Heartland is proud to help people live a more comfortable retirement, with independence and dignity, through our reverse mortgage. As part of this commitment, we have partnered with Dementia Australia since 2018 to support the great work they do in promoting healthy ageing in Australia. Dementia is the second-leading cause of death and is the single greatest cause of disability in older Australians.
Dementia Australia is an organisation with values that closely align with our own. These include doing the right thing and being one team, diversity, inclusion, respect and integrity are important to us. Here at Heartland, we put all our heart into finding ways to make a real difference for our customers by creating new opportunities, or through just making things a little bit easier. Our team are right there when and how customers need us: over the phone or email; online through our webchat and application tools; and in person via specialist accredited mortgage brokers. We’re passionate, hands on and dedicated to providing reverse mortgage options that work and in doing the right thing by our customers. Getting involved with Dementia Australia is one of the ways in which we aim to make a difference in our community.
Heartland understands that each and every customer places their trust in us when we provide them with finance, and we take this duty of care seriously. We have several processes in place that are designed to protect borrowers and those that may be more vulnerable, such as people living with dementia.
During our application process, Heartland asks customers to consider their future needs, requirements and objectives. To ensure customers are making informed decisions, independent legal advice is required as part of our application process and we strongly encourage speaking to family and seeking independent financial advice. We also understand that elder abuse occurs in our society, which is why we take extra care when assessing and approving loans under Power of Attorney to ensure that the loan is suitable and will be beneficial for the borrower.
At Heartland we also offer an aged care loan to specifically help pay for residential aged care. It’s one of the few specialist aged care reverse mortgage loan products available in Australia and can offer an important funding alternative to people requiring care.
Many believe selling the family home is the only option to pay for in home or residential aged care, which can be difficult for families – adding an additional stress. However, in many cases, the home can be retained by using a reverse mortgage to fund aged care costs. This is one of the ways we aim to help provide peace of mind, particularly for people who are living with dementia (and their families), as they account for 52% of all residents in residential aged care facilities.
With an estimated 472,000 people in Australia living with dementia in 2021, and this number expected to increase to over 1 million by 2058, funding for dementia research, awareness and support is becoming more and more essential. For our 2021 partnership with Dementia Australia, we have sponsored the Memory Walk & Jog Melbourne. This is a chance for Heartland and the community to get together and fundraise to help and support those living with dementia. Our partnership also includes staff volunteering opportunities and workshops so our people can get involved in spreading awareness and offering support to those living with dementia.
For more information on Heartland’s products and services visit www.heartlandfinance.com.au
