Inside Home Instead ~ August Newsletter

OUR MONTHLY NEWSLETTER: ISSUE 8

IN THIS ISSUE:

Anitra’s Update

Some exciting news! We are teaming up with York Uni in some research into selecting, supporting and training our Care Pro’s caring for clients living with dementia, generating scenarios of how best to approach the various challenges that may present themselves when giving care to someone with dementia.

Person-centred care is at the heart of the experience with Home Instead. This means getting to know our clients as individuals; building caring relationships; and tailoring support to people's preferences. Some people are more passionate about tenaciously giving the best care and these are the people we need as our Care Professionals.

York Uni are developing a tool to help, called a 'situational judgement test’, presenting real life dilemmas and asking the most appropriate action. Judging whether someone has the right values and attitudes for person-centred care is important and this research will enhance our tools to identify and recruit Care Pro’s who pass what we call our ‘Mum Test’… people we would we be happy for this person to join our award winning team.

As specialists in Dementia, York Uni Social Policy Research Unit has asked to spend time with a selection of our expert Care Pro’s, exploring real life scenarios they encounter and, in their experience, how best to manage them. What a fantastic opportunity and we are delighted to be involved.

INSIDE HOME INSTEAD

Dates for the Diary

Coffee & Cake Sing-a-Long

• WHEN: Friday 4th August, 4pm – 6pm

• WHERE: Lord Knyvett Hall, 112 High Street, Stanwell Village, TW19 7JS

• WHAT: Sing along together to classics – Juke box style so you can choose the tune! All over coffee and cake, raising funds for new local charity, Good Neighbours Stanwell. Stay on and join Gill’s Bingo, nibbles, singing and dancing from 7pm.

• Email Jo.halstead@homeinstead.co.uk

Spencer Denny Centre, Age Concern Windsor

• WHEN: Tues 29th August, 10am- 12pm

• WHERE: Spencer Denny Centre, Park Corner, Windsor SL4 4EB

• WHAT: Home Instead will be joining Spencer Denny’s day centre for an informational morning showcasing groups and organisations that provide social and interest groups, and those that support older people with life changes.

Key to Care Learning Circle: Understanding Dementia

• WHEN: Friday 25th August, 2pm- 3pm.

• WHERE: Home Instead office, Gogmore Ln, Chertsey. KT16 9AP

• WHAT: 1 hour, bite-sized info session & discussion about Dementia with practical advice to make a difference. Informal, interactive and open to all. No charge. Contact Anitra for more info: anitra.camargo@homeinstead.co.uk

Our Care Pro Quarterly Meetings & Socials

• WHEN & WHERE: Thursday 28th September

• 10.30am - 11.30am – Care Pro Meeting 1

• 11.30am – 1.00pm – Care Pro Sandwich Lunch

• 3.30pm – 4.30pm – Care Pro Meeting 2

• 6pm – 8pm – Meeting 3 + cheese & wine social in our office, Cambridge House, Chertsey

• WHAT: Our quarterly Care Pro Catch-Up – one, big happy family come together to connect, share experiences and information, learn new things from guest speakers & socialise. Contact Anitra to confirm which meeting you’ll be attending.

Tilly Sinden

Our People News

Introducing our new Care Professionals!

We are delighted to have welcomed in July….

Charles Awulor

Khaoula El Moussaoui

Datchet Stanwell Egham

Freda Kyerewaah

Ruth Santos Sousa Mitcham Windsor Windsor

Maryam Ramezani

Hello, I’m Harj, Home Instead’s new Finance Assistant

Hello, I’m Harj. I am delighted to have joined the Home Instead team in the role of Finance Assistant. A little about me….. I grew up in Slough and now live in beautiful Virginia Water with my husband, three children and three dogs…. I am certainly kept busy and on my toes! I love spending time with my family, being out in nature, reading and listening to podcasts. In my new role I will be dealing with all client invoicing and Care Pro payroll, covering for Leanne whilst she is enjoying maternity leave. Being office based, I’ll also be answering phone-calls into the office and I’m looking forward to helping you in any way I can.

Already I love working for Home Instead. It is so rewarding to be in an environment that stands for outstanding quality care, making a difference in the lives of those who both give and receive care. The office team and all the Care Pro’s passion and drive for their roles and the value they bring is contagious and wonderful to see.

Exciting News! Announcing the arrival of a new baby girl! We are absolutely thrilled to share the wonderful news of the safe arrival of our Office Manager Leanne’s bundle of joy on Wednesday 2nd August! Congratulations Leanne and Will! We look forward to sharing more photos, meeting her little girl and watching her grow into a remarkable individual, just like her mum.

Exciting new job opportunity in our office team.

We have an exciting new opportunity for a Recruitment, Training and Engagement Specialist. This is an office-based role. Hours: 1.30pm to 5.30 ...although some flexibility around this is key. While you must love admin and all things computer based, this role is a key engagement role and so you must LOVE people! Please speak to Zoe to find out more. zoe.davies@wrws.homeinstead.co.uk

News from the Office

From our client’s homes to our office; Nurturing a strong bond for all round benefits.

A warm welcome to our Care Pro’s to the office any day, any time.

In the world of providing care, the relationship between the Care Professional and the office team is vital. Working passionately in small teams within our clients’ homes it’s important we build a connected and cohesive team.

We extend an open invitation to all our care professionals to visit our office whenever they would like. It’s their office! Whether it's between home visits or on a day off, we warmly welcome them to drop by. Our doors are always open, and the kettle is always on. By encouraging care professionals to come into the office, we aim to achieve several important goals:

1. Strengthening Team Bonds: Face-to-face interactions provide an opportunity for care professionals to connect with their colleagues in the office team. Building personal relationships fosters a sense of camaraderie and teamwork.

2. Sharing Knowledge and Expertise: Our care professionals bring with them a wealth of experience from their fieldwork. By interacting with the office team, they can share valuable insights, exchange ideas, and contribute to the collective knowledge of the organisation.

3. Enhancing Professional Development: The office environment offers resources and training materials that can aid in the continuous growth of our care professionals. Regular visits to the office facilitate access to these resources and opportunities for skill development.

4. Providing Emotional Support: Caring for others can be emotionally challenging at times. Having a supportive office environment where care professionals can unwind, talk, or seek advice can be invaluable for their well-being.

5. Fostering a Sense of Belonging: Feeling connected to the organisation is crucial for job satisfaction. We strive to create a strong sense of belonging and commitment to our shared mission of providing exceptional care.

We believe that a closely-knit team translates into a better for our clients and strive to create a warm and welcoming environment where everyone feels valued, supported, and connected. We extend our heartfelt invitation to all of our team to make use of this opportunity and visit our office whenever they can. Together, we can foster a caring, relationship-led and people centred environment that positively impacts the lives of both our team members and those clients we support.

Support Services Spotlight

Action for Carers Surrey (ACS) is a registered charity, there to help unpaid carers of all ages, right across Surrey, with information, support and advice both one on one over the phone or face-to-face, and in support groups and workshops. They can help with benefits advice, advocacy, give practical guidance on moving and handling, and provide a wealth of information and free resources. They can also signpost you, and the person you care for, on to relevant specialised sources of support

Carer and ACS service user Al’s wife was given a brain scan 12 years ago that indicated the likelihood she would develop Alzheimer's. Here Al reflects on his experience caring for his wife, sharing his thoughts, insights and some of the lessons he has learnt along the journey

• Early indications give valuable planning time and opportunities for discussion, so don’t bury your head in the sand. At the same time don’t let the thought of Alzheimer’s drive or limit everything you do, or you will miss out on some important life events.

• Many older people downsize, as we did If you are thinking of moving though, do bear in mind that an extra room for a live-in carer, a professional or a relative, may be a sensible investment.

• Wherever you live get to know your neighbours, be pleasant and helpful to them and you will be repaid by people offering to look after your loved one when you need to leave home for an hour or two They will also bring back the person with Alzheimer’s home, if they develop a ‘wanderlust’ and many do.

• There comes a point where you begin to realise that you cannot continue as a sole carer and that support from a care professional will eventually be necessary as the illness worsens the demands put on you will become ever greater. You must analyse what you want from professional support. In our case I settled on safety, security and compassion as the primary needs. I took on a daily carer for that important first hour of the day when bed clothes need changing and your loved one needs help to shower and dress This still leaves you with the other 23 hours of the day to demonstrate your love and affection.

• Do reach out to ACS and Social Services for help through the legal maze of Attendance Allowance, Capacity Assessments, Best Interest Decisions and very importantly use of the Lasting Powers of Attorney They can also help in explaining some of the financial implications.

• I also attended some ACS events, mainly online, things like Mindfulness, and carers groups and have, with another friend’s help, set up a group on WhatsApp There’s now seven of us and growing who meet fortnightly, It’s so important to keep-in-touch with other people who are going through the same thing.

• It’s also important to look after yourself, and take opportunities for relaxation, new friendships etc. when you can

• Finally, you should start these steps early and develop your views as time goes on, often changing your priorities in the light of changing needs. You should also realise that your own ability to make decisions on care can be affected by the stress you will find yourself under and you must look after your own health

ScamsWatch with Bill from Trading Standards HOLIDAY BOOKING AND THE LAW

Still in late holiday booking mode? Then let’s know our legal position.

By law we have the right to expect that the holiday we booked and paid for matches the description given when we bought it. Pay careful attention to how the package holiday is described by the travel agent, in the brochure or website. If it doesn’t match the description, The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangement Regulations 2018 gives us the right to ask our tour operator to put it right and - if it’s unable to - claim compensation.

If we book each part of the holiday separately, we’ll not have the same protection as it won’t be covered by the law. So ensure that flights are ATOL registered and check review sites for accommodation & other transport needs to make sure they have good ratings and are described accurately. If you find all is not as it should be then take lots of photos for evidence and if using a tour operator report the problems ASAP.

Enjoying Social Time together in July

Nothing better than a warm jacket potato with friends

Here’s our Care Pro's and clients enjoying a leisurely lunch together at the The Addlestone Centre. 5 star! Highly recommend. With it being school holidays, our Care Pro's kids came along. As well as the delicious and great value lunch, the clients said they loved watching the kids play.

Transported back in time to the Halcyon days of with Rah Rah Theatre Company, singing and dancing at The Hub Englefield Green. Not wanting the fun to end, we went on for ice-cream at to the Barley Mow pub in Englefield Green after the performance. A lovely afternoon spent together, enjoyed by our Care Pro’s and clients alike, as you can see on all the faces!!

Sam spent a very valuable morning at Hilary’s Hut Social Club for the over 45’s July meeting, taking place every 1st Wednesday of the month. Sam had her own stall, talking about who we are and how we are working to connect the community with our What’s on Where Guide.

Thank you Chertsey Men’s Shed for welcoming Home Instead along to your wonderful, welcoming workshop We love finding little local gems to get our clients and their partners with different interests along to – It’s wonderful to see the smiles and new friendships build

Jolly July News Stories

You may hear us talking about Home Instead as an extended family when it comes to our clients and Care Pro's. Well this extends to our youngsters too. This is Care Pro Claire who celebrated her daughter Holly's university graduation in July. Holly studied Paramedic Science at St George's Hospital in Tooting. Claire and Holly celebrated the special day together at The Barbican in London. We feel your pride Claire and love that your girl is following in your footsteps, increasing our community's capacity to care.

At the Chertsey Black Cherry Fair our ‘Guess the GIANT Bear’s Name’ was won by young Henry. Of course, we were excited to let him know, so, Sam called to give him the good news! One small problem...the family had since left for their holiday in Canada and her call came through with the sparrows at dawn!! Ooops… Jack was collected by his new owner best friend Henry and they happily trundled off home together. Henry said “this is the largest teddy bear I have” and gave him a huge hug before walking Jack home. Congratulations also to Madison who won the Harrods Bear with the winning name Daisy at Staines upon Thames Day, kindly pulled from the hat by the team at Spelthorne Parkies Support Group.

Our expert Trainer Laura ran our second Parkinson’s Learning Circle Our free-to-attend 1 hour, bite-sized info & discussion session about Parkinson’s aims to give practical advice to make a difference. Informal, interactive and open to all. Valuable to those living with Parkinson’s, family, friends and those who give care and support, plus, others who may encounter people with Parkinson’s such as retail and hospitality staff, and those who work or volunteer at social or community hubs. We were lucky enough to have retired doctor George attend the session which we found mutually beneficial. Here’s what George had to say about his experience.

As Parkinson’s becomes increasingly common this is the sort of information that everyone should have. The session was clear and easy to follow, and very interactive and discursive, meaning I could share my own experiences and questions as a retired doctor. The coffee was good too! An hour well spent.” Join this month’s Learning Circle; Topic Understanding Dementia, Fri 25th August, 2pm3pm at our office in Chertsey. Get in touch to book your spot: anitra.camargo@homeinstead.co.uk / Tel: 07884 335 803

Another lovely Coffee Stop in July at Notcutts Garden Centre in, Staines, connecting our Care Pro’s, hosted by our Field care Supervisor’s Mike and Lynne.

Enjoying one another’s company…..

A wonderful Birthday celebration with Betty, and her Care Pro’s Julie & Jo. Julie had taken the weekly COOK brochure for Betty to choose what she wanted for her special Birthday lunch and she chose King Prawns with fennel Linguine YUM! Julie and Jo cooked dinner fresh in Betty’s very own kitchen, whilst they chatted away. All had a wonderful lunch, celebrating together with the Birthday girl, Betty enjoying a meal fit for...well...BETTY!

We enjoyed a wonderful Picnic at The Tea Boat Project, Staines, making friends and new connections in the community, hearing about the amazing work The Tea Boat Project are doing along the river Thames in Staines. We were joined by care pro’s, clients and their family members. Mark who heads up The Tea Boat Project gave a wonderful talk about the project, Surrey Choices kept us warm with lots of tea and coffee from Ari’s cafe on site. Also much appreciated hospitality from Waterfront Business Park, sheltering us from the elements. Good food, great company and a little entertainment thrown in by way of Care Pro Liz giving a masterful paddle board lesson on the Thames for Jo's maiden voyage! We are delighted clients and spouses are keen to help with volunteering on Wednesday and Friday mornings with the team of regular team volunteers at the team at the Tea Boat Project

Care Pro Natalie took her gorgeous boy Maximus to meet the lovely Marie. They got on a treat and Nat said it was difficult to drag him away from his new friend.

Care Pro Sandra had a request for a trip to the pub with Maurice and his good friend. Of course, Sandra willingly obliged.

Connecting the Community in July

The dementia ducks were back this year for the Chertsey Black Cherry Fair and Community Care Pro Liz Berry and her daughter joined the parade celebrating the legendary NHS 75th birthday, finishing at Abbyfields where Home Instead had a stall raising awareness and funds for Dementia Carers Support with our ’guess the giant bear’s’ name and ‘hook a dementia duck’. Here’s the team enjoying yet another fabulous Black Cherry Fair, Chertsey, expertly organised by Jane Nuti and her team.

Laura and Jo were delighted to visit the Ashford & St. Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust community open day! They had a lovely time and received a warm welcome with many of the stall holders knowing of Home Instead and highly rating our services. White Lodge Centre, Sight for Surrey & Talking Therapies were there too, We also saw our longtime friends Action for Carers Surrey. It was great to see and share information and ideas on all the great things we do respectively. Community networking at its finest

Tickled Pink with all the Fabulous Feedback in July