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Aged care finance

What is the Best Way to Fund Your Aged Care Costs?

FREE guide from Seniors First. Downloaded by thousands of Australians since its introduction in 2008.

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Traditionally people have often sold their family homes to pay for entry fees (what were known as ‘Accommodation Bonds). But with the government’s current emphasis on a ‘user pays’ system, retaining their homes and using aged care finance (such as a Reverse Mortgage) is an increasingly attractive option.

In July 2014, the Living Better Living Longer reforms came into force. People moving into aged care are now required to pay one of the following as an ‘entry fee’ for aged accommodation:

  • Refundable Accommodation Deposit (RAD)
  • Daily Accommodation Payment (DAP)

The ‘RAD’ is an upfront lump sum payment to a nursing home. The fee is set by the facility, and although the current average payment amount could range from is $300,000 to $400,000, it can be much higher in some areas.

In addition, a new ‘Means-Tested Daily Fee’ has been introduced which may add significantly to your overall care costs if the house is sold. Using a Reverse Mortgage to fund or part-fund your aged care accommodation is now a viable alternative for you.

How Does Aged Care Finance Work?

Looking into the fees and charges associated with aged care finance can be quite confusing. It is beneficial to take professional help before deciding on your aged care finance. Seniors First has some valuable resources and access to a number of lenders who can provide Reverse Mortgages to pay for aged care following the guidelines set by the Government. This allows the borrower to release up to 45% of the home value (depending on the age of the borrower) with no requirement for regular monthly repayment - the interest is capitalised each month onto the loan balance.

The amount borrowed, plus any accumulated interest (including compound interest) and fees are then repaid when the property is eventually sold.

So, for pensioners and retirees who have a limited income, Reverse Mortgages are the preferred method for aged care finance. In some cases, where self-funded retirees have enough income to service a conventional mortgage, Seniors First will recommend a home or investment loan to finance aged care & accommodation.

A Reverse Mortgage loan may be a good solution for aged care finance if:

  • the family wants to retain the home for emotional reasons
  • a spouse or family member is still living in the home and a sale is not possible
  • the resident wants to keep the option of ‘moving back home’
  • it is a poor property market and a bad time to sell the home
  • your financial planner recommends this as a strategy to minimise your costs or improve your cash-flow

What Our Clients Say...

Josie S. profile pictureJosie S.
02:02 09 Jan 26
Seniors First provided plenty of information on the concept of reverse mortgages, also referring us to the government website, for calculators showing scenarios of how the loan and house value would progress. Richard Chapman answered all our quesions in a clear, easily-understandable way and guided us through the process, to ensure that we and our children fully understood how reverse mortgages operate. With Richard's experience we were able to find a lender that suited the kind of loan we would need. We could see that the reverse mortgage would allow us to remain in our own home, and have funds available if needed later for aged care, without selling our home of 25 years and moving away. All in all, a very satisfactory experience with Richard and Seniors First.
Gavin and Josie Swallow
Cheryl M. profile pictureCheryl M.
01:38 27 Dec 25
Negotiating a Reverse Mortgage with Adam Oakley was considerably easier than we expected.
Adam was quick to allay our hesitance in dealing with an interstate broker and subsequent technological challenges including biometric ID.
Adam provided sound advice on the product best suited to our circumstances and maintained regular contact with us ensuring we were comfortable with the process and updating us on the progress of our application.
We researched reverse mortgages before committing and were impressed with Seniors Firsts webinars, FAQs and online information.
We look forward to maintaining contact with Seniors First and Adam in forthcoming years in reviewing our loan to ensure that it meets our future requirements.
Ian Y. profile pictureIan Y.
02:16 25 Dec 25
I did quite a bit of research on reverse mortgages and also watched at least 6 webinars on line before contacting Seniors First. I was put in touch with one of their brokers (Palka Kumar). She was very professional and knowledgeable about the whole process of setting up the reverse mortgage. I live in Tasmania but this was not a problem and in a matter of weeks everything was approved - I had the ideal criteria for this product and my wife and I are extremely pleased with the entire way the business was conducted. Seniors First know what they are doing and we thank you for all your assistance.
Marg B. profile pictureMarg B.
04:51 17 Dec 25
My husband and i have recently used Seniors First for securing a loan for the purchase of a new car. We were lucky to be assisted by Palka who has been wonderful since we first made contact wirh Seniors First. Palka has been incredibly helpful, has explained very clearly what we need to do, and has "held my hand" on several occoasions. Grateful thanks to Palka for her dedication to her clients.
Christine T. profile pictureChristine T.
02:08 16 Dec 25
Very good company to deal with. The consultant Adam Oakley was excellent. He was transparent and informative, polite and attentive. Could not recommend highly enough. He made a difficult situation easy and helped us old guys through the technology.
Nigel C. profile pictureNigel C.
07:33 10 Dec 25
Thank you, Angela, for your great support in helping us secure a Reverse Mortgage.
You were professional and knowledgeable in all our dealings and kept us in the picture at every stage of the process to ensure a smooth Reverse Mortgage journey.
You also clearly communicated all the options available on Reverse Mortgages so we could make fully informed decisions.
Most importantly, you quickly responded to and answered all our questions ( and there were many ! )
We strongly recommend Angela at Seniors First to all potential clients.
Anthony L. profile pictureAnthony L.
00:14 10 Dec 25
Right from the beginning Palka Kumar was fantastic. She ensured that we really understood the process, kept us informed, provided the appropriate links. Ensured that we ticked all the right boxes etc.
nothing was too much trouble
Her high level of professionalism and empathetic manner was always reassuring and for that we were fortunate to have her as our broker
brian C. profile picturebrian C.
02:49 09 Dec 25
Not knowing where to start refinancing our Reverse Mortgage, we saw Seniors First add and decided to try them for a starting point. We were lucky enough to have Adam Oakly assigned to our case. He did research & found the most suitable Reverse Mortgage lender that suited our cause. Adam was a great help & kept in contact until our loan was approved. Seniors First & Adam did a great job! Would most definitely recommend them. Brian & Pat.
Ray and Carolyn D. profile pictureRay and Carolyn D.
00:35 09 Dec 25
We were/are clients of Palka Kumar. We were impressed with her friendly nature and boundless knowledge of the industry. We had a number of Tele-conferences with her as she guided us through the process and let us know from the outset that she was with us the whole way through to conclusion. Palka was always available to answer any questions and kept us informed as the process went through the various stages. We have nothing but praise and appreciation for Palkas commitment to her clients. She always made us feel assured and relaxed about a sometimes daunting process. Outstanding.
Tina profile pictureTina
19:01 28 Nov 25
Andrew was very helpful and patient when it came to applying for our reverse mortgage on line. He always made us feel like we had his whole attention and never kept us waiting when we had any queries or problems with the forms. Would recommend him to anybody.
Kim B. profile pictureKim B.
18:57 27 Nov 25
We recently worked with Seema at Seniors First - Reverse Mortgage Brokers and her service was EXCEPTIONAL! She explained the process clearly, kept us informed every step of the way, and ensured we were comfortable with the progress of our application. Thanks to Seema, we achieved a great outcome! Highly recommend Seniors First and Seema - thanks for making a big decision feel easy!
Lynn F. profile pictureLynn F.
07:19 27 Nov 25
From the moment we called and spoke with Adam Oakley at Seniors First about a reverse mortgage, we were made to feel very comfortable with his warm, but honest approach. We were able to ask questions without feeling pressured and the amount of knowledge and information Adam shared with us, made the decision making so much easier. Another valuable trait of Adam’s is in his communication. He shared his direct line with us and when he wasn’t available, always returned our calls and answered emails promptly.
Adam walked us through each step of the process with ease, and we never felt alone at anytime. His recommendations were professional and unbiased and we didn’t hesitate to listen to his advice. I don’t know of any other bank or financial institution that would take the time and so much care, to ensure that their clients were happy. We certainly are, we can’t recommend Adam Oakley at Seniors First enough. It was a very big, life changing decision we had to consider and we feel grateful to have found Adam to see it through with us. Once again, thank you Adam for your time and patience. We couldn’t be happier. You are a true professional.
Jodie M. profile pictureJodie M.
01:44 24 Nov 25
I recently applied for a Reverse Mortgage through Seniors First and would have to say it was the easiest loan I have ever got in my life.
Between Seniors First and my Broker Adam Oakley they made the whole application from start to finish a breeze.
The Professionalism and Guidance I got from Adam to make sure I understood everything before he advised on the right product that best suited me.
I would highly recommend Seniors First and Adam to anyone interested in a Reverse Mortgage.
Mike Wilton (. profile pictureMike Wilton (.
01:32 24 Nov 25
Palka Kumar assisted us through the whole process, to its completion. She was brilliant. Without her assistance, the application would have been so difficult. But she guided us at every step to completion. What wonderful service - always available with wise advice, and encouragement along the way. Thank you Palka for your counsel and help. Mike and Loris.
Julijana G. profile pictureJulijana G.
05:19 27 Oct 25
Exceptional Service from Seema – Seniors First

I had an outstanding experience working with Seema at Seniors First. She was professional, patient, and incredibly knowledgeable, guiding me through every step of the process with care and understanding. Seema made what could have been a stressful experience feel smooth and straightforward. Her communication was excellent, and she always took the time to explain things clearly. I truly appreciate her kindness and dedication — highly recommend Seema and Seniors First for anyone looking for honest and supportive financial advice.

How Seniors First Reverse Mortgage Can Help

Senior First can help you to find out how much equity you have in your home, and how you might be able to use it for your needs.

If you want to learn about reverse mortgages in detail, you can download our guide, Reverse Mortgage Secrets.

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