practical living
New pastures
Older farmers need to start the
‘aged care’ conversation early.
How do farmers decide between home
or residential care, and what happens to
their livelihood once they enter a facility?
Bryant, who has 15 years’ experience
working with rural families in and around
Toowoomba, Queensland, and specialises
in developing financial planning strategies
for rural generational farmers, spoke to
Aged Care Insite about the problems
involved in transitioning from the farm to
aged care.
Susan Bryant interviewed by Megan Tran
ACI: What does a typical day look like
for an older farmer?
T
ransitioning into aged care can be
a daunting experience for some.
It can be even more challenging
for people from farming communities who
have spent their lives on the land.
Susan Bryant, principal and financial
adviser at Seeds of Advice, says it’s a
conversation that elderly farmers need to
have, and while it’s not easy, it’s imperative
that the discussion takes place.
“I tell my clients they either have it now
when they have some control, or have it
around the hospital bed at 1am – but you
will have it,” Bryant says.
She adds that elderly farmers are an
adaptable generation, and like all people
who are ageing, they will alter their routine
to accommodate.
“One of the unique qualities of the
farming business is that you hone it all into
one: if they stop work, then their lives will
stop basically. Their home is their work.”
20 agedcareinsite.com.au
SB: It’s pretty full. This is one of the issues
facing this particular sector – older farmers
are still very involved physically, mentally
and emotionally with their business and
their property. Farming is unique in that
your home and your business are tied up in
one, so it’s hard to pull those things apart.
Typically most farmers are up at the
crack of dawn. They might have a cup of
tea, and then they might check on stock,