Choice Home Help

29/08/2025

Here they come. 60 days away.

Worried about aged care costs under the new Support at Home program? See what you’ll pay, what’s changing, and how to avoid unexpected fees.

29/08/2025

Advocates warn increased costs for basic assistance like showers and wound cleaning will push older people into aged care or hospital

29/08/2025

GERALDTON CLIENTS

Stay tuned for more details about our upcoming sausage sizzle in
October.

28/08/2025

GERALDTON CLIENTS
Heading to the Chapman Valley Show? 🌾
After you’ve watched the log chopping, swing by and say hello, we’d love to see you! 👋🪓

27/08/2025

Monday Shank Night at the pub in a couple of weeks! 🥩

Who is coming along? 🍺

15th September 2025.

RSVP with Jules in the office if you are joining us!! 📝 📞 9408 1134 or julie@choicehomehelp.com.au

27/08/2025

Today I attended the funeral of one of our clients. Seeing the photos and hearing the stories of their younger years is always so special. It’s a reminder of the vibrant life they lived long before illness or age became part of their journey. It’s touching to also see the love and support of their extended family and friends gathered to honour them.

Moments like this remind me that our work is not only about the person we care for, but also about the people who love them. I like to slip in quietly, pay my respects, and if I can, offer a gentle smile or small touch to the family we know. My hope is that in some small way, the care we gave made a difference.

Thank you Michelle for these lovely words about Barry.

🇬🇧 In Memory of Barry 🇬🇧

I first met Barry in January 2024, and from the very beginning he always had a story to tell. Born in Manchester, UK in 1942, Barry and his wife June moved to Perth in 2013 after their daughter Sara had settled here in 2005.

Barry would often share stories of his and June’s life together in the UK and here in Perth, which would usually send June off to find a photo to match his tale. They loved travelling and cruising and had many funny stories to share, especially involving his mother and mother-in-law.

He loved watching his favourite TV program Pointless. Being an English show, he was very good at it. Barry also had a deep love for his grandsons and his great grandson, who brought him so much pride and joy.

In recent months, as his health declined, many of our visits involved him snoozing (or rather, snoring) in his recliner. Even when he became bed-ridden, Barry never lost his sense of humour. When I’d help roll him, he’d give me a sneaky cuddle and joke, “I don’t want to fall out” with a big smile on his face.

The last few days of his life were very difficult for his family. I feel truly blessed to have had this time with Barry and his loved ones, and I will miss the moments we shared.

Rest in peace, Barry. You are only a whisper away. 🌹✨

Written with love by Michelle, Barry’s carer

27/08/2025

💣 💣 More Mistakes

Comedy of errors if not so serious.

🤦 Government advertises a webinar designed for families and carers on 14 August. No one can get onto the webinar - they apologise in an email.

🤦They send out email with a link to taped webinar as no one could get on. The link is incorrect and directs people to the April webinar that tells everyone Support at Home starts July 1 (which it didn’t and was postponed).

🤦Email comes out later that morning apologising for error, again.

🧠 I think you need to have a good hard look at your target audience. It’s bad enough that you stuff around with us the providers, but when you stuff around your target audience who are often without a computer, don’t have an email, without a smart phone, without the ability to login or even know what a webinar is, and for you to get it so damn wrong is comical.

Again, is the plan for them to give up so that they don’t access your services and cost you money?

27/08/2025

🍴Yesterday, we enjoyed a lovely lunch at the Kingsway Bar and Bistro. The meals were huge and delicious (some of us couldn’t even finish!) 🤭 Great company, lots of laughs, and a chance to catch up with old friends.

We’re already looking forward to our next get-together at the Ashby Pub on September 15 for $20 shank night – hope to see you there! Ring and let us know you are coming.

26/08/2025

😡 Today’s Experience and Why I’m Getting Mad

This morning I met with a 91 year old lady who, in my professional opinion, urgently needs a Home Care Package. She lives alone, no family nearby, does not drive, rarely sees anyone and is showing signs of memory loss. In fact, she asked me the same question about making tea five times in ten minutes. She does not have a fall pendant, meaning no one would know if she fell and could not get up.

At the moment she is completely dependent on her friend to take her shopping and help with errands. He lives 20 minutes away, is about to begin radiotherapy and has his own serious health challenges. He worries constantly about her, but he also knows he cannot keep carrying this responsibility when he needs to focus on his own health. His greatest concern is that she will be left alone without support.

I tried to help them navigate the process by calling My Aged Care. After waiting 23 minutes on hold we were given another number to call for the assessment agency. I then spent 1 hour and 25 minutes on hold with that agency before hanging up, unable to even speak to anyone. That was just to try to arrange the very first step, an assessment, before she can even be placed on the national queue for services.

If this is what it takes for me, with years of experience in aged care, what chance does a 91 year old lady with memory loss and a sick friend have of getting help on their own? Without me there, I know they would have given up.

This lady has the need, she has the funds to pay, but she cannot even get assessed because we just remain on hold for hours. It is shameful. The process is broken and it is failing the very people it is meant to protect. Older Australians deserve so much better than this.

26/08/2025

🚗 Mavis
🚗 Polly
🚗 Val
🚗 Billy

Waiting for tomorrow’s adventures!

26/08/2025

Rex and Cheryle got creative with some mosaic fun today.