Travelling pensioners have it tough

TONY Allsop is a typical 72-year-old; he's on a part-pension and is a grey nomad.

Carlyle Gardens resident Tony Allsop is a part pensioner who contributes to a caravan magazine to support his and his wife’s retirement. Picture: Lee Constable

TONY Allsop is a typical 72-year-old; he's on a part-pension and is a grey nomad.

But like many partially self-funded pensioners, he won't directly benefit from the Federal Government's $3.7 billion reform of the aged care sector.

More than $100 million will be rolled out across regional Australia over the next five years to improve access to aged care services, strengthen the sector's workforce and deal with dementia care.

The reform was announced on April 20.

Mr Allsop and his wife Denyse, 62, have lived at Carlyle Gardens for 10 years.

That is also the length of time that Mr Allsop has been working as a magazine correspondent, a job which supports their retirement.

"I'm on a part-pension, I get a bit of super and I supplement our pension by writing travel stories for Caravan World," Mr Allsop said.

"It enables us to live comfortably on the road... fuel, caravan park expenses, various tourism trips."

While life on the road sounds merry, the Allsops still need to practise good money management to get by.

"We figure how much a trip is going to cost us each year; probably about $10,000," he said.

"It's pretty difficult to save."

Mr Allsop said the reforms should assist people like his mother-in-law, who was in a nursing home.

National Seniors Australia Mackay branch president Lynn Howland said self-funded retirees in Mackay were already struggling.

"It's just the little things, like not being able to be involved in clubs...or not being able to come to lunches," Mrs Howland said.

"There are lots of positives in (the reform) but as with everything; there's good and bad.

"People who are on a little less money, hopefully it will be better for them, but those who have a bit more money might be hit a little harder."

Originally published as Travelling pensioners have it tough