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.
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:
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
You guys have been a God send for me thank you so much I definitely couldn’t of done it without you.
My aunty thinks you lot are the best thing since sliced bread.
Not a fan of reviews but in this case I must. These people are simply fantastic. Plain and simple. They helped my sister and I through difficult processes (and a difficult father…) and carried out their tasks in a diligent and caring manner. I cannot recommend these people highly enough to assist you with your parents aged care needs.
The Sage team were all very receptive to our questions, were flexible and responsive and they all really care about getting the best outcome for their clients.
Just wanted to say a very big thank you to you all for the most wonderful customer experience we had with your company. All three of you are a tremendous asset to Sage Care Advice and hopefully the owners appreciate the effort you all put in. Thanks for putting up with my blonde senior moments. Had a few of late. Really appreciate the genuine compassion and caring you all showed to us while sorting out mum’s affairs. Made things a lot easier. Thank you again. Love your work don’t give up your day job ever.
I would like to thank you all for the great amount of professional help and understanding you showed to us with mum and her transition into aged care. It was a great comfort to know that you were always close and available when I was unable to work out the many problems I faced. I will highly recommend sage to anyone in the situation I was in as the first place to contact. Thank you again for your caring and personal touch to what was a difficult time for us.
The Sage team were all very receptive to our questions, were flexible and responsive and they all really care about getting the best outcome for their clients.
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.
Bruce and the team at Sage Care Advice are the best Aged Care advisers on the Sunshine Coast. If you want to worry less about your aged care options, and would like to save some time and money while you are at it, give them a call. I wouldn’t dream of referring my clients anywhere else.