THE Choice to enter aged care is often a difficult one for seniors and their families and concerns about the financial impact of this move can make the experience more traumatic than it needs to be.

Many pensioners or those who rent think they won't be able to afford to move into an aged care facility. This is not the case.

Clarence Village's aged care facility, Dougherty Villa, keeps almost half its' rooms for pensioners and those with low means. As a community-owned organization, this is part of their reason for being, so there's no catch.

Clarence Village CEO, Duncan McKimm, says the high finish of Dougherty Villa sometimes gives potential residents the mistaken impression they couldn't afford to live there.

"As part of our mission we make almost half our rooms available for those with low means, with the Federal Government providing some support to cover our costs to do so," he says.

"Pensioners or those who don't own their home shouldn't look at a facility and assume they can't afford to live there. The aged care system in Australia is very good at looking after those who don't have means."

Mr McKimm says Clarence Village is soon to reopen its 14-bed Rose Cottage wing after a recent refurbishment.

"We'll be hoping to fill that wing with residents as soon as we can once the works are complete - I'd encourage anyone who is thinking about aged care to get in touch with the team at Dougherty Villa.

"This is the first significant amount of vacancy we've had in 20 years, don't miss out!"

For more, phone 02 6643 2377 or go to clarencevillage.com.au.