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  • aged care case studies

Real Families.
Real Outcomes.

Real aged care case studies showing how financial planning and advice can protect long-term care affordability and security.
  • Client Experiences

Why Aged care Outcomes Differ

Two families can have similar assets — and experience very different aged care outcomes. The difference is rarely wealth. It is structure, sequencing, and ongoing financial advice.

If you’re currently comparing options, you may also find our Aged Care Costs Guide helpful in understanding how fees are calculated.
  • AGED CARE FINANCIAL PLANNING CASE STUDY 01

When "doing everything right" still wasn't enough

Situation
Joe and Wendy sold their home, paid the Refundable Accommodation Deposit (RAD) to their Residential Aged Care Facility, and put the remaining proceeds into a high-interest savings account. They updated Centrelink and assumed their pension and savings would cover the costs of ongoing care.
What happened:
  • Their Age Pension reduced due to assets held in cash
  • The facility charged standard aged care fees, including the basic daily fee and extra service fees.
  • Each month they used all pension income and drew from savings to cover the gap
  • Their savings fell over time — but their pension didn’t increase in step because there was no ongoing review
  • Eventually, their savings ran out and they faced leaving their care facility
How advice could have changed the outcome

With advice at the beginning, we would likely have:

  • Structured income to meet costs over the long term
  • Considered an annuity to provide stable lifetime cash flow
  • Selected assets/products with favourable Centrelink and aged care means-testing treatment
  • Protected cash flow and improved certainty while also considering beneficiaries
Outcome

Joe and Wendy’s situation shows that aged care funding isn’t just about how much you have — it’s about how it’s structured and reviewed

If you’re in a similar situation, our Aged Care Options Wizard can help you understand your options and next steps.
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Family reviewing aged care financial planning and accommodation options
  • AGED CARE FINANCIAL PLANNING CASE STUDY 02

Premium care secured for life even with high means-tested fees

Situation
A family received an aged care assessment that produced very high means-tested fees. On the surface, premium care looked financially out of reach.
What Our Advisers Did:
  • Explained how means-tested fees operate and how annual and lifetime caps apply
  • Implemented a "bucket strategy" to manage income and assets over time
  • Structured cash flow with a focus on stability and long-term sustainability
  • Used an annuity-based income stream to strengthen predictable funding and reduce volatility
Outcome

The family secured a premium care facility with confidence that costs were sustainable for life — reducing uncertainty and protecting long-term security.

Understanding how these fees apply can be complex — our calculator can help model your situation.
If you’re in a similar situation, our Aged Care Options Wizard can help you understand your options and next steps.
Family meeting with adviser to organise residential aged care placement

Other Aged Care Case Studies

These shorter examples show the types of challenges families often face — and how clarity around fees, structure and planning makes a measurable difference.

Incorrect Aged Care Fees

Summary: Helped a family review residential aged care charges, understand how the accommodation deposit (RAD) was being treated, and communicate confidently with the provider to resolve concerns constructively.

Summary: Helped a family make an urgent move into care by clearly explaining the lump-sum (RAD) and daily payment (DAP) options, outlining the likely fees, and mapping how costs would be covered over time.

Summary: Helped a family map likely care pathways, explain funding and assessment steps, and integrate aged care planning into retirement strategy.

Summary: Modelled scenarios to help a family decide whether selling the home was necessary, including pension impacts and long-term affordability.

Summary: Helped a family compare paying a full RAD, partial RAD, or daily accommodation payments (DAP), modelling pension impact and long-term cash flow before committing to a contract.

Summary: Reviewed asset structure and income positioning to reduce means-tested care fees within government rules, improving long-term affordability.

Summary: Explained how asset and income thresholds affect the Age Pension and structured finances to support sustainable payments over time.

Challenging incorrect aged care fees
Summary: Helped a family review residential aged care charges using our Aged Care Costs Guide, understand how the Refundable Accommodation Deposit (RAD) was being treated, and communicate confidently with the provider.
Summary: Guided the family through an urgent move using our Aged Care Financial Assessment and helped them quickly compare suitable options via our Aged Care Placement Support.

Summary: Helped a family map likely care pathways, explain funding and assessment steps, and integrate aged care planning into retirement strategy.

Summary: Advised on whether to keep or sell the home, including impacts on means-tested care fees and Age Pension entitlements.
Summary: Helped a family with RAD vs DAP decisions by comparing paying a full RAD, partial RAD, or daily accommodation payments (DAP), modelling pension impact and long-term cash flow before committing to a contract.
Summary: Structured assets and income to reduce means-tested care fees while maintaining compliance and long-term sustainability.
Summary: Implemented strategies to protect Age Pension entitlements and improve ongoing affordability of care.
  • Client Experiences

What Families Tell us

Many of these outcomes were achieved through tailored financial advice strategies.
Independent guidance delivered with clarity and calm.

“You brought calm and clarity to a situation that felt overwhelming. For the first time, we felt in control.”

— J.W., NSW

“You explained the fees in plain English and structured a plan we knew would hold up long-term.”

— M.T., QLD

“It was reassuring to speak with someone independent — focused on what was right for us, not a provider.”

— S.R., VIC

“We moved forward knowing care would remain affordable and secure — without fear of running out.”

— L.P., QLD

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The information on this website is general in nature and does not consider your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider whether it is appropriate for you and seek personalised advice before making any decisions.

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