29+ Years advising Australians
6,000+ Clients across the country
$2.5B Funds under advice
6 Offices nationally
— Why aged care decisions are so challenging
A complex system, often navigated
under enormous pressure.
Aged care is not just about choosing a facility or service. It involves navigating a system that touches almost every aspect of a person's financial life — often quickly, and at an emotionally difficult time.
Government rules & assessments
ACAT/ACAS assessments, eligibility criteria, different levels of home care and residential care — each with its own rules and timelines.
Complex fee structures
Basic daily fees, means-tested care fees, accommodation costs (RAD and DAP), and how they interact with your income and assets.
Centrelink & pension impacts
Aged care decisions can significantly affect Age Pension entitlements, and getting the structure wrong can cost thousands per year.
The family home
Whether to sell, rent or retain the family home is one of the most consequential — and emotionally loaded — decisions in the entire process.
Long-term cash flow
Care costs can run for years. Modelling different scenarios helps ensure arrangements remain affordable without eroding your estate.
Estate planning implications
Aged care decisions interact directly with wills, powers of attorney and beneficiary nominations — all of which need to be reviewed.
— How we help
Guidance at every
stage of the process.
Understanding your options
- Home care vs residential care
- Different levels of care and eligibility
- Navigating the ACAT/ACAS assessment process
- Comparing facilities and services
- Home Care Package (HCP) entitlements
Costs, Centrelink & cash flow
- Explanation of aged care fees (RAD, DAP, MTC)
- Modelling different fee payment scenarios
- Age Pension and Centrelink impact assessment
- Structuring arrangements to optimise entitlements
- Long-term cash flow and affordability planning
The bigger picture
- Family home — sell, rent or retain analysis
- Estate planning review and coordination
- Coordination with your financial planner and accountant
- Working alongside solicitors and family members
- Supporting a smooth and informed transition
— Specialist expertise
AGS Financial Group
& Zenith Aged Care.
Through our joint venture with Zenith Aged Care, you benefit from a team that works exclusively in aged care and supports hundreds of families each year. This means up-to-date knowledge of aged care rules and processes, deep experience in complex care situations, and practical guidance tailored to your circumstances.
Aged care decisions don't happen in isolation. Because AGS also provides financial planning, accounting and estate planning, we ensure every aged care decision is coordinated with your broader financial strategy — not made in isolation by a specialist who doesn't know your whole picture.
- —Zenith Aged Care partnership — Access to specialists who work exclusively in aged care and support hundreds of families every year.
- —Integrated financial advice — Your aged care decisions are coordinated with your financial plan, accounting and estate strategy.
- —Clarity, empathy and confidence — We guide you through a complex system at what is often one of the most stressful periods in a family's life.
— Questions answered
Aged care
questions.
Can't find what you need? Call us on (02) 9966 8188.
When should we start thinking about aged care planning?
Earlier is better — ideally before a crisis forces the decision. Even if care is still years away, understanding the system, reviewing your estate documents and modelling your financial position in advance makes everything significantly less stressful when the time comes.
What is the difference between home care and residential aged care?
Home care supports people to remain living at home with assistance (personal care, nursing, domestic help) through a Home Care Package (HCP). Residential aged care involves moving into an aged care facility. Both have different cost structures, eligibility processes and financial implications — and the right choice depends on the person's care needs, preferences and financial situation.
What is a RAD and a DAP?
A Refundable Accommodation Deposit (RAD) is a lump sum paid for accommodation in residential aged care — it is refunded in full when you leave. A Daily Accommodation Payment (DAP) is the equivalent daily rental alternative. Most people can choose to pay either or a combination of both. The right choice depends on your financial situation, pension entitlements and cash flow needs.
How does aged care affect the Age Pension?
Aged care decisions — particularly around the family home, RAD payments and the structure of your assets — can significantly affect your Age Pension entitlements. Getting the structure right can mean meaningfully better Centrelink outcomes. This is one of the most important reasons to take financial advice before making care arrangements.
Does AGS work directly with Zenith Aged Care?
Yes — AGS Financial Group and Zenith Aged Care operate as a joint venture. When you come to us with aged care needs, you have access to Zenith's dedicated team of aged care specialists alongside AGS's financial planning, accounting and estate planning capabilities. This gives you both specialist aged care expertise and integrated financial advice from the same connected team.
What if I already have a financial planner or accountant I want to keep?
That's no problem. Aged care advice can be engaged as a standalone piece of work — we'll coordinate with your existing planner, accountant or solicitor (with your permission) on the structuring decisions that touch their work, so the aged care plan still aligns with your broader financial picture.