For 75 years, Life Care has been helping South Australians live with dignity, independence, and connection. What began in the 1950s as a single nursing home in Glen Osmond has grown into a state-wide network offering home care, guided by a philosophy that places human connection at its heart.
“In the 50s, Churches of Christ Social Services Department recognised a need to care for the elderly… This work provided an excellent basis for further expansion,” recalls Kingsley Curtis, Life Care’s CEO during the 1990s, who now experiences its home care firsthand.
Kingsley remembers many standouts from his tenure, from upgrading facilities to launching community care programs, but the moments that stay with him most are deeply personal.
“An elderly lady left a message for me to come and see her in her unit… she just wanted to sit and chat. We had a good chat, and on my way back to the office, I thought that was good for me too.”
For Kingsley, the 1990s were a period of dynamic growth. He oversaw expansions to existing facilities, the purchase of Reynella, and the building of Aldinga. He was also heavily involved with the broader aged care sector, representing South Australian providers nationally. “My involvement in the Aged Care Organisation as Chairman and on the Board of Aged Care Australia gave me the opportunity to assist many smaller organisations in rural areas,” he reflects.
A philosophy that endures
Aged care has evolved considerably over the decades, from twin rooms to individual ensuites, and from general nursing care to specialised, high-level care. Yet some principles have remained unchanged.
“The constant has been the recognition that we have a responsibility to care for people in need,” says Kingsley. “We do this by providing a safe environment, managed by caring people who respect each individual and work to meet their personal needs.”
Today, Grace Scaffidi, Life Care’s CEO, sees the same ethos in action, particularly in the organisation’s expanding home care programs.
“It’s clear that ageing in place is becoming a top priority for all of us,” she says.
And what makes it work isn’t just the services, it’s the human connection. That feeling of being truly seen and supported is the best feature of what we do.
Grace emphasises that even as technology and government funding structures change, Life Care’s relational approach remains central.
“While aged care and its regulations are constantly evolving, one thing remains constant for us: our deep, personalised, relational approach,” she says. “Our clients’ needs are remarkably consistent, and they always extend beyond just physical care. It’s about giving them real humanistic service… seeing the person first is what truly makes a difference.”
Seeing care from both sides
Kingsley now experiences Life Care on the receiving end, giving him a rare perspective on the services he once helped shape. Reflecting on this role reversal, he describes it as both enlightening and affirming.
“It is good to see things from the other side,” he says warmly.
When asked how the service works in practice, Kingsley explains that Life Care staff carefully assessed his and his wife’s needs before putting a personalised care plan in place.
“Life Care staff met with us, assessed our needs and we worked together to put the services in place. We have an assigned case manager who keeps in contact and manages the staffing… All this is simple and works well. I manage all this as the registered support person.”
The home care program he helped establish back in 1993 has since grown into a comprehensive, flexible service. From showering and cleaning, to Meals on Wheels, RDNS, palliative care nurses, and visiting GPs, Kingsley sees the difference it makes for clients every day.
“It is good to see Life Care continuing to develop and adapt this valuable service to meet individual needs and the most important thing of all is that the staff who visit are excellent, caring, friendly and efficient.”
Experiencing Life Care from the client side has given Kingsley a renewed appreciation for the dedication, care, and adaptability of the teams who deliver these essential services, highlighting the enduring impact of a program he helped bring to life.
The future of home care
With expanded government funding for home care rolling out from November, Grace is optimistic about what this will mean for South Australians.
“Ageing in place, for us, is all about providing our clients with every service necessary to feel completely safe and comfortable right in their own homes,” she explains. “Retaining the personalised quality care delivery is at the forefront of what we do… we never want to compromise the quality for the funding.”
“With the new Support at Home program on the horizon, our commitment is to walk alongside our clients, helping them navigate those changes as smoothly as possible so they can simply focus on living their lives to the fullest.”
Grace shares that these changes are already having a transformative effect on clients.
“We recently had a client join us who was genuinely surprised by this level of personal service,” she says. “They mentioned how much it meant that someone was willing to take the time to visit them, sit down, and truly understand their life story… just being able to easily reach their case manager, let alone have personal visits, was a shock!”
“While our personalised approach definitely impacts our margins, it’s a measure of quality we are absolutely unwilling to compromise. For our clients, this experience is truly transformative.”
Innovation meets care
Looking forward, Grace is excited about how technology can enhance Life Care’s mission without replacing human connection.
“We’re keenly focused on how we can use innovation to genuinely boost both the quality and quantity of care we provide. Specifically, we’re exploring how things like AI functionality can take on the heavy burdens of compliance and administration so we can shift that focus where it truly belongs: back into the hands of our care team.”
“By streamlining the paperwork, we give our staff more capacity to focus on the needs of our clients and spend more meaningful time with them. It’s all about making sure technology serves our mission of personalised care.”
Beyond tech, Life Care continues to expand programs that focus on whole person care, including wellbeing and spiritual support.
We’re proud to be at the forefront of wellbeing and spiritual care offerings… built on providing exceptional levels of support across the board.
Both Kingsley and Grace agree on one crucial point: start planning early.
“Start the process early,” Kingsley urges. “Talk to your GP, contact My Aged Care and book an assessment. This will help you develop your plan.”
“Please, don’t wait until things reach a crisis point! Starting early ensures you’re already in the queue… planning ahead protects your future comfort and well being at home,” Grace adds.
Celebrating 75 years
From its beginnings as a single nursing home to today’s statewide network of care, Life Care’s mission remains unchanged: to foster relationships of care that generate fullness of life.
Whether you’re exploring aged care options, seeking guidance for a loved one, or planning ahead for yourself, it’s never too early to start the conversation.
Supporting wellness, wherever you are
Life Care’s allied health and exercise programs extend support well beyond the clinic. Delivered both in home and our clinic, these programs reflect Life Care’s commitment to holistic wellbeing, addressing not just physical health, but also social connection and emotional support.
Through one-on-one sessions with exercise physiologists like Simon, and group programs
that bring people together, Life Care helps individuals stay active, engaged and connected
in ways that enhance quality of life, wherever they call home.
Find out more at lifecare.org.au
