Helping Hand

13/10/2025

It’s Allied Health Professions Day – 14 October! Today we say a big thank you to our amazing allied health professionals who play such an important role in aged care.

At Helping Hand, our allied health team works every day to help older people stay active, recover from illness or injury, and enjoy the best quality of life possible.

This year’s theme is “Stronger Together”, which perfectly describes how our care teams work – combining nursing, personal care, allied health, lifestyle and support services to give older people the best outcomes.

Want to know more about these professions and the difference they make in aged care? Take a listen to our podcast episodes:
🎧 What is Occupational Therapy? https://open.spotify.com/episode/0Mrvg4qMx33nefy3gJMq5i?si=07bcaf36d9924895
🎧 What is Exercise Physiology? https://open.spotify.com/episode/6PHkXFpu0BJGhgTjOt7smb?si=17c140969100490f

Today we celebrate and thank our allied health colleagues – we couldn’t do it without you.

13/10/2025

📢NEW PODCAST EPISODE ALERT

When a person is living with dementia, their needs often become more complex. Moving into a residential care home can sometimes become a matter of necessity. While this can be an emotionally challenging process for everyone involved, the shift can help someone live their best life, while giving carers the chance to regain their relationship with their loved one.

So, how do you know when it’s time? And where do you even begin the conversation?

In this episode of Aged Old Problems: New Aged Care, Helping Hand’s Tanya McIver, Group Manager of Residential Services, draws on 20+ years of experience to explore:
- When it may be time to consider residential care
- The benefits of care homes for both the person and their loved ones
- How to access residential care and Memory Support Units
- Moving examples of person-centred dementia care

This is one of three episodes dedicated to understanding and addressing dementia, available on our website and via Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4hpylv6M0SAyUHD2dBJ9ja?si=e414ad904bab41ff

Thanks as always to our host Kate from KTB Communications and recorder/editor Drew Radford from PodTalk.

Age Old Problems: New Aged Care · Episode

11/10/2025

It's National Carers Week and we’re shining a light on the 3 million Australians who care for a loved one.

Carers play a vital role in our communities, often balancing many responsibilities to support family members and friends. In aged care, their dedication helps create connection, dignity and comfort for older people.

We’d like to take this opportunity to say thank you to carers for the difference you make, every day.

10/10/2025

The Disability, Ageing and Lifestyle DAL Expo is back at the Adelaide Showgrounds this coming Friday and Saturday, 17-18 October.

It’s South Australia’s leading event for exploring services, supports, and opportunities for people of all ages and abilities.

We’d love for you to stop by and meet the Helping Hand team to find out how we can support your needs or the needs of someone you care for.

Entry is free! Come along to take part in workshops, discover helpful resources, and connect with others. Find out more here: https://dalexpo.com.au/adelaide-main-page-2025/

Adelaide Main Page Adelaide Gallery 2024 Adelaide Gallery 2022 Adelaide Gallery 2023 Adelaide Exhibitor Page Adelaide Networking Event Adelaide Sponsor T&Cs Adelaide Exhibitor T&Cs Kadina Main Page Kadina Gallery 2024 Kadina Gallery 2023 Kadina Exhibitor Page Kadina Exhibitor T&Cs Kadina Sponsor T&C...

09/10/2025

This World Mental Health Day, we’re joining Mental Health Australia in celebrating the theme Connect with Your Community.

In aged care, we see every day how powerful connection can be. A friendly chat, a shared story, a walk in the garden, or even a simple smile can brighten someone’s day and strengthen wellbeing.

To inspire you, Mental Health Australia has created Connect with Your Community calendars for October, with daily tips on building meaningful connections. Find them here: Mental Health Australia – World Mental Health Day https://www.mentalhealthaustralia.org.au/get-involved/2025-world-mental-health-day/

On 10 October, let’s take a moment to connect — with clients, residents, families, colleagues, neighbours and friends — because connection helps us all feel supported, valued, and never alone.

09/10/2025

PEOPLE OF HELPING HAND

Meet Paula, she lives at Helping Hand’s Lightsview home. With a life full of experience and stories, she continues to embrace each day with curiosity and purpose. Her remarkable journey has earned her a touch of celebrity status, featuring in two books; she appears on the back cover of a publication celebrating South Australia’s migrant heritage and is included in a nursing history book that can be found in the public library.

Paula is deeply proud of her achievements, often saying it’s important to “never shine your light under a bushel.”

Born in Coventry, England, Paula began nursing at 16 as a cadet. By 18, she was training in hospitals, and at 21, she became a registered nurse across England and Wales. This is the same year she became engaged to her husband, John.

“I had a passion for eye nursing,” Paula recalled.

“However, pursuing it meant moving to London. So, we stayed in Coventry with my grandma until we could afford a house and that’s when we started our family.”

In 1965, Paula and John immigrated to South Australia with their four young children: Susan, Ian, Erica, and Louise.

“We arrived as ten-pound poms on the FairSea ship at Outer Harbour,” Paula said.

Sponsored by a real estate agent, they were given a flat in Para Hills and once their children were older Paula returned to nursing.

“We only had one car, and John worked weekdays, so I took on Sunday night shifts,” she said.

“I remember returning the car on Monday mornings and John would head straight off to work.”

She eventually became a district nurse, travelling across Elizabeth, Salisbury, and even Saint Kilda.

“There were no lifting machines back then, it was all manual,” she said.

Later she worked in aged care, becoming a Matron/ Supervisor and a live-in manager of an aged care home.

“I even remember when I was District Nursing and attended people at Helping Hand North Adelaide, then it was called North Adelaide Homes,” she said.

After 25 years, with her children grown and starting families of their own, Paula and John moved to Houghton in Tea Tree Gully, then later to Banksia Park. There, Paula cared for John after a fall left him with a serious neck injury.

“John passed away about two years ago. We were married nearly 70 years, having wed the same year the Queen was crowned in 1953.” Paula said.

Together, Paula and John lived a rich life, filled with professional achievements and family adventures.

“We travelled often, our last overseas trip to England was in 2005. Now I go on cruises with my daughters.”

Paula says she still has much to give and enjoys her role on the Consumer Advisory Body, visiting Helping Hand homes and advocating for aged care residents.

Her advice to others seeking a rich and meaningful life? Keep pushing forward. She quotes Daniel C. Colesworthy’s poem Never Say Fail:

“’Tis wiser than sitting aside,
And dreaming, and sighing, and waiting the tide.”

08/10/2025

Our Strategic Plan in focus: Deliver exceptional care and service

Everyone deserves care that feels personal. That’s why our plan for the future focuses on:
- Supporting more people to age at home
- Creating strong, connected communities
- Designing care around each person’s needs

It’s all about giving older people the support and belonging they deserve.

Read more about our new Strategic Plan on our website https://www.helpinghand.org.au/about-us/organisation-strategy/

06/10/2025

Tuesday Tips to live your best 60+ life!

Tip of the week: Sunset Socials
Golden hour is better together. Enjoy cooler evenings outdoors with friends. Picnics or chats work perfectly!

05/10/2025

Just a reminder that our administration offices are closed due to the public holiday today. If you'd like to get in contact with any of our homes, please call them directly - you can find the contact numbers on our website: https://www.helpinghand.org.au/contact-us/

03/10/2025

Are you a payroll pro with a knack for leadership? Join Helping Hand as our Payroll Team Leader and lead a dedicated team, ensuring timely and accurate payroll for our staff across South Australia. Make a real difference behind the scenes in a values-driven, not-for-profit organisation.

Based in Tranmere, you will lead the payroll team, manage end-to-end payroll processes, ensure compliance with regulations, and support continuous improvement initiatives.

If you’re an experienced payroll professional with strong leadership skills and a collaborative mindset, apply now to be part of a team that values excellence, respect, compassion, and community.

https://tinyurl.com/hh-payroll-team-leader

01/10/2025

South Australia’s Week of Ageing Well | 1–7 October

Ageing well is about living life to the fullest at every stage – staying connected, active, healthy and part of community life.

At Helping Hand, we’re proud to support older South Australians with care and services that encourage independence, wellbeing and joy. From in-home support, to retirement living, to our care homes – we’re here to help people age well in the way that’s right for them.

This week is all about celebrating the many ways we can make ageing a positive and fulfilling journey together. If you'd like to contribute to a statewide understanding of ageing well, and inform the next state ageing well plan, take the SA Week of Ageing Well survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/F88NCXL

30/09/2025

Happy International Day of Older Persons!

This year, the United Nations invites us to celebrate under the theme “Older Persons Driving Local and Global Action: Our Aspirations, Our Well-Being and Our Rights.”

It’s a beautiful reminder that older people are not just recipients of care — they are leaders, advocates, and change-makers. From health and financial wellbeing, to community resilience and human rights, older people continue to shape a better world for all of us.

At Helping Hand, we feel honoured to walk alongside older Australians every day, learning from their wisdom, their resilience, and their kindness. Today, we say thank you to the older people who inspire us and enrich our communities.

Take a moment today to celebrate the older people in your life — with a smile, a story, or a simple thank you.