CarrieW

Hello,

I wonder if anyone can help me with something I am looking into for my mother in law.

Her mother moved to Australia from the UK last year at the age of 80 and married her childhood sweetheart, who has lived in Australia for many years. Sadly, she had a major stroke a few weeks ago and will probably require long term care in a nursing home.

My mother in law has been advised that as an EU citizen still she may be able to get some financial help with the cost of this (they had not got around to putting her on her new husband's private health insurance).

Her visa status is that it was extended until 13th May 2007 to give their marriage certificate a chance to arrive. Immigration have now said that they will extend it from then on a ‘medical treatment’ visa (or something like that!). She has a reciprocal Medicare card on the way which should, hopefully, cover the hospital costs, but it is the nursing home and aftercare costs we are worried about now.

Does anyone know if there is any assistance available for an expat in this situation? Any info will be much appreciated.

Kind regards
Carrie