Your Aged Care Compass

In today’s episode, host Michelle sits down with hospital-based speech pathologist Cassandra Agius to explore the vital role speech pathologists play in supporting older adults. From communication challenges to swallowing difficulties, Cass shares her expertise in neurological rehabilitation and sheds light on how ageing impacts everyday functions we often take for granted.

Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of how conditions such as dementia, Parkinson’s disease, and stroke affect speech and swallowing, and how speech pathologists work alongside families and healthcare teams to improve quality of life. Cass explains the science behind swallowing, the importance of communication for independence, and the strategies that can make a real difference for older people and their carers.

In this episode:

1. The role of speech pathologists in supporting older adults
2. Swallowing difficulties explained
3. Communication challenges: clarity, comprehension, and word-finding
4. How natural ageing impacts speech, voice, and cognition
5. The sensory experience of eating and talking
6. Impact of dementia and Parkinson’s disease on communication and swallowing
7. Early warning signs of swallowing difficulties
8. Speech changes in Parkinson’s disease
9. Cognitive communication challenges in dementia
10. Strategies for families to assist communication
11. Swallowing assessments
12. Proactive steps older adults can take to maintain communication and swallowing

Connect with Cass Agius:

1. LinkedIn

Connect with Coral Wilkinson: 

• Instagram 
• LinkedIn 

Follow See Me Aged Care Navigators:

• See Me ACN website
• Facebook
• Instagram

More about Your Aged Care Compass podcast: 

Do you support an older loved one at home and you're ready to give up because it’s just too hard? Your Aged Care Compass is for you.

We're Coral and Michelle, the sisters behind our business, See Me Aged Care Navigators.

Coral is a registered nurse with over 30 years’ experience in both health and aged care. A former assessor with the aged care assessment team, an advocate and author, there’s not much Coral doesn’t know about Australia’s aged care system.

Michelle is a former pharmacist with over 30 years in the public health and private sectors of pharmacy. Michelle is the client care manager for our business. 

Our story started as one of supporting our parents to remain in their own home, to be as independent as possible and remain connected to their community. When we eventually needed extra support, we achieved this because we know Australia’s aged care system so well. We knew what programs could assist us and our parents.

Your Aged Care Compass podcast brings together not only our personal experience in supporting our parents but also our vast professional experience in supporting other families to keep their loved ones at home. 

We'll help you makes sense of Australia’s aged care system and bring you topics related to ageing as well. Legal, financial, health, forward planning and more.

 Your Aged Care Compass will guide you clearly and compassionately to the right support at the right time for your ageing parents and loved ones. 

Like what you hear? Please leave us a rating and review. We’d love you to share this podcast with any friends or family who have older loved ones.

Our feet carry us through life, yet they’re often overlooked until problems arise. In this episode, host Michelle sits down with senior podiatrist Krissy McKenzie from Flexi Care to explore why foot health is central to ageing well. From simple daily habits to the impact of chronic conditions, Krissy shares practical insights that can help older adults maintain independence, mobility, and comfort.

This conversation highlights the small, everyday steps that make a huge difference. Krissy explains how podiatry goes far beyond toenails, touching on systemic health, falls prevention, and the role of footwear. You’ll come away with actionable advice and a deeper appreciation for the critical role podiatrists play in supporting older people.

In this episode:

• Why foot and lower limb health is critical to aging well
• The most common foot issues seen in older adults
• Age-related changes in skin, nails, circulation, and muscles
• The impact of chronic conditions like diabetes and arthritis on foot health
• Daily foot checks are vital for early detection of problems
• Foot health influences balance, mobility, and falls risk
• The importance of footwear and what to look for in supportive shoes
• The benefits of simple interventions like toenail trimming
• What to expect from a typical podiatry appointment
• Tips and tricks for self-care, including mirrors and long-handled devices
• Preventive habits like washing and drying between toes
• See a podiatrist early, even for small issues

Find a podiatrist:

• https://www.podiatry.org.au/find-a-podiatrist

Connect with Flexi Care:

• Website

Connect with Coral Wilkinson: 

• Instagram 
• LinkedIn 

Follow See Me Aged Care Navigators:

• See Me ACN website
• Facebook
• Instagram

More about Your Aged Care Compass podcast: 

Do you support an older loved one at home and you're ready to give up because it’s just too hard? Your Aged Care Compass is for you.

We're Coral and Michelle, the sisters behind our business, See Me Aged Care Navigators.

Coral is a registered nurse with over 30 years’ experience in both health and aged care. A former assessor with the aged care assessment team, an advocate and author, there’s not much Coral doesn’t know about Australia’s aged care system.

Michelle is a former pharmacist with over 30 years in the public health and private sectors of pharmacy. Michelle is the client care manager for our business. 

Our story started as one of supporting our parents to remain in their own home, to be as independent as possible and remain connected to their community. When we eventually needed extra support, we achieved this because we know Australia’s aged care system so well. We knew what programs could assist us and our parents.

Your Aged Care Compass podcast brings together not only our personal experience in supporting our parents but also our vast professional experience in supporting other families to keep their loved ones at home. 

We'll help you makes sense of Australia’s aged care system and bring you topics related to ageing as well. Legal, financial, health, forward planning and more.

 Your Aged Care Compass will guide you clearly and compassionately to the right support at the right time for your ageing parents and loved ones. 

Like what you hear? Please leave us a rating and review. We’d love you to share this podcast with any friends or family who have older loved ones.

Dental care is often overlooked in elderly care, yet it plays a critical role in overall health, dignity, and quality of life. In this episode, Leonie Short brings decades of clinical, academic, and advocacy experience to discuss the barriers older Australians face and what we can do about it. From dry mouths to denture neglect, Leonie shares practical, compassionate insights that every carer, family member, and health professional should hear.

You’ll learn why oral health is more than just clean teeth. It’s about preventing hospitalisation, improving nutrition, and restoring confidence. Leonie doesn’t just highlight the problems; she offers simple, effective solutions that can be implemented at home, in residential care, or through mobile outreach. Leonie’s call for a Seniors Dental Benefit Scheme is a rallying cry for equity and a reminder that oral health must be part of the aged care conversation.

In this episode:

• Why oral health is often the most neglected aspect of aged care
• How wealth impacts access to dental treatment
• The role of shame, trauma, and fear in avoiding dental care
• Common oral health issues in older people
• The impact of menopause and medications on saliva production
• Dentures that are decades old and why that’s a problem
• Poor oral health affects nutrition, speech, and social confidence
• The links between oral health and heart disease and diabetes
• Increased risk of aspiration pneumonia and infective endocarditis
• How often older adults should see a dentist
• Challenges with transport and accessibility for dental appointments
• Tips for daily oral care: soft toothbrushes, fluoride toothpaste, tongue scrapers
• Why toothpaste shouldn’t be used on dentures and what to use instead
• How integrated care between dental, medical, and allied health professionals can improve outcomes

Resources mentioned:

• Aged care quality standards – clinical care
• Public dental services - see below

To help improve dental health, state and territory governments provide public dental services. Visit the website of your state or territory dental service to see if you’re eligible:

• Australian Capital Territory – ACT Health
• New South Wales – NSW Health
• Northern Territory – Department of Health
• Queensland – Queensland Health
• South Australia – SA Dental
• Tasmania – Oral Health Tasmania
• Victoria - Department of Health
• Western Australia – Dental Health Services

Connect with Leonie Short:

• LinkedIn
• Seniors Dental Care Australia

Connect with Coral Wilkinson: 

• Instagram 
• LinkedIn 

Follow See Me Aged Care Navigators:

• See Me ACN website
• Facebook
• Instagram

More about Your Aged Care Compass podcast: 

Do you support an older loved one at home and you're ready to give up because it’s just too hard? Your Aged Care Compass is for you.

We're Coral and Michelle, the sisters behind our business, See Me Aged Care Navigators.

Coral is a registered nurse with over 30 years’ experience in both health and aged care. A former assessor with the aged care assessment team, an advocate and author, there’s not much Coral doesn’t know about Australia’s aged care system.

Michelle is a former pharmacist with over 30 years in the public health and private sectors of pharmacy. Michelle is the client care manager for our business. 

Our story started as one of supporting our parents to remain in their own home, to be as independent as possible and remain connected to their community. When we eventually needed extra support, we achieved this because we know Australia’s aged care system so well. We knew what programs could assist us and our parents.

Your Aged Care Compass podcast brings together not only our personal experience in supporting our parents but also our vast professional experience in supporting other families to keep their loved ones at home. 

We'll help you makes sense of Australia’s aged care system and bring you topics related to ageing as well. Legal, financial, health, forward planning and more.

 Your Aged Care Compass will guide you clearly and compassionately to the right support at the right time for your ageing parents and loved ones. 

Like what you hear? Please leave us a rating and review. We’d love you to share this podcast with any friends or family who have older loved ones.

Your local pharmacist does more than dispense medication. They can help you age well, stay out of hospital, and manage chronic conditions with confidence. In this episode, Coral speaks with Professor Trent Toomey, National President of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, about the once-in-a-century transformation underway in community pharmacy. From expanded clinical services to home medication reviews and vaccination leadership, pharmacists are stepping up as frontline partners in healthy ageing.

Trent shares how pharmacists across Australia are retraining to diagnose and treat conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and COPD, especially in communities where access to GPs is limited. He explains how the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and Repatriation PBS (RPBS) work, including safety nets, concession cards, and the impact of 60-day dispensing. It’s a hopeful, energising conversation that reframes pharmacists as proactive, accessible allies in aged care.

In this episode:

• The Pharmacy Guild represents 6,000 community pharmacies across Australia
• Community pharmacy is evolving into a holistic health hub
• Pharmacists are retraining to expand their scope of practice
• Comparison with nursing’s evolution and scope expansion
• Community pharmacies are often the only health access point in rural areas
• Short-term concession cards available via Centrelink
• Home Medicines Review explained
• Residential Medication Management Review (RMMR) for aged care facilities
• The pros and cons of 60-day dispensing for elderly patients
• Importance of pharmacist monitoring post-hospital discharge
• Community pharmacists now lead vaccination delivery in Australia
• Pharmacy Board of Australia to list pharmacists with extra qualifications

Resources mentioned:

• Pharmacy vaccination services
• Facebook - find a pharmacy

Connect with Trent Twomey and the Pharmacy Guild:

• LinkedIn - Trent Twomey
• Facebook - Trent Twomey
• The Pharmacy Guild of Australia website
• LinkedIn - Pharmacy Guild of Australia
• Facebook - Pharmacy Guild of Australia

Connect with Coral Wilkinson: 

• Instagram 
• LinkedIn 

Follow See Me Aged Care Navigators:

• See Me ACN website
• Facebook
• Instagram

More about Your Aged Care Compass podcast: 

Do you support an older loved one at home and you're ready to give up because it’s just too hard? Your Aged Care Compass is for you.

We're Coral and Michelle, the sisters behind our business, See Me Aged Care Navigators.

Coral is a registered nurse with over 30 years’ experience in both health and aged care. A former assessor with the aged care assessment team, an advocate and author, there’s not much Coral doesn’t know about Australia’s aged care system.

Michelle is a former pharmacist with over 30 years in the public health and private sectors of pharmacy. Michelle is the client care manager for our business. 

Our story started as one of supporting our parents to remain in their own home, to be as independent as possible and remain connected to their community. When we eventually needed extra support, we achieved this because we know Australia’s aged care system so well. We knew what programs could assist us and our parents.

Your Aged Care Compass podcast brings together not only our personal experience in supporting our parents but also our vast professional experience in supporting other families to keep their loved ones at home. 

We'll help you makes sense of Australia’s aged care system and bring you topics related to ageing as well. Legal, financial, health, forward planning and more.

 Your Aged Care Compass will guide you clearly and compassionately to the right support at the right time for your ageing parents and loved ones. 

Like what you hear? Please leave us a rating and review. We’d love you to share this podcast with any friends or family who have older loved ones.

What does it take to build a digital platform that empowers older Australians and people with disability to choose their own support workers? In this episode, Coral speaks with Emma Clark, CFO and COO of Attain Healthtech, about the evolution of Mable and HomeMade, two platforms reshaping how care is delivered across Australia.

As Support at Home rolls out, digital platforms like Mable are stepping into a newly defined regulatory space. Emma explains what this means for providers, support workers, and consumers, and how Mable is adapting to meet new obligations around worker screening, training, and incident reporting.

 Coral and Emma also explore the impact of these platforms in rural and remote communities, where access to care has long been a challenge and where local partnerships are now creating real economic and social change.

 In this episode:

• The personal story behind Mable’s founding
• Why choice, control, and continuity matter in home care
• The impact of the new Aged Care Act on digital platforms
• The three provider categories under Support at Home
• What obligations digital labour platforms now carry
• The rollout of NDIS worker screening across aged care
• Mable’s Learning Hub and the five new competency modules
• How HomeMade supports self-managed clients with low-cost, high-value care
• The launch of HomeMade’s fully managed product with fixed hourly pricing
• How technology and human-led processes combine to ensure safety and quality
• Use of analytics to monitor wellbeing and spending trends
• Mable’s Community Partnerships model for rural and remote towns
• What’s next for Mable and Homemade as Support at Home continues to roll out

Connect with Emma Clark:

• LinkedIn
• Attain Healthtech

Connect with Coral Wilkinson: 

• Instagram 
• LinkedIn 

Follow See Me Aged Care Navigators:

• See Me ACN website
• Facebook
• Instagram

More about Your Aged Care Compass podcast: 

Do you support an older loved one at home and you're ready to give up because it’s just too hard? Your Aged Care Compass is for you.

We're Coral and Michelle, the sisters behind our business, See Me Aged Care Navigators.

Coral is a registered nurse with over 30 years’ experience in both health and aged care. A former assessor with the aged care assessment team, an advocate and author, there’s not much Coral doesn’t know about Australia’s aged care system.

Michelle is a former pharmacist with over 30 years in the public health and private sectors of pharmacy. Michelle is the client care manager for our business. 

Our story started as one of supporting our parents to remain in their own home, to be as independent as possible and remain connected to their community. When we eventually needed extra support, we achieved this because we know Australia’s aged care system so well. We knew what programs could assist us and our parents.

Your Aged Care Compass podcast brings together not only our personal experience in supporting our parents but also our vast professional experience in supporting other families to keep their loved ones at home. 

We'll help you makes sense of Australia’s aged care system and bring you topics related to ageing as well. Legal, financial, health, forward planning and more.

 Your Aged Care Compass will guide you clearly and compassionately to the right support at the right time for your ageing parents and loved ones. 

Like what you hear? Please leave us a rating and review. We’d love you to share this podcast with any friends or family who have older loved ones.

What happens when a biomedical engineer with a heart for community care stumbles into the aged care sector? In this episode, Coral sits down with Jim Moraitis, founder and CEO of VillageLocal, to explore how one neighbourly act sparked a national movement. From helping his elderly neighbour Lillian navigate the aged care maze to building a platform that now supports over 40,000 Australians, Jim shares the deeply personal story behind Village Local’s mission, and why it matters now more than ever.

 As Support at Home rolls out across Australia, families and providers alike are grappling with uncertainty, complexity, and change. Jim and Coral dive into the real-world implications of the reform, the growing tension between consumers and providers, and the urgent need for clear, compassionate communication. They discuss what’s working, what’s worrying, and how peer-led communities are becoming a lifeline for those falling through the cracks.

 With warmth, honesty, and practical insight, Coral and Jim reflect on the emotional toll of advocacy, the power of lived experience, and the importance of looking after ourselves while we look after others.

In this episode:

• How a neighbour named Lillian inspired a national movement
• Aged care navigation is so complex and VillageLocal is making it simpler
• The Silent Generation and the risks of social isolation
• What VillageLocal does and who it’s for
• The three pillars of Village Local’s support: learning, coaching, and community
• How peer networks empower both new and experienced carers
• The role of industry professionals in community forums
• What’s causing the most confusion and fear under Support at Home
• Transparency in pricing could be a game-changer for consumers
• The importance of clinical insight in assessments and support plan reviews
• How families can advocate effectively using the Integrated Assessment Tool (IAT)
• What to do when a loved one’s condition changes and needs escalate
• The emotional toll of being a navigator and how to stay resilient

Connect with Jim Moraitis and VillageLocal:

• LinkedIn
• VillageLocal

Connect with Coral Wilkinson: 

• Instagram 
• LinkedIn 

Follow See Me Aged Care Navigators:

• See Me ACN website
• Facebook
• Instagram

More about Your Aged Care Compass podcast: 

Do you support an older loved one at home and you're ready to give up because it’s just too hard? Your Aged Care Compass is for you.

We're Coral and Michelle, the sisters behind our business, See Me Aged Care Navigators.

Coral is a registered nurse with over 30 years’ experience in both health and aged care. A former assessor with the aged care assessment team, an advocate and author, there’s not much Coral doesn’t know about Australia’s aged care system.

Michelle is a former pharmacist with over 30 years in the public health and private sectors of pharmacy. Michelle is the client care manager for our business. 

Our story started as one of supporting our parents to remain in their own home, to be as independent as possible and remain connected to their community. When we eventually needed extra support, we achieved this because we know Australia’s aged care system so well. We knew what programs could assist us and our parents.

Your Aged Care Compass podcast brings together not only our personal experience in supporting our parents but also our vast professional experience in supporting other families to keep their loved ones at home. 

We'll help you makes sense of Australia’s aged care system and bring you topics related to ageing as well. Legal, financial, health, forward planning and more.

 Your Aged Care Compass will guide you clearly and compassionately to the right support at the right time for your ageing parents and loved ones. 

Like what you hear? Please leave us a rating and review. We’d love you to share this podcast with any friends or family who have older loved ones.

In this special Q&A episode, Coral puts aged care leader Paul Sadler in the hot seat to answer the most pressing questions from providers, recipients, and sector professionals as the Support at Home program officially launches. With decades of experience influencing aged care policy and leading national organisations, Paul offers clarity, context, and practical insight into the reforms reshaping Australia’s home care landscape.

From co-contributions and grandfathering rules to care management codes and end-of-life pathways, this episode dives into the challenges facing providers. Coral brings real-world questions from the community, and Paul responds with grounded advice, policy interpretation, and candid reflections on what’s working and what still needs fixing.

It’s a rare chance to hear Paul and Coral share what rules they’d rewrite if given the chance. A thoughtful conversation that invites listeners to imagine a more responsive, compassionate aged care system.

In this episode:

• Sector sentiment leading up to the November 1 Support at Home rollout
• How clients are responding to the transition
• Clarification of the “no worse off” principle and grandfathered protections
• Impact of rising service unit prices on care hours and package value
• Risk of clients forfeiting packages due to unaffordable co-contributions
• Clinical care services exempt from co-contributions
• Providers’ concerns about delays in hardship application processing
• Clarification of codes for assistive technology and home modifications
• CHSP’s continuing relevance and risks of disbanding it
• Positives in Support at Home: AT/HM stream, end-of-life pathway, better classification targeting
• How to bill care management under the end-of-life pathway
• Coral and Paul’s “magic wand” rule changes to improve outcomes for older people

Resources mentioned:

• Support at Home program manual for providers  

Connect with Paul Sadler:

• LinkedIn
• Paul Sadler Consultancy

Connect with Coral Wilkinson: 

• Instagram 
• LinkedIn 

Follow See Me Aged Care Navigators:

• See Me ACN website
• Facebook
• Instagram

More about Your Aged Care Compass podcast: 

Do you support an older loved one at home and you're ready to give up because it’s just too hard? Your Aged Care Compass is for you.

We're Coral and Michelle, the sisters behind our business, See Me Aged Care Navigators.

Coral is a registered nurse with over 30 years’ experience in both health and aged care. A former assessor with the aged care assessment team, an advocate and author, there’s not much Coral doesn’t know about Australia’s aged care system.

Michelle is a former pharmacist with over 30 years in the public health and private sectors of pharmacy. Michelle is the client care manager for our business. 

Our story started as one of supporting our parents to remain in their own home, to be as independent as possible and remain connected to their community. When we eventually needed extra support, we achieved this because we know Australia’s aged care system so well. We knew what programs could assist us and our parents.

Your Aged Care Compass podcast brings together not only our personal experience in supporting our parents but also our vast professional experience in supporting other families to keep their loved ones at home. 

We'll help you makes sense of Australia’s aged care system and bring you topics related to ageing as well. Legal, financial, health, forward planning and more.

 Your Aged Care Compass will guide you clearly and compassionately to the right support at the right time for your ageing parents and loved ones. 

Like what you hear? Please leave us a rating and review. We’d love you to share this podcast with any friends or family who have older loved ones.

In this technology-themed episode, Coral sits down with Ali Galadari, CEO and co-founder of Conpago, to explore how digital innovation is transforming aged care. From humble beginnings to a fully integrated communication and care coordination platform, Conpago helps providers streamline operations, improve transparency, and empower families.

Ali shares the story behind Conpago’s evolution, the challenges of integrating with legacy systems, and how their purpose-built platform supports care providers, staff, recipients, and families alike. Whether you're a provider or a family member navigating aged care, this episode shows what’s possible when technology meets compassion.

In this episode:

• How Conpago evolved to support care providers and streamline operations
• The importance of real-time communication between providers, families, and care recipients
• Why Conpago’s Brisbane HQ houses the full team under one roof
• The four tiers of users the platform is designed for
• The value of a single source of truth for resident data and events
• How Conpago enables partnerships between retirement operators and home care providers
• The consumer experience focus
• Integration challenges with legacy systems and the push for open APIs
• The importance of connected systems for provider efficiency and staff wellbeing
• Security and privacy measures
• Storing data onshore in Australia matters for compliance and trust
• Conpago supports family members with scheduling and visibility
• Reducing phone calls and increasing transparency through self-service features
• Why ease of use and one-touch functionality drive adoption
• Opportunities for providers to trial Conpago through a UAT environment and pilot phase

Connect with Ali Galadari and Conpago

• LinkedIn
• Conpago website

Connect with Coral Wilkinson: 

• Instagram 
• LinkedIn 

Follow See Me Aged Care Navigators:

• See Me ACN website
• Facebook
• Instagram

More about Your Aged Care Compass podcast: 

Do you support an older loved one at home and you're ready to give up because it’s just too hard? Your Aged Care Compass is for you.

We're Coral and Michelle, the sisters behind our business, See Me Aged Care Navigators.

Coral is a registered nurse with over 30 years’ experience in both health and aged care. A former assessor with the aged care assessment team, an advocate and author, there’s not much Coral doesn’t know about Australia’s aged care system.

Michelle is a former pharmacist with over 30 years in the public health and private sectors of pharmacy. Michelle is the client care manager for our business. 

Our story started as one of supporting our parents to remain in their own home, to be as independent as possible and remain connected to their community. When we eventually needed extra support, we achieved this because we know Australia’s aged care system so well. We knew what programs could assist us and our parents.

Your Aged Care Compass podcast brings together not only our personal experience in supporting our parents but also our vast professional experience in supporting other families to keep their loved ones at home. 

We'll help you makes sense of Australia’s aged care system and bring you topics related to ageing as well. Legal, financial, health, forward planning and more.

 Your Aged Care Compass will guide you clearly and compassionately to the right support at the right time for your ageing parents and loved ones. 

Like what you hear? Please leave us a rating and review. We’d love you to share this podcast with any friends or family who have older loved ones.

Driving is often linked to independence, especially for older adults. But when health, cognition, or mobility changes, how do we know if someone is still safe behind the wheel? In this episode, Coral speaks with Karin Naude, a qualified Driving Assessment Occupational Therapist, to discuss what’s really involved in an OT driving assessment. And it’s much more than just a drive around the block.

Karin explains the structured process behind both the off-road and on-road components, including medical history, cognitive screening, physical function, and tailored driving routes. She also addresses common concerns like cost, report confidentiality, and what happens if someone doesn’t pass. This conversation offers clarity on what to expect, how decisions are made, and what support options exist if driving is no longer an option for an older person.

In this episode:

• What an OT driving assessment involves
• The off-road and on-road components
• Vision standards are a critical first step
• Physical and cognitive tests that are included
• Assessments are started in the client’s home
• Why GPs don’t usually conduct full assessments
• How on-road testing is tailored to individual driving needs
• What makes an OT nervous during on-road assessments
• Why older clients may use their own car for testing
• What happens if someone passes, receives restrictions, or is deemed unsafe
• Supporting clients with alternative transport options
• The time and cost breakdown of a full assessment
• Specialised training to become an OT driving assessor

Resources mentioned:

• Occupational Therapy Australia – A guide to driving assessments

Connect with Coral Wilkinson: 

• Instagram 
• LinkedIn 

Follow See Me Aged Care Navigators:

• See Me ACN website
• Facebook
• Instagram

More about Your Aged Care Compass podcast: 

Do you support an older loved one at home and you're ready to give up because it’s just too hard? Your Aged Care Compass is for you.

We're Coral and Michelle, the sisters behind our business, See Me Aged Care Navigators.

Coral is a registered nurse with over 30 years’ experience in both health and aged care. A former assessor with the aged care assessment team, an advocate and author, there’s not much Coral doesn’t know about Australia’s aged care system.

Michelle is a former pharmacist with over 30 years in the public health and private sectors of pharmacy. Michelle is the client care manager for our business. 

Our story started as one of supporting our parents to remain in their own home, to be as independent as possible and remain connected to their community. When we eventually needed extra support, we achieved this because we know Australia’s aged care system so well. We knew what programs could assist us and our parents.

Your Aged Care Compass podcast brings together not only our personal experience in supporting our parents but also our vast professional experience in supporting other families to keep their loved ones at home. 

We'll help you makes sense of Australia’s aged care system and bring you topics related to ageing as well. Legal, financial, health, forward planning and more.

 Your Aged Care Compass will guide you clearly and compassionately to the right support at the right time for your ageing parents and loved ones. 

Like what you hear? Please leave us a rating and review. We’d love you to share this podcast with any friends or family who have older loved ones.

In this episode, Michelle speaks with hand therapist Sarah Holdman about how hand therapy supports older adults to maintain independence, manage chronic conditions, and recover from injury. Sarah explains the role of hand therapists, common age-related changes that affect hand function, and practical strategies for prevention and rehabilitation.

Listeners will gain a clear understanding of how hand therapy can help with arthritis, fractures, nerve conditions, and everyday challenges like grip strength and fine motor control. Sarah also shares advice for carers, discusses therapy adaptations for people with dementia, and outlines how to access services, including Chronic Disease Management (CDM) plans and self-referral options.

In this episode:

• What hand therapists do
• Common hand and wrist injuries in older adults
• Impact of arthritis, osteoporosis, and reduced circulation
• How falls contribute to hand injuries
• Typical treatment plans for older adults
• Balancing rehabilitation with pain management
• Importance of education for patients and carers
• Adapting therapy for people with dementia or neurological conditions
• Early signs that someone may benefit from hand therapy
• Preventative therapy to maintain hand function
• Simple exercises and habits to protect hand health
• Access to hand therapy without a referral
• Eligibility for Chronic Disease Management (CDM) plans

Connect with Sarah Holdman:

• LinkedIn

Connect with Coral Wilkinson: 

• Instagram 
• LinkedIn 

Follow See Me Aged Care Navigators:

• See Me ACN website
• Facebook
• Instagram

More about Your Aged Care Compass podcast: 

Do you support an older loved one at home and you're ready to give up because it’s just too hard? Your Aged Care Compass is for you.

We're Coral and Michelle, the sisters behind our business, See Me Aged Care Navigators.

Coral is a registered nurse with over 30 years’ experience in both health and aged care. A former assessor with the aged care assessment team, an advocate and author, there’s not much Coral doesn’t know about Australia’s aged care system.

Michelle is a former pharmacist with over 30 years in the public health and private sectors of pharmacy. Michelle is the client care manager for our business. 

Our story started as one of supporting our parents to remain in their own home, to be as independent as possible and remain connected to their community. When we eventually needed extra support, we achieved this because we know Australia’s aged care system so well. We knew what programs could assist us and our parents.

Your Aged Care Compass podcast brings together not only our personal experience in supporting our parents but also our vast professional experience in supporting other families to keep their loved ones at home. 

We'll help you makes sense of Australia’s aged care system and bring you topics related to ageing as well. Legal, financial, health, forward planning and more.

 Your Aged Care Compass will guide you clearly and compassionately to the right support at the right time for your ageing parents and loved ones. 

Like what you hear? Please leave us a rating and review. We’d love you to share this podcast with any friends or family who have older loved ones.