Helping Hand

Happy Aged Care Employee Day!

Today we’re celebrating the people who make Helping Hand such a special place to live, work and connect.

Across our homes, community services and support teams, every role contributes to the wellbeing of older South Australians. From nurses and care workers to hospitality staff, allied health professionals, drivers, cleaners, gardeners, administrators and many others, it takes a whole team to provide great care.

Throughout the week, we’ve been sharing coffee, treats and moments of connection across our locations as a small way of saying thank you. It’s been wonderful to see teams taking a break together and enjoying some well-earned appreciation.

To every member of our Helping Hand team, thank you for the kindness, skill and commitment you bring each day. The support you provide to residents, clients and colleagues helps create a community where people feel valued and cared for.

We’re proud to stand alongside you and celebrate the difference you make every day.

PEOPLE OF HELPING HAND

Mother, grandmother and former Nurse’s Assistant.

Meet Beverly, a proud mother of four and grandmother of eight, who has called Helping Hand Golden Grove home for over three years.

Beverly speaks warmly about her life at Golden Grove and the people who make it special.

“I am very happy here. All the staff are very respectful, kind and treat me well,” she said.

“When I watch them work, I can tell they have truly found their calling by the amount of pride and care they put into what they do. If you asked me who my favourite carer is, I couldn’t tell you. It would be like picking a favourite child!” she laughed.

When Beverly was considering moving into residential care, it was her second daughter, Julie, who recommended Helping Hand.

“Julie is a Registered Nurse and has done a lot of agency work. She has worked at Helping Hand Ingle Farm and always speaks very highly of them,” Beverly said.

Nursing runs in the family and caring for others has long been part of Beverly's story too. Before becoming a stay-at-home mum, she worked in aged care as a Nurse's Assistant.

“Three of my children were born within three years of each other, in June, July and August, so my focus quickly shifted to raising them. Then my youngest came along seven years later,” she said.

Beverly’s late husband, Kevin, was a jockey, and she still fondly remembers spending Saturdays at the races.

After serving in the Army, Kevin was unable to maintain the light weight required for jockeying, so he began a new career as a painter and decorator.

“I can still remember how strong his hands were from holding the reins,” she said.

Looking back on her life, Beverly reflects with gratitude and humour.

“I always joke that I’m very fortunate to have a daughter to look after my health because she’s a Registered Nurse, and a son-in-law to look after my wealth because he’s a banker,” she laughed.

These days, Beverly enjoys the comfort of a familiar routine and the close connections she has built with staff and fellow residents.

“Now that I’ve been here for more than three years, I’ve settled into a nice routine. Every morning at half past six, I go down the hall and say hello to the friendly staff starting their shift,” she said.

“I also like helping get things ready for breakfast, setting out the cereals and things like that.”

For Beverly, Helping Hand Golden Grove offers more than care. It offers a sense of belonging.

“If someone was considering Helping Hand Golden Grove for their family, I would say you don’t need to think twice,” she said.

“There is something here for everyone and it truly feels like home. I especially love games and quiz activities. They help keep my mind sharp!”

If you're considering residential care for yourself or a loved one, all Helping Hand care homes offer individual tours. It's a great way to explore the home, meet the team and ask questions. You can find out more here - https://ow.ly/LShv50Zwo4A

Welcome to our latest At Home with Helping Hand magazine - Residential Edition.

Every Helping Hand Residential Care community has moments worth sharing. Our latest issue of At Home brings you closer to the people, places and experiences that make Helping Hand homes welcoming and inclusive places to live, connect and belong.

In this Winter issue, you’ll meet residents who continue to inspire us, celebrate the meaningful connections that bring our communities to life and discover the programs, events and initiatives supporting wellbeing across our homes in metropolitan Adelaide and regional South Australia.

From heartwarming stories of friendship and belonging to updates from our communities and the passionate people who provide care and support, this edition celebrates what matters most – people, connection and a sense of community.

Read it now: https://www.helpinghand.org.au/about-us/resources/our-publications/

Do you know the signs of stroke? This National Stroke Week (3-9 August), we encourage everyone to share the F.A.S.T. (Face, Arms, Speech, Time) signs of stroke message with family and friends.

Visit https://strokefoundation.org.au/about-stroke/learn/signs-of-stroke to find out more about strokes and stroke recovery.

Finding the right aged care home is an important decision, and we know that feeling welcome and comfortable from the first visit matters.

We receive wonderful feedback from people who have toured our Helping Hand homes, with an average tour rating of 4.8 out of 5 this year so far.

Families have shared how much they appreciate the friendly welcome, the time taken to answer their questions and seeing the genuine care shown by our teams.

One visitor shared:
“First tour that invited us to sit first and get to know us and our Nanna, this was very exceptional and made it personable...” Read the full quote below.

Thank you to our amazing staff who help make every tour a warm and reassuring experience for future residents and their families.

An exciting opportunity exists for an experienced People & Culture Business Partner to join our team at Helping Hand! Click the link below for more information and to apply: https://tinyurl.com/hh-business-partner

"...hands trained to reach gently, voices that know how to call me back, eyes that see beyond the confusion to the person still here..."

These words, written by Graham Harding, Residential Services Manager at Helping Hand North Adelaide, in his poem In That Careful Keeping, capture the heart of person-centred dementia care and the importance of seeing the person first, supporting them through every stage of their dementia journey with dignity, connection and understanding.

Read Graham's full poem and learn why dementia care matters now more than ever in the full article:

Seeing the person first: why dementia care matters now more than ever – Helping Hand Learn how person-centred dementia care helps people live with dignity, connection and purpose at Helping Hand.

PEOPLE OF HELPING HAND

Anne, mother of two, former farmer and familiar local figure

Meet Anne, a resident at Helping Hand Golden Grove, who grew up in regional South Australia and spent much of her life farming alongside her husband while raising their two sons.

Born in Wayville, Anne spent the first 18 months of her life living with her parents and grandparents before her father joined the railways.

“My dad was a fireman on the railways, so we moved to Wallaroo, Gawler and later Peterborough when he was promoted,” she said.

Anne completed school in Peterborough and landed her first job as a shop assistant during the Christmas holidays.

“I stayed on for five years and worked in the hardware section, but we also had crockery, a haberdashery and sweets counter,” Anne recalls.

“I remember the sweets came in big blocks that we would cut up, like rocky road, peanut clusters and all sorts of lollies.”

At 20, Anne married a local Yongala boy she met at a country dance, and together they built a life on the land.

“We managed his family farm with his father and brother,” she said.

“There were good times and hard times. After his father retired, we bought our own start-up blocks.”

“The blocks were split by a bitumen road. One was a homestead, and the other we used to grow crop and run about 300 sheep.”

Anne and her husband raised two sons, who pursued their own careers.

“One became a boilermaker, and the other worked in IT,” she said.

“One son even worked in South Africa and experienced an elephant charge on safari in Kruger Park, a memory he'll never forget!”

Anne is proud that both of her sons have since returned to the family farm, seeing it remain in good hands.

Life took a difficult turn when Anne’s husband became unwell in his 50s and later passed. Around the same time, her connection with Helping Hand began when she supported her mother to move into Belalie Lodge in Jamestown.

“She really enjoyed her time there, joining in activities and living a full life until she passed at 91,” Anne said.

After her mother passed, Anne remained in the region and became a trusted cleaner for local businesses.

“I worked for Elders in Peterborough for 20 years and later in Jamestown and cleaned for a fuel depot and metal fabrication business,” she said.

Anne planned to work into her mid-70s, but poor health shortly after her 70th birthday led her to Adelaide for specialist care, where she was diagnosed with a chronic health condition. She retired earlier than planned.

Her mother’s positive experience with Helping Hand left a lasting impression and gave Anne confidence to choose the organisation when her own care needs changed.

Wanting to remain close to her Adelaide specialists, she chose Helping Hand Golden Grove, where she has now lived for four years.

“It took a little time to settle in, but it feels like home now,” she said.

“I've made good friends and enjoy the activities, especially the intergenerational group.”

Supporting the next generation of healthcare professionals is one of the many ways we're helping strengthen aged care in regional South Australia.

Congratulations to Adelaide University Whyalla Campus students Matilda Dixon (Occupational Therapy) and Ann Jins (Physiotherapy), who have each received a Helping Hand Allied Health Study Support Grant.

These grants help reduce the financial pressures of study and placements, making it a little easier for students to focus on building rewarding careers supporting older people.

As we continue redevelopment and expansion works at our Yeltana and Copperhouse Court care homes in Whyalla, we're also investing in the people who will help older Australians continue to live well in their local communities for years to come.

Read more about Matilda and Ann's stories and how the grants are supporting their studies: https://www.helpinghand.org.au/strengthening-regional-care/

Pictured (L–R): Ann Jins, Physiotherapy student, Matilda Dixon, Occupational Therapy student and Helder Borges, Allied Health Manager at Helping Hand.

It’s NAIDOC Week, celebrating the history, cultures and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and recognising the important contributions they make to our communities every day.

This year's theme, 50 Years of Deadly, celebrates 50 years of NAIDOC Week. It honours the Elders, organisers, artists and communities who have helped shape the movement over the past five decades and recognises the strength, resilience and pride that continue to inspire future generations.

Whether you're attending a local event, supporting a First Nations-owned business, reading a book by a First Nations author or taking time to learn more about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories, every action helps build understanding and respect. Find out what’s on near you on the NAIDOC Week website: https://www.naidoc.org.au/local-events/local-naidoc-week-events

We encourage everyone to take the opportunity to listen, learn and celebrate during NAIDOC Week and beyond.