Care Home Magazine May 2023

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Chief Editor

Jade Evans

jade.evans@cimltd.co.uk

Editorial Assistant

Brooke Tremain bt@cimltd.co.uk

Publication Manager

James Davies jamesd@cimltd.co.uk

Tel: 01795 509 112

Account Manager

Hannah Moody hannah@cimltd.co.uk

Tel: 01795 509 112

Credit Facilities Manager

Lauren Sharpe creditcontrol@cimltd.co.uk

Tel: 01795 509 103

Administration Manager

Natalie Murray admin@cimltd.co.uk

Tel: 01795 509 103

Design and Production

Grant Waters grant@cimltd.co.uk

James Taylor james@cimltd.co.uk

Tel: 01795 509108

Sales Director

Tom Woollin tom@cimltd.co.uk

Chief Executive

John Denning

Editor’s Letter May 2023

Now that we are firmly settled into the spring season, I’m sure, like us, you are crossing your fingers and toes for some permanent sunshine. Sunlight is essential for human health and wellbeing, with the benefits including lower blood pressure and better mental health, getting residents outside is crucial.

With this being said, to open up our May issue of Care Home Magazine, we are delving into the outdoor world as we look at the benefits of a sensory garden amongst residents and how to make this a focal point at your venue. Making up the extensive focus on Outdoor Spaces, we include our much-loved Care Home of the Month piece, which showcases Churchfields Care Home. Boasting the acquisition of the shortlist for ‘Best Outdoor Environment Award’, we look into how their outdoor area at the Oxfordshire location gives them a competitive edge.

Another feature that makes any care home stand out in what is an industry driven by people is the staff. The human element in any industry is essential to leaving lasting impressions, which is why showing your team you value them is so important. Touching the surface on this topic, we include a piece on staff appreciation and the effects it can have on overall morale.

To conclude what is a bustling issue is our Marketing feature. We share insights into understanding your audience, getting your social media content right and the power of a picture as we hear from some industry greats as they reveal how you can nail a beneficial marketing strategy. Enjoy the read and do get in touch to let us know what you think!

Jade Evans, Chief Editor

Table of Contents

6 Industry Update

The best spot to find out about the care sector’s latest industry events, news and advances.

9 Outdoor Spaces

In our extensive focus on the great outdoors, some industry experts help us explore the benefits of a sensory garden for residents and how to make this a focal point at your venue.

12 Care Home of the Month

Churchfields Care Home is a large, beautifully restored home in Oxfordshire. With a standout element at the home being the exquisite garden that was shortlisted for a ‘Best Outdoor Environment Award’, we feature the establishment as our Care Home of the Month.

22 Dishing Up

Providing yet another load of tasty and nutritious meal inspiration is our much-loved Dishing Up feature! Be sure to tag us on Facebook in your re-creations of the recipe.

30 Staffing

With work rate being improved by boosted staff morale, we delve into the importance of staff appreciation in a care home and the benefits it can offer.

35 Marketing Services

Are you finding that your occupancy levels are plateauing? In our detailed feature we look at how you can curate the perfect marketing strategy to appeal to new residents.

Industry update

Senior team appointed at new Cardiff care home

Care UK has appointed Therisa Galazka as the Home Manager to lead the team at Llys Herbert, on Ty-Draw Road, when it opens in July.

With over 25 years of experience in the health and social care sector, Therisa began her career as a registered mental health nurse. Spending time with both the NHS and the independent sector, Therisa worked her way up to Hospital Director, where she was responsible for a large multi-disciplinary team for fifteen years.

Passionate about improving care for all, Therisa has helped commission and establish three secure services within South Wales, providing care and treatment to those with living with mental disorders and complex challenging behaviours. Her focus was also on implementing strategic plans, management initiatives and continuous improvement.

Therisa was awarded the ‘Inspirational Nurse of the Year’ award in 2021 as a result of her proactive approach and dedication

to supporting her team and service users throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Commenting on her new role,

Hallmark Care Homes acquires site for state-of-the-art care home in Cardiff

Multi-award-winning care provider, Hallmark Care Homes, has exchanged contracts on a 1.79-acre site on Cypress Drive in Cardiff to develop a new, circa 80-bed, residential, nursing and dementia care home.

The proposed £28m project will provide an exceptional, highquality care home for older people including state of the art amenities to provide the highest level of care for its residents. The project will draw on the latest technology in the sector and will comprise an array of extensive communal facilities.

Essex-based care provider, Hallmark Care Homes who operate 19 homes, six which are based in Wales will be responsible for planning, design, and interior fit-out of the new scheme.

The family-run business also has plans to open two new homes this year in West Sussex and Somerset.

Managing Director of Hallmark Care Homes, Aneurin Brown, said: “We are very pleased to acquire this site in Cardiff to meet the growing demand for specialist care in the area. Our proposed development will provide a beautiful and supportive environment for local people to thrive, utilising our 26

years of care experience. We’ll deliver much-needed care beds to the community as well as modern facilities and communal spaces which will enable residents to socialise with their family and friends.”

Therisa said: “I am delighted to have been appointed as the Home Manager for Llys Herbert”.

Enhance residents and families experience with an easy-to-use app which allows families to receive your updates as well as regularly send news to their loved one. All this digital content is printed as a personalized gazette for their loved one to enjoy and keep. A gazette to maintain the family bond and strengthen interactions between the residents and your team.

Outdoor Spaces

Essential 5

Creating an appealing outdoor space for everyone in a care home involves considering the needs and interests of all residents, here are five ways you can make your outdoors attractive for all.

1

Provide Ample Seating

Understanding that some residents may not be steady on their feet is important as this shouldn’t affect their option of being able to enjoy the outdoors. Making sure there is plenty of seating will help put residents’ minds at ease as many may have a sense of anxiety about leaving the home. Alleviating this apprehension can often be done by providing a range of sturdy, comfortable and well-positioned benches, chairs and tables.

Consider Mobility Aids

Ensure that your outdoor area is accessible to all residents, regardless of mobility limitations. This could mean that, if you haven’t already, you might need to install ramps or hand rails and even have a supply of mobility aids, such as wheelchairs or walkers.

Add Sensory Elements

We’ve established that sensory elements at a care home can ignite some really positive emotions which have a knock-on effects to residents’ moods. Incorporating sensory elements to your gardens such as plants, flowers, water features and bird feeders can make the outdoor space more engaging and enjoyable for residents with dementia or other cognitive impairments.

Provide Shade and Sun Protection

It’s essential that you make sure your outdoor area has plenty of shade and sun protection, such as umbrellas or awnings. This is particularly important for residents with sensitive skin or those who are prone to heat exhaustion. Excessive heat can have a severe knock-on effect to the elderly and those who are already unwell, so this factor should be specifically considered as we get into the warmer months.

5 4 3 2

Involve Residents in Planning

When looking to change, adapt or add to your outdoor area you should get input from the home’s residents. Find out what they would like to see in the outdoor space and involve them in the planning and overall process as much as possible. This can help to ensure that the outdoor space meets the needs and preferences of everyone in the care home.

Care Home of the Month Churchfields Care Home

As part of our wider Outdoor Spaces feature, we caught up with Chris Stimpson, the Home Manager at Churchfields Care Home, as we learn about their shortlisting for the highly-esteemed ‘Best Outdoor Environment Award’ and the other elements which make the venue stand out in the ambitious care industry.

Churchfields Care Home is a large, beautifully restored residential in the stunning Oxfordshire location of Cassington, and markets itself as having the residents at the centre of what they do. Chris revealed that the centre of their philosophy is that Churchfields is, first and foremost, their residents’ home: “Our values are centred on residents having a sense of purpose and of belonging, to live well, and to find enjoyment. This is supported by ensuring residents have choice, every day, on how they want to spend their time and with whom. Our CQC Outstanding rating

reinforces this ethos and the quality of care we provide.”

At Churchfields, they aim to create a home that empowers people to live every day to the fullest: “Providing accessible outdoor spaces that promote both wellbeing and independence are an important part of this.” Chris revealed.

The opportunity to connect with

the natural world is paramount to the team and their residents, and Chris explained how they always encourage residents to spend more time in the garden: “Our garden is an important part of why many of our residents choose to reside with us here at Churchfields.

“We were recently shortlisted for a ‘Best Outdoor Environment Award’, for the development of our

garden area, including a heated summerhouse, greenhouses and numerous vegetable patches.”

Feedback from prospective residents and their relatives has been that the home’s wellmaintained garden is an attractive feature and has been a key factor in Churchfields being their residence of choice.

Elaborating on some of the features in the garden, Chris explained that a lot of time has been invested in the home’s outdoor spaces, so residents can relax and enjoy the garden areas.

“Residents over the years have also been enjoying our eco-garden to encourage more wildlife to the home, following requests from nature-loving residents.

“The home’s meadow and prairie area feature paths that lead to bird boxes, surrounded by hedgehog homes, and a variety of plants and flowers which are all carefully positioned to make it accessible to residents.”

With many of Churchfields’ residents being keen gardeners, and others loving watching the wildlife coming into the garden, both commons include areas where residents can make the most of the outdoor spaces.

“We have added lots of bird feeders and boxes to invite nature in, and cameras so that we can capture the images to share with the residents.

“Every year we create seed bombs and take residents down to throw the flowers into the long

grass so that we can grow wild flowers and encourage nature again. Work is underway for a bowls green which residents are very excited about.”

Churchfields places a high emphasis on maximising their marketing strategy to raise and maintain awareness of the home. This is essential for current residents and their family, plus really helps with increasing occupancy and enquiries.

“Communicating the ethos of our home to potential residents and their loved ones has been essential in ensuring we have consistent enquiries.

“We use Facebook to keep our audience up to date on everythingfrom what residents had for dinner and trips out to the garden centre, to what happened at the weekly activities class. We also include snippets of interesting information about residents and staff.” Added Chris.

Chris notices how your Facebook followers can become your home’s leading advocates, helping to engage with their own Facebook friends about your home’s quality care provision.

“‘Word of mouth’ as a marketing tool is so important, and Facebook is a great platform for this to be provided digitally.”

The team also use traditional PR and marketing methods to promote Churchfields, such as adverts in local newsletters, regular news distributed to the local press, content-rich website news, and digital advertising: “Our PR agency assists with our PR and marketing activities, and is an extension of our care home.” Said Chris.

With feedback being an important contributor to the growth of any care home, Chris sees that it’s essential to work in collaboration with others so that residents using the service have a better overall experience: “Staff play an active role in working with the residents and their families, and feedback has been extremely positive over the years . This has resulted in a carehome.co.uk score of 9.9/10, which we’re very proud of.”

A recent review of Churchfields comes from Mary T, daughter of a resident; she said: “The staff are always cheerful and sensitive and know the residents well. The garden is beautiful and the home is warm and comfortable.”

What a wonderful note to finish on! For more on Churchfields, visit: www.churchfieldscarehome.co.uk.

Evoking the senses

As part of our wider Outdoor Spaces feature, we delve into the benefits of a sensory garden for residents and how to make this a focal point at your venue.

Asensory garden is a green space which has been designed to appeal to as many of the senses as possible. In healthcare settings, sensory planting is often designed for people with dementia, as colour, touch and scent can calm, ground and inspire the recollection of distant memories and sensations.

Care Expert Manager at Lottie, Hannah Karim, sees that outdoor spaces give residents the opportunity to connect with nature and offer a calming environment to relax and unwind.

What’s more, outdoor activities organised by many care homes such as planting flowers, gardening or even a gentle walk have a wealth of benefits such as boosting

Sensory gardens offer a safe and calming space for those living with dementia or other neurological conditions.

residents’ mood, reducing any feelings of stress or anxiety, and helping them to stay active.

At Lottie they’ve partnered with a number of care homes that offer amazing outdoor spaces, activities, and sensory gardens for residents across the UK including the likes of Bucklesham Grange in Ipswich, and Shinfield View Care Home in Reading.

Sensory gardens include various features such as water displays,

plants, flowers, benches, and bird feeders to stimulate the five senses (touch, sight, scent, taste and sound). They offer a calming space and can be designed with different purposes in mind.

“In care homes, sensory gardens offer a safe and calming space for those living with dementia or other neurological conditions. Igniting each of the different senses often triggers powerful and positive memories and emotions - making

sensory gardens a great tool for reminiscence therapy.” Added Hannah.

There are lots of different ways to create a sensory garden and this will depend on the purpose of your garden, space, location and any plants or flowers that will thrive in your area. Hannah did, however, explain that it’s important to consider including features that incorporate all five senses.

Hannah shared five features to consider when creating a sensory garden: Visual impact - From colourful flowers to calming plants there’s lots of ways you can create a visual experience in your sensory garden. Similarly, additional features such as water displays, bird or animal feeders, ornaments or even fairy lights can create a visual impact.

Calming noises - Creating relaxing sounds throughout your sensory garden is key to creating a safe haven for care home residents. Wind chimes, running water and inviting local wildlife into your sensory garden will fill your space with calming sounds.

Don’t forget taste - Sensory gardens create the perfect opportunity to grow your own fruit, herbs, and vegetables - whilst also enticing your residents to engage with taste and smell. Herbs such as rosemary, basil and mint are easy to grow, whilst fruits and vegetables like strawberries and tomatoes can be enjoyed by residents in the sensory garden, or even as a part of a nutritious meal.

Stimulate touch - Incorporating different surfaces and textures into your sensory garden is a great way to stimulate touch. This can be done by using different types of landscapes such as gravel and decking; as well as different variations of plants - from pampas grass to aloe vera.

Fragrant plants- Smell is a powerful sense and can trigger fond or distant memories from the past. Including fragrant plants such as sweet pea, gardenia and honeysuckle are a great way to feature inviting and warm scents into your sensory garden.

It’s important to make sure your sensory garden is accessible all year round to reap the benefits. For example, including a sheltered area that covers visitors from any rain or showers makes sensory gardens accessible in the colder, wetter months. Shaded areas with seating means residents can continue to enjoy being outdoors in the warmer summer months.

Hannah explained how opting for pathways that have been created from hard wearing materials such as pebble, stone or decking will help you to navigate your sensory garden and keep on top of any maintenance issues - keeping your sensory garden open all year round.

“Try to include a range of plants and flowers that bloom all year round and thrive in your local area - this will keep your sensory garden looking vibrant throughout the seasons.” Hannah added.

Ensuring your on-site sensory garden is durable will massively impact the effectiveness of it, and there are plenty of ways you can create a durable sensory garden. For example, including raised garden beds or using a range

of planters made out of longlasting materials such as wood or terracotta.

If you’re looking to add seating areas to your sensory garden, Hannah advises looking for materials that can be easily packed away after the summer months or wooden benches that can remain outside all year long: “Having a storage area such as a small shed where you can keep any seasonal items for your sensory garden such as deck chairs and tables, as well as

Key benefits of sensory gardens in a care home:

• Creates a peaceful and safe haven for care home residents

• Can be helpful for supporting those living with dementia

• Encourages residents to get outside and enjoy nature

• Encourages residents to stay active

• Promotes good wellbeing and mental health for residents

any gardening equipment, will keep it free from rust and ready to use when you need it.”

Details from an article by NHS Forest (nhsforest.org) explained that at Logandene, a mental health unit in Hemel Hempstead, many of the service users living with dementia had previous horticultural experience through their own allotments or gardens, or working

Try to include a range of plants and flowers that bloom all year round.

as gardeners. They were heavily involved in the creation of the site’s sensory garden – adding compost, sowing seeds, watering and transplanting seedlings, writing

labels. The resulting green space is a place where the service users can build their concentration, motivation and confidence through gardening and social interaction, and the addition of level walkways, handrails and seating means it is fully accessible.

When designing a sensory garden for your care home, it’s important to consider the needs and preferences of the residents. This may include choosing plants and features that are easy to access and maintain, as well as incorporating seating areas and shaded areas for comfort. Additionally, safety considerations such as non-slip surfaces and secure boundaries should be taken into account.

Overall, sensory gardens can be a valuable asset to care homes, providing a space for residents to connect with nature and engage their senses in a relaxing and therapeutic environment.

Enough to bowl them over

Just Bowl was developed in 2014 by the Bowls Development Alliance as a community engagement programme and is a fun, easy to play, form of bowls that can be used in care homes, rehabilitation centres and just about anywhere else. In this issue, we share Just Bowl as our Activity of the Month as we delve into the benefits it can offer to residents and staff alike.

For the last five years Just Bowl has been funded by Sport England to work in care homes and, during that time, the staff at Just Bowl have discovered that when residents enter a care facility their daily routine inevitably changes and consequently, several forms of physical activity are no longer possible. One such activity that is synonymous with older adults is bowls. According to Sport England, in 2021 there were over 165,000 people playing bowls in England, but it is estimated that this figure is significantly higher; especially considering there are over 2,700 lawn green clubs, over 2,000 crown green clubs and an estimated 90,000 participants. Sadly, for many residents, when they enter a care home, they will no longer be able to enjoy a game on a sunny

afternoon. However, the Bowls Development Alliance is helping to change that by introducing Just Bowl into the care sector.

Ian McCombes, Manager at Just Bowl, explained, “We have been

working in the care sector for the last five years to deliver training to care home staff on how to use the equipment. We work with our partners to offer a bespoke training package which is supplemented by

The research carried out by Sheffield Hallam University also identified that Just Bowl created a sociable and fun atmosphere.

our exclusive Just Bowl equipment and additional items depending on the company’s requirements.

“We also provide aftercare support and guidance to ensure that Just Bowl is being utilised to its full potential. The training usually takes place in a separate room away from the residents but occasionally the staff ask if they can be involved, and this is one of the best parts of my job. It is great to see the look on their faces when they first see the equipment, as it is bright and colourful, and then see their surprise when they lift up the bowl and find out that it is lightweight and has the texture of a stress ball rather than a traditional wood. When I see the fun and enjoyment that they are having, and also witnessing the staff sharing that enjoyment, it makes me realise that we are making a difference to some people’s lives.”

The team have also been working with Sheffield Hallam University to conduct research to identify what impact Just Bowl has had on residents in care homes. The findings showed that Just Bowl encouraged inclusivity as it allowed people of all ages and abilities to play. It also identified that 83% of participants had a disability and 75% of the participants were aged 81-101 years of age. Just Bowl also helped to increase average physical activity levels (including light activity) by 40 minutes per week. This is significantly important as research and guidelines issued by the Chief Medical Officer shows that any increase in the volume and frequency of light activities, and any reduction in sedentary behaviour, will contribute towards increased health. The research carried out by Sheffield Hallam University also identified that Just Bowl created a sociable and fun atmosphere, as the participants were able to bond whilst playing the game, which subsequently led to an improvement in the mental wellbeing of those taking part. Research also showed improvements in happiness and a reduction in anxiety.

Additionally, the research

established that exercise selfefficacy increased following participation in Just Bowl, which suggests that participants felt more confident in their ability to be physically active. Self-efficacy is the belief and conviction that one can successfully perform a given activity and exercise. It is an important predictor of the adoption and maintenance of exercise behaviours, both of which could have compelling impacts on care home residents in their day-to-day lives. The qualitative feedback was also very encouraging from staff, residents and family members: As Just Bowl comes to the end of its funding term, the team are exploring new territory by offering hourly paid sessions in homes. This initiative is being trialled in East Anglia by the Just Bowl Team Leader, Connie Dowe, who explained the reason for this shift in

Just Bowl’s delivery strategy: “We were very conscious that many homes do not have the funds to purchase the Just Bowl equipment after COVID, and also that several care homes do not have specialist staff to deliver activities. Consequently, we carried out some research by talking to activity providers, care home managers and NAPA to determine if there was an opportunity to deliver Just Bowl as an hourly paid session and the interest has been great. We are really excited by the prospect of taking Just Bowl to a wider audience and the overall aim is to roll out this model in other parts of the country.”

For further information on Just Bowl or to express an interest in the hourly paid sessions, please contact Ian on 07741873233 or ian@justbowl.org

Running the 12-week project has really helped our residents come out of their shells. Just Bowl is easy to set up, easy to play and easy to join in and be involved” Staff member, Orchard House, Guinness Care

“Residents who previously had a stroke and thought they could not participate were able to play, and it made them more confident. Some new residents found this helpful to make friends with existing residents”

Hungerford Staff Member

Comfort is key

In an exclusive interview with James Mitton, Managing Director at Mobility Furniture Company, we learn about the extent of the range, how the brand differs to others on the market and the plethora of benefits the products can bring to your care home.

Please introduce Mobility CompanyFurniture and what you strive to achieve.

The Mobility Furniture Company supplies mobility furniture to care homes and private residences across the UK.

Our team of fully trained and experienced demonstrators take our furniture into care homes for them to try, along with samples of fabrics and upholsteries. The bespoke service we offer allows customers to enjoy finding that perfect fit for their health needs and the ideal look for their living space.

Customers also appreciate that the vast majority of our goods are manufactured within the UK, so boast British craftmanship… a fact we are immensely proud of. We aim to make life easier for people with mobility issues and the care home staff who do such a wonderful job themselves. How? By providing furniture that helps people sit down, stand up, get in and out of bed, and find a comfortable resting position.

The brand has a plethora of products, can you tell us about the range and popular choices within care homes?

We have four main sectors of products and all of them are useful in care homes: chairs; beds; homecare chairs; and homecare beds. However, homecare chairs and beds are the most popular categories within the care home sector.

Our homecare chairs have different ways of operating. Two

are manually operated and three are electrically operated. People choose depending on the needs of the user and the operator. The Plymouth chair is a favourite within care homes due to its high level of functionality and the fact that it can be used as a porter chair for moving people from one room to another. All have options of wipe clean fabrics and replacement covers as and when required.

Our homecare beds again cover a wide range of user needs. All eight beds in this category have vertical raising and lowering. We are particularly proud of the Bingley HiLow Chair/Bed, which gently moves a user from a lying position and swivels them to a seated position for departure from the bed.

How can the range from Mobility FurnitureCompany fit into a care home and what benefits can it offer?

Style is understandably important within care homes. Our chair ranges come in a wide range of fabrics and upholsteries ensuring that all tastes are accounted for. There are options of matching furniture too, including static/rise and recline settees, fire side chairs and bed settees. When designing a room in a new care

home or updating existing areas, we have the whole furniture suite covered.

In terms of benefits beyond aesthetics, our furniture enhances independence of residents by helping people to sit or lie down, get comfortable and stand up again. Many health conditions can be improved by simply elevating our legs, which is exactly what rise and recline chairs and adjustable beds do. We know how important sleep is to physical and mental health, and this is aided by our furniture as there are so many comfortable positions to choose between.

Further benefits are that: chairs can be moved between rooms without having to disturb the user; lap belts/lockable castors are additional useful safety features. Vitally, rise and recline chairs and adjustable beds result in greater support – and improved health – for care home staff too, as they result in less demanding physical work.

How can our readers stock your range?

Contact us by phone or email and we’ll be more than delighted to pay you a visit.

0800 810 8783

www.mobilityfurniture.co.uk

Dishing Up

As experts in foodservice, Bidfood share a delicious recipe this month which your residents will think is the zest! Follow the steps below to leave a mark when it comes to dessert and create this tasty Lemon Cream Pudding.

As one of the UK’s leading foodservice providers, here at Bidfood we have a passion for great food and are always focused on going the extra mile for our customers. Being the best is a key part of our ethos, and we strive to deliver service excellence, making life easier for customers and helping them grow.

The success of our customers is paramount to us and we believe that providing great service is more than simply dropping off deliveries, it’s about adding value. Our expertise, industry knowledge, nutritional advice and guidance on food standards and legislation help to keep our customers ahead of the curve.

With over 500 care home-specific recipes, our dedicated care team provide an array of support from catering for diabetes to keeping operators up to date with the latest trends in care, making sure meal times are always delicious and memorable times in your care home.

It’s important for those catering to care home residents to get a clear understanding of what their specific needs and requirements are.

But remember, it’s not just about serving something nutritious, it’s about serving something fulfilling and delicious too! Chefs must also be mindful of other factors like

Ingredients

• Double cream, 1000ml

• Caster sugar, 250g

• Lemons, 4

residents’ tolerance for spice - while one may love a hot chipotle spiced chicken, another may prefer a less spicy version. Each care home will also have a different mix of residents from different cultural backgrounds too, so adapting meals to fit those flavour profiles will be key to helping them feel comfortable, and at home.

And of course, meal times must be fun! Try implementing themed days and dishes that offer a sense of nostalgia or relate to something current like the upcoming coronation for King Charles III. Our lemon cream pudding is quick and simple to make but offers an elegant touch.

We’ve shared the recipe so you can replicate it in your care home

as part of a coronation feast, fit for a King or Queen and beyond.

Steps

1. Place cream in pan along with the sugar

2. Zest and juice the lemons and add to the pan

3. Bring to the boil and allow to simmer for 5 minutes

4. Pour into pots and allow to cool

Time to prepare: 10 minutes

Time to cook: 5 minutes

Serves 20

www.bidfood.co.uk

It’s not just about serving something nutritious, it’s about serving something fulfilling and delicious too!

A WATCHED POT NEVER...

Make your kitchens safer.

HobSensus prevents hobs from being left on when the person preparing food is distracted or leaves the kitchen. The sensor monitors the pans on the cooking surface and if temperatures reach dangerous levels or the pre-determined ‘on’ time elapses, the power to the hob is cut, resulting in safer kitchens.

Five Minutes With

Andy Williams,

Sector

Last year at Creed Foodservice we commissioned a piece of research exploring what care caterers need to consider when it comes to food and drink provision, environmental needs and hospitality demands for the next generation who will soon be needing care. For us as a company, such insights are invaluable – not only do they mean we can plan our own strategy and provision for supplying products and services which meet evolving expectations, but we can also assist our customers in planning for the future too.

Surveying those aged 58-76 across the country who fit into the ‘Baby Boomer’ category showed the importance of food and drink to this generation, whose expectations are very different to those currently living in care facilities.

Our research found a staggering 95% of Baby Boomers said that the food and drink provision is ‘important’ when choosing a care home. Furthermore, eight out of ten said they would pay more for a premium offering if their budget allowed. High quality, varied food and drink provision will no longer just be a nice to have, but instead a fundamental part of the decisionmaking process. Key here is the opportunity for our care customers to grow occupancy rates, revenue and profit if they can respond to the upcoming demands.

More recently KAM Media also released a piece of research which looks at the ‘Golden Years’ generation (65years+) . This research has shown that spending by this age group has increased by 75% between the years of 2001 to 2018, amounting to an average

drinking and dining-out spend of £158 per person each month. Sunday lunches were, in particular, identified as a key leisure activity, amongst a raft of other dining occasions. When considering that by 2040, older people will be spending 63p of every pound in the UK economy – also identified by KAM Media – It’s essential we understand how this will look, and how we can meet this demand for top notch hospitality provision in a care setting too.

One of the areas we explored is just how global our tastes have become, with our research showing that the three most popular cuisines for the Baby Boomer generation are Italian, Chinese and Indian. Three quarters of those surveyed even suggested they’d like to see pop-up style cookery stations, featuring meals

like barbecues, Indian curries and freshly cooked pizzas, in their future care settings.

At Creed sharing this knowledge and being able to support our customers with planning and implementing best practice is of paramount importance, using our insights to make solid and comprehensive plans for the immediate future. We’ve got a variety of innovation spaces and facilities to assist with this, where we can run menu development sessions, led by our expert team of staff and consultants, from our development chefs, to our insights managers.

To read more about the research we carried out visit www.creedfoodservice.co.uk/ content/sector/care, or to discuss further contact Andy Williams via the Creed office: 01452 858 180.

Care

Specialist at Creed Foodservice on the next generation of care home residents.

Reducing Risk

“When looking at meal provisions, care homes often feel they only have two choices: inhouse or a contract caterer.

“There is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ choice but there are factors homes need to consider around which is the right service for their needs. Given the current economic climate and sector staffing crisis, managing cost and labour shortages without loss of service or provision are major deciding factors.

“There is of course a third choice for care homes to consider. Namely that of a ‘hybrid’ offer where preprepared meals are cooked on site and served to residents.

“For many care homes ‘fresh cook’ appeals. But there are inherent challenges in delivering a seamless quality service, and often a significant cost in preparing a quality fresh-cook service.

“And it should be asked; does it taste any better? How are specialist dietary needs met? How do you keep a firm handle on nutritional content?

“A contract caterer can appear to be an attractive alternative, with the promise of minimising work for the management teams and seemingly, taking away unpredictable labour concerns. But of course, alongside this, comes a loss of overall control which has been known (in some instances), to come back to bite.

“It’s fair to say that sometimes homes can have an unrealistic expectation of what a contract caterer can offer. The reality is that often, contract caterers are also struggling to recruit.

“There is also the issue of cost. Contract caterers are inherently

more expensive as they look to make a margin that care homes wouldn’t, and one has to consider the exposure to ever-rising labour costs (on a labour reliant model), alongside absence and inconsistency issues based on the skills level of the person in the kitchen on any given day.

“Given the current economic climate, we know how important it is for care homes to balance costs and labour requirements. We are finding that more and more care homes are considering the middle ground and recognising that services such as our hybrid option are an extremely attractive option.

“Opting for a hybrid system where high quality pre-prepared meals are deployed, helps to insulate care homes against the ongoing staff crisis as it reduces the reliance on labour whilst ensuring high quality meals every day. With apetito, there is no need for a large, costly catering team, with care homes being able to reduce their labour requirements by as much as 50%.

“Costs are fixed, removing the

headache of having to understand how they can be controlled. In fact, consistency of cost is a big plus for care homes using our service.

“Another benefit to using hybrid service is that safety of mealtimes is guaranteed, something which is far harder for in-house or contract catering teams to achieve.

“There are increasing numbers of residents with dietary requirements and catering for these makes food preparation in the kitchen a complex task.

“Using a hybrid service helps to manage dietary requirements, reduces the risk of crosscontamination, and makes it easy to serve a variety of nutritious dishes that are suitable for all dietary requirements, taking away the stress of ensuring safe mealtimes.

“So, for homes looking to serve delicious food, whilst controlling costs, protecting themselves from labour shortages and simplifying catering for dietary requirements, it really is worth considering if the third way - the hybrid approachcould work.”

https://apetito.link/CHMag

Richard Woodward, General Manager for apetito’s Care Home Division, looks at the options facing care homes when it comes to making the right choice for their residents’ mealtimes.

Catering with care

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Efficient hydration

New ultra-hygienic drinking water system gets stamp of approval from leading healthcare facility.

Developed specifically for the healthcare and aged care markets, or anywhere additional peace of mind is required, Zip HydroTap UltraCare is designed to reduce the risk of legionella and other bacteria in drinking water by 99.9%, as verified by rigorous independent testing.*

The Zip HydroTap UltraCare was the ideal solution, as it uses an innovative combination of four protective barriers to provide the ultimate safeguard against waterborne bacteria and viruses. An enhanced version of its marketleading HydroTap, it delivers instant filtered boiling and chilled water and is set to advance the delivery of drinking water in locations where there is high-risk to end users.

The Medical Assessment Unit at Royal United Hospital Bath was

one of the first sites in the UK to install the HydroTap UltraCare in March 2022. The MAU Ward was having continuous issues with its old countertop water boiler, used to make tea and coffee for staff and patients. Due to excessive scale damage it was repeatedly out-of-use and the taste of the water it dispensed was increasingly unpleasant.

Kevin Ferguson, Assistant Practitioner on the ward was on the look-out for an alternative drinking water solution that was not only reliable and robust, but also compact, user-friendly and, most of all, suitable for a healthcare environment.

“Not only is the HydroTap more compact and streamlined than the old counter-top urn, but the taste, quality and appearance of the drinking water it dispenses

is amazing”, commented Kevin, “It’s an upgrade in every sense, it is simply better in every way! Especially as the hospital suffers from hard water and the general feedback following installation is that water tastes better and we can see both patients and staff drinking more than they previously did. This increase in hydration levels is having a positive impact on the health of everyone.”

Having both instant filtered boiling and chilled drinking water has proved a big time saver for those working on the ward, and Kevin has seen it make a positive impact on the health of patients too.

“Patients in healthcare and agedcare settings are more vulnerable to infections, so knowing that you are using a drinking water system that is providing an extra safeguard

brings both staff and patients often much needed peace of mind, especially to those who are immunocompromised.” concludes Kevin

Of UltraCare’s four protective barriers, the first is MicroPurity filtration. The 0.2 micron, carbonfree filter reduces cysts by 99.9%, while also ensuring that existing protective levels of chlorine remain in the water supply.

SteriTouch, a market-leading antimicrobial additive that reduces bacteria by 99.99%, is the second barrier. It is inside key components within the water path, as well as being embedded in the touchpad of the Classic Plus tap.

The third barrier is the inclusion of a Zip MicroPurity UV-C LED module for chilled water dispensing. This disinfects water as it is dispensed, reducing the chance of recontamination and common waterborne bacteria.

The final element is its HydroCare service plan, which ensures the HydroTap UltraCare always performs to the highest levels of hygiene, efficiency and reliability with tailored service plans, a bespoke sanitisation regime and filter replacement.

“We’re proud to be able to bring such an important – and calledfor – product to the health and

care market, which will transform the way they deliver water,” comments Mark Brindley, Product Manager at Zip Water. “Our aim is to support the duty holder within these sensitive environments to control exposure to legionella, as set out in the HSE’s Approved Code of Practice and guidance on regulations.

“Independent tests have demonstrated that this 4-barrier system does exactly what we set out to achieve; to safeguard vulnerable users against possible bacteria found in water systems. Testament to this, HydroTap UltraCare is already receiving positive feedback from users across the world.”

And, because it is a Zip HydroTap, care homes and other organisations will benefit from environmentally conscious features such as water efficiency – with an air-cooled process which eliminates the need for water in the cooling process and energy efficiency modes.

HydroTap UltraCare is available with a choice of tap designs; Classic Plus, Touch-Free Wave and Classic Accessibility, which is suitable for wheelchair users or those with limited dexterity.

Find out more at specify.zipwater.co.uk/ultracare

* ALS Pty Ltd Testing of the Zip HydroTap UltraCare system efficacy tests

Five Minutes With

Geoffrey Cox, Employer of the Year as Managing Director of Southern Healthcare.

Iwas a Solicitor for 25 years in total and whilst it was a rewarding career, after 20 years, I wanted to do something completely different, something that I thought could be more meaningful and also in which hoped I could make an impact.

On the Millennium New Years eve, I decided I would go into Nursing Homes and set up Southern Healthcare, which has four Devon Nursing Homes. Now, looking back over 23 years, I wouldn’t change a thing as I feel ultimately fulfilled as I reflect on my journey.

In late 2019, I also became the CEO of the Eden Alternative UK. Eden, is a global network, across 22 countries over five continents and is primarily a ‘philosophy of care’ that Southern Healthcare had adopted and it believes that the predominant post-war ‘medicalised model’ of elderly care is not sufficiently broad to meet the needs, aspiration and ambitions of todays’ older generation.

Eden is a ‘culture innovation’ programme and addresses the above challenge by focusing upon wellbeing. It addresses the risks of loneliness, helplessness, and boredom by developing environments of loving companionship, partnership working and thriving spontaneity. It draws on Rogerian person centredness, appreciative leadership and organisational team building.

Within Eden, these aspirations catapult team members to centre stage and believe that with a strong group ethic, effective support for the team and individual staff members’ wellbeing, an organisation can achieve outstanding results.

Southern Healthcare became a

member of Eden after seeing the programme in action in 2009 in New Zealand. Every year since, Southern Healthcare has trained more members of the team in the Eden Alternative programme, and as a result the momentum of innovation has built up over those years, including through the pandemic (when the course transferred to being online).

When one of the two founders of Eden UK sadly passed away unexpectedly in 2019, I offered to run Eden in the UK, and after the pandemic, the Eden Alternative is growing again across the globe.

The Eden programme started in New York in 1994, developed by an American geriatrician Dr Bill Thomas, and has been growing ever since, primarily in the elderly care sector, residential care, supported living and care at home. As a young GP, in an outstanding New York Nursing Home, Dr Thomas came to treat a resident for a condition he knew about well, but when she asked for help as she was feeling lonely, he didn’t know what to say.

It struck Dr Thomas that many residents seemed to experience loneliness, or feelings or boredom, and that, he felt, had to change. With his wife and the help of others, together they wrote the Eden programme to do that, and it is as relevant today as it was then.

Our experience has been sustained progress upon the Eden principles. We have faced challenges like everyone else and the austerity years were tough. However, we believed the Eden philosophy helped sustain an extraordinary teamwork ethic, and one which I describe regularly as determined, dedicated and selfless. As Southern Healthcare, we have attained many national awards over the years, including Care Home of The Year twice, Care Team of The UK and this year - Employer of The Year at the GB Care Awards. We would not have achieved this without having applied the Eden principles consistently.

Here’s to paving the way for extraordinary teamwork in care! eden-alternative.co.uk

The Eden Alternative Training

How life in care should be for the team, residents and their families.

Enhancing the wellbeing and quality of life for all in any care setting through:

• Common sense

• Easy to understand, non-jargon concepts

• Nurturing non-prescriptive creativity

Eden is a not-for-profit training programme sharing decades of experience and knowledge. Together we will address the challenges of loneliness, helplessness and boredom within care.

All online sessions are interactive and hosted live: 1-hour, over 7 weeks or visit us in-person at our dedicated training facility in Dawlish, Devon over a 2 day course.

A little goes a long way

When done right, employee recognition creates a workplace culture that helps people thrive. With care homes providing staff with emotionally and physically demanding tasks, appreciation goes a long way and we highlight the benefits below.

Within a care home, there are many roles which help to keep the cogs turning. Staff members include nurses, care assistants, activity coordinators, kitchen staff, housekeepers and those who work in the administrative departments; and each role’s responsibility varies.

With the care industry being a very important one where people’s lives are essentially in the hands of others, the correct skills, knowledge and qualifications are essential to provide safe and effective care to residents. Due to the personal nature of the job, it certainly takes a specific kind of individual to be up to the demands of the role. Often staff members at a care home need knowledge on infection

High staff turnover can lead to disruption in care.

control, manual handling and safeguarding. They must have good communication skills, empathy and a compassionate nature, as caring for residents at a care home can be emotionally and physically demanding.

Care home staff play a vital role in providing care and support to residents and their families, ensuring their wellbeing and high quality of life.

Like in any sector, staff appreciation is incredibly important, but in care home settings – even more so. Working within a care

home can be tough on the mind as well as the body, so it’s paramount that your staff know how valued they are.

As we mentioned, the role can be demanding, which can lead to staff feeling stressed or burned out. By showing appreciation specifically to each and every team member can have huge positive effects on morale. Motivation can also be impacted when staff know they are valued, which, in turn, can lead to better job satisfaction and improved quality of care.

Comments to show appreciation

amongst staff are advised ‘little and often’ as they can also massively encourage retention. Staff retention rates are important in any workplace, but it is particularly crucial in that of a care home setting. High staff turnover can lead to disruption in care, cause confusion amongst residents and see a decrease in the quality of care offered. By actively showing your staff appreciation, this will encourage staff to stay and continue providing excellent care.

Showing gratitude to on-site team members can also have a knock-on effect to communication, which can help build relationships between management and staff. You want your team to feel like they can come to you about anything and when they feel valued, they are more likely to converse openly and honestly, which can lead to better decision-making and a more effective workplace.

On top of the plethora of benefits listed above, showing your team you are grateful and their work is valued, also massively enhances resident experiences. When staff feel looked after, they will deliver care to a high level; this will lead to satisfaction among residents

and therefore better overall health outcomes.

The delivery of care, as well as the general moods and characteristics of care home staff, is a factor that will be at the forefront of potential residents’ and their families’ minds

when they look for a suitable care home, so it goes without saying that the overall appreciation of your staff will have direct effects on occupancy rates, and this is something that you must always remember.

Showing your team you are grateful and their work is valued also massively enhances resident experiences.

SCAN TO OPTIMIZE YOUR WORKFORCE

Marketing Services

Make a splash

With the help of some industry experts we look at how to establish the perfect marketing strategy to increase your care home occupancy.

Marketing your care home can seem like a daunting task, especially if it’s not an area you are familiar with. The pressing factor is that a successful marketing strategy is what stands between you and the growth of your home, but it must be done in a smart and effective manner.

Someone who knows only too well about the importance of an effective approach is Senior Carer and Marketing Assistant at St. Brelades and The Cumberland Care Homes, Ellie Parker. With experience in testing out which kind of content gains a positive

response online, Ellie revealed that it is indeed dogs and singing which people love to see from a care home’s social pages.

“Our followers always respond to the interactive videos which feature our residents, including them singing. It evokes emotions amongst the people watching it and I think this is due to the more personal touch – life behind closed doors, if you like.”

Ellie explained that content surrounding general day-to-day activities creates a real buzz on social media too: “Our activities coordinator Freya often picks out a national day and we do an activity

based around it. For example, a few weeks back we chose National Liquorice Allsorts Day and encouraged residents to paint pictures of the sweets which went down really well.”

Ellie explained that not only are these topical activities enjoyable for her residents, but it gives them something to talk about with their families and visitors: “One of our occupant’s daughters lives in Canada, she calls us on Skype daily and always mentions if she’s seen her mum on our social media page. She says things like ‘I’ve seen you painting’ or ‘I saw you went for a stroll along the beach’ etc., so it also

offers her peace of mind all those miles away to know that her relative is being well looked after.”

Ellie revealed that based on her experience she has found that their website and social media platforms, such as Facebook and the everrising TikTok, have been the most beneficial outlets to showcase their marketing strategy.

“As our residents are of the older generation, their children are often in their 60s and 70s themselves. This is why Facebook works well for us as it’s has been around for a while and it is a platform they are familiar with.”

In any marketing strategy, it’s essential to find out where your customers ‘hang out’ for want of

a better phrase. Tom Threadgill speaks on behalf of Marketing for Care Homes and explained how in the case of elderly care, if you take the most likely persona of the individual looking for care, it is often a man or woman in their 50s or 60s looking for a relative, likely their mother or mother-in-law, so you should seek to find the best places

to find these people.

“Knowing who is looking for the care you provide is the single most effective thing a company can do to understand their market better and be as relevant to them as possible.” Added Tom.

Tom revealed that his clients will often say something like ‘I know Facebook is important but I’m not sure how and why; I don’t use it personally – does this matter?’ Facebook is great for showing off what you do. “It’s the place a care home can prove that what they say in their advertising and marketing actually happens in real life. It is also a great tool to remarket to people, through digital advertising. We would always recommend a Facebook/social media strategy, but it has to work with the resources the home has.” Tom added.

In a group, or large home, there may be dedicated in-house people to do this, but where there isn’t, it is far better to simplify the output and be consistent. Tom believes that reception teams and event

managers are normally the best people to oversee an in-house campaign.

“Most care home marketing focuses on those with an immediate need, but that only represents between 3 and 5% of the market. So, we can nearly always help companies to improve this part of their content game, simply by understanding the groups of people who will be potential customers and what they need to see, hear and feel.

“For content to be truly useful, we always start with the question ‘what is authentic?’ It’s different for every company, but what we always try to avoid is talk about dignity, compassion and respect. For us, and anyone looking for care, these are assumed to be a given, they are the bare minimum anyone expects of a care home and yet miles of copy exists talking about it. Talk about what makes your company different, what you do the best, and the difference it makes to people’s lives.”

So, what kind of topics should

care homes be writing about in order to market themselves effectively and boost occupancy rates?

Tom sees that there are three categories which you should always try to get people thinking about. “First of all it’s the advisory stuff. What do people want to know? How are they feeling? How can we help? It may be articles about viewing a care home, funding for care, ways to have a conversation with relatives about care, or something else.” As long as it helps the reader on their journey, the article has done well. They can be updated, used over long periods of time with minimal updating, and they affect the website’s organic ranking positively over time.

Secondly, Tom revealed that there are the ‘what happens here’ articles: “These act more like updates from within the home. They might feature a special birthday, or focus on a resident’s interesting or unusual career (there are many, many of these – care home residents have often lived fantastic lives and are keen to share them). These enable

you to show off what makes your home or group special. They also reassure relatives that their loved ones are in the best place.”

Thirdly, Tom places emphasis on the importance of talking about your care teams. There is so much amazing work that goes on in care homes, by incredibly compassionate people from all different walks of life.

“The impact of seeing close-knit teams, working together for the good of their residents is extremely powerful for people looking for care. It gives them reassurance about their loved ones, but also makes them feel good against the often-pessimistic narrative of care stories that appear in the news.”

SMART marketing is an approach that involves setting specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals for your marketing campaigns. The goal of SMART marketing is to ensure that your marketing efforts are effective, efficient, and focused on achieving measurable outcomes.

By defining your target audience, building a strong brand, providing exceptional care, and utilising the right channels for your company, you can effectively market your care home and attract the right residents and their families.

Marketing for Care Home’s tips for successful promotion with SMART marketing:

Specific goals:

Identify specific marketing goals that are aligned with your business objectives. For example, you may want to increase occupancy rates, generate more leads, improve your local reputation or recruit team members.

Measurable outcomes:

Define measurable outcomes for each marketing goal. For example, you may want to increase occupancy rates by 10%, generate 50 new leads per month, or increase your overall online rating by one star.

Achievable targets:

Achievable targets that are based on your resources and capabilities. For example, you may want to increase your occupancy rates by 50%, but this may not be achievable given your current staffing levels, and marketing budget.

Relevant messaging:

Develop relevant messaging that resonates with your target audience. For example, you may want to emphasize the personalized care and attention that your care home provides, or highlight the amenities and services that set you apart from other care homes in the area.

Time-bound campaigns:

Set time-bound campaigns that are designed to achieve your marketing goals within a specific timeframe. For example, you may want to run a digital campaign for six months to generate leads, or offer a promotional discount to new residents who sign up within a certain timeframe.

Essential 5

In line with our focus on marketing, we share five key elements of your care home which should be at the forefront of your promotional campaigns in order to boost occupancy rates.

1

Reviews

Using reviews in a marketing campaign can be a powerful strategy to increase the credibility and trustworthiness of your care home. To ensure you make the most of this, you should identify the most positive and compelling reviews and feature them prominently on your website, social media channels and other marketing platforms. In any industry, people appreciate ‘hearing it from the horse’s mouth’, so, using real customer testimonials from residents’ families goes a long way.

2

Chefs

Good nutrition and hydration are key to remaining healthy and care home chefs hold the incredibly important role of ensuring residents receive nutritious and delicious meals three times a day without fail. Along with providing healthy food, the work of a chef provides a range of other benefits such as increased quality of life and enhanced socialisation at meal times. Having an in-home chef should be a firm point in your marketing strategy to ensure potential residents and their families know that wellness and nutrition are of great significance to you. Along with this, if you have chefs who have undergone specific training courses, perhaps to enable them to cater more efficiently to vegan diets, make sure you include this.

3

Outdoor areas

Outdoor areas create a sense of wellbeing and happiness amongst residents and should therefore feature in a prime position within your marketing campaign. Using high-quality photos and videos of the grounds from a range of angles can ensure you capture all of the garden’s features. Including a walkthrough of each area and the emotions/effects it can ignite goes deeper than simply sharing a photo. When doing this, it’s important to showcase not only the beauty of the outdoors, but also the safety and security as these are important considerations for seniors and their families.

4

In-home activities

Care homes can sometimes be lonely places, especially for residents who don’t have visitors, so in-home activities are a great way to boost self-esteem and reduce isolation. Whether you hire a singing teacher, hold a crafts workshop or introduce dance classes; you must make a song and dance about it on your website and social channels to capture the attention of potential residents and their families. This shows that you are a home willing to go above and beyond to provoke feelings of happiness amongst those who stay with you.

5

Additional facilities

More recently, we have seen care homes introduce additional facilities such as on-site salons and cinemas for the use of their residents. As these extra amenities are quite rare, it’s important that they are made known it could massively help you to appeal to a broader audience. More frequently now, families of senior individuals are reluctant to put their relatives in care as they spend time weighing up the pros and cons of their current lifestyle, but by having additional points of interest, it could increase occupancy rates.

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GET IN TOUCH

We’d love to hear from you on how your business is progressing in 2023. Specifically, any new ideas you’ve implemented, any ways you are making additional revenue, your sustainability initiatives and your plans for the rest of the year – we know that a lot of you are doing inspiring things every day in your businesses and we want to give you the opportunity to shout about it.

Please reach out to jamesd@cimltd.co.uk for the opportunity to be featured in Care Home Magazine.