Our Services – How We Can Help
Before engaging us, you will have a one hour obligation free appointment with one of our Aged Care Specialists.Obligation Free Appointment
Before engaging us, you will have a one hour obligation-free appointment with one of our Aged Care Specialists. At the end of this, we can let you know if we can be of service or if you are already on track. Our fee for services is fixed and agreed on prior to our engagement. We can project manage as little or as much of the process as you require.
We are proud of the fact that this is often the only appointment some people need from us – we will NEVER recommend our service unless we believe that we will add value to your unique situation.
Funding Advice
We will examine your financial situation and compare funding options to help you decide the payment strategy that suits you best. This will include considering:
- The impact of selling, keeping or renting the family home on age pensions and aged care fees (this can make a BIG difference – take a look at our case studies).
- The affordability of care in your chosen facility.
- The best way to pay for your aged care.
- How your choices affect the resident’s estate. If the person entering care no longer has the capacity to update their Will, it is important to make sure that the decisions you make will still see their estate planning wishes met.
We will provide you with a Statement of Advice (SOA) which compares your shortlisted options side by side, so you can see the impact of each option on pension benefits, aged care fees, cash flow, tax and assets over time.
Residential Care Liaison and Negotiations
We will liaise directly with your residential care provider on your behalf, negotiating fees and providing them with the information they need to offer you a place in their facility and to prepare agreements.
If you are employing a placement service to help find a residential care provider, we are happy to work closely with them as well.
Services Australia / DVA Liaison
As part of our aged care advice process, we become Services Australia/DVA nominees for a period of six months. This includes checking that your fees have been calculated correctly by Department of Human Services (you might be surprised) and also providing quarterly updates to them regularly during this initial entry period.
In addition, we will also help you to complete the forms that Services Australia require, including a new age pension application if you are not already claiming. The SA457 (Request for a Combined Assets and Income Assessment) alone is 25 pages!
Third Party Assistance for Enduring Powers of Attorney
Acting as an Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA) for a parent, spouse or family member can be an overwhelming experience. Sage Care Advice can provide support to allow you to make the right financial decisions for your loved one. Our service provides transparency by providing available funding options to support your decision making.
Ongoing Services Australia/DVA Reporting Service
Services Australia recalculates Means Tested Fees and Daily Accommodation Contributions every three months, so it is essential that this information is kept up to date on their records. We also understand that work and family commitments can make this difficult.
Don't want to deal with Centrelink on an ongoing basis? To help with this, we also offer an optional service to remain as Services Australia/DVA nominees for the person in care. This means that, with your help, we can keep Services Australia up to date with your loved one’s assets and income and assist with any requests you receive from these government departments.
What Our Clients Say
Just like our name ‘Sage’, we are ‘profoundly wise’ and have a genuine desire to provide you and your loved ones with the best solutions. Here is some feedback from some of our clients.
Alex
My aunty thinks you lot are the best thing since sliced bread.
Cayleen
You will never know how much I have appreciated all that you have helped us with. I don’t really think I could have done it without you, Bruce and Haylee. I have also recommended you to other friends of mine. You guys truly are amazing. Thank you.
Wendy
Thank you for helping my parents and family through this transitional phase from independent living to aged care/retirement village accommodation. The patient and thorough explanations of the mystery maze which is Aged Care and Centrelink was fabulous and the financial modelling invaluable through this stressful time. Both parents are now settled into their respective new homes and as a family we know that the best financial outcomes were achieved and we can rest easy. Won’t hesitate to get in contact should their circumstances change again.
Mandy
It has been a relief and comfort to have the services of Sage during this very busy time for us, whilst packing up and relocating our parents to the facility.
Brent
Sage Care Advice have been a lifesaver! From the moment you walk through the door the entire staff are true professionals.
I was most impressed by Bruce outlining the circumstances in which they can help at the outset of the free introductory meeting. He is very honest and upfront about the type of financial situation they can assist with.
Entering aged care and dealing with Centrelink is a minefield. I can’t imagine being an elderly partner or a non-English speaking background and having to deal with the complexity involved. Sage have picked up Centrelink’s mistakes one after another and have the knowledge required to get the fair outcome.
My representative has been outstanding. She is responsive to my queries and understanding of my personal circumstances at the same time.
If you want to avoid the financial and mental stress of entering a loved one into aged care I would genuinely urge you to at least have the free initial meeting with Sage. I couldn’t have gone through this without them.
Margaret
With elderly parents living on their own the thought of something going wrong was always in the back of my mind. When this did happen and both parents needed full time care, what to do and where to start was overwhelming. The staff at Sage Care Advice came into my life and gave me not only the physical and financial support with the never ending paper work and phone calls but also the emotional support to see a light at the end of the tunnel for my parents to gain the quality care they needed and deserved. I cannot thank Bruce and his team enough and have absolutely no hesitation in recommending Sage to any family needing this assistance and support.
Lyall
Thanks to you and all the team there at Sage Care Advice. We are so thankful that we were referred to you guys and for the great help that you have been to us. We are very glad that we have now got to the stage of setting up payments for Dad and Mum. We really appreciate your wisdom, empathy, sincerity and professionalism in all that you have done with us.
John
From the very first phone call to the team, I was impressed by the professionalism and knowledge of the aged care industry that was displayed. When I met Bruce or our initial face to face meeting, we as a family had already decided that we wanted Bruce and his team to handle all the affairs around getting our Mum into the Aged Care facility of our choice. An engagement of a few months that we felt represented good value for money. In that hour meeting, Bruce and his team did work for us, that my family and I would have struggled with for weeks. I left that meeting feeling that we were in the best of hands. Unfortunately, the following Monday, our Mum passed away. I can’t speak loudly or long enough on the impact that his made to my family at a time of grieving. Thank you Bruce and team, not only do you have unique specialised advice, but you showed and demonstrated to me that you have compassion as well.
Trudy
Having been suddenly confronted with the need to make arrangements for an elderly Aunt and Uncle a few years ago, I was overwhelmed by Government requirements and the financial arrangements necessary to have them admitted into Aged Care. The best advice I received was to contact Bruce, Haylee and Katie at Sage Care Advice (formerly PWA).From our first meeting, I knew I was in good hands. Their expert service and advice, delivered in a generous and caring manner, was invaluable and resulted in much reduced stress levels for me and the best possible outcome for my Aunt and Uncle. Contact them. It’s the best step you will ever take.
Margaret
With elderly parents living on their own the thought of something going wrong was always in the back of my mind. When this did happen and both parents needed full time care, what to do and where to start was overwhelming. The staff at Sage Care Advice came into my life and gave me not only the physical and financial support with the never ending paper work and phone calls but also the emotional support to see a light at the end of the tunnel for my parents to gain the quality care they needed and deserved. I cannot thank Bruce and his team enough and have absolutely no hesitation in recommending Sage to any family needing this assistance and support.