For Konstantina Arkadianos still living at her home in Ashford, South Australia, getting out of the house and keeping in contact with her local community is important.

Assistance with showering, shopping, cleaning and getting to her favourite appointment – the hairdressers – is easy with the valuable assistance of Calvary Home Care support care worker Paula Parker.

While they’ve only known each other a mere few months, they’ve built a strong enough bond of trust and confidence for Konstantina (whose English is limited) to know that she has an excellent support system in place.

Konstantina’s doting granddaughter, Calvary Home Care Service Manager Connie Arkadianos said there was a huge gap in the Arkadianos family when Konstantina’s husband died eight years ago.

“Konstantina was reliant on us,” she said.

“Independence is important to her, especially going outside, and she has got to the point where she can’t manage without the walker, and she needs the help.”

Now when Konstantina does her fortnightly shopping, Paula is by her side helping with the lifting and packing. Together they shop at the Burbridge Road Woolies at Hilton where she has been going for decades.

“Everyone in the shopping centre knows her and it really is an important lifeline for her,” said Connie.

“Through the home care support package she has the experienced physical assistance of Paula, who has been with Calvary for 15 years, helping her in and out of the car and cleaning.”

Paula says that Konstantina’s favourite things aside from the help, are the taxi card she uses to get to both medical appointments and church, and the cleaning.

“She appreciates the freedom it gives her,” she said.

“Konstantina has said to me a number of times how isolated her life would be without this ongoing support, and she would possibly be in a nursing home,” Paula said.

Home Support through Calvary has evolved in recent years, with more than 250 people currently accessing the services throughout Adelaide.

Supports offered include: domestic supports, personal care, social support, allied health and a full range of clinical nursing services and palliative care.

“Obviously I’m a strong advocate for home support but it has been great to see firsthand my yiayia (grandmother) enjoy her freedom,” Connie said.

“It offers that extra critical support that can make all the difference for an elderly person between either living at home or having to explore other options.

“My family enjoy the nurse welfare checks Calvary offer - they give us peace of mind.”

Connie advises the first step for anyone finding out more about how Calvary Home Care can assist is to visit the My Aged Care website and request an assessment for home care services.

“For my yiayia it has been really important that the care is tailored to her needs, which she is very grateful for.

“I know that her being independent makes her happy and she knows this also gives the family comfort that some care is in place.

“For the family it is important to know she is still living her best life.” Connie said.