Local Guardians Perth - Laura Turner

15/10/2025

This National Carers Week (12-18 October), we're taking a moment to recognise the incredible dedication of Australia's 3 million unpaid carers, including the many families caring for elderly loved ones.

Caring for an ageing parent, partner, or friend is a role filled with love, but it can also be physically and emotionally demanding.

To every carer out there - we see you. 🫶And we're here to support you and your loved ones on this journey.

For more information about support available to carers, visit carergateway.gov.au
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10/10/2025

What does “local” really mean?

Self-managed care, without the call centre runaround!

Ever signed up for something online, only to end up talking to a 1800 number overseas?
With Local Guardians, you get me - your Care Coordinator right here in Perth. No call centres, no transfers, just my direct mobile.

Being local means:
• I'm on the ground meeting carers, OTs, physios and nurses (so I actually know who truly shines)
• I know the local gems so your budget stretches further
• I reply quickly - same time zone, no waiting days for answers

If you want real, Perth-based support (not a call centre script) for self-managed Home Care, book a free 15-minute chat here or call 0469 373 975

03/10/2025

A huge thank you to the Mill Point Rotary Club for hosting me this morning. Between the stunning views over the golf course and a hearty breakfast to start the day, it’s easy to see why this club has such a strong following.

Not a single person in the room looked a day over 30 😉😉 and with that radiant energy bouncing around, it was an absolute delight to present to such an engaged group.

With over 30 years under its belt, it’s no wonder Mill Point Rotary is such a success story - it seems to be a wonderful club to be part of. 🌟

Friday 3 October:
Come and listen to Laura Turner, a Care Advisor with Local Guardians, an organisation which delivers Self Managed Home Care Packages. This is a government-subsided program that provides a range of services and support for older Australians who wish to continue living at home.
RSVP to our Attendance Officer Raelene George (raelene.george@rapallo.com.au) by Wednesday morning.
We meet at the Royal Perth Golf Club, Labouchere Road, South Perth 7.15 for 7.30am

02/10/2025

We’ve all heard about the aged care changes coming in November. But what do they actually mean for people? Here’s the tea:

Q: Will my parent’s clinical care cost extra?
A: Nope. In-home nursing, podiatry, physio and OT come with no out-of-pocket costs for everyone, regardless of financial situation. (That’s right, there’s no such thing as being “too financial” to receive this support.)

Q: I’m a self-funded retiree. Good or bad news?
A: Good news! You’ll only chip in for the non-clinical services you actually use. Under the previous program, some people paid a daily fee even when no services were delivered - not ideal.

Q: Are waitlists still a saga?
A: In the past, a lot of funding sat unspent. The new system caps unspent funds, which means waitlists get shorter as money stops gathering dust.

Q: What about pricey items like beds or scooters?
A: If you’re assessed as needing big-ticket items, you can apply for funding straight away rather than saving for months.

The new Support at Home program can feel like a minefield. I’m here in Perth to help unpack it all and support your parents to stay independent at home.

25/09/2025

How to Find Your Dream Team with Self-Managed Care

Okay, so we know you don’t want strangers turning up at your door, and you don’t want your roster tied to hundreds of other clients. So how do you find your own carers and stay in control?

1. Feet on the street
I’m out networking with Perth providers so I can tell you what they offer. Want a free meet and greet with a carer you like? We can tee this up. You choose who you’d like to go with.

2. Our local list
Local Guardians has a list of providers who have supported our clients for many years. You get access to this list. You negotiate the service rate and times with them. Once you’re happy, we lock it in.

3. Facebook groups
There are Perth groups where independent care workers post their availability. Find and meet someone who aligns with your parent’s needs.

4. Online platforms
Prefer to browse or post online? Too easy. Check out carer ads or create your own (like my EXAMPLE BELOW), then shortlist options so you can choose your dream team.

Bottom line: We help you build your dream team, on your terms.

19/09/2025

What an amazing day at the Dementia Symposium! 💜

I feel so lucky to be part of the Perth Dementia Collective crew - a mix of big-hearted dementia-focused champions who are all out there changing lives.

I now have a living resource list bursting with incredible supports for families that goes well beyond simply referring to “dementia organisations”. Families can now choose from so many holistic options - whether through a Home Care Package or privately - and pick what really fits their loved one best.

When it comes to memory support, I’ve now got a dream team line-up that looks like this:

Dementia-specific book creators
Cognitive Stimulation Therapy classes
Dementia Doulas
Dementia Care Consultants
Naturopathic Medicine
Music Therapy
Memory Support Cafés
Counselling

What a world we live in, surrounded by people so passionate about improving the lives of those living with dementia - Australia’s number one killer for women - and supporting their carers and loved ones to make dementia care more person-centred.

Quote of the day:
“I didn’t choose to be a carer, but I chose to love.” 💜

12/09/2025

✨ Friday Quiz Time! ✨
Hands up if you think these are true

🔹 Myth: Home Care Packages are only for people who are really unwell.
✅ Fact: They’re for anyone who needs help to stay independent at home – even with everyday things.

🔹 Myth: Packages only cover medical items like walkers and shower chairs.
✅ Fact: They can also support nutrition, mobility, incontinence, skin care, memory support, mental health and home maintenance.

🔹 Myth: You can’t get support for social activities like going for a coffee or watching the footy.
✅ Fact: Social connection is part of wellbeing – a carer can support you to get out and enjoy life.

🔹 Myth: Hearing and vision supported aren’t included.
✅ Fact: While glasses and hearing aids aren’t funded, things like batteries, low-vision aids, adaptive lighting and alarms can be.

🔹 Myth: If I get help with shopping, someone will take over completely and I’ll lose my independence.
✅ Fact: You choose the support that suits you. That could be:
A carer dropping you at the shops so you shop independently
or having help with just unpacking the heavy items

🔹 Myth: I’ll be stuck with meal delivery companies that offer frozen peas and carrots.
✅ Fact: There are now plenty of choices to suit your preferences including culturally appropriate meals. You can even have a company come to your home and assist with fresh meal prep.

Thinking about a Home Care Package for Mum or Dad? It’s easier (and more flexible) than most people think.

05/09/2025

02/09/2025

A revolving door of carers and too much red tape isn’t what support should look like.

Change can feel scary, but the process is actually simple - and worth it.

- Tell your provider & My Aged Care you’d like to switch
- Set a date for your care to transfer
- Sign our simple agreement (not 30+ pages of jargon most providers hand out)
- Wave goodbye to strange faces at the door, and hello to trusted carers who feel like family.

28/08/2025

Where have all the good carers gone?

Short answer, they are right here in your community. With the world at our fingertips, we do not need unfamiliar faces turning up at your parents’ door, only to discover the personalities do not match and nobody really gets to know them.

The fix
Self-manage your government funded in-home aged care package and choose your own support team. Qualified, passionate sole traders advertise on Facebook and several other sites. You post the brief, they apply to you, you pick the perfect fit.

For example “My parents like an early 7 am shower, then their favourite eggs for brekkie, a coffee in the sun, and a quick trip for a few essentials at their local markets. My parents speak Italian & love pottering in the garden. Looking for a regular carer who is warm, reliable, and local for 7 hours a week.”

- Shortlist a few carers and check their credentials and refs.
- Meet for a coffee with your parents to see if the vibe is right.
- Tee up a short paid trial.
- Lock in the schedule that suits your parents

That's how you find support your parents truly look forward to opening the door to each morning.

Need a hand to set this up?
Message me. I will walk you through the aged care system, show you how self-management works, and help you find the perfect care team for your parents.

26/08/2025

Key Questions to Ask Any Home Care Provider

1️⃣ Will you have enough staff to fulfil my parents’ needs?
2️⃣ Will you offer carer continuity so my parents see familiar faces regularly?
3️⃣ Do you have carers who culturally suit my parents?
4️⃣ Can we choose a carer team for my parents at rates and services we’re happy with?
5️⃣ Are you flexible if my parents prefer an early shower or specific appointment time?
6️⃣ If other clients cancel or change times, will my parents’ services be affected - or do you have a back-up plan?
7️⃣ Do you support both self-managed and fully managed options?
8️⃣ What makes your organisation different from others?

Asking the right questions helps you find a provider who truly fits your family’s needs, not just what’s easiest for them.

👉 If you’d like help navigating the aged care system, I’m here to guide you step by step. Send me a message to chat about your options.

21/08/2025

✨Get ready for your parent’s Home Care Package assessment!✨

When it comes to preparing for an assessment, most families only think of the basics: cleaning, meals, showers. But the secret to success is looking a little deeper. Together we often uncover supports people didn’t even realise they could ask for - things that make life safer, easier and more enjoyable.

Would your parents:
- Benefit from a Cabcharge card instead of struggling with night driving or hospital parking?
- Cook more confidently with adaptive kitchen equipment?
- Find it easier if appointments came to the house instead of them trying to get out?
- Appreciate someone lifting the heavy shopping and putting it away?
- Benefit from remedial massage or hydrotherapy at the pool?
- Keep their independence with a mobility scooter?
- Enjoy gardening with a carer for company and mental health?

Every family is surprised by how much is possible once we go through it together.

👉 Gear you up for the best outcome at assessment, so your parents don’t just cope, but thrive.
https://localguardians.com/what-can-home-care-package-funds-be-used-for/

What can Home Care Package funds be used for?Every day we get asked ‘What can Home Care Package funds be used for?’ It’s a valid and important question so let’s start by taking a look at the intent of the Home Care Package Program. The Home Care Package Program provides coordinated care and ...