MYTH BUSTING THE ROLE OF THE CARE PROFESSIONAL

By Christina Uppenkamp - Home Instead

Welcome to the latest edition of Senior Snippets: the monthly advisory column with the older members of our community in mind, brought to you by Christina Uppenkamp of Home Instead Dartford.

In this edition, we are going to look at some of the common myths surrounding the role of a Care Professional. We want to help people understand what caregiving entails and to encourage people to think about a career in care. According to Skills for Care, the strategic body for workforce development in adult social care in England, there are approximately 90,000 vacancies in the social care sector at any given time.

Here are the top 5 myths surrounding caregiving:

Myth 1: Caregiving consists only of routine tasks. Many people believe that Care Professionals only have about 15 minutes for each care visit and they mostly provide tasked based care such as help around the house, medication reminders and perhaps drive their client to the grocery store or pharmacy if they have time.

But Care Professionals do so much more than that! They provide a large amount of social and emotional support which can be as impactful on their client’s wellbeing as those performing physical activities. No two days are the same when you work in care.

Myth 2: Care workers are unskilled. Care Professionals are among some of the most skilled healthcare workers in the sector. Carers will always have opportunities to increase their skills or specialise in certain areas, and the sector is constantly changing and growing to meet the needs of the ageing population. There are over 50 qualifications at different levels in social care, so it is important to speak to your employer about learning and developing new skills.

Myth 3: Being cared for in your home is only for the very ill.

Many elderly people want to live at home for as long as possible but might require a little bit of extra help around the house. In these instances, non-medical home care, including personal care and companionship services, can be provided by professional Care Pros.

Non-medical home care often revolves around daily living activities, such as eating, dressing, and bathing and Care Professionals might also help with driving, shopping and doing housework. Companionship care is also vital to those living on their own as it helps prevent loneliness and isolation. Having a chat over a cup of tea and helping people get out and about is the type of quality time that elderly people most often need.

Myth 4: All caregiving services are the same. The saying “buyer beware” is very true when looking for the right home care company. Whether you are a family member, looking for care for a loved one, or you are looking for a job in the care sector, it is important to remember that not all care companies are the same.

There are many options in today’s market for seniors and their families, and it is recommended for anyone looking for care to do plenty of research and ask a lot of questions.

Myth 5: Most Care Professionals are middle-aged women. Traditionally, this myth might be true, but in today’s society Care Professionals are a more diverse group than many people realise. Many Care Professionals are men, and additionally, many Care Professionals are of the millennial generation, between the ages of 18 and 30. Even children are providing care for loved ones. And not all Care Professionals are family members; these days, friends are increasingly likely to step in. There are many more myths about the role of a Care Professional, but we hope that this article has helped shine a light on caregiving as a rewarding career where you can make a real difference to someone’s life.

At Home Instead we’re running the You Can Care campaign, to provide advice and support. Simply search #youcancare on social media, for a range of hints and tips on ways to live well in later life.

I’d love to hear from you! To make a suggestion for a future Senior Snippets topic, please write to me at c.uppenkamp@dartford.homeinstead.co.uk or by post to Home Instead Dartford, St Fidelis House, St Fidelis Road, Erith, DA8 1AT.

In this month’s article we look at new electric vehicles coming on sale this year and next.

By Dhiren Ganesh

the UK’s most affordable electric car. Described as the Aldi of electric cars Dacia hope to be as popular as the supermarket. The official range from its 26.8kWh battery, for example, is 143 miles which is more than some rivals, but will only have a top speed of 78mph from the 44bhp electric motor. In ‘eco’ mode this can be reduced to 31bhp (top speed to 62mph). Charging up takes as little as 38 minutes at the Spring’s peak charging rate of 34kW. When the Spring goes on sale in Summer 2024; prices are expected to start from around £19,000, likely making it the cheapest electric car.

2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N – this is a highperformance electric car with more than 600bhp. Served with two electric motors which is more than double the power of the regular Ioniq 5. The steering, suspension and brakes have been tweaked to improve performance and handling on the car which enables it to reach 0-60 mph in just 3.4 seconds. Powering the electric motors is an 84kWh battery, will be able to travel around 250 miles officially on one charge. Being the hot version of the regular Ioniq 5, the N model adds aggressive details such as orange styling cues, a boot spoiler and bespoke 21in alloy wheels. Prices are yet to be announced but expected to be around £65,000 when on sale in late 2023.

2024 Dacia Spring electric car – will have a range of up to 143 miles, and looks set to be

2023 Peugeot 208 - this brings an updated design, both inside and out, plus new hybrid engine options and a longer range for the electric e-208. The fully electric Peugeot e-208 now has an official range of 248 miles and power has risen to 156bhp compared to previous version. The petrol-powered 208 is now available with a 1.2-litre mild hybrid engine, which comes in 100bhp and 136bhp guises. Either way, a small electric motor means it can occasionally run on electric power at low speeds. Alternatively, you can still have a non-hybrid 1.2-litre threecylinder petrol engine, with either 74bhp or 99bhp. Peugeot has made minor tweaks to the exterior design including new lights front and rear, a reshaped rear bumper and a slightly wider front grille. Expect prices to start from around £21,000 when on sale in October 2023.