Ageing parents

These days, people live longer and fuller lives than ever before. Our parents and relatives hopefully have long and fulfilling post-retirement years to look forward to.

If you would like to discuss your options and how you might manage it from a financial perspective, please get in touch.

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Everyone’s circumstances are different and your loved ones will have their own ideas about the best way to manage the transition. It may be the case that one family member is capable of staying in their home while another requires more support. Or it may be possible for an older relative to come and live with you or another family member.

This life transition can become even more complex if people require high-level aged care (or nursing home care) after a sudden illness. When families haven’t anticipated the need for extra care, it leaves them with little time to explore in-home or aged care options, and how best to fund them.

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Looking at your options

Navigating your way through the many emotional and financial issues can be challenging. But it’s much easier for everyone to be on the same page once you understand the options. Initiating this vital conversation with your elderly parent s or relatives, while they are still able to make sound decisions about their future care, will enable them to have meaningful input on what happens next.

These conversations can be difficult to instigate and need to be handled sensitively. Often, they represent a profound shift in the dynamic of a relationship with a parent or older relative. But once you’ve talked and agreed upon a way forward, you’ll all feel much better about dealing with whatever the future may bring.

Let us guide you

Speaking with us, whether by yourself or with your relative(s), can help you review the financial options and put plans in place. At a time when emotions can be running high, a financial adviser can help provide unity and focus on what’s financially important so decisions can be made.

Together, we’ll work through considerations like super, assets, debts, Age Pension entitlements, and more. For example, if residential care is required, financial decisions such as how a resident pays an accommodation bond or other charges can have a significant impact on pensions, aged care fees and tax. A little planning can go a long way to help give you and your loved one’s peace of mind.

A time for change*

Liz, a high school teacher and daughter of healthy 84-year-old parents, had not worried much about aged care until the last few years. But after chatting to a friend about her experiences, Liz was persuaded to take her parents to go and see a financial adviser about their “next steps”, whatever they might be.

That turned out well, and they settled on a two-stage plan.

How financial advice helped

Twelve months later her parents, Alex and Gloria, had taken the first step and relocated to a retirement village after 45 years on their seven-acre property.

They were advised that the money from their property sale might mean a drop in the part pension they received from Centrelink, so they were well prepared for that. The benefit of selling up was they could implement stage two in their plan. Alex and Gloria used the funds from the sale to re-arrange their investments and build a more secure base for their future income.

“When dad first retired they were doing OK. Interest rates were higher 25 years ago and they were comfortable. But as interest rates dropped it had become more of a challenge for them,” says Liz

Her parents are settled now and still quite independent. Liz and her siblings provide more help these days, with the small garden, shopping, transport to appointments, and paperwork.

She says the next turning point will come if one of them becomes ill or is injured. They’ve got a plan in place to fund the costs of going into an aged care facility.

Get in touch with us, we can help you map out your coming years and build a financial plan that models out your cash flow needs in line with the things that are most important to you.

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What you need to know

This information is provided by Invest Blue Pty Ltd (ABN 91 100 874 744). The information contained in this article is of general nature only and does not take into account the objectives, financial situation or needs of any particular person. Therefore, before making any decision, you should consider the appropriateness of the advice with regards to those matters and seek personal financial, tax and/or legal advice prior to acting on this information. Read our Financial Services Guide for information about our services, including the fees and other benefits that AMP companies and their representatives may receive in relations to products and services provided to you.