Helping Hand

21/04/2026

Tuesday Tips to live your best 60+ life!

Tip of the week: Back Up Your Memories
Safeguard your memories today - thank yourself tomorrow. Regularly back up photos and important documents to an external drive or cloud storage. It’s one of those things you’re grateful for only when you need it.

15/04/2026

PEOPLE OF HELPING HAND

Margaret, daughter of Irish farmers, a mother, a former teacher’s aide and a lifelong songbird.

Meet Margaret, a resident at Helping Hand Golden Grove, who grew up on a small family farm in Northern Ireland. Her father, Fred, worked tirelessly to support their family and Margaret and her sister would help during harvest time.

“It would usually be the school holidays by then, and we would help harvest hay, corn or potatoes,” she said.

“I hated October because that meant potato picking season. We’d have a big basket and follow behind the machine that dug up and spat the potatoes out,” she remembers.

Despite the hard work, Margaret recalls a very happy childhood. Her father kept their spirits high with jokes and affection.

“He used to say, ‘Oh, our Margaret she sings coming down the stairs in the morning and going up the stairs at night,’” she recalls with a smile.

When Margaret was 19 and her sister was 16, they moved to London, where both eventually married.

“I married my Tommy, who I knew from back home in Ireland,” she said.

Margaret and her sister remained close, and when her sister moved to Australia, she encouraged Margaret and Tommy to join them. They made the move in 1967.

Margaret fondly remembers how much she loved living close to her sister and being an aunt to her sister’s two young boys.

“Her eldest, Paul, was blond‑haired and blue‑eyed. He used to sit on my hip and call me ‘mam,’” she said fondly.

“Her youngest, at seven months old, had the wildest hair that stuck out everywhere. We called him the mad professor!”

In Australia, Margaret worked as a teacher’s aide, and not long after relocating, she and Tommy welcomed their son, Simon.

“Simon was always very clever and good with IT. Twenty‑eight years ago he landed a job and moved to Darwin and he’s still there today,” she said.

Tragically, Margaret’s husband passed away when she was just thirty-nine, leaving her to raise Simon alone. She looks back with pride at the man he has become and the closeness they still share.

Margaret moved into Helping Hand Golden Grove in October of last year, following a respite stay after battling leukaemia.

“I had so many white blood cells they say it was a miracle I survived,” Margaret said.

“Doctors from all over flew to the Royal Adelaide to see my blood in person. They said they’d never seen anything like it!”

After her recovery, she was no longer able to live independently.

“I had to sell my house, and I know it was just bricks and mortar, but it was heartbreaking,” she said.

“After my two‑week respite I decided to stay but it took time to realise this was my home.”

“It really does feel like home now. It just took a bit of time to readjust and the staff here are wonderful.”

Margaret knew she had truly settled in at Helping Hand Golden Grove when she found herself humming as she moved about her day, just as she did as a little girl on the farm in Ireland.

15/04/2026

Providing care that understands trauma and supports healing helps people feel safe, respected, and truly supported.

The new ‘Remember Me Now’ series from the Forgotten Australians Real Care Toolkit shares real stories from people who grew up in out-of-home care, and how those experiences still impact their lives today.

By listening and learning, we can all play a part in building more compassionate communities.

Please note: these videos include discussions of abuse, neglect, and trauma.
Learn more: https://realcaretoolkit.com.au/remember-me-now/

14/04/2026

Tuesday Tips to live your best 60+ life!

Tip of the week: Reverse Bucket List
Celebrate your "done" list - it's probably longer than you think. Instead of listing what you want to do, write down amazing things you’ve already done. It’s a reminder of how much you’ve already lived.

11/04/2026

11 April is World Parkinson’s Day, raising awareness and recognising the many people living with Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s is a progressive condition that can affect movement, balance and everyday activities. With the right care, understanding and support, people living with Parkinson’s can continue to live well and maintain their independence.

At Helping Hand, we provide personalised care to support people with Parkinson’s—from therapy and mobility support to simply taking the time to understand each person’s unique needs. Today is an opportunity to learn more about Parkinson’s and how we can all help create a more supportive community. Visit https://www.parkinsons.org.au/ to learn more.

National Advocacy. Connection. Awareness. what we do I have Parkinson's Learn to live well. Top ten tips Need information on Parkinson’s? Visit our information hub today! info hub Young Onset Parkinson’s eXchange The Young Onset Parkinson's eXchange (YOPX) app &

10/04/2026

NEW EPISODE ALERT – The Importance of Social Connection

It’s not true that bingo is only for oldies. It remains popular right across the ages because it’s an accessible tool for bringing people together. And staying connected is essential for wellbeing, especially as we age. Sadly, one in five older Australians experiences social isolation.

In our latest episode of Age Old Problems: New Aged Care, we talk with Maria Chabrel, Group Manager My Life & Social Connections at Helping Hand, about why social connection matters so deeply as we age and what supports are available to help older people stay engaged, active and connected. We’re also joined by Tony Borrillo, a Helping Hand client, who shares how joining a social group helped him build confidence, meet new people and rediscover the joy of everyday connection.

This episode explores:
- Why older people are more at risk of social isolation
- The health impacts of loneliness — even when someone doesn’t feel lonely
- How CHSP and Support at Home can fund social connection programs
- Helping Hand’s personalised approach to matching people with groups that suit their interests
- Real stories about taking the first step

Whether it’s craft, cinema, walking, music or simply sharing a cup of tea, meaningful connection can transform someone’s wellbeing.

You can listen to the full conversation on our website or on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7Eh2wzLMafd8wokTwcAqeY?si=73g2yToPRF6KkFqSH7HUkw

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

Age Old Problems: New Aged Care · Episode

07/04/2026

Tuesday Tips to live your best 60+ life!

Tip of the week: Comfort Corner
Your own little sanctuary - just for you. Set up a chair or small nook with a cosy blanket, favourite book, and warm lighting. Having a go-to spot for relaxation makes it easier to actually unwind.

02/04/2026

Happy Easter! We hope you have an enjoyable and safe Easter break.

Just a reminder that our admin offices and residential receptions are closed on public holidays. Direct numbers are on our website: https://www.helpinghand.org.au/contact-us/

The Retirement Living team is available in business hours except public holidays. For urgent maintenance outside hours, use your location’s emergency maintenance service.

Our Home Care team provides essential services only on public holidays. To change your services, call 1300 444 663.

01/04/2026

PEOPLE OF HELPING HAND

Meet Khama, a Hotel Services Assistant and Cook at Helping Hand Parafield Gardens. A proud mum to two grown boys, she recently adopted a Maltese puppy named Whisper, who makes sure she never sleeps past breakfast time! An interesting fact about Khama is that she used to sing in jazz band, performing at residential care homes.

“What I enjoyed most, apart from singing along with the trumpets and flutes, was getting to know the residents and seeing how each home worked,” she said.

Khama’s connection to aged care goes back to her childhood. That is when she would accompany her mum to work who ran a small provisions store in a residential care home.

“When I was 14, I started my first job as a kitchen hand, serving meals to residents after school,” she said.

She loved the work and stayed in the role for many years, until life and raising her two sons took her in a different direction.

“I became very good at video games, which I think is a requirement when you’re raising children today,” she laughed.

When she returned to the workforce, it was as a night shift worker at a local supermarket. Her warm personality soon stood out, and she was encouraged into customer‑facing roles in the service deli and at the register.

These customer interactions reminded her of the joy she once found speaking with residents, sparking her return to aged care.

“I knew Helping Hand Parafield Gardens was close to home, so I printed off my résumé and in 2016 joined the team as a Hotel Services Assistant,” she said.

“I was amazed to land the role. My early aged care experience, my customer service and even my time managing a coffee shop in the city all helped me get here.”

Khama always hoped to work in the kitchen, and when a position opened, she stepped into the Cook role. To support her development the Hotel Services Site Manager, Rita, encouraged her to begin an apprenticeship, combining study with on‑the‑job learning.

Starting in May 2024, Khama threw herself into the opportunity. She completed her formal study requirements in record time and consistently applied her learning in the Parafield Gardens kitchen.

Thanks to her dedication, previous experience and strong work ethic, she completed her apprenticeship two years early, finishing in February 2026.

“What kept me motivated was learning on the go. What I studied on paper, I was doing in the kitchen. I was essentially living my studies,” she said.

“I also had incredible support from my head chef, Balwinder, who is passionate about new flavours and techniques and always kept learning interesting.”

“My biggest takeaway from my studies is that cooking is about the whole experience, not just how food is prepared. How it is presented is just as important.”

Her advice to others considering training: “Take it up, but don’t pressure yourself. Enjoy the practical parts and talk to your manager about support and study time.”

31/03/2026

April is Care Experienced History Month, where we take time to recognise the voices and experiences of Forgotten Australians and other Care Leavers.

Many people who grew up in care continue to face unique challenges later in life, especially when accessing aged and community care services. By listening to lived experiences and learning from the past, we can help create a more understanding, inclusive, and supportive future.

It’s important that care is not “one size fits all”. Everyone deserves to feel safe, respected, and heard, especially those whose early experiences may still shape how they see and receive care today.

We will be sharing conversations with Forgotten Australians and Care Leavers throughout April, from our Remember Me Now video series, designed to increase awareness about their experiences.

This month is a chance to reflect, raise awareness, and support positive change, so that aged care services continue to improve for those who need it most.

For more information about the video series and about Forgotten Australians and Care Leavers, please visit our Real Care Toolkit website: https://realcaretoolkit.com.au/remember-me-now/

30/03/2026

Tuesday Tips to live your best 60+ life!

Tip of the week: Learn Your Local History
History is closer than you think. Visit a nearby museum or heritage site. Discover stories you’ve never heard before.

23/03/2026

Tuesday Tips to live your best 60+ life!

Tip of the week: Autumn Comfort Cooking
Warm bowls, happy hearts – cook once, enjoy many times. Make a big pot of vegetable soup or stew and freeze portions. It’s hearty, budget-friendly, and perfect for cooler nights.