Wellness advice

There are many allied health professions, including physiotherapy, podiatry, speech pathology, exercise physiology, occupational therapy and dietetics. Allied health professionals are university qualified practitioners, who have specialised expertise in preventing, diagnosing and treating a range of conditions and illnesses. Our allied health practitioners work within a multidisciplinary health team to provide specialised support for different client needs.

Find out more about our allied health services.

Wellness involves practicing healthy habits regularly, so you can maintain good physical and mental health. Many areas of life have an impact on wellness, including social connectedness, exercise and nutrition, sleep quality, and mindfulness. We can support you in pursuing activities, choices and lifestyles that promote wellness in your life.

No referral is needed to access our allied health services. You can use your Commonwealth Home Support Programme or Home Care Package funds to make an appointment with an allied health professional who can come to your home or assist in our Healthcare Centres across Adelaide. We have also partnered with Thrive Health Centre in Port Pirie, to offer a range of allied health services for our regional South Australian clients.

We would love to help you arrange a group! Give our office a call on 1300 444 663 and we can get the ball rolling.

Read more details about our current social groups.

Finding the right age care service is really important. We created a podcast to help people do just that by providing information and advice from people both delivering and receiving quality age care.

In this episode of Age Old Problems: New Aged Care we get to the bottom of what an Occupational Therapist (OT) does and how they can help you to remain safe and independent in your own home.

Joining us with all the expertise is Amanda Bailey, Occupational Therapy Manager in Home Care at Helping Hand. Chatting with Kate she explains:

• What are the different allied health services available to older people at home?
• What is an OT, and what are the reasons someone might need one? What are the types of things an OT can help with around the home?
• Who is eligible for OT services at home, and how is it funded?
• How OT services can keep you living safely and independently at home for longer. Small changes can make a BIG difference.

No one likes to think about ageing, end-of-life or the worst-case scenario, but planning ahead is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself and your loved ones.

In this episode of our podcast Age Old Problems: New Age Care, we discuss Advance Care Planning – why it matters, how to start the conversation, and the peace of mind it brings.

Zara Freeman is a Palliative Care Nurse with Helping Hand and she spoke to host Kate Holland about the benefits of talking early and openly about your current and future care needs. She explains:

• Advance Care Planning: what it is and how beautiful the conversations can be
• The definition of an Advance Care Directive (ADC): how you can get one and who signs off on it
• The things to include in your ADC. Yes, songs for your funeral are a valid inclusion
• Benefits of planning for the individual (this includes nominating a substitute decision-maker in case of incapacity)
• Benefits of planning for the family (less guessing and decision making at a stressful time)
• Advice for getting the conversation started. (Relaxed and casual is good!)

Grief touches everyone differently but one thing is certain, it’s a natural and important part of change and loss.

Listen to our podcast to hear Helping Hand’s Coordinating Chaplain, Paul Hodgson, share how grief affects us both physically and emotionally, and how important it is to walk alongside those experiencing it. He talks about:

• The difference between grief and bereavement
• Common experiences after loss
• Ways to support someone who’s grieving
• Services and resources available through Helping Hand and beyond
• Why no one should have to grieve alone

Online and phone resources are always available as well:

24/7 telephone support
Lifeline 13 11 14
Beyond Blue 1300 224 636

Grief and bereavement counselling and support services
Griefline – 1300 845 745 8am to 8pm, 7 days (AEST)
Beyond Blue – 1300 224 636

How good would it be to skip the hassle of booking a doctor’s appointment then sitting around in a busy waiting room full of sick people, by receiving a health visit at home instead? Very good, of course, and fortunately it’s quite easy to arrange!

However, many older people are still going to their GP for simple nursing services that they don’t realise they could be receiving at home. So, this episode of our podcast Age Old Problems: New Aged Care we discuss what’s available at home and who is eligible to receive it.

With new funding for Support at Home set to be announced in November 2025, receiving nursing at home will become a reality for even more people. Listen to host Kate Holland in discussion with Helping Hand Nurse and Clinical Manager, Jess Bryant, to find out:

• The many services a nurse can offer without needing a GP on-site
• The important reporting and interaction between GPs and Nurses
• The benefits at home nursing can also bring to carers
• More on Support at Home and other initiatives to keep people living at home longer.

From group programs to home visits, exercise physiologists are helping clients reach meaningful goals, whether it’s improving balance to prevent falls, maintaining memory, or simply getting back to everyday routines.

In this episode of our podcast Age Old Problems: New Aged Care, we sit down with Harry Beresford, the Exercise Physiology Manager in Home Care at Helping Hand. In conversation with host Kate Holland, he explains:

• What Exercise Physiologists (EPs) do and how they differ from physios
• How EPs support recovery and independence at home
• The benefits people might be missing, like getting back to watering the garden
• Common goals, questions, and success stories from real clients

Tune in to understand more about how Allied Health could support you or a loved one.

It’s estimated that more than 400,000 Australians are living with dementia. While everyone’s experience is unique, there are some early signs to watch for. In this episode of our podcast Age Old Problems: New Aged Care, Helping Hand’s Tanya McIver shares what dementia is, how to recognise early changes, starting the conversation with loved ones, and where to find support.