PLEASE NOTE: The free book give-away has now closed.
If you are considering downsizing, a tree-change or a sea-change, Frank & Earnest have five free copies of ‘The Retirement Living Handbook’ to give away to readers – one for Queensland; one for New South Wales or ACT, one for Victoria or Tasmania; one for South Australia or the NT and one for Western Australia. Leave a message in the comments section below telling us which state or territory you are from and why you would like a copy of this new book. We will send a free copy to the first person from each of these five state/territory groupings (no retirement village operator staff please!).
And…. if you would like the chance to speak with the authors or get a signed copy of the book, you are also invited to attend the official launch(es) of the book which will take place in Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney on the following dates:
- Melbourne – 7 October, Hawthorn Arts Centre, Hawthorn, 1.30pm to 3.30pm
- Brisbane – 14 October, Easts Leagues Club, Coorparoo, 2pm to 4pm
- Sydney – 19 October, Club Central Hurstville, 2pm to 4pm
Places are limited so please phone 1300 855 770 to reserve a place.
You might remember a book published a few years ago called Aged Care, Who Cares by Rachel Lane and Noel Whittaker. Contrary to what its title might suggest, the authors did care a great deal about aged care and were determined to explain it all in as simple terms as possible.
Since the aged care system in Australia is about as easy to navigate as the Bermuda Triangle the book was a huge success and was updated and republished in 2014 to reflect new policy changes.
Questions answered
Now the dynamic duo of seniors finance has turned its sights to retirement living with a new book dedicated to “the tree change, sea change and downsize seekers of Australia.”
If that’s you or someone you know, the simply titled “The Retirement Living Handbook” may well be the saviour you’ve been looking for.
A book that needed to be written
Co-author, Rachel Lane spoke to Frank & Earnest about the new book, which she said, ‘needed to be written’ for a number of reasons.
One of them, she says, was because lots of people expressed an interest in the section about retirement living in the first book and wanted more detailed information.
Another reason, Rachel says, was her own grandmother’s experience in deciding to move to a retirement village and what they both learned from that.
“My grandma, Jean, moved into a retirement village six years ago,” says Rachel.
“But with my knowledge and background in this area, I had been suggesting the idea for a good eight years before that.
“When she finally moved,” Rachel says, “she was regretful about not having done it sooner. She said, ‘I love being here. I don’t know why I waited so long.”
It’s what so many people say, she says. “You get more bang for your buck when you move in when you’re a little bit younger.”
Making sense of the options
Rachel says there are lots of reasons why people balk and delay in making retirement living decisions. For starters, the laws relating to them differ from state to state (and there is a move afoot to try to fix that).
Then there are different and often confusing names for the various options available; there are many different types of contracts, fees and charges, inclusions and exclusions; and that’s before people even address the whole issue of packing up and moving out of a home they may have lived in for many decades.
Another confounding issue for people, she says, is the ‘horror stories’ that turn up on tabloid-style television programs from time to time. While not discounting the inevitability of some bad experiences and poor service providers in any industry or setting, she believes the complexity of the current Australian retirement living environment and the lack of very clear, accessible information is a substantial contributing factor in sometimes very serious misunderstandings and misgivings. And it is something she and her co-author, Noel Whittaker, hope they can help to address.
Knowledge is power
The Retirement Living Handbook tries to address the broad spectrum of questions and issues that need to be addressed from the very earliest consideration of possibly downsizing, through to the myriad types of communities, contracts, legal responsibilities, payment options, financial considerations and lots of additional references for good advice.
And there are loads of real-life case studies demonstrating different options and outcomes.
You can read some sample information and find out more about the authors on the website.
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Don’t forget to add your comment outlining why you or someone you know would like a free copy of The Retirement Living Handbook. Include your state or territory in your response. We will have your email address in confidence so you don’t need to include that. The first valid entry from each stated state/territory group, as outlined, will receive the free copy of the Retirement Living Handbook and will be contacted via email for postage address details. Email editor@frankandearnest.net.au if you have any questions.
Discussion13 Comments
Having just undergone a transplant I am looking to transition across to a retirement village.
The Retirement Living publication will serve to assist me in making that decision.
We’ll be in touch! That’s SA/NT done! Congrats
My dad is 86 and becoming more fragile. He owns his own home but has a reverse mortgage. He’s very opposed to moving (I sympathise) but none of my family know anything about retirement living or the options, so a book like this would be perfect to increase our knowledge to be able to support dad to make good choices about how best to meet his needs.
Jill, you have the Victoria/Tasmania copy!
I am starting to look in Tasmania of retirement options. My daughter is in the industry but I still want to investigate all information myself. There is talk about a one stop shop but in fact this is more confusing. i hope this book to be a better start.
PS I do wonder why Tasmania is always grouped with VIC- being a independent state.
Hi I would like a copy of Rachel’s new book. I am an aged care financial advisor and have great respect for Rachel’s expertise and knowledge in this area. We are getting enquiries from people wanting advice about moving into RV’s and this book will be very helpful.
My parents don’t know it yet… but they need to start thinking about a retirement village! The lawns and the gardens are getting too much (even with the unpaid help!) and they would benefit from gaining an extra social group with similar interests…. added to this is we don’t need their life savings when they die, I’d like them to travel more and be supported when they are home. They live in Sydney and there seems to be so many options. Hope you can help with a copy of the book!
My 88yo mum has just moved from Victoria to my family home in South Australia, but we need to think about the next step – an Aged Care Facility. I have tried to wade through various websites but information just gets more and more confusing. I would love a copy of your book.
Am I the first from Queensland? I would love a copy of the book to help me decide which retirement living option will suit me best. I found your previous publication “Aged Care – Who Cares” extremely helpful and informative.
Hi Annette, yes the first Queenslander but after ten days, we had to close it off and we announced the winners in the last newsletter. So sorry! If you are in Brisbane, you can go to the Brisbane launch event – 14 October, Easts Leagues Club, Coorparoo 2pm to 4pm. But you need to phone 1300 855 770. Or check: http://retirementhandbook.com.au/#seekadvice
Hi Keryn, I’m very disappointed. I wish you had stated the ten-day deadline on your website, rather than raise my hopes. Annette
Hi my 87 yr old mum has dementia and dad is at the point he cant really manage in the house with her. Kids all live interstate. We are all visiting in rotation to help out and have just started the search for options outdide their own home. It is daunting and i am sure this book would be a big help. I am in NSW.
To whom it may concern Dear Editors ,I have been retired ( medically) since 1991 and my wife has now caught up to me,we were both born in 1943.My wife has a hatred of nursing homes because her mother passed away while in a nursing home from a fall,so I was just wonder whether your newest book might shed some light and dispel some of my wife ‘s fears and or myths