your life and find a new identity.”
Your new identity will centre on the things that are important to you in life. These important life factors can be categorised into ten lifestyle areas, giving you a sense of all the different areas to consider.
The ten lifestyle areas you should plan your retirement around are:
◆ Volunteer/philanthropic work
◆ Income–producing work
◆ Spirituality or faith
◆ Social connections
◆ Residence
◆ Activities with family
◆ Activities with a spouse or partner
◆ Recreational or creative pursuits
◆ Intellectual stimulation
◆ Physical health
Planning around the ten lifestyle areas can put you on a good path for your retirement journey.
The most well known factor in retirement planning is financial planning, and rightly so.
While this is attractive, Sam and Bridget have limited funds available, so Glenn and Robyn are working with their Transition Planning Consultant and a team of advisors to devise a solution that would see them realise a fair value for the business in a way that Sam and Bridget can afford.
They will most likely transfer shares in the business over time.
This complements an operational transition strategy for Glenn to train Sam and Bridget on key operational aspects of the business such as design and client liaison during the transition period.
The second strategy for Glenn and Robyn is creating a charitable trust using some of the proceeds from the business.
This would enable Glenn and Robyn to work with their children to help those less fortunate than themselves, which they consider to be an important cause to direct their retirement energy into.
The couple look forward to entering retirement, when they can realise the vision they have carefully planned out and see the results of their strategies.
Case study provided by Transition Planning Australia
A lot of our identity is tied into business or work. You have to reinvent your life.
If you can’t afford to do the activities that you want to fill your life with in retirement it will not be enjoyable and you may have to go back to work in order to pay for your lifestyle.
While considering your retirement plan there are several factors of your finances to look at to ensure you know how much money you have and how much money you will need in years to come.
It is important to know exactly where your superannuation is held, as many people end up with multiple super accounts across different companies.
You also need to know how that super is invested, that the investment method aligns with your values, and whether it is giving you the best return and risk balance.
Make sure you know where your money is going each day so that you can set appropriate savings targets and work towards having the right sized retirement nest egg.
Understanding your expenses now, while you are working, will also help you to factor in the expenses you will have once you stop working.
Estate plans should be set up much earlier than you think, because you have no way of knowing when you might lose the capacity to be able to sign off on your wishes.
Your Will, Advanced Care Directives and other important documents also must be up to date with your latest circumstances and beliefs, so that your finances are appropriately planned out and you don’t leave your family with debt.
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the finances of retirees in unexpected ways, and left many people feeling financially uncertain as the economic situation changes.
As part of your retirement planning, speak to an expert financial advisor who can help you put strategies in place to protect your situation against unanticipated events – like a pandemic or recession.
A financial planner can also take away a lot of the stress of planning out the rest of your life and make the transition to retirement easier.
Not everyone goes from full time work into full time retirement and if you’re not ready to stop work altogether you can move more slowly into retirement.
Depending on your financial situation, you might be able to reduce your working hours gradually while still earning enough to pay your bills or to save that extra amount needed to buy a caravan.
On your days off you can then explore what activities and events you would like to take the place of your work, so you are better prepared to further reduce your working hours.
Another option is using a Transition
To Retirement (TTR) strategy, which allows you to access some of your super while you keep working, although this has some pros and cons.
It can be difficult to organise and really complicated, so you should talk to your super fund or a financial adviser before attempting to use the strategy.
The TTR can be used if you are between 55 and 60 years of age and are still working and is used to top up your income from your super if you are working reduced hours.
It can also help to boost your current super while saving on tax if you are still working full time.
Positives of the TTR include that you will still receive super contributions while you work which will replace any more you take out, you will pay less tax, and it also means you will begin to plan for your retirement. However, it does affect your retirement income because you are accessing your super earlier than usual, and it is a very complex system.
A TTR can also impact any Government benefits you, or your partner, are receiving and this can be a significant downside depending on your situation.
Planning around the ten lifestyle areas can put you on a good path for your retirement journey.
In Australia there is a three ‘pillar’ retirement income system, which includes:
◆ Savings – such as voluntary contributions to super and homeownership
◆ Compulsory superannuation – payments made by your employer during your working life
◆ Age Pension – Government support for eligible people over 67 years old
Most older Australians will use all three pillars at some point in their retirement to fund their lifestyle, so to best plan ahead you need to understand a bit about each of the income streams.
The three income streams also show why it is important to have more than just your superannuation to fund your retirement years.
Together, the income streams will fund your everyday expenses, bills, medical costs and lifestyle activities.
Planning your financial future can feel complex, overwhelming and sometimes confusing.
It is important you have access to advice that is practical and customised to meet your individual needs. Advice that will help you achieve your financial goals.
Armstrong Consultancy Services (ACS) has been providing expert financial advice and guidance to its clients for over 25 years.
It’s never too early to start saving for retirement. Even if you are only able to save a little each week or month it will all benefit you when you stop working.
Voluntary savings include more than just the cash you put away though, and also refer to additional superannuation contributions such as salary sacrificing and personal contributions, as well as any investments you have.
ACS bring their extensive knowledge and experience that will afford you the opportunity to receive financial planning customised specifically for you with a clear focus on achieving your financial goals.
4 Be clear on your objectives and how they’ll be achieved.
4 Secure a financial strategy that suits your unique needs and goals.
4 Enjoy peace of mind knowing you are on the right track.
Derek Armstrong Masters Financial Planning
02 8860 9160 derek@armstrongcs.com.au
Derek Armstrong (ASIC No. 244641) is an Authorised Representative of Paragem Pty Ltd. AFSL 297276.
A lot of people worry about running out of money during their retirement years. That's why it's important to ensure you plan ahead and set up a steady stream of income so you can comfortably enjoy retirement.
Investments like your home are also considered savings because they reduce your ongoing costs in retirement.
To diversify your savings, rather than putting all your eggs in one basket with only savings in the bank, you might benefit from growing your investment through additional property or shares.
Talk to a financial advisor about the options you have for investment and growing your savings.
Employers have been required to pay the superannuation guarantee for all employees since 1992.
Super is a minimum amount per hour worked that is put into your super account by your employer over your working life.
The purpose of this super guarantee is to ensure part of every working person’s salary is set aside to fund their retirement. However, many people retiring currently have not benefitted from the super guarantee for their entire career because of its introductory date and they may have to rely on other income streams.
In most cases you cannot access your superannuation until after the age of 55. See page 15 for more information on accessing super and the age restrictions.
Although you won’t be accessing your super until later in life, it is important to keep track of when you are being paid super, the returns your account is making, market fluctuations and whether you may need to change super providers.
It’s not always possible to reach retirement with enough savings or superannuation to live on, and many people also run out of savings several years into their retirement due to a range of unexpected costs – like serious health conditions.
This is where the Age Pension comes in to support those who can’t afford to self-fund their retirement life.
It is a safety net funded by the Government and can be received in full or in part by people over the age of 67. It is important to note that the Pension is only designed to help people to live modestly, not comfortably, which is why you need to optimise other income streams while you can.
Your income or assets determine if you are eligible for the Age Pension and how much you receive.
All three income streams together create a financial safety net for older Australians.
If your savings don't last you in retirement, then you can rely on your superannuation, and if your superannuation doesn't last, you can rely on the means tested Age Pension. And generally, these three pillars work together, not separately. When you are approaching your retirement, you should be considering each of these pillars and how they will work in your retirement plan.
It can be hard to be confident in your retirement planning with all the options that are out there and how different your situation can be to your friends and family.
The best course of action is to get expert help with your financial planning through engaging a financial advisor or consultant.
These experts are obligated to put you in a better financial position and should always have your best interests at heart.
Financial planning can help you reach your retirement goals.
Be open with your financial advisor so they know your exact situation and can give you the most appropriate advice.
There are a number of questions you can ask to find a financial advisor that will suit you best, as some advisors may have different specialities.
These questions are:
◆ What are their credentials and are they registered as a financial advisor?
◆ Do they have expertise in retirement financial planning?
◆ How do the fees and charges work for their services?
◆ Is the service on an ongoing basis or is it a once-off service?
◆ How will they provide their advice? Will it be in writing and will there be multiple options? Will it be easy to understand?
A good financial advisor will also ask you questions to inform the advice they give you, such as what your goals are and whether you are aiming for a comfortable or modest retirement lifestyle.
It may be helpful to talk about what you imagine your retirement to look like, rather than focusing on a figure
of money you will need, and let the financial advisor help you work out how you will get to your vision of retirement.
The more you prepare for the first meeting with your financial advisor, the better their picture will be of where you are at, what you want to achieve and how they can help you.
Bringing documents that show the detail of your current financial position, including income and assets, will give your financial advisor an understanding of whether you are on track to retire.
These documents include:
◆ Statements of your accounts, including superannuation, current savings, and any other bank accounts
◆ An overview of your current investments, such as stocks, bonds or your housing portfolio
◆ Your current salary or pension statements
◆ A fortnightly or monthly overview of your expenses, including food, accommodation, travel and insurance
◆ Any outstanding debts you have, like mortgage or car repayments
◆ Your tax statement from the last year
◆ Any other important information, such as inheritance or trust, your Will, or life insurance
Once your financial advisor has analysed your current situation, you can ask them some questions to understand yourself where you are at and how to get to a financial position you would like to be in:
◆ How does my current financial situation look?
◆ Am I on track to meet my goal?
◆ If I am not meeting my goals, what can I change to get back on track?
◆ How are my investments looking?
◆ What is the next step from here? You are likely to need to meet with your financial advisor more than once, because financial situations can be complicated and you need time to plan out your retirement. But after the first meeting, there will likely be something you can take away to work on and most people will need to make changes to investments, current expenditure or super contributions.
Above all, your financial advisor should not leave you feeling stressed or out of your depth and should assure you that you can either meet your goal or make changes to put yourself in a better position for the future.
A good financial advisor will ask you questions to inform the advice they give you.
Understanding the nuances of super will help you to find the best options to suit your circumstances and keep your nest egg growing.
Super is money that is set aside during your working years by your employer, or through your own contributions, that becomes available when you’re older than 55 to fund your retirement. Currently the Australian Super Guarantee is 10.5 percent of your income and this will rise to 12 percent by 2025.
One of the options to increase your super on top of what is paid regularly by your employer is through salary sacrificing. This is an agreement with your employer that they will pay some of your wages into your super account instead of directly to you.
While you are working, the super company managing your money invests your funds into a range of different investment options so that your super grows over time.
Once you turn 60 and stop working you have unrestricted access to your super. You'll continue to grow your super while you're still working regardless of your age so if you're not ready to retire you don't have to.
Although there is no fixed retirement age in Australia you can only access your super from the ‘preservation age’, which for people born before 1960 is 55 years old.
For people born after 1960 the preservation age increases gradually until it reaches 60 years old for those born after 1964.
When you have reached the preservation age and are ready to access your super you will need to apply for a ‘condition of release’ through your super company. You can choose to have your super paid in a lump sum or as regular smaller payments.
The amount of super you need will depend on the kind of lifestyle you want to live in retirement and your remaining debts or other costs.
If you own your home and want a comfortable lifestyle with a decent amount of money to spend during the week on activities, dining out and the finer things in life, the general guide is to have 80 percent of the annual income you had while working.
For example, if you earned $100,000 in your last year of working full time, you will need about $80,000 a year to live with the same expenses in retirement.
This comfortable lifestyle can be broken down into:
◆ $835 per week or $43,601 per year for a single person
◆ $1,179 per week or $61,522 per year for a couple
Over 20 years, this amounts to $1,230,440 for a couple or $872,020 for a single person.
A more modest lifestyle will look like:
◆ $533 per week or $27,814 per year for a single person
◆ $797 per week or $40,054 per year for a couple
This adds up to $801,080 for 20 years worth of savings for a couple or $556,280 for a single person. These rates do not take into account the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on your circumstances, such as inflation driving up the cost of living.
The amount of super you need will depend on the kind of lifestyle you want to live in retirement.
Be realistic about the funds you will need to live healthily and happily in retirement. Consider future medical conditions you might develop that could affect your expenses and whether you might need to work longer or continue doing part-time work for a time to boost your savings.
As super funds each offer different investment options and returns, there are several factors you need to be aware of to get the most out of your super:
Be aware of how spread out your super is across different accounts and companies as there could be a fee per account - causing you to pay more than you need to. Consider consolidating your funds.
Examine the current and past performance of your fund over the past five years to see whether the returns are what you expect.
Many super funds also provide insurance for clients, such as life insurance or income protection. Adding these offerings can mean cheaper fees on your super, although it will reduce your super balance as the cost of the insurance will come out of your account.
There is a range of fees your fund might charge - investment fees, buy and sell fees, membership fees, administration fees and advice fees. Balancing these fees with your risk and return ethics is important, because low fees might mean the returns aren’t as high.
Each super company also offers benefits as incentives to join, such
as complimentary financial advice, gym membership discounts or shopping discounts.
You need to understand how your fund invests your super so that you know it aligns with your ethics and what you consider acceptable risk. For example, if you don’t want to invest in fossil fuel you will need a super fund that invests in renewable energy instead, but might want a more diverse investment portfolio to counteract investing in a relatively new industry.
As you age your risk profile, or what you consider an acceptable risk for your super investment, is likely to change. When you are younger you might be comfortable with a riskier investment in order to receive higher returns, but when you are close to retirement you might prefer to have steady and more reliable growth in the money you need to live on.
As always, speaking to a financial advisor about your super will be beneficial for your financial situation and retirement plan.
It’s important to understand how your fund invests your super.
Super is seen as confusing and complex by many people, but it doesn’t have to be.
Although you build up your superannuation over the course of your working life, there are extra steps you can take to boost those savings before and during retirement and make the most of what you have.
The key factors you need to establish before assessing how your super is going, and looking at ways to boost it, are:
◆ How much money you need for your retirement
◆ Whether you are on track for the retirement you want, or what you can do to put yourself on the right track
◆ How long your super will last This will depend on the other important factors, such as when you want to retire, how you want to live in your retirement and where you live.
Jacki Ellis, Head of Retirement at Aware Super, says one of the best things you can do during retirement planning is to make use of the services your super fund offers. Most super funds should have a broad range of information available on their website, digital calculators and tools, and importantly, provide free advice on super investment for non-complex cases.
If your situation is more complex, your super fund will likely offer more comprehensive advice for an extra fee.
“Making use of services like these can make a world of difference not only to your retirement outcome, but to your confidence as you near and enter retirement, ensuring you have one less thing to worry about at a time of major change,” Ms Ellis explains.
As you approach retirement you can make additional contributions to your super which boost your funds and, as a bonus, are also tax effective.
If you’re on a marginal tax rate of above 15 percent you could save on tax, as contributions up to $27,500 a year, including contributions from your employer, are tax-deductible and taxed at a maximum of 15 percent, assuming you earn less than $250,000 a year.
Couples where one partner is already receiving an Age Pension but the other is still too young to receive it may also benefit from making more contributions to super in the name of the younger partner. This can be helpful because money held in the younger partner’s super fund is not counted under the asset test until that person is at Age Pension age.
General information on super is available from many different sources but applying this to your personal situation can be tough.
You can take extra steps to boost your super savings before and during retirement.
While these seem like wonderful options, it is still necessary to take into account several factors before making extra contributions, to make sure this is the right step for you.
You need to consider your broader financial goals, how much money you realistically need in the short term, how much you can afford to put away, and how the concessional contribution cap might affect you.
Contact your super fund for advice on strategies to maximise your funds.
Your provider can also give advice on when to access your super and what type of account is best for your current situation.
For example, an account-based pension provides regular tax-free income and investment earnings for retirees, as well as the flexibility to take out extra cash payments if you need them.
But another option is to keep your existing super account, which is likely an accumulation account, open and only make lump sum withdrawals. You would continue to pay 15 percent tax on investment return with this option but you wouldn’t have to meet the minimum income drawdown, as you need to with an account-based pension.
If you’re still working but you’ve reached your preservation age, a transition-to-retirement account is also an option.
This enables you to receive an income from your super while continuing to work. You can also contribute more to your super at the same time as a tax-effective way of building your nest egg.
Ms Ellis says no matter the account option you choose when you retire, you must keep in mind it is important to stay invested.
“Our modelling shows that around one third of your income from super is likely to come from the investment returns you earn after you’ve retired. So it’s still critical that you’re with a strong-performing fund with competitive fees even when you’re no longer working,” she says.
“Take the time to check your super fund is delivering for you.”
Super fund members who seek out advice on their investments, Ms Ellis says, also are more likely to consolidate and simplify their finances, avoiding multiple fees.
These investors make voluntary contributions at a higher rate, make the most of Centrelink benefits, and ultimately have more income in retirement.
If you’re not sure where to start when it comes to accessing or maximising your super, first look to your super fund for advice.
Contact your super fund for advice on strategies to maximise your funds.
In the last few years the rules around superannuation have changed, affecting both those who have already retired and those who are approaching retirement.
The changing rules have combined with the pandemic to create a different setting for retirement than what many retirees may have expected.
Knowing what changes have been made and how COVID-19 relates to super is key to understanding your current financial situation and how to make the most of your savings.
The main rule changes have been:
◆ The minimum age for making a one-off contribution to your super from the sale of your home (the downsizer contribution), of up to $300,000 per person or $600,000 per couple, has been reduced from 60 years to 55 years
◆ The asset test exemption, for sale proceeds from your principal home that you intend to use for your new principal home, has been extended from 12 months to 24 months
◆ Before July 2022, people aged 67 to 74 could only make voluntary contributions to their super if they worked at least 40 hours in a 30-day period during the financial year. As of July 2022, this work test no longer applies to personal contributions that you won’t claim as a tax deduction
◆ The minimum rates at which retirees could draw down on their pension was halved to help those who wanted to conserve capital during the pandemic.
The rates, which vary according to your age, will return to their regular levels on 1 July 2023
Head of Retirement at Aware Super, Jacki Ellis, says these changes will affect retirees and people approaching retirement in a wide variety of ways.
“What this means to your retirement outcomes will depend on your individual circumstances,” she says.
“The best thing you can do to understand how your income payment will change and its implications for you is talk to your super fund.”
Lowering the age for downsizer contributions, for example, means more people will be able to significantly boost their super as they approach retirement.
Aware Super’s modelling suggests a person who makes a $300,000 downsizer contribution at 55 could enjoy about $13,000 extra income every year in retirement.
With the work test removed, more people over 67 will also be able to make voluntary contributions to super from other income sources, to make their savings last longer.
Knowing what changes have been made is key to understanding your current financial situation.
On the other side of the rules, the reinstatement of higher minimum super drawdown rates for retirees will mean those affected need to reassess their budgeting.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on financial situations around the world, causing share markets to fall substantially, and the current period of inflation are also making a difference to retirees and retirement planning.
Ms Ellis says when the share market fell in early 2020 there was a spike in people switching their super investment options to reduce risk, but that when the market bounced back many did not take advantage of the market recovery by switching back to shares.
“It’s a salient reminder about the need to take a long-term approach to your super and, if your circumstances haven’t changed, avoid making knee-jerk reactions to volatile market conditions,” advises Ms Ellis.
Aware Super members that took advantage of the free advice provided by the fund on the most appropriate way to invest their super were much less likely than their peers to change their investment approach, and Ms Ellis says this worked.
“These members, through discussions with their financial advisors, understood their
circumstances, had a plan and were able to look through the media noise and remain focused on their longterm goals,” she says.
“Those in retirement had set themselves up to have a steady retirement income despite uncertainty in the market.
“Perhaps the greatest benefit that advice like this provides is having the confidence to maintain your lifestyle and enjoy your best possible retirement.”
With the world now bouncing back from the pandemic, inflation has become a huge concern for retirees. According to the Australian Financial Security Authority’s Retirement Standards, the amount of money needed for a comfortable retirement jumped about 6.5 percent in the year to September 2022.
Ms Ellis says this figure is linked to a worrying trend in the price of necessities.
“What’s particularly concerning is prices for non-discretionary items –such as health expenses, food and fuel – have climbed at a faster rate than prices for discretionary goods,” she says.
Retirees can take some comfort in the fact that the Age Pension increases with inflation, as a safety net, and that super funds design their diversified investment options for returns that are greater than inflation over the medium to long term.
“Take a long-term approach to your super and avoid making knee-jerk reactions.”
Any children you have will be grown and, hopefully, moved out into their own homes, so you won’t have a need for so many bedrooms.
Plus you may have less energy and mobility to get around and do the property maintenance tasks you did when you were younger.
You want a home that fits your retired lifestyle and future needs as you age.
Many older Australians also consider downsizing as an option to save money, fund their retirement lifestyle, or prepare for aged care costs.
The additional benefit is the move will help you to declutter, sell or give away any furniture and other items
you no longer need and update what you want to, such as the lounge suite or TV.
There are a few options if you decide to downsize including moving into a smaller property in the same town, a sea change, a tree change, finding an apartment or flat, or moving into a retirement community. It is also an opportunity to find a place with the appropriate home modifications for your needs or the option of adding supports such as grab rails as you age.
Selling your biggest asset, which will likely hold a lot of sentimental value for you, is a huge decision and you may be wondering what the best way to go about it is.
Most people will go through a real estate agent to sell their property, but you may choose to go it alone or use a seller advocate to help you with the selling process.
A real estate agent has the advantage of their experience and expertise to negotiate the best selling price on your behalf and manage the process for you, from marketing your property to the legal and financial requirements.
The right agent will act in your best interest and ensure there is no stress for you. Before choosing a real estate agent it is worth speaking to a number of different agents and inviting a few to do an appraisal on your home so you can compare their opinions.
When choosing an agent you can consider their:
◆ Experience
◆ Reputation
◆ Market knowledge
◆ Negotiating skills
◆ References
◆ Commission
◆ Marketing budget
Another option is to engage a seller advocate to help you through each step of the process. They can act as an intermediate between you and the real estate agent.
The seller advocate will assess your property’s worth, select an appropriate target market for your home and advise you on how to go about selling it.
They will then select a real estate agent for you and negotiate an agent fee and sale price that meets your expectations.
In most cases the seller advocate’s fee is a percentage taken from the real estate agent’s fee and there is no direct cost to you.
The final option is to sell your home privately, without help from any agencies or advocates.
Selling your home privately could save you money because you don’t have to pay agent commission and are in complete control of how much you spend on advertising.
This may turn out to be a better option when demand for homes is high and it is easy to sell, but you need to be very confident in your own ability to set a price and stick to it, as well as being able to do all the legal work and documentation yourself.
The need to do everything yourself is the main reason why most people don’t choose to sell their home privately.
It is important to do your research properly so you have a realistic expectation of what your property is worth, know the rules and regulations of selling a home and can be sure you have the time and patience, as well as the legal knowledge, to go through the process.
To sell your home ‘ stress-free’ and maximise the benefits of downsizing you can:
◆ Find out what the house is actually worth
◆ Consider how to best present your house - should it be furnished or empty?
◆ Think about how you will sell it - via auction or expressions of interest?
◆ Consider how the sale of your home will impact your finances, especially the pension
◆ Get professional advice from a real estate agent or seller advocate, as well as a financial advisor.
The sale of your home has the potential to become a stressful and busy period of your life, so the more you can do to smooth out the process, the better.
In preparation for the sale, go through your possessions and belongings to decide what you will be taking with you when you move.
First and foremost, know how much space you will have in your new home. Once you know this, you will have some idea about how many personal possessions you can bring with you.
Most people will have gathered a lifetime’s worth of well-loved belongings, so it can be difficult to decide what to keep and what to let go of. And it can be a very emotional process.
Taking an inventory of all your belongings, then asking yourself what you would take with you in the event of an emergency can help you in the decision making process. It will help you take stock of what is important to you, what you can live without and the things you can replace.
To move these items you may be able to enlist the help of family and friends, but you may also need a cleaner, removalist or gardener to assist - which you will need to book ahead of time.
For anything you are not taking with you, think about how you will sell it, give it away, or even pay for it to be dumped if it is broken or unsaleable.
Some tips and tricks for your move include:
◆ Start preparing early and don’t leave everything to the last minute. The first thing to do is decide on a moving date and work towards it.
You want a home that fits your retired lifestyle and future needs as you age.
◆ Gather any quotes from professional services you would like to use, such as removalists, and talk to anyone you would like to ask for unpaid help about your moving date.
◆ Collect any moving boxes and other supplies you will need so you can start packing smaller items ahead of your moving day. Allow plenty of time for packing so you can take your time to sort through everything.
◆ Don’t make the boxes too heavy and make sure you keep removable parts labelled in a bag or taped to the item they came from. Mark all the boxes clearly to help when you start unpacking on the other end.
◆ For large items, be careful when lifting and moving them and get help to load them onto a trailer, or ask your removalist to do this for you.
If you are considering downsizing, look into the professionals you can use to help you with every step of the process and make sure the move is right for you.
Other points you need to consider, and in many cases can get professionals to help you with, include:
◆ Paperwork such as redirecting mail, disconnecting utilities, change of address notifications
There’s one word to describe why Janice Knight loves living in her serviced apartment: kindness.
Whether it’s the wonderful staff or friendly neighbours showing kindness, or her easy-to-maintain apartment being kinder on her body, Janice is enjoying a better retirement lifestyle since moving into the Glen Woodley Estate, in Adelaide, just over a year ago.
“I’m at home here and I’m really living here, I’m not just existing,” says Janice.
“It means I can have my things around me, I can have visitors, my grandchildren can come to see me - and I can do that when I want to and how I want to.
“The atmosphere throughout the place is just lovely, the residents are kind to each other and I don’t know how they spread it but the atmosphere is so nice.”
Janice’s serviced apartment offers her independent living, but with a little bit of extra care and support to maintain the right balance in her lifestyle, stay healthy and stay safe.
There is a delicious and nutritious lunch and dinner service every day and a weekly cleaning and linen service.
Along with neighbours that look out for each other, Janice also has an emergency call pendant in case she needs the help of staff - who are available 24/7 but leave her to live independently when they are not needed.
To keep active, she catches the Estate’s volunteer-driven golf buggy to the nearby health and wellness centre run by her village provider, Southern Cross Care, for exercise classes.
◆ The steps needed to be taken, such as cleaning and gardening, to prepare your property for sale or lease
◆ Scheduling of any assistance you need in moving into your new home such as furniture delivery, installing electronic devices and maintenance or installation of any home modifications such as grab rails
◆ Many people need time to adjust during and after downsizing, so mentally prepare yourself for the change and don’t rush your settling in period.
Janice says since she began to access the health services she has already noticed an improvement in her lung capacity, strength and balance.
With all these services at her fingertips, Janice is set up for a cruisy retirement lifestyle, and a bonus is the company she has found in her apartment neighbours, who go out for regular catch ups over dinner or drinks.
Case study provided by Southern Cross Care (SA, NT & VIC) Inc
Start preparing early and don’t leave everything to the last minute.
About 6 million Australians regularly volunteer with an organisation, and many of those are people who are retired.
This is partly because they have more time when they are no longer working, and partly because of the huge benefits volunteering has for wellbeing and a sense of purpose.
Chief Executive Officer of Volunteering Australia, Mark Pearce, says older Australians make a valuable contribution to communities.
"Older Australians are valuable for a whole lot of reasons, but in the context of volunteering, there is both the value to the volunteer themselves but also to the community," explains Mr Pearce.
"I think that the experience of patience and having a different voice with a different perspective brings
an entirely different experience to those parts of the community that benefit from the engagement of older people.”
Mr Pearce says older volunteers can bring guidance and structure to organisations, as well as mentor and support younger volunteers, something especially those who don’t engage in volunteering as frequently can benefit from.
Volunteering provides older people with an opportunity for community participation that they won’t get anywhere else.
This community participation has the flow on effects of:
◆ Providing a sense of purpose, belonging, self-worth and positive emotions
◆ Encouraging motivation and drive
◆ Reducing feelings of loss over ending your career
◆ Reducing feelings of loneliness and isolation
◆ Reducing stress and lowering blood pressure
◆ Maintaining strong networks outside of the home
◆ Being more physically active through volunteering activities
◆ Possibly maintaining or improving memory and thinking skills
So volunteering has both mental and physical benefits for older Australians.
Mr Pearce says, "[Volunteering] speaks to the ability to mitigate a lot of those circumstances which may well sit around - loneliness, depression and disconnection.
"Again, we come back to this fundamental sense of involvement and participation within the community, and the real benefits come from reconnecting or connecting in an ongoing fashion."
Volunteering is even being discussed as an option for doctors to prescribe to people as treatment
for depression and loneliness, which is how it's already used in the United Kingdom.
There are two types of volunteering older people can get involved in –informal and formal.
Formal volunteering is done as part of an organisation, or alongside a Council or Government body, and is structured.
You will likely have a regular schedule, a specific number of hours you volunteer, as well as an idea of what your role will be on the day.
For example, volunteering for a shift in a Red Cross op shop or helping to look after rescue animals at your local Animal Welfare League is formal volunteering.
Local Councils rely on volunteering and generally have a lot of different options available for those who are looking to help in the community. This volunteer work can include driving vulnerable people to medical appointments, joining town beautification groups, volunteering at community centres or youth centres in administration roles, and so much more.
Informal volunteering is less structured, unfunded, and usually through community groups.
It can be anything from helping your neighbour put their bins out or undertaking their shopping to maintaining the gardens at your church or temple, partaking in a bake sale to raise money for your local school or helping out behind the barbecue at a local sports match.
It can also appear during unexpected events, like bushfires or floods, or other times when community need is high, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic. This type of volunteering can be impromptu and irregular, and may not be as structured as what you would see through bigger organisations.
When searching for any form of volunteer work, Mr Pearce suggests utilising online search engines,
like Volunteering Australia's GoVolunteer.com.au website or Seek's volunteer.com.au .
You can also look at different options in your local neighbourhood or your Council might be able to give you a list of the different community groups you could join.
If you have a specific interest or hobby, you will likely find volunteering opportunities in those areas, including:
◆ Community gardens
◆ Environmental projects
◆ Cultural or religious groups
◆ Sporting groups or associations
◆ Art and craft groups
◆ Charities
Mr Pearce says, "You can almost look across every aspect of human involvement in the community and there will be something.”
“Older volunteers can bring guidance and structure to organisations.”
Older people who want to volunteer may find their mobility, health or skills are the biggest barriers to volunteering.
For instance, after a couple of years on hiatus, a volunteering opportunity involving a lot of lifting or other physical labour may be too dangerous or taxing on your body to undertake.
Another common barrier for older people is digital literacy and digital
Grahame Wiseman has always been good at listening to people, so when he was approached to become a chaplain at the local hospital, while accompanying his mother on her hospital visit, it seemed a natural volunteer role to take on.
He has continued to volunteer for the past 20 years, talking to people in the Prince Charles Hospital in Inverpine, Queensland, about their worries and helping to care for them through conversation and prayer.
As a retired air force officer, much of Mr Wiseman’s time over the last decade has been taken up by not only his chaplaincy at the hospital, but also as a pastoral care pastor for his Baptist church and a volunteer visitor for the local residential aged care facility.
He is on call and responds to the hospital or aged care home at all hours of the night, whenever someone needs his help to talk through their situation and feel more relaxed.
inclusion, which are becoming more important within the volunteering workforce.
Some older people may feel out of depth with the new focus coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic on using technology to provide volunteering services, like video calls.
Mr Pearce says that COVID-19 has also resulted in a lot of red tape, restrictions and requirements around health and safety, which has made it increasingly difficult for volunteers to be able to serve their community.
If you are finding these barriers affect your ability to volunteer, talk to the organisation you wish to volunteer for and they should be able to support you.
They may provide training in using technology, or adapt the volunteering role you want to take on so that it suits you.
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The biggest thing Mr Wiseman gets out of his volunteer efforts, he says, is satisfaction - satisfaction that he has made someone in distress feel more comfortable.
It takes a certain type of person to be a chaplain, Mr Wiseman says, and the role is all about being able to listen to others, but also steer them into a topic of conversation that puts them in a better frame of mind.
“If there’s someone you see who you think, ‘Boy, that person would make a good chaplain or make a good visitor’, I’d go up and see them and say, ‘have you thought of coming to the hospital, coming to the aged care place and visiting people?’,” Mr Wiseman encourages.
For those without the chaplaincy gift, another option could be to follow his
wife Pam’s style and volunteer with the local op shop.
Ms Wiseman organises a group of eight women to run their church’s shop, all through volunteer hours.
“My wife and I are different,” Mr Wiseman says, “Pam likes going out and having fun, joking, having a bit of a laugh, which is not always the case when you go to visit people in hospital because they’re not always up to it.
“Pam will have a quick chat to somebody and a laugh, and she loves that.”
Three years ago, the couple moved into the retirement village that sits alongside the nursing home Mr Wiseman visits, and say they now have both convenience and a deeper connection with the community.
Case study supplied by Bolton Clarke
Travel is one of the most common retirement activities we look forward to during our working years. Most retirees have a list of the places they want to go, the things they want to see and the experiences they want to do when they have the time and finances in order to tick off the list.
Don’t let this list overwhelm you though! It can be helpful to write down all of the different dreams you have and give them a priority, so you can work towards what you want the most in the early years of your retirement.
For example, you might want to go on a long hike, carrying a backpack and camping for several nights on the track. It is best to do a physical activity like this in the first few years of your retirement before potential health issues get in the way later in life.
Some of your dream holidays might also be time limited due to the destination, such as snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef as it may not be as beautiful to see in ten or more years with the effects of climate change.
And if you’ve always wanted to see the Northern Lights or experience snow in Canada you’ll need to plan your visit for the right time of year. Thinking in detail about what you want to do over the potential 20 years of travel you may have in retirement will help you to achieve all your dreams.
Other things to consider before you go on your trip include:
◆ Having a complete check-up with your doctor, particularly if you have a chronic medical condition, and asking for their travel and vaccination advice
◆ Having a check up with other health professionals, such as your dentist and optometrist
◆ Organising travel insurance with the right level of cover for you,
including illness cover if you need it
◆ Reading up on the travel advice for your destination, for example the Government recommends Australians don’t travel to particular countries experiencing conflict
◆ Whether you will go on your holiday alone, with a partner or friends, or whether you would feel safer joining a tour group The following pages contain more in depth information about different types of travel, including road trips and caravanning, overseas travel and cruises.
For travel budgeting tips see page 41 and for a checklist of what to pack for your next holiday see page 44.
to stay in, so that you are never left without a place to sleep. Knowing how much each of these places will cost to stay in will help with budgeting as well.
Ask other grey nomads about their experiences along the way and what they recommend to visit or avoid.
If you are going to stay with friends or family at any point along the way, give them plenty of notice of when you will be arriving.
Many people have different ways of travelling and travel for different lengths of time - from taking short trips nearby or taking off in a caravan for six months of the year and seeking warmer weather, to selling up everything and going offroad in a decked out van.
No matter the type of retired traveller you want to be, there will be some planning involved.
You need to consider how to finance your extended trip and make sure you are not worried or stressed while you’re on holiday.
The first step in planning is to figure out how you want to travel and for how long, so imagine your ideal trip and how you will reach that point.
Make sure to take into consideration all of the variables, for example, the health needs of your partner or yourself, what caravan or motorhome you intend to purchase, and talk to family and friends about how this trip will work.
Do you know where you are travelling to? Is it easy to get to? How long does it take to drive between towns?
When deciding where to travel, make a list of places you want to visit.
The list can include anything from the Kimberley in Western Australia to Millaa Millaa Falls in Queensland, or you could take the ferry over to Tasmania with your caravan.
If you have a number of iconic spots you want to visit, you should try to map out the best way to reach all of your dream destinations without making the travel route too difficult. Or, you might need to plan a trip for this year that covers a selection of destinations and a trip for next year that covers others.
You should also be aware of the caravan spots, camps, National Parks or roadside stops you intend
The last thing you want to experience is concern about whether you have enough money or not on your trip of a lifetime, so this is why it’s important to budget.
Think about how long you want to travel for and the general cost of the grey nomad lifestyle you have chosen to get an idea of how much your trip is going to cost.
You can budget for constants such as food, fuel and the cost of caravan sites, but there will also be some unexpected costs that it is good to set aside extra funds for. These unexpected bills could be anything from an experience, like a fishing
Living as a grey nomad is a popular lifestyle in Australia and it could be ideal for you, but it’s not a ‘one size fits all’ approach.
When deciding where to travel, make a list of places you want to visit.
charter or paying for a wildlife encounter, to a vehicle breakdown or a cracked windscreen.
Tracking your spending while you’re away doesn’t have to be a stressful or onerous task if you have set the right budget before you leave.
It’s also important to remember that even though you are away, your regular bills don’t just stop.
If you still own your home, you will have taxes and council fees to pay, and if you use mobile devices, you will still have phone bills to settle. Additionally, travelling around in a caravan means that you will need insurance and registration for your car and caravan, and will need an up-to-date driving licence.
To stay on top of these ongoing bills, move as many of your payments online as possible and download the mobile phone apps that can be used to manage payments. Forward any other mail you still have to a family member or close friend so you don’t miss anything.
Whether or not you will sell your home before going on your once in a lifetime trip is a big decision.
Since your home and possessions are your biggest asset, you need to take every precaution before travelling.
If you intend to keep your home, you will need to figure out if you will get a house sitter for that period or have family, friends and neighbours keep an eye on the property.
Some people choose to rent out their home while they are away, leaving their furniture and other big items that don’t fit in the caravan at home with the tenants. This option will mean you have a steady income stream from the rent, if you own your home, or perhaps will allow you to keep paying off the remainder of your mortgage.
When you eventually end your trip you will have a base to come home to, however renting does mean you are relying on the tenants to look after your home while you are away and there will be utility bills and possible maintenance to arrange.
If you intend to sell your home, where are you going to store your belongings? Some people may borrow sheds or spare rooms from their relatives, but it would still require you to downsize your assets. You may decide to hire a storage unit to store your possessions.
Some grey nomads choose to sell everything and limit their possessions to what can fit in their mobile home.
This option will give you a large sum of money to live on during retirement, and may mean you have less to worry about while on
the road, but it also means you will need to find a new house when you decide to settle down and stop travelling.
So, your big trip is approaching and you have all your planning in order, what else do you need to think about?
Well, it is important to have all your medical and dental checks before you go so that you know you are fit and healthy for travelling.
Have an assessment of your general health, and if you have current illnesses, have all your relevant documents ready and put aside in case you have an emergency or need to visit another doctor while on the road.
Ensure you have your prescriptions ready to go and have scripts for medications with you in case you’re running low. Also, keep all your medication safely stored in cool areas, especially if you are heading to areas in Australia that are incredibly hot.
Your caravan or vehicle should be stocked with an up-to-date first aid kit, available at most pharmacies.
If you use any medical equipment or assistive technology, such as a blood glucose monitoring system for
diabetes or a hearing aid, make sure you have plenty of back up batteries and any relevant chargers.
Make sure your car and caravan have been checked prior to leaving, so you don’t have any unexpected vehicle issues while on the road. As you leave the driveway, check that the brake and indicator lights are working and properly connected for safety.
Also, leave a contact number with loved ones so they know where to reach you in case of an emergency. It can be a good idea to not only have your insurance details stored safely, but to also leave a copy with your loved ones just in case.
Australian weather conditions can be challenging for anyone, including older people.
Your body may not be able to cool itself down naturally or keep the heat in when it is cold, you may be more susceptible to dehydration, and you could have a medical condition that flares up in the hot or cold weather.
That could all be worsened if your car breaks down on the side of the road, flooding washes out a road you were going to travel on, or you are caught out in the sun and experience some severe sunburn.
But with the right preparation for a range of weather conditions, you can be ready for any extreme weather events you experience while on the road and stay safe for your whole journey.
Pack plenty of water in your vehicle, including in storage tanks in your caravan and easy-to-access places in your car.
Take a variety of clothing and bedding with you, from protective but lightwieght and loose shirts and
trousers for wearing in the hot sun to heavy jackets and a spare blanket for keeping warm when the cold fronts blow over.
There was a time when you could not easily communicate with family and friends while travelling, but mobile phones have well and truly changed that.
There is no reason to not keep everyone up to date with your adventures.
More importantly, open communication means if anything goes wrong due to the weather, a natural disaster or an emergency, you have loved ones who can quickly raise an alarm if you miss an expected arrival date or don’t check-in to your next location.
If you change your travel plans to avoid flooded areas or to stay in a bushfire-safe town on a day with a higher bushfire risk, make sure to update your loved ones on where you are going and why.
to read more about safe summer travel
Make sure your car and caravan have been checked prior to leaving.
It’s no wonder so many Australians own caravans and love the idea of a caravanning road trip.
While caravans come in many sizes and styles, there are some common tips and tricks which will help you on the road.
In most cases, you don’t need a special licence to tow a caravan, however you should check what the rules are in your State or Territory as you may need a different licence if your caravan exceeds a certain weight.
In addition, not all vehicles are able to tow a caravan, and not even all four wheel drives can tow caravans.
You need to know what the recommended towing capacity is of your car and whether it matches your caravan - which can be checked in the vehicle manufacturer’s handbook. The tow ball fitted to your vehicle also needs to have an appropriate weight rating for the caravan you are towing.
Towing capacity is determined on what is a safe balance for your caravan, so that it does not easily tip or fishtail.
Towing mirrors and a reversing camera for behind the caravan
might also need to be fitted to your vehicle so that you can safely overtake other vehicles or reverse into parking spots and caravan sites. Remember that towing is different to driving a regular car as your vehicle will behave differently with the weight of a caravan behind it, as well as the obvious difference of the increased length of what you are driving. This impacts the safety of your driving, particularly if you are driving at high speeds or in windy and wet conditions.
It can be helpful to do a short ‘trial’ trip to a site an hour or so from your home to practise towing and using your caravan. Or you could find a towing course in person or online to boost your knowledge and experience before your trip.
There are some pieces of information about your caravan you will need to know, or have on hand, while travelling.
◆ Size – the length, width and height of your caravan is important so that you can book a big enough caravan site to stay on, and can park in locations without overhead obstructions which could damage your caravan.
◆ Weight – knowing how heavy your vehicle and caravan are may be necessary when boarding ferries or crossing certain signed bridges.
◆ Electricity, gas and water connections – If your caravan connects to electricity at caravan sites you will need to know where this connection is to line it up as close as possible to the site’s outlets, as well as knowing how the internal gas and water connections work and what you need to do to set them up.
Caravans can provide comfort, shelter and a home away from home while you’re on the road, and the best part is, they can go just about anywhere in Australia with you!
Towing is different to driving a regular car as your vehicle will behave differently with the weight of a caravan behind it.
◆ Awning – knowing which side the awning is on and how far it extends out will allow you to place your caravan in the best position on a site to make full use of your shade and shelter.
◆ Dumping – If your caravan has a toilet and/or shower, you will need to know how and where to dump the grey water. You can’t simply tip this down a drain, it must be disposed of at a designated dumping point. Most towns will have one of these but it pays to research dumping points before you get to the moment where you need them.
Caravans are designed to be a smaller, mobile version of your home, so naturally there will be less space to fit your possessions and equipment.
Space-saving tips can help you to maximise the space you do have and take as many useful objects with you as possible. Many space-saving products are also cheap to buy and easy to install yourself.
For example, stick on hooks or magnetics strips can be used to hang utensils or jackets, as long as you make sure these are travel safe and hanging items won’t move around on the road.
Collapsible products are ideal for caravans, including folding laundry baskets, clothes horses and mixing bowls.
Stackable storage tubs for smaller items will also save you space inside cupboards while making items easier to locate.
Before you leave home and at regular intervals on your trip, such as when you move from one location to another, there are a number of safety checks you should do on your caravan and vehicle.
These include:
◆ Brake and indicator connections and lights, both on the caravan and your car
◆ Caravan windows and doors are locked
◆ Caravan drawers and cupboards are locked shut
◆ There are no loose items in the caravan that could move around and cause damage
◆ Caravan steps are raised, wheel chocks are removed and the jockey wheel is either removed or secured
◆ Tyres have enough tread and the right amount of air for the roads you will be travelling on (if you are going off-road you might need to consider letting some air out of your tyres)
The demand for off-road caravans has grown in recent years as Australians discover there are so many wonderful tourist destinations in our backyard, that just haven’t gained enough popularity or are too far from a city to have a bituminised access road.
Caravans that are designed to travel on unsealed roads will likely have different tyres, suspension, ground clearance and other features, for example set ups inside the caravan that stop items from bouncing around as much.
While off-road caravans will be able to travel on more surfaces than regular caravans, this does not mean that they can go on any road. It is unlikely that you will be able to take a caravan four wheel driving, for instance, so you still need to understand the limits of the caravan and your vehicle before choosing your route to a destination.
Larger caravans are likely not designed to cope with the bumpy dirt roads that cover the lesspopulated areas of Australia. However, you may be surprised at the quality of some roads and be able to travel them carefully while towing your caravan.
If you don’t know the quality of the road to your destination, ask a local or a fellow traveller what their experience was like.
It’s important to consider what facilities will be at the site where you will be staying if you are going offroad. In many cases it is unlikely you will be able to plug your caravan into a power source, so you may need your own generator, and facilities such as showers and toilets also may be limited.
for a guide to purchasing the right caravan
It can be tricky to find someone who is happy to take care of your pet for three to four months or you may feel like your trip would be empty without man’s best friend.
Instead of leaving Buddy at home, you can put together a plan that will ensure you enjoy your holiday with your handsome pooch.
First, visit the vet to make sure your pet is fit and healthy, collect any medication for your pet that you need, and ensure that your pet is up to date with vaccinations.
Since your animal is likely to be running around in unfamiliar places with unfamiliar diseases, you should make sure to do flea and worm treatments before you leave and make note of when you next need to provide that treatment again.
Your animal also needs to be microchipped with the right details. You should add those details to the national database, as your
State/Territory database won’t be available nationally.
If you haven’t taken your pet on a holiday before, it might be a good idea to see how they go with a day trip or short weekend away first.
This means your pet can get used to your car or caravan and you can get an idea of how your pet may cope with life on the road. You will also find out any areas in which your pet might need more training, such as recall in an open area or socialising with other dogs.
Going for a long drive can give you an idea of any unique habits you haven’t seen before.
When driving, it is important that your pet is safe and secure in the car.
Some people like to restrain their pets in the car by using a short leash or seatbelt harness. This can be a helpful way to reduce distraction
when you are driving or prevent your dog from jumping out a window because they saw something interesting outside of the car.
It’s a good idea to take regular stops so that your pet can go for a bit of a run and empty their bladder, to avoid messy accidents in the car.
When planning your destination, look for pet-friendly accommodation and activities, because not all places will be welcoming of your dog. It’s also important to understand that dogs are not allowed in National Parks, but there are plenty of caravan parks that are ideal for staying with your pet.
Call ahead to caravan parks if you are unsure of their stance on pets from the information on the website, or ask other pet owners you know for recommendations of places they have stayed at before.
You can put together a plan that will ensure you enjoy your holiday with your handsome pooch.
Inclusive food and drink packages, unlimited onboard entertainment, a variety of day trip options, amazing sea views and luxury features ranging from pools to cinemas, what’s not to love about a good cruise?
There are endless options when it comes to selecting a cruise for your next holiday, both in Australia and overseas.
Start with thinking about how long you want your cruise to go for and where you really want to go.
Have you been hanging out for a holiday amongst tropical islands with warm weather to enjoy for a week or two? Perhaps you are looking for a mini cruise off the coast of your own State or are looking for a much longer trip through Europe and want to spend a few days on a classic riverboat cruise?
Once you have decided, you can compare what options and styles of cruises are offered by different companies depending on your trip length and destination.
With cruises put on hold over the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, but restrictions now relaxed around the world, cruise holidays are beginning to pick up again and retirees are finally getting the opportunity to embark on their much-awaited trips.
Those who have experienced cruises give a number of reasons why they had a positive experience, and almost all do have a great experience.
Many love the easy nature of the trip - everything is organised, planned and structured for you in a way that takes the stress and worry out of planning a holiday.
There are also so many options for customisation if you want them, which gives a cruise variety and lets passengers tailor the experience to their interests, as well as offering a new experience each time you book a cruise.
Then there is the value that cruise packages represent. A cruise that includes your accommodation, food, drink and experiences all in one package will often work out to be cheaper or at least a competitive price to what you would spend separately for a similar experience on an overland holiday.
Finally, cruises offer comfort in the fact that you will consistently have service and support available to you, as well as access to luxury extras which might make your holiday even more comfortable.
Cruise operators will often have a number of options designed to appeal to various people, such as cruises that focus on relaxing activities, wining and dining, or cruises targeted at people who want a party atmosphere on the ship and adventurous day trips.
Cruises offer comfort in the fact that you will consistently have service and support available to you.
There are even themed cruises for people looking for a specific crowd, like golfing cruises and singles trips. If you’re unsure where to start with the style of cruise and what would suit you, ask a family member or friend who has been on a cruise about their experience, or you can ask a travel agent for advice on the options available.
When selecting your cruise you can also consider which operators offer the best cost value, for example what day trips are included or not included in the cost, the food and drinks packages available and whether there are any extra bonuses thrown in like Wifi or massage vouchers.
Cruises are a great travel option if you have mobility requirements or need certain accessibility features in order to make the most of your trip.
Many cruises are wheelchair accessible and cater to people with impacted mobility.
The fact that there are always medical staff onboard the ship can also give you peace of mind that help will be quick to arrive if you have a medical emergency, for example if you have a chronic health condition like diabetes and experience a severe drop in blood sugar levels.
For any health or accessibility considerations you want to discuss before booking a cruise you can talk to your travel agent, who can help you select the right cruise or communicate on your behalf with the cruise operator about including these requirements in your package.
If you are booking directly with a cruise operator give them a call to talk through exactly what you need and get confirmation that they will be able to meet your requirements.
Cruise lines are using new safety measures following the COVID-19 pandemic to keep passengers safe.
Changes include more frequent cleaning, better ventilation and installation of touchless technology.
Onboard medical staff and facilities for treating people with COVID-19 have also improved, so you can be confident you will be looked after if you do become sick.
Depending on where you are going and the cruise operator you are travelling with, you may be required to prove you are vaccinated against COVID-19 and provide a negative test result before boarding.
When you are selecting and booking your cruise, the operator will tell you everything you need to know about their COVID-19 requirements.
Cruise operators will often have a number of options designed to appeal to various people.
Depending on where you travel, it can be tricky to access medication or health care services.
Some countries may not have services that you would normally be able to access easily in Australia.
There may even be a language barrier to overcome when talking to a doctor or hospital staff.
The Australian Government has agreements with 11 countries to provide access to some health care services, potentially for free or at a reduced rate, through Medicare.
The Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (RHCA) is currently available in Belgium, Finland, Italy, Malta, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Republic of Ireland, Slovenia, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
It could be anything from a selfdrive holiday around New Zealand, cruising around the Caribbean on a cruise liner, hiking to Machu Picchu in Peru, or joining a tour group to explore all Europe has to offer.
Here are some things to consider before you hop on the plane to reach your dream destination.
There are travel agents who specialise in developing or organising trips especially for different groups of people.
They can help you plan so your trip has the right amount of adventure, interesting experiences, relaxation and safety to build your ideal holiday.
If you are intending to organise the whole trip yourself, planning is even more important.
You need to create yourself a budget, book flights and
accommodation, and have basic knowledge of how to travel around, and between, the cities and towns you want to visit.
You also need to know what the environment and culture are like in the countries you travel to.
For example, Vietnam is a country with diverse cultures that are different to what you will be used to in Australia.
There are also strict Government laws and regulations in Vietnam with militia patrolling streets and protecting monuments.
Areas in India get affected by strong unexpected weather events like monsoons, so it’s important to know when it’s the best time to travel for the destination you’re choosing.
At most bookstores near you, you should be able to find travel guide books on countries you want to visit which can help with organising your trip, or take your research online.
Through this agreement you can access reduced costs for medical care if it is an emergency or care for an injury or illness that can’t wait until you return to Australia. However, the country you are visiting will still decide what care will be covered or subsidised.
International travel is a popular choice for many older people especially because after retirement they have the time and money to do so.
You need to create yourself a budget, book flights and accommodation, and have basic knowledge of how to travel around.
The doctor who treats you will decide if they believe it is a medical necessity to receive subsidised or free care.
Before you head overseas, you will need to contact Services Australia to enrol in the program and claim Medicare benefits.
It’s important to have your medication prepared and stored in a safe place when travelling.
This includes enough medication to cover your immediate time overseasm, plus spare medication stored in a different location for an emergency, for example if your bag gets lost or stolen.
Have a letter from your doctor explaining you need the medication and carry additional prescriptions with you in case you need to stock up.
Some medications you are able to get from your pharmacist regularly also may not be available in the country you are visiting. You should research this before heading to other countries.
It can also be important to pack extra medication for basic care, like
aspirin or gastro-related tablets, so you know the medication you are taking is trustworthy.
Lastly, have all of your medical check-ups done before you travel so you know you are fit to travel. This also allows you to catalogue your doctor’s letter of explanation for any medication you need to take while travelling.
Having some form of travel insurance can be the best way to prepare yourself for the worst case scenario.
Depending on the level of insurance you choose, it can protect you monetarily, by reimbursing you for last minute tour, flights or accommodation cancellations, or can cover any medical payments if you need health care or have any other type of emergency while overseas.
If you look at what occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, it took the world by storm; the virus spread far and wide quickly and is the first of its kind in over a century.
It is possible that we could see another pandemic like experience in our lifetime again.
While some travellers were unable to get refunds after cancelling trips during the pandemic, others with the right level of travel insurance were protected.
The two most common forms of insurance are vacation plans and travel medical plans.
There is also seniors travel insurance, which covers older people while they travel for a greater variety of emergencies and potential health events.
It’s important to have your medication prepared and stored in a safe place when travelling.
When looking into insurance, you should shop around to see what is available and get different quotes.
Each plan can differ from company to company, and may exclude things that are important.
Make sure to look carefully at what you are being covered for, and if you have medical problems make sure it covers any emergency actions that you may need to take.
You should take out travel insurance as soon as you book flights in case anything happens and you need to change plans unexpectedly.
Countries around the world can be incredibly strict on what you can bring across their borders.
For instance, Indonesia has notoriously strict drug laws so you should always be prepared before you travel by having the correct documentation for any medication you need. Also be aware if your medication is legal to bring into the countries you are travelling by talking with your doctor or pharmacist before you leave.
Certain countries in Africa or the Middle East have clothing expectations, especially for women.
It’s important to understand the sensitivities in other countries when travelling and plan for them for your own safety.
Before travelling, you should check the Australian Government’s Smart Traveller website, smartraveller.gov.au for the latest information about your destination.
You can search the country and view their travel status, which could be “do not travel” advice, or it could highlight that some areas in a country are safer compared to others.
Not only that, there is information about the country, any vaccinations you should take before heading there, and also makes you aware of relevant laws that may affect you.
Smart Traveller can also update you on visa requirements for entering each country.
Have your suitcases adequately secured with padlocks or keys, and keep your valuables out of sight.
You may like to use bag wrapping stations at airports to cover your bag in clingfilm, so that you will know if it has been tampered with in transit.
It’s advisable to not wear any expensive jewellery or clothing that could make you a target for pickpockets in the airport or when you are travelling.
Keep any money or valuables in either a close body bag or ‘bum bag’, and keep your passport and credit card in a protector wallet to help protect you from identity theft.
Another tip is to split your valuables and carry money in different spots on you so that you can use some as a ‘dummy’ if you are held up by a robber.
Always have copies of your passport or identification on you at all times in case you lose your passport. It is also a good option to have easy access to contact details for the Australian embassy in case of an emergency.
Never leave passports or other valuables behind in your hotel. If you feel uncomfortable or worried in a certain situation when travelling, you should follow your gut and try to get back to the safety of your accommodation or an area of a city you feel comfortable in.
Lastly, be conscious that COVID-19 is still going to be around while you travel.
Implement COVID-19 safety measures, like mask wearing and social distancing, where possible.
for COVIDsafe travel
Always have copies of your passport or identification on you at all times in case you lose your passport.
The best way to ensure you are able to have the experiences you want is to budget for your travel, whether it’s the caravanning road trip, an interstate holiday or an overseas trip.
This will allow your trip to last as long as possible without having to worry about running out of money.
Travelling can be expensive, which is why these budgeting tips will ensure a smooth holiday.
Make a food budget for you and whoever else you are travelling with.
If it is for two people, you may only need to put aside $150 for a grocery shop once a week.
If you are caravanning around Australia, meal planning or bulk cooking can also be a money saver.
In really remote areas, you may find some items more expensive than in suburbia and towns.
If you are looking to fine dine on your trip, make sure to have an “extras” food allowance prepared for any restaurants and cafes you visit, or for your daily coffee.
If you are travelling overseas, you may opt to taste the delicacies of overseas cuisine.
Your extra allowance could be around $200 a week, which would cover around three food outings for a couple.
Be sure to adjust the budget for how expensive food is at your actual destination, for example, French cuisine is known to be more expensive to purchase compared to food in Spain or Portugal where tapas can be quite affordable.
Mapping out your trip can give you a vague idea of how much fuel or travel will cost.
Fuel is expensive in general, let alone for a massive caravan or driving trip.
You will find fuel to be one of your biggest expenses when travelling.
Fuel vouchers on the bottom of grocery or other receipts can be lifesavers when travelling, but utilising fuel comparison apps for your mobile phone can also help you to pay the lowest price.
Use Google Maps to give you an estimate on the kilometres you will travel between locations and calculate that against the current petrol prices.
If you are travelling via trains, buses, trams, or personal drivers, this can cost a lot as well, so it should be well accounted for in your holiday budget.
It may help pre-organising part of your travel, like bigger train trips or overnight buses, so it doesn’t impact your travel budget while you are there.
Choosing your accommodation carefully can save you a lot of money.
There are many free or low cost camping spots across Australia, as well as competitive caravan parks.
If you organise your travelling route around these lower cost accommodation options, it can allow you to put your money elsewhere.
Similarly, if you are travelling overseas, most countries have a variety of cheap accommodation available like hostels or house shares.
If you aren’t looking to share rooms with others, there is still plenty of cheap accommodation that would meet the needs of one or two people.
Using travel websites can be really helpful when comparing different accommodation options.
An emergency kitty can save you a lot of money in the long run if you have a fund to pull from when something unexpected occurs.
This money could cover any car or caravan breakdowns including towing, medical emergencies or unexpected bills, last minute accommodation, or an unexpected flight cancellation or double booked hotel room.
Sometimes your trip doesn’t always go to plan, so the best thing you can do is know that you have money available in case of an emergency.
Even if there is an emergency, at least you know you won’t have to cut your holiday short to cover it.
Just because you are travelling doesn’t mean your bills or taxes are on holiday too!
Be mindful that you will still need to pay your mortgage, phone bills, council taxes, and any other house payments while you are away.
These expenses should be considered in your overall budget.
If you are wanting to get involved in new experiences, putting money aside for those activities can make sure it’s not cutting into your budget.
It can be a good idea to have money ready for experiences you already know are on your bucket list, as well as extra for any unplanned experiences you want to try.
This funding can be for entering national parks or activities such as swimming with dolphins in Western Australia, a hot air balloon ride over the French Loire Valley or taking a camel ride through the Sahara Desert in Morocco.
When travelling, you may come across the most exciting experiences that you never knew existed, so setting aside money for these spontaneous activities can make sure you experience your holiday to the fullest.
Travel, accommodation and tourism often come with a “peak season tax” meaning you’ll pay more during the busiest time of the year.
You may find accommodation or activities cheaper during the off season.
Although, this is very dependent on the country, where you are in the country, and the weather conditions of the country.
Budgeting in advance of your holiday, and doing all the research needed to inform your budget, will mean you get the most value for money and are ultimately able to enjoy the best experience.
Renting out your home can provide you with disposable income or take your mortgage payments off your budget.
People also find this a good option because they don’t need to have family or friends watch their house for them while they are away.
In cases like this, it could be a good idea to go through a rental management agency and put in place a tenancy agreement that can protect you and your property, as well as the people living in your home during this time.
Some companies may not accept a house listing that isn’t for a reasonable period of time, for example, a property manager would be more open to managing
If you are looking to fine dine on your trip, make sure to have an “extras” food allowance prepared.
a six month lease period than a month long lease.
Alternatively, another option is house sitting, where you pay someone to live in your house and take care of it while you are away. Of course, this option costs you money rather than the other way round.
Using your biggest asset, your home, as a source of regular income
The rent you earn could be combined with any superannuation payments you are living on to fund a very comfortable lifestyle while you travel and give peace of mind you are able to afford any extra costs. Your
is an option that many retirees find works well for them while travelling to fund more experiences than what they would be able to afford on savings alone.
YourRetirementLiving is the #1 source to help you make the most of your next stage of life and includes information on;
• Financial advice
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• and much more!
www.YourRetirementLiving.com.au Everything
Have money ready for experiences you already know are on your bucket list.
The hype of expectation in the lead up to your trip can be distracting, and even stressful at times, so it can be helpful to follow a list when you’re packing. This checklist is a good start to ensure you don’t forget the most important essentials for any holiday.
Documents & essentials
Travel/health insurance documents
Tickets – either printed or electronic
Itinerary
A list of important contacts and numbers – hotels, tours, and emergency contacts
A list of medications and a prescription/letter from your doctor
Personal ID/Student ID card
Cash converted into the local currency
Credit/bank cards – let your bank know that you’ll be travelling and for how long so they don’t stop you from being able to make a payment
Spare set of clothes
Spare set of glasses in case the ones you are wearing get broken
Mobile phone and chargers – you’ll need to arrange international roaming or an international sim card before leaving to make sure you can use your device
Light jacket – in case it gets cold while travelling or transiting
Laptop, iPad, or E-reader and charger(s)
Headphones – you can grab noise-cancelling headphones if you’re sensitive to sound
Driver’s licence – if travelling overseas you may need an international driver’s licence
If you’re travelling overseas then you will also need to make sure you pack the following:
Passport – usually you’ll need six months of validity for airlines to let you travel
Visas – some countries require you to apply for a Visa before being able to enter their country. This could take a few weeks/months
For some of your documents, you may also want to make sure you have photocopies available and leave a copy with someone who stays behind, just in case anything gets lost along the way or in case of an emergency.
Camera, memory card, and chargers
Electrical converters and adapters
Travel pillow, blanket, eye mask, and earplugs
Books or magazines
Chapstick and hand lotion
Water bottle – this can be filled up once you have gone through security
Travel guides, maps, language guides, etc. – if you think you’ll need this as soon as you land it’s best to put these in your carry on to make sure you have read them
Underwear – socks, stockings, bras and undershirts
Bottoms – pants, jeans, shorts or skirts
Sleepwear
Shirts – casual or dress
Jumpers or sweatshirts
Formalwear – if appropriate
Coats, jackets, rainwear
Hats, gloves, scarves
Dental supplies – toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, mouthwash
Soap/body wash
Deodorant
Perfume
Health
Medications – it may be better to keep these in your carry-on to make sure you have them on hand
Prescriptions and a letter from your doctor explaining the medication you are taking, in case you need an explanation for customs or need more medication while you’re away
Tweezers
Vitamins
Spare batteries for any mobility aids – to check the exact requirements for air travel and batteries visit the Civil Aviation Safety website: dangerousgoodsapp.casa.gov.au
Travel journal and pen – so that you can record your trip
Accessories such as a handbag, jewellery or a watch
Swimwear – including any coverups
Shoes – depending on your plans, you may also need to include hiking shoes, walking shoes or dress shoes
Sandals or thongs/flip-flops
Belts
Any other specialist clothing needed for your activities - for example, ski-wear or a wetsuit and snorkelling gear
Skincare products – moisturiser, cleanser or other supplies
Shampoo/Conditioner
Hairstyling tools – hairbrush, comb, other tools
Makeup/makeup remover
First aid kit – including disinfectant, bandaids, bandages, pain relievers
Feminine hygiene products
Tissues
Sunscreen
Insect repellent
Sunglasses
Music player
Food or snacks – this may be good if you only eat certain types of food or if you need to eat regularly due to a health condition
It is wonderful to have the enjoyment of tasty food and special drinks in your week, but you also need to remember that a balanced diet will look after your health and let you continue to enjoy the finer things for even longer.
Nutrition is super important as you age and become more at risk of health conditions.
However, people also lose taste, smell, their appetite and sometimes the skills to make nutritious meals as they get older, so it can be difficult to keep up a balanced diet.
Since your body requires fewer calories as you age, you need to make every bit of food you consume count.
It’s well known that malnutrition affects many older people living in aged care facilities, but most don’t realise that malnutrition can occur before someone is even in a facility and may even be the cause for ending up in a nursing home.
Your body is less able to absorb the nutrients and vitamins you need when you are older, which is why you really need to focus on what you are putting into your body early on.
Just being aware of what you are eating and what may be lacking in your diet can help though, as you will know which area of your diet to focus on when cooking at home - or even what to choose to eat if you’re out at a restaurant.
For example, if you know you are low in iron you might order the steak, or if you need more vegetables a home cooked vegetable soup would be an easy way to fit in those nutrients.
If you already have a health issue, such as diabetes or heart disease, you can also be actively involved in managing these conditions by being in control of your diet.
There are some easy steps you can take to keep your diet on a healthy track:
Strive for the 'five serves of vegetables and two serves of fruit' goal every day and add to this with lean meats and whole grains for the best health benefits.
These foods give you the fibre your body needs to get cholesterol out of your system and promote good bowel health.
When you retire, you'll have more time to socialise over food and drinks as you spend your days reconnecting with people you didn’t have so much time to meet up with before.
Taking charge of what you eat will not only help you to be healthy now but also in the future.
Salt increases blood pressure and puts you at greater risk of heart disease, while sugar is added to many processed foods and can result in diabetes or heart disease as well.
Healthy substitutes for salt and sugar for flavouring are fresh herbs and spices.
The protein guideline for older people is to eat 1 to 1.2 grams of protein per kilogram of your body weight. This means if you weigh between 80 to 85 kilograms you need about 100g of protein a day to maintain muscle.
You can consume protein through meat, legumes, vegetables and yoghurt.
Calcium is important for bone health and you need vitamin D in order to absorb calcium. Making sure you have enough vitamin D to take in the calcium you eat will also help with arthritis and osteoporosis.
Saturated fats impact on your heart health, so your heart will thank you for avoiding high-fat dairy and junk food as much as possible.
When using oil for cooking you can use healthy oils, such as olive and avocado, to reduce saturated fats.
When you kick back with a glass in hand, make sure you drink in moderation. Alcohol is high in sugar and has no nutritional value so it’s recommended you shouldn’t have more than two standard drinks a day.
Taking charge of what you eat will not only help you to be healthy now but also in the future, as you will be able to reduce the likelihood of developing a chronic illness, keep your muscles and bones strong to help with mobility, and maintain your mental health and wellbeing.
Having a meal plan for the week can help you to put all of these tips into practice and make sure your body is getting the nutrients it needs to function as well as possible, for as long as possible.
If you are unsure where to start with meal planning or a healthy diet,
talk to your doctor. You may also benefit from visiting a nutritionist or dietitian, who can help to develop meal plans that suit you and your lifestyle, making them easier to follow.
You should also complement healthy eating with exercise. For more information about keeping physically fit, see page 53.
Having a meal plan for the week can help you to make sure your body is getting the nutrients it needs to function as well as possible.
SCAN to read about hydration.
It can be very difficult to eat enough of the foods that will put these nutrients back into your body in the right quantities, or you may have a medical condition that affects how you absorb them, and this is where supplements may come in.
In some cases, supplements can be very helpful in fueling your body with the right nutrients, if your normal diet is lacking, and they can also boost your nutrition even if you have a well-balanced diet.
Not all older adults need to take supplements or vitamin tablets to improve their nutritional intake, it depends on how you are managing your own diet and how your body is functioning.
While supplements might be helpful if you are unable to get enough
of these vitamins and minerals through food, the first option should always be to assess your diet before taking anything.
In many cases you might only need to adjust how much you are eating of particular foods to get the balance right.
For example, to get the right amount of calcium the Australian Dietary Guidelines recommend that older women (over 50 years old) should have four serves of dairy per day, while men aged 50 to 70 should consume two and a half serves, and men over 70 should have three and a half serves of dairy per day.
Supplements should never be substituted for good food, you still need to eat healthily whether you are taking supplements or not,
and purchasing supplements can also be much more expensive than buying the fresh ingredients to make good meals.
Just remember that advertising for supplements can be quite clever and targeted, making some supplements sound like a magic pill that you need to take in order to be healthy, but there are options to investigate when it comes to looking after your health through diet.
Before taking any supplement or vitamin tablets, you should check with your doctor about whether they are right for you.
Your doctor may suggest you develop a better meal plan, visit a dietitian or nutritionist who can support you to improve your diet, or get help at home to prepare meals, rather than simply taking supplements.
You might only need to adjust how much you are eating of particular foods to get the balance right.
Various studies have shown that if you aren’t active enough it is a big contributor to physical decline.
Regular exercise can guard against chronic health conditions such as heart disease and can also be part of managing health conditions you might already have, like arthritis.
Being active will mean you have stronger muscles and bones, maintain your coordination and balance, minimise the risk of falls and be beneficial for moving around your home, including getting in and out of chairs and bed.
Regular exercise can also help with:
◆ Increasing energy levels
◆ Regulating blood pressure
◆ Reducing anxiety or depression
◆ Improving sleep
◆ Improving metabolism to keep a healthy weight
◆ Increasing self-esteem
◆ Maintaining respiratory function
◆ Supporting your immune system
This is why it’s so important to keep up physical activity, even if you can’t do the same activities or exercise at the same intensity as you used to. Setting aside time each week, or even each day, to do something active will improve your fitness and overall health.
Falling over at home is one of the most common mobility issues experienced by older Australians.
It often results in that person needing help at home to remain living in the community, or in an admission to an aged care home or hospital.
As a fall can cause broken bones and bruises, or sometimes more serious injuries, it can also lead to a lack of confidence and a hesitation to exercise because of the fear of falling over again.
If you are fit and active to begin with, you are less likely to have a fall or other injury at all and if you do end up having a fall it will help you to recover your mobility and confidence if you stay active.
It is recommended you do at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise, which gets your heart rate up, every day. Focus on aerobics and muscle strengthening to have even more of a chance of preventing a fall.
There are many options for exercise out there, the types of activities are endless.
Gyms are a popular destination for people who want to stay active because of the wide range of
Use
Staying active and keeping fit is important as you age because it helps with maintaining mobility, independence, health and wellbeing.
activities and classes you can do in one place.
A gym membership will give you access to lots of equipment you likely won’t have at home. You can choose what types of exercise you want to focus on while there – from building muscle with machines
adjusted to the right weight for you to cardio on a stationary bike, which is a good low impact activity for your joints.
If you are not fond of exercising by yourself you could join an exercise class, either at the gym or in the park or local swimming pool and
follow the instruction of the class teacher for the best results.
You may prefer to exercise while playing an individual or team sport, and the types of sport played by older people are also endless.
Lawn bowls, badminton, tennis and table tennis are popular, or you can join older age groups such as Masters competitions in the sports you played when you were younger.
Modified sports are also on the rise and are a lower impact version of
Brenton Wortley has a deep-seated passion for football.
He took up the Aussie Rules code at the age of 29 and played in the amateur league for 35 years, setting the Adelaide-based Plympton Football Club’s continuing record for total games played, an impressive 476 games.
But simply playing the sport wasn’t enough for Brenton, so he also took up coaching and has offered his experience to numerous clubs and age groups over the past decades.
Now 73 years old, Brenton has played around 440 games in the over 35s AFL Masters SA competition, and is the second oldest player in the State.
He says the fortnightly Sunday games are not “bash and crash like Saturday football” but are still competitive. While the sport keeps players physically fit, Brenton explains the camaraderie between players and support for those experiencing mental health struggles is also a huge factor in players’ overall wellbeing.
“I think the main thing is we push the mental health side along with the health side,” he says.
“There’s a lot of loners out there and most of our clubs are very friendly to any new members, whether they’ve never kicked a football before or whether they come from an SANFL [South Australian National Football League] level.”
An example of the difference the team atmosphere can make for a player is the experience of the oldest player in SA, who is 77 and plays in the Riverland.
This man started playing a few years ago after his wife passed away, because he was going out to watch the games and the team invited him onto the field. He was instantly hooked.
“It’s most probably added years to his life to be quite honest,” adds Brenton. The support from clubs extends to having an accredited ‘trainer’ on hand, who can help treat soft tissue injuries like hamstring strains, niggles and cramps so that players can stay fit for longer, and refer a player with more serious injuries to a doctor.
Setting aside time each week to do something active will improve your fitness.
common team sports, like walking netball or soccer.
Contact your local council or sports club for more information about activities or exercise groups in your community.
You don’t have to participate in organised sport or lift weights in the gym to reap the benefits of exercise either, going for regular walks or just vacuuming the house can be part of maintaining your physical abilities.
It is recommended that before you take up more regular exercise you should see your doctor or a health professional for advice on your new exercise routine.
This is particularly important if you are overweight, have a chronic illness or disease, or live a sedentary life.
When you start to exercise more regularly the effort it takes to push yourself to go out and move around
may be difficult, because exercise might feel like a chore.
To provide some motivation, try to choose a form of exercise you enjoy and invite some friends to come along with you, or join a social group to meet new friends that enjoy the same physical activity as you.
If any player is forced to stop playing because of injury, their team mates encourage them to continue attending training and social events, just to feel part of the action.
The retirement plan
In his working life Brenton owned an automotive business with 30 employees in Adelaide and a branch of 15 employees in Darwin, and in retirement he has brought his people management skills into football.
After selling his business and retiring six years ago, it took Brenton only 12 months to take up the role of President for AFL Masters SA.
“You get out of one era of something and something else comes up you get involved with, so there’s never a dull moment,” he explains.
A highlight of his continuing service as President was last year’s national AFL Masters carnival, which brought 60 teams from across Australia to compete in Adelaide and took 10 months of intense planning.
During the carnival, a passing meeting with an opposition player from Perth that Brenton first met 20 years ago summed up how Brenton says many retirees feel about their football.
“He said ‘when are we gonna stop?’ and I said, ‘we’ll most likely be out there in wheelchairs mate’ and he laughed,” Brenton recalls.
“What my wife says to me is, ‘when are you going to give it away?’
“I say, ‘the day I don’t want to go to training or the day I lose interest in playing is the day I give it away’.”
If you need more guidance on what your exercise program should look like you can also hire a personal trainer, who will be able to help you set goals and steps to get fit.
Just remember, it’s best to start small and build up to the amount of exercise that will achieve your fitness goals so that you avoid injury.
We’re all becoming more and more aware of just how important mental health is to living a happy and healthy life.
For older Australians, good mental health is crucial to overall health and wellbeing, so if you look after your mental health you will be able to live at home for longer.
An estimated 10 to 15 percent of older people who live in the community experience depression and about 10 percent experience anxiety.
This could be something a person is feeling for the first time, or something they have struggled with on and off throughout their life.
It is also common for older people to experience more of the contributing factors of depression than young people, including physical illness and personal loss.
If you do experience any signs of poor mental health, reach out and get help, because the earlier you address these feelings the better your chances are of dealing with them before hitting a crisis point.
Knowing what the signs are when you are struggling with your mental health will equip you with the tools you need to seek the right treatment and start your path to recovery.
Common signs that you may need to focus on your mental health or seek support include:
◆ Confusion, disorientation or unusual thinking
◆ Significant changes in mood or emotional outbursts
◆ Feeling guilty or worthless, restless, agitated, or sad for long periods of time
◆ Excessive fears, worries and anxieties
◆ Sleep problems
◆ Changes in behaviour
◆ Weight or appetite changes
◆ Suicidal thoughts or acts of self- harm
◆ Substance abuse
Many older people have symptoms of depression or anxiety due to health issues, loss - of your career, loved ones, independence or physical ability, financial problems and family conflict.
Understanding how these causes might affect you can also steer the direction of your treatment when you do seek help and assist with your recovery.
Be truthful about how you are feeling and realistic about why.
Although older people, and their regular health professionals, may have a tendency to brush off the symptoms of mental health conditions as ‘normal’ for people who are ageing, ignoring the signs can lead to really serious consequences.
Living with an untreated mental health condition can shorten your
If you experience any signs of poor mental health, reach out and get help.
life, lead to poorer physical health and increase your risk of dementia.
This is why it is so important to seek help by visiting your General Practitioner (GP) for advice.
Your doctor can connect you to any specialists you might need, like a psychologist or counselling service, and work with you to create a mental health treatment plan.
The mental health treatment plan will detail the issues you are experiencing, potential treatment options, and support services.
Your GP will also provide a letter of referral to your mental health expert of choice.
This referral will allow for several mental health appointments with the professional to be subsidised by the Government.
You don’t have to have a referral from a doctor to visit a mental health specialist, but you won’t receive Government-subsidised appointments without a referral and it could be difficult to get on the waiting list for an appointment.
Additionally, you can contact helplines, support groups and other health professionals through community services who are able to listen to you and assist with your mental health.
Crisis support through Lifeline is also available, call 13 11 14.
A mental health specialist can assist you in recovering from a state of mental ill health to be happy and enjoy life.
Different mental health professionals can help with your path to recovery in different ways.
◆ Psychiatrists diagnose and treat mental health conditions with a combination of medication, treatment plans and therapies. They work with you, your family and any other specialists you are seeing to ensure you understand the symptoms of your condition and can manage them effectively.
◆ Psychologists cannot prescribe medication, so they use various treatment strategies and help you to make changes in your life in order to resolve issues you have. They will help you to understand how you’re feeling and make sure the changes you make improve your quality of life.
◆ Counsellors will listen to your feelings and talk about the possible causes of your stress, anxiety or depression,
so that they can help you form a plan of how to manage your mental health.
◆ Social workers similarly will discuss what issues you are facing and recommend how you can make positive changes in your life to tackle the root of the problem.
◆ Mental health nurses work in the community to provide education, counselling and support, as well as helping with medication and linking you to other services that can help. Each of these professionals might have a positive impact on your pathway to recovery and good mental health.
Part of looking after your mental health is being proactive by doing daily tasks that will boost positivity and reduce any negative feelings you may have.
Socialising and connecting with other people is one of the biggest ways to combat loneliness and is crucial for keeping your mind happy and healthy.
Connecting with other people is one of the biggest ways to combat loneliness.
It can be as simple as catching up with a close friend for a coffee, or visiting your grandchildren for a regular family dinner.
If you’re not sure who to socialise with you can join a community social group to meet other people your age and connect with them on outings.
For more specific social support there are groups targeted at
supporting you in areas of your life that may be linked to mental health conditions. For example there are support groups for people experiencing grief, loss, boredom, loneliness or isolation that meet in person, online or over the phone.
Regular exercise and staying active are another activity that boosts mental health. You could try walking daily, pilates or yoga classes or age - modified exercise and sports.
The Probus Club of Melbourne is a men’s social club of some 200 members, mostly retirees, looking for social interaction and who all share one thing in common – a love for the opportunities the club provides.
Members attend meetings to socialise with friends and hear from speakers, go on day trips around Melbourne or longer trips across Australia, with their partners if they choose, and can join smaller groups for sports such as tennis, golf and bowls.
Club President Rick Ladbury says the fellowship of the Club is one of the top reasons people join.
“I think the main reasons they join are twofold; it’s the camaraderie and the fellowship, and the quality of the speakers at the general meetings,” he says.
“Most people agree that camaraderie and fellowship are a key part of this organisation.”
By building connections with a “great cross section” of people their own age, Mr Ladbury says his members get the
social interaction they need to maintain their wellbeing.
“A lot of them even get to a 10 o’clock meeting at 9.30 so they can have a coffee and a chat before we sit down for the formal business,” he says. Whether it’s being part of the bridge group, a discussion group where members cover a range of topics, or one of the five finance groups competing against each other by ‘investing’ a hypothetical one million dollars for the highest returns, they all encourage members to learn new knowledge and keep their minds active. And some groups are so popular they have a waiting list to join!
But aside from all the activities on offer, the Club has a real focus on wellbeing. Friends and acquaintances ask after each other’s health, there’s a newsletter that keeps those who can’t attend involved with their social network and the Club even has a Wellbeing Officer to follow up with members who are unwell to show support for them.
Increasing enjoyment in your life through hobbies and interests can also have a positive effect on mental health, as can keeping your mind active through board or card games, crosswords, or reading books, magazines or newspapers.
Reach out to your local council to find the right activity or group for you.
“I suppose if you’re looking at retirement a lot of people would say what you need is intellectual stimulation and social stimulation, and when you look at our members you can see they’re engaged in both,” says Mr Ladbury.
There are all-male, all-female and mixed Probus Clubs right across Australia, as well as others such as the Rotary and Lions clubs, offering similar social opportunities and supporting the wellbeing of retirees.
You can find your local club by visiting probussouthpacific.org or asking your council about the clubs in your area.
Regular exercise and staying active are another activity that boosts mental health.The Probus Club of Melbourne on a short trip to the Montsalvat Artist’s Community. Source: Supplied
The joys of living in a retirement village are becoming more well-known among older Australians, as they decide to take the plunge and experience a fun, new lifestyle in a retirement village that is good for their health and wellbeing.
Retirement villages are a strong community of like-minded individuals who want to live safely and comfortably surrounded by people in similar stages of life.
Because there are so many perceptions around what retirement villages are like, it has caused a bunch of misconceptions to develop. Here are some of the most common myths about retirement villages, and an explanation of the truth behind them to put you in the right frame of mind for reading about retirement village options on the following pages.
Villages are for old people who need care
Did you know you can enter a retirement village once you turn 55? People in retirement villages
vary in age, anywhere from 55 up to their 80s.
Retirement villages are not aged care facilities, where you can receive care around the clock. A retirement village is a community of individuals who want to live in a safe neighbourhood, remain independent, and get involved in their community.
While some retirement villages may have co-located aged care facilities or provide services to help you at home, these villages generally only provide a new lifestyle that encourages socialisation and independence for village residents.
Many people who move into villages wish they moved sooner, as they make strong connections and friends with people within the community and are able to join a variety of clubs and groups to keep themselves occupied.
I
The great thing about retirement villages is that they foster independence and how you decide to use your time is up to you.
Most retirement villages will have a strong community and social inclusivity commitment, however, you get to decide how much time and effort you put into meeting others in your village.
There will be clubs, activities, social gatherings and other events that you will likely be able to participate in, but always on your terms.
If you want to be a social butterfly and make lots of new friends, then you can. But for people who prefer peace, quiet, and the comfort of slow days, then your own home is your retreat from your village community – just as it would be if you were living in any town or city.
Villages differ from each other considerably, for instance, some villages are only a couple of units while others have hundreds of houses, and there has been a recent
won’t have any privacy and will be forced to be social all the time
Retirement villages foster independence and how you decide to use your time is up to you.
rise in ‘vertical villages’. It is up to you to choose a community you would prefer to live in.
Choosing a village that suits your lifestyle needs can also be a really important consideration when you decide to move into a retirement village.
A retirement village is called that for a reason, to relax during retirement – but that doesn’t mean you can’t work still. In fact, a large number of people who live in retirement communities still work in full-time or part-time jobs.
It is understandable that you would assume that retirement villages are only for retired people, however, for many, retiring straight away may not be financially possible. Additionally, you may not want to give up your career and want to continue working.
Your retirement village is not monitoring your job, it is only providing you a new retirement lifestyle and place to live.
If you decide you want to continue working and live a relaxed retiree lifestyle, then that is absolutely within your rights.
Besides, most people at retirement villages put a lot of their time and effort into volunteering, similarly, you shouldn’t have to give up your family business or a career you love.
While it can be expensive to buy into a retirement village, it would be no different to buying a new house – and in many cases can be less expensive.
If you decided to downsize and move into a retirement village, then you are likely to be selling your house anyway. The money you make from selling your home will be able
to cover most, all or part of the cost of your home in a village.
Or if you don’t want to buy a place outright, some retirement villages have homes or apartments that you are able to rent.
You do need to be aware that there are costs and fees associated with living in a retirement village, for example, maintenance costs or amenity fees. These costs go towards the amenities, activities, and facilities at the village, which were likely reasons you choose that village in the first place.
The cost of a home in a retirement village differs from place to place, so you should shop around and visit different villages to find the right place for you.
Additionally, most villages will be able to cater for people who are living on the Age Pension and wish to move into a retirement community.
It is common for people to believe that they will lose their independence if they enter a retirement village.
All retirement villages are just a grouping of people that have decided to live in a specific place with a specific lifestyle – it is not too different from normal neighbourhoods.
A large number of people who live in retirement communities still work in full-time or part-time jobs.
Many people move into retirement villages for an increased sense of security, which is a big advantage of moving into villages. Some villages are gated, have security guards, or require approval to enter.
Retirement villages are commonly mistaken for aged care facilities, but they usually don’t provide aged care services.
Retirement villages shouldn’t be mistaken with nursing homes, they provide different experiences and services, and you will be very disappointed if you were expecting care and support to be provided in your new retirement home.
You are free to leave your retirement village whenever you wish – to go on holidays and visit family. Plus you can move out of a village whenever you wish if you decide it isn’t working for you.
Retirement villages aim to locate themselves close to amenities and
provide multiple facilities in one place. Villages can encourage your independence by making living life simpler and funner.
In your older years, it is more than likely that you will require some form of aged care service to help with any issues you are having or increasing care needs.
Many retirement villages will offer some form of community care, which you can factor into your choice of village so that you are planning for the future. Even if your village does not have a linked provider or home care services,
you will always be able to get Government-funded home care if you are eligible.
Saying no to aged care services, including help at home or community care, and not planning for potential future care needs will mean you will not be prepared for any health problems that arise and ways to deal with it.
Aged care services can be expensive and should always be considered in your retirement plan so you are not blindsided by the cost.
It is also important to note that in most cases, receiving assistance at home will keep you in your house for longer - enjoying that retirement village independent lifestyle for longer.
Many people move into retirement villages for an increased sense of security.
Living in a retirement village can offer a supportive environment and encourage independence, as well as the ability to enjoy social and leisure activities, if you choose.
Most retirement villages have a great sense of community and you can expect to be surrounded generally by like-minded, friendly and welcoming neighbours.
Each village has its own culture, but generally each village should be based on ‘senior friendly’ criteria and a community focused environment.
While each village differs from another, residents usually have an active say in which activities will take place, and are often involved in running events at the village.
Depending on the village, some of these activities may include aerobics, water/aqua aerobics, card afternoons, Probus, personal training, knitting and sewing circles, craft groups plus outings to galleries, movies, events and places of interest. Regular ‘Happy Hours’ and afternoons spent watching televised sport are also popular among some residents.
Retirement villages are run by professional managers and support staff who are committed to making life easier for residents, whether it is arranging for the collection of dry cleaning or keeping the garden in top condition.
Security and 24 hour call systems, communal facilities such as games rooms or dining areas, or medical and allied health services are some of the amenities available to residents.
Before moving to a residential village, enquire about the services and amenities available.
Indulge in catered dining at the village’s restaurant or bistro, catch up with neighbours in the coffee lounge or enjoy a barbecue with your family, or perhaps you might simply prefer a quiet dinner in your own unit. These are the options available at most villages.
Communal facilities are common features in retirement villages, with a range of services and amenities available to residents.
There are recreational, service and social communal facilities which, depending on the village, may include:
◆ Libraries and community centres
◆ Barbecue areas, restaurants or internet cafés
◆ Gaming areas such as billiards, table tennis, indoor bowls, bowling greens and swimming pools
◆ Medical services such as doctors, podiatrists and physiotherapists
◆ Other services such as banking and hairdressers
Be sure to visit and check the communal facilities available in the village you choose to ensure it fits with your lifestyle and needs.
Looking after your health is important. Some retirement villages are equipped to help you manage any existing health problems and may also be prepared to assist should you become unwell during your stay.
Some villages have call systems installed in their villas and apartments to provide a 24 hour monitoring service for medical emergencies. Staff trained in first aid may also attend to the emergency.
We believe that growing older shouldn’t have to mean sitting on the sidelines. People who join our Wellbeing Communities want to live life to the fullest. That’s why we can help you take care of the everyday things, like home maintenance and security, so that you can focus on the big things.
Plan ahead with confidence, knowing that if your needs change in the future, we can meet them in the one community. You’ll enjoy priority access to onsite health care, support and personalised advice from our team.
Our wellbeing communities are open for COVID-safe inspections.
Retirement communities: A range of retirement living options, architecturally-designed for healthy ageing: from three-bedroom villas, to luxury units or serviced apartments –all with services and support available, whether you need it now or in the future.
All-inclusive Wellbeing Communities: A range of retirement living options, care apartments and small-scale aged care in one location, so that you don’t need to move if your needs change.
1300 160 170 australianunity.com.au/assisted-living/ retirement-communities
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Operators may also keep a confidential record of residents’ medical history on file. This information may include your next of kin and Medicare details, which is released only with your authorisation to medical services in an emergency.
A safe haven we can call ‘home’ is important but, without security, a comfortable lifestyle can be difficult to maintain.
Retirement villages can offer a safe environment. Most villages have 24 hour on-call assistance and security and, at the press of a button, help is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week whenever required.
You can be instantly connected to a friendly and qualified staff member or call assistant who will organise the assistance you need, which may mean calling a family member, friend, neighbour or an emergency response service such as ambulance or police. Residents can also choose the option of a daily welfare call.
Security is central to safe and comfortable living in everyday life, just as it is in community villages. Living in an environment where neighbours will look out for you and where dedicated staff are available to assist, will also give your family and friends peace of mind in knowing you are safe and well.
Family and friends are an integral part of life, and sometimes it’s enjoyable to have them stay with you as guests at a retirement village. Each village is different, but generally, visitors are welcome to stay and may also use the communal facilities as your guest.
They love us unconditionally and have been known to boost a person’s health and happiness. While our family and friends are important to us, for some, pets also hold a special place in our lives.
Whether you are allowed to bring your pet with you when you move to a retirement village will depend on the characteristics of your pet
and the pet policy and rules of the village.
The size, temperament and audibility of the particular pet will also be relevant when a village decides whether it is appropriate to welcome your pet into the residential community.
You will have the best chance of bringing your pet with you if the village is large and open, the homes are well spaced and your pet is small, quiet, friendly and clean. If bringing your pet with you is essential, then learning about the village pet policy and rules should be one of the first enquiries you make before considering a retirement community.
To promote and protect the interests of residents, Resident Committees are an integral group at retirement villages.
Committee members are elected by other residents to hold office for a term of one year, however residents can stand for re-election after their term passes.
While participation is optional, Resident Committees offer residents the opportunity to make a contribution to the village and the chance to interact in a supportive way with other residents.
Living in an environment where neighbours and staff will look out for you will give peace of mind.
The basic structure and functions of a Residents’ Committee are described below:
◆ A Residents’ Committee can determine its own procedures and appoint sub-committees.
◆ The administering authority does not need to be involved in the conduct of the Committee, but can meet with the group to ensure reasonable consultation on significant village issues.
◆ It is an offence for an administering authority to deliberately discourage or prevent residents from forming a Residents’ Committee or to
obstruct a Committee in the performance of its functions.
◆ A member can be removed from office by a special resolution of residents if the need arises.
Residents can choose to join their State or Territory retirement village association which represents retirees living in retirement communities. These members-only retirement village associations usually assist in Government and Industry policy changes and how they will impact
Retirement villages come in many different shapes and sizes, from ‘boutique’ sized villages with only a handful of units or multi-level apartment complexes in a ‘vertical village’, to large communities with hundreds of villas.
They can be referred to by a variety of names, including over 55 lifestyle villages, lifestyle resorts, lifestyle or retirement communities, supported living communities, lifestyle estates, manufactured or relocatable homes, residential parks, or rental villages. In this guide we will be referring to all as retirement villages.
Retirement villages are designed for people over the age of 55 who generally have retired from full - time employment, as an alternative housing and lifestyle option. They are popular with people who feel they need more security, support or company, but want to maintain their independence.
While many of these communities offer similar services, there are also differences. Some are designed for a younger set of active seniors while others enable residents to continue living at the complex as their care needs increase, meaning they may never have to move again.
their members. They also provide information or advice, can mediate conflict resolutions with you and your retirement village, and more. Australia’s peak body for the residential village industry is the Retirement Living Council. It works closely with state associations, particularly in relation to legislative matters.
The Retirement Living Council advocates for the industry with Government while also encouraging high-quality village living
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Some retirement operators offer aged care accommodation in the same location which means that when you are no longer able to live independently in your own home in the future, you don’t have to leave the community.
This type of residential village is owned and operated by the private sector or by a not-for-profit organisation on a commercial basis to produce a profit or surplus.
The village is funded by residents who ‘purchase’ their villa or
apartment under one of the tenure arrangements. The residents also contribute to the villages’ capital infrastructure cost and to the ongoing management of the village.
Resident Funded Units are sold at market value, meaning the resident does not own the unit but purchases a loan licence agreement, giving the administration of the village an interest free loan and the resident a licence to reside in the village.
Personal support or care is not always offered in Resident Funded Villages but, in residential communities, this can be purchased for an extra fee.
Some new retirement complexes allow you to purchase the unit and land outright, so it is important to check the purchase or lease arrangements on offer.
These villages are normally owned and operated by not-for-profit organisations. They include an element of charitable subsidy, and entry is generally restricted to the disadvantaged.
Within retirement villages there are different types of accommodation you can choose from that best suit you and your financial circumstances.
Properties can include one to multiple bedrooms and vary from high or medium-rise complexes to semi detached buildings.
Accommodation options generally range from independent living units to serviced apartments with many different options in between.
Each of these housing developments comes with not only an independent home for you to live in, but also a range of services and facilities you can access if you choose.
Usually, villages will have an option to ‘own’, ‘purchase’ or ‘lease’ your new home. Some villages may offer rental accommodation.
Some villages offer only one accommodation type while other communities may have a mixture of options for you to choose from.
If you enjoy an active lifestyle and cherish independence, Independent Living Units (ILUs) may best suit your needs.
Many ILUs, regulated by State and Territory Governments, are private residences that can provide village residents with the freedom to manage daily lifestyles, but with possible added benefits such as high quality community facilities, professionally managed gardens, and the guarantee of maintenance and security already taken care of by village staff.
ILUs often feature easy, open plan living, which may include a complete kitchen, living and dining areas, bathroom, one to three bedrooms, as well as an external courtyard/ balcony/garden area and garage, carport or car space.
They may be situated within a high or medium rise complex, terrace housing arrangement, or as stand-alone or semi detached accommodation.
Sometimes referred to as ‘Assisted Living’, serviced apartments provide residents with some daily living assistance. Residents of serviced apartments usually prefer to live in the privacy and comfort of their own apartment, and are generally mobile and independent.
The apartments ordinarily feature one or two bedrooms and are part of a larger residential village complex. Services provided may include cleaning, laundry and assistance with personal care.
While a small kitchenette is usually included within the apartment, meals are served in a communal
Retirement villages are popular with people who feel they need more security or company, but want to maintain independence.
Riverwood offers an atmosphere of community and family. Residents can relax and enjoy enclosed, peaceful gardens or participate in the very active lifestyle of the Village. Family members and friends are always welcome, and are an integral part of the warm community feel of Riverwood.
Riverwood features:
• Close to the centre of Albury and medical services.
• Active Village lifestyle activities include bowling green, billiards, indoor heated swimming pool, shop, hairdresser, library and bar, all located onsite.
• Private and spacious, set amongst 18 acres of established gardens and offering a 24-hour call bell system.
• Strata titled.
• Co-located with Aged Care.
Call (02) 6021 8888 to organise a tour of the Village at a time which suits you.
Riverwood Retirement Living
990 Padman Drive, West Albury NSW 2640
t: (02) 6021 8888
dining room for residents to socialise over meals.
The safety of residents is a priority with some villages offering a 24 hour call system which enables residents to alert on site personal care staff in the case of an emergency.
It is important to understand that people with complex care needs, who may require greater medical attention, will not always suit living in a serviced apartment.
Eligibility to reside in a serviced apartment or a supported living community may require you to be assessed as requiring assistance with daily living activities.
A registered nurse or health care professional will complete the independent assessment which you can arrange to be conducted in the privacy and comfort of your own home.
Extra care services can be tailored to suit residents’ health needs if required for an extra fee, which may include help with personal hygiene or managing medications.
If you prefer to live in close proximity to other people and only require limited services, such as meals, then a community house is ideal as it offers low cost bedsitter housing. These are excellent options for those with a lower asset base.
These communities provide lifestyle village experiences with added care support. Similar to serviced apartments and support living, this option is great for people who would prefer to be in retirement accommodation and don’t want to go straight into an aged care facility.
These one bedroom units allow a person to either remain independent or use the services the village offers on a ‘user pays’ basis, such as meals, cleaning or laundry services.
These communities provide lifestyle village experiences with added care support. Similar to serviced apartments and support living, this option is great for people who would prefer to be in retirement accommodation and don’t want to go straight into an aged care facility.
When living in a care community you can access additional supports as you age and your needs increase without you having to move to a different support setting such as supported living or an aged care home.
You can continue living in your own place in the same community but benefit from additional care and support, including personal support, dementia care and palliative care.
Some retirement villages offer rental accommodation, sometimes known as periodic tenancy, but these are generally reserved for people with limited financial resources and are usually income assessed.
Rental villages can provide a range of extra services and amenities, including basic help at home, care coordination, advocacy services and garden and house maintenance.
These villages are more affordable to rent than purchasing a home in a retirement village. You will generally be charged a rental that is a percentage of the age pension and you may be eligible for rent assistance from Centrelink.
Rental villages can provide safety and security to older residents, while providing a retirement lifestyle at a reduced cost.
Manufactured Home Estates, also known as land lease communities or resort communities, are increasing in popularity among lower income retirees. These communities provide the lifestyle of a village with the affordability of a long term stay in a caravan park.
Land lease communities allow you to rent the land, but own the home. Generally, these houses you purchase and have assembled onsite – and these homes generally can be moved.
The cost of Manufactured Home Estates are a lot less and the legislation isn’t as strict as you would find living in a retirement village.
Many Manufactured Home Estates provide a range of extra amenities such as pools, bowling greens and community centres. Generally you will pay a fee towards upkeep of these facilities.
For people that live in Manufactured Home Estates, it’s all about lifestyle, and these retirement village alternatives tend to be located at scenic destinations, like along beaches or close to national parks.
to read about renting or buying
Care communities provide a lifestyle village experience with added care support.
Nestled in the beautiful leafy Templestowe Lower just 17kms north east of Melbourne’s CBD. Templestowe Manor is surrounded by three golf courses, local parks, sporting grounds and neighbourhood shopping hubs including Westfield Doncaster and The Pines Shopping Centre. The Templestowe Manor community features 20 independent living units with private rear gardens as well as a Signature Aged Care service.
Templestowe Manor features:
• Newly refurbished apartments presenting quality internal furnishings and amenities.
• Enjoy the self-serve café, library and BBQ terrace, all located onsite.
• All meals are prepared onsite by our chef.
• Regular happy hours and coffee mornings.
• Program of activities which include Allity bus outings, regular film screenings, bocce/putting green, billiards, arts and music
Call (03) 9850 8877 to organise a tour of Templestowe Manor at a time which suits you.
Templestowe Manor Retirement Living
410 – 418 Thompsons Road, Templestowe Lower VIC 3107
t: (03) 9850 8877
every day the best it can beAllity is part of Bolton Clarke Group, Australia’s largest independent, not-for-profit provider of home care, retirement living and residential aged care.
◆ Do you want a garden or access to one or would you be happy in an apartment?
◆ Do you have any special interests like golf or tennis? Then you may want to focus your search on villages that offer those features
◆ Are you looking for additional support services such as personal care, meals, laundry or domestic assistance?
◆ If your support needs increase would you like to be able to stay in the village or are you happy to move again down the track?
◆ Where do you want to live? Do you want to be closer to family or stay in or near the community you’re already in. Or you may have always dreamed of living by the sea or in the country
Retirement villages host a variety of lifestyles, whether that be 'resort'-like communities, where you feel like you are on holiday everyday, or neighbourhood environments that feel like you haven’t left your local community.
It is important to be clear about where you wish to live, and what community services you would like to be near. Also consider your current and future health and financial requirements.
Do your homework and carefully plan and research all of the options available to you, such as the type of accommodation which will best reflect your lifestyle and the legally binding documents that come with entering a village.
To help you with the decision making process, here are some points to consider:
◆ Know your budget, what you can afford and what other ongoing costs are required.
◆ Consider getting expert advice about how your decision will impact on your financial situation
◆ Make sure you fully understand all the financial and legal implications before you sign anything or hand any money over
◆ Think about how you spend your time now and how you want to spend your time in the future.
◆ Is the village located near transport, shops or health facilities?
◆ Villages now offer a massive range of amenities so decide what features are important to you. Would you like to be able to access a library, restaurant, community rooms, barbeque area or men's shed?
◆ Is an all-weather indoor heated swimming pool or caravan and boat parking important to your needs?
When you have a short-list of villages that you are interested in, go visit the village to make sure it has everything you're looking for and it's a place that makes you feel comfortable.
When deciding on a retirement community, consider the type of community you wish to live in, the size of the village you see yourself in and make sure you understand what you can afford on a continuing basis.
There is nothing else quite like Hillside Gardens. Located in the Adelaide Hills and set within a glorious wooded valley just five minutes drive from Stirling, you will find 24 state-of-the-art independent living apartments colocated with Allity Hillside Aged Care. All beautifully designed and appointed, residents are presented with the ultimate in contemporary senior living.
Hillside Gardens features:
• Private and spacious apartments, overlooking acres of landscaped gardens, with a choice of 1 or 2 bedrooms available.
• Fully appointed kitchen with Essastone island benchtops.
• Ducted air-conditioning.
• 24-hour emergency monitoring system, secure ground floor car park with lift access and keyless entry.
• Communal library, games room, billiards and Pétanque onsite.
Call (08) 8339 4815 to organise a tour of Hillside Gardens at a time which suits you.
Hillside Gardens Retirement Living
88 Cricklewood Road, Heathfield SA 5153
t: (08) 8339 4815
It's important to get an understanding of the culture and social aspects of the community to see if it meets your expectations. Talk to other residents, management and staff and ask as many questions as you can. Or contact the Residents’ Committee of your chosen village with your questions, and request a copy of the village rules so you get an insight of what rules apply for residents and guests to enjoy the village.
Entering a retirement community is an important financial investment, so make sure you completely understand the financial implications
of ‘owning’ a unit in a village. Check out the various purchasing or leasing options available and ask a finance expert for advice about your financial situation before you settle on your retirement village preference.
The number one question potential residents should ask themselves before signing up at any retirement village is: “Does it have the industry stamp of quality?”
Choosing an accredited retirement village is encouraged, as it allows
you to feel reassured in knowing the village is managed and operated professionally and ethically at all times.
Accreditation also ensures village processes and procedures are effective, and that the village is a safe and harmonious environment that continually strives to improve its service delivery to residents.
In some States and Territories, following the signing of a residency contract, purchasers are entitled to a refund if they change their mind about the sale during a ‘cooling off’ period.
There are several charges and fees that apply and all payments made before, during and after living in a retirement village must be specified in the residence contract.
Each community has its own set of costs, so it is important you are provided with the full details of all applicable charges and what these costs cover. Consulting a financial advisor, accountant or lawyer to assist you in making an informed decision before entering into any agreement, is recommended.
There are a number of different costs involved when buying into a village which can include:
◆ deposit
◆ entry fee or purchase price
◆ service and/or maintenance fees
◆ exit fees, also known as a ‘departure’ or ‘deferred management’ fee
All these should be listed and explained in your contract. If there is any part of the contract you don’t understand, don’t be afraid to ask questions or speak with family members or a financial adviser who may be able to help you.
It is important you seek legal advice and have the full details of all applicable charges, what they cover and what you need to pay if you decide to leave the village before you sign any contracts.
Generally, you will need to pay a deposit to secure a unit or apartment. Ask the village how long it can be held for you.
Should you change your mind within this specified time, the deposit will be refunded. If you enter into a binding arrangement with the village, the deposit will be part of the purchase price or entry payment.
Check with the village operator if this cooling off period applies and how long this period is.
It’s also important to know whether the village charges an administration fee for refunds.
cover.
The costs associated with moving into and living in a retirement village are not the same as when owning a regular home.
It is important you are provided with the full details of all applicable charges and what these costs
Before moving into a village, you will need to pay an entry payment, which may be refunded if you move out of a village.
The cost of entering a village will vary for different operators and can depend on the location, type of accommodation, facilities and services offered.
Monthly service and maintenance charges also apply and you may be required to pay for extra personal services, such as laundry.
How much entry payment you’re required to pay will also depend on the type of tenure you enter into. Leaseholds and licence tenures are generally set up so the entry payment is usually the current market value of the property.
Under strata, community and company titles, you generally pay a ‘purchase price’ for the legal title to your property.
Sometimes residents can negotiate an alternative financial arrangement with a retirement operator around the entry payment for example, where the provider agrees to postpone payment until the resident leaves the unit. In this case you will still be required to pay a weekly maintenance fee.
Some operators offer a deferred management fee which means the village will deduct a ‘deferred’, ‘departure’ or ‘exit’ fee at the time of settlement of sale or re-occupancy of your home. The fee forms part of the purchase price, but its payment is deferred until the end of the occupancy.
It is calculated at the time of entry and applied on exit. The amount is calculated using a formula that generally involves a percentage of your successor’s entry cost
multiplied by the number of years of your occupancy, and may include a proportion of capital appreciation.
The deferred management fee must be specified in the entry agreement or residence contract, to ensure you have clarity about the size of this payment should you need to leave the village.
You will normally have to pay stamp duty if your tenure is strata, community or company title. You will also have to pay stamp duty on leasehold titles if the lease is ‘assignable’ – this is when you can sell the balance of the term of the lease to a new resident when you leave the village.
For other leasehold or licence arrangements, no stamp duty is typically payable, but make sure to check the particular arrangement in your State or Territory.
These recurrent charges are payable at regular intervals, either fortnightly or monthly. You should be informed of the expected, regular contributions prior to entering the village.
This fee may also include a contribution towards other village funds which are used to meet capital replacement and/or long term maintenance costs.
Recurrent charges might cover expenses such as:
◆ Administration (stationery, office equipment, phone use)
◆ Wages, salaries and related costs (village manager, office person, handyperson or gardener or ‘on call’ overnight support staff)
◆ Property management (council rates, insurance)
◆ Food and catering (in the case of serviced apartments)
A Capital Replacement Fund is commonly used to fund a planned maintenance program. Over time carpets or major appliances, such as stoves, hot water services or air conditioners in residences, will need replacing, and this type of fund will ensure those upgrades can take place as required.
A long-term maintenance fund, also known as a ‘sinking’ fund, is usually set up to meet expenses which could include maintenance of road surfaces, downpipes and gutters, painting, security and salt damp repairs.
It may also be used for the repair of recreational facilities such as spas and swimming pools.
If you have any special care or dietary requirements, you will be required to cover these additional services.
Personal or additional service charges relate to services specifically provided to you on a personal needs basis, which will also cover residence cleaning.
The schedule of services and charges payable by you should be detailed in the residence contract prior to you entering the village.
When you decide to leave a retirement village permanently, the village operator either takes the responsibility for, or assists you or your estate with the resale or re - licencing of your property.
Leaseholds and licences tenures will be refunded when you move out of the village, minus any exit or deferred management fees. Refunds are usually reliant on the property being re-occupied, so it may take a while to come through.
Under strata, community and company titles, you will not get any money back until the property is sold.
While the resale value will be determined by the market, there are additional factors in a retirement village that can add value to your villa or apartment. These include sound management, attractiveness and the services and amenities available to enhance lifestyle.
After the sale or re-occupancy of the retirement accommodation the operator will deduct a ‘deferred’, ‘departure’ or ‘exit’ fee. This fee forms part of the purchase price, but its payment is deferred until the end of the occupancy.
It is calculated at the time of entry and applied on exit. The amount is calculated using a formula that generally involves a percentage of your successor’s entry cost multiplied by the number of years of your occupancy, and may include a proportion of capital appreciation.
Even if you have left the village, you may be charged some fees to cover costs, such as ongoing maintenance fees, until your property is sold or occupied.
Regulations regarding this vary from each State and Territory; generally there is a maximum amount of time that ex-residents are liable for fees after leaving. This ranges from 42 days in NSW and the ACT, up to 9 months in Queensland or up to 18 months in South Australia.
automatically be used to justify an increase in fees because the CPI might be higher than the actual cost increase incurred by the village.
If you are a new resident at a retirement village, it may be a good idea to check with other residents to find out what the annual increases have been in the past, to help you get a better understanding of what to expect of future fee and charge increases.
An increase of recurrent charges will generally be discussed during an annual meeting between the village operator and residents.
Depending on when the villages’ annual meeting is held, a period of a few weeks or months may elapse before residents are liable to pay an increased fee.
The village operator may require the payment of an increased fee to be backdated to the beginning of the financial year.
In most States and Territories special levies can only be imposed if authorised by a special resolution and passed at a meeting of the village residents.
While levies are rare, from time to time, a special levy may be charged by a retirement village for budget shortfalls in a particular year which may include, for example, costs to cover road resurfacing due to tree root damage.
All fees and charges that apply at retirement villages are subject to increases, however recurrent charges cannot be increased beyond a ‘reasonable’ level.
Many villages use the Consumer Price Index (CPI) as a guide for fee increases, however it can’t
Ask the village operator about the last time a special levy was charged, why and how they will be imposed.
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The cost of entering a village depends on the location, type of accommodation, facilities and services offered.
Offering a friendly atmosphere, quality amenities and dedicated onsite village teams, our retirement villages are here to help you live your best life and explore your next chapter. Our home care services are also nearby and easy to access if you need some extra help.
Whatever your stage in life, you will feel at home with us.
from different villages so you can compare and decide which village is most suitable to your needs.
It is important you read and understand the various clauses in the contract as it will be a legally binding document for both you and the village operator once you decide to accept accommodation.
It is strongly recommended you seek legal advice and ask for a copy of the contract before signing. If there are parts of the contract you don’t understand, highlight them and seek further written clarification.
There are different types of contracts that residents and operators enter into depending on the arrangements in place at the village. You are more likely to make the right choices if you know what you want.
Before you sign a retirement village contract, shop around and do your research. Visit several villages that fit your requirements before deciding, talk to residents, look at the facilities and compare contracts.
Don’t rush into making a commitment, instead, visit the village often, get to know the management staff, as well as the residents’ committee, and seek expert advice and answers to all of your questions.
If you have found the retirement village you see yourself living in, ask village management for the following documents so you know what to
expect and can make an informed decision before signing on the dotted line.
◆ A copy of the resident contract
◆ A copy of the village rules and dispute resolutions
◆ Financial information about all applicable costs and charges
◆ A document detailing your rights and responsibilities as a resident of the village
◆ Remarketing policy detailing how your accommodation will be resold/let if you decide to depart the village
◆ Any other policy which may impact on the premium you are asked to pay.
These documents will give you insight into your rights and obligations as a village resident. You are encouraged to request a number of disclosure documents
The residence contract is a comprehensive document that details all the important information as part of the sale between you as the buyer and the village operator.
The contract should include references to:
◆ The parties in the contract and any associated conditions
◆ Residence details such as its location, type, layout plan and size, the certificate of titles on which the village is situated, and the form of tenure (like Strata Title, a lease or licence) or purchase which applies to you
◆ Settling-in period and your right to ‘cool-off’
◆ The action required to terminate a contract
◆ Communal facilities available to residents and/or separate or additional facilities allocated to
you, or any optional personal services such as cleaning, laundry or meals
◆ The amount payable, how and when it is to be paid, the basis on which any premium refund will be calculated and returned to you
◆ The recurrent charges that apply to the village and the way they are calculated
◆ Any current, planned or proposed expansions to the village and future extra facilities or future services offered
Make sure you are satisfied with the information provided to you in all the disclosure documents before signing any agreements.
It’s important you understand the village rules and policies early on in the process so you know exactly what the legal structure is and you are aware of the village regulations.
For instance, some villages have a definite no pet rule. If you have a dog or cat that will be moving with you, it is pointless pursuing opportunities with that retirement village further.
Even when you have signed a contract there will be a period which allows you to withdraw from the contract if you change your mind.
This ‘cooling-off’ period will give you the opportunity to seek further advice or discuss the matter with others.
The cooling off period can be anything from 3-14 days, depending on what State or Territory you are in. Your contract will detail the exact number of days that apply to your agreement.
During this period you can withdraw from the contract and receive a refund of any money paid by you under the contract, however some administrative charges may be incurred.
If you didn’t do so prior to signing of the contract, it is recommended you use this cooling-off period to seek the advice of a lawyer to ensure you understand the financial and legal implications of the contract. A financial advisor may also be able to help you.
After signing the residence contract and moving in, you may find that the residential village does not meet all of your needs or expectations, or you may simply decide to leave for personal reasons.
In some States or Territories, you are entitled to a ‘settling-in period’, which, depending on the village, generally is about 90 calendar days after the date of the contract or the
date on which you are first able to occupy your residence. The length of the settling-in period will be specified in your contract.
It is during this settling-in period that you may choose to leave the village without it impacting on your premium refund. However, you may be required to pay any costs and market rent for the period of occupancy as detailed in your contractual agreement.
It is important to remember that the premium will be held until your residence is re-licensed, although you should not be required to pay any penalty for terminating your contract during the settling- in period.
Make sure you find out if a settling- in period applies in your State or Territory before you sign any agreements.
It’s essential that you are familiar with the legislation in your State or Territory and know your rights and responsibilities when you decide to move into a retirement village.
Retirement legislation is set by individual State and Territory Governments and each has different requirements of what information and documents need to be supplied to you before you commit to a retirement village.
Before you sign a retirement village contract, shop around, do your research and get advice from a professional.
In Western Australia for example, you must be given a disclosure document outlining your contract, all applicable costs you will be charged for and a document detailing your rights, at least 10 days before signing a contract.
In New South Wales, retirement villages are required to use a standard contract and it is compulsory that you receive a disclosure document at least 14 days before signing a contract.
South Australia has a cooling off period of 10 days and on top of that you are entitled to a 90 day ‘settling in’ period, in which you can receive a full refund of the purchase price minus any rental costs for the
time a unit was occupied and costs for services used.
You will generally not receive your exit entitlement back until the residence has been re-licensed if you leave the village during the settling-in period.
To enter a retirement village in Queensland, there is a 21 day precontractual disclosure process to give prospective residents easy access to information and financial or legal advice. You must receive a Village Comparison Document and Prospective Costs Document which ultimately assists you in comparing villages and also provides information about the costs of a village before you enter.
In Victoria the operator needs to give you a copy of the contract at least 21 days before you sign, while in Tasmania if you sign a residence contract, you can change your mind within five days of signing and be released from the contract.
The legislation for State and Territory Retirement Acts can be found online at agedcareguide.com.au/information/ renting-or-owning, together with Resident Associations for each State and Territory who can help with advocacy, legal aspects and also promote the rights of residents to all levels of Government.
Most older Australians want to live in their own home for as long as possible, whether this is in the family home or a new home in a retirement community.
You may be fit and healthy when you make the move into a village but over time you may find yourself needing a bit of help with little things such as doing the shopping or the laundry.
Most retirement villages offer some basic in home support for when your needs increase and you need some assistance to remain living
independently. They may have care staff on site or outsource these services to third party providers.
Some retirement village operators also give their residents the option to access various levels of personal care, nursing care or domestic assistance in the comfort of their own home.
Ageing in place is a positive approach to meeting your needs as you age, supporting you to live safely and independently in your own home, or with some assistance, for as long as possible and regardless of your ability.
Retirement village contracts are different from normal residential real estate contracts.
It means you stay in control of your life and wellbeing and you get to choose where you live and how you are supported.
Some retirement village operators have the option to opt in to a menu of services that make life just that little bit easier when your needs increase.
There may even be the option to access round the clock care, in the comfort of your own unit or apartment. This way you can continue living as part of the same community while still having access to all the support you require to live well.
It could also mean having access to certain technologies to help you do things without help or be safe in the knowledge that if something happens to you staff will be close by to help.
Retirement villages do not receive Government funding but if you live in a retirement village and your accommodation contract does not include home support services you may be able to access Government subsidised support at home or choose to pay for services yourself.
In home care products and services range from assistance with daily chores including
help with shopping, providing meals, transport assistance and home maintenance but can also include things like personal care, medication supervision or continence management.
Depending on how much help you need, Government support is offered through the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) or a Home Care Package (HCP). An aged care assessment will determine which program will best meet your needs.
To find out more about the different support options available in your own home go to the Home Care Guide starting on page 80D.
Another option to consider if you find you need a higher level of support, is to move into a different type of accommodation that offers more assistance. There are a few different options to consider when you’re wanting to maintain some independence while also having access to additional support options when needed:
Supported or assisted living complexes are considered a mix between retirement villages and aged care facilities. It is an ideal option if you don't need 24/7 care but still require day to day assistance. You'll be able to live independently while receiving some form of care and generally you can add on more support if your needs increase.
It is different from aged care because you still own the home or unit you'll be living in compared to making an accommodation payment to stay in an aged care facility. Some retirement villages may offer this combination of accommodation and care on site so you don't have to move out of the village to access it. However, unlike in a retirement village, you’ll also have access to various levels of support services including personal care and nursing care. These services are provided in the privacy of your own home, a choice not available in nursing homes.
Because they're not Government funded there is no income or asset testing and no need for an
Most retirement villages offer some basic in home support for when your needs increase.
assessment by the Aged Care Assessment Team/Service (ACAT/S) that Government funded nursing homes require.
Supported living providers may offer additional home care services at an extra cost or you may be eligible for Government funded in home support. If you already receive home support benefits before moving to a supported living community you can stay with your current provider.
Assisting living can also be a great option for older couples who want to still be able to live together. These units, apartments or houses allow for the person who needs assistance to receive that care, while their partner can feel like they are living in their own home.
There are usually ongoing weekly service charges, plus additional and optional services you can pay for like laundry services.
These private nursing homes provide similar accommodation and care to Government funded aged care facilities on a fee basis.
Because they are not funded by the Australian Government you don’t need to meet any of the Government’s eligibility criteria for aged care.
The care provided by SRS and SRFs usually includes assistance with showering, personal hygiene, toileting, dressing, meals and medication, as well as physical and emotional support. Some SRSs/SRFs also provide nursing or allied health services.
The fees, standards and services provided by SRSs/SRFs vary, so it is important to look at as many as possible to ensure you find the one that best suits your needs in terms of level of care and services.
While SRSs and SRFs do not receive direct Government funding, you may be able to access some subsidised services such as allied and mental health support, disability services and Veterans’ Affairs.
As a SRS/SRF resident you’ll need to meet the same eligibility criteria for Government funded home care services as other people in the community.
If you are unable to continue living independently you may choose to move into an aged care home to ensure you get the quality of care you deserve.
Some retirement villages offer aged care accommodation to residents on site in another purpose built complex within the community.
Entry into a Government funded aged care home requires approval from an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT), or Aged Care Assessment Service (ACAS) if you're living in Victoria.
There are also private nursing homes where you will be responsible for the payment of all associated costs. These can vary between different providers and areas across the country.
The Aged Care Guide offers a detailed explanation of accessing residential aged care and lists all Government funded aged care homes in Australia.
Visit AgedCareGuide.com.au or call 1300 186 688 for more information or to order a printed copy of the Aged Care Guide for your State or Territory.
Supported or assisted living complexes are considered a mix between retirement villages and aged care facilties.
Chances
Q. When is the right time to make a move into a retirement village?
A. Only you can decide when the time is right to move into a retirement village. Most people choose to move once they have retired and want to downsize the family home because it’s becoming too much to maintain. Retirement villages are specifically designed to meet the accommodation, social and recreational needs of over 55s.
Q. Do I have to be retired to move into a retirement village?
A. Retirement communities are generally designed for people over the age of 55 but you don’t have to be retired to move in. Most people will have retired from full time employment although some may still be working part time or have taken on a volunteering role after retiring from the workforce.
Q. Can we have guests stay with us?
A. Generally you are more than welcome to have family and friends stay over. However depending on the length of their stay, you may be required to obtain written approval from the Village Manager. This is to ensure the safety and security of all residents. You should ask the Sales Consultant or Village Manager for the rules relating to the village of your choice.
Q. What sort of ownership rights will I have?
A. Tenure is the term used to describe the different legal basis for the various forms of occupation or ownership rights used in the industry. All forms of tenure are controlled by specific legislation to ensure your right to occupy is secure. Different villages use different legal forms of tenure. In many cases you will enter into a lifelong lease, which gives you security as if you had a title.
Q. How do people secure or purchase a unit, apartment or villa?
A. Effectively you purchase a guaranteed right to occupy the home for as long as you need. It means that there are no individual titles for individual homes. A deposit is required to secure your choice. The Sales Consultant or the Village Manager will discuss with you, the details of the deposit, how it is appropriately held and how it is refunded. Most villages generally allow up to three months for you to sell you own property. This should be sufficient time to market your property and they will keep in communication with you during this time to discuss any matters as they might arise.
Q. What if I change my mind after I move in?
A. In some regions, legislation recognises that this may happen and allows a period of 90 days, called the Settling-In Period, for you to change your mind. You do need to be aware that some charges may apply. While this does not happen often, the village will understand that circumstances do change and endeavour to work with you to fully explore other options. This way you have the chance to make an informed decision in the first place.
Q. Will I own my villa in a retirement village?
A. Specific legislation in each State and Territory protects your right to occupy your home. Different villages use different legal forms of tenure such as strata title ownership, leasehold estates, licenses to occupy or company share arrangements with related residency entitlements.
Q. Will I have access to aged care if I need it?
A. Some villages have an aged care facility attached or connected to it while others offer ongoing personal care and home help services to residents in their own private unit on a fee-for-service basis. You can also access funded home care services if you pass an aged care assessment test –more information is available at the My Aged Care website.
are, any questions that you have about retirement living have already been asked before. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions that might help you make your mind up about moving into a retirement community.
To help you make an informed decision when you tour a retirement village we’ve put together some questions to ask that will make your decision an easier one.
We recommend that you visit as many villages as possible to see what they offer and see whether you could live there. Speak with residents and staff and ask lots of questions.
Why do I want to move to a retirement village?
What location or area do I want to live in?
Do I want to be near my current home, close to family and friends or am I looking for a complete change?
What type of village and accommodation option will suit me most? Apartment living, a new development or an established older style village? Would I prefer living in an Independent Living Unit (ILU) or a Serviced Apartment with hotel - like services?
Have I talked with my family and friends about moving into a village and their experiences?
What is included in the service or maintenance fees? Is it paid weekly, fortnightly or monthly? How often could this fee increase and will it increase much?
What does the service fee cover and what does it not cover? Could I continue to afford it if my spouse or partner dies?
Does the cost of the home, plus the ongoing monthly service fees fit into my budget?
Is there an exit fee or deferred management fee and how is this calculated? Many villages have different fees and structures.
How much is the deposit to secure a villa or apartment and is it refunded if I decide not to purchase?
What type of contract would I be entering into, e.g. strata title, leasehold?
What are the rules when I decide to sell my unit?
If I leave the village am I entitled to a refund? How soon after leaving the village will the refund be paid?
Is the village accredited?
How is the village managed?
Is there a Residents’ Committee and what role does it play in the administration of the village?
What dispute resolution procedures are in place?
Who is responsible for any replacements and repairs in my unit or apartment?
What arrangements are in place for maintenance of units, community facilities and grounds?
Can I establish my own private garden?
What protection do I have if the village is sold to another organisation?
What arrangements are there for times of ill health or need for hospitalisation?
Is there village staff or a nurse on duty and what hours are they available? Do they come to the village on the weekend?
Is there an emergency call button system in place? If so, who responds to such calls?
What types of services and amenities does the village provide? For example: podiatry, physiotherapy, wheelchair access?
Is there an aged care facility nearby or on site? Or if my needs change, are there alternative accommodation options in or near the village?
Are the staff friendly and welcoming?
Are the grounds tidy and well maintained?
Can my family and friends stay?
Am I allowed to have pets?
Does the village provide a bus or other transport and at what cost?
Apart from the village facilities, what services are available to me from the local community? For example: library, recreational, Meals-On-Wheels, hospitals, doctors.
What age group are the residents?
Can I continue with my hobbies? What clubs, social groups and activities are on offer?
Are the floor plans, gardens and entertaining areas right for me?
What is the security like in the village?
Are the residents happy to talk to me about their experiences?
Are meals available if I am unable to cook?
What are the options for home help, dining facilities, etc. that can be accessed if needed?
Source: Retirement Living Council
By choosing to self-manage, you can join the many thousands of older Aussies using the Mable website to connect directly with independent support workers. Better still, you could get more hours of care by self-managing.
Older Australians have been making choices their whole life. Self-management essentially acknowledges that older people understand their own needs and are best placed to choose who supports them. Choosing your support worker and having the same person (or people) turn up each time is comforting. Building long-term relationships helps them become familiar with your needs.
Self-managing your HCP means you play an active role in finding and booking the people who provide you services and support to live independently. It gives you the power to make your own decisions around the services you need. You get to choose your support workers, the support you receive, when you receive it and even how much you pay. Another major plus is that a lot more money goes towards your support and not to overhead fees, so you could get more hours of care by self-managing.
You can use your HCP for much more than personal care, mobility and medication assistance. Your support worker can take you to your favourite cafe, church or the library. You can get help around the home, get gardening help or support to just do the things you like to do. Mable clients who are self-managing said it’s “less stressful” and “much easier” than relying on a traditional provider. There are no tedious meetings, you don’t have to wait for things to happen and you’re not in the dark about how much support you can afford. You make your own decisions, you always know how much funding is available and you can make changes yourself.
To self-manage your HCP, you’ll need a provider to host your package who offers self-management. Mable can help introduce you to a provider that suits your needs. You can then sign up to Mable.com.au to search for and book independent support workers in your area. You can manage your support — from messaging to payments — through Mable. Transitioning from your current model of support to self-managing your Home Care Package is easy. You can sign up for a free account at Mable.com.au or call 1300 73 65 73 and a friendly team member will guide you through.
For older Australians, accessing Home Care Package (HCP) support through a traditional approach usually means there is limited choice of who comes into your home and when. There’s also often a question as to how much value they’re really receiving from their funding. Many people are surprised to know they can self-manage their HCP.
The articles up to page 120 explain the different types of support, when to consider help at home and how to plan and manage your supports. From simple ways to improve your home environment to understanding Government funded programs and how to access self-funded supports, this Guide will explain what to consider and help you be better prepared to stay home for longer.
This Home Care Guide also includes a list of home care services, located in the Resources section starting on page 121.
Listed in State and Territory sections, the Home Care Services table gives an overview of approved Home Care Package providers and in home care providers. You’ll also find useful phone numbers and websites for each State and Territory.
For more information about the range of support at home options, including an extensive directory of service providers near you and in-depth provider profiles, head to AgedCareGuide.com.au/home-care .
Throughout the publication you’ll find QR codes, just like the one
placed below, that link through to different online articles. They’ll provide you with even more useful information to help you make the right choice about home care. Find out more about our range of home, aged care, retirement and disability support resources on AgedCareGuide.com.au or call 1300 186 688.
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This edition of the Home Care Guide was created by DPS Publishing, to help you navigate the different home support options available to you to help you stay in your own home and community for as long as possible.
Whilst each person and their circumstances is unique, the consumer profiles below were created to identify some common situations you may find yourself in as well as related information to help on your journey to find the best support options for you.
75 year old couple, living independently
This couple lives independently in their own home. They are supported by their daughter Susan who helps out with shopping, cleaning and cooking twice a week. Susan feels the pressure of caring for her parents as well as working full time and managing her own family. She is looking for home care services that can help support her independent parents.
Read more: What is home care – see page 85 Assessments – see page 117
Carol was diagnosed with early onset dementia 7 years ago and William has been caring for his wife ever since. William is starting to struggle with his own health and caring for Carol by himself is becoming harder.
Carol needs some specific care services that William cannot deliver by himself any longer. They are looking for support in their home or respite to give William a break.
Read more: Respite – see page 105
77 year old widower, social support
George’s daughter Jess lives around the corner and often visits, but George is lonely, grieving his loss and wishing to live life well. Whilst his physical care needs are not high, mentally and emotionally he is suffering. Jess is not sure how she can help more. George needs care services to improve his wellbeing and help him connect and build relationships with other people his age.
Read more: Social support – see page 103
Originally from Italy, Don lives on a pension in a rented unit and doesn’t have any children or other family nearby. He has started to struggle with his English, reverting back to Italian. He doesn’t go out much, and only interacts with his neighbor Anne, who has noticed Don is starting to struggle to look after himself. He needs some guidance about what help is available.
Read more: Assessments – see page 117
Government funded supports – see page 111
72, single, self-funding supports
Dianne lives on her own and has a daughter who lives interstate. She has a busy social life, and loves going to the theatre. One day when hanging out the washing she trips on a paver and breaks her hip. After recovery, Dianne found she still needs extra help around the home for domestic tasks. Because she’s not eligible for Government funded supports, she decides to pay for privately funded services
Read more: Domestic assistance – see page 96
Self funded supports – see page 116
67, single woman, limited mobility
Nora has limited mobility and struggles to get around to shops and appointments. One of her children lives close, but the rest are interstate and Nora doesn’t want to put pressure on the one child for support. Nora needs specific services to help her with transport and shopping.
Read more: Meals and shopping – see page 98
Transport – see page 101 AgedCareGuide.com.au
The Government recognises that older Australians prefer to stay in their own homes rather than move into residential aged care. While residential aged care is a great option for higher-level assistance, staying in the family home can be really important to the wellbeing of older Australians.
Ultimately, the decision to stay at home should be yours, and there is a wide array of services available at different levels of care that can assist you in remaining at home comfortably and safely.
Home care is fundamentally support services that can provide a certain level of assistance with a range of tasks and chores to help you remain living at home independently for as long as possible.
Today, ageing in Australia comes with more individual choice and control than ever before, and with it we are seeing more older people choosing to remain at home – with a little or a lot of help
The decision by many Australians to remain at home and within their community as they age is supported through various initiatives, funding and programs. These can be delivered through a number of organisations, groups, and people ranging from aged care providers, local councils and not-for-profits, to community groups.
Home care services can be as simple as family and friends helping out, receiving council supports, or
more intense such as accessing Government subsidised assistance through a home care provider.
With all this choice, navigating what is best for you can be a challenge but it is important to remember that finding the right support to help you remain in your own home for longer can come with huge benefits.
Home care is an option for people who are getting older, are chronically ill, recovering from surgery or for people living with disability, and offers a range of support in areas such as personal care, home maintenance, cooking and meal preparation, health care and transport.
When accessing home care, you will stay in your own home and community, surrounded by all of your belongings and retaining the freedom to come and go as you please. It means that services or care workers will come into your home to help you out with whatever support you need or have been assessed as needing.
The level of support home care services can provide ranges from a little bit of help with the weekly shopping, for example, to high level assistance for several hours each day, helping you shower and get dressed, get to appointments and prepare meals, or help to access support aids like handrails. It all depends on your needs, wants and circumstances.
In Australia, there are two main streams of home care – the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) and Home Care Packages (HCPs). Both programs are subsidised by the Government and are available after assessment to see if you are eligible for support.
While these are the most common home care services accessed, there are a number of other options you may want to consider if you do need some help around the house to live safely, comfortably and well. These include accessing self-funded or private home care services or getting help from personal networks and the community.
Some people use a combination of these options to meet their needs or to assist them while they are waiting to be assessed for Government funded support or for services to become available.
The saying that there is ‘no place like home’ resonates in particular with Australia’s ageing population, giving rise to the increasingly popular support option known as home care.
Admitting you need some help may be difficult, but planning ahead and taking appropriate safety measures may be the best option long-term to make sure you stay at home. If possible, involve family members or friends, as it is always handy to get another person’s opinion.
There are people and services available, including friends, family and health professionals, who play an important role in understanding your needs and assisting you in your home as best as possible.
Friends and family are the first source of help for many seniors. Talk to the people close to you about what you need, and they may be able to help you personally, or point you in the direction of someone who can.
There may be services you need to access in person, but due to transport or mobility issues, may be
difficult to get to. Discussing your situation with your bank, chemist, GP and other services may be beneficial as they can often tailor services to meet your needs, such as delivery of medications or home visits by your health professional.
There are many steps you can take to improve the safety and accessibility of your home, from safety-proofing to prevent falls, to identifying potential hazards and preparing for emergencies.
These will increase your odds of being able to stay in your own environment for longer.
There are many steps you can take to improve functionality and accessibility in and around the home, which can make a big difference when doing basic daily tasks.
Many of these include modifications in the kitchen, such as:
◆ Organising kitchen cupboards to place items within reach
◆ Clearly labelling and properly storing food
◆ Having appliances with simple push buttons, such as an oven or microwave
◆ Investing in modified appliances, such as an easy lift kettle
◆ Water temperature controls to lower risk of burns
Other measures may include:
◆ Having properly labelled medication in a convenient, visible place or in blister packs
◆ Rearranging furniture to clear pathways and create more space
◆ Installing light bulbs in darker areas, such as hallways and stairwells
◆ Replacing current light bulbs with brighter ones, to increase visibility during the night
Making these changes will help lower the risk of accidents and make for a more functional home environment.
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environment
feel safe, comfortable and supported is important to ensure you can continue to live independently in your home for as long as possible.
Many items throughout the home can lead to an increased risk of injury, from loose carpet to electrical cords and pet toys. Keeping pathways clear and free from clutter, as well as cleaning up any unnecessary items in rooms that may be obstructive, will help lower this risk.
Modifying parts of your home can increase mobility and functionality and even small modifications can make a big difference. These may include:
◆ Installing grab bars and handrails in the shower, toilet and staircase
◆ Putting down non-slip mats on slippery floor surfaces such as in the bathroom, toilet and kitchen
◆ Putting a suitable chair or stool in the shower if you’re finding it difficult to stand
◆ Installing a hand-held shower head for added convenience
◆ Changing the position of light switches to increase visibility and accessibility
◆ Changing locks on doors if they are difficult to use
◆ Installing safety screens to improve security and airflow
However, it is important to only access these modifications following a consult with your doctor or health specialist, as relying on these devices too early can negatively impact your long term mobility.
It’s not everyday that we think about preparing for emergencies but it’s important to be prepared if something unexpected happens. Whether it is a sudden illness or an unexpected event, such as loss of power or catastrophic weather like a flood or bushfire threatening your home.
Make sure you have a contact list of family members, health professionals and emergency numbers easily accessible, as well as any medications you’re taking and an overview of your medical history.
Store this information somewhere central and visible such as on the fridge or next to the phone. This will be useful across all types of
emergencies and hazards, from a fall to more serious events. Being aware of emergency or evacuation information in advance for your local area will also help in times of crisis. If possible, speak with your family members or close friends about travel arrangements or meeting places in case of an evacuation in your local area.
Having a kit of essential items will help you prepare in times of emergency. This may include a disaster supplies kit with items such as water, food, flashlight and first aid.
If you have medications that you are required to take, having a supply in a bag or re-sealable container will make it an easy item to grab. Keep in mind that the type of emergencies you may need to prepare for vary depending on where you live.
Making your home a safe place and removing any hazards is important, but if you are not sure where to start or are not up to the task make sure you ask for help. You may wish to get a home safety assessment done by a health care professional, such as an occupational therapist or a registered nurse.
Assessments may involve the Home Falls and Accidents Screening Tool (HomeFAST) to measure falls risk for older people in their home.
This involves looking at passageways, floor surfaces, lighting, accessibility to bathroom and kitchen items, steps and footwear. You can use the tool yourself to help gauge the risks in your own home environment or for a loved one. Find out more at stopfallsathome.com.au.
There are a number of gadgets, devices and technologies that can help older Australians keep their independence and make life much simpler around the home.
These might include safety devices or personal alert systems that enable people to call for help in an emergency, whether that is due to illness, a fall, hazard or any event that requires a response.
These devices are especially handy for people who live alone or go long periods without social interaction. Many systems come with a help button that can be carried with you at all times, with some offering mobile and GPS tracking solutions as well.
Smartwatches can also offer similar safety functions, having the potential to help the elderly in their daily life in a variety of different ways. From instant calls and messaging, to an abundance of smartphone applications that can help with things such as medication reminders, cognitive stimulation through brain games, and GPS tracking.
“My stinging nettle tea is pretty amazing,” Juliet Porter enthuses. And if it tastes even half as good as her delightful kumquat marmalade, she’s not exaggerating.
The 82-year-old lives in her beloved home in regional Victoria which boasts a huge garden that is more like a miniurban farm than anything else.
Her garden has several vegetable patches – a few under netting to prevent the birds from getting at them, and an assortment of fruit trees.
To help her continue living safely and independently at home, tending the garden she loves, Juliet has a Government-funded Home Care Package through Uniting AgeWell. She has bought a number of mobility aids through her Home Care Package, including walkers, an electric bed and an electric armchair to keep her safe and comfortable in her home.
Other gadgets that have hit the market that may be beneficial to older Australians in their home are assistive technologies, which have voice-activated functions to control devices around the home, such as your TV, radio, lights and air conditioner, as well as being able to answer questions, read the daily news, tell you the weather, play music and set daily routines.
It’s also important to be aware of hazards that lay outside of your home, such as risks with online and phone security. Scams are prominent online, with websites and emails pretending to be legitimate companies requesting your personal details.
It’s good to be wary of any phone calls or emails that seem random or request a lot of your personal information. If you are unsure,
With health issues affecting her mobility, Juliet has a personal carer come in three times a week, gets help around the house to keep it clean and tidy, and of course, has help for tending her beloved garden.
Juliet uses her walker to navigate around the garden she works in every day.
She points to a container with a lid near one of the veggie beds. “Look, this is where I store my witches brew,” she laughs.
Jokes aside, Juliet takes her food production very seriously.
She even plants according to the moon calendar. And whatever her magic touch is, it works.
There is always fresh fruit and veg for meals and plenty to be turned into delicious basil and tomato pesto and raspberry and blackberry pies! Being able to stay at home, where she can access the garden that brings her so much joy, is the most important benefit of home care for Juliet.
contact any businesses you are associated with and report any scams you come across.
There also may be times when strangers ring your doorbell. While it may simply be the postman, a friendly neighbour or organisation selling goods and services, it can be someone who is dangerous.
If you feel uncomfortable answering the door, look out your window to see if you know the person or if they are in a company uniform, ask what they are there for, have a safety screen door you can lock installed, or simply ignore it. If you ever feel in danger call the police.
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She can’t speak highly enough of her carers and lives safe in the knowledge that if her needs change her care provider will continue to support her with a tailor-made package that fits exactly what she needs.
Case study provided by Uniting AgeWell
Many people don’t think about home care until a crisis hits, leaving the family scrambling to make arrangements when emotions are at an all-time high. This often means needs aren’t thoroughly assessed and decisions have to be made quickly.
Getting some extra help doesn’t mean you have to give up your freedom and can’t live an independent or active life. It’s never too early to start the conversation about home care so you and your loved ones are prepared, understand your needs and know what supports are available.
Starting home care sooner makes living at home easier and sometimes a little bit of help will mean you can actually remain independent and in your own home for longer while enjoying the things you love.
Getting someone in to help with physically demanding jobs such as weeding and pruning your garden, doesn’t mean you’re admitting you can’t look after the garden anymore. It simply enables you to enjoy your garden without having to do the ‘heavy’ stuff.
While there is no need to wait for a physical illness or health scare to start accessing home care, there are many signs or ‘trigger events’ that could signal a need for help. Some immediate signs could be:
◆ Loss of driver’s licence
◆ A fall resulting in reduced mobility
◆ A hospital stay or procedure that results in the need for temporary care
◆ New fear of being left alone
◆ Decline in general health
◆ Forgetting where you are or how to get back home
◆ Family or friends moving away and no one around to help you.
In other cases, the need for support happens more gradually. You may notice subtle changes such as:
◆ Simple daily jobs such as doing laundry and preparing meals start to feel overwhelming and hard to do
◆ Lack of personal grooming
◆ Your living space is becoming messier than usual
◆ Forgetfulness, for example missing meals, medication times and appointments or forgetting to pay bills
◆ Decreased attention to food safety i.e. using foods beyond expiry dates
◆ Avoiding social events or contact with others
◆ Family and friends spending more time helping you with everyday tasks.
There is no shame in admitting that you need some help to remain living in your own home. If you are finding day-to-day tasks harder to do by yourself or see a loved one having a hard time looking after themselves or their home, it may be time to consider your support options.
read about home care myths
We all want to be active, healthy and to remain independent, living in our own home. But as we grow older living independently may not always be easy. Home care is a natural next step in life for thousands of Australians every year. With our home care services, you can remain independent in the comfort of your own home and part of your community.
We’ll arrange the services important to you
Every client is unique. We’ll work with you to create a personal care plan for your exact needs. Those needs will be met by our friendly carers and nurses.
The Aged Care Quality Standards provide reassurance that you’ll be treated with kindness, dignity and respect. We continually evaluate our training, systems and processes and strive to exceed these standards. Our staff are all trained, qualified and police-checked, so you know you have trusted companions and assistants.
Southern Cross Care has supported older people in NSW and the ACT for over 50 years. As a not-for-profit organisation, we’re solely focused on providing the best care we can.
Help may be available around the corner, through family and friends or from a neighbour who can help you mow your lawns or run errands.
There are a number of community services available to help with basic daily tasks, including support with shopping, preparing and cooking meals, transport, home and garden maintenance or personal or domestic assistance. There are also respite services available for you and your carer so they can have a temporary break from their caring role.
Community groups can help keep you socially active and connected within your community, reducing
the risk of social isolation. Finding like-minded people and connecting through shared experiences is pivotal to maximising emotional and mental wellbeing, which is important as we reach our later years.
In this section you can read about getting help with meals and shopping, personal and domestic assistance and learn about different transport options to help you get around.
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If you need some support at home, whether it’s someone to help you do the shopping, prepare meals or give you a ride to an appointment, a good starting point is to check out what’s available in your local community.
There are a number of community services available to help with basic daily tasks in or around your home SCAN
This support is often delivered informally – meaning that it is simply help offered by the family, asked for by you or organised between everyone.
Some of the support you may receive through your family, friends and neighbours can include:
◆ Shopping and meal preparation
◆ Running errands
◆ Day trips and outings such as community group activities or family events
“I look forward to Wednesdays,” says Ruth Johnson from Young, New South Wales.
Wednesdays are when Ruth’s home care workers help around the house with things she can no longer do herself, such as hanging up bed sheets, vacuuming the floors or cleaning out the fridge.
Every other week they take her grocery shopping, an everyday task made impossible by severe carpal tunnel syndrome in her hands.
Ruth also enjoys the companionship of her helpers.
“Most of the time, it is the same people who come each week. They know where everything is, they know me, it’s comfortable. You could almost call it ‘rent-a-friend’,” she says, with a laugh. At 68 (“but still 21 in my mind”), Ruth is one of provider Mercy Health’s younger clients.
◆ Transport to appointments
◆ Assistance around the home such as cleaning, washing and gardening
◆ Collecting mail and deliveries
◆ Taking out/bringing in the bins each week
◆ Socialisation
◆ Monitoring health and wellbeing
She first arranged to have home care services after hip replacement surgery that went terribly wrong.
Ruth is no stranger to surgery. She had her first hip replacement in her early 30s and since then has had both hips replaced several times, but the 2017 trip to hospital left her with lasting problems.
Following 20 weeks of hospital care Ruth returned home with a walking stick and found herself needing help around the home.
“I get very frustrated with myself because I can’t do what I used to do, but I don’t walk around feeling sorry for myself,” Ruth says.
“Since changing to Mercy Health, I’ve never looked back. When I first walked into their office here in Young it was professional and welcoming. And the people who help me are brilliant.”
Ruth worked as an enrolled nurse in an aged care home for seven years and recognises the same characteristics in her home care workers that she herself brought to the job.
Depending on relationship dynamics and what you need, family and friends may provide you with more intense support.
However, it is important to know when it is time to access alternative supports that will better assist you and reduce the impact your care needs have on your loved ones.
“I loved working in aged care, it was like looking after your own mum and dad,” she says.
“There were a lot of ‘orphans’ in aged care and I enjoyed putting a smile on their face.”
With family either far away or busy with their own work and lives, Ruth is always pleased when Wednesdays roll around and her like-minded support workers come to visit.
Case study provided by Mercy Health
At some time or another in our lives, we all rely on the support of our loved ones – be that family, friends or our neighbours.
Ageing and medical conditions can limit your mobility and increase your fall risk, meaning it’s often safer, quicker and easier to leave it to the experts.
Accepting help with a range of jobs around the house may allow you to continue living in the comfort of your own home, while maintaining this ‘pride of place’.
Whether you need your gutters cleared, your lawn mowed or minor home repairs, there are services that can help keep your home looking its best.
Professional service providers can assist with these essential tasks or there may be volunteers within your community who can perform these jobs. Your council may be able
to assist by suggesting businesses or volunteers in your area who can offer you these services.
If you’ve been assessed or approved for the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) or a Home Care Package (HCP) you can request home and/or garden maintenance as part of your support plan. Otherwise, home and garden maintenance services can visit your house as required to keep your garden tidy.
Home maintenance services include:
◆ Gutter cleaning
◆ Home modification installations, including handrails in the bathroom and toilet
◆ Permanent or temporary ramps outside or inside the home
◆ Step modifications
◆ Handyman work including fixing or replacing tap washers, repairing doors and cupboards, minor general, plumbing and electrical repairs such as changing light bulbs
◆ Installation and maintenance of smoke alarms
◆ Pest control
◆ Fixing fences and gates
Gardening services include:
◆ Lawn mowing and hedging
◆ Weeding and pruning
◆ Watering and fertilising
◆ Pressure washing outdoor areas
◆ Window washing
Sometimes a little assistance is all you need, allowing you to stay independent and enjoy other activities.
A good service provider will help you keep your house and garden in tip-top shape so you can stay living in your home for longer.
Generally, people like to maintain their own homes to a certain degree but may not be able to keep up with all the gardening or household cleaning like they previously could.
If you are a little unsure about having someone you don’t know assist around the home, you can enquire with a provider about their insurance cover and whether they are police-checked.
You can even ask to meet with staff members beforehand to get to know them. This may not be mandatory protocol for every business, but it can give you peace of mind that you and your home will be safe and in good hands.
The other great thing about handing over the house and garden chores is that you now have more time to focus on things you enjoy spending time on, like catching up with friends and family, having ‘me time’, or getting back into your hobbies. Usually, leisure activities and hobbies are the first to be sacrificed because you have to do household tasks.
You can find providers delivering home and garden maintenance services in your State or Territory in the Resources section starting on page 121 or search AgedCareGuide.com.au/home-care .
Owning a home often comes with a lot of pride but as you get older your home and garden may become harder to maintain.
As you age, it may become harder to look after yourself or stay on top of housework. To help you maintain your health and dignity or live comfortably and safely, respectful and qualified carers can come to your house to assist you.
Accepting that you need help in performing these tasks can be hard and sometimes people think it is a sign that you’re losing your independence.
However, being supported by carers as you age in your home allows you to continue to enjoy the lifestyle you want and manage your health from home.
Personal care tasks can include:
◆ Showering and bathing
◆ Dressing and undressing
◆ Grooming and shaving
◆ Changing continence aids
◆ Assistance with toileting
◆ Dental care
◆ Repositioning bed-bound clients
◆ Assistance with mobility like getting out of bed and moving around the house
◆ Eating and drinking
The level of help you require will depend on your health and ability. For some people, having a standby support worker for emergencies during the morning shower is enough.
Others may need someone to towel them dry and help with dressing.
Whether you need two hours of personal care every now and then, a few times a week, every day or 24 hour care, you can access this support through a range of private providers or with assistance from the Government funded Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) or a Home Care Package (HCP).
Depending on your own capabilities, you may receive a little or a lot of help around the home. Personal care and domestic assistance are the most common in home supports people seek. Services range from meal preparation, help with shopping or cleaning, to assistance with showering and getting dressed.
Some older people struggle with the feeling of personal intrusion when receiving home care. Your provider’s staff will be qualified, caring and respectful when providing this care, and should make sure you are in a nurturing and supportive environment so you can easily accept help in your home. Staff should be making the effort to talk you through every stage and make the whole process comfortable for you.
Personal care workers will not only provide you care, they will also develop a strong relationship with you. This can make the whole service experience more enjoyable and it will also help combat loneliness.
Older people are more prone to feelings of loneliness, which can have a huge impact on a person’s wellbeing. A regular friendly face around the home can make you feel connected and social.
Additionally, having assistance around the home means you have more energy to get out and about and stay connected with your wider community network.
If you need help keeping your house tidy, doing laundry, preparing food or stocking your fridge or pantry, domestic assistance can help.
Reduced or limited mobility or cognitive decline can make these weekly, and sometimes daily, tasks challenging.
You may have a neighbour, friend or family member come in regularly to help you with these tasks or you may prefer to hire a professional service to come in at set times to do those jobs for you.
Having domestic assistance as part of your CHSP or HCP will give you peace of mind knowing your house is clean and you’re able to live comfortably and safely.
Domestic assistance services include:
◆ Household cleaning
◆ Washing and ironing clothes
◆ Grocery or retail shopping
◆ Making beds
◆ Preparing food
Domestic assistance can be provided on a daily, weekly or fortnightly basis depending on your needs and the domestic tasks required.
For example, washing clothes and grocery shopping could be undertaken once a week and household cleaning may only be needed once a fortnight. Although preparing food is typically a daily job, your support worker could prepare a number of meals in your home, then put them in a freezer for you to eat when you want.
You’ll find home care providers that offer personal or domestic assistance in your area in the Resources section starting on page 121.
Personal care workers will not only provide you care, they will also develop a strong relationship with you
Looking after yourself is incredibly important and good nutrition is a part of that. Getting assistance with shopping or when preparing and cooking meals can make things much easier and help you feel comfortable that you’re getting enough food and nutrients.
You can get assistance in:
◆ Grocery shopping, food preparation and/or cooking
◆ Transport to and from shops
◆ Feeding
◆ Meal delivery
◆ Food subscription services
◆ Cooking programs
◆ Diet, nutrition, food storage and food safety
◆ Special dietary requirements
◆ Shopping for items like clothes and gifts etc.
You can get support with shopping for items other than food. For example, a support worker can assist you in going to a department store to shop for clothes or gifts or to the post office to pay your bills.
This provides peace of mind and allows you to get out in the community to buy the things you need if you have limited mobility or can no longer drive yourself.
There are many services available that can help with meals and shopping, depending on the level of assistance you require. You may just need help getting the groceries to your door or need help with food storage, right down to preparing, cooking and feeding of meals. It may be handy to talk to a friend, family member or your doctor about what care you might need.
Some meal services and supports that are available include:
◆ Click and collect
Click and collect has become a popular way to do grocery shopping, with the convenience of shopping online, getting your groceries packed by a personal shopper and ready for collection. This service is usually free, with the possibility of same day collection from a supermarket location of your choice if you order online before a certain time.
Some supermarkets also allow you to leave the personal shopper notes,
such as how ripe you would like your fruit and vegetables to be.
◆ Grocery delivery services
Some supermarkets provide home delivery if transport is an issue or you would like the convenience of your groceries delivered to your door. Ordering online can be easy and convenient, with the ability to select the exact items you need, different delivery time slots and various payment options.
The delivery fee may differ depending on the time slot you select, and often is free if over a certain amount is spent. There are also private companies and smaller supermarket stores that provide delivery options.
◆ Food subscription services
If you enjoy cooking, but don’t want to think about planning what to eat, food subscription services can be a good option. They provide fresh ingredients and easy-to-follow recipes to your home so you can enjoy cooking without the hassle. The benefits of these services include convenience, saving time deciding what to cook, minimal food waste and portion control.
If you have trouble getting to the local shops and carrying shopping bags or have difficulty with preparing and cooking meals and need someone to do this for you, help is available.
Developed by dietitians and prepared by chefs, Lite n’ Easy offers more than just a weight loss solution. We also offer great tasting meals, designed to promote healthy eating and well-being.
• Plenty of variety and choice with over 235 meals.
• My Choice range of dinners, soups and desserts designed for older people with smaller appetites.
• Flexible options, home delivered.
• No lock in contracts or subscriptions.
• On a Home Care Package? Approved HCP recipients could pay as little as 30% for their Lite n’ Easy meals. Call your provider for more information.
Save 30% on your first delivery
Order online using promo code RELIHO30 or, if you are a HCP recipient, call us on 13 15 12 and mention this offer.
Offer valid for new customers only on their first delivery. Cannot be used with any other offer.
There are organisations, such as Meals on Wheels , that provide readymade meals to your door. This can be a good option for someone who doesn’t enjoy cooking or enjoys the convenience of meals made and delivered to them. Most services cater for specific cultural or dietary requirements, should you need it.
There is often a social component that comes with using these services. Food delivered by Meals on Wheels , for example, is usually by volunteers who are happy to have a chat and often build relationships with regular customers, making it a pleasurable and comforting service for people who may not have a lot of social interaction. Volunteers who regularly deliver meals to the same customers are also able to monitor a person’s wellbeing in terms of
appetite, hygiene, or visible signs of confusion or deterioration.
Many older Australians are used to cooking for a household of several people and adapting to cooking for one or two as they get older is often a big adjustment.
Specific cooking programs for older Australians can help improve
quality of life through basic cooking lessons, nutrition education and social engagement.
Speak to your local Council or call or visit your local library to discuss events being held in your area and how you can get involved.
The Department of Health’s Eat for Health website provides recommendations, advice and recipes to help people eat nutritious and balanced food.
The website contains recipes to suit all appetites and budgets while meeting nutrition goals.
Visit eatforhealth.gov.au to download their free resources.
No matter what level of help you need, there is a range of services to assist you in making convenient, healthy food choices.
Some supermarkets provide home delivery if you would like your groceries delivered to your door
Thinking ahead and being aware of these options can give you peace of mind when deciding how to get to the shops, a social event or your next medical appointment. If you are still able to drive a car, there are also many things to consider to ensure the safety of you and others on the road.
Having the ability to drive a car is an important component for many people in keeping their independence. However, as you get older there are special licencing requirements, which may involve annual medical check-ups, completing driving assessments or renewing your licence more frequently. These often vary depending on what State or Territory you live in. Contact the Department of Transport in your State or Territory to find out what rules apply.
As you age you may experience vision changes, impairments in your decision making skills and slower reaction times which can put others in danger on the road. If you experience symptoms that can affect your driving ability or no longer feel safe or comfortable operating a motor vehicle, have a chat to your doctor and family to decide whether it is time to surrender your license.
If you are still able to drive but have a disability or a mobility impairment and require a mobility aid such as a
walking frame, crutches, scooter or wheelchair, you may be eligible for a disability parking permit.
Disability parking is often closest to the entrance and exit of buildings, making it easier to get around. You must display your permit on the rear view mirror of your car if you park in a disability parking space.
There may be a small fee involved in obtaining an Australian Disability Parking Permit and you must be assessed by your doctor or specialist to prove you require a permit.
Each State and Territory may have different eligibility criteria around permit parking so it is important to check the rules that apply based on where you live.
Getting from one place to another on public transport is a common choice for older people. Most public transport services, including buses, trains, trams and ferries are accessible for people with limited mobility. Low floors and ramps allow easy, safe entry and exit of vehicles. There are also allocated spaces for wheelchairs and mobility scooters. The Australian Government issues the Pensioner Concession Card to eligible Australians over 60 which offers a range of benefits including subsidised public transport fees. Some States and Territories even offer pensioners free travel at certain times.
While transport can be provided through Government funded support, there are transport options available through local councils, community transport providers and private businesses if you are unable to drive or access public transport.
Many councils and community organisations provide a variety of transport options such as:
◆ Shopping transport, which may offer a group bus service that allows you and others to do your weekly shopping
◆ Social transport, which provides transport for groups to attend social events or activities such as going to the movies or sightseeing
◆ Personal transport, which offers individual transport to the hospital, medical appointments or personal social visits to family and friends.
Throughout Australia, there is a wide range of not-for-profit, charity, religious, cultural and community groups providing free or low cost transport assistance for older people.
Organisations such as your local church, Rotary or Kiwanis, also provide transport services.
Having
inexpensive or
options available is important in maintaining your independence, remaining socially active and reducing social isolation as you age.
There are a range of transport options if you are unable to drive or access public transport
States and Territories have their own initiatives, such as the Community Transport Program in New South Wales and the Queensland Government’s Community Transport Scheme. St John Community Transport Service operates on a national level.
Many of these schemes are Government subsidised and staffed by volunteer drivers, however, you may have to pay a small contribution towards the scheme.
Your local council will be able to suggest community organisations in your area who offer these transport services to the community or offer community buses and personal transport.
Council community buses usually operate on a weekly basis with many offering the convenience of door-to-door pickup and drop - off. As well as taking residents to shopping centres, many council run community buses visit other services and activities, such as libraries and senior’s clubs and groups. You will need to pay a fee for using the community bus which may vary depending on where it is going.
Personal transport allows you to get to medical, wellbeing and other essential appointments if you are no longer able to drive. Council transport programs are generally organised by a council paid coordinator, with the driving service provided by volunteers. In some cases, the council will approve certain contractors or taxi companies to carry out the service. There is usually a minimum charge for the service, and fees may vary depending on the distance you are travelling and whether you require a return journey.
Councils provide various transport services, so it’s best to check with them about what services are available to you in your community.
To receive transport as part of your Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) funding or Home Care Package (HCP) you must first be assessed by an Aged Care Assessment Team or Service (ACAT/S).
If you need someone to take you to your appointments, daily errands and social activities, make sure you tell the person assessing you how often you need to leave the house for these appointments. For example, you may need a lift to the local RSL for ‘games night’ once a month. Once approved someone will come to your house at agreed times and ensure you get to your activities safely.
Private car services are also available depending on your needs for transport, which may offer a more personal and professional travel service. Many businesses have drivers who are trained in mobility assistance and may offer additional services, such as accompanying clients in and out of appointments, shopping trips and other reasons for transport. Private transport businesses can provide once off or ongoing services.
Most private home care providers offer personal transport services,
which can help with transport to and from various appointments and outings. Services are usually provided by support workers on a temporary or ongoing basis and are tailored depending on your needs and circumstance.
All State and Territory Governments have a scheme designed to provide financial assistance to older people who may have a disability or medical condition that prevents them from using public or community transport.
To apply for the Taxi Transport Subsidy Scheme (TTSS) or Taxi Subsidy Scheme (TSS), you must be a permanent resident of Australia who resides in that State or Territory, have a severe or permanent disability, such as limited mobility and not be a member of other Taxi Subsidy Schemes in another State or Territory.
The TTSS provides eligible people with a booklet of dockets that can be used to subsidise up to a certain percentage of total taxi fares, with a maximum subsidy per trip.
to read more
You can access social support through the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) or a Home Care Package (HCP). This could simply be a visit from your support worker for a cup of tea and a chat, getting out in your community together or attending community based social activities with other older people in your area.
There are a number of social support initiatives and programs across the country helping people like you stay connected to friends, family and your community.
Be Connected is an Australian wide initiative helping Australians learn to connect with others digitally. The movement provides free courses to teach people how to use a range of technologies including Apple and Android products.
Through Be Connected you can engage with family and friends online, find new friends, keep up - to - date with what’s happening in the world and your community and learn how to safely and securely buy and sell items online.
If you benefit from in-person support, the Be Connected network offers community partners who can visit your home to help you develop your digital skills and build confidence. To find out more about this initiative call 1300 795 897 or visit beconnected.esafety.gov.au.
You may need a little help to stay connected to your community, which is where the Community Visitors Scheme can assist. It is an Australian Government initiative
delivered under the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP).
It organises volunteers for home visits to older people who are at risk of loneliness or social isolation. These volunteers can offer conversation and friendship, often through shared language or cultural backgrounds or life experiences.
The Community Visitors Scheme is run by organisations who will make sure your volunteer is a good match, so you need to include information about any special needs or circumstances when applying. Volunteers are assigned based on urgency and suitability, not waiting time.
For more information on the Community Visitors Scheme call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 or visit myagedcare.gov.au .
Your council and community groups or organisations may host a range of social activities and clubs which help you stay engaged and connected with your community. Joining a club will help you find a purpose, meet new people and you’ll have something to look forward to.
These could include:
◆ Reading
◆ Arts and crafts
◆ Dancing
◆ Board games
◆ Exercise and walking
◆ Music
◆ Cooking
◆ Outdoor activities
◆ Hobby collecting (such as antiques or other items)
networks and community is an integral part of your health and wellbeing as you age.
Getting involved in social clubs, activities or groups has a range of benefits including improving cognitive function, maintaining or improving physical health, preventing depression, increasing immune system functioning, better sleep and can even lead to a longer life.
You can chat with your local council to find social clubs and activities near you or speak to your support worker or coordinator of your Home Care Package about getting involved in social classes in your community.
Men are more inclined to experience isolation, loneliness and depression as they age. We know the vital role social engagement and networks play throughout our lives and this is particularly important as you get older.
Men’s sheds are a great place where men from all walks of life can come together to chat and enjoy each other’s company. The sheds provide a safe, positive and busy environment without the pressure. According to the Australian Men’s Shed Association, “Men can just come and have a yarn and a cuppa if that is all they’re looking for.”
Men’s sheds play an invaluable role in opening up the conversation of men’s emotions and health and wellbeing, particularly mental health. Funded by the Department of Health, the Australian Men’s Shed Association provides practical support to men’s sheds and delivers a wide range of services to improve the health and wellbeing of members and reduce the number of men who are at risk from preventable health issues that may arise from isolation.
The Association has collaborated with National, State, Territory and community services such as Beyond Blue, Heart Foundation, Department of Veterans’ Affairs and Cancer Council to develop and deliver a range of resources and national initiatives.
Often bonding over common interests or life experiences, many men thrive on the mateship formed at men’s sheds. To find a men’s shed near you, call the Australian Men’s Shed Association on 1300 550 009 or visit mensshed.org/find-a-shed.
Volunteering is a great way to stay active and connected to your community, while also helping other people.
According to statistics from Volunteering Australia, older Australians aged over 65 years old contribute the most volunteering hours compared to other age groups, totalling on average, 104 hours per year each.
With more than 600,000 not-for- profit organisations across the country relying on the generous support of volunteers, lending your time and skills benefits both you and the organisation you volunteer for.
There are lots of organisations you can volunteer for that align with your hobbies or interests including arts or heritage, education and training, animal welfare, emergency services, environment, health, parenting, children and youth, religious and sports and recreation.
You could clean up litter and rubbish in your local community, spend time at a local animal shelter helping feed and walk dogs, volunteer at the library or put your green thumb to use in the community garden.
Volunteering has a range of health benefits too, with the activity helping to provide purpose, a sense of selfworth and social enrichment.
Just a few hours of volunteer work on a regular basis can make a significant difference to your happiness and mood and is associated with improved mental health.
You can speak to your local council about what volunteering opportunities may be available. Volunteering Australia can also point you in the right direction, connecting you to volunteering opportunities in your community. Call 02 6251 4060 or visit volunteeringaustralia.org for more information.
Getting involved with social clubs, activities or groups has a range of health benefits.
◆ Respite for employed carers and for carers seeking to return to work
For example, if you have a fall, don’t feel comfortable being alone in your home and need support and assistance nearby, going into respite is a good option until you feel safe and strong enough to come home.
Accommodation and services offered through Government funded programs in the community and residential respite include:
◆ Day care centres for half or full day respite
◆ In home respite services for overnight, home and personal care services
◆ Activity programs and social outings in groups or one-on-one
◆ A break away from home with a support worker
◆ Respite for carers of people with dementia and challenging behaviours
◆ Respite in an aged care home or overnight in a community setting
For carers, respite can simply be a break away from the caring role that offers an opportunity for both you as the carer and the loved one that you care for, to take time to refresh or tackle the other tasks in life.
With services in the home, in the community or in a residential care setting, there are a number of readily accessible respite options for you to explore. It is an excellent chance to take some time out and provides opportunities to meet new people and experience new things.
Ranging from a few hours, a full day, overnight, or even a few weeks, respite can be provided in an informal setting by family and friends, or formally through service providers either in an aged care home or in your own home and community.
Centre Based Respite Care (CBRC) is another form of respite offering individualised social and recreational activities to individuals and their carers. Day programs in the form of excursions, outdoor or indoor activities, or holiday programs are also available through CBRC.
To access services in a CBRC, a client assessment will be made by trained respite workers who will develop individualised needs based programs with you as a way of enhancing your quality of life.
All of the centres are staffed by qualified coordinators and experienced CBRC community workers.
If you’d prefer to stay in your home while your carer takes a break, a support worker can come to your home instead and provide in home support.
Sometimes you or your carer need to take a break or require extra care and support, which is where respite can help.
Respite is an excellent chance to take some time out and experience new things
All respite services can be accessed on a planned basis, with some services also available on an emergency basis.
If you need respite care, contact Carer Gateway on 1800 422 737 or visit CarerGateway.gov.au to get help accessing those services. They can also help you access emergency respite options.
As with most aged care services, the amount of care you receive will depend on the level of your needs and the availability of respite care services.
Statistics show that the wellbeing of carers is significantly lower than that of those not caring.
So many carer support groups and the Government highlight the need for carers to remember to take the time to look after themselves.
It is important to plan time away from your role as a carer. If you wish to take this break or go away on holiday, where you cannot provide support to the person you care for, you can use respite services.
In show of their support for unpaid carers just like you, who have a national estimated value of $60.3 billion each year, the Australian Government subsidises a range of aged care services including respite.
Short-term and emergency respite, accessed through Carer Gateway, is funded by the Government, although there are also private providers that offer respite as part of their services.
When you access respite services through Government funded programs you’re generally asked to still contribute to some of the costs.
If you’re choosing to pay for respite services yourself you don’t need a Government assessment and can contact your preferred provider to access services.
Community based respite services also charge fees according to the type of service being used and your ability to pay. What you pay as part of this contribution will be discussed and agreed upon between you and the organisation you are working with to deliver your respite services, with a set rate established prior to services starting.
If you are looking to access residential respite care within an aged care home, this option does come with a payable fee. The basic daily fee, and perhaps booking fee, will need to be covered by you, but will not require any accommodation charge, or any additional incometested fees.
It is important to remember that the cost of respite care will always depend on the care provider, the length of time involved and the type of care you are seeking.
Accessing respite services with Government support through the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) or Home Care Package (HCP) program will require you (and your carer) to undergo an assessment, often conducted by a Regional Assessment Service (RAS) or Aged Care Assessment Team/ Service (ACAT/S).
This assessment will help to work out if you are eligible for respite services. Contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 to arrange a free assessment.
You can contact Carer Gateway on CarerGateway.gov.au or call 1800 422 737 for advice on the types of respite and support available in your area.
They may be able to help you find respite care near you that best meets the needs of you and the person you care for.
The Carer Gateway can also connect you to support groups in your area which may help you as a carer to look after your own wellbeing by connecting with others in a similar situation.
The Government subsidises a range of aged care services including respite
Do you need a hand to assist you in continuing to care for your loved one?
We can help you!
Giving the gift of caring
Would you like to be a Volunteer in this amazing program?
We can help you to help others!
Northern Respite Care Services is a low cost, low level, interim service provider, currently offering four programs for consumers living in the northern suburbs of Adelaide (Playford, Salisbury and Tea Tree Plaza Council Areas)
When: Wednesday
Where: Playford Baptist Church Hall
Duration: approx. 4 hours
When: As booked
Where: At home & in the local community
Duration: approx. 3 hours
When: Wednesday
Where: door to door service – pick-up and drop-off
Duration: approx. 5 hours
When: Thursday
Where: door to door service – pick-up and drop-off
Duration: approx. 5 hours
Northern Respite Care is a low-cost provider, currently a $5 service fee per session applies to all services. We have vacancies available now, in particular for the outing groups and craft group, ready to support you and your loved one.
For more information about our services or volunteering opportunities call 0411 117 323.
www.northernhealthcarevolunteerassociation.com
Trained Volunteers with DCSI and National Police Checks.
There are programs that can help you regain your independence, build strength, learn new skills or rediscover old ones.
Transition Care Programs are designed to improve your independence and confidence after a hospital stay to help you return home rather than entering residential care.
Transition care provides time-limited, goal-oriented and therapy-focused care delivered in your own home or in a ‘live in’ setting
It often includes low intensity therapy, such as physiotherapy and occupational therapy, social work and nursing support or personal care.
Transition care can be provided for up to 12 weeks, with a possibility to extend to 18 weeks if needed.
To be eligible for transition care, you must be a hospital inpatient and be assessed by an Aged Care Assessment Team/Service (ACAT/S). Access to transition care is decided on a needs basis, not on your ability to pay fees. Talk to your hospital social worker or discharge planner to find out more details.
Short-term restorative care is a Government funded program that provides a range of care and services to improve your wellbeing and help
For Hattie, accessing transition care was exactly the right move to get her back to her best.
Hattie had always been active. She went for long runs years before jogging was popular and she had even hiked the Kokoda Track.
As Hattie grew older, she was still fit and active and saw herself as a young and able person.
She even chased her toddler grandson around the living room. But Hattie started to have hip pain that worsened with time. Her doctor suggested a hip replacement.
Hattie didn’t hesitate as she was beginning to feel frustrated and debilitated with the ongoing discomfort preventing her from continuing an active lifestyle. However, when planning the surgery, Hattie realised there was no one within driving distance who was able to help during her recovery.
Hattie and her daughter consulted with home care provider Right at Home, deciding to have a caregiver come to the house for the first three weeks after Hattie’s surgery.
The procedure went off without a hitch and after a few weeks, Hattie was back on her feet.
you stay independent. It is similar to the Transition Care Program in that it rebuilds independence, however you can access it even when you haven’t been admitted to hospital.
Short-term restorative care can be accessed in your home, in the community, in an aged care home or a mix of these, depending on your care needs.
You may be eligible for short-term restorative care services if you:
◆ are slowing down mentally and/or physically
◆ need help with everyday tasks
◆ want to stay independent.
You can receive short-term restorative care for up to eight weeks, twice in any twelve month period. If you can afford to do so, you will be expected to contribute to the cost of your care and services.
The maximum amount you may be asked to pay changes depending on whether you receive care in the community, or in an aged care home. It is calculated as a percentage of the single pension daily rate and the care fees for your service can be discussed with your provider.
While recovering, Hattie accessed a number of services, including shopping, cooking, transport, companionship, cleaning and laundry.
Hattie recovered well at home and she felt that the care and attention she gained from transition care set her on the right path to recovery.
“I’ve never felt better!,” she says.
“Thanks to Right at Home for assisting me after hospital, for their excellent post-hospital care which allowed me to get the situation with my hip sorted once and for all, I am now back to my active life and feel 10 years younger!”
Case study provided by Right at Home
Returning to an independent life after a setback such as a health scare or hospital admission is possible, and there is help available to get you back to living confidently in your own home.
In addition to the informal support from family and friends or community assistance, there are home care providers who provide formal support services.
There is a large number of forprofit and not-for-profit providers who can deliver support to older Australians in their own home. These range from small and community organisations, to larger national operators.
These services – ranging from entry level right through to intermediate and high level support – can help you at home through almost any stage of life with the delivery of services such as gardening, personal care, nursing, shopping, domestic assistance and even more specialised care such as dementia support and palliative care at home.
Depending on your situation you may be able to access these services through a Government funded home support program or choose to use a private home care provider.
With all this variety and so many options available to you – depending on your situation, finances, location and needs – it is important to be aware of just what is out there and to know what supports will best suit your needs now and into the future, as well as how to go about accessing them, and with what help.
In this section we explain a range of different support options including community supports, council services, Government funded initiatives and privately funded care options.
With Australia’s growing ageing population and greater expectations of care services, there are now more support options available to help you remain living at home than ever before.
It is important to know what supports will best suit your needs now and into the future
Depending on where you live, your local council can provide a range of supports to help you live more independently and engage with your community.
Some councils are approved providers to deliver the Government funded Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) or Home Care Package (HCP) services. They also run services, activities and events for local senior residents outside of Government funded supports.
Federal and State Governments often delegate critical service delivery, like home care services, to local councils. In many cases, councils are the first point of contact for older members in the community, even more so in rural and regional areas. Councils have a strong connection with their local community and providing basic home care supports is one way they do this.
Services run by local councils can include:
Many Councils offer free or low-cost taxi trips for seniors and their carers around the community including to local shopping centres.
Men’s sheds are places where men, young and old, can work on projects, such as fixing or building furniture, at their own pace in their own time, while enjoying a cup of tea and a chat with other men in the community. They aim to improve the health and wellbeing of men by providing a friendly and inviting space for them to connect with others.
Local Senior Citizens and Probus clubs provide a relaxed environment where retirees and older residents can enjoy the company of others and participate in a range of social activities. Similarly, Rotary and Lions Clubs can be a great way of meeting new people and becoming more involved in your community. Contact your local council to find your closest club.
Some Councils provide a weekly, fortnightly or monthly shopping list service for older people, where staff will take your shopping order, purchase the goods for you and deliver the items to your home for a small fee.
Councils are a great first point of contact if you are looking to be more involved in your community, meet new people or learn a new skill. Local councils hold an array of activities at community centres, such as fitness groups, bridge clubs, dance groups, computer lessons and art/ craft groups.
Many local libraries in council areas operate a home delivery service or mobile library. They often work with local volunteers to provide a free delivery service to seniors who have difficulty visiting their local library. Items are selected to meet each customer’s individual needs and delivered directly to their door.
Mobile libraries visit residents in their local area. Generally a bus will drive around the council on a roster to be at set locations on specific days allowing residents to borrow library items close to home.
While many councils provide Meals on Wheels services under Government funded programs, some councils also have their own food or meal services. They may offer weekly Centre Based Meal Programs, aimed to provide isolated elderly residents the opportunity to have a healthy, low-cost meal while interacting with other members of the community. The Council may also provide free transport to and from the program.
Some councils provide services to help make day-to-day living that little bit easier. They may offer assisted household bin services to help residents who are unable to physically move their bins to and from the kerbside.
Some Councils have set up a network of designated, free to use power points for people to safely recharge the battery of their electric mobility device.
Services like the above may differ from council to council, so get in touch with yours to see what services are available to you.
Councils recognise that they are often the first point of contact for older members of the community
Through its Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) and Home Care Packages (HCP) program, the Government supports seniors to stay in their community for longer and to live independently for as long as possible in their own home.
The supports you will be able to access vary, depending on your needs and circumstances. Assistance is available across a range of levels, from basic supports under CHSP to more intensive support with HCP.
Known as the Consumer Directed Care (CDC) model you or your loved one now have more choice and control over who delivers the care you have been approved for.
CDC means having the choice to:
◆ Have more say in the care and services you access, how it is delivered and by whom
◆ Develop your own care plan with your service provider
◆ Determine how much involvement you want in managing your HCP
◆ Have more understanding about how your HCP is funded and how these funds will be spent
◆ Monitor your HCP to determine whether it still meets your care needs
For example, you have been approved for a Level 2 HCP and would like to receive personal care and meal preparation assistance.
However, after six months, you decided you’d also like to allocate some of your funding to gardening and home maintenance services. The CDC model gives you the ability to discuss these options with your current provider, or find another provider to deliver this as part of your HCP.
Under the model, all funding is allocated directly to you, the consumer, rather than the service provider. This makes it easier to change providers if you wish. This doesn’t mean the money will go into your bank account. The Government funding is still paid to an approved provider for them to pay carers and other bills. It simply means the packages are portable and if you decide to change providers, any unspent funds will move with you.
So if you or your loved one move to a different area that your current provider doesn’t service, or if you’re not happy with your provider, you will also be able to take your HCP with you and choose a new local provider.
The desire of many older Australians to remain independent and continue to have choice and control has driven much of the Government’s home and aged care reforms of recent years.
The supports you will be able to access vary, depending on your needs and circumstances
Not everyone accessing home care requires high-level support, some people may simply need some help with challenging chores – like gardening, or keeping on top of the vacuuming and washing.
If this sounds like you, you may be best suited to home care supports offered through the Government’s entry level Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP).
The CHSP is a national program, meaning it is available in all States and Territories. The services offered as part of CHSP are there to support you if you are mostly able to care for yourself but need some help with certain small jobs.
It is also a great option if you are experiencing a setback and need short-term support to help you get back on your feet.
If you need support to live independently at home or remain socially active in your community, the CHSP can be a great home care option. The CHSP aims to provide extra assistance to help you manage at home, but also provides support using a wellness approach that builds on your strength, which will both maintain your independence and develop your abilities.
There is a large range of different services available that can assist you in your home. Every service you receive should benefit you positively and target your individual needs.
The CHSP services you can expect to receive from providers to help you manage your day-to-day activities can include:
◆ Transport
◆ Domestic help such as house cleaning and laundry
◆ Personal care such as help with showering, dressing and undressing
◆ Home maintenance such as changing light bulbs and gardening
◆ Home modifications such as installing a grab rail
◆ Aids and equipment such as a shower chair, raised toilet seat and mobility aids
◆ Help with meals and/or food preparation
◆ Nursing care and managing medications
◆ Allied health
◆ Social support such as accompanied activities and group excursions
◆ Respite
CHSP is usually the entry point to home care services for a lot of people and provides basic services such as help with shopping or meal preparation, keeping the house clean, and low level personal care.
CHSP services enhance the independence and wellbeing of older people who want to remain living at home and in their community for longer, but need that little bit of extra help to do that.
Independence is different from person to person, which is why individualised CHSP services are tailored to your needs. This could take different forms, like in an
ongoing support capacity or short term assistance for recovery after an accident or illness.
Access to CHSP services is only available through a Government assessment to work out what services you need, and if in fact CHSP is the best fit for you.
Supports offerend through CHSP are entry-level supports, and if you have more complex care needs, a Home Care Package may be better suited to you and your needs. More information on HCPs can be found on page 113 and eligibility and assessments on page 117.
If you find yourself in the situation where you have an urgent need for home support services, and your safety would be at risk if those needs were not immediately met, you may be able to start receiving CHSP services before you have been assessed.
Services you receive should benefit you positively and target your individual needs
◆ Mobility and dexterity assistance which includes the access to and supported use of aids and equipment like walking frames/sticks, mechanical devices for lifting, bed rails, slide sheets and pressure - relieving mattresses
These packages, just like CHSP services, are available to Australians aged over 65 years, or over 50 years if you identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, and are designed to help you be supported to remain living independently and comfortably in your own home for as long as possible.
It’s important to keep in mind when looking into HCPs that access to any level of support on offer through this program requires you to have your needs assessed by an Aged Care Assessment Team/Service (ACAT/S) (see page 117) and be approved for one of the four levels of care:
Level 1 – supporting people with basic care needs
Level 2 – supporting people with low level care needs
Level 3 – supporting people with intermediate care needs
Level 4 – supporting people with high level care needs
This assessment will explore the types of care needs you may have, and could lead to you being approved for one of the four levels of HCP on offer that is best suited to your situation now. Your HCP may include services and support with daily tasks such as:
◆ Personal services including help with personal activities and needs such as bathing, showering, toileting, dressing and undressing, mobility and communication
◆ Meal and food support to ensure your nutrition and hydration needs are met and can also include assistance with other food-related jobs like meal preparation, and feeding
◆ Continence management, these supports can range from supplying products to supporting you to use continence aids and appliances
◆ Nursing, allied health and therapy services such as speech therapy, podiatry, occupational or physiotherapy services and other clinical services, such as hearing and vision services
◆ Transport and personal assistance including with shopping, visiting health practitioners and attending social activities
◆ Housekeeping and gardening such as help with domestic duties like cleaning your house or support to help you maintain your garden
Being approved for HCP support may come as a huge relief to you and your loved ones, but this doesn’t automatically mean you will be able to access supports and funding straight away. You will be placed on a waiting list with packages distributed when they become available based on priority and how long you have been waiting.
Once you have been notified that a HCP is available for you, it will be up to you to find a service provider to deliver your home care services.
You can read more about ‘Choosing a provider’ on page 120.
To support those with additional needs, the Government offers a range of package supplements which you may be eligible for in addition to your approved HCP.
If your care needs are more than entry-level, you may be eligible for home care services and supports through one of the four available levels of Home Care Packages (HCPs).
The Home Care Package supplements you may be able to access, depending on your eligibility and assessment, may include:
◆ The Dementia and Cognition Supplement
◆ The Veterans’ Supplement
◆ Oxygen Supplement
◆ Enteral Feeding Supplement
◆ Viability Supplement
◆ Hardship Supplement
Your chosen provider can arrange an assessment to find out if you are eligible for any of the package supplements. They must lodge an application and will manage the supplement on your behalf.
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over your life, so it makes sense that you might want to maintain that control by self-managing your Home Care Package.
Rather than having a case manager to manage your package and handle all elements of organising your care and support, you may decide you want to manage the coordination of your supports yourself. Community
Some people find that they have more choice and control over their HCP when they are self- managing it.
Additionally, people who self- manage their care are able to cut down on administration costs and case management fees they would normally have to pay and are able to put that money towards further care, more hours or extra services.
When you self-manage your HCP, you get to choose the provider who hosts your package, and then pick and manage your support workers, decide when you want to receive these services and negotiate how much you pay for the provided services.
Your provider is obligated to provide you with all the information you need to self-manage your HCP. This should include clear instructions on responsibilities and obligations,
and supporting you through the self- managing process.
When considering self-management of your package, you should consider whether you have the capacity and support to manage it yourself. By its very nature, self-management does require some involvement.
In some cases, you may ask your partner or loved one to self-manage your package on your behalf.
It is important to keep in mind that some providers may have policies around self-management, so you should definitely shop around and enquire with providers about how they deal with clients who wish to self-manage their package.
HCPs are designed to help you be supported to remain living independently in your own home for as long as possible
A range of home support options are funded by the Australian Government through the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) and Home Care Package program (HCP), however, assessments and waitlists could play a part in preventing you from accessing the support you need right now.
Depending on your financial situation, exploring the option of self funding home care services, also known as privately funded home care, could be a viable option in meeting your immediate short or long term care needs.
If you are looking to access privately funded home care – or a ‘fee-forservice’ care option – it is important that you are aware that all service fees will be paid by you, in full, without any Government support, no matter your financial situation.
The benefit to this is that you can access whatever services you want, for however long you want, whenever you want.
The other big benefit is that you don’t need to meet the Government’s eligibility criteria, and there is generally a limited wait time.
Privately funded supports are a great option if you:
◆ Have been assessed and approved for Government funded support, but there is no package available and you have been placed on the waitlist
◆ Have been found ineligible for Government subsidised services
◆ If you have immediate short term care needs
◆ Can afford to pay for your own care needs without Government subsidy/support
◆ If you receive Government subsidised support, but would like to top this up with additional self-funded services
The supports you can access through privately funded home care are the same as what would be available to you through the Government’s programs including personal care, housekeeping and home maintenance, shopping and meal preparation, nursing care, transport and social support.
Often providers charge an hourly fee for their private home care services, and have no lock-in contracts to allow your care to increase or decrease at your discretion to suit you and your changing needs.
While many providers offer privately funded in home care this way, it is important that you do your own research and ask any provider to explain their charges and contracts before agreeing to access their services. Some providers only accept clients approved for care by My Aged Care.
A lot of people that turn to privately funded home care supports experience flexibility and continuity with the services they receive. Additionally, you are able to book home care services on short notice and there is more freedom around the services you choose.
Private home care can also be a good in between intervention while waiting for other home care services, it can give you and your carers and family members peace of mind that you will be receiving care when you need it.
Common services people privately fund include personal care, transport to and from appointments, palliative care, and interstate travel assistance.
With private home care you can receive the same services that are available through Government funded home care, however, you don’t have to worry about Government funded budgets or timelines. You are also able to decide when and for how long you receive care.
Some people may access private home care services to fill the gaps between waiting periods for other Government funded services.
Just like Government funded home care, private home care also has a focus on Consumer Directed Care (CDC), putting more control into the hands of the consumer.
Some people may access private home care services to fill the gaps between waiting periods for other Government funded services
Based on this initial conversation, the operator will determine whether you need a formal assessment and, if so, organise an official aged care assessment with a RAS or ACAT/S.
The aged care assessment is all about making sure that the service you receive is the one that is best for you and your carer’s needs.
The meeting is generally held in your own home or in hospital, by a health professional such as a doctor, nurse, social worker or occupational therapist.
Government funded and private support is available to help you navigate your needs, goals and preferences. In this section we outline what is involved in a home support assessment, and what to do regarding any concerns you have about the support you receive, including reviewing your needs.
Planning ahead where possible, understanding what support is available and at what cost, will make the process and transition into home care services much easier.
Reviewing the support you receive to identify when extra support may be needed – now or in the future – will be beneficial in order to maximise your experience with home care services.
Accessing any level of Government subsidised support – such as the
Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) or Home Care Package (HCP) program requires an aged care assessment.
Government subsidised home care is only available to you if you are aged over 65 years, or over 50 years if you identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander. If you are under this age, but require in home support, speak with your GP or look into alternative support options such as privately funded home care (see more on page 116).
Assessments for Government supported assistance are conducted either through a Regional Assessment Service (RAS) for CHSP or an Aged Care Assessment Team/ Service (ACAT/S) for HCP supports.
The first step to take, is to contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 to register yourself for assistance.
When you call the contact centre for the first time, an operator will create a client record and ask you a number of questions about your needs, preferences, and any services you already receive. It’s handy to have your Medicare card ready when you register.
If you require an interpreter for the assessment or have any difficulties with communication, it’s important to let My Aged Care know.
There is no charge for the assessment and friends, family members or carers are encouraged to be involved.
The assessment for CHSP and HCP are very similar. The assessor will ask you a number of simple questions, which will help them gauge what supports best suit.
Topics you can expect to cover during your assessment include:
◆ Your medical history
◆ Your living arrangements
◆ Your support network
◆ Supports you are already receiving
◆ Cognitive and behavioural functions and how you are going with completing daily tasks
◆ Any health/lifestyle concerns
◆ Any other issues you may be concerned about
Even though the assessments are relatively straightforward there are a few simple things that you can do to help make the assessment process as smooth as possible.
In preparation you could gather information and referrals from your GP or other health professionals, write down any specific needs, goals
With the amount of home care providers and services available, finding support that best meets your needs may be daunting at first and there is a lot of information and options out there to consider.
or preferences you have that may help in developing an appropriate support plan as well as any questions you have about services or the process.
Some questions to ask could include:
◆ What services are available in your area?
◆ Are there any support services for your carer?
◆ How much financial assistance can you receive?
◆ What are your rights and responsibilities?
◆ What culturally appropriate services are available?
◆ Who to contact if you have any questions after the assessment?
Following the assessment, the assessor will discuss with you the result and what services and support is available. While they cannot make recommendations on specific providers, they can offer advice and support in accessing care.
After your assessment, you should be given a referral code that you will need in order to access the services you have been allocated. Make sure you ask for the referral code if you haven’t been given one.
Navigating home care options and costs can be confusing and overwhelming but it is important to know that you are not alone. The cost of home care can vary depending on the level of care you need, the services you want and the provider you choose.
The CHSP and HCP program are subsidised by the Australian Government but you are expected to contribute to the cost of your care if you can. Any fees or charges from your provider are discussed and agreed upon before you commence services with them.
If you are unable to contribute to the cost of your services due to financial hardship, there is assistance available. For more information about supplements go to page 114. It’s important to keep track of your budget and how funds are being spent across the services you receive. Your provider must provide monthly statements that outline charges for care and services, administrative and case management costs from your provider and any leftover balance.
The Home Care Agreement is a legal document between you and your provider that outlines what you should expect from the care they have agreed to deliver.
Part of the Home Care Agreement is your care plan. This should detail the types of services you will receive, who will provide these services and when, where these services will be provided, as well as any individual goals you would like to achieve. Your service provider will work with you to create a care plan that best meets your needs and circumstances.
Your agreement should also include any conditions for terminating services with the provider, such as exit fees and notice periods.
As well as relying on family or friends as a support to help you make decisions, it can also be handy to know that there are a number of professional services available who can give specialist advice. While these services do come with a fee, they can reduce stress paperwork and documentation.
A placement consultant can guide you through the process, costs, options, and identify appropriate quality care.
A financial consultant will be able to help you understand what costs you will need to cover and manage your home care funds, including your account for any Government funding.
Case managers work in partnership with you, your carer and family, as well as other service providers to develop and implement individualised care plans.
If you are eligible for a Government funded care package, case managers are often assigned through your service provider.
However, if you have complex and multiple needs, or you would prefer not to use a Government funded package, you may choose a private case manager.
Visit AgedCareGuide.com.au for more detailed information or to find a placement consultant, financial consultant or case manager.
The aged care assessment is all about making sure that the service you receive is the one that is best for you
All Government funded HCPs are managed through a national Government funded pool – meaning that once approved you will be placed in a ‘queue’ based on priority of personal needs and circumstances, as well as the time you have been waiting for care since your assessment.
Currently across Australia, there are about 50,000 people waiting to access a Government funded HCP, with some recipients facing a wait of six months.
If you have to wait to access your approved package, like many other older Australians, it is important to be aware that there are still a number of options available to you to ensure that you receive the care you need as quickly as possible.
Some more easily accessible interim care options to consider include:
◆ CHSP services – i f you have been found eligible for a HCP but there are no packages available you may be allocated CHSP funding while you wait. (see page 112 for more information on CHSP)
◆ Community/Council services
– depending on where you live, there are a number of options that may be available to you through either your local community – like the church – or even through your council.
◆ The support of friends and family – many older Australians rely on the care and support of their loved ones, sometimes even on top of the official home
care they are eligible for. It is important to remember though that depending on your care needs, relying on family and friends can be tough on them, especially for long periods of time. (Read more about informal supports on page 94)
◆ Private home care – if you can afford to pay for your own care for the time you are expected to wait to access your approved HCP, this is a great option. You can pay to receive the services that you need for as long as you need (see page 116 for more information on private home care)
◆ Accepting a lower level HCP –while waiting for a Level 3 or 4 HCP, you may be able to temporarily access a Level 1 or 2 package instead. Doing so will not lose you the place in the waitlist for your approved higherlevel package.
Once you are at the front of the HCP queue and a package is assigned to you, you can begin to receive care from the provider of your choice. From the date your package is assigned, you have 56 days to find a provider and commence services. You have 84 days to start receiving care or the package will be returned to the national pool and assigned to the next person in the queue. If you’re struggling to find a provider you can request an extension.
If you require urgent care and can’t wait, you may be eligible to receive temporary home care services before an assessment takes place. Call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 to find out more.
to read about options while waiting
With more Australians choosing to age at home over recent years, the demand for Home Care Packages (HCP) has increased, which means that while you may have been assessed and approved for a package, you may still need to wait to access it.
provider. Take the time to make a list of what supports are important to you and how potential providers can deliver the services you need and can help you manage at home. When considering a potential provider take your time to do some research:
◆ Look at the provider’s website, social media pages and online reviews
◆ Check out their credentials such as quality certifications and industry awards
You may want to start by writing down what you are looking for in a provider and what is important to you. Are low fees important to you or would you like a provider who can support your cultural needs? Do you want the same support worker to assist you each time and do you want to receive support on specific days or are more flexible with time?
It’s a good idea to discuss your wishes and options with your family and support network, as they may be able to help you research, provide independent opinions on providers or share personal experiences.
It’s useful to create a shortlist of providers in your local area, which may help narrow down your search. You can find nearby providers:
◆ In this Home Care Guide, there is a directory listing providers included by State and Territory in the Resources section of the publication
◆ Online on AgedCareGuide.com.au/ home-care
◆ On the Government’s My Aged Care Service Finder located on myagedcare.gov.au
◆ By contacting My Aged Care on 1800 200 422
It’s important to be prepared before meeting or speaking with a potential
◆ Do they have any past or present sanctions or notices of non-compliance? You can ask them directly or check the Government’s non-compliance finder tool at myagedcare.gov.au/ compliance-information/location
When you call a potential provider for the first time pay attention to how they answer your call.
Are staff friendly and happy to answer your questions or are they rushing you to get off the phone?
Questions to ask potential providers could include:
◆ How long have they been operating?
◆ Will you have a dedicated care manager?
◆ Can you choose who is going to provide certain services?
◆ Where and when will they provide your support?
◆ What costs are associated with their services?
– What are the hourly rates?
– Do they charge exit fees? If so, how much? How much notice do you need to give?
– Do they charge case management fees?
– Will there be any out-of-pocket expenses, like travel fees?
◆ How often will your plan and the services you receive be reviewed?
◆ How are they different to other service providers? What is their point of difference?
◆ Are their staff qualified? Do they have police checks?
◆ Do they have an understanding of and experiences with supporting people from different cultures and backgrounds?
◆ What checks do they complete to ensure quality of service?
◆ Do they offer private as well as Government funded services?
◆ If they have past or present sanctions, how did they deal/are they dealing with them?
◆ What is the process for, and how do they handle, complaints?
When meeting with a potential provider, take a copy of your Home Care Package approval letter and support plan and if possible the outcome of your income assessment as this will help with your discussions.
Once you’ve decided on a provider, make sure you receive a written agreement outlining your services and associated cost before support services commence.
Read more about the Care Agreement on page 118.
Choosing which home care provider to let into your home and trust with providing support is an important and personal decision – one that you want to think carefully about and shouldn’t rush.
It’s a good idea to discuss your wishes and options with your family and support networks
The Resources section of this guide includes a selection of retirement village operators and home care service providers for each State and Territory. Refer to the directory contents on page 123 for detailed page numbers for each section. You’ll find useful phone numbers at the start of each section, followed by the Retirement Villages tables and Home Care Services tables.
The Retirement Villages listed in the tables have provided DPS Publishing with information related to their village and the services they offer.
The list gives an overview of villages by operator and includes location and contact details as well as the type of accommodation and a range of features indicated with icons.
The inclusion of an icon in any of the service columns stipulates that the Retirement Village operator indicated to DPS Publishing that this service was, in their opinion, available, provided or offered. The absence of an icon in any of the service columns does not imply that this service is not provided at the village.
Icons used within the Retirement Villages tables are:
Village Sizes
Small village (up to 30 dwellings)
Medium village (31-99 dwellings)
Large village (100+ dwellings)
W ILUs
U Serviced Apartments
V Supported Living
X Deferred Management Fee
T Co-Located Aged Care
a Coded Keypad Entry
H Dining Room
P Hair & Beauty Salon
r Hotel Services
E Personal Care
K Restaurant or Café
F Small Pets
p Village Bus
L Village Centre
d Boat Storage
f Caravan Storage
y Bowling Green
I Swimming Pool
The definitions on page 124 explain each service in more detail. The Advert page number refers to the advertisement for this organisation elsewhere in the publication. For a more extensive list of Retirement Villages search the website YourRetirementLiving.com.au or for more information on a chosen Retirement Village, type the associated Web ID numbers featured in this directory, in the search field on YourRetirementLiving.com.au .
The Home Care Services table gives an overview of providers choosing to promote their services with DPS.
Web ID – Visit AgedCareGuide.com.au/home-care and type this number in the search field (top right) for more details on providers and their services
Listed in alphabetical order, the table displays contact details for each provider and the types of services they offer. The number(s) in the ‘Home Care Packages level’ column indicates the level of care this organisation can provide if you have been allocated a Home Care Package (HCP). 1–4 means the full range of HCP levels are supported.
There is an indication whether the provider delivers subsidised services under the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) or privately funded services, as well as the types of services they can provide.
The ‘Web ID’ number can be used as a unique identifier to find out more information about the provider on AgedCareGuide.com.au/home-care . You can enter the ID number into the search bar on the top right hand side of the website to view the full profile and range of services of the provider. Visit AgedCareGuide.com.au/home-care for a complete list of services available near you.
Aged Care Assessment Team/Service (ACAT/S) – Assess and approve older people for Australian Government subsidised aged care services.
ATSI – Services offered to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander older people and their carers.
Boat Storage – Any resident can store at least one boat on site at the retirement village.
Booked Respite Beds – When taking a break from your role as carer, it’s advisable to book a respite bed in advance at an aged care facility. Prior assessment by an ACAT/S is required.
Bowling Green – Fully maintained and operational bowling green for regular use at a retirement village.
CALD – Services offered to Culturally and Linguistically Diverse older people and their carers.
Caravan Storage – Any resident can store at least one caravan on site at the retirement village.
Care Plan – Developed by the service provider delivering your care and outlines care needs and instructions on how these needs will be met.
CHSP – Commonwealth Home Support Programme, a Government initiative funding in home or centre based care services.
Coded Keypad Entry – Electronic keypad or scanner used to ensure that only village residents and nominated persons can enter the site.
Co-located Aged Care – An aged care facility is located on site of a retirement village.
Consumer Directed Care (CDC) – Allows you to control the types of care you access, how it is delivered and who provides that care. All Home Care Packages are delivered on a CDC basis.
Deferred Management Fee – A deferred management fee is the amount a village operator deducts from the resident’s refund when they exit the village and is specified on the entry agreement or contract.
Dementia Services – Services offered to clients with dementia and/or challenging behaviours, as well as their carers.
Dining Room – There is a communal dining room in the retirement village where meals are provided on a daily basis.
Domestic Assistance – Help with tasks at home such as cleaning, dishes, washing clothes, ironing, minor meal preparation, changing bed linen.
Donor Funded – The price or entry contribution of a dwelling in a retirement village, paid by a resident which may be subsidised by a not-for-profit organisation.
Hair & Beauty Salon – A dedicated room in a retirement village that is regularly staffed to provide hair &/or beauty services.
Home Maintenance/Gardening –Assistance with jobs in and around the house such as replacement of tap washers, light globes, minor weeding/pruning, sweeping of outdoor areas, minor carpentry repairs and gutter cleaning. May include window cleaning.
Hotel Services – The services that you would expect at a four star hotel but delivered in your retirement village. Services may include fresh linen daily, cleaning, laundry and meals delivered to the room, on a fee for service basis.
Independent Living Unit (ILU) –Sometimes referred to as a villa and located in a retirement village setting.
Lease – Residents purchase a long term contract for a dwelling with the right to use common areas and facilities at a retirement village.
LGBTIQ – Some aged care services offer specific care to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Questioning residents.
Licence to Occupy – Residents purchase a licence agreement for a dwelling with the right to use common areas and facilities at a retirement village.
Meals &/or Shopping – Delivery of daily cooked or frozen ready-to-eat meals, or transport to the shops and assistance provided, or having someone to do the shopping.
Medication Supervision – Service provider attends the client’s home to assist in dispensing medication.
NESB – Services offered to older people from a Non-English Speaking Background (NESB) and their carers.
Palliative Care – A nurse will visit you at home to deliver end of life care services such as dispensing medication, wound management, convalescent care and pain management.
Personal Care – Assistance with personal hygiene, washing, showering, bathing, dressing, feeding and toileting. May be a Government funded of self-funded service.
Pharmaceutical Deliveries – The delivery of medications by a service provider directly to the client or older person’s home.
Privately funded services – Services delivered on a fee for service basis.
Regional Assessment Service (RAS) – In home assessments of new and existing clients/carers for CHSP services.
Rental Accommodation – An ILU, unit, apartment or villa available for rent in a retirement village.
Resident Committee – Residents of a village elect volunteers to be on a Committee that will uphold their interests and engage with administrators in the village.
Resident Funded – Funded by the resident who ‘purchases’ their dwelling under a tenure arrangement, also contributing to the village’s capital infrastructure and ongoing management costs.
Respite – Services provided so a client or their carer can take a break from their daily routine. Includes care in the client’s home, at a day centre or in an aged care facility.
Restaurant/Café – Fully serviced restaurant within the retirement village or café available for at least one meal per day. Serviced Apartment – Usually one or two bedroom accommodation in a retirement village providing residents with some domestic and ‘hotel’ like services on a fee for service basis.
Small Pets Welcome – Residents are able to a bring small, non-intrusive pet to live with them in the apartment, unit or villa in a retirement community.
Social &/or Recreational support – The client participates in social or recreational activities either in their home or at a community, day or recreational centre.
Strata Titled – This allows for individual ownership of part of a property (called a ‘lot’ and generally an apartment or townhouse), combined with shared ownership in the remainder (called ‘Common Property’ ie foyers, driveways, gardens).
Superannuation – A compulsory retirement savings account that can only be used to fund an individual during retirement.
Supported Living – Supported living communities offer accommodation and care to residents on a fee for service basis, often up to high level care needs.
Swimming Pool – A permanent swimming pool available for water activities, classes and casual swimming.
Transport – Organising or providing transport services such as bus, taxi, private car etc. to activities away from the village.
Village Bus – Bus at the retirement village available to take residents to specific locations regularly.
Village Centre – A dedicated building or large room where residents can congregate, meet and have functions.
Web ID – The unique number allocated to a retirement village or home care service by DPS. Use this number to find additional details about the village on YourRetirementLiving.com.au or home care service on AgedCareGuide.com.au/home-care.
Advocacy
ACT Disability, Aged and Carer Advocacy Service (ADACAS)
02 6242 5060 adacas.org.au
Carers ACT
02 6296 9900 carersact.org.au
CarerHelp carerhelp.com.au
Carers Australia
02 6122 9900 carersaustralia.com.au
COTA ACT
02 6282 3777 cotaact.org.au
Cultural Centre for Cultural Diversity in Ageing (PICAC)
03 8823 7979 culturaldiversity.com.au
Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia
02 6282 5755 fecca.org.au
Multicultural Communities Council of Illawarra
02 4229 7566 www.mcci.org.au
Translating and Interpreting Service
13 14 50 tisnational.gov.au
Government
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
1800 951 822 agedcarequality.gov.au
Department of Veterans’ Affairs
1800 838 372 dva.gov.au
Government continued
My Aged Care
1800 200 422 myagedcare.gov.au
Services Australia – Carers & Disability
13 27 17 servicesaustralia.gov.au/carers
Services Australia – Medicare
13 20 11 servicesaustralia.gov.au/medicare
Services Australia – Older Australians
13 23 00 servicesaustralia.gov.au/ageing
Health
Arthritis Australia
1800 011 041 arthritisaustralia.com.au
Beyond Blue
1300 224 636 beyondblue.org.au
Dementia Australia
1800 100 500 dementia.org.au
Dementia Support Australia (DSA)
1800 699 799 dementia.com.au
Diabetes Australia
1800 637 700 diabetesaustralia.com.au
Hearing Australia
13 44 32 hearing.com.au
National Continence Helpline
1800 330 066 continence.org.au
National Dementia Helpline
1800 100 500 dementia.org.au
Seniors Health Card 13 23 00 servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/services/ centrelink/commonwealth-seniors-health-card
Legal Access Canberra (Fair Trading)
13 22 81 accesscanberra.act.gov.au
Legal Aid ACT Helpline
1300 654 314 legalaidact.org.au
Older Person’s ACT Legal Service (OPALS)
02 6243 3436 legalaidact.org.au/opals
Public Advocate of the ACT
02 6205 2222 hrc.act.gov.au/public-advocate
The Public Trustee and Guardian ACT
02 6207 9800 ptg.act.gov.au
Other
ACT Retirement Village Residents Association 0407 288 249
Carer Gateway
1800 422 737 carergateway.gov.au
National Relay Service
1800 555 660 infrastructure.gov.au
ned (National Equipment Database)
1300 885 886 askned.com.au
Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling
1800 011 046 openarms.gov.au
Relationships Australia
1300 364 277 relationships.org.au
Seniors Card (ACT)
02 6282 3777 actseniorscard.org.au
Volunteering ACT
02 6251 4060 volunteeringact.org.au
Web ID – Visit AgedCareGuide.com.au/home-care and type this number in the search field (top right) for more details on providers and their services
Advocacy
Ageing and Disability Abuse Helpline
1800 628 221
ageingdisabilitycommission.nsw.gov.au
CarerHelp carerhelp.com.au
Carers Australia
02 6122 9900 carersaustralia.com.au
Carers NSW
02 9280 4744 carersnsw.org.au
COTA NSW
02 9286 3860 cotansw.com.au
National Seniors
1300 765 050 nationalseniors.com.au
Older Person’s Advocacy Network (OPAN)
1800 700 600 opan.org.au
Seniors Rights Service (NSW)
02 9281 3600 seniorsrightsservice.org.au
Cultural
Centre for Cultural Diversity in Ageing (PICAC)
03 8823 7979 culturaldiversity.com.au
Ethnic Communities’ Council of NSW
02 9319 0288 eccnsw.org.au
Federation of Ethnic Communities’
Councils of Australia
02 6282 5755 fecca.org.au
Multicultural Communities Council of Illawarra
02 4229 7566 www.mcci.org.au
Translating and Interpreting Service
13 14 50 tisnational.gov.au
Government
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
1800 951 822 agedcarequality.gov.au
Department of Veterans’ Affairs
1800 838 372 dva.gov.au
My Aged Care
1800 200 422 myagedcare.gov.au
Service New South Wales
13 77 88 service.nsw.gov.au
Services Australia – Carers & Disability
13 27 17 servicesaustralia.gov.au/carers
Services Australia – Medicare
13 20 11 servicesaustralia.gov.au/medicare
Services Australia – Older Australians
13 23 00 servicesaustralia.gov.au/ageing
Health
Arthritis Australia
1800 011 041 arthritisaustralia.com.au
Beyond Blue
1300 224 636 beyondblue.org.au
Dementia Australia
1800 100 500 dementia.org.au
Dementia Support Australia (DSA)
1800 699 799 dementia.com.au
Diabetes Australia
1800 637 700 diabetesaustralia.com.au
Hearing Australia
13 44 32 hearing.com.au
National Continence Helpline
1800 330 066 continence.org.au
National Dementia Helpline
1800 100 500 dementia.org.au
Health continued
Seniors Health Card
13 23 00 servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/services/ centrelink/commonwealth-seniors-health-card
Legal
LawAccess NSW
1300 888 529 lawaccess.nsw.gov.au
NSW Fair Trading
13 32 20 fairtrading.nsw.gov.au
NSW Trustee and Guardian
1300 109 290 tag.nsw.gov.au
Other
Carer Gateway 1800 422 737 carergateway.gov.au
National Relay Service
1800 555 660 infrastructure.gov.au
ned (National Equipment Database)
1300 885 886 askned.com.au
Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling 1800 011 046 openarms.gov.au
Relationships Australia
1300 364 277 relationships.org.au
RV Resident’s Association (RVRA)
1300 787 213 rvra.org.au
Seniors Card Service (NSW) 13 77 88 service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/ applynsw-seniors-card-or-nsw-senior-savers-card
Seniors Information Service (NSW)
13 77 88 service.nsw.gov.au
The Centre for Volunteering
02 9261 3600 volunteering.com.au
RSL LifeCare Retirement Villages are homes with heart and soul. Where family and friends are always welcome, and you have time to really enjoy life.
Time to pursue your hobbies, discover new activities, or enjoy a quiet walk. Where you can do as much or as little as you like. Our caring Village Managers are dedicated to enriching your everyday and available to provide emergency assistance should you need it.
RSL LifeCare operates 27 Retirement Villages across NSW and ACT, comprising of brand new homes and already established communities.
To nd out more information about your new home and community, contact us today.
Web ID – Visit AgedCareGuide.com.au/home-care and type this number in the search field (top right) for more details on providers and their services See Terms and Definitions on
Web ID – Visit AgedCareGuide.com.au/home-care and type this number in the search field (top right) for more details on providers and their services
Note: 1. Arabic, CALD, Egyptian, Fijian, Indian, Islamic, Lebanese, Muslim, Pakistani, Turkish
Includes services for Veterans’ Home Care (VHC) & home modifications 2. ATSI, Asian, LGBTIQ
Arabic, CALD, Chinese, Greek, Italian 3. Shopping excluded
Includes services for Veterans’ Home Care (VHC) & DVA clients
4 Includes services for Veterans’ Home Care (VHC)
Web ID – Visit AgedCareGuide.com.au/home-care and type this number in the search field (top right) for more details on providers and their services See Terms and Definitions on
RSL LifeCare's friendly and experienced local team are dedicated to providing you with a choice of home care services. We deliver tailored services to meet your speci c needs, allowing you to maintain your independence and a healthy body and mind.
...And many more services to choose from to cater for your needs.
To nd out more information about our home care services, contact us today.
Call 1300 853 146 or visit
Web ID – Visit AgedCareGuide.com.au/home-care and type this number in the search field (top right) for more details on providers and their services See Terms and
Advocacy
CarerHelp
carerhelp.com.au
Carers Australia
02 6122 9900 carersaustralia.com.au
Carers NT
08 8944 4888 carersnt.asn.au
COTA (NT)
08 8941 1004 cotant.org.au
National Seniors
1300 765 050 nationalseniors.com.au
Older Person’s Advocacy Network (OPAN)
1800 700 600 opan.org.au
Cultural
Centre for Cultural Diversity in Ageing (PICAC)
03 8823 7979 culturaldiversity.com.au
Federation of Ethnic Communities’
Councils of Australia
02 6282 5755 fecca.org.au
Multicultural Council of Northern Territory
08 8945 9122 mcnt.org.au
Translating and Interpreting Service
13 14 50 tisnational.gov.au
Government
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
1800 951 822 agedcarequality.gov.au
Department of Veterans’ Affairs
1800 838 372 dva.gov.au
Government continued
My Aged Care
1800 200 422 myagedcare.gov.au
Services Australia – Carers & Disability
13 27 17 servicesaustralia.gov.au/carers
Services Australia – Medicare
13 20 11 servicesaustralia.gov.au/medicare
Services Australia – Older Australians
13 23 00 servicesaustralia.gov.au/ageing
Health
Arthritis Australia
1800 011 041 arthritisaustralia.com.au
Beyond Blue
1300 224 636 beyondblue.org.au
Dementia Australia
1800 100 500 dementia.org.au
Dementia Support Australia (DSA)
1800 699 799 dementia.com.au
Diabetes Australia
1800 637 700 diabetesaustralia.com.au
Hearing Australia
13 44 32 hearing.com.au
National Continence Helpline
1800 330 066 continence.org.au
National Dementia Helpline
1800 100 500 dementia.org.au
Legal
Darwin Community Legal Service
1800 812 953 dcls.org.au
Northern Territory Legal Aid Commission
1800 019 343 legalaid.nt.gov.au
Office of the Public Guardian (NT)
1800 810 979 publicguardian.nt.gov.au
The Public Trustee (NT)
1800 517 223 nt.gov.au/law/processes/ about-public-trustee
Other
Carer Gateway
1800 422 737 carergateway.gov.au
National Relay Service 1800 555 660 infrastructure.gov.au/national-relay-service ned (National Equipment Database)
1300 885 886 askned.com.au
Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling
1800 011 046 openarms.gov.au
Relationships Australia
1300 364 277 relationships.org.au
Seniors Card (NT)
1800 441 489 ntseniorscard.org.au
Volunteering NT
08 8221 7177 volunteeringsa-nt.org.au
Seniors Health Card
13 23 00 servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/services/ centrelink/commonwealth-seniors-health-card
Web ID – Visit YourRetirementLiving.com.au and type this number in the search field (top right) for more details on Retirement
Web ID – Visit AgedCareGuide.com.au/home-care and type this number in the search field (top right) for more details on providers and their services
Advocacy
Aged and Disability Advocacy Australia (ADA Australia)
1800 818 338 adaaustralia.com.au
CarerHelp carerhelp.com.au
Carers Australia
02 6122 9900 carersaustralia.com.au
Carers QLD
07 3900 8100 carersqld.com.au
COTA Queensland
07 3316 2999 cotaqld.org.au
Elder Abuse Helpline
1300 651 192 eapu.com.au/helpline
National Seniors
1300 765 050 nationalseniors.com.au
Older Person’s Advocacy Network (OPAN)
1800 700 600 opan.org.au
Seniors Enquiry Line
1300 135 500 seniorsenquiryline.com.au
Cultural
Centre for Cultural Diversity in Ageing (PICAC)
03 8823 7979 culturaldiversity.com.au
Diversicare (PICAC)
1300 348 377 diversicare.com.au
Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland (ECCQ)
07 3844 9166 eccq.com.au
Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Council of Australia
02 6282 5755 fecca.org.au
Translating and Interpreting Service
13 14 50 tisnational.gov.au
Government
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
1800 951 822 agedcarequality.gov.au
Department of Veterans’ Affairs
1800 838 372 dva.gov.au
My Aged Care
1800 200 422 myagedcare.gov.au
Services Australia – Carers & Disability
13 27 17 servicesaustralia.gov.au/carers
Services Australia – Medicare
13 20 11 servicesaustralia.gov.au/medicare
Services Australia – Older Australians
13 23 00 www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/ageing
Health
Alzheimer’s Queensland Helpline
1800 639 331 alzheimersonline.org
Arthritis Australia
1800 011 041 arthritisaustralia.com.au
Beyond Blue
1300 224 636 beyondblue.org.au
Dementia Australia
1800 100 500 dementia.org.au
Dementia Support Australia (DSA)
1800 699 799 dementia.com.au
Diabetes Australia
1800 637 700 diabetesaustralia.com.au
Hearing Australia
13 44 32 hearing.com.au
National Continence Helpline
1800 330 066 continence.org.au
National Dementia Helpline
1800 100 500 dementia.org.au
Health continued
Seniors Health Card
13 23 00 servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/services/ centrelink/commonwealth-seniors-health-card
Legal
Legal Aid Queensland
1300 651 188 legalaid.qld.gov.au
Office of the Public Advocate (QLD) 07 3738 9513
justice.qld.gov.au/public-advocate
Public Trustee (QLD)
1300 360 044 pt.qld.gov.au
Other
Association of Residents of QLD Retirement Villages (ARQRV)
0437 906 074 arqrv.org.au
Carer Gateway
1800 422 737 carergateway.gov.au
National Relay Service
1800 555 660 infrastructure.gov.au
ned (National Equipment Database)
1300 885 886 askned.com.au
Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling
1800 011 046 openarms.gov.au
Relationships Australia
1300 364 277 relationships.org.au
Seniors Card (QLD)
13 74 68 qld.gov.au/seniors/legal-finance-concessions/ seniors-card
Volunteering QLD
07 3002 7600 volunteeringqld.org.au
That’s why we’ve been nurturing trusted connections with our employees, clients, residents and their families for nearly 30 years.
Regis offers a diverse range of care options, including retirement living, in-home care, allied health, respite care and residential aged care, each tailored to the unique needs of our clients and residents.
We focus on every person as an individual so we can provide the best possible care and help them find the smile in every day.
Web ID – Visit AgedCareGuide.com.au/home-care and type this number in the search field (top right) for more details on providers and their services
See Terms and Definitions on page 124. Visit AgedCareGuide.com.au/home-care for
Web ID – Visit AgedCareGuide.com.au/home-care and type this number in the search field (top right) for more details on providers and their services
and
on
Web ID – Visit AgedCareGuide.com.au/home-care and type this number in the search field (top right) for more details on providers and their services
Advocacy
Aged Rights Advocacy Service (ARAS)
08 8232 5377 sa.agedrights.asn.au
CarerHelp carerhelp.com.au
Carers Australia
02 6122 9900 carersaustralia.com.au
COTA (SA)
08 8232 0422 cotasa.org.au
National Seniors
1300 765 050 nationalseniors.com.au
Older Person’s Advocacy Network (OPAN)
1800 700 600 opan.org.au
Cultural
Centre for Cultural Diversity in Ageing (PICAC)
03 8823 7979 culturaldiversity.com.au
Ethnic Link Services (SA)
08 8448 6260 unitingsa.com.au
Federation of Ethnic Communities’
Councils of Australia
02 6282 5755 fecca.org.au
Multicultural Aged Care (SA)
08 8241 9900 mac.org.au
Multicultural Communities Council of SA
08 8345 5266 mccsa.org.au
Translating and Interpreting Service
13 14 50 tisnational.gov.au
Government
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
1800 951 822 agedcarequality.gov.au
Government continued
Department of Veterans’ Affairs
1800 838 372 dva.gov.au
My Aged Care
1800 200 422 myagedcare.gov.au
Services Australia – Carers & Disability
13 27 17 servicesaustralia.gov.au/carers
Services Australia – Medicare
13 20 11 servicesaustralia.gov.au/medicare
Services Australia – Older Australians
13 23 00 servicesaustralia.gov.au/ageing
Health
Arthritis Australia
1800 011 041 arthritisaustralia.com.au
Beyond Blue
1300 224 636 beyondblue.org.au
Dementia Australia
1800 100 500 dementia.org.au
Dementia Support Australia (DSA)
1800 699 799 dementia.com.au
Diabetes Australia
1800 637 700 diabetesaustralia.com.au
Hearing Australia
13 44 32 hearing.com.au
National Continence Helpline
1800 330 066 continence.org.au
National Dementia Helpline
1800 100 500 dementia.org.au
Seniors Health Card 13 23 00 servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/services/ centrelink/commonwealth-seniors-health-card
Legal
Legal Services Commission Legal Helpline
(SA)
1300 366 424 lsc.sa.gov.au
Office of the Public Advocate (SA)
1800 066 969 opa.sa.gov.au
Public Trustee (SA)
08 8226 9200 publictrustee.sa.gov.au
South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (SACAT)
1800 723 767 sacat.sa.gov.au
Other
Carer Gateway
1800 422 737 carergateway.gov.au
Catalyst Foundation (SA)
08 8168 8776 or 1800 636 368 catalystfoundation.com.au
National Relay Service
1800 555 660 infrastructure.gov.au
ned (National Equipment Database)
1300 885 886 askned.com.au
Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling
1800 011 046 openarms.gov.au
Relationships Australia
1300 364 277 relationships.org.au
Seniors Card (SA)
1800 819 961 www.seniorscard.sa.gov.au
Volunteering SA
08 8221 7177 volunteeringsa-nt.org.au
Resthaven retirement living offers independence with the peace of mind of having all building maintenance costs and gardening covered by a fortnightly fee.
Independent retirement living options are available in units or apartments, on a ‘licence to occupy’ basis. Additional support can be arranged in your new home through Resthaven Community Services.
Resthaven has six retirement living locations that are colocated with a Resthaven residential aged care home, enabling a smooth transition if circumstances change and more support is needed.
Web ID – Visit AgedCareGuide.com.au/home-care and type this number in the search field (top right) for more details on providers and their services
Web ID – Visit AgedCareGuide.com.au/home-care and type this number in the search field (top right) for more details on providers and their services
Advocacy
Advocacy Tasmania
1800 005 131 advocacytasmania.org.au
CarerHelp carerhelp.com.au
Carers Australia
02 6122 9900 carersaustralia.com.au
Carers Tasmania
03 6144 3700 carerstas.org
COTA Tasmania
03 6231 3265 cotatas.org.au
National Seniors
1300 765 050 nationalseniors.com.au
Older Person’s Advocacy Network (OPAN)
1800 700 600 opan.org.au
Tasmania Elder Abuse Helpline
1800 441 169 elderabuse.tas.gov.au
Cultural
Centre for Cultural Diversity in Ageing (PICAC)
03 8823 7979 culturaldiversity.com.au
Equal opportunity Tasmania
03 6165 7515 equalopportunity.tas.gov.au
Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Council of Australia
02 6282 5755 fecca.org.au
Migrant Resource Centre Tasmania (PICAC)
03 6221 0999 mrctas.org.au
Multicultural Council of Tasmania
03 6170 9196 mcot.org.au
Translating and Interpreting Service
13 14 50 tisnational.gov.au
Government
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
1800 951 822 agedcarequality.gov.au
Department of Veterans’ Affairs
1800 838 372 dva.gov.au
My Aged Care
1800 200 422 myagedcare.gov.au
Service Tasmania
1300 135 513 service.tas.gov.au
Services Australia – Carers & Disability
13 27 17 servicesaustralia.gov.au/carers
Services Australia – Medicare
13 20 11 servicesaustralia.gov.au/medicare
Services Australia – Older Australians
13 23 00 servicesaustralia.gov.au/ageing
Health
Arthritis Australia
1800 011 041 arthritisaustralia.com.au
Beyond Blue
1300 224 636 beyondblue.org.au
Dementia Australia
1800 100 500 dementia.org.au
Dementia Support Australia (DSA)
1800 699 799 dementia.com.au
Diabetes Australia
1800 637 700 diabetesaustralia.com.au
Hearing Australia
13 44 32 hearing.com.au
National Continence Helpline
1800 330 066 continence.org.au
National Dementia Helpline
1800 100 500 dementia.org.au
Health continued
Seniors Health Card
13 23 00 servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/services/ centrelink/commonwealth-seniors-health-card
Legal
Legal Aid Commission of Tasmania
Advice Line
1300 366 611 legalaid.tas.gov.au
Office of the Public Guardian
1800 955 772 publicguardian.tas.gov.au
Public Trustee
1800 068 784 publictrustee.tas.gov.au
Other
Carer Gateway
1800 422 737 carergateway.gov.au
Independent Living Centre Tasmania
1300 452 827 ilct.com.au
National Relay Service
1800 555 660 infrastructure.gov.au
ned (National Equipment Database)
1300 885 886 askned.com.au
Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling
1800 011 046 openarms.gov.au
Relationships Australia
1300 364 277 relationships.org.au
Seniors Card (TAS)
1300 135 513 concessions.tas.gov.au
Volunteering Tasmania
03 6231 5550 volunteeringtas.org.au
Independent living
Maintain an independent lifestyle in one of our vibrant retirement living communities
Help at home
Get assistance with personal and clinical care, household chores, assistive technology and transport
Community support and wellbeing
Remain connected with social groups, outings, and carer services
Residential care
Specialist 24/7 care and support, including dementia and palliative care and respite stays, within safe and caring communities
With services across Tasmania, Uniting AgeWell’s expert team can help you find the care and support to meet your needs.
1300 783 435
unitingagewell.org
– Visit YourRetirementLiving.com.au and type this number in the search field (top right) for more details on
Web ID – Visit AgedCareGuide.com.au/home-care and type this number in the search field (top right) for more details on providers and their services
Local staff
More care hours
Low admin costs
Make life easier with a Home Care Package or privately funded service tailored to suit you.
Personal care including help with showering, dressing, mobility, meal preparation
Clinical care
Including nursing, medication management and wound care
Domestic and personal support including help with household chores, gardening, home maintenance and modifications
Assistive technology including remote monitoring technology, mobility aids, hearing aids, personal safety alarms
Transport including for shopping, medical appointments, social outings
Other services in the community may include social support, allied health and other therapies, and other services to meet individual needs
Find out how you can be supported to live well with choice and peace of mind at home.
1300 783 435
The Queen Victoria village is set in a beautiful location with sweeping water views of Hobart’s River Derwent and blooming gardens.
Queen Victoria Care offers home care services in our village and local community. We have 48 units in stunning landscaped gardens, where people can live independently and call on support when needed. Our Independent Living Units offer a relaxed lifestyle, along with flexible services to assist residents to maintain their quality of life and connections.
We recognise that many people wish to remain living independently for as long as possible, and we support residents to do so.
If it's time to consider aged care services, talk to our admission specialist, we are here to support your journey.
TALK TO US:
13 Milford Street, Lindisfarne, TAS 7015
(03) 6243 3100
admin@qvcare.com.au
facebook.com/QVCare www.qvcare.com.au
people to live their best life.
Web ID – Visit AgedCareGuide.com.au/home-care and type this number in the search field (top right) for more details on providers and their services
See Terms and Definitions on page 124. Visit AgedCareGuide.com.au/home-care
Web ID – Visit AgedCareGuide.com.au/home-care and type this number in the search field (top right) for more details on providers and their services
Advocacy
CarerHelp carerhelp.com.au
Carers Victoria
1800 514 845 carersvictoria.org.au
COTA Victoria
03 9655 2100 cotavic.org.au
Elder Rights Advocacy
1800 700 600 era.asn.au
National Seniors
1300 765 050 nationalseniors.com.au
Older Person’s Advocacy Network (OPAN)
1800 700 600 opan.org.au
Seniors Rights Victoria
1300 368 821 seniorsrights.org.au
Cultural
Centre for Cultural Diversity in Ageing (PICAC)
03 8823 7979 culturaldiversity.com.au
Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria
03 9354 9555 eccv.org.au
Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Council of Australia
02 6282 5755 fecca.org.au
Translating and Interpreting Service
13 14 50 tisnational.gov.au
Government
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
1800 951 822 agedcarequality.gov.au
Department of Veterans’ Affairs
1800 838 372 dva.gov.au
Government continued
My Aged Care
1800 200 422 myagedcare.gov.au
Service Victoria service.vic.gov.au
Services Australia – Carers & Disability
13 27 17 servicesaustralia.gov.au/carers
Services Australia – Medicare
13 20 11 servicesaustralia.gov.au/medicare
Services Australia – Older Australians
13 23 00 servicesaustralia.gov.au/ageing
Health
Arthritis Australia
1800 011 041 arthritisaustralia.com.au
Beyond Blue
1300 224 636 beyondblue.org.au
Dementia Australia
1800 100 500 dementia.org.au
Dementia Support Australia (DSA)
1800 699 799 dementia.com.au
Diabetes Australia
1800 637 700 diabetesaustralia.com.au
Hearing Australia
13 44 32 hearing.com.au
National Continence Helpline
1800 330 066 continence.org.au
National Dementia Helpline
1800 100 500 dementia.org.au
Seniors Health Card 13 23 00 servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/services/ centrelink/commonwealth-seniors-health-card
Legal Consumer Affairs Victoria
1300 558 181 consumer.vic.gov.au
Office of the Public Advocate
1300 309 337 publicadvocate.vic.gov.au
State Trustees VIC
1300 138 672 statetrustees.com.au
Victoria Legal Aid
1300 792 387 legalaid.vic.gov.au
Other Carer Gateway
1800 422 737 carergateway.gov.au
National Relay Service
1800 555 660 infrastructure.gov.au
ned (National Equipment Database)
1300 885 886 askned.com.au
Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling
1800 011 046 openarms.gov.au
Relationships Australia
1300 364 277 relationships.org.au
Residents of Retirement Villages Victoria 03 9015 8402 rrvv.org.au
Seniors Card (VIC)
1300 797 210 seniorsonline.vic.gov.au
SWEP (Statewide Equipment Program)
1300 747 937 swep.bhs.org.au
Volunteering Victoria 03 9052 4524 volunteeringvictoria.org.au
At Peninsula View, you can live with a focus on quality and style, while being part of a supportive community.
Boasting premium-quality fittings and finishes, the apartments and villas at Peninsula View offer generous light, size and storage. There is also a range of community amenities, including a café, resident bar and lounge, cinema and wellness centre with a pool, consulting suite and salon.
And with the heart of the Mornington Peninsula on your doorstep, you’ll have the perfect setting for retirement living. You can easily explore the local world-class beaches, wineries, restaurants, national parks, golf courses and art galleries.
ENQUIRE NOW – call Bernadette Bullock on 0439 410 207 or go to peninsulaviewliving.com.au
30 –32 Moorooduc Highway, Frankston South
peninsulaviewliving.com.au
Living well with choice and peace of mind
Independent living
Maintain an independent lifestyle in one of our vibrant retirement living communities
Community support and wellbeing
Remain connected with social groups, outings, and carer services
Strength and resilience
Specialist gyms and exercise programs to restore and maintain wellbeing
Get assistance with personal and clinical care, household chores, assistive technology and transport
Specialist 24/7 care and support, including dementia and palliative care and respite stays, within safe and caring communities
With services across V ictoria, Uniting AgeWell’s expert team can help you find the care and support to meet your needs
1300 783 435
unitingagewell.org
Whether you're looking for a loved one or for yourself, we can answer your needs!
At Parkglen, we provide a continuity of care that provides living options and in-home services to allow someone to live confidently.
Parkglen Retirement Community offers pleasant living options from independent units to assisted care apartments. This friendly, well established village in Melbourne's south, has plenty of green lawns with sunny, private spaces to relax. Residents can join in a host of activities on offer in the community centre, as well as having their privacy respected. Parkglen also offers short term respite in our apartments and long term accommodation.
Parkglen Home Care Services are specialists in home care and offer a personalised service plan that is tailored to our clients' individual needs and budget. We offer a wide range of services from cleaning, shopping & gardening, to more specialist nursing & personal care. Services can be covered by Government funded Home Care Packages or privately funded.
Web ID – Visit AgedCareGuide.com.au/home-care and type this number in the search field (top right) for more details on providers and their services
Local staff
More care hours
Low admin costs
Make life easier with a Home Care Package or privately funded service tailored to suit you.
Personal care including help with showering, dressing, mobility, meal preparation
Clinical care
Including nursing, medication management and wound care
Domestic and personal support including help with household chores, gardening, home maintenance and modifications
Assistive technology including remote monitoring technology, mobility aids, hearing aids, personal safety alarms
Transport including for shopping, medical appointments, social outings
Other services in the community may include social support, allied health and other therapies, and other services to meet individual needs
Find out how you can be supported to live well with choice and peace of mind at home.
Web ID – Visit AgedCareGuide.com.au/home-care and type this number in the search field (top right) for more details on providers and their services
Web ID – Visit AgedCareGuide.com.au/home-care and type this number in the search field (top right) for more details on providers and their services See Terms and Definitions on page 124. Visit
We provide a variety of Home Services to meet the care needs and assist older people to remain independent at home. Our professional team are happy to work with you to develop a specific care plan tailored to your needs.
Web ID – Visit AgedCareGuide.com.au/home-care and type this number in the search field (top right) for more details on providers and their services
Advocacy
Advocare
1800 655 566 advocare.org.au
CarerHelp carerhelp.com.au
Carers Australia
02 6122 9900 carersaustralia.com.au
Carers WA
1300 227 377 carerswa.asn.au
COTA (WA)
08 9472 0104 cotawa.org.au
National Seniors
1300 765 500 nationalseniors.com.au
Office of the Public Advocate
1300 858 455 publicadvocate.wa.gov.au
Older Person’s Advocacy Network (OPAN)
1800 700 600 opan.org.au
WA Elder Abuse Helpline
1300 724 679 advocare.org.au
Cultural
Aboriginal Interpreting WA (AIWA)
1800 330 331 aiwaac.org.au
Ethnic Communities Council of WA
08 9227 5322 eccwa.org.au
Federation of Ethnic Communities’
Councils of Australia
02 6282 5755 fecca.org.au
Fortis PICAC WA
08 9300 3165 fortisconsulting.com.au
Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS)
13 14 50 tisnational.gov.au
Government
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
1800 951 822 agedcarequality.gov.au
Department of Veterans’ Affairs
1800 838 372 dva.gov.au
My Aged Care
1800 200 422 myagedcare.gov.au
Services Australia - Carers & Disability
13 27 17 servicesaustralia.gov.au
Services Australia - Medicare
13 20 11 servicesaustralia.gov.au
Services Australia - Older Australians
13 23 00 servicesaustralia.gov.au
Health
Arthritis Australia
1800 011 041 arthritisaustralia.com.au
Beyond Blue
1300 224 636 beyondblue.org.au
Dementia Support Australia (DSA)
1800 699 799 dementia.com.au
Diabetes Australia
1800 637 700 diabetesaustralia.com.au
Hearing Australia
13 44 32 hearing.com.au
National Continence Helpline
1800 330 066 continence.org.au
National Dementia Helpline
1800 100 500 dementia.org.au
Seniors Health Card
13 23 00 serviceaustralia.gov.au
Legal Legal Aid WA Helpline
1300 650 579 legalaid.wa.gov.au
Northern Suburbs Community Legal Centre
08 9440 1663 nsclegal.org.au/legal-help
Public Trustee WA
1300 746 116 publictrustee.wa.gov.au
State Administrative Tribunal
1300 306 017 sat.justice.wa.gov.au
Other Carer Gateway
1800 422 737 carergateway.gov.au
Indigo
08 9381 0600 indigosolutions.org.au
National Relay Service
1800 555 660 infrastructure.gov.au
ned (National Equipment Database)
1300 885 886 askned.com.au
Open Arms - Veterans & Families Counselling
1800 011 046 openarms.gov.au
Relationships Australia
1300 364 277 relationships.org.au
Seniors Card (WA)
1800 671 233 seniorscard.wa.gov.au
Volunteering WA
08 9482 4333 volunteeringwa.org.au
Web ID – Visit AgedCareGuide.com.au/home-care and type this number in the search field (top right) for more details on providers and their services
and
Help at home
Get assistance with personal and clinical care, household chores, assistive technology and transport
Community support and wellbeing
Remain connected with social groups, outings and carer services
Strength and resilience
Specialist gyms and exercise programs to restore and maintain wellbeing
Independent living
Maintain an independent lifestyle in one of our vibrant retirement living communities
With services across Victoria and Tasmania, Uniting AgeWell’s expert team can help you find the care and support to meet your needs.
1300 783 435
unitingagewell.org
