Help with day-to-day tasks such as hanging out the washing, preparing meals, and general home and garden maintenance can make a big difference, and can give you more time to enjoy doing the things you love.
“There is no place like home, so if a little bit of help means that you can remain living at home then I think that’s a really great option,” says Helping Hand’s Group Manager of Retirement Living, Jo Carter Jones.
“When the time comes to reach out for some help at home, knowing where to start can be overwhelming and confusing,” says Jo, who has been helping older South Australians access home care services for years.
“We often get calls from people who are stressed because they don’t know where to turn to for help. That’s where our new Aged Care Connector service comes in.”
What is Aged Care Connector?
In November, Helping Hand launched its new Aged Care Connector service. The service offers personalised guidance to individuals and their families looking to understand what services are available to them, and how to access them.
The Aged Care Connector service can assist with anything from registering with My Aged Care, helping with referrals, and attending My Aged Care assessments to offer support and expertise.
The new service is designed to be a caring helping hand every step of the way.
“We take the time to listen to each person’s unique situation and work with them to determine what supports they need,” Jo says.
This isn’t just about finding care — it’s about finding the right care.
People like Reg, a home care client with Helping Hand who wasn’t sure where to start and what services were available to himself and his wife Sue, have benefited from a little extra help.
Helping Hand is a not-for-profit organisation which has been proudly offering help and support to older South Australians for more than 70 years.
“Helping Hand sat down and talked us through our needs, the services we’d receive, and the additional services we may need in the future, which we have been considering. As you age, your needs will change,” says Reg.
“Sue and I are very happy with everything, and the help has been marvellous. Whenever I’ve called, I’ve found everything so easy, and I’ve never, ever been disappointed with the response.
“I think the most important thing to do is listen; there’s a lot to be learnt from listening. I really appreciate everything Helping Hand has advised me on and helped me with.”
For more advice on all things aged care, tune into Age Old Problems: New Aged Care, a podcast by Helping Hand featuring authentic, relatable conversations about aged care from the people who work, volunteer or receive services from Helping Hand.
Episode One: Navigating Home Care features both Jo and Reg and includes some useful tips for those looking to get started.
Anyone in Adelaide can access the Aged Care Connector service by calling 1300 444 663, or emailing connect@helpinghand.org.au
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