Aged Care Nightmare - Goodbye Inheritance

LAged Care Nightmare on 24/07/2025 - 08:54
Last edited 24/07/2025 - 08:59

I have been reading some posts lately about people stating they will be relying on inheritance to get their way through life, but today I have my story to tell you.

In the previous month my dad (70s) had a fall and is now bed bound. The hospital doctors are recommending he be moved to aged care.

Here is where the problem lies. I need to find a way to find $600,000 for the residential aged care deposit, or pay the daily fee which is the equivalent of $128 a day.

Guess what, my dad has instructed me not to sell the house at any cost. So here I am with the dilemma that I have to find a way to stump up $128 a day to pay for his care.

What have others done to prevent this scenario from happening? Or is the whole "waiting for inheritance" not a real reality?

Further information about me:

I don't have my own house sadly… So, I am regretting skimping on the stamp duty and waiting for the property to pass upon death at the $100 rate… I can tell you that probably in a majority of situations this transfer never even happens because a majority of people will go to aged care and be forced to sell their family home.

Looks bad right? I was pretty upset when he went to the hospital, but now I'm in an even worse position.

Financial

Comments

          • Muppet Detector on 24/07/2025 - 19:36

            @jv: Hold on, I may have the wrong end of the stick.

            What is it that you think is stealing?

            I'm referring to the necessity to pay to enter an old folks home and to pay to continue to live there.

            If that means you need to sell your current home (or any other asset), to pay for your next home, I don't have a problem with that?

            Everybody has to pay for wherever they live.

            Our taxes were never meant to pay for a home for us to live in.

            At one stage, we were told our taxes would pay us a pension though.

            • jv on 24/07/2025 - 21:58
              +5

              @Muppet Detector:

              If that means you need to sell your current home

              Why should some people and not others?

              Why did they change it so that you now have to lose the home that is yours because you saved to pay it off, whilst others that threw away their money don't have to pay. That is hardly fair…

              • Muppet Detector on 24/07/2025 - 22:03
                -1

                @jv: Cultural capital. Perhaps the others didn't throw away their money and eventually receive basic accomodation and care in one of these facilities, and their pension is also used towards funding their stay. Only extras are if family provided it.

                • jv on 24/07/2025 - 23:01
                  +2

                  @Muppet Detector:

                  Perhaps the others didn't throw away their money

                  Many would have… Regardless, why should some people pay and other not?

                  • Muppet Detector on 25/07/2025 - 06:46

                    @jv: As a starting point, everybody is expected to pay for themselves and their dependents.

                    However, situations arise where this isn't always possible and as a compassionate society, we try to provide a basic social safety net for those who are just not capable of achieving a more desirable financial and social situation for themselves.

                    I'm curious what your alternative would be? What are you going to do with those who don't have the funds to enter elderly care homes when they need it?

                    It's really no different to why some people receive an aged pension whilst others do not.

                    • jv on 25/07/2025 - 09:31

                      @Muppet Detector:

                      As a starting point, everybody is expected to pay for themselves and their dependents.

                      That is clearly not happing though right now… Some are paying and some are not…

                      • Muppet Detector on 25/07/2025 - 20:21

                        @jv: Yes, you are correct. As I said, there are always people who may not be able to achieve everything they need for an independent lifestyle and existence until they reach the end of their lives.

                    • IcySpicyStew on 25/07/2025 - 09:34
                      -1

                      @Muppet Detector: jv would rather see them homeless living on the street outside his house

                      that would improve his investment property market price action

                      • jv on 25/07/2025 - 10:00
                        -1

                        @IcySpicyStew: Nice deflection……..

                        • IcySpicyStew on 25/07/2025 - 10:45

                          @jv: Nice solution….. or lack of

                          Why not throw a childish tantrum in there and stomp your feet on the ground while saying not fair

                          • jv on 25/07/2025 - 11:30

                            @IcySpicyStew:

                            while saying not fair

                            OK, just for you, lets call it discriminatory instead.

                            • Muppet Detector on 25/07/2025 - 20:25

                              @jv: Why ?

                              What part does discrimination play in one athlete having the ability to compete at an Olympic level whilst another may only ever have the skills and abilities of someone able to compete at their local meets?

                        • Crow K on 25/07/2025 - 17:51

                          @jv:

                          Nice deflection

                          Praise from Caesar

                    • tenpercent on 25/07/2025 - 16:38

                      @Muppet Detector:

                      who are just not capable

                      I'm not sure about that.

              • IcySpicyStew on 25/07/2025 - 09:39

                @jv: Some people are born into wealthy families, others not.
                Some people are born healthy, others not.

                Life is not fair

                • jv on 25/07/2025 - 10:01

                  @IcySpicyStew:

                  Life is not fair

                  Doesn't excuse for the government discriminating and stealing people's property.

                  • IcySpicyStew on 25/07/2025 - 10:40
                    +1

                    @jv: I'm assuming you're referring to what used to be Aboriginal property?
                    The Aboriginals didn't have government back then nor military, only communities.
                    Wouldn't it be nice if you could rewrite or rip pages out of history?
                    I thought I'd bring that up since you brought up stolen and discrimination and seem to experience it the harshest.

                    Grow some.

                    • jv on 25/07/2025 - 11:40

                      @IcySpicyStew:

                      what used to be Aboriginal property?

                      They didn't own any property.

                      • IcySpicyStew on 25/07/2025 - 15:53

                        @jv: …. that was recognized by the British empire

                        go take a walk at a national park and government property and read the sign that's out the front of many and familiarize yourself with what your overlords are acknowledging

                        • jv on 25/07/2025 - 16:09

                          @IcySpicyStew:

                          that was recognized by the British empire

                          I'm not British. I'm Australian.

                          • IcySpicyStew on 25/07/2025 - 16:09

                            @jv: exactly. your overlords - the Australian government.

                            read a history book and you might learn a thing or two before Australians ever existed, crybaby.

                            • jv on 25/07/2025 - 16:36

                              @IcySpicyStew:

                              read a history book

                              which history books of Australia were written before Australians ever existed?

                      • Muppet Detector on 25/07/2025 - 20:28

                        @jv: Didn't you turn up the day they taught Mabo (2) at school?

                      • IcySpicyStew on 25/07/2025 - 21:27

                        @HuzzahIndeed: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/lFksajsK2CM

                        https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Kq-nQMpeEwE

                        https://www.youtube.com/shorts/CLgiSl-gkB0

                        https://www.youtube.com/shorts/AvTg-1j1T38

                        https://www.youtube.com/shorts/wCqE_gd0sCQ

                        Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022 and has been unstoppable by NATO yet.

                        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIe6lUQzV5E

                        Are you sure you want to go that way?
                        Better pay up or else.

                        • HuzzahIndeed on 25/07/2025 - 22:34

                          @IcySpicyStew: Go what way? If you think I’m going to allow you to control the direction of the conversation, and turn into something it’s not that has nothing to do with my point, you’ll be talking to yourself. I’m not interested any political beliefs that you have, and if you’re a woke idiot or crazy conspiracy theorist you can leave all that at the door too.

                          I’m not sure what your point is with those videos? You were commenting like a woke person, speaking for aboriginal people when you’re probably not even one, many aboriginal people hate woke people that do that…Some aboriginal Australians even posted comments in the YouTube video I posted saying they can’t stand woke fools that try to stand up for them and speak for them, when they haven’t asked and don’t want their support. So you can save the boo hoos about who stole what from whom. Like it says in the video I posted, why were the British able to take the land from the Aboriginal people? Because the British were more technologically advanced. If the roles were reversed, and the aboriginals were more technologically advanced and had the numbers, what you don’t think they would have done the same to other cultures as what the British did to them? Like you said in your earlier post, life isn’t fair.

                          • IcySpicyStew on 26/07/2025 - 01:50

                            @HuzzahIndeed:

                            if you’re a woke idiot or crazy conspiracy theorist

                            Nobody mentioned woke but yourself.

                            Some aboriginal Australians even posted comments in the YouTube video I posted

                            While you "know" people on YouTube comments, I know people IRL.
                            How did you verify they weren't bots and that they actually were Aboriginal and not someone just lying?
                            You shouldn't trust everything on teh Interwebs you know.

                            what you don’t think they would have done the same to other cultures as what the British did to them?

                            You like assuming things, don't you.

                            Have a good night, I'm going to sleep.

                            • HuzzahIndeed on 26/07/2025 - 05:01

                              @IcySpicyStew: “But what about the aboriginals JV, the land/property was stolen from them?” A woke hypocrite is what I am saying you’re if you not an aboriginal and are making that argument, and also own your own home in Australia.

                              So is that all you’ve got, saying a few bots could’ve made some comments on YouTube, what can’t you argue the points which were in response to your own comments? Or are all of your stupid political views in the YouTube videos you posted that have nothing to with anything the extent of your actual counter argument.

                              Enjoy your sleep, my guess is you’re going to bed alone, maybe JV should join you and you can both settle your lovers tiff under the sheets.

                              • IcySpicyStew on 28/07/2025 - 23:26

                                @HuzzahIndeed:

                                what can’t you argue the points which were in response to your own comments?

                                Because you're an illiterate joke

                        • HuzzahIndeed on 25/07/2025 - 23:40

                          @IcySpicyStew: Furthermore. After your the land was stolen from the Aboriginal people comments, If you own a house, you’re a hypocrite if you don’t sign it over to a less fortunate aboriginal family.

                          • IcySpicyStew on 26/07/2025 - 01:54

                            @HuzzahIndeed: jv the one who mentioned stealing and thanks for supporting my rebuttal

                            • HuzzahIndeed on 26/07/2025 - 04:50

                              @IcySpicyStew: And your the one the mentioned the aboriginals and the British/white Australian first settlers stealing their land. So no I didn’t support your rebuttal at all. Are you actually going to make a valid argument, or is this it?

                              I don’t care about you and your stupid feud with JV, I laugh everyday at all of the members here and there are a lot of them who are like the both of you that just seem to like engaging in arguments like you have nothing better to do with your time, I’m convinced you’re all lonely people that don’t have real life friends which is why you come here to talk to others and argue and seem to enjoy it.

                              Australian land is wasted on you. I watched the movie Buried tonight which I hadn’t seen in a while, you could be buried alive for random in a casket in the ground in the middle of Iraq, or Afghanistan or Iran, which is where people like yourself belong and deserve to be, and I still wouldn’t care about you.

  • JimB on 24/07/2025 - 12:16
    +3

    It's not really a nightmare.

    He has options, he has ability to fund it.

    It's not like they doesn't have a house and will be left on the streets.

    When he passes, what do you plan on doing with the property? That is the most important question.

    • jv on 24/07/2025 - 14:13
      -1

      He has options, he has ability to fund it.

      Shouldn't have to…

      • JimB on 24/07/2025 - 15:29

        I shouldn't have to go to work to fund my lifestyle either.

        • jv on 24/07/2025 - 15:50
          +1

          I shouldn't have to go to work

          He's in his 70's.

          • JimB on 24/07/2025 - 15:54

            @jv: But this is all about me. Stuff society! Why shouldn't the taxpayer fund my lifestyle?

            • [Deactivated] on 25/07/2025 - 03:33

              @JimB: Jim…wha?… ah… are you Jim Chalmers…?
              I swear you sound just like him and Albo

              • JimB on 25/07/2025 - 08:49

                @[Deactivated]: I’m not actually sure what that really means.

                Are they pro or anti social security?

            • Protractor on 25/07/2025 - 10:52

              @JimB: If you are a farmer, they do. Just pray for an extreme weather event and money rains down. Rinse and repeat.

          • tenpercent on 26/07/2025 - 09:48

            @jv:

            He's in his 70's.

            So? Does he have a disability?

        • garddn on 25/07/2025 - 07:54

          Many don't work and taxpayers fund their lifestyle

          • JimB on 25/07/2025 - 08:47

            @garddn: That’s true.

            I do believe Social security is a good thing but should be a safety net as a matter of last resort

            The government shouldn’t pay for your nursing home fees if you also have a house.

    • tenpercent on 25/07/2025 - 16:41

      The nightmare is the OP's nightmare and it's just that OP will miss out on some assets or money they were otherwise expecting in their inheritance.

  • Sweet3st on 24/07/2025 - 13:08
    +2

    Is he likely to ever return home? If so why keep it? Agree with others, rent it out seems best solution if he won't sell, it may be a good investment for your inheritance. Get professional financial advice.

  • powerhead on 24/07/2025 - 13:15
    +1

    my dad has instructed me not to sell the house at any cost

    Given the above I doubt he would be happy with renting it out either.

    Home equity access scheme would be the best and most straight forward option imho.

  • Blargman2001 on 24/07/2025 - 14:25
    +10

    My parents try and dangle the carrot of an inheritance to get their way occasionally. I just tell them I have my own investments that will mature into a sufficient nest egg by my own retirement, and they can do what they want because I don't need their money. If you can afford it, sometimes it's better to let the idea if an inheritance go than live with such a poisonous knife constantly held to your neck. It can ruin relationships and family bonds.

  • billy3000 on 24/07/2025 - 14:53
    +1

    i think you need to do some more research - the most I ever put in for my folks is $120k deposit, this reduced daily and i signed an agreement that I would maintain a minimum balance of $20k for each of them.

    • petestrash on 25/07/2025 - 17:36

      Wow, where were they, and how long ago was that. Can't believe you'd find this in any capital city in Australia, unless they qualified for a part pension or something?

  • SnakeCasablanca on 24/07/2025 - 15:22

    Are you already living with your father? If not why dont you move in and put whatever you are paying into rent towards the old age home costs.

    Do you have a family? If not get a room mate to support the fees.

    If your dad doesnt like it. Tell him he has not other option.

  • EBC on 24/07/2025 - 15:47
    +2

    Depending on the value of the house it sounds like the solution is remortgaging the house for $600k, rent it out to pay the mortgage, use pension to pay any fees on top of the $600k deposit and anything left can service anything remaining on the mortgage payments. Without more specifics it is impossible to know whether there would be any sizable gap remaining for OP to pay.

    When it comes to inheritance, you get the refundable deposit of $600k back + sale price of the house less whatever it takes to pay off the mortgage. Or you get the $600k back and the house.

  • DashCam AKA Rolts on 24/07/2025 - 15:52
    +4

    @Aged Care Nightmare There are financial advisors who specialise in this field.
    I accessed one when looking for a care home placement for a relative. They will give you a full break down of options, costs, fee caps and tax liabilities. I would strongly suggest seek the advice of one of these advisors.

    • mrtin on 25/07/2025 - 07:08

      Plus run through different scenarios to help clients make an informed decision. Sell home, keep home, rent home, and any other combination.
      Takes away a lot of stress.

    • Ryjam on 25/07/2025 - 19:09
      +1

      This is literally the first common sense comment in 2 pages. OP, find an aged care advisor, pay the fee and understand the full raft of options for you and your family

  • Cluster on 24/07/2025 - 16:16

    This issue will affect an increasing percentage of Australians as the overall population ages and there are fewer children to take care of the elderly.

    My father has offered to pay off my mortgage, but I refused. Sounds mad, right? But there's a good reason. He never knows when he might need expensive care or large modifications to his house to enable him to continue living there. I hope it never happens, but no one can predict a fall, stroke, etc that may strike at any time. His money is his to use as he wants until he's no longer around (except spending money on scams, etc).

    • tenpercent on 26/07/2025 - 09:50
      +1

      Let him dump it in your offset to take back whenever he likes. It's a win-win. You save on interest. He gets to feel good about helping his child. And the money's still there if he needs it for big expenses like you describe.

  • Sinnerator on 24/07/2025 - 16:43

    Reverse Mortgage?
    pull some equity out of the house to pay with

    • petestrash on 25/07/2025 - 17:38

      Pretty sure most reverse mortgages fall due when you leave the home.

  • nikey2k27 on 24/07/2025 - 17:35

    I protip might no work for as dad got old was you care for him and live with him as care you get keep and keep live in it. if not next find 600 to pay dap over daily fee look at get money out house to keep it. You get Dap back not daly fee back.

  • MessyG on 24/07/2025 - 17:40
    +4

    OP you need a specialist aged care financial advisor ASAP. My understanding is that there is a lifetime cap on the amount you one has to pay for residential aged care and if you can stick that out paying the daily fee it can wind up better than paying the RAD plus all the rest. From memory it takes about two years to reach the cap and if your Dad passes away before then (apologies for being grim) then the loss of money is minimised further. But I'm a bit rusty on this space and take all that with a grain of salt, I learned it from a former aged care financial advisor because at the time that's what he was telling people to do.

    Before you start paying the daily fee I believe you can put him into respite in the same facility which should be cheaper - do not let them push you into going straight to permanent, ask to use up the respite allocation first.

    My advice to everyone following at home is to get your parents to sign assets over to you or into a family trust to avoid this situation. House has to be done 5 years prior to residential aged care or they can still get it.

    • petestrash on 25/07/2025 - 17:41

      The cap is only for the Means tested Fee. Which the extra you have to pay based on your assets/income.

      There is a yearly maximum and Lifetime limit.

      This is in addition to the daily rent (if you haven't paid the DAP) and daily care fees that never stop till you're gone.

  • TheRealCher on 24/07/2025 - 17:46
    +1

    Firstly, I'm really sorry you're in this situation and I'm sorry that your Dad is going through such pain. It's awful to see someone you care about hurting.
    I also know from experience that people of your father's age have often done very little planning about this, and it's life to the next generation to deal with it - and it's bamboozling because there's the emotional side, the financial side, the government side, multiplied by so many people and factors.
    If I could suggest something, don't look at the house as yours. It's not. Your financial future is your deal… that might seem harsh but it's true - we don't control our parents' money, in the sense of who gets what. For instance, your father could meet someone, get married, and the property would go to them when your father passed.

    In terms of what to do now, I'd advise having a very frank discussion with your father about why he doesn't want to sell the house - there's probably never been a better time for house sales, it guarantees him of having a future, and that deposit is not lost - it's there. I think, because of new laws, the home he goes into has the right to charge a small percentage for the first 5 years - again though, you want to investigate this. Does your Dad have a financial advisor? They're across this stuff.

    The problem with keeping the house, if I recall correctly, and others please correct me, is after 2 years, the house is counted as an asset against the daily rate (after the other payments etc) so the amount your dad will have to pay for living in the home will increase because he moves into another bracket. The income earned on the house as rent, even though you're using it to pay off your Dad's daily living, may also count, so it's a double whammy.

    The best thing you can do is get a full range of options from whomever is your Dad's financial advisor. If he doesn't have one, see if you can find someone who will help you work through the options with aged care. It is possible to move into aged care and pay a part deposit and then I think you have about 6 months before the full remainder is due.

    In terms of searching for a home, you may want to go with a broker - yes, they exist - as they take a lot of the stress out of the equation, especially if there are any things like your Dad being overweight (some places count it against them) or has other conditions. The care homes are in a position where they get to choose and a broker can help get your Dad's information into the right hands and save you a lot of the leg work and rejection. Make sure you get a broker who doesn't take kickbacks from the home - yes, you'll pay more ie we paid I think 1300, but we were able to get overviews, things based on prior experiences, pros and cons etc. One of the things you're going to come up against is not just the per day expense but also the "special" fees that aren't compulsory but are. Many homes have them - they include wifi or drinks at a coffee shop and often you don't get to choose. It's around 30 a week. If your Dad is relying on a pension only, it makes it tough to cover the fee that everyone has to pay and the extra fee.

    • MessyG on 25/07/2025 - 14:33

      I think OP can keep the house if they reach the cap before the two years (again don't quote me) but then there's a caveat on the house that it can't be sold until after they die.

      But OP do not try to work this out yourself, see a specialist financial advisor.

  • Narull on 24/07/2025 - 17:57

    Man it's sad to think there are people just sitting around going "come on parents die already I need my money".

    • Protractor on 24/07/2025 - 19:23
      +1

      OP isn't sitting around! He's subbing out for a game plan.

    • Blokeinhisundies on 24/07/2025 - 22:03
      +2

      Guy I work with has been waiting ten years for his mother to die and she keeps plodding along much to his annoyance. He even sold his own house years ago thinking she was ready to drop and he would buy something better. If he had of just stayed in the house he owned he would have already made about what he is gonna get as an inheritance. Some people just lose their minds when it comes to expected inheritances.Luckily for me I already know I'm getting sweet f a lol.

  • GordonD on 24/07/2025 - 19:20
    +12

    And the doctors looked at me as if I was the one who was crazy when they told me they'd have to remove my whole colon end to end which meant I'd have to shit in a bag for the rest of my life and live in an aged care facility because I couldn't look after myself at home by myself, and I said "no thanks", I'll just let the cancer run its course, and/or finish myself off.

    This is the choice old guys like me have. When quality of life gets intolerable because of accumulating medical issues we just want to exit quietly in our own time. Not spend the kids inheritance just to stay alive one more miserable day. This is why the highest suicide rate isn't ex-military, it is old men. And all the do-gooders and busybodies and feel gooders want to go on a campaign to do something about suicide, to prevent it whatever that takes, because you must be crazy to choose it. Well, wait until THEY get old and sicker and sicker and sicker.

    • trapper on 25/07/2025 - 11:18

      Grim man… but the reality.

  • john_conner on 24/07/2025 - 22:29
    +1

    Just tell your dad that as soon as he passes, you are going to sell the house anyway. Then he won’t have any reason to “not sell it for any cost”.

  • infinite on 24/07/2025 - 22:31
    -1

    Anyone who is "relying" on an inheritance, is a fool of unimaginable magnitudes.

    Here is where the problem lies. I need to find a way to find $600,000 for the residential aged care deposit, or pay the daily fee which is the equivalent of $128 a day.

    Guess what, my dad has instructed me not to sell the house at any cost. So here I am with the dilemma that I have to find a way to stump up $128 a day to pay for his care.

    Here's the actual answer - you don't have to do anything. It's your fathers choice as to what he does with his assets and where he ends up based on how he wishes to manage his finances.

    As it stands right now, It's not your role or responsibility to pay for anything, or make any choices for him.

    • Eeples on 25/07/2025 - 08:01
      +1

      Too many assumptions due to OPs lack of details/knowledge.

      Is his father a pensioner or a self funded retiree?

      Does the OP have enduring power of attorney or guardianship?

  • Rako on 24/07/2025 - 22:31
    -1

    Please read this article from Rachel Lane in yesterdays SMH. & give consideration to a reverse mortgage on your Dad's house to pay the daily fee instead of selling the house.

    • tenpercent on 26/07/2025 - 09:53

      What article?

    • infinite on 26/07/2025 - 10:16

      That wasn't an article, it was an advertorial.

  • harri1969 on 25/07/2025 - 07:41

    If you
    Pay the upfront fee you will get it all back. We got ours back within 3 weeks. If you only pay the daily fee you get nothing back. The upfront fee eill be changing soon and they will be able to keep 5%.

    • tenpercent on 26/07/2025 - 09:53

      Within 3 weeks of them dying or within 3 weeks or them entering the home?

  • Eeples on 25/07/2025 - 07:53
    +1

    Read here….

    https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/understanding-aged-care-home-a…

    He should have an aged care assessment.

    If he is assessed for aged then he should have an income/asset test assessment.

    Learn about and see where he lands here…

    https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/income-and-means-assessments

    This might be required…

    https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/sa457

    Good luck.

  • kallico on 25/07/2025 - 07:53
    -1

    What gives you the right to expect an inheritance?. Get of your ass and buy your own house and stop whinging about poor me.

    • infinite on 26/07/2025 - 10:19
      -1

      The entitlement of some people is just staggering.

      Imagine anyone thinking they "deserve" someone else's assets and money that the other person has worked like dogs for their entire lives to earn & do with as they please.

      Just Yikes.

  • jason101 on 25/07/2025 - 07:55
    +2

    I am struggling to determine the "nightmare" here: Your dad needs legitimate medical care which he can afford.

    Sounds like a good news story to me.

    Imagine if we/he/you lived in a 3rd world country and the care wasn't available or he couldn't afford it and he just died in the gutter.

    Don't want to care for dad yourself
    Don't want to use your own money to pay for his care
    Don't want him to use his money to pay for his care

    What a "nightmare".

    • IcySpicyStew on 25/07/2025 - 09:26
      +2

      He himself is the star of the "nightmare" and his parents are the victims of lifetime child support in the movie

    • Muppet Detector on 26/07/2025 - 11:07

      Kid was sad when father went into hospital, but now he says he's feeling even worse.

      Presuming the kid isn't dying anytime soon, I'm gonna guess that his father's feeling a lot worse than the kid is.

      Wait till the dad does pass away and the kid learns how much the funeral will cost!

  • frewer on 25/07/2025 - 07:59

    Retired in Asia, he will be treated like a king… I assume

    • serpserpserp on 26/07/2025 - 14:08

      Until he hits their public health system. Then he'll do the mercy dash international flight home and barely make it alive.

  • EspressoDan on 25/07/2025 - 08:33

    The new Australian reality….. Aging Australians living uncomfortable lives in old age when they could live like kings because they refuse to sell the assets that have appreciated beyond any reasonable measure which, at the very least, we were all told was a good thing because at least it would fund their care in old age.

    Just tell him it sucks, but life has caught up with him and it's time to plan responsibly.

  • Sunshines bright on 25/07/2025 - 08:43

    Apply for myagedcare.gov.au. 1800200422

  • Cheap Gamer on 25/07/2025 - 08:48

    Sorry to hear that you have been thrown in the deep end of aged care. I know it's an incredibly stressful and exhausting time. Did the hospital assign you a social worker? You'll need their experience and contacts to navigate this very complex system. They'll arrange for an aged care assessment (ACAT) and give you options for a home. They may even be able to arrange a home care package. But it would only be short term while your dad comes around to moving and selling.

    Be sure that you have power of attorney and guardianship because you'll need them later. Things happen fast when parents gets to this point, and you definitely don't want anyone else taking control.

  • Chewy2221 on 25/07/2025 - 09:03
    +2

    Make an appointment with Centrelink's financial information service. They are very good at cutting through the maze of services & providing you with options. Good luck. It is a horrible thing to go through.

  • IcySpicyStew on 25/07/2025 - 09:12
    +2

    I don't have my own house sadly … I'm in an even worse position

    I doubt it.

    Do you own any assets? Do you have any investments? Do you have any money?
    What have you been doing with your life?

    Your parent(s) fed and sheltered you when you were in need (as a child) but you can't return the favor when they are in need.
    "waiting for inheritance" without any investment in them.

    Sounds like you've been living on lifetime child support.

    • smartazz104 on 25/07/2025 - 16:32

      Your parent(s) fed and sheltered you when you were in need (as a child)

      Yes they brought him into this world and they can take him out…

  • mr_vino89 on 25/07/2025 - 09:46
    +2

    I'm not sure what the issue here is.

    If he sells the house and pays the Refundable Accommodation Deposit of $600K (RAD), the age care facility will refund that amount to his estate when he passes away (plus interest).
    If he doesn't want to do this then he has to pay the daily fee. you can't have it both ways.

    Paying the RAD is better financially than paying the daily fee.

    From an inheritance point of view, you with either get the house or the RAD. Either way, you'd have enough to buy a house or at least pay a significant deposit on a home. Be grateful either way.

    If he sells the house and nobody lives in it then he'll continue to payment council rates and other utility charges unnecessary whilst paying a daily fee at the Age Care place.
    If he rents out the property then it will trigger potential capital gains tax and has to declare the rental as an income yearly.

    He needs to seek independent financial and legal advice on his situation.

    • petestrash on 25/07/2025 - 17:46

      You don't get interest on the RAD held. It's the interest from the RAD they use to maintain and pay for the facilities.

      And with the new laws the company keeps 2% per year up to 10% in total for new RADs.

      But agree paying the RAD is currently better than paying the daily fee.

    • Some Guy on 29/07/2025 - 13:24

      The issue is that he is forced to do something that goes against conventional financial wisdom with an outcome that he has no control over or benefit from. It is a most confronting position to be placed in particularly when the realisation kicks in that it's all completely legal. Most people are taken aback when they first interact with this country's aged care system.

  • 2esc on 25/07/2025 - 10:20
    +6

    Ive said to my mum i dont care about a inheritance and go and enjoy life.

    Could i use an inheritance yes it certainty would be nice to pay the house off get a newer car etc.

    But my parents though not rich always put food on the table a roof over my head and cared about me.

    Im certainly not waiting for a inheritance like an entitlement.

    • infinite on 26/07/2025 - 10:22

      Well said. Nice to see users with common sense in here.

  • whitepuma on 25/07/2025 - 10:36

    I know it's expensive, but this is one of the harsh realities, whilst that baby boomer generation gets older and needs care, there are less people to care for them and less spaces available. Accordingly prices go up, The realistic option is to sell the house and use that to fund himself through this stage in life.

    IF he doesn't want to sell the house, you could always consider putting the house up for rent? The rent may not cover the full daily rate, but at least it may chip away at it whilst you cover the remainder.

    I'm starting to have this same realisation with my parents. They seem very fixed on NOT going to a aged care home, but when we look at the costs involved to give them the care they need at their home they have started to realise how much it costs at that stage in their life. and realistically they may need to sell what they have worked so hard for their whole life to fund this last stage of their life.

  • duluxe2000 on 25/07/2025 - 10:53
    +1

    This isn't about fair or not but if the system works like this, why don't I spend all my money while I still have health and can enjoy life and later get (free) care from tax payers (ok it's fair because when I work I paid tax to provide free care for others )

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