The Carer Digital - Issue #118

Alzheimer's Drug “Historical Moment” in Dementia Treatment

Welcome to the latest edition of The Carer Digital!

Our lead story this week follows on from breaking news in the last issue of The Carer Digital regarding positive trials for the drug Lecanemab, which has reached Stage III in trials and is being hailed as a his toric moment in the treatment of Alzheimer’s ”

Editor

Peter Adams

It is, of course, too early, far too early in fact, to cel ebrate this in any way as a cure I have said in previ ous columns that I have followed quite vociferously Alzheimer’s since the 1980s when my own mother was diagnosed with a very aggressive form which saw her go from a strong healthy independently minded woman to someone who needed 24 hour care, not recognising anybody or anything, sadly passing away within two years

As a young man I was shocked at the lack of infor mation and support at the time Again, I have said this before it was me not doctors who diagnosed the condition My family and I were told at the time that it was all “part and parcel of grow ing old” despite the fact my mother was in her early 60s

I read about famous American actress Angie Dickinson s younger sister who was suffering at the time with Alzheimer’s and Ms Dickinson was also astounded at the lack of information and support for an estimated 4 million people who were diagnosed in America at the time (mid 1980s)

A vociferous long time political campaigner for the Democrat party (a campaigner for both JF Kennedy and Johnson) she testified at a congressional select committee

I have even managed to find the article that I read: Dickinson her voice often choked with emotion told the committee that her sister Mary Lou Belmont came down with the disease five years ago at age 55 and now needs constant care at home costing $80 a day But, she said, “most families cannot afford help ”

For me at least her intervention was a huge catalyst and I have taken a keen interest ever since and have been phenomenally lucky to edit a publication which covers the disease, its impact, and research as part of my job

And I am not cracking open the champagne yet I have over the years seen many trials offer great promise but fail miserably

Of course I’m not saying that is the case here I am as hopeful as the next person that this drug is going to prove to be successful but I think we really all have to wait for long term results

Interestingly enough I am at a tradeshow next Wednesday and Thursday the Care Show at the NEC Birmingham which is the biggest and best of all the residential and

nursing care shows there will be seminars throughout both days and I’m hoping I will get the opportunity to speak to some dementia specialists to hear what they have to say regarding this drug

I also this week attended a seminar/launch by the world’s leading paint company Dulux who are launching their Colour of the Year” for the coming year something they have been doing I understand the past 29 years

However they were also discussing their research into living spaces colour design and support for those living with dementia

Which I have to say was most interesting Sometimes there is a misconception par ticularly with younger people entering the sector as carers for the first time that those suffering with dementia are “little old ladies” who are a bit forgetful, when in fact some sufferers are physically fit people perhaps in their late 50s and 60s and their behav iour can be challenging

So the seminar surrounding colour palettes in dementia friendly settings, conducted in association with Loughborough University and the Halsall Lloyd partnership was very interesting!

Particularly in getting the balance, which is where real expert knowledge comes in, between a working environment for care staff who are only there for part of the day and residents who are there 24/7 since it is their home

I think this field of study is something that is going to grow very fast in these coming years so once again please do watch this space!

As mentioned we are at the Care Show next week on stand D90 so please do pay us a visit we always welcome feedback and of course we are always delighted to share your thoughts, achievements and celebrations!

Again we have received some wonderful and uplifting stories from care homes around the country awards birthday celebrations fundraising sports events singing and dancing you name it we are receiving them at the moment, all feelgood stories which highlight the dedication commitment and devotion staff display in every day improving the well being of the residents so well done and please do keep them coming!

I can always be contacted at editor@thecareruk com

New Alzheimer's Drug “Historical Moment” in Dementia Treatment

(CONTINUED FROM FRONT COVER)

Eisai said that it will present the findings at an Alzheimer’s confer ence in late November and that it plans to submit the trial data to the Food and Drug Administration for approval by March

The drug an experimental antibody is the latest in a long line of treatments testing the so called amyloid hypothesis that clearing out those plaques might slow the disease s progression however numer ous prior attempts to treat Alzheimer s with amyloid blocking drugs have failed with once promising treatments like Pfizer Johnson & Johnson and Elan’s bapineuzumab and Lilly’s solanezumab abandoned after years of testing and millions of dollars spent “HISTORIC MOMENT” FOR DEMENTIA RESEARCH

Dr Susan Kohlhaas, Director of Research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “This is a historic moment for dementia research, as this is the first phase 3 trial of an Alzheimer’s drug in a generation to successfully slow cognitive decline These results show that lecanemab slows the progression of memory and thinking problems in people with early Alzheimer s demonstrating a major breakthrough in dementia research This is the first drug that’s been shown to not only remove the build up of a protein called amyloid in the brain, but to have a small but statisti cally significant impact on cognitive decline in people with early stage disease The drug can also cause substantial side effects which will need to be considered These top line results announced by the phar maceutical company that make the drug Eisai offer new hope to peo ple affected by this cruel and devastating disease

Before a drug is made available regulators in different parts of the world including the UK will still need to assess the full data to deter mine whether lecanemab is safe and effective enough to be used in people with Alzheimer’s If the drug is approved, it is essential that it gets to the people who may benefit from it as quickly as possible Now is the time to be making sure that our health system is set up to deliver life changing treatments In preparation for this it s vital that the Government s new Dementia Mission focuses on ensuring the NHS is ready to roll out new licenced therapies as quickly as possible right now only 1 in 3 psychiatry services would be ready to deliver a new treatment within a year

“Today’s results were only possible because of the volunteers who took part in this trial, previous studies of this drug and wider dementia research across the world Eisai is now recruiting people with a high risk of Alzheimer s who have not yet developed symptoms to take part

in further trials to determine whether the drug slows the disease when given at an even earlier stage People can register their interest to take part in studies like these by signing up to Join Dementia Research by calling 0300 111 5 111

This drug has only been tested for people in the early stages of Alzheimer s and won t be a silver bullet for all causes of dementia At Alzheimer s Research UK we will keep working to bring about more breakthroughs for people with all forms of dementia including those in the later stages of disease We hope today’s news will spark renewed investment in dementia research across the globe and political leader ship to deliver the funding and infrastructure needed to make life changing new treatments a reality

“EXCITING NEWS” REPRESENTING A REAL BREAKTHROUGH

Dr Richard Oakley Associate Director of Research says: This research could be game changing in the treatment of Alzheimer s dis ease

For decades people with Alzheimer s disease have been desperate ly waiting for a drug to slow down the progress of the disease so this exciting news represents a real breakthrough moment in dementia research

'Alzheimer’s Society’s research was responsible for the breakthrough that showed the importance of amyloid plaques in Alzheimer s disease which has made this research possible

We look forward to seeing the full data in November to better understand how this drug could have a real impact on the daily lives of hundreds of thousands of people living with Alzheimer’s disease in the UK

'I believe that research will cure dementia, and this is a vital mile stone on that journey We have never known more about dementia and this is a pivotal moment With further promising drugs in the pipeline we can t stress enough how important it is that the Government recom mits to the dementia mission to get the funding needed to beat dementia and transform hundreds of thousands of lives

'Now is the time to invest in research and tackle one of the biggest medical challenges facing the planet ' ,

“TIME WILL TELL”

Dr Catherine Mummery, consultant neurologist at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, said the results are “exciting” adding: “If borne out by the full details of the study as they are the clearest indicator so far that by lowering amyloid levels in the brain

cognitive decline can be slowed

“The results are consistent in size with those found in earlier phase trials with other anti amyloid drugs and with the positive controversial trial in aducanumab This convergence strengthens the findings However the size of the effect while significant is small the disease is slowed by 27% over 18 months What we cannot know yet is whether that effect increases over time in an individual; that would be predicted but is untested time will tell ”

WE HAVE WAITED LONG ENOUGH

Rob Howard professor of old age psychiatry University College London, added: “This is an unambiguously statistically positive result and represents something of an historic moment when we see the first convincing modification of Alzheimer’s disease

“God knows we’ve waited long enough for this ” Dr Liz Coulthard associate professor in dementia neurology at the University of Bristol added: “This is a gold standard study in people with fairly early signs of Alzheimer s disease

“Although not curative, lecanemab slowed decline in day to day function compared to placebo So lecanemab potentially offers pro longed good quality life in people with early signs of Alzheimer’s dis ease

“Up to now many people have not come forward when they first worry about their memory as there were no treatments for dementia

It is very likely more people will come to see their doctor now and we as doctors need to be ready Most people with mild memory symptoms will not have Alzheimer s disease We need to develop an effective and quick triage system so we can reassure people without Alzheimer s and offer treatment to those with Alzheimer s

“Our health system moved impressively rapidly to deliver trials and therapies for Covid Let s hope we can apply the same efficiency for people with Alzheimer’s disease ”

Lecanemab previously known as BAN2410 is a drug designed to target and clear amyloid one of the hallmark proteins that builds up in the brains of people with Alzheimer s at an early stage of the disease

Regulators will still need to assess the full data to determine whether lecanemab is safe and effective enough to be used in people with Alzheimer s in different parts of the world The drug maker Esai aims to file for approval in the US before Japan and Europe later next year

The Importance of Supporting Residents in Making Independent Choices When in Care

By Shaleeza Hasham, Head of Hospitality, Communications & Commissioning at

Promoting and actively working to maintain independence in care can significantly boost residents confidence and self esteem improve their physical and mental well being and provide them with a higher quality of life

At CHD Living we believe facilitating choice is vital to honouring independence We have found that providing residents with options as opposed to simply making decisions on their behalf is pivotal to bolstering overall well being Furthermore it enables res idents to feel a sense of purpose and maintain their individualism

Understanding that each resident has a different level of dependency, with some requiring more specialist support, enables care homes to implement a framework of independence for each individual based on personal preferences and the level of care necessitated

With resident happiness and well being at the forefront of our approach we consider it essential to seek ways to nurture resident independence and have compiled a list of top tips to facilitate this:

1) ENCOURAGING INDEPENDENT CHOICES

It is imperative that independent choices are encouraged and respected particularly regarding relation ships We recently organised a heart warming wedding for two residents in our Crest Lodge home in Hindhead which caters specifically to those with mental health needs The couple independently decided that they wanted to take their relationship to the next level therefore the team at Crest Lodge got to work arranging their fairy tale wedding of dreams Factoring in their personal preferences the wider team arranged the décor and organised a vintage Sunbeam Rapier for the couple to enjoy on their special day

In addition at our Kings Lodge care home, we also hosted a vow renewal ceremony for our resident Fred, and his beautiful wife Monica to celebrate their 71st wedding anniversary With flowers provided by a local florist, a cake made by a member of the local community and guest seating provided by the local school, it was all hands on deck to ensure this was a day for Fred and Monica to remember

2) NOTING RESIDENTS’ LIKES/DISLIKES

It goes without saying that no two residents are the same Each individual has specific likes dislikes goals beliefs the list goes on As such time must be taken to get to know each resident enabling them to make choices on the basis of their personal preferences Even if it s as simple as letting them choose what condiment they’d like to accompany their meal this small gesture truly makes a difference and provides residents with a sense of autonomy

3) HONOURING GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

In addition to acknowledging the likes and dislikes of residents, care homes can honour short time objec tives and long term goals For example we reignited a Bucket List scheme following its past success in helping residents achieve their dreams and goals An example of this is when the team arranged for one of our residents a former traffic officer to return to his police glory days by getting into the front seat of a McLaren for an adrenaline fuelled ride

4) ARRANGING EXCURSIONS OUTSIDE OF THE CARE HOME

Day trips and excursions are greatly beneficial to care home residents Not only do they promote a sense of freedom and independence, but additionally serve as an opportunity for residents to meet and interact with new people Some of our most successful trips include a trip to ZSL London Zoo where residents were treated to a Tours and Teas experience alongside an outing to a local ice skating rink Other excellent activities to facilitate independence for elders include park strolls farm visits and beach trips

5) OBTAINING CONSENT AND WORKING WITH STAKEHOLDERS

Although excursions events and trips can be an excellent way to facilitate resident independence it is imperative that any relevant case managers, GPs and other clinicians are consulted prior to the outing taking place Furthermore risk assessments must be undertaken to ensure that necessary precautions are instated and resident safety is prioritised throughout the excursion

Overall it is essential that we help our elders maintain their independence freedom and dignity irre spective of whether they live at a care home or receive care at home

By implementing ideas such as the above, care homes can strengthen the bond between staff members and residents whilst prioritising the overall mental and physical well being of those in their care encour aging them to lead independent and fulfilling lives

Blackpool Care Home Wins Award at National Dementia Care Awards

A Blackpool care home has been awarded best dementia care home in the UK 2022

MHA Pennystone Court won the award following the 12th National Dementia Care Awards at the Winchester Cathedral

The Blackpool based home was lauded for its collaboration with the community and fundraisers to bring innovative ideas to life that provide fulfilment every day for each person

The home has also been named in the Top 20 Care Homes Northwest England award for the fifth year in a row

It’s the first time an MHA home has won the award and home manager Lisa Robins is hoping for more of the same in the future

Speaking after the awards event she said: It has been a privi lege to be nominated and finalist in other categories in the past but to win this one is the creme de la creme

To Celebrate

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“There were some wonderful homes we were up against so I feel very proud and it s an incredible achievement for all involved at the home

To celebrate we are planning something special for the staff members who deserve to be spoiled

When MHA Pennystone Court was called out as the winner I was a little shocked but not surprised as I felt like we deserved it

“We got a special shout out from Judge Jules which was the icing on the cake

We have wonderful staff at the home and the atmosphere is amazing, all staff prides itself on going above and beyond

Moving forward we will continue to keep doing what we are doing and be prepared to adjust our care based on the ever changing needs of our residents ”

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Care Organisations Call for End to Isolation

the right to family life

The joint action is an initiative of the charity the Relatives & Residents Association campaign group Rights for Residents and academic Dr Caroline Emmer De Albuquerque Green of King s College London

Director of the Relatives & Residents Association Helen Wildbore said:

PROVIDING PRACTICAL AND ST YLISH TROLLEYS TO SUIT YOUR NEEDS

The Relatives & Residents Association has sent a letter on behalf of a coalition of organisations to local health and care leaders calling on them to end harmful isolation practices and to help promote the rights of people in care This follows a letter we sent in January Organisations representing both care providers and residents expressed sadness and dis appointment at having to write again about the detri mental impact isolation from family and friends is having on people living in care

The letter highlights the serious challenges people face in accessing vital support from loved ones dur ing COVID outbreaks It seeks to address a barrier to visiting many are facing when local health teams impose restrictions beyond those in the Government guidance The letter calls on local health and care teams to fulfil their legal duties including respect for

“Whilst life has gone back to normal for the rest of the country people living in care have been left behind Too many are still facing harmful restrictions on their daily lives all in the name of protection and public health , without recognition of the damage of isolation Two and half years on and we still haven t learnt the most basic lesson from this pandemic: without the support of loved ones people s mental and physical health suffers greatly Undervaluing this support is dehumanising not only for the person liv ing in care but also for their friends and relatives

Older people are still paying a heavy price for the failings in the early stages of the pandemic as risk averse approaches have become deeply embedded Public health teams must urgently step back to see the bigger picture of this public health crisis and comply with their legal duties to protect wider health and wellbeing

The letter is available here, with a full list of signa tories The first letter sent in January is available here

We Need To Engage Early and Often To Solve The Care Crisis

By Anne Marie Perry, Co founder at CareMatch (www carematch com); Martin Green, Chief Executive, Care England (www careengland org uk)

If you fail to prepare you are preparing to fail as the adage says For the country s health and care needs we must plan for success

Health and social care face unprecedented challenges: A pandemic backlog that will take years to clear; an ongo ing recruitment crisis; and a rapidly ageing society with the popula tion aged 65 up by almost a quarter in just the ten years to 2019 In short we must do more with less

That makes it critical that

During the pandemic, hospitals faced unprecedented pressure In the final quarter of 2021/2022 the aver age occupancy rate for all beds open overnight in the NHS was 87% That was up from a high of 81% in the previous quarter At the same time social care was significantly disrupted Care homes were under quaran tine often unable to admit residents while local care services lacked the capacity to support at home those patients otherwise ready to be discharged

At a critical time, “care hotels” helped alleviate this crisis The approach orchestrated by care services provider Abicare made use of hotels and other residencies emptied by the pandemic transforming them into places to discharge patients who were medically fit for discharge but couldn’t return home due to lack of community resource It created safe professionally run and comfortable facilities with medical assistance close by and trained care staff on hand to meet care needs

Care hotels spread across Cornwall Wiltshire Dorset Hampshire Devon and Norfolk bringing together local authorities of these counties with NHS trusts and independent care provider Abicare

Crucially this collaboration achieved both better patient outcomes and more cost effective care spending than would otherwise have been possible

The care hotels prevented overly long and unnecessary hospital stays that we know can bring health con sequences for patients Those staying at the care hotels received a full activity and reablement programme to get them ready to return home once capacity to cater for their care needs was available They also freed up hospital beds helping discharge patients costing the NHS approximately £400 per day earlier

effectively

is central to that Overcoming the barriers between the different parts of the health and care systems means better outcomes for individuals as well as greater efficiency Our NHS still provides excellent care for illnesses, for instance, but greater coordination with social care and early intervention can prevent conditions developing or esca lating that require increased care later

Over the years the NHS councils and other care providers have got better at this working together to serve communities more effectively The Health and Care Act passed in May 2022 has formalised this approach with the creation of 42 Integrated Care Systems (ICSs): partnerships which bring together providers and commissioners of NHS services covering every part of England

As the King’s Fund charity explains, “[t]he central aim of ICSs is to integrate care across different organisa tions and settings joining up hospital and community based services physical and mental health and health and social care ”

As it goes on to note this is a significant shift in the health and care infrastructure From an emphasis on independence and competition, the ICS is focused on collaboration to drive improvements for local commu nities

PANDEMIC PROOF

For the ICS model it s still early days but we already have evidence of the benefits of the collaboration it aims to promote

While care hotels were a useful stopgap and a clear demonstration of the benefits of more collaboration we should never have reached a point where they were necessary We need to learn these lessons and plan for a more collaborative future LEARNING THE LESSONS

Hospitals’ capacities are regularly strained during winter by flu and other seasonal illnesses Quickly and effectively dealing with patients ready to be discharged is vital to meeting that challenge: Reducing an aver age short term length of stay by even one day can increase throughput by 20% for hospitals

NHS backlogs waiting lists and chronic workforce shortages mean the challenges faced earlier in the pandemic remain Consequently so does the need for fresh thinking innovation and collaboration that care hotels demonstrated so effectively But we should also learn the lessons from such initiatives to ensure we plan ahead and make future collaborations even more successful

A key lesson is that you cannot begin collaborating too soon Early stage engagement, particularly with the independent sector pays dividends and results in excellent results for NHS projects Starting discussions sooner not only enables all parties to clarify their needs and capabilities; it also harnesses the innovation and ideas of the different sectors at the outset creating possibilities for better designed and more successful projects

If health and social care are to successfully meet the challenges of this decade and beyond they will require the best practices and ideas from all the sectors involved Given the current care crisis we don t want to waste any more time before getting them

Government to Consider Unfreezing Personal Tax Allowances and Thresholds?

Robert added: The Government could also look at other policies that would be universally popular like a fully transferrable personal allowance or just an increase to it to £15,000 to help those people really struggling Whilst any movement here would be welcomed (though not to be expected), the dam age of September s mini budget may well be “maxi” to the Tory party itself for years to come

After an astonishing U turn the Government may be looking at other tax cutting measures say leading tax and advisory firm Blick Rothenberg

Robert Pullen a tax partner at the firm said

“I wouldn’t be surprised if Liz Truss and Kwasi Kwarteng now looked at other tax cutting measures for the Autumn Budget on 23 November but they will need to tread very carefully given the recent social and political backlash and will need a fully costed plan to substantiate any changes

He added “I expect the Government has asked the Treasury to start looking at Unfreezing the personal tax allowances and thresholds so they are increased in line with infla tion

Removing the £100 000 personal allowance taper which creates a 60% marginal rate of income tax

Raising the Child Benefit threshold from the cur rent £50 000 level or abolishing this completely Abolishing the pension annual allowance taper when someone’s income reaches £240 000

Such measures (or a combination of) could end up costing far more than the estimated £2 billion from abolishing the 45% additional rate of income tax but would appear more popular

He added: Whilst the Government will now retain the 45% additional rate of income tax for someone earning over £150 000 additional rate taxpayers will still have the benefit of the reversal of the National Insurance increase from 6 November 2022 and reducing the basic rate of income tax by 1% from 6 April 2023 Someone earning £200,000 will be better off by £1 833 per annum compared to the current tax year (see table of calculations of below)

The net result of all this is that anyone earning over the personal allowance is still better off due to the health and social care levy being removed from NIC (1 25% cut) from 6 November as well as the cut in the basic rate of tax from 20% to 19% from April 2023

A person earning £1 million a year will therefore still be £7 666 up per annum which is significantly more than the £218 that someone at £20,000 will be better off However it is not quite as much as the over £50,000 increase in their take home pay that they would have seen if the 45% rate was abolished (a person at £20,000 would still only be £218 better off under those proposals)

Robert said: “Retaining the 45% additional rate of income tax will presumably mean the highest rate of dividend tax will remain at 38 1% and additional rate taxpayers will not be able to benefit from the £500 personal savings allowance but the Chancellor s early morning announcement was silent on this detail

WE NOW SUPPLY A WIDE RANGE OF FURNITURE

Five

of Social Care

CAMPAIGNERS today unveiled a new Five Pillars of Social Care Reform and urged the Government to let the sector have its day

The Independent Care Group (ICG) has set out five vital steps to ensure the country can look after those who receive care and the 1 5m people who currently can t get it

It is urging the Government to take up the document s proposals as it heads into the Tory Party conference this weekend

ICG Chair Mike Padgham said

This is a call to reform social care so that people get the care they need and the workforce is properly recognised and rewarded for what they do it is time to let social care have its day!”

The five pillars are

• Ring fence a percentage of GDP to be spent on providing social care to those who already receive it and the 1 5m who can t get it

Create a unified National Care Service, incorporating health and social care

Set a National Minimum Wage per hour for care staff on a par with NHS

Set up an urgent social care task force to oversee reform

• Fix a ‘fair price for care’ cost per bed and cost per homecare visit

Mr Padgham says it is vital that social care reform begins even dur ing the current financial turmoil

We cannot wait any longer he said With every passing day the

pressure on the delivery of social care mounts and we are on the brink of seeing a loss of providers that will impact many thousands of peo ple

As the Conservatives begin their party conference I hope they will take on board the points made in the document ”

Years of under funding compounded by the Covid 19 pandemic and now crippling staff shortages and the rocketing cost of living have left the social care sector in crisis At least 1 5m people are not getting the care they need

“Care and nursing homes are closing and homecare providers hand ing back contracts or going out of business Mr Padgham added

“If the country is to suffer financial cutbacks to tackle our debt prob lems than I would plead for social care to be spared Mr Padgham added

We have to support and grow the social care sector pro tecting care for those already receiving it and tackling the plight of that 1 5m who currently aren’t “Proper reform of the social care sector will actually save money as people cared for in community social care settings saves on the cost of expensive NHS healthcare

Introducing the Five Pillars, Mr Padgham adds:

Of all the major crises facing this country the care of our oldest and most vulnerable is one that cannot wait any longer for solutions

We have been warning for more than 30 years that social care was not being funded properly to provide a good sus tainable service for people who need that care every day to help them live a full life

Those years of under funding left social care in a per

Brings Together the Who’s Who of the Care Sector

Unveiled

ilous state and Covid 19 then hit it hard

Now the sector finds itself facing a massive staffing shortage and huge increases in costs, including rocketing fuel and utility prices

There is a very real risk of significant provider failure with a loss of care provision and a subsequent, knock on impact upon NHS healthcare

But it doesn t have to be this way In these five pillars we set out the urgent measures that need to be taken

If adopted we can together begin to build a Health and Social Care service that provides proper sustainable cradle to the grave care for everyone who needs it when and where they need it And a care sec tor that properly rewards the amazing staff who time and time again deliver wonderful care, against the odds, to grateful recipients ”

CQC Announces Independent Review into Handling of Protected Disclosures

The Care Quality’ Commission’s (CQC)Executive Team has appointed Zoë Leventhal KC of Matrix Chambers to lead an independent review into its handling of protected disclosures shared by Mr Shyam Kumar alongside a sample of other information of concern shared with the CQC by health and care staff

The aim of the review will be to determine whether they took appropriate action in response to this infor mation It will include consideration of whether the ethnicity of the people raising concerns impacted on decision making or outcomes

The full terms of reference for the review will be published shortly The review is expected to conclude by the end of this year with Zoë reporting her findings and recommendations publicly to CQC s Board

Alongside this barrister led review we will conduct a wider review led by our new Director of Integrated Care Inequalities and Improvement Scott Durairaj which will seek input from people using and working in health and social care and from our colleagues

This will explore whether there are issues of culture, process or both within the organisation which need to be addressed so we are better able to listen and to act on what the hear when information of concern is shared with them The review will have a focus on inclusivity, including understanding whether race or any

other protected characteristic has any impact on how we treat information of concern Terms of reference will be developed in consultation with internal and external partners and will be published once agreed

Ian Trenholm said:

It s crucial that people feel confident that when they share concerns with us we act appropriately on these concerns to prevent poor care and to support providers to improve For people to have that trust, we as the regulator need to be open to exploring if we got things wrong and learning how we can do better and it’s important that we’re as transparent as possible about this process

Last year we received over 18 000 pieces of information from people who work in health and care with information of concern triggering around half our inspection activity which is prompted by new information

“The independent review will look at how we dealt with a sample of whistleblowing concerns including Mr Kumar s We ll also be conducting a wider review which looks at what improvements we can make as an organisation to how we listen inclusively and respond to people, including our colleagues, and how we act on their concerns

Husband of Resident at Care Home Complete Skydive as Part of Birthday Celebrations

The husband of a resident at a Harrogate care home completed a sky dive and raised more than £2200 in the process

Frank Ward decided to do the charity skydive as part of his 90th birthday cele brations

He raised a total of £2291 25 which will go towards purchasing new wheel chairs for MHA Berwick Grange, where his wife Margaret is a resident

The wheelchairs will be purchased from a local mobility equipment suppli er, Able to Enable who will also repair and service the wheelchairs when required Frank completed the skydive from Skydive Hibaldstow and says he would do it again

Speaking after the event he added: It s something you must experience to understand it

“It was a little scary but exhilarating at the same time

“I like to keep active and I am a regular singer with Harrogate Theatre Choir so doing something different for my birthday appealed to me

“I am very impressed with the amount that’s been raised especially with money being tight for a lot of people due to circumstances

“I want to thank everyone who donated and supported me especially Jan Chebrika who works at MHA for her support throughout the process

“We are planning to purchase the wheelchairs at the end of the month, and I am looking forward to see ing the new wheelchairs at the home Lynne Anderson, area manager said: “The skydive is a phenomenal gesture for all the residents at Berwick Grange

The money raised will go a long way to improving the lives of all those in the home

“We want to give a huge thanks to Frank for all his support ”

Five Ways to Build a Rewarding Career in Care

A career as a carer is not for everyone it requires a talent ed person who has compassion for the most vulnerable in our society Yet for those who choose to commit it can be a job of immense satisfaction

This is especially true for live in carers who provide a dis tinct solution for individuals (and their families) that require round the clock tailored care and attention but because of physical or emotional reasons would benefit from remaining in their own home rather than moving into a residential care home

In my role as UK Recruitment Director and Country Manager I have seen first hand the sense of achievement pride, and joy that comes from being a carer I’ve also wit nessed how a career in live in care has taken countless indi viduals on an incredible personal and professional journey

The level of specially tailored one to one support which a live in carer provides cannot be understated While a career as a live in carer is by no means an easy job it can be as equally rewarding as it is important to the individual, their family, and our society For individuals who are part of, or indeed are considering, join ing this fantastic profession these are my top tips for how to build a rewarding career in care: BRING YOUR PASSION INTO WORKING LIFE

A career in live in care affords the unique opportunity to bring your hobbies and passions into the work you do For example you could introduce those in your care to your favourite films and TV shows books to read or meals to cook? By participating in these activities together carers can build a stronger emotional relationship with those they care for all while improving their mental health happiness and self confidence

TAKE OPPORTUNITIES TO DEVELOP YOUR SKILLS AND BUILD A CAREER

The care sector is constantly evolving and changing and there are many opportunities for carers to

By Greg Wrzosek, Recruitment Director at Promedica24 (www promedica24 co uk)

upskill and develop for example how best to utilise technology in the care sector or the psychology of sup porting vulnerable individuals Additionally as a live in carer you develop a wide range of valuable interper sonal skills essential while progressing in the social care sector or into managerial roles

FIND JOY IN THE DAY TO DAY ROUTINES

There is great satisfaction to be had in helping others live their best life Through supporting the people in your care with their daily activities and routines you are providing a safe environment whereby vulnerable individuals can thrive Through small acts such as shopping or watering plants, individuals gain a level of independence they may not be able to experience without support The knowledge that you have played a critical role in helping someone live their life to the fullest and remain happy is highly rewarding and should be a source of great personal satisfaction

Moreover through excellent care and dedication you become invaluable to the family of the individual that you care for You provide a source of relief, supporting families with the challenging responsibility of caring for a loved one Additionally your expertise in caring for and improving the mental wellbeing of vul nerable individuals will help to prolong that all important time families can spend together LEARN NEW THINGS FROM THE PEOPLE IN YOUR CARE

As a live in carer there are a plethora of special opportunities to truly get to know the individuals in your care You will be surprised to learn of their fascinating life stories and insights on a diverse range of topics You may for example learn the traditions of a new culture or a secret family recipe that you can show off to your friends and family THINK OF YOUR WELLBEING

As a live in carer, you can find yourself focusing solely on the person in your care but remember that your wellbeing is extremely important If you find yourself struggling do not hesitate to reach out to other carers and care managers who will assist you every step of the way with anything you might need

Ultimately a career in live in care provides countless opportunities to professionally develop and to pro vide meaningful support to people who need care Admittedly a career in live in care is not easy But for those who are wholeheartedly committed to both the profession and the individuals that they care for it is a career unmatched by any other

Man with Autism and Trisomy 18 Champions Sailing Certificate

A man with Trisomy 18 and autism from Peterborough has achieved his entry level certificate in sailing after eight years experience Matthew Robinson 46 was diagnosed with the conditions when he was a child as well as complex learning difficulties After growing up in Canada and moving to the UK he has been supported by New Road part of Salutem Care and Education for nine years

His local sailing school started providing lessons for individuals with disabilities and complex needs in 2014 and Matthew has been an avid participant ever since

Matthew is an individual who requires round the clock support and when he first started sailing he had a support worker and the sailing teacher with him on the boat He now has the confidence to steer the boat by himself and is able to go out on the water with only the instruc

tor

Sailing is one of Matthew’s passions however because it is a season al activity he can only go out on the boat between April and October When asked about what he thinks of his experience with sailing he simply stated: “I love it ”

John Godden MBE, CEO of Salutem Care and Education, said: “Well done Matthew, what an amazing achievement It is inspiring to see that he has such a passion for sailing

“At Salutem, we are all about making the individuals we support comfortable and push them to get involved with as many activities they can We are looking forward to getting Matthew back on the water and to see what he can achieve next ”

A New Lease of Life as Weymouth Care Home Garden Gets Substantial Overhaul

Residents and staff at Care South s Buxton House care home in Weymouth are rejoicing after its garden received a complete makeover

A major revamp has seen the grounds transform into a beauti ful and tranquil space for residents to enjoy all year round The home is owned and operated by not for profit charity Care South who understand the importance of access to safe green outdoor spaces for residents and is committed to investing in its homes

Rachel Sohorye Peripatetic Home Manager at Buxton House said:

Residents in our care have been excitedly following the reno vation work in the garden The outdoor space was in desperate need of some TLC but now thanks to the investment we have a wonderful outdoor space for residents to enjoy along with their visiting family and friends They were so excited to get outside and explore our new garden their smiles say it all

“Access to outdoor space is important for us all, not least our elderly residents and those living with dementia who need safe tranquil environments Being able to move around can help reduce tension and

anxiety whilst colour touch and scent all help to calm and ground residents Spending time in the great outdoors can also help awaken happy memories for residents This new garden will be a hugely important addition to our home ”

As part of the refurbishment the courtyard and sensory garden have been transformed There are now three different patio areas across the sensory garden providing plenty of seating areas for resi dents to relax in A new pergola provides a shady walkway with bench seating There’s also a water feature and raised aquarium, accessible to all residents including wheelchair users which creates a soothing quiet space for calm and reflection A potting shed has been installed along with raised planters so residents can get their hands dirty and indulge in a spot of gardening The garden is acces sible via wide flat walkways

Commenting on the garden John a resident at Buxton House said:

The garden looks fantastic and it was lovely to see the fish tank as I had many Koi fish at home before I came here I’m really interested in fish and the design of the tank is good because everyone can see them It was also fantastic to help cut the red ribbon for the official garden opening

Bristol-Based Charity’s Dementia-Friendly

Allotment To Be Featured On Gardeners’ World

about turning the space first into a building site then into a safe secure user friendly engaging and stimulating space for the partici pants they were soon to welcome through the gates

Following the opening of the allotment by Bristol mayor Marvin Rees in July 2021 the site received a lot of attention The allotment team were soon in discussion with a researcher at Gardeners' World who was so inspired by what they were doing that she wanted to feature the plot on the programme and use it as an example of the difference that gardening in general and therapeutic horticulture in particular can make to people s lives

Alive welcomed the BBC to the plot in August this year along with many of the allotment participants all of whom were as excited as the team was All present enjoyed a beautiful day, with many of the partici pants in their element chatting about the work they do at the allotment and what the space means to them

The allotment is a massive testament to the people who work it

After winning a prestigious Dementia Care award at the Markel 3rd Sector Care Awards in March a Bristol based older people’s charity Alive Activities is happy to announce that their community dementia friendly allotment will be receiving the ultimate accolade for horticul tural groups, a feature on the BBC's flagship programme for the green fingered: Gardeners World

Invited to create Bristol’s first and only dementia friendly allotment by the site representative at Charlton Road Allotments in the spring of 2020, Alive took on the overgrown and neglected plot just days before the nation was plunged into the first lockdown Over the course of the next year and a half battling adversity the gardening team at Alive first tamed the land and made it cultivatable then designed the space as Bristol s first dementia friendly allotment The team achieved the latter through consultation with local dementia support groups In January of 2021 the hard work of landscaping started as Alive set

week in and week out and who have shaped how it looks and feels The pro gramme will highlight the positive impact gardening can have on the lives of those who live with dementia It will also help to cement the work Bristol is doing to show the potential community gar dening has to unite com munities and improve the health and wellbeing of its residents

It has been quite a whirlwind year for the allotment! After running our first session in August 2021, it's been one amaz ing experience after anoth er At the heart of what we do is the people who ve visited the allotment so we re very excited that Gardeners' World chose to make them and not us the focus of the programme They have made the allotment what it is today We can t wait to continue the allotment s story and hope it will benefit many more people living with dementia over the next few years," shared Guy Manchester Community Allotment Project Officer

The special feature of Bristol s only dementia friendly allotment in Brentry will air on Gardeners World on BBC Two on Friday the 7th of October at 8pm https://www bbc co uk/programmes/m001cv09

Lancashire Based Care Home Celebrates 65year Anniversar y With Full Week Extravaganza

A Lancashire based care home celebrated its 65 year anniversary with a week full of activities and celebra tions

MHA Starr Hills opened its doors for the first time in 1957 and provides residential care and support for up to 36 people

To mark the occasion the staff at the home organised a week’s worth of activities including live entertainment and afternoon tea

Guests included family members of current residents as well as those who have lived at the home in previous years

There was a thanksgiving service to remember every one of those who have lived and worked at the home in the past Camille Cutler activity coordinator said: “There was a lot of planning that went into the week and we

mad sure our residents were consulted before we did anything

We had to postpone the original dates due to the death of The Queen and the celebrations came at the right time

The celebrations gave residents and staff mem bers a chance to have fun, especially with the last couple of years and it was a great week

Throughout the home there was a festival like atmosphere and we have already had some residents ask us to do it again

“Everyone had a great time, the response we got from family members and residents was very positive and that made it all worthwhile

We are very proud of the history here at MHA Starr Hills and look forward to our next landmark cel ebrations ”

Romford Care Home Wellness Walk Raises Funds for Local Hospice

Residents families and team members from Romford Care Home in Neve Crescent Romford put on their walking shoes and braved the changing Autumnal weather to raise funds for St Francis Hospice

The main idea behind the walk was to promote wellbeing within the home and to encourage the

for a cause close to everyone’s

to

Lifestyle Assistant Hayley Sullivan who helped organised the event and the other activities on the day spoke about everyone’s enthusiasm

had so much fun doing our wellbeing walk

to the typical English weather we did have to retreat inside but a few residents and their families enjoyed having a go at the games whilst having a nice

cup of tea I d really like to thank

the staff residents family and friends who took part and the event so special

The aim was to include as many residents and staff as we could This was all about being inclusive and getting active together

The home has a strong lifestyle ethos of keeping the mind, body and soul active and what a better way to inspire everyone than to hold a fundraising day to encourage this ‘The aim was to include as many residents and staff as we could This was all about being inclusive and getting active together It was a great opportunity to tie the wellbeing of the residents in with getting some fresh air and show off our outdoor space along with raising funds for such an incredible charity Cydney Bale Romford Care Home Lifestyle Assistant

At Romford Care Home they strive to ensure that there are no limita tions on those living at the service Ensuring inclusion and accessibility is key in being able bring everyone to together for events like this So a perfect place to hold their fundraising event was in the recently redesigned Dementia friendly gardens and outdoor living spaces

Customer Relations Manager Tracy Smith echoed the importance of everyone being able to come together, ‘It was so lovely for everyone to be able to come together and take part in the fund raising and to get outside It means a lot to see residents loved ones and the team enjoy ing our Dementia friendly garden and outdoor areas It is also an hon our to be able to help support the fantastic work St Francis Hospice do

A total of £152 96 was raised on the day Rosie Wren Events and Stewardship Manager at Saint Francis Hospice thanked the home and

residents for the event and also their ongoing support We are so grateful to all the residents and staff at Romford Care Home for organ ising the sponsored walk to help raise funds for patients and families who need our care

This was such a fantastic event and you can see how much residents enjoyed the activity from the chatter and laughter as they walked around the garden The kindness and generosity of everyone at Romford Care Home doesn t end there as it is also sponsoring the Santa’s Grotto at our Mistletoe Market which takes place at the Forest Row Centre in Collier Row on Sunday 27th November so they can bring the magic of Christmas to young people ’

LGA Launches Guide to Support Disabled

Residents to Stand as Councillors

The Local Government Association which represents more than 350 councils in England and Wales, has launched a new guide as part of its flagship Be a Councillor campaign to sup port disabled residents who may be interested in representing their local community at their next local election

The brand new guide has been produced with the help of disabled councillors in a bid to encourage disabled people to become councillors and bring new experience into local gov ernment

It comes as the LGA s most recent Councillor Census found that disabled people are consistently underrepresented on councils

In 2022 15 5 per cent of councillors declared a disability or long term impairment This is despite just over 20 per cent of the population having a limiting long term illness condition or impairment

Councillors make a huge difference to the quality of life of local people and how local issues are dealt with However, local councils can only be as effective

The LGA

guide;

advice and support for disabled people who are considering the role The guide is accompanied by practical support for councils which aims to improve awareness accessibility and inclusion at every stage of becoming a councillor

Cllr James Jamieson Chairman of the Local Government Association said:

“Representing the needs of your community can be an incredibly rewarding experience and if you re looking to make a difference, putting yourself forward for local election is a fan tastic way to do so

“Whatever the background experience and abilities it’s important that local councils reflect the communities they serve and any resident should feel able to stand for election bringing their own experience into the role to the benefit of their local community

“The LGA’s new guide for disabled people is part of the pack age of resources to attract and support prospective candidates to research and understand the requirements of the role and election process

Local Carer Scoops Coveted Care Title

Dan Calica at Reigate Beaumont Care Home in Reigate has been crowned Carer of The Year for South Division in the Barchester Care Awards 2022 and is through to the national round of judging

The Barchester Care Awards celebrate the staff who go the extra mile for the benefit of the 12 000 residents living in Barchester s 248 care homes and private hospitals across the country Categories range from Registered Nurse of the Year and Carer of the Year to Dementia Care Champion’ and ‘Activities Coordinator of the Year’

More than 2 950 nominations were received from homes and hospitals across the UK All entries were a very high standard and Dan is over the moon to have been named the winner for the South Division beating hun dreds of other nominees

Dan said: “It is an honour and a privilege to be nominated for my home

As the winner for South Division Dan is through to the national finals in which the overall winner is decided They will join winners from across the UK at a special awards event in October to celebrate their outstanding achievements and discover if they have won a national award

General Manager Pramojil Kurian said:

This is an amazing achievement and the whole home is supporting Dan We are so proud of him Dan has over 20 years of experience in this industry and has been with Barchester for four years now We are immensely proud of him ”

Digital Care Home Records: Increasing Positive Experiences for Residents and Families

For an industry that is people centred we spend too much time managing piles of documents and folders According to the government s recent white paper, only 40% of social care providers are fully digitised with the remainder using paper records

This state of affairs is limiting residential care’s abili ty to improve standards and the government intends for 80% of Care Quality Commission (CQC) registered providers to have digital social care records in place by March 2024

THE PERILS OF PAPER BASED RECORDS

For any care home manager and frontline carer all of the information relating to residents receiving care is the key to making people happy healthy and safe so storing these records safely and securely must also be a priority The offices of residential homes are filled with paper records, kept in large lever arch folders or filing cabinets with the latest information on each resident recorded in their carer s handwriting Historic paper records (we ve all seen and heard the stories of how far back those fil ing cabinets go) and folders take up a lot of space for care homes but the process isn t secure as records can easily be lost or misplaced It also puts personal information at risk of being accessed by an unauthorised member of public which would breach GDPR compliancy

Another key concern of using paper is the impact on continuity of care For instance carer s handovers from the night to day shifts are really important If handovers are not completed face to face and recorded on paper things can be missed and the shift can be stressful for all If written notes or handwriting is not clear to the new carer taking over the shift important details relating to that person s care will be missed out such as specific times for medication and this could result in wider implications for the person in care Emergency access is critical in a care home With paper records often stored in a separate room in some cases on the opposite side of the building, accessing the information in an emergency is a real challenge as it s logistically impossible to have the information at hand when you need it most Allergic reactions sudden health changes, even information on things that can calm or aggravate a resident they all need to be close at hand all the time preferably in somebody s pocket DIGITAL IMPROVES EXPERIENCE FOR ALL PARTIES

Utilising digital records has the best interests of every individual involved in the process from care home managers, carers and inspectors, to the person receiving care and their family Having an accurate, transpar

ent and holistic view of a person’s day to day care via a digital record has a number of benefits It allows for care staff to monitor any changes in a person’s care needs over time and put action plans in place to address these changes going forward It also enables carers to provide a bespoke care experience for resi dents in line with their level of need, not to mention guiding carers through the essential requirements for the day

Being able to access this information anytime, anywhere allows carers to react to situations with the knowledge that they have all the relevant information they need in front of them In an emergency being able to instantly access this information at speed from any device or computer instead of running to the other side of the care home could be the difference between life or death

As well as being in charge of the day to day regulated service care home managers must ensure the home is managed in line with the CQC key lines of enquiry Employing digital solutions ensures records are kept securely and are fully GDPR compliant Using a digital solution gives care home managers the ability to monitor care delivery over time and adjust staffing levels to cope with additional demand in care The evi dence based processes help guide CQC compliancy by presenting a snapshot of the information making a CQC visit less stressful It also instils confidence for care home managers that good care home ratings can be maintained and quickly improved if a low rating is given

ANALYSING DATA FOR BETTER OUTCOMES

From a digitised care management app families can get day to day care insights on their loved ones giv ing reassurances on the level of care that are being provided Every interaction is digitally evidenced and safely recorded at the point of care providing a full audit trail of individual residents further instilling con fidence in the care system The process of managing care plan reviews and reports is also more efficient as we ve seen a 90 minute time saving for customers moving from paper to digital

This rich level of data collection has the resident s best interests at heart The more information added into the care record the more preferences that can be adhered to For example, a resident may wish to do a spe cific activity or task on a certain day of the week Not only does this help to maintain or increase the inde pendence of the resident, it also improves their quality of life by increasing daily experiences

A common challenge in care homes is when residents encounter a disruptive sleeping pattern often wak ing up at different times outside of their routine Although richer more advanced monitoring technology is available to effectively manage this area recording the data at a more basic level such as a particular time the resident tends to wake up highlights trends in their behaviour This allows the night time care team to have a plan in advance of this occurring in the future It also enables the night and day team to work better together leading to better outcomes for the resident and contributing to a more efficient level of care pro vided

It s clear that the care industry needs more support to achieve better outcomes for the most vulnerable people in our society Technology and digitising care records hold a pivotal role in allowing care homes to provide a more consistent level of care for their residents not to mention giving more insights to inform future interventions We must increase the number of fully digitised social care providers in the UK to improve on the 40% and deliver on the 80% target set out by the government could your care setting be next?

Care Home’s Summer Fete Raises Money for Local Donkey Charity

Residents and staff at Waterside Court in Wallingford put the ‘fun’ into ‘fundraising’ during their Summer Fete in August 2022 Waterside Court hosted a variety of activities throughout the day including prize winning games such as; Tombola Raffle Hook a Duck and a ‘Wheelbarrow of Booze’ with all proceeds going to the local donkey sanctu ary in Wallingford; Island Farm Donkey Sanctuary Waterside Court raised an amazing £105 00!

This week they had a special VIP guest star pop over to pick up the collection; beautiful Tracey joined our residents in the Waterside

café for high tea and cuddles!

Maraya Rabuka General Manager at Waterside Court said:

“We love to fundraise for charities through out the year we pick different causes to sup port that have been selected by staff, residents and friends of the home

Being local to Wallingford and regular visi tors to our home the Island Farm Donkey Sanctuary is very close to the hearts of all our staff and residents We feel really proud to have been able to raise this money and send enormous thanks to everyone who had fun at the fete and donated!

Keeping Eyesight Healthy for People Living with Dementia

Maintaining good eyesight can be a really important lifeline for people living with dementia and can help support the people who care for them

Zetun Arif, an ophthalmic director for Specsavers Home Visits in the Greater Manchester area, speaks to The Carer about how important eye tests are in helping people live well with the condition and about the service the teams offer to people living in care homes

Q Why is maintaining good eyesight so impor tant for people living in care homes, whether they are living with dementia or not?

Maintaining good vision really matters for all of us but it s especially important for care home residents because they are more likely to have limited mobility and may be at a higher risk of falls

Many of the things they may enjoy doing will involve good vision like watching television or doing puzzles or craft activities

Q. So that’s why regular eye tests are so impor tant for care home resi dents?

Sight loss can lead to people feeling really isolated and if a person is also living with dementia it can make them feel more confused

Regular eye tests allow changes in vision to be tackled quickly and can also detect other eye conditions (such as glaucoma or cataracts) which may need further treatment at an early stage

Q How can Specsavers Home Visits help?

Our home visits teams are trained to support people living with dementia and the people who support them They ll work with to deliver a personalised service to your residents delivered with kindness patience and a

Our optometrists

We

How does

We

In some

provide full routine free NHS eye tests to everyone who lives there while in others we

visit new residents to give them a check up or see a single resident who is having particular issues with their vision

We supply NHS and private funded spectacles which we deliver and fit in person, and which are engraved with the person’s name so you can easily find their glasses when you need to Glasses start from £19 and the same offers apply as would in store To find out more visit

uk/home eye tests

Rachelle Mills, Director of Innovation and Partnerships at KareInn (www kareinn com) explains the role of technology in digitising the care journey for residents and their families, creating more personalised, resident led care with more choice, and voice

Simple Design Inter ventions For Those With Cognitive Or Sensor y Impairments

By Fiona Walsh, Co Founder and Principal Architect for DDS (www ddsarchitects org)

FOR THE INTERIOR: REDUCE VISUAL AND AUDITORY COMPLEXITY IN THE ENVIRONMENT

The staff at care homes do incredible work going above and beyond to help residents But all too often care homes are not designed to support residents needlessly creating stress and anxiety for those who are living with cognitive and/or sensory deficits

This can include losing independence and dignity pre maturely incontinence agitated behavior confusion falls and accelerated functional decline This all places more pressure on those same staff

It is estimated that 70 to 80% of people living in long term care have varying degrees of dementia diagnosed or undiagnosed meaning the entire building and facili ties should be designed to support their additional needs Inclusive design does not require additional cost it requires knowledge The knowledge should be applied in a systematic way from the initial master planning through to completion It is more than interior design

Here are several design interventions that can be considered to assist both residents and staff across the building process from master planning to small interior design changes

WHILE MASTER PLANNING: LAY OUT A BUILDING WITH SIGHTLINES AND PROXIMITY IN MIND

Incontinence in a care setting is often design related and not a medical issue Residents with reduced cognitive and sensory capacity can find it difficult to identify a toilet in a timely manner During the initial design stage it is important toilets are placed in close proximity to dining and day spaces preferably in direct lines of sights when leaving the communal areas They should be clearly visible with appropriate sig nage

Residents with ensuite facilities benefit greatly from having a direct line of sight from their bed to a toilet or a view of the toilet door with appropriate signage Direct lines of sight cues and prompts are a reminder for residents they feel more at ease and in control

Good design can reduce levels of incontinence it enables residents to maintain independence and dignity for longer but also supports staff by reducing workload

Our brains are continually processing sensory information to understand and interpret our surroundings For those with reduced capacity, managing this cognitive and sensory load is more difficult meaning the less they need to process at one time the easier and less taxing it will be If we design familiar intuitive and uncluttered spaces residents will have more capacity to deal with selfcare and to navigating and engage with their surroundings

A good place to start is flooring Patterned finishes changes in materials threshold strips polished sur faces and floor mats all need to be interpreted and recognised by residents occupying cognitive capacity that could be deployed for other purposes

If a resident misinterprets a mat as a change in level or perceives glare on a polished finish to be a liquid spill they will hesitate adjust their gait and this can result in a fall Falls are incredibly dangerous for those in long term care: 20% per cent of older people who have a hip fracture from a fall die within a year and 40% within two years Each fall in a care home requires staff intervention reporting paperwork and possible a trip to the hospital

Noise can also overwhelm or distract residents For example: residents trying to eat a meal often are con tending with a TV on in the background and the loud reverberated noises of the kitchen making it very diffi cult to eat without assistance The solution is partly care related (turning off the TV), but there are several design interventions that reduce sound such as flooring material overall acoustic design and the location of the kitchen

Similarly a poorly designed acoustic environment can prevent or hinder communication in day rooms requiring greater input from caregivers and activity coordinators Our goal in this scenario is to design envi ronments that support social interaction and clear communication

We should aim to design familiar and intuitive spaces with minimal unnecessary visual and auditory dis tractions This will allow residents to read and understand their surrounding with minimal effort and let them use their remaining capacity to enjoy and engage in their surroundings

Inclusive design is a specialist design field which has evolved and advanced greatly in recent years, long past simple interventions like increased contrast I hope that designing for the needs of those with cognitive or sensory needs will become a “new normal” Residents will live with greater dignity and independence, while staff and operators will benefit from a less stressful and demanding work environment Good design benefits all

Care UK Launches First-Ever National TV Campaign

One of the largest UK providers of residential care for older people

Care UK has launched its first ever TV advert to celebrate forty years of delivering care

The 60 second You are ad highlights Care UK s ethos of fulfilling lives, where residents’ individual interests and needs are fulfilled through meaningful experiences and personalised care The advert illustrates how team members in Care UK care homes support resi dents to live their lives in the way they choose staying safe and keeping healthy active and independent

The advert begins with an emphasis on residents maintaining their independence while continuing to enjoy life long hobbies with the encouragement and support of team members

As scenes play of residents enjoying their interests including a game of boules playing guitar and baking with team members a nar rator emphasises the provider’s ethos of supported independence: You are a rock star a champion a star baker at Care UK we believe that whoever you are, you should be given the support to be who you ve always been or who you want to be

The TV advert was produced by Space City and filmed at Care UK’s Chichester Grange in Chichester, and features team members Sam Shepherd and Gaynor McGlade alongside professional actors Care UK

provides 24 hour nursing and residential care alongside expert dementia care

Jacqui White, Marketing Director at Care UK, said “We’re delighted to unveil our first ever TV advert to mark our fortieth year Over the last four decades, Care UK has built up a long standing reputation for sector leading care with more outstanding homes than any other provider so it’s incredibly exciting to be communicating this on a new platform for a wider audience across the UK

As we enter the world of TV advertising it was important to us that our first TV campaign conveyed our ethos of fulfilling lives and recog nised the extraordinary efforts our teams go to in supporting every resident We’re keen to ensure every day can be meaningful and fun for residents and to break down some of the stereotypes that sur round life in a care home We are really proud of the work our teams do and feel this is reflected in our first TV advert ”

Care UK is one of the largest providers of residential care for older people As a well established organisation with 40 years of experi ence in caring for older people the provider now runs more than 150 homes offering both residential dementia and nursing care and expects to open at least 13 more before the end of 2025

To find out more about Care UK and to watch the advert please visit: www careuk com

Edinburgh Care Home Ignites Intergeneration with School Visit

A partnership between one of Edinburgh’s most up market care homes and a prestigious local school sees residents and students uniting for a fun day of intergenerational interaction

14 students aged 16 17 from Fettes College visited Cramond Residence as volunteers, where they were able to form connec tions with the residents across various activities taking place on each floor of the home, including arts and crafts, nail painting and gentle exercise classes

The event was organised as an opportunity for the school and care home to come together and build relationships that are bene ficial for both residents and students

Craigleith House Coordinator at Fettes College Eileen Crawford, said:

“The fun day was a huge success and we would like to thank Cramond Residence for giving the students a very enjoyable trip and a new learning experience it was lovely to see bonds formed

“At Fettes we want to instil the importance of our students engaging with the community in a positive way and this fun day was the perfect opportunity The students had a great time and many of them have expressed their desire in making a trip to Cramond a monthly activity

“There is so much that the younger generation can learn from the older their world

able to our young people taking the first steps in their own lives

This event marked the start of a new partnership between Fettes and Cramond, and some students will continue volunteering at the home for their Duke of Edinburgh awards

Cramond Residence prides itself on the vast array of exciting activi ties that its residents can take part in and enjoy with the Fettes College Fun Day being one of the latest additions to the home’s bustling monthly program

Designed to promote independent living and socialisation the fun day saw residents at the home exchanging vibrant life stories with the students while basking outside in the sun or indulging in a spot of pampering, painting and games

Client Liaison Manager at Cramond Residence Christian Daraio said: “It was an incredible day for everyone involved and the students put a huge smile on the residents faces

“Connecting with the wider community helps eliminate the feelings of isolation that are common in the older generation

These events are important for fostering intergenerational engage ment that play such a big role in the positive mental health of our resi

We are looking forward to welcoming the students back for more volunteering at the home

The Benefits of Physical Exercise Within Residential Care

By Jacob and Victor Eriksson, Co Founders of the playtech startup Boxbollen (www theboxball co uk)

The importance of staying mentally active and occupied into older age is today well recognised both scientifically and amongst the general public From brain training with activities like sudoku to viewing entertainment in the form of movies or concerts it s become common knowledge that exposure to men tally stimulating input is hugely beneficial for maintaining cogni tive health and wellbeing

It’s not just mental exercise that’s required for older people, however physical exercise is equally vital for comprehensive preservation of body and mind As life expectancies continue to increase quality of life mobility vitality and maintenance of rou tine become even more essential As Jules Renard said: It s not how old you are It’s how you are old ”

It is a significant societal problem that many elderly people do not exercise enough Within residential care institutions and sys tems social care and staffing costs are obstacles to routine organised participatory exercise classes for seniors There is also a lack of universal access for residential care users to appropriate facilities and services that encourage active lifestyles amenities like pools play ing fields gymnasiums and fitness studios are understandably luxuries rather than staples

In many Western cultures there is also a strange and implicit disassociation between older people and exercise People who remain highly active into old age (be they joggers tennis players dancers or anything else) are often lauded but also frequently viewed as unusual, or even eccentric Doubtless this is in part because of supposed heightened injury risk for older people undertaking physi cal activity But a 2018 paper by researchers from Oslo Metropolitan University and the Karolinska Institute, published in BioMed Research International suggests that quite the opposite is true: [Physical activity] and exercise can contribute to maintaining quality of life health and physical function and reducing falls among older people in general and older people with morbidities in particular ”

The benefits of safe exercise are huge, improving quality of life amongst older people across a host of metrics Most obviously being fitter and avoiding a sedentary lifestyle is conducive to longevity Amongst other things long life and bodily health are benefited by the enhanced resistance to a wide range of diseases associated with exercise

Mental health too benefits enormously from a person being physically active From a psychological and social perspective, exercise facilitates goal setting life structure self motivation and a sense of community all of which are crucial in residential care settings Mobility which is commonly aided by exercises can improve independence which in turn can have enormously posi tive psychological impact

And cognitively physical exercise is increasingly recognised amongst academics as having vital links to mental acuity, memory function resistance to fatigue and mental decline and (as previ ously mentioned) is preventative against fragility and falls

Exercise needn t cost residential care providers a fortune Our own company Boxbollen creates a head tethered boxing ball paired with software that tracks performance and is a highly cost effective solution for older people’s fitness we are in the process of completing a month long research trial with a team of doc tors of our tech s impact on the vitals of octogenarians and early results are remarkable Chair yoga resist ance training, and dancing are all other examples of affordable, senior safe physical activities

Exercise is not merely sociable enjoyable and diverting but it has huge benefits for the physical and mental health of everyone For older people, its positive impact on cognitive function, wellness, quality of life and longevity makes it not a luxury but a necessity Residential care providers should seriously consider ways to make physical activity available for everyone

Chislehurst Care Home Residents Pay Their Respects To Her Majesty The Queen Following Mayor Of Bromley Visit

Residents at RMBI Care Co Home Prince George Duke of Kent Court in Chislehurst were delighted to meet the Mayor of Bromley Councillor Hannah Gray recently

On Thursday 22 September the Mayor of Bromley visited residents at the Home bringing with her a special book of condolences to commemorate the life of HM Queen Elizabeth II

Residents took it in turn to pay their respects by writing their own messages and signing in the book whilst the Mayor went around chatting to different residents about their life stories and fond memories of Her Majesty Pat, one of the residents,

also prepared a display of tasty cakes and sweet treats to mark the occasion

“Our residents were really touched and enjoyed talking to the Mayor about life at our Home Her Majesty the Queen and their own life experiences It was a special day for both residents and staff says Valerie Allen Receptionist at Prince George Duke of Kent Court

The care home in Shepherd s Green has recently undergone a £250 000 refur bishment to transform parts of the Home to support residents living with dementia

For more information please visit www rmbi org uk/home/prince george duke of kent court kent/

Local Care Home Director Shortlisted For Regional Care Accolade

supported Wayne is also a keen cyclist and has raised over £30k for charities including the Barchester Foundation, Macmillian Cancer, PSP society and the Stroke Association

to promote best practice

and pay tribute to those individuals

their field of work

Wayne said: “I wasn’t expecting to be shortlisted for this award but I am so pleased and proud We don t work in care for the accolades but it s wonderful to be recognised by my team and peers it is nothing short of an honour I have been working in the social care sector since the very early age of 17 years 12 year old if you include me assisting my mother in the day centre she worked at The sector has moved on greatly with many challenges which I have embraced Now some 30 years later I am still in a job that I love and enjoy

Wayne has been invited to attend the

the achievements will be celebrated and the Regional

the next round

be announced

Regional Winners will then go through

judging

decide the National Winners in each category

Wayne is a devoted Regional manager who has been with Barchester for 8 years A team member who has contributed to the success of the home s he has managed and

Octavian Stanciu General Manager at Magnolia Court said: This is an amazing achievement the team and residents are supporting Wayne wholeheartedly It’s more important than ever to recognise everyone that has worked so hard There isn’t a more worthy winner and we’re really excited for the Great British Care Awards ceremony next year where Wayne will hopefully take home the award

AKW Extends its Range of Bidets to Meet Market Needs

Wayne

Bake Off and Strictly Stars Share their Skills with Social Care

The star of Great British Bake Off Lizzie Acker is set to entertain hundreds of people across the care sector on Thursday by delivering a free accessible baking experience on www What To Do co uk Community Integrated Care’s website that gives people who access social care a range of free high quality and accessible live activities and experi ences

The session on Thursday 6th October at 6 30pm will see Liverpool’s Lizzie hosting an exclusive live bake along experi ence teaching people how to make Kitchen Cupboard Cookies, simple to make yet delicious treats, and helping them to become Star Baker for the day

Strictly finalist and award winning dancer Vincent Simone also returned to the website by popular demand to deliver his third accessible dance class on Tuesday demonstrating simple salsa steps The Italian star’s enthusiasm and welcom ing persona make him the ideal dance tutor for What To Do s participants

world s best activity providers It offers a range of incredible free activities throughout the week, from sport classes with Manchester City to a Saturday night disco

Purposely designed to tackle loneliness and isolation pro mote new skills and bring create moments of joy and excite ment the website is drawing a growing audience With more than 25 000 hours of activity experiences enjoyed since its launch in 2021 it is changing lives across the country

ONCE IN A LIFETIME EXPERIENCES

Lizzie Ackers, says:

Baking has really helped my mental health and wellbeing so I’m looking forward to sharing this recipe Doing Bake Alongs is always great fun and Community Integrated Care’s What To Do platform is a fantastic way to connect with a lot of people from all over the country I m excited to meet everyone!

These experiences and many more

Care

The www What To Do co uk

has been

by

social care charity

Vincent Simone says: “It was simply a joy to take part in our session and spend time with people supported by Community Integrated Care Seeing the participants having so much fun and exercising too was an absolute pleasure!”

who

offer

Sam Turner Digital Inclusion Manager at Community Integrated Care says: We are thrilled to see two of TV’s most popular shows, Strictly Come Dancing and Great British Bake Off in the homes of hundreds of people who access care and support!

Pat Stays Positive as She Reaches 100 at Hampshire Care Home

“Optimism exercise holidays abroad and a daily glass of white wine” are the secrets of a long life according to a Hampshire care home resident who has just turned 100

Pat Dartnell revealed her recipe for longevity as the celebrated her centenary among family and friends at Colten Care s New Milton home Kingfishers

Born in South Wales in 1922 just four years after the end of the First World War, Pat grew up as the middle one of three sisters Joan being the eldest and Sheila the youngest Pat’s earliest childhood memories are of the trio cycling to school and going for lots of healthy walks together

She was still a teenager when World War Two broke out and, like many others of her generation took part in community volunteering during the war years

In 1952 she married Les Dartnell The couple were happily married for more than half a century and enjoyed holidays and travel in Europe with Italy holding espe cially fond memories for Pat Les had a brother who lived in Brockenhurst and visiting him over the years even tually led to Pat and Les retiring to the New Forest and realising their wish to be near the south coast

On her landmark birthday Pat had a family get together at Kingfishers welcom

ing a niece who was over from the United States

And amid cards flowers and cake Pat was also the centre of attention at a cele bratory afternoon tea party with fellow residents

Rose Arcellana Companionship Team Leader at the Outstanding rated home said: “When we asked Pat for any tips on living to a great age she was quick to say you should always try to enjoy life, stay active and be optimistic She said how much she enjoyed a social life, her holidays abroad and keeping fit through swimming and ath letics A daily glass of white wine usually before lunch was another of her recom mendations She s also from a family with a history of long living so that has helped too

Rose added: Pat is such a lovely lady with a highly positive attitude to life Even at 100 years old she enjoys being active and taking part in gentle exercise She is a regular at our seated aerobics and yoga and when we do our armchair travel and history sessions It was a tremendous privilege to help her celebrate and have fun on her centenary ”

Although she has now reached the great age of 100 Pat is not the oldest resident at Outstanding rated Kingfishers as fellow centenarian Marjorie Nutton turned 101 in March this year

Wellington Parish Church Takes Har vest Festival to Care Home Residents

The residents of a Wellington dementia care home have been cel ebrating getting back to near nor mality after Covid with a special Harvest Festival service in associa tion with their parish church, St John the Baptist

The service at Camelot House and Lodge was led by church mem bers Cyndy Maskew and Maralyn Norman with support from Richard Dempslake the home s activities co ordinator

Richard Dempslake said: For the first time it almost felt like it used to before Covid with that all important community led social time that our residents so enjoy It was such a lovely service “We are finally starting to be able to be a bit more relaxed again and the church members were really interacting with our residents talking about harvest festivals over the years admiring our display

of fruit and vegetables, and sitting down to join us for a nice cup of tea and a slice of warm fruit pie There was a poignant moment in the service when we said a prayer for our late Queen Elizabeth and the people we support appreciated that hugely

“Traditional services like Harvest Festival really mean a lot to many peo ple living with dementia because they are occasions many of them have cele brated throughout their lives so the preparations and participation give us all a great excuse for reminiscence activities which they love ”

The activities team made the most of the opportunities afforded by the service by following it up with a harvest themed quiz for residents later in the day

Chairs, Cakes and Choreography: Signature at Bassett’s ActionPacked Programme Raises Awareness in World Alzheimer’s Month

The theme of this September's Awareness Month was ‘Know Dementia, Know Alzheimer s highlighting the importance of support for people living with dementia and families following a diagnosis

Alzheimer s is the most common cause of dementia in the UK with dementia serving as the name for a group of symptoms associated with an ongoing decline of brain functioning It can affect memory, thinking skills and other mental abilities

More than a third of Signature at Bassett s residents live with dementia, and the luxury care home was keen to contribute to the global awareness drive by creating an inclusive activities programme to support and encour age the participation of all its residents

The activities programme was kicked off with chair based exercises giv ing a focus on actions which can support all residents to live well and remain active

Residents were also able to show their creativity in the form of a sensory baking activity designed specifically to support all residents while creating a series of tasty treats along with promoting their healthy engagement with nutritious food

The action packed activity schedule progressed with a choreographed Dance and Movement Session on how to improve mobility and promote a range of movement in a targeted way

The activities carried out continued the home’s year round focus on creating a positive community hav ing recently designed a dedicated dementia neighbourhood which is furnished with items close to each resident’s hearts

This adds to a garden feature wall designed by the home s dementia residents which it updates with

flowers according to the changing seasons

Commenting on the activities programme and providing Alzheimer s sup port Santa Bukovska Client Liaison Manager at Signature at Bassett said: “It was wonderful to see such a strong uptake in the activities we provided to support World Alzheimer s Month We believe in creating a positive environ ment for all of our residents, including those who live well with dementia, along with a varied activities programme to support them

“Whilst there is an awareness month for the world to follow we are keen to ensure that there is a year round focus on championing excellent demen tia care We are involved with the Southampton Dementia festival and do so as part of our commitment to working within our home and the community ” Michele Saunders Head of Dementia at Signature Senior Lifestyle said: “Signature Senior Lifestyle and all 36 of our care homes are united with the rest of the world in ensuring people with an Alzheimer s diagnosis or living with dementia more generally, receive the support they need to live life as independently as possible for as long as possible

“Through the variety of activities our homes have been carrying out, we have been working to raise important awareness of living with dementia and raising funds to support Alzheimer s Research UK and their incredibly important work

“Whilst it is vital that society champions awareness months weeks and days which are connected to dementia there needs to be a collective push to drive year long year in and year out best practice in dementia care ”

Nature Gives Life to Dulux’s Colour of the Year 2023

Dulux is celebrating two decades of Colour of the Year and has just launched its colour for 2023: Wild Wonder™ and four complementary versatile colour palettes that can be used to create stunning spaces across all sectors

Wild Wonder™ a soft gold with hints of green inspired by fresh seed pods and harvest grain is Dulux’s Colour of the Year 2023 Its upbeat glow connects us with nature, creating a sense of energy and positivity

As people search for support connection inspiration and balance in the world today, they re diving into the wonders of the natural world to find it Extensive research conducted by Dulux colour experts and inter national design professionals found that even with so many challenges ahead there was hope at the heart of global social design and con sumer trends

Marianne Shillingford Creative Director of Dulux UK says: Our rela tionship with the natural world feels more precious and precarious than ever As well as understanding the value of nature more keenly with climate change becoming a reality for all of us, we also feel the urgency of reconnecting with nature and the necessity of working with rather than against it “The earth and its materials have been inspiring humanity for cen turies Now is the time to put them centre stage and bring the outside in

We re re evaluating our relationship with nature and sensing the importance of learning from it not just about it We re understanding afresh that nature is the source of everything bringing us solace inspi ration materials and a myriad of blueprints for living That s why this year we’ve put the wonder of nature at the heart of our colour story ”

“Wild Wonder™ speaks to us in a language we instinctively under stand says Heleen van Gent Creative Director of AkzoNobel s Global Aesthetic Centre which chooses the colour Nature is what inspires us

and makes us feel better in our lives and in our homes That s why for the first time in 20 years our entire colour palette is inspired by the rhythms of nature ”

The name Wild Wonder™ was created on the basis that wild con jures up the freedom of nature and ‘wonder’ conveys the natural magic we see all around us Wild WonderTM is a positive natural tone that by connecting us with the natural world, can help us feel better in our homes

Four decorative paint colour palettes have been designed around Wild Wonder™:

Lush Colours beautiful forest hues that are inspired by the plant filled habitats of gardens and woodlands

Buzz Colours upbeat tones of pinks and ochres that capture the bustling biodiversity of a wildflower field or grassland

Raw Colours harvest shades that mimic nature s raw materials

Flow Colours warm neutrals and deeper seashore tones that bring a sense of fluidity and momentum

Lisa Pilley, Dulux Trade Commercial Colour Consultant, adds: “Wild Wonder™ and its four versatile colour palettes reflect the natural world and intuitively connect with nature s supply of substrates and materials whether structural or aesthetic As the world strives to re use rescue and build sustainably within commercial design programmes, placing humanity and environment at the heart of design is becoming increas ingly essential

“Colour can be transformational and guide occupants’ feelings and emotions This year’s Colour of the Year and associated palettes open opportunities to connect the natural world with our everyday lives in the built environment ”

The year 2023 brings two major milestones to the Global Aesthetic Centre Its ColourFutures™ trend forecast will celebrate its 20th anniversary while the team also reaches three decades of trend analy sis colour research colour design and art direction at AkzoNobel

The launch of Wild Wonder™ is supported by the Dulux Trade Colour of the Year 2023 Specifier brochure designed to inspire commercial design professionals working in all sectors from hospitality to health care

This brochure is part of Dulux Trade’s ongoing dedication to support ing specifiers with their latest projects and is part of a wider package of ColourFutures™ content The package includes design mood boards and advice videos that can be harnessed by professionals looking to create the perfect space in any setting using Wild Wonder™

To download the Dulux Trade Colour of the Year 2023 Specifier Brochure and for more information visit

duluxtrade co uk/COTY23 and follow #CF23 on social media

www

Dulux Trade Colour of the Year 2023 Wild Wonder™ and the palettes

specify

Aver y Healthcare Group Launches

“Step Up and Stay Up” Campaign

Increase your Vitamin D intake the best way to increase your levels of Vitamin D is to get outside in the sunshine Vitamin D is good for your bone health as well as your immune system

Walking makes you happy A brisk walk releases endorphins that stimulate happiness This is a great remedy for those with depression anxiety or stress

Julie Spencer Avery s Care and Quality Director explains further; Falling as people get older is quite com mon and can have a detrimental effect on the well being of those who fall both physically and psychologi cally This can lead to people losing confidence and a reluctance to participate in everyday activities

Well being

in the morning and in the afternoon were accompanied to their near est letter box to post their letters

Walking is good for your heart Walking not only strengthens your heart but reduces the risk of heart dis ease and strokes In fact a brisk walk for 30 minutes every day is said to reduce your risk of a stroke by 27%

Walking gives you energy It boosts your circulation and increases the oxygen supply around your body, which in turn will keep you feeling alert and awake

At Avery, we promote people to live as independently as possible and look at the person as an individual, taking into how they want to live their life, encouraging them to stay active, eating well and staying hydrat ed Staff also ensure residents are supported to wear appropriate footwear, considering medical conditions as well as medications they take, which may increase falls risk These are aspects that can be multifactorial factors in leading to falling Staying active of which walking is one aspect helps people’s muscle strength and balance to be maintained which naturally lends itself to staying on one’s feet

It is vital that we work proactively within our teams to minimise the risks and prevent falling within our homes

In total 59 care homes are lacing up their shoes and taking part across the country Stay up to date with their progress across social media and the hashtag: #StepUpStayUp

Charities Thank New Forest Care Home for Staging ‘Happy Hoedown’

Two New Forest charities have thanked a New Milton care home for stag ing a country and western themed fundraising party

Residents and team members at Colten Care’s Kingfishers donned cow boy hats jeans bandanas and checked tops to say a side slapping yee haw to guests

The ‘happy hoedown , which featured a barbecue, dancing and live music from duo Sweet Harmony was in aid of Lymington based hospice charity Oakhaven and the inclusive New Forest cycling group PedAll

A total of £461 50 was raised through donations at the event split evenly between the two organisations

Thanking Kingfishers residents and staff Oakhaven representative Stella Foster said: You have raised an amazing amount which will benefit the community ”

And Gareth Jones who attended on behalf of PedAll said:

Thank you very much this amount will go toward the upkeep and repair of the bikes ”

Rose Arcellana Companionship Team Leader at the Outstanding rated home, said:

Our residents really love country music and were only too pleased to have fun and help raise money for two great causes at the same time The whole event went down really well it was truly a happy hoedown Among the Kingfishers residents who went to the party were Pam Brown and Joyce Ponsonby Pam said:

It was a jolly happy party atmosphere and all the staff were fantastic Joyce agreed adding “I loved it and it went perfectly well Well done to all the amazing staff ”

Meals on Wheels

Meals on Wheels Week returns 31st October to 4th November 2022

The award winning national awareness event, organised by the National Association of Care Catering (NACC) raises awareness of and celebrates Meals on Wheels services across the country and the vital role they play in supporting older and vulnerable people living in our communities

The Covid 19 pandemic shone a light on just how important the contribu tion our Meals on Wheels Heroes make to their local communities helping combat under nutrition isolation and loneliness Now we face a further dilemma that many older and vulnerable people will be grappling with To heat or eat! But we can be sure that our Heroes will still be out there provid ing more than just a meal supporting nutrition and hydration with regular nutritious meals

As we are now just a month away from Meals on Wheels Week the NACC is once again calling on everyone from its members, industry colleagues, partners associations and friends to local government politicians celebrities and the general public to join in the celebrations

This can be by simply showing their support through social media and helping to highlight the valuable nutritional support Meals on Wheels gives older and vulnerable people living at home in the community

The week is also an ideal opportunity to spotlight the social contribution of Meals on Wheels services

Loneliness and social isolation are prevalent on our communities and Meals on Wheels, together with lunch clubs and day centres, play a critical role in reducing this

THANK YOU TUESDAY TUESDAY 1ST NOVEMBER

There are events planned for every day during the week and Tuesday is dedicated to showing apprecia tion for our Meals on Wheels teams For everyone that contributes, whether that’s making the meals, volun teers drivers carers or those that work behind the scenes today is the day

HELPING EASE THE NHS

A Call to Action

Meals on Wheels also plays a significant role in supporting the NHS allevi ating pressures on beds by allowing otherwise vulnerable patients to be dis charged back to their own homes where most would prefer to be They can also support local lunch clubs and meeting groups by supplying nutritious tasty meals

Neel Radia Meals on Wheels project lead for the NACC said:

“The Covid 19 pandemic has given the nation a real glimpse of the value of Meals on Wheels services and the nutritional and emotional support they provide to the vulnerable living at home in the community As well as a long term solution it is also a short term answer for those discharged from hospi tals who may need temporary support as they convalesce back to good health

The current cost of living crisis and the significant energy price rises pose a new challenge Many older and vulnerable people will sadly have to choose between eating or heating this winter and providing support with food is going to be more of a necessity than ever before a basic human need that Meals on Wheels services can offer

“I urge all industry colleagues and providers to take part in Meals on Wheels Week 2022 to ensure the ongoing value of this precious service is recognised and protected I also would encourage everyone else to show their support for this cornerpiece of our nation”

Sue Cawthray the national chair of the NACC said

“This year as people face a winter where fuel bills hit an all time high and, in some cases may be making decisions on whether to heat or eat the NACC is ensuring that its Meals on Wheels week is once again raising the profile of such a vital service across the UK to those key decision makers and influencers

This important week is an opportunity to raise the significant issues we face around a dwindling service and the need for government funding and support It is imperative that our older population has access to a meal service delivered to their home and the social interaction that is brings to assist with preventing isola tion ”

New Dementia Sensor y Garden For Bideford Care Home

Care South s Kenwith Castle care home near Bideford has unveiled a new sensory garden designed specifically to cater for the needs of people living with dementia

Making the most of the home s setting in 30 acres of beautiful parkland the new sensory garden at Kenwith Castle has been designed by local garden designer, Angie Ward and built by Torrington based LJ Developments (Southwest)

Wide flat walkways wind through the gar den, past paved seating areas and garden benches with scented and shrub borders and trees providing colour as well as a beautiful aroma There is a mix of sensory areas with mood boosting colours and quiet spaces for moments of calm and reflection Raised bor ders allow easy accessibility for wheelchair users, ensuring they can get involved in gar dening activities with ease There s also a gaze bo and water features to calm and soothe the senses as well as a potting shed and horticultural therapy area A bug hotel will be a welcome home for lots of different types of minibeast and insects such as lady birds bees spiders and woodlice

Amanda Williams, Home Manager at Kenwith Castle Care Home, said: “The dementia sensory garden is one of the best things we have ever introduced at Kenwith Castle Residents in our care have been excit edly tracking its progress, from design to build, and were thrilled to finally have the chance to get out

there and explore all it has to offer

For people living with dementia it is so important to create safe calming spaces The garden is easy to navigate, safe and secure, and has clear pathways to reduce the risk of confusion and disorientation

We all know the benefits of being outside in nature and being able to move around and this is equally important for people living with dementia helping to reduce tension and anxiety Colour touch and scent all help to calm and ground residents as well as helping to awaken distant memories of happy times This purpose built garden will be an invaluable addition to our home, allowing residents to stroll freely and safely

A family member of a resident at Kenwith Castle added: What a difference this has already made to my mum’s quality of life, she has always been a keen gardener and this will enhance the excellent standard of care she receives here ”

The garden was unveiled to staff residents and their families at a grand opening on 27th September where there was also a hog roast barbeque, and live entertainment

Kenwith Castle is situated in the heart of the picturesque North Devon coastal countryside near Bideford in an attractive 17th Century Grade II listed building The home is owned and operated by Care South, a not for profit charity and leading provider of residential and home care in the south of England

Caring Homes Group recognised by the Princess Royal Training Award for Outstanding Workplace Training Programme

Now in its seventh year The Princess Royal Training Awards contin ues to recognise organisations demonstrating exceptional commit ment to learning and development Alongside 46 other organisations, the Caring Homes Group was recognised for its ongoing commitment to training and the positive impact that developing colleagues have had on the wider organisation

This highly respected care and support provider was recognised by the Awards back in 2016 for its Living in My World Dementia Programme which aims to enhance the delivery of care to residents with dementia Since then the training programme has been devel oped to become a widely recognised brand in the business

With skills shortages across the UK increasing and job vacancies doubling creating engaging learning programmes to grow and retain new and existing talent has never been more crucial

dementia their families and the dedicated colleagues who sup port them This training is delivered nationwide across our care homes with very positive feedback from the wider care industry colleagues and the families we support The course has also been formally accredited by City & Guilds

“The training reassures relatives and residents that our col leagues have the expertise of a consistently high standard that is based around best practice, and offers a great career develop ment journey providing a clearly signposted training route to enhance their skill set in dementia care”

Helena Jeffery Founder and Director at Caring Homes said: We are so proud to have been recognised once more by the Princess Royal Training Award One of the most rewarding aspects is improving lives by supporting residents and their families At Caring Homes, we firmly believe that supporting and developing the team is also very important as this enhances our residents lives and drives outstanding care

To date 5000+ colleagues have been through the programme since its establishment

have com pleted training and a new ‘Dementia Ambassador’ role has been created

Liz Willis

of Learning and Organisational Development

Caring

World Dementia Training Programme is making a positive difference to the lives of people living with

We train every member of our team so that residents families and their carers can be surrounded by

support

our receptionists to our chefs and carers to our nurses the entire team receive

training

is also accredited by City and Guilds so

for our colleagues and residents

Caring Homes, an independent national network of residential, nurs ing and dementia care homes celebrates after receiving a Princess Royal Training Award (PRTA)

It’s time for Action!

The war in the Ukraine has, amongst other things, highlighted our overdependence on fossil fuels With uncer tainty around fuel supply and mounting energy costs we find ourselves in a global energy crisis

Yet, in the midst of all this uncer tainty, it s clear there exists a momentous oppor tunity An oppor tunity to embrace and accelerate the deployment of clean technologies to help achieve energy security and ultimately arrive at net zero

The Challenge Facing the Care Sector

When it comes to climate change and the continued burning of fossil fuels business as usual is no longer an option Nursing homes and care homes provide a critical service ensuring patients and residents are cared for in a comfor table and warm environment The majority of facilities provide heating and hot water from fossil fuel boiler systems the fact is this must change As with ever y sector of society the care sector must become more sustainable But, when it comes to decarbonizing buildings and in par ticular heat there are significant challenges facing the care sector How do you decarbonise buildings rapidly cost ef fectively and without disrupting the critical service of caring for patients?

Enter the ActionZero EscoPod

The EscoPod Decarbonising Heat Rapidly & Without Disruption

The EscoPod is a patented, high temperature heat pump technology designed to replace traditional heating systems with a high ef ficiency and fossil fuel free alternative The EscoPod AZH ActionZero s dedicated heat pump system for the healthcare industr y, has been designed specifically to deliver heating (and cooling) to non domestic buildings in the healthcare sector including hospitals nursing and care homes

Not only does this technology replace the need for fossil fuels but it also produces multifunctional outputs that can be used for heating cooling and domestic hot water The EscoPod AZH also of fers significant energy ef ficiencies with savings of up to 70% and cost savings ranging up to 65%

Amongst the many benefits of this technology is the fact that it can be installed with minimal disruption i e , there is no need for costly building fabric or mechanical system upgrades which are typically required with conventional heat pumps This of fers many organisations a lifeline a realistic pathway to decarbonise their operations without enormous cost and business interruption

ActionZero describes themselves as a one stop shop They will manage a clients decarbonisation journey from end to end providing an af tercare package that includes Operations & Maintenance as well as ongoing per formance validation via data analytics

The EscoPod in action

Earlier this year ActionZero announced a par tnership with the Bons Secours Health System, the largest private hospital network in Ireland The ActionZero EscoPod AZH is currently being installed at the Bons Secours Hospital Tralee Co Kerr y with plans to expand the roll out of the technology across six other sites in the healthcare group

We are thrilled to partner with Bon Secours; an organisation that are showing commitment to climate change and taking definitive action to reduce their carbon emissions

The EscoPod AZH solution enables healthcare organisations to address the very significant challenge that is decarbonising heat and it does so while putting money in our customers pockets a win/win where commercial opportunity meets social good ’ said ActionZero CEO Denis Collins former global executive with IBM and previous chairman of IDA Ireland Regional Development

The Future is green

According to ActionZero COO Cormac Murphy ‘The EscoPod is coming to market at a time when companies are struggling to meet the increasing demands to decarbonise existing facilities We are excited to be part of the solution, supporting these businesses in their transition to zero emissions in a cost effective manner ’

To suppor t the ongoing development and expansion of its EscoPod product range, ActionZero opened an Irish manufacturing and research & development centre in May 2022 From here the company will design and manufacture their heat pumps before expor ting them to clients internationally This site will create at least 50 high value engineering and manufacturing jobs locally With plans to invest €3m in the company over the coming three years, ActionZero projects sales growth of €50m over the next two years

Get in touch

Act

Team at Townhal Summ t in

Suite Penrose Of fices Cork Photographer: David

ActionZero

Pictured

Ryan

Manager

Bon Secours

Connor CEO Bon Secours Tra ee Photographer Valer e O Su livan

Scottish Government’s Winter Plan

Must Address Nursing Workforce Crisis

Royal College of Nursing Scotland is calling for the Scottish Government’s statement to parliament today [Tuesday 4 October] on Health and Care Recovery and Winter Planning to set out clear plans for increased investment in health and social care to tackle the nursing work force crisis

The call comes ahead of the launch of the RCN s strike ballot on Thursday 6 October when RCN members working for the NHS in Scotland on Agenda for Change terms and conditions will be asked whether they are willing to take strike action In a historic move, the RCN is not only balloting its members working in the NHS on strike action but is also recommending they vote in favour of taking strike action

Commenting ahead of the publication of the Scottish Government s winter plan Colin Poolman RCN Scotland Director said: “RCN members are dreading the winter months There has been no let up in the pres

sures staff have faced over summer and patient care is being compro mised daily because of dangerously low staffing levels When seasonal infections begin in earnest this pressure is only going to increase

“The Scottish Government must set out a plan that addresses chronic nursing workforce shortages This has to start with paying staff fairly for the safety critical work they do

“We continue to hear the Scottish Government talk about record num bers of nursing staff in post but the reality is that we re short of over 6,000 nursing and midwifery staff in our NHS and 6 in 10 RCN members are considering leaving their current role Government initiatives to tackle waiting times and support service recovery cannot succeed without first addressing the workforce crisis

“We believe strike action should always be a last resort but the current NHS staffing crisis is causing unacceptable risk to patients and staff

Care Home Has a ‘Latte’ Fun at Macmillan Coffee Morning

Staff and residents at Hugh Myddelton House in Southgate held a charity coffee morning and bake sale on 30th of September to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support

Having a coffee morning is the per fect chance to catch up over a cuppa and a slice of something delicious for a great cause The money raised helps everyone with cancer to live life as fully as they can

Residents enjoyed spending time with friends and relatives and mem bers of the local community Head chef Christopher Abrigo and Rosa s friends had baked lots of lovely cakes biscuits and pastries for everyone to sample and for guests to buy to take home Some residents had baked cakes and biscuits for the occasion too along with their visitors and

For

members of the community everyone was spoilt for choice!

Hugh Myddelton House s coffee morning was a big success they managed to raise £226 and, most impor tantly everyone had a great time doing it!

Jade Shea General Manager at Hugh Myddelton House Care Home said:

“Our Macmillan coffee morning has been a huge amount of fun, everyone at the home is always keen to support this fantastic charity in any way we can We are very glad to be able to do our bit to raise further awareness for MacMillan and money for the charity ” Rosa a resident at the home commented MacMillan is such a fantastic charity and they do such amazing work in the community we all love rais ing money for them and the best bit is, we get to each cake at the same time!”

Cuppas That Show You Care

With lots of refreshing fruit and herbal blends as well as Original and black tea Tetley has a solution for everyone when it comes to having a cuppa

Here at Tetley we understand the chal lenge of keeping your residents hydrated and the important role a quality cuppa can play

A significant 20% of care home resi dents are dehydrated1 which can lead to hospital admission This is easily preventa ble by keeping hydrated EVERY CUPPA COUNTS

It can be hard to make sure your resi dents are drinking up to 8 glasses of water a day Tea

the recommended daily water intake,2 making this the perfect comforting beverage to serve as a way of keeping on top of hydration

Whilst black tea remains a firm favourite among tea drinkers,3 having a range of tea blends including fruit and herbal options is important and goes a long way in keeping your residents hydrated This way you can maximise the opportunities to maintain hydration levels throughout the day by catering to different dayparts

As the nation s favourite

by serving Tetley to

you will be bringing to them a familiar

Operating

Whilst

MORE THAN JUST TEA

Designed

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

Hassle -and Stress- Free Bath Adaptations - Without Delay

Bath time it should be relaxing but if a client needs care support it is fraught with risk unless a major adaptation is undertaken

AAT GB has developed a unique solution, that can eliminate the need for that major adaptation of replacing the bath and all the cost delay and disruption that entails It can be in place within 10 working days (subject to T&Cs)

Aqua Liberty provides a safe supportive pressure free option It forms perfectly and exactly round the bather to hold and support them safely There is no need for the carer to try and support them to suspend them safely during the execution of intimate hygiene care

The core Aqua Liberty system uses suction technology to firmly attach to ANY bath Waterproof, infinitely mouldable vacuum posture cushions are attached to provide shaped support abduction and stabilisation exactly where needed head torso hips seat In this way the carer s hands are freed to safely concentrate on intimate care whilst minimising risk from stretching and weight bearing over the bath

Importantly the Aqua Liberty system is easily removed from the bath to allow its use by everyone else in the household The cushions themselves can be removed from the base

Jolly Trolley Brings Therapeutic Activity and Entertainment to Patients That Are Isolating

The Jolly Trolley® is an essential for any care establishment as it pro motes social interaction between the service users and their carers This innovative system is fully mobile and battery operated allow ing residents who may be unable to leave their rooms to also be includ ed w th ease The Jolly Trolley® comes complete with its own videos quizzes karaoke and other content but personal music photos and films can then be added from a USB stick to really bring out the mag c!

Don t just take our word for it here are just some testimonials from our very happy Health and Social Care clients:

Chester Park Megan Allan

to provide correct postural support stabilisation and abduction wherever else required for daily life The Aqua Liberty system stows compactly away freeing up often restricted space in the bathroom for other users

Says Peter Wingrave AAT Director:

Aqua Liberty is a game changer for supported bathing At a fraction of the cost and with none of the delay and disruption of replacing a standard bath for a specialist design Aqua Liberty provides a safe, supported, stable answer for client and carer alike ”

Safeguard Your Care Home with InVentr

time

You

Activities The fact that we can upload what s relevant to the spe c fic Individual is so meaningful for that person and I can assure you we have shed some tears being able to be part of that res dents memory journey It has been an amazing add tion to our care home from staff and res dents thank you

Pennine NHS Trust Beech Ward we have been able to pro vide therapeut c activity & enterta n ment w th ease to patients that are isolating

To see what the Jolly Trolley® can do for you call us for a free demonstration on 0800 093 8499

See the advert on the front cover

BIOFROST® Cold Therapy Gels for Drug-Free Pain Relief

ethanol

Care homes are crucial for our society so it s important to ensure they re a safe setting to help staff carry out the best

With

InVentry

Head

Yeoman Shield Fire Door Ser vices Taking the Guess Work out of Fire Doors

BIOFROST® Relief and the BIOFROST® Active are natural topical gels that effectively relieve pain reduce inflammation and diminish swelling without drugs and drug related side effects Safe for people of all ages including the elderly and disabled people

BIOFROST® Cold Therapy Gels work as standalone therapeutic modalities or alongside other interventions (i

drugs, physiotherapy,

and

pain and discomfort

BIOFROST®

We pride ourselves on the quality of our Taiwanese

fleece and the range of over

colours we offer We have been in the fabric trade for over 50 years and manufac turing our fleece blankets for over 20 years

High volumes of our quality cosy fleece blankets are sold to the hospi tality nursery and pet sector This is due to the cost effectiveness of fleece along with the durability and washability The anti pil brushed sur face of the fabric lessens the bob ble effect found on many fleece fabrics of inferior quality

Co ordination to a theme is nor mally achievable due to our wide range of colours and contrasting or matching edging

ingredients (i

eucalyptus pepper mint

own healing Benefits are better joint movements last ing pain relief comfortable sleep fewer cramps calmed nerve pain reduced joint and muscular dis comfort less muscle fatigue puffiness and swelling

BIOFROST® Active is a fast acting dual action cold gel with heat sensation for relief of muscular and joint aches (i e upper and lower back pain) Enriched with 10 herbal extracts BIOFROST® Active stimulates local blood flow releases muscle tension and joint stiffness and combats chronic pain Benefits include improved joint movements greater mobility pain relief in treated areas (i e back neck shoulders knees) discomfort free sleep less cramps and stiffness

CE marked Class 1 Medical Devices, the BIOFROST® gels are made in Finland by Viking Lab Oy Distributed in the UK by Win Health Medical Ltd Win Health Medical Ltd / T: 01835 864866 / E: biofrost@win health com / W: www win health com

See the advert on page 5 for details

Ambassador Textiles

branding can be included in the man ufacturing process by adding a sewn in label

Alongside our regular fleece blan kets which are available in a variety of sizes we currently have several clearance fleece options available in our two most popular sizes

In keeping with our mission of the last 50 years along with all our other fabrics Ambassador Fleece Blankets offer great value for money backed up with the quality assurance and good service we have always offered

Please contact a member of our helpful experienced sales team on 0161 624 4167 or info@ambassador textiles co uk for information and pricing

advert

See

Fire Doors are an imperative part of fire safety and are consider ations of the design and maintenance of any building but especially residential Article 17 RRFSO states fire safety provisions (includes fire doors) must be main tained in a suitable con dition and working order

If you are the Responsible imperative you appoint a competent person to assist in meeting your duties under the fire safety order to ensure fire safety measures including fire doors are kept in working order

Yeoman Shield s Fire Door Services can help to take the guess work out of fire door maintenance by providing fire door inspections condition reports remedial work and fire door installation all carried out by FDIS and/or FIRAS accredited team members

Having a good maintenance routine will dispel some needs of fire door replacement therefore being more cost effective

ation of Yeoman Shield Fire ction products can also be nancially beneficial by halt ing impact damage from the start eliminating many repairs in the future and again will extend door lifecycles Installing Yeoman Shield door protection products such as door protection panels door edge protectors and PVCu glazing bead units will not affect the integrity of the fire door as all products have been tested in situ to the current standard required Vulnerable frames and architraves can also be protected from impact with Yeoman Shield to pre vent dangerous splintering and splitting as well as abolishing the time consuming repetitive need for repainting

For a complete repair and protect service contact the team today frdp@yeomanshield com or visit www yeomanshield com or see the advert page 10

Free Online PAT Testing Course

Everyone can benefit from free train ing! Parker Bell offers a free online PAT Testing course which is ideal Care Home Managers and maintenance staff It gives you all the information about your legal obligations and responsibilities It also covers practicalities such as:

Equipment needed

Full visual Inspect on

How to do a PAT Test

What records to keep

As a result of the pandemic many have found their working environment has changed dramatically You may no longer allow people/contractors on your premises PAT Testing is straightforward to do and can be easily managed in house Our free course will show you how you can PAT Test, and what’s more the HSE say any competent person can do it! How do you access the free PAT Testing Course?

It s simple, just go to www onlinepattestingcourse co uk Here you will be able to access the course, you just need an email address to sign up The course is made up of short modules and is simple to follow Who should do the course?

Probably everyone should do the course as it shows you basic electrical equipment safety; which given the

amount of electrical equipment we now have in our homes makes sense

Both employers and employees are responsible for inspecting and main taining electrical equipment in the work place So you should encourage all staff to do the course

What equipment do you need?

Any competent person can PAT Test however you will need to use a PAT Tester that give you and outcome Pass or Fail It’s great if the PAT Tester has readings as well but they are not essential

How often should I PAT Test?

Frequency of PAT Testing is dependent on your Risk Assessment You need to include the routine inspec tion & maintenance

You

Adds Jane Turton Mencap home manager: “Aqua Liberty has been the ideal answer for us as a care team The resident who needs it is now relaxed in the bath It is quick and easy to fit and remove It stows away compactly too That is really helpful in a bathroom that is used by other people and already includes a raft of assistive equipment We still have room to move ”

Find out more about Aqua Liberty and book your free no obligation assessment here: https://www aatgb com/aqua liberty/

Renray Healthcare

furniture or a full room installation and fitting service we have the experience and resources to handle your contract

We manufacture and assemble our products in our own purpose built factories in Cheshire and Europe to British Standards Hence we are able to ensure your furniture is produced to the highest quality working with you to plan and meet your projects time sched ule and budget

We understand you are purchasing furniture that is fit for purpose stylish and will continue to perform well into the future which is why we design and build our furniture with you in mind

Ser ve Afternoon Tea in Style with Euroser vice

Renray

Telephone: +44 (0)1606 593456, Email: info@renrayhealthcare com www renrayhealthcare com or see the advert on page 3 for details

Raising the Standard of Stair Climbing Solutions

The Stair Climbing Company is one of the leading providers of powered Stair Climber solu tions which have been specifi cally designed to assist those struggling with mobility and independence issues facing people with disabilities

The Stair Climbing Company offers an excellent range of compact easy to use powered Stair Climbers that are ideal for use in both home and commer cial settings Offering innovative designs all of the company’s Stair Climbers can be separated into two pieces for safe storage and are easily transported and charged In addition all of its Stair Climber’s come with a two year manu facturer’s warranty

The Stair Climbing Company maintains one main

mission; to improve quality of life through its range of high quality and custom devices with built in seats The safety and comfort of its customers is of the utmost importance to the company and it ensures that each wheelchair car rier model is designed to cater to individual customers specific needs and works with all stair types Furthermore the company provides Stair Climbers for all ages making them suitable for everyone and offers a free assessment for customers

you would like to find out any

Consort Claudgen launches Consort Connect app

Consort Claudgen have launched Consort Connect app which allows users to have complete control over their heat ing remotely via their smartphone or tablet

The app is free and downloadable from Google Play or Apple Store It can control Consort’s Wi Fi enabled heaters and SL heaters connected to an SLPBWIFI wireless controller It gives quick access to four operating modes and provides a 7 day timer with twenty four heating peri ods per day It is easy to set up and users can configure the settings of all connected heaters on

the app Users can also view the energy consumption statistics Other features include a lock function open window tracking and response capability, and custom automations There is a self learning control ability utilising occupan cy and temperature sensors however this is only available on the SLPBWIFI controller and Consort heaters with Wi Fi and occupancy sensor

For more information, contact our sales at 01646 692172 or visit www consortepl com or see the advert on page 6

50 Years of Design Excellence. 50 Years of Skopos

these new designs will be brought to life as prints perfect for Care Interiors available on a wide choice of Skopos base cloths

As with all Skopos prints customers will be able to order the Anniversary designs across base cloths for upholstery curtains and bedding Qualities include waterproof upholsteries velvets drapery linen effect qualities and blackout/dimout fabrics

Many of our fabrics are antimicrobial com ing under the umbrella of Skopos ProtectPlus

2022 marks the celebration of 50 years for Skopos fabrics! As a tribute to this milestone, throughout this year, we will be looking back at some of our favourite designs over this half century The 50th Anniversary Collection will see some of these authentic landmark designs reborn using contempo rary design production techniques The evolved designs will be developed in line with current trends for use within contract interiors today Each month

Skopos offer a full range of fabrics including upholsteries plus made to measure curtains bed ding and cushions for Care Interiors To request a quote for new curtains bed throws and cushions for Care please contact our sales team 01924 436666

For free samples of our Anniversary Designs please log onto our website www skoposfabrics com Skopos Fabrics Ltd are dedicated to design, serv ice and best performance Our full service or fabric only option provides choice for our customers, with expertise in design, make up (curtains, cushions and bedding), fitting and installation

Sustainable & Cost-Effective Hot Water For Care Homes

Care facilities typically exhibit significant but varied hot water and heating usage patterns which con tributes to the current 40% tally of UK greenhouse gas emissions generated by the built environment

To help achieve climate neutral building stock by 2050 the industry is being challenged to reduce opera tional energy use over all other measures By increas ing the use of renewable energy supply and prioritising on site renewable energy sources the hope it to reduce both carbon and bills

Mobility furni ture has come on leaps and strides over the last few years Gone are the dreary semi functional chairs and beds of the past Today’s generation of rise and recline chairs and adjustable beds look smart, last for years and are better designed and more com fortable than ever before Even people without mobili ty problems are buying them especially when they are made to measure giving that perfect fit

HOW DOES MOBILITY FURNITURE BENEFIT CARE HOME RESIDENTS?

Research has found that elevating the legs one of the main features of a rise and recline chair or adjustable bed reduces swelling of stiff and painful joints and enhances healing of injuries and wounds In fact experts have found that failure to elevate a limb can actually delay healing

Another advantage of mobility furniture is that it helps care home residents sleep deeply and for longer stints which we all know is crucial to quality of life both physical and emotional Why? Because it allows people access to a range of sitting and lying positions that traditional chairs and beds simply do not have WHAT ABOUT CARE HOME STAFF?

Mobility furniture improves health of care home employees because it results in less lifting/weight bearing Press a button on the rise and recline chair and it supports the user to their feet Some adjustable beds have the same feature

Most residents need to avoid pressure sores and again mobility furniture helps by pressing a button on the chair or bed to gently ease people into different positions The alternative is a member of staff shifting the resident to a new position at risk to their own health

Some adjustable beds and rise and recline chairs

even come with wheels a thoughtful touch for when residents struggle to walk between rooms And many come with wipe clean upholstery in case of unfortu nate spills

All of these features reduce the workload for busy staff and improve the comfort of residents

WORKING WITH EXPERTS

Dr Rob Hicks popular celebrity media doctor acts as medical expert for Mobility Furniture Company

Mobility furniture can make life that little bit easier for people particularly those who struggle to do things that we often take for granted like sitting down and standing up Dr Hicks says It is great to be working with a forward thinking company that celebrates improving quality of life for older individuals

AN UPBEAT APPROACH

Mobility Furniture Company is one of the biggest mobility furniture companies in the UK Its wide geo graphical spread of representatives takes furniture to care homes for managers staff and residents to assess

Care home managers owners and staff know what their residents need says James Mitton Managing Director of Mobility Furniture Company

When we visit care homes we always gain valuable insights about real life situations for which our company can make a differ ence Working with these key members of staff we find solutions for residents and care home employ ees that make life more comfortable for everybody involved

Call

Sustainability comes with a cost Whether in the form of new build projects or and far more likely the refurbishment of existing yet ageing facilities under standing the necessary capital investment operational savings and payback periods is going to be key

Addressing the efficiency of domestic hot water (DHW) systems whether through the implementation of heat pumps solar thermal direct electric water heating or even simple modernisation of existing gas appliances helps care facilities meet sustainability goals in a practical and cost effective manner It also delivers improved year round conditions for staff and clients in care providing access to spaces better suit ed to delivering medical care and assisted living

For buildings already on gas and that rely on large amounts of DHW a large proportion of current UK care and nursing home properties solar preheat is the preferable option For new build properties the expec

Alliance

tation is for specification to default to a mixture of heat pumps and direct electric afterheat New system approaches including prefabricated packaged plant rooms also provide for better use of the spaces that already exist without the need to undertake expensive and disruptive building projects This is especially valid as demands for beds continue to increase, placing new demands on care facilities

Adveco can help achieve emission reduction targets

With more than 50 years of specialised expertise in designing, supplying, and servicing hot water systems to the nursing and care industry, Adveco is the single resource you need for independent expert technical guidance on choosing and developing bespoke sus tainable applications today to get you on the right path towards net zero operation

https://adveco co/sectors/healthcare/

PAPER HYGIENE

SIMPLE MEASURES MUG

CATERING FOR CARE

Dysphagia is a Difficult Diagnosis to Swallow

By Carla Bartlett, Director of Speech and Language Therapy (Social Care) at Cygnet Health Care and Dominique St Clair Miller Director of Speech and Language Therapy (Health Care) at Cygnet Health Care (www cygnethealth co uk)

The majority of us enjoy snacks, meals and drinks without much thought or effort, for some people living with dysphagia this can be a difficult and frightening experience with potentially significant conse quences on health and quality of life

Imagine that every time you are invited out for a meal you have to think about whether you will be able to chew and safely swallow the food on the menu Imagine that you are told it is not safe for you to eat your favourite food anymore as it is considered high risk for choking

Imagine that every time you are faced with eating food you feel tense and fearful you are terrified you might choke You barely have an appetite anymore and over time you lose weight when you don t mean to Imagine that every time you take a drink you cough and splutter so you avoid drinking to the extent that you become dehydrat ed and experience frequent urine infections This can be the reality for people living with dysphagia This is the reality for 560 million people worldwide At Cygnet Health Care Speech and Language Therapists (SLTs) assess diagnose and formulate management plans to support individuals with different aspects of eating drinking feeding and/or swallowing difficulties The ultimate aim is to ensure safer swallowing whilst balancing quality of life with individ uals preferences and beliefs Our SLTs will seek support from other health care professionals where necessary They will also make recommendations based upon the difficulties an individual is experiencing Sometimes this will include positioning advice adaptive equipment specific oral motor / sensory exercises or swallow tech niques and food and fluid texture modification However for others simply managing the speed at which they eat or prompting them to take smaller mouthfuls and chewing for longer can be enough

There are also lots of things you can do to create an environment that is safer for eating and drinking Simple strategies like sitting upright, creating a calm environment, switching off the radio or TV and limiting conversation can make the difference for many individuals who require support

It is important that we raise awareness of this life altering condition and are alert to its signs and symptoms to ensure those diagnosed with dysphagia are able to continue living a full and fulfilling life

FIVE FACT BOXES

1 What is Dysphagia?

Dysphagia is the medical name for difficulties in swallowing Dyshagia puts a person at risk negative health consequences such as aspiration asphyxiation and/or choking malnutrition and dehydration which can all be life threatening If these risks are not managed appropriately people are at high risk of poor health hospital admissions and reduced quality of life

Dysphagia is secondary to a primary condition such as neurological disorders e g stroke, Parkinson’s Disease, Motor Neurone Disease, Wilson’s Disease, head injury; head and neck cancer e g laryngeal cancer; disorders associated with the elderly disorders associated with trauma e g smoke inhalation; tracheostomy; ventilator dependent individuals; and learning disability to name a few Dysphagia can also be drug induced e g side effects of medication, and arise as a result from the treatment of diseases e g radiotherapy

Swallowing may become difficult because the muscles and nerves used for chewing and swallowing become weak or uncoordinated Food or drink can go down the wrong way into the lungs instead of the stomach This could lead to serious conditions such as recurrent chest infections and aspiration pneumonia

2 Signs, Symptoms and Characteristics

Dysphagia is associated with an increased morbidity, increased mortality and a reduced quality of life People may experience the following signs, symptoms and characteristics which carry serious consequences:

• Coughing, throat clearing and/or choking when eating or drinking

multiple treatments to clear

Repeated chest infections or those that requ

• Difficulty managing specific foods textures or drinks e g excessive chew

spitting food out losing food from the mouth food and drink remain

in the mouth after attempted swallows

Refusal of food and drink

Anxiety around mealtimes food drink or when eating and drinking

Malnutrition e g losing weight weak skin hair loss

Dehydration E g Constipation strong urine UTI

Statistics

Dysphagia

difficulties with swallowing med cation

occur in all age groups

a result of a wide range of conditions

in the adult population dysphagia affects

of people with Motor Neurone Disease

of people who have had a stroke

of people with Parkinson s Disease

of people with dementia living in care homes

of people with a learning disability

difficulties can occur

between

to 19% of people with mental health illness where

4. Top 10 Safe Swallowing Tips:

and

effects of med

of the

you have

will provide specific guidance on how to make eating and drink

CATERING FOR CARE

Can Your Homes Afford Not To Work with Allmanhall To Mitigate Rising Food Prices?

As winter approaches care homes are faced not only with the spiralling cost of food but also extraordinary energy price increases Heating and eating will be very real challenges faced by many allmanhall are able to ease some of the pressure faced by care homes Through negotiations, tendering and supplier management on behalf of care caterers, allmanhall are delivering value and support allmanhall s benchmarks on food costs give average savings of 12% What s more additional categories such as janitorial and medical supplies recently showed savings of over 15%

The support goes further than that allmanhall provide advice on how to maximise catering budgets It s so important for care caterers to have information regard ing which products are stable and which are volatile when it comes to price movement allmanhall do exactly this For example having a greater proportion of stable products making up your residents menus will make it easier to manage the impact of rising prices

The mobilisation of the new catering suppliers and the transfer of existing ones to allmanhall was smoothly managed and supported expertly allmanhall s approach provides my team with reassurance and peace of mind ”

St Martins Care

There’s currently a harsh spotlight on homes without

strong procurement practices Despite chefs working tirelessly to cost recipes source the best value ingredi ents manage portion control and waste some will con tinue to struggle to produce food at a low cost without the experience of a procurement team to manage and negotiate price increases for them allmanhall also reduce the pressure on finance resources by consolidating billing and providing admin efficiencies and further savings Why not visit the allmanhall team on stand 8 at the NACC TDF to find out more? www allmanhall co uk

Delicious, Nutritious, And Safe Texture

Meals

Here at It’s Made For You Softer Foods, we believe that everyone should look forward to tasty, safe, and nutritious texture modified meals The It’s Made For You range is designed for the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) framework standards and includes valuable nutrition

from

Our range of meals have also been developed to ensure the nutritional content will meet the nutritional needs of your patients whilst they follow a texture modified diet Research has shown that up to 50% of people with dysphagia are malnourished or at risk of malnutrition There could be numerous reasons for this including a reduced appetite or the inability to consume large quantities of food in one sitting Our range of classic and mini meals can help to ensure your patients are getting the most nutritional value from the food they consume The use of pre prepared It’s Made For You meals can also be a practical time saver and bring peace of mind to the person with dysphagia The range includes over 80 tasty dishes including

chicken beef lamb fish and vegetarian recipes We also offer a tasty selection of lighter bites desserts and breakfast options as well as mini meals for those with smaller appetites

At It s Made For You we offer a delivery service that cares making it easy and convenient for our customers to eat delicious meals which can be delivered directly and safely to their homes This helps them if they cannot leave the house or go to the shops Plus people love to use our service as they can rely on a regular delivery of good quality and safe meals directly to their door by a friendly local Oakhouse Foods delivery driver Find out more at www Itsmadeforyou co uk

Anglia Crown – Offering You The Complete Package

The summer of 2022 will be long remembered as a hot one For many espe cially in the care sector perhaps it was a little too hot! As we are now moving towards autumn our thoughts are turning once again to those warming meals and the feeling of comfort that only good, wholesome food can bring

Our current range includes Crown Choice and Crown Advantage meals avail able frozen with Crown Choice also available as chilled products We are always looking to keep our dishes current and reflecting current trends which is why we are now offering more vegetarian and vegan dishes than ever before

The company now offers over 70 vegan and vegetarian dishes many have been accredited with the Vegan Society This approach led to the company being named a Veggie Wholesaler of the Year

We recognise that everyone is busy so we have crafted a menu cycle that can be readily adopted by any care setting with the knowledge that the menu is nutritionally balanced and has been approved by a professional dietitian

The two week cycle offers something for everyone Where a bulk service is required for resident dining we have it covered a similar menu using Crown Advantage dishes can be similarly employed The specially designed menu is cost effective, as it has already considered the financial balancing that is required in our sector and just as importantly it also helps with any staffing issues that you might encounter allowing properly trained Care Assistants to help with the complete delivery of the meals to your residents

Mary Wedge Business Development Manager at Anglia Crown comments; “As we celebrate our 30th anniversary, we are proud to be a trusted partner with the care sector providing quality nutritious food 365 days a year We will con tinue to review our menus adapting to your needs whilst maintaining our vision of driving excellence in residential and care home catering

The current range is now available Visit www angliacrown co uk for further details or contact us on sales@angliacrown co uk

How Efficient Is Your Laundr y Operation?

Discover Girbau Laundr y Innovation at the Care Show

Cash’s Labels- “The Name Behind the Name”

At Cash s, we aim to capture, reinforce and communicate our clients brand equity through quality and innovation from design to distribution

Our product range fully caters for the needs of both small and large retailers and brand owners alike comprising of woven and printed labels woven badges care labels branded and promo tional swing tags garment accessories packaging and bar coding Our ground breaking labelling and security technologies are also able to provide an unrivalled level of protection to our customers brand by assist

ing to combat counterfeiting and grey market activity

Our industry leading eCommerce system is designed to reduce cost, improve efficien cy and streamline supply chain management and will fully pro tect the integrity and accuracy of critical business data The order entry process is very simple meaning suppliers and vendors can spend their valuable time on tasks other than ordering apparel labelling and accessories

Visit www cashslabels com or see the advert on this page

Laundr yTec - Innovation and Support as Standard

replaced 3 x 37kg dyers and reduced the energy consumption from 210kwh to

This was a extreme case but when the laundry door is shut are you really aware what your dryers are costing you to operate?

Our LDR dryers can offer a return on investment that would make your head spin faster than on of our washers!

We can complete a free of charge energy survey

Can you afford not to investi gate what your laundry is costing?

See the advert below for fur ther information

CLEANING & HYGIENE

Partner Up for Healthcare Hygiene with GOJO at IPS 2022

GOJO experts in skin health and sur face hygiene will be exhibiting at Stand

37

Join GOJO THE INVENTORS OF PURELL™ and the hand sanitiser cate gory itself at the 14th annual Infection Prevention Society (IPS) conference stand 37 This year the event takes place at the Bournemouth International Centre from 17th 19th October 2022

At the show the team of GOJO Healthcare Support Managers will be offering support and advice on their total solution approach to infection prevention in healthcare facilities They will highlight the company’s ability to help hygiene standards across all areas and situations within hospitals and healthcare facilities

GOJO will showcase its role as a specialist partner in healthcare hygiene by focussing on three areas with specific need:

• SURGICAL WARDS

Meeting key hygiene norms is of the utmost importance in these envi ronments but the harsh products used to do so can really take their toll

on hands In contrast using PURELL Advanced Hygienic Hand Rub offers a gentler way to meet EN 12791 standard

• ACUTE AND GENERAL WARDS

GOJO provides a straight ‘out of the box’ solution for hand hygiene, incorpo rating dispensers, products accessories, and signage as well as training and on boarding support It also manages instal lations thereby reducing the staffing impact of changing suppliers

• COMMUNITY & SOCIAL SERVICES:

These environments often have radi cally different needs from what are tradi tionally catered for in healthcare packages GOJO takes these specificities

into consideration and offers specially adapted products for example locked dispenser units and foam sanitiser so they can only be opened by trained personnel in demanding environments, for example Its ‘train the trainer’ programme allows all staff to be trained on product use, whatever shift they work Personal formats can also be supplied so healthcare pro fessionals always have products on hand when they are needed even if

Countering Unseen Fire and Water Risks

Behind the scenes in a care setting the safety and wellbeing of service users partly depends on expert clean ing of kitchen and laundry ductwork as well as clean, safe water, ad Gary Nicholls, MD or duct cleaning and legionella risk experts Swiftclean, explains

No matter how healthy your kitchen kitchen extract ductwork must be regularly cleaned in order to remove the grease deposits that arise from cooking People often think that this grease layer must be really thick in order to pose a fire risk However the specification TR19® Grease which governs kitchen extract hygiene issued by the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) requires for grease layer to be controlled with in an average of 200 microns This is about half the thickness of an average business card Anything more than this thin layer represents a significant fire risk The only solution to this problem is a reg ular complete removal of the grease layer by specialist TR19® Grease cleaning

A second frequently overlooked fire safety cleaning task is for removal of dust fibre and lint from laundry extract ductwork Tumble dryer fires are surprisingly frequent especially in their extract ductwork The drying process resulting a significant buildup of ductwork deposits which are highly flammable and should be regu larly removed to eliminate the fire risk Cleaning in accordance with TR19® also issued by BESA it s the most

effective way to remove these

their work is off site

Chris Wakefield Managing Director UK & Ireland GOJO Industries Europe Ltd comments: We know the key to increasing hand hygiene compliance is to ensure that the right products are available in the right places at the right time We are constantly innovating to keep people and places healthy This means formulating products that are not only effec tive at killing germs but that won’t irritate hands that must be repeatedly cleaned throughout a shift ‘Ensuring that the products are available when and where they are needed be that personal bottles of hygienic hand rub or dispensers positioned in optimal locations And last but not least developing solutions with the environment in mind For example from 2023 we plan to move to RPT refills; all collapsible refills will be made from recycled materials as well as being recyclable

‘Widely used in the NHS, PURELL® is a trusted brand in healthcare facilities around the world Our solutions encompass fast active, effective formulas that care for skin, state of the art dispensers, and specialist sup port such as the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) accredited training mak ing us the ideal healthcare partner Come and meet the team at IPS 2022 to find out how we can support your facility ’

For a tailored effective total solution for your setting or for more infor mation on the benefits of partnering with GOJO please call +44 (0)1908 588444 email CustomerExperienceUK@GOJO com or visit www GOJO com

If you have a mechanical ventilation system you will almost certainly have fire dampeners installed where the ductwork passes from a side room to a corridor to reinstate the compartmentalisation provided by an internal fire resistant wall Fire dampness comprise a set of steel louvres which normally remain open to allow the flow of air through the ventilation system but which automatically close in the event of a fire to delay it spread These must be 'dropped tested' at least every twelve months, in accordance with BS: 9999, to ensure that they will close if needed Any that fail must be repaired and re tested

Ductwork cleaning and fire dampness testing a specialist task and should be conducted by technicians with appropriate competence and training

TR19® Grease contains advice that property manager should choose as a member of BESA's Vent Hygiene Elite (VHE) scheme to provide these specialist services VHE members like Swiftclean can also provide post clean certificate certification which insurers are increasingly expecting to see, especially in the event of a fire, to demonstrate the property owners or managers compliance with the regulations

Care must also be taken in ensuring that the water system is free from Legionella bacteria

The elderly and those with underlying medical conditions are particularly vulnerable to Legionnaire s Disease the potentially fatal disease caused by Legionella You are legally required to always have a current Legionella risk assessment, which must be updated if there are any changes at all to the water system, owner ship of the property or designated Responsible Person

The water system must be managed in accordance with L8 the approved code of practice issued by the HSE If you need any assistance which with legionella control you should choose a certified member of the legionella control Association to help you

Visit www swiftclean co uk for further information and advice

INTRODUCTION

In the transfer of an NHS Trust from one disinfectant to another there are many factors to con sider from ease of use to effica cy against healthcare associated infections (HCAIs) For many years, Doncaster and Bassetlaw NHS Trust (DBTH) used a chlorine dioxide (ClO2) based product as their universal one application quick kill rate disinfection solu tion When the supplier announced it was to cease pro duction they had to find a replacement solution Whilst scoping the market it was found that most trusts were using chlorine based disinfectants or a different brand of ClO2 based disin fectants Most other solutions were complicated in their mechanism or required a cleaning and disinfecting clean (two stage), which would be time consuming Information was sort from the Infection Prevention Society (IPS) to see what products were commonly used throughout the country and this is where DBTH were informed about Peracide™ an in situ peracetic acid (ISPAA) based disinfectant After further discus sion with the company, it was agreed that a trial should take place to confirm the claims of the product The product was introduced to the microbiologist and Director Infection Prevention & Control (DIPC) our Facilities management team and Health and Safety advisor The process of using the product needed to meet the needs of facilities and Health and Safety and the approval of the DIPC that the product had a successful kill rate to reduce HCAIs DBTH did plate assays to ensure its efficacy and when satisfied trialled Peracide on two wards to test its efficacy and ease in use

In recent years, the need for rapidly efficacious high level disinfec tants has increased as HCAIs have become a significant issue HCAIs negatively impact the patient recovery, turnover and average cost by increasing the length of patient stays increasing costs associated with care increasing pathogenic effects and increasing the risk of spread to another patient

MATERIALS AND METHODS

As an alternative to a ClO2 based disinfectant Peracide™ was selected Peracide™ is a broad spectrum biocide, reacting to produce peracetic acid in situ which is a high level disinfectant that boasts strong, oxidizing properties Peracide™ is extremely effective against a

wide range of healthcare associated pathogens including spore form ing Clostridium difficile MRSA Norovirus Legionella E Coli Pseudomonas etc and will work to destroy established biofilms Peracide™ is both safe to use and environmentally friendly and is suit able for high level sanitising and disinfecting on porous and non porous surfaces Unlike other disinfectants Peracide™ is minimally affected by organic matter Upon breakdown Peracide™ is completely biodegradable producing carbon dioxide, water, and oxygen

Two side rooms on the same ward were selected The occupants were of similar admissions reasons and neither of which had any alert organisms so did not occupy the room for isolation purposes

RESULTS

Cleaning had not been performed on either side room with Peracide™ prior to this test The results show that the ClO2 based disin fectant showed no effect at the intervals measured

From this data, routine cleaning CFU counts with Peracide™ can be predicted Since there were slightly fewer CFUs than the pre clean it can be predicted that Peracide™ will lead to a cumulative effect over time as shown in Figure 2: Predicted cumulative effect of daily cleaning with Peracide

This emphasises the absolute importance of regular routine cleaning and shows that Peracide™ is effective both in short and long term use

DISCUSSION

Overall it was found that the ClO2 based disinfectant was almost entirely ineffective and was not suitable for use There are many possi ble reasons for this It could be a case of error in preparation as the for mulation can be difficult to use correctly, or that the solution was no longer efficacious as there is no indicative mechanism for the user It may also be an issue with the ClO2 based disinfectant in solution ClO2 exists as a gas which readily diffuses out of liquid solution with a diffu sion coefficient of 0 145cm2s 1 at room temperature (Lee Burgess Rubino and Auras, 2015)

On the other hand Peracide™ was considerably more effective and had lasting effect in a high traffic environment Peracide™ coming in a simple tablet form is easy to use is indicative of efficacy and is sta bilised in solution This accumulates to an easy to use visibly effica cious disinfectant with cumulative effect that supports long term infection control

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thank you to the participants at DBTH for engaging in this trial and to the laboratory team who performed the necessary assays

The results show that there is no cumulative effect of cleaning from the ClO2 based disinfectant as the counts at the end of the day were no different from before or after the clean The ClO2 based disinfec tant showed approximately no efficacy overall In comparison Peracide™ showed good efficacy to begin with and an overall reduc tion prior to the next clean

Angloplas

REFERENCES

Lee Y Burgess G Rubino M and Auras R 2015 Reaction and diffusion of chlorine dioxide gas under dark and light condit ons at different temperatures Journal of Food Engineering 144 pp 20 28

For further information see the facing page

Salmonella

A New Frontier for Control of Winter Bugs

Carol Scholey (RGN, BSc (hons)) Liam Grimshaw (BSc (hons) MSc by Research)

The XP range of upright vacuum cleaners from SEBO are ideal for these health conscious times They feature independently proven filtration hygienic dirt disposal using sealable bags and are exceptionally quiet and light to use

Clearly, a vacuum cleaner’s number one task is to clean The XP range harnesses the power of an on board computer to measure performance on the floor and continuously adjust the floor head to the optimum cleaning height completely automatically The power ful brush action pulls the vacuum cleaner forward so that the pushing force required to manoeuvre it is close to zero helping to make it light and easy to use for extended periods but also giving deep cleaning performance The integrated wand and hose mean that cleaning above the floor and reaching into awk ward places is easy The computer can also advise when the bag needs changing or when there is a blockage and the multiple access points and cassette style brush roller make the XP easy to maintain

Of course, once dirt is picked up, it is essential that it is retained in the vacuum cleaner and not released back into the air The Health and Safety Executive states that we never assume that any dust is safe and that all uncontrolled dusts are potentially hazardous

Virtually all the dust and dirt which is picked up by an XP vacuum cleaner is safely trapped in the high filtra tion bag which can be sealed and hygienically dis posed of The filtration of the XP has been independently tested by the DMT Test Institute in Germany to filter 99 97% of particles of 0 3 micron

Above this particle size the filtration level is very close to 100%

Many professionally cleaned facilities operate 24/7

It is therefore not always possible to vacuum when no one is around In these cases low noise levels are imperative Although there are regulations limiting the sound power level that a vacuum cleaner can reach subjectively the sound generated can still be unpleas ant even where the vacuum cleaner meets the regula tions SEBO sound engineers have successfully muted the harsh frequencies to which the human ear is sensi tive This has the result that with any form of back ground noise, the sound from the XP virtually disappears, making it suitable in many cases for day time cleaning Indeed, in any situation where low noise levels are important the XP range is ideal

Last but not least at SEBO we believe that vacuum cleaners should be built to last and should be easily repairable Our vacuum cleaners are built to be durable and reliable; to have a long service life using few replacement parts Component parts are identified with the material they are made from so that they can be recycled more easily when their service life is over

For more details contact commercial@sebo co uk

CONTINENCE CARE

Top Tips for Managing Incontinence

FLUID INTAKE

Drinking sufficient fluids each day is essential for maintaining a healthy bladder If you don t drink enough your bladder will become overly sensitive You should try to consume at least

of fluids each day

DRINKS TO AVOID

It is advisable to avoid certain types of drinks such as tea coffee cola and chocolate as they contain caf feine which can irritate the bladder An irritated bladder becomes overactive which makes you feel as though you need to empty your bladder when it is not full

HEALTHY EATING

Your diet should be balanced, not too high in fat, with plenty of fibre, and contain at least five portions of fruit and vegetables each day Healthy eating is also important because being overweight can make bladder problems worse

SMOKING

There are a number of health risks associated with smoking

A smokers cough can place extra pressure on the muscles of the pelvic floor, increasing your chances of experiencing stress incontinence

DEHYDRATION

If you don’t drink enough

INFORM YOUR GP

It is

bladder will become more

experiencing bladder

good idea

RECOMMENDATION: Keep a Bladder Diar y

Maintain a record of every time you experience bladder weakness

Note the activity you were performing at the time the types of beverages

the quantity you consumed

the extent of the leakage

intake

Limiting

water

The

actually increase the frequency of incontinence

Help To Manage Your Incontinence Issues Independently

Urinary incontinence affects millions of people in the UK Although a wide spread problem, in continence remains a taboo topic Embarrassment often stops people from talking about it let alone feeling able to access products and services that can help them So without the correct help and support the problem often remains unsolved which has a negative impact on people s lives

COMFORTABLE AND EFFECTIVE

Since 1976 Manfred Sauer have provided a range of innovative urology products to help suffer ers of urinary incontinence But unlike other providers our products are often designed and tested by both end users and healthcare professionals to ensure effective and user friendly so lutions that work This means your incontinence issues can be managed independently without worrying about frequent emptying or toilet access and do not impinge on your ability to live life to the full Read about four of our most popular product ranges which are all available on prescription

1 SHEATHS

We offer 5 types of urinary sheath to facilitate the drainage of urine away from the body into a drainage bag They are made from either latex, or synthetic materials and available in a range of sizes We also offer skin friendly tapes straps and adhesives hair guards measuring tape as well as Preventox which cleans and protects the skin so you are always comfortable and have the best fit possible

2. LEGBAGS

We supply four main types of leg bags with varying capacities Perfect for being outdoors, and packed full of unique features and benefits you now have a choice when it comes to managing your incontinence issues

The shape of our Discreet Thigh Bag allows for it to be worn high up on the thigh area and can even be hidden under shorts skirts and even swimwear

The Bendi Bag is ideal for wheelchair users who can sometimes find toilet access difficult

• The Comfort Leg Bag range comes in variety of materials from velvet smooth real cotton and flock backing

• The Children's Bag with smaller capacity and proportions comes with a dis creet and secure twist tap that will not open accidentally while moving or out and about

3. IQ CATHETER

Thousands of people across the country must perform Intermittent Self Catheterisation (ISC) to effectively empty their bladder and having something that is simple to use soft flexible and easy to

4. NEPHSYS

For people who have had a Nephrostomy and tubes are already in place

NephSys system can

email helpline@manfred sauer co uk or visit www manfred sauer co uk

more information about each product or to

Revealed: How to Create Dementia-Friendly Documents, Posters and Signage DEMENTIA CARE

Dementia causes the loss of cognitive functions such as memory and reasoning It affects more than 55 million people worldwide with almost 10 million new cases each year Living with dementia can be extremely difficult given that its effects can vary by nature and severity from person to person

Alzheimer s disease, the most common form of dementia, is thought to contribute to 60 70% of cases worldwide Though researchers are working tirelessly for a cure it continues to evade them However there are plenty of ways that we can make life easier and more comfortable for people liv ing with dementia

Print specialists Solopress have taken a look at how you can improve your inclusivity by ensuring your documents posters and signage are optimised for people living with Alzheimer s

KEY FINDINGS:

• Reseach shows that the use of colours can help enhance the memory of people living with Alzheimer’s

Therefore bold contrasting colours can help to properly convey a mes sage but intricate patterns and colours can be confusing

Associating different shapes with different deas concepts or decisions within your design can make your message easier for people living with dementia to understand

• Sans serif fonts like Arial in size 14 and above are easiest to read block capitals are not recommended as these can be difficult to differentiate between

Pictures can be helpful to ensure your message cuts through

or

are preferred to

Avoid making your signage

confusing to people with dementia

• By using durable

COLOURS

Known to be one of the most

colour

has a huge effect on the human brain and has the potential to trigger emotions and memories In fact academic research has shown that the right colours can help enhance the memory of those living with Alzheimer’s one of the most common forms of dementia

Dementia can affect how a person views colours particularly how they differentiate between certain colours As a result, colours with a high level of contrast are easiest for people living with dementia to digest; for exam ple implementing bright or bold colours throughout the home can help separate objects

With this thought in mind use bold bright contrasting text when designing dementia friendly documents Ease of access comes first so avoid loud patterns and stripes; these designs can be confusing and dis orienting Think simple vivid colour combinations

SHAPES

Dementia affects people in different ways and can even cause halluci nations If your signage or text must differentiate between two distinct ideas choices or options shapes can be a good way to highlight the dif ference between the two concepts

Changing the overall shape of your signage is a subtle but effective way to create dementia friendly print Shapes associated with positive or negative feelings were found to reduce confusion amongst people with dementia, preventing them from becoming confused or lost in hallways containing those shapes TEXT

Given that dementia can affect one’s vision and ability to understand text any message used in your document must be as easy to read as pos sible Font sizes are crucial to ensure your work is easily readable with at least size 14 recommended If your content contains a lot of information, break it up into reasonably sized chunks so that it is simpler to digest Dementia experts in the NHS warn against using block capitals as these can be more difficult to read particularly as dementia can cause visual impairments Both upper and lower case letters should be used for read ability as some people living with dementia will be able to recognise the

shape of a word before actually understanding its meaning

Think about how your document will be viewed Alzheimer s Society recommends using sans serif fonts for websites or digital content as they are deemed more readable on screen Staying consistent with your fonts is also helpful multiple fonts can make the interface and content confus ing for someone living with dementia

PICTURES

Pictures can play a vital role in helping dementia patients to communi cate more effectively by encouraging further memory retention Looking at photo albums and family pictures has been proven to play a vital role in engagement for people with dementia reducing feelings of isolation and helping strengthen personal relationships

As a result implementing pictures throughout your work or signage can be a great way to stimulate readers brain functions ensuring that your message cuts through Pictures can be particularly helpful for people with late stage dementia given that word based communication may not be possible Dementia can strip people of the ability to properly read and speak so the use of pictures and images where possible can really help consolidate your messages

Glen Eckett Head of Marketing at Solopress (www solopress com) comments: “Dementia is an awfully cruel syndrome one which has the potential to strip people of their dig nity and personality However inclu sive design practices can go some way towards helping people living with dementia maintain some of their dignity With the above tips, any company can ensure that its resources are accessible and under standable for people living with dementia

Memor y Lane Games - Reminiscence Games To Trigger Positive Memories For Those Living With Dementia

Hi where are you from?

Asking where someone is from is such a common opening question for a stranger and universal small talk

Where we live and where we come from is fundamental to most people s sense of self identity and history and perhaps that’s why it’s a powerful topic in reminiscence therapy

Reminiscence therapy involves simple tech niques to help those with memory loss or dementia to recall their memories This can improve self esteem and provide a sense of fulfillment improve mood and reduce agitation all of which are so valuable in the care of those living with a condition which doesn’t have positive outcomes It’s where the founders of Memory Lane Games started when they decided to make games for their elderly Mums

to enjoy using their favourite old photographs

After quickly realising they were onto something the Memory Lane Games app now delivers professionally curated reminiscence and speech and language activity games across a range of topics such as music film food hobbies and pets

All of our games are designed to be frustration free and encourage communication and socialisation, not to test

SIMPLE BUT POWERFUL

Beneath its simplicity the Memory Lane Games app is a powerful tool

Carers families and friends are able to enjoy interactions generated by playing the games with those in their care and can even create person alised quizzes using old family photos and create questions such as “Mum where did you go on your first holiday?" or “Where did you get married?”

In addition to our popular free app (available in the usual app stores)

we serve international care home groups with a SaaS platform enabling alerts based on their residents game play: highlighting changes in 7 clin ical data sets which are all game play related and have been established in our RCT Clinical Trial (underway) This data can be used to alert early interventions needed to address potential health issues like mini strokes or urinary tract infections for example

The benefits to users and care homes are immediately evident Improved resident and staff wellbeing improved quality of family visits and a differentiated care home business

If you would like to create a Memory Lane Game for your residents or to find out more about us please get in touch or download the app for FREE from the usual app

Helpforcarehomes@memorylanegames

Encouraging the Independence of Dementia Patients Through Colour and Design

colours make doors easier to see against the neutral tones on the walls In contrast staff areas and supply cupboards should be painted in the same colour as the walls so that they blend in and become less obvious helping to avoid any unauthorised access

Calming colours

For many, dementia can affect a patients’ ‘biological clock’ which means they often get confused when determining the time of day This means they can struggle to understand when it is appropriate to go to bed Incorporating calmer colours in the bedroom area, using blackout blinds, and adding softer golden lighting helps to instil a sense of calm and relaxation and encourages a more stable sleep routine that they can initiate themselves

Hazard perception

Implementing strategic design techniques can heighten the awareness of potential hazards and reduce occupant risk For example, if items such as radiators are designed using stronger colours that contrast against the walls, it will make them more noticeable and reduce the chance of them being walked into or leant against and in turn, minimise burn risk Features such as light switches and signage can also be more easily identified if a coloured border is painted around them

Promoting independence in individuals is essential to instilling a sense of self worth, and the colour and design of a room can play a significant role Here, Dawn Scott at Dulux Trade delves into how care home managers can best plan living spaces to make sure they are as effective and enjoyable as possible for those occupying them

According to the Alzheimer ’s Society, 70% of care home residents are thought to have dementia or severe memory problems It is therefore crucial that care home managers understand how colour and design can support those with the disease and place residents’ needs at the centre of interior designs

occupants’ wellbeing, care and crucially independence Here s how:

Consider colour and contrast to aid navigation

Up to 75% of people over the age of 75 have vision problems As we get older, our eyes become more opaque and this makes it more difficult to differentiate between hues It is therefore essential that contrasting colours are utilised in living spaces as they act as visual cues and ensure there are clear visual differences between surfaces

The Dementia Friendly Colour Palette advises that soft tones are used for main walls, with only small hints of colour to create a sense of calm (think 60YY 83/062, 70YR 75/075, 30YY 68/024 and 70RR 64/034) For feature walls like the front of the living room and kitchen serving areas make sure more saturated colours such as yellows (43YY 74/339), muted purples (70RR 43/104), muted oranges (38YR 40/290) and teals (50BG 19/144)are used to contrast with the lighter main walls as this makes them stand out and draws the eye for maximum visibility

When it comes to doors that lead to regularly used rooms like bathrooms and living spaces, bolder shades should be considered such as navies (52BB 08/128), sage greens (90GY 29/121) and burgundies (54RR 09/276) These

To aid wayfinding further, it’s important to avoid high sheen flooring as this can appear wet or slippery to dementia patients, meaning they may not feel comfortable walking across it Similarly, dark flooring can often be perceived as a hole, and bold patterns or stripes can give the illusion that the floor is not flat or unstable, creating a sense of anxiety amongst those using these spaces The best option is to keep floors plain and ensure that they contrast with the walls and skirting to keep all surfaces easily identifiable

Upholding their autonomy is key, but with so many complex needs, knowing how to sustain dementia patients’ independence can be challenging To help, Dulux Trade together with the British Research Establishment created a Dementia Friendly Colour Palette which aims to bring colour to every room both figuratively and literally

The palette was born out of years of experience in design and a wealth of dementia research and knowledge with partners from Loughborough University and the Halsall Lloyd Partnership also involved in its conception The evidence based design principles it is founded upon assure designers that it is optimised to create an environment that champions

Keeping memories alive

Arguably the most important way of allowing a dementia patient to retain their independence is through involving them in the process It is vital that their living spaces are a reflection of them by surrounding them with décor that inspires a sense of homeliness and nostalgia

We recommend using familiar or favoured colours For example, to recreate the front door of a childhood home by painting their bedroom door the same colour It is also important to include some personal items on shelving near the entrance, such as an old house number, family photographs or ornaments from their home so the resident can quickly identify it as theirs

For more ways to design living spaces for those with dementia, and to find out more about Dulux Trade’s offering for aged care and Dementia, visit: www.duluxtradepaintexpert.co.uk/en/content/occd

NURSE CALL AND FALLS MONITORING

Blaucomm LtdTelecommunications & Networks

Blaucomm s Nurse Call Mes i S i (NMS) i the market leading solution to remove the dependency on noisy nurse call panels and pagers through its intel ligent software which deliv ers the alerts straight to the care staff who need them

Care homes are rapidly introducing smartphones for digital care planning and eMar now, the same devices can be used to receive the nurse call alerts they need for the residents under their care

Furthermore Blaucomm NMS is deeply linked into Person Centred Software MCM, so call bell data is linked straight to care plans This unlocks a huge ben efit to care homes to enhance the staff performance with how they accept and respond to residents which ultimately promotes better response times and visibili ty for management to audit their performance

The best part is that Blaucomm NMS links into your existing nurse call system we work with all major brands such as Aidcall ARM Courtney Thorne C TEC

ENS Intercall Medicare

SAS and TeleAlarm

Care operators are con stantly recognising Blaucomm NMS for its relia bility and dependability to their care operations which is why we’ve been chosen time and time again over other solutions

Head of IT Trudi Harrow at WCS Care had this to say about Blaucomm NMS:

“We find Blaucomm is a genuinely fantastic compa ny with a reliable product

We have a range of nurse call systems at different sites and the NMS system integrates to them and allows us to compare response times between sites In addition the integration to Person Centred Software is revolutionary We would highly recommend this to anybody who wants to replace expensive pagers and silence those annoyingly loud nurse call screens!

To find out more about Blaucomm NMS visit www blaucomm co uk/healthcare

Medpage Falls Management Products

Medpage T/A Easylink UK have manufactured and distributed fall prevention and detection products for over 25 years We specialise in products for one to one care, or small groups in a Care Home or Hospital Our systems are robust easy to set up and use and have a proven track record in helping to reduce falls in domestic and pro fessional care establishments

How can they help reduce falls?

Many falls occur when a person at risk from falls leaves their bed or chair particularly during the night By detecting an exit from the bed or chair early a carer or guardian gains time to attend and help the person, usually preventing the fall WHAT OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE

Medpage supply a diverse range of equipment for detecting bed and chair exit There are for example, simple bed alarms, chair alarms, or multiple use products for combin ing bed and chair monitoring, to allow the person to move from their bed to their chair There are sys tems that use a cabled pressure mat sensor connected to an alarm controller or pressure mat sensors with a self contained alarm transmitter to signal a radio pager Carer alarm notifications can be by a single or multiple user pager or alarm receiver or an external alarm device

You can find out more on the advert on page 2 or at www easylinkuk co uk/product/ product fall detection

CALL AND FALLS

Silent Running - Tranquility in Care Homes

Quiet and calm care homes ensure that resi dents are able to live in a more relaxing and pleasant home environment

Similarly carers and staff find that they too benefit from reduced stress when working in a home where noise levels are kept to a minimum There are many environmental factors that can affect those sensitive to their surround ings particularly those suffering from dementia these can be fluctua tions in ambient temperature, light, and of course noise Repetitive and high levels of noise can originate from a number of internal and exter nal sources for example telephones ringing loud conversations in cor ridors and call bells sounding often one of the largest contributors to increasing the levels of stress and discomfort in residents

A published study by the University of Stirling stated that unan swered Nurse Call (Call Bell) alarms can be one of the most common causes of stress in dementia sufferers The University recommends “fit ting call alarms which alert nurses but do not resonate throughout the whole building Alarms can be particularly disconcerting as they may encourage the person with dementia to respond or investigate what the matter is At the very least the loss of sleep will compromise a per

son’s ability to concentrate It can affect their attention levels and capacity to cope as well as being detrimental to their overall state of wellbeing Personal paging systems are preferable to bells and buzzers Modern Nurse Call systems can incorporate a number of methods to reduce their impact in a care home These include zoning whereby there are separate alarm types used depending upon the location of the call In these circumstances dementia suffer ers and those vulnerable to noise can be located in one zone whist less vulnerable residents live in an alternative “zone” Each “zone” can operate different call tones, warning lights or other methods to alert when help is required

Reducing noise levels is essential to create a tranquil envi ronment for residents Pagers have been around for many years are a relatively simple and cost effective measure in reducing the levels of noise and can be added to most Nurse Call systems Smart Mobile Devices are now becoming more commonplace for care home staff and hold a variety of apps for care planning e medication etc Many Courtney Thorne clients are now utilising the “Go” app with their Nurse Call sys tem With the Go app nurse call alarms are delivered imme diately and silently straight to the handsets alerting the individual carers to all Nurse call alarms without creating any general alarm sound and rarely disturbing the rest of the resi dents in the home

Calmer residents ultimately means that staff are less

Lotus Care Technology

The NurseAlert pressure mat has been one of the most successful floor pressure mats due to it being non slip and carpeted which makes it feel very natural under a residents foot Lotus Care Technology Ltd have many other fall saving devices that can give you peace of mind whilst caring for this at risk of falls Having many years of experience in fitting and maintaining

Nurse Call Systems helps the guys at Lotus Care Technology understand that every home is different and has differ ent needs They can specify not only the best system for the environmental factors in the home but also take into consideration the best products that will make your carers and nurses jobs that little bit easier Visit www lctuk com for details

stressed also this creates a happier workplace

greatly improved staff are retained and CQC ratings improve

tive ramifications of a quiet Care Home

the

Designed to combat the problem of residents who are inclined to walk undetected the Nurse Alert Mat can help protect

CALL AND FALLS MONITORING

Fall Savers - Affordable Fall Monitoring Solutions

Fall Savers®, are an experienced market leading healthcare provider of resident safety solutions for over 15 years

FALL SAVERS ® WIRELESS MONITOR

Eliminate all cables with our new generation falls management solutions!

Upgrade your falls programme with the latest tech nology from Fall Savers® The NEW Fall Savers® Wireless eliminates the cord between the monitor and sensor pad This results in less work for nursing staff, improved safety for patients and reduced wear and tear on sensor pads Wireless advantages include the ability to use one monitor with two sensor pads simul taneously and support for many new wireless devices

Benefits include:

Safer for patients; less work for staff

Bed and chair pads ava lable

One monitor works w th two sensor pads

Integrates with most nurse call systems

of options

Wireless door/window

TREADNOUGHT ®FLOOR

SENSOR PAD

The TreadNought® Floor Sensor Pad is built to last with a durable construction that far out lasts the compe tition Our anti bacterial floor sensor pad is compatible with most nurse call systems or can be used with a portable pager to sound an alert when a person steps on to the sensor pad Caregivers typically place the sensor pad at the bedside in a doorway or other loca tions to monitor persons at risk for falls or wandering An optional anti slip mesh reduces the potential for slippage on hard surface floors

Features include:

Connects d rectly to most nurse call systems

High Qual ty anti bacterial

Large Size Pad: Measures

(sold separately)

Southern Care Maintenance Ltd – New Partnerships

As Southern Care Maintenance Ltd (SCM) mark their 35th anniver sary this year they contin ue to build upon their success with some excit ing new partnerships

As a specialist inde pendent company SCM offer supply, service and maintenance of a large range of systems and equipment across two Divisions Fire Alarms and Nursing Equipment throughout the south east of England

predictive care

Arquella offering AIDA

Assist an app based nurse call system the tool of choice for forward thinking care services

Person Centred Software the first fully mobile easy to use and market leading digital care management system with the ability to evidence over 50 care notes per resident per day

Priding themselves on their quality of service and first class customer experience SCM is delighted to be partnered with companies who share the same passion and enthusiasm to deliver the very best solutions, solutions which make pro viding care the focus and priority

Please mention THE CARER when responding to Padvertising.

mention THE CARER when responding to advertising.

Always looking to offer their customers the best solutions leveraging the most reliable technologies at competitive prices they are delighted to have recently partnered with Vayyar the world s most advanced care solu tion Vayyar Care provides touchless fall detection and rich activity data that enables personalised

See the advert on this page for further details or visit www southerncare co uk

How The Digital Revolution In Care Is Delivering The Best Outcomes For Residents

Technology is at the heart of the government s new health data strate gy which includes an aim to increase digitisation in social care by 2024 But why wait? At Bupa our digital transformation is already underway Digitisation is essential for the future Technology enables carers to spend more time on the most important part of the job; face to face qual ity care for residents Making processes more efficient with technology offers the opportunity to provide truly personalised care

One example of this is in dementia care where there are many opportu nities to incorporate technology For example Richmond Villages Willaston is a specialist village for people in the early stages of dementia where they re able to maintain a level of independence supported by homemakers At night residents are acoustically monitored and staff are alerted if there are unexpected noises or movement which might indicate someone is unwell or in difficulty

Technology has the power to change how we work in care settings more widely Care staff have always filled out paper notes throughout their shifts including details about medication wellbeing and feedback from the res idents As everyone will know it’s time consuming and inefficient and reduces the time that can be spent talking to residents and building positive long term relationships

But across Bupa Care Services we’ve introduced handheld devices which allow carers to record every interac tion with residents in real time freeing up capacity for real high quality care

It also means that staff can record more detailed up to the minute accurate notes with more information about each resident s mood what they chatted about or what activities they had been enjoying

G-Touch Wireless Care Home Solution

Genee is a UK leading manufacturer of innovative technological solutions Genee plays an integral role across all major industries including health care to support patients residents and staff Having supported Care Homes through the pandemic The G Touch Wireless Care Home Solution is one of Genee s most impactful solutions yet The solution includes; the G Touch Interactive Screen Electric Mobile Trolley and a Wireless Battery Pack Its portability specially designed and simple to use interface as well as its multitude of applications are specifically built for residents and staff in mind

The G Touch Interactive Screen is an engaging resource for residents and staff Available in 55 ’ 65’’ and 75’ the touchscreen itself has durable and toughened safety glass that can be easily cleaned The large screen provides for spectacular viewings of videos TV shows and movies In addition the size of the screen encour ages residents to participate in interactive activities

With built in 2x15w front facing speakers and an HD video conferencing camera provides the perfect com munication tool to video call families, friends, and other care homes With the built in PC and Android 8 0 operating system, the user interface software is easy to use As soon as the touchscreen is turned on, the sys tem loads into a tablet style of multiple icons containing the software and Apps used daily without the need for a PC style login The included software also helps residents with health issues including Dementia and Alzheimer’s

A solution that benefits all! The Electric Mobile Trolley is better suited than a traditional wall mount or trol

By Rebecca Pearson, general manager for Bupa Care Services (www bupa co uk/care services)

Another step change is that this information can be accessed by residents’ families This helps build up a full picture of what life is like in the home and how their loved ones are doing day to day

There s no doubt that we re all getting more tech savvy, and why wouldn t we utilise it our care settings too? It s what families expect to see and increasingly it will be what our residents expect too

That s why it s so important that we lay the groundwork now But most importantly technology is helping our people get back to what they love Our people tell us they want more time to care That s why they came into this profession So it s up to us to make this happen

Compliance infection control and quality standards will always be top of the agenda Electronic medical records systems are designed to reduce the time it takes to administer medications safely and improve clinical outcomes with a joined up service that all health professionals can access This also makes it easier to refer back to previous notes to look for patterns with residents full medical history available at the touch of a button

All of our monitoring processes are also now stored in our digital quality and compliance solution which has been rolled out in each of our homes and villages It helps our home managers carry out quality monitoring and make swift changes to day to day processes if needed And regulatory partners can also be updated with the click of a button

But it s not just about quality or compliance There are a wealth of games apps and tools designed to support older people while making it fun and interactive For example for those with dementia a memory game app can help enhance the time they spend with loved ones

Ultimately it s the human connection that is at the heart of our digitisation journey As residents adjust to a new life and environment or deal with dementia it’s the people caring for them that bring fun and laughter back into their lives Technology allows us to foster this human connection and ultimately get more out of our time together

ley The mobile trolley can be electronically adjusted by height and offers 90 degree angle adjustment from horizontal to vertical ensuring easy accessibility at different chairs and wheelchair height The four lightweight and strong steel integrated castors include locking brakes for safety

The Wireless Battery Pack removes trip hazards and provides a helpful portable solution Simply add the lightweight battery pack to the trolley and easily move the touchscreen from room to room

The G Touch Wireless Care Home Solution comes with 5 years’ on site warranty as standard with no additional costs Our dedi cated team will bring the equipment to the care home assemble and install the solution and test everything on site We will also support you with free online training to ensure your Care Home gets maximum use of this incredible solution

in touch via:

(0)1902 390 862

group com

genee group com

TECHNOLOGY AND

TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE

Monika Primed to Make Care Management Simple

In a care or medical setting staff have to juggle caring for residents and patients with proper hygiene checks medication management, and ensuring up to date records

With over 30 years’ experience, Monika is the expert in connecting teams and equipment Their flagship service, MonikaPrime, is a complete safety hygiene, and compliance management system which eliminates the need for manual paperwork Monika’s innovative temperature monitoring equipment simulates the temperature of the perishable goods and vaccines as opposed to simply recording the tempera ture of the air in the cooling unit providing greater accuracy for peace of mind

Regulations require certain substances to be stored at specific temperatures such as insulin antibiotic liquids and eyedrops Outside the required 2 8 degrees Celsius these medications can lose integrity making them ineffective and potentially harm ful; so having reliable and accurate temperature monitoring equipment is essential Staff can be nominated to receive alerts if the product moves outside a pre set safe

By Keith Hopewell, Director of Operations UK & Europe, Monika (www monika com/solutions/monikaprime/)

medication can be relocated before it loses integrity or be identified for destruction if it has become harmful This can also help identify faulty equipment, preventing the need for expensive repairs Alerts can be sent to any desktop, mobile, or Monika smart handheld PA device, all of which can access Monika’s cloud connected system offsite

This is ideal for managers overseeing multiple care homes as it enables comparison between the location helping identify potential staff training opportunities for maxi mum safety

As well as ongoing temperature recording Monika s system can be programmed to send audio and visual hygiene task reminders to staff These tasks are fully auditable with the system recording who has done what and when reducing the risk of human error and miscommunication Staff can therefore spend less time in administration and more time caring for patients

Visit www monika com/solutions/monikaprime for further details or see the advert on the facing page

Cloud Finance Software That is Helping Care Homes Thrive

Healthcare organisations face unique challenges from cost containment and multi entity reporting to new billing models and product offerings and a cloud based accounting system allows you to better understand your organ isation and succeed in the future

At Sage Intacct, we re passionate about building accounting software that helps you better understand your business, maintain compliance, and suc ceed in the ever evolving healthcare industry

BUILT FOR HEALTHCARE

As healthcare grows in complexity so does your organisation You’re man aging multiple locations and practices, navigating changing reimbursement methods, and initiating cost reduction

while manual processes are draining your

You

Intelligent Care Software (ICS)

tal reporting from 10 days to 10 minutes

REAL TIME VISIBILITY AND INSIGHTS

Sage Intacct’s real time reporting allows you to understand and measure performance for both financial metrics and operational outcomes Because every transaction in the system can be tagged with dimensions finance professionals can sort view filter and report on the specific information they need With greater insight our healthcare customers have reduced board budget reporting from three weeks to one hour and have improved revenues by 25% without adding additional headcount

TRUE CLOUD TECHNOLOGY WITH OPEN API

True cloud technology with open API As an innovator in the cloud space Sage Intacct s multi tenant true cloud foundation brings robust technology infrastructure to your organisation without the high costs of man aging servers Our open API lets you connect to existing systems or those you are considering in the future This means you can leverage key data from electronic medical records payroll budget CRMs (including Salesforce), and other systems to track key performance indicators

For more information on how Sage can help your business please visit: www sage com/en gb/cp/intacct carehomes/

Care

was

The

designed built and is managed by nurses registered managers and care home owners

care and support care planning platform our policy app with over 200 high quality

and which also includes

supervision

includes

and training record

At Care is we can get you started on your journey from paper or another care management system with minimum fuss plenty of support and all for what we believe to be

With eMAR mandatory training and a complementary care certificate coming in

there has never been a better time to get

https://careis net

see the advert on the facing

The CAREAudits System

CAREAudits apps and systems evolved via an associated company Kern Systems were Ken Newlove director and founding member had been developing and deploy ing paperless systems for EPoS and Finance in the private and public sectors since 1999

Back in 2014 the team had more than 50 years experience in IT and software devel opment as well as having been heavily involved in the third sector with a trustee of three charities a director of a business directly involved in the care market and a con sultant in a £10 million turnover charity and interim CEO and Chair at an adult hospice Working in the Care Sector the team recognised in 2014 the sector was becoming overwhelmed with adminis tration driven by ever increasing legislative compliance requirements and controls and pressurised by ever increasing costs The CAREAudits apps evolved from their desire to give something back to the Care Sector; to develop systems that genuinely reduce costs and increase efficiency as well as improving accountability and quality And above all a system that would be easy to install and use by everyone

THE CAREAUDITS SYSTEM

The CAREAudits app and Web Portal Auditing Tool is now being used throughout the UK and Ireland by all care service providers in numerous locations There are thousands of carers checking everything from CQC Compliance and Safety to Medication Audits Training and Maintenance as well as service users quality and wellbeing and now Corona Virus

Steve Smith regional manager at Care Homes UK says We were able to implement the system ourselves and

are now benefitting from management having all the information we need at our fingertips in real time wherever we are

The system allows care providers to audit or check just about everything and manage areas requiring actions (or non compli ances) in it s Web Portal Encrypted date and time stamped evi dence including photos is seamlessly auto attached and recorded in the system

Natalie Lawrence at Yorkare Homes says “It’s a paperless sys tem that runs alongside our existing client records system helping to make our whole operation paperless ” CAREAudits ensures management and staff are aware at all times of what needs check ing that it s been checked actions required by whom by when including full resolution management Each CAREAudit also scores the answers so management can monitor improvement Steven Tegart from Talbot Group likes reporting and says I wish all my other systems were as easy to extract data for management reports as the CAREAudits Excel links

The system has over 120 example audits to select from CAREAudits apps are extremely easy to use and care providers can easily add or edit their own audits in minutes ensuring simple management of ever changing requirements App auditors can use CAREAudits with virtually no training it s that simple The Care Auditor s Hands Free Operation guides the user through each audit each question and answer with it s own help text standard answers and standard actions required ensuring that the least skilled operative becomes the care provider’s expert Users can download the app for a free trial and be up and running with the full system in min utes

CAREAudits

part of the Care Plus Innovation Group,

Park, Hull,

7DY

Fill 100% of Your Staffing Needs with Care Hires

Care

Better cash flow for

focus

TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE

10 Reasons To Go Digital With Electronic Care Planning and Medication (eMAR) Systems

TIME

More time to care

Carers never have enough time to care but going digital can provide more

There are so many time consuming tasks such as writing care notes completing paper assessments filling in charts preparing handovers and countless other administrative tasks

Going digital can automate many of these tasks and enable recording care interactions in real time ensuring nothing is left undocumented and saving time that can be better spent providing care

CONTROL

Better Control

Controlling paper based systems can be an onerous job It generates reams of paper that can easily be lost, copied and, potentially, fall into the wrong hands

Digital care systems are safe and accessible, maintaining the security and confidentiality of your data This is difficult to achieve with paper because sensitive information must be locked away when not in use per GDPR

Furthermore digital allows you to determine who can access and what via permission controls Staff only see what they need to see based on their role

AutumnCare has a number of tools that assist in maintaining security and confidentiality including this lock screen func tionality for use in medication administration rounds!

Additional cost benefits include savings on printing, paper, stationary and confidential waste bin collection These costs all add up very quickly and are enhanced by the savings in the administrative overhead

Furthermore, going digital reduces paper use and the carbon footprint of regular deliveries

Therefore, going digital can help you become more environmentally friendly

RISK

Reduced risk

Manual systems carry many risks It is challenging to manage analyse and keep data and there is a lack of security Going digital with your care planning and eMAR can significantly reduce your risk

Using inbuilt alerts ensures that nothing is missed whether that s a care plan change or a fall report Using an eMAR will help reduce medication errors and ensure that the 6 Rs are always met

Going digital also allows the collection of data at the point of care which can be analysed to identify trends and risks and demonstrate corrective action

AutumnCare Mobile allows staff to perform clinical assessments and capture notes at the point of care for increased accuracy and care recipient involvement

RETENTION

Improve staf f retention

Staff recruitment and retention remain long standing challenges for the care sector and many factors contribute to the successful retention of staff

Morale is a crucial factor in retaining staff Using electronic care sys tems to change the focus from the administration to the delivery of care helps stage engage more with service users

PROTECTION

Protect your business

Social care is a highly regulated industry and going digital can help you safeguard your business With multiple regulatory bodies such as the CQC CIW Care Inspectorate RQIW Local Authorities and Safeguarding Teams not to mention families and the justice system Any of whom can make enquiries or perform inspections at any time and without notice

Going digital makes it easy and efficient to evidence the quality of care you provide In addition as a digital system has a complete audit trail you can be assured the information you are providing is accurate and com plete COSTS

Costs and environment

The most considerable cost saving that going digital can provide is time While the amount of time saved will vary between service types and roles, this alone makes going digital worthwhile

Additionally providing smart tools like care planning and eMAR soft ware to reduce the administrative burden will decrease staff stress

QUALITY

Improved quality of care

With pre built assessments covering all aspects of health you can get to know your service users intimately

But it’s not just health other characteristics such as emotion, likes/dis likes and how they correspond to a wide range of activities can be record ed

Because any changes can be affected at the point of care updates become a true reflection of the care (rather than a delayed update at the end of a long shift)

This information is then easily accessible by other system users sup porting a personalised care experience EVIDENCE

Demonstrate quality of care deliver y

While the delivery of person centred care is paramount, care providers must also provide evidence of the care they deliver, and regulatory bodies actively encourage the use of technology

For example, the CQC states that the care provider should look to embrace technology that helps monitor care delivery During an inspec tion under the Effective key line of enquiry (KLOE) question E1 3 asks

How is technology and equipment used to enhance effective care and treatment delivery and support people s independence?

Digital care plans are the best way to achieve this!

VISIBILITY Improved visibility

Electronic care systems ensure that managers have real time access to notes and information to instantly understand the care provided and help identify changes that need to be made to improve the quality of care

On an electronic care system it is much easier to see what is going on if you are contacted out of hours or on the go A digital system allows you to log in remotely to see what has been happening across the entire care serv ice at a glance

AutumnCare contains a customis able Dashboard to provide Managers with a snapshot of what is occurring across the care service at any point in time

USERS

Happier ser vice users

Last and by no means least going digital can make your service users happier Digital systems enable you to spend more time caring and less time on administration

There are benefits to happy service users including positive reviews from family and friends, which may help grow your service

WONDERING HOW TO GO DIGITAL?

If you re unsure of how to get started in your digital transformation AutumnCare can help!

AutumnCare provides specialist digital care planning and eMAR soft ware enabling providers to migrate to a digital system and providing the foundations for outstanding care We can walk you through what is required step by step as well as provide training and support every step of the way

To realise all of the benefits above plus many more get in touch with us today

, TRAINING & RECRUITMENT

New Digital Right to Work Checks for British and Irish Workers

Employers will from 1 October 2022 need to adopt new digital right to work checks for British and Irish nationals or revert to cumbersome manual in person checks

It will says Gavin Webster at Vialto Partners (www vialto com) no longer be possible for employers to rely on virtual right to work checks introduced by the Home Office under its Covid 19 concessions for these individuals

The likelihood of inadvertently employing an undocumented worker is very low but the impact could be high If procedures are not properly fol lowed employers have no statutory excuse against employing an illegal worker and could face substantial fines and other sanctions

The Home Office’s right to work guidance was altered in April 2022 to allow digital identification verification for pre employment checks Back then, it felt slightly academic as the government had not certified any providers to conduct those checks Whilst digital certification isn’t mandato ry and indeed it is still possible to conduct physical in person checks the move is designed to give the Home Office and employers the reassurance that checks are well managed

Right to work checks reduce the risk of employing a person who does not have the right to work in the UK for instance where an earlier work visa has expired They are conducted in good time before or on the first day of employment and repeated when work permission is due to expire for example after three years of a Skilled Worker visa When conducted properly and in line with the Home Office s prescribed checks they also give employers a statutory excuse against a civil penalty of up to £20 000 per illegal worker in the event they are found to be employing someone illegal Without them an employer can be fined even if they had no chance of spotting that for instance a UK passport was a fake

While the risk of employing an illegal worker may be no higher for the care sector than others, the risk of detection probably is even where an employer had no chance of spotting a

document The care sector has always been of interest to the Home Office, more so than other health providers and

other

Historically, these checks have typically been

on day one of employment handing over a passport so they can check your face against the photo and then take a dated and certified copy

The global pandemic and resulting changing working patterns have seen right to work checks change Manual checks are no longer available for peo ple with biometric residence permits biometric residence cards or an e visa for example those with pre settled status or a frontier worker permit That means the vast majority of people who are neither British or Irish pass port holders need to be checked against the Home Office online service normally using a share code provided by the prospective employee

For UK and Irish nationals employers are currently still relying on the temporary ‘COVID 19 adjusted right to work checks which allow checks to be conducted via video call as opposed to in person, with original docu ments

That will change from 1st October 2022 however when it will no longer be possible to rely on this concession and the Home Office wishes employ ers to conduct these checks via an authorised Identification Service Provider with accredited Identification Documentation Verification Technology AI TECHNOLOGY

Since April several government certified technology providers have emerged including our own right to work app Many of these platforms use AI technology to scan and read documents together with selfie digital photo graphs of new employees and will automatically record the name and date of birth of the individual pictures and the date of the check Checks can easily be conducted from anywhere in the country Whilst the Government would encourage employers to use an authorised Identification Service Provider with accredited Identification Documentation Verification Technology it is not essential Manual in person checks can continue but for large employers working across multiple locations that will prove cumbersome and time consuming

The use of this technology does require the human touch Employers must satisfy themselves that a compli ant check was conducted, that the person in the selfie is not an imposter, and if names differ, they must establish why for example a recent marriage Checks must be retained for the length of employment plus two years

The Importance of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) in the Care Sector

PROFESSIONAL , TRAINING & RECRUITMENT

Key Employment Considerations For Care Home Providers

By Lee Ashwood, Employment

With over a decade s experience of providing employment law advice to care home providers Lee Ashwood of Freeths sets out his five common employment law pitfalls

1 NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE

Care homes are often inadvertently paying their staff less than the National Minimum Wage and so leaving themselves at risk of claims for compensation by their staff and of being fined

Whilst the principle of the National Minimum Wage is a simple one that someone who works for one hour is not paid less than a set amount for that hour s work the calculation for determining whether or not someone is paid the National Minimum Wage is complex The issue is compounded as care homes commonly provide their junior staff with an hourly rate of pay equal to or only a little above the National Minimum Wage

The calculation requires an understanding of precisely what constitutes time spent working This can be far more than simply the time someone is rostered on shift and may include for example time spent handing over before or after a shift working while on a sleep in or while receiving training

An understanding of what payments a member of staff is required to make that will reduce their pay when cal culating whether or not they are paid the National Minimum Wage is also required Here payments by staff for their uniforms or training fees for example need to be considered

2 WHISTLE BLOWERS

All care home providers work hard to encourage their staff to make it known when they have identified health and safety issues, have suspicions of neglect or abuse or have any other concerns about the provision of care at their care home

Having made their concerns known and so blown the whistle’, it is widely known that the law states that the staff member may not be subjected to any detrimental treatment as a result of them blowing the whistle’ However, commonly care home providers leave themselves at risk of such a claim as they fail to ensure that the whistle blower s colleagues who may well have taken umbrage do not stop treating their colleague fairly and

People

Our Greatest Asset!

By Amanda Bewert OT (Australia) | Managing Director, Meaningful Care Matters

I hear all too often about the shortage of skilled staff working within the health and social care sector All too often experienced and well thought of team mem bers burnout and leave the service or care sector com pletely This is felt more keenly as it is more than just needing to replace a staff member but it is the loss of that person’s skills abilities knowledge of the organisa tion systems and processes and knowledge about the individual needs of the people who are being support ed and cared for

When organizations and businesses consider their assists usually they list their tangible or fixed assets such as buildings and equipment but it is the human assets (people) that are the most important part of any

with respect 3 FOREIGN LANGUAGES

As care home workforces become more and more diverse, the likelihood of a language other than English being spoken in a care home increases Care home providers want the best for their residents in terms of com fort and safety of course

Sometimes this leads to an enforced requirement by a provider that English is spoken at all times by their care home staff or at least in certain circumstances However the law against discrimination is wide ranging and bans on speaking a language other than English in the workplace can often fall foul of it

4 POOR PERFORMERS

With care homes struggling to recruit and retain staff and care home managers already busy it is often easier to overlook a poorly performing member of staff than it is to deal with them Setting aside the potential risk to the health and safety of residents failing to deal with a poor performer can greatly affect the morale of their col leagues with them possibly leaving as well leading to allegations of there being a difference in treatment and so discrimination

However as employment law does not prevent poor performance being dealt with swiftly and efficiently care home providers have no reason not to act, having first taken advice

5 PART TIME EMPLOYEES

Time and again it is overlooked by care home providers that the law states that part time employees must not be treated less favourably than their full time colleagues because they are part time

This issue comes to light when, for example, care home providers reward their full time employees with addi tional time off, the right to refuse overtime or even the opportunity to choose their shifts In doing so, care home providers put themselves at risk of a successful claim for compensation from a disgruntled part time member of staff

GET IN TOUCH FOR ADVICE

As a specialist lawyer for the Care sector, Lee supports individuals as well as businesses of all sizes including many small medium or well known organisations He is an experienced litigator and provides pragmatic advice based on the objectives of his clients

organisation particularly when considering the health and social care sector WHY ARE PEOPLE THE GREATEST ASSET OF ANY SERVICE OR ORGANISATION?

They are the face of the service Ultimately people within your team are responsible the for the provision of care and services to the people you support They are integral to meeting not only regulatory compliance requirements but are also the face of your service and organisation

Engagement = Productivity The more engaged team members are the more productive they are too People who are satisfied challenged and motivated are far more likely to be engaged and committed helping the service and organisation to achieve their purpose and objectives

Skills and knowledge While all team members must possess specific competencies and skills related to their role some skills and knowledge are irreplaceable or take many years to develop This includes knowl edge of specific people being cared for and understanding of organisations’ cultures, systems, and work pro cedures

The message of being valued and respected doesn t come from memos sent to staff They watch to see if the leadership walks the talk Lip service can only go so far; management can t just say they value their work ers They must show it in real terms

If we understand that people are our greatest asset then we must ensure that we invest in their health and well being too In turn people who feel valued and appreciated will go the extra mile for the people we care and support, and the organisation

See the advert on this page for further information

TRAINING & RECRUITMENT

Workforce Challenge - The Eden Alternative – A Modern, Proven Model of Care for Staff and Resident Wellbeing

WHY DO THIS?

The Eden model is built on what people say they want, in a Home or a workplace, which therefore attracts residents and team members alike

As an Eden Home builds its reputation upon the quality of life it offers to the people that reside there it follows that occupancy improves

As a programme that empowers staff and focuses on their wellbeing It follows that staff retention improves

With a positive culture a motivated and dedicated workforce It follows that positive innovation becomes more possible sustainable and continuous When demand for services increase it follows that viability improves

As a cohesive cultural progression programme it follows that innovation modernisation and positivity increase

The model is efficient cost effective and the training is delivered by experienced practitioners in Care Homes

Homes are very busy places, and the programme is therefore run on line for 1 hour per week for 6 weeks

and people can do this at work or at home

The 6 weekly sessions are run online with a work book with links for further optional reading or viewing and should not be a burden to busy Homes, teams and managers

It is however effective You can try without obligation

It is designed to make business sense to providers

It is designed to enhance viability

It is designed to support recruitment and retention

It is designed to motivate Care teams and is open to any individual to add their CV

WHAT IS IT

It is a training programme which leads to accredita tion and focuses in detail on 7 domains of wellbeing 10 principles and is particularly designed to address instances of loneliness helplessness and boredom

Geoffrey Cox

The Eden Alternative Call today on 01626 868192 or visit www eden alternative co uk

In Dire Need Of Experienced Health Care Assistant, Senior Carer Or A Nurse?

We

Recruitment has the large database of well

applicants with experience in the health care industry such as health care assistants, sen ior carers and nurses from overseas

also have

expert team of solicitors for the necessary legal proceedings

An inspiring approach to care

As experienced Care Home practitioners we provide training to care home teams in sustainable innovation and positive leadership that empowers people to embed companionship, partnership working and vibrancy to build enriched quality of life into care homes

Develop a culture of care with wellbeing and positive relationships at its heart, with our 6 week online training programme. Discover how to replace loneliness, helplessness and boredom with wellbeing, companionship, and meaningful activities, in just one hour of training a week

Validated Eden Alternative associates can benefit from continuing support from our expert team

Sign up today and join the care evolution

Call today on 01626 868192 or visit www.eden alternative.co.uk

Please mention THE CARER when responding to Padvertising. lease mention THE CARER when responding to advertising.

Are You A Care Home Owner with Staff Vacancies?

As recently highlighted in the media there are current ly over 100 000 vacant roles in the care sector Some 78% of providers who responded to the exclusive survey car r ed out by the ITV News in conjunction with the UK Homecare Associat on sa d recruit ng carers is the hard est it has ever been Many describe being at a breaking point Out of the respondents, 95% said they are unable to take on all the new clients in need of their help

2 years ago a relative of my friend with care homes in L ncolnshire came to see me He knew I was an immigra tion lawyer He was distraught and on the verge of pack ng it all in The issues?

We can t find the workers nobody wants to work full time as they will lose their tax credits’ ’the Brit sh work force are ust not interested nobody wants to relocate to the sticks to work for us

His plea “Harjap help me ” my solution? ‘have you thought about recruiting foreign workers? Or students already in the UK who are already working part time in the sector? he did it and today h s staffing problems have been solved

So how do we go about doing it?

The UK Imm gration system can be complex but with the right guidance can be navigated to benefit the care sector

In order to recruit foreign skilled workers, whether they are already within the UK or directly abroad your compa ny needs to be regulated by the UKVI (UK Visas & Immigration) This nvolves being licenced by the UKVI so that your business can successfully recruit foreign work ers without fear of being fined or breaching any immigra tion rules set by the UK governments stringent pol cies

Many potential employees are already w thin the UK on various types of visas however and may already be

working part time (20 hours a week) for you in order to work for you they would need to be successfully spon sored by your company through your sponsor licence Th s would involve mak ng a complex application to the UKVI and in essence asking them for permiss on for you to employ the worker full time Once permission s grant ed, you then have the benefit of a full time employee tied down exclusively to your company for at least a 5 year per od This is often referred to as a Work Permit If you wish to employee multiple foreign workers then we would need to conv nce the Home Office to grant you an appropriate allocation under the terms of your licence Under th s licence you can also recruit carers and nurses from abroad

The solution to current staffing cr s s is clearly to recruit foreign workers and it is not as daunt ng as people often make out There are many special st firms of lawyers who can do the whole process for you and you can also save on hefty recruitment fees of employment agencies

If you urgently need staff then you should definitely consider applying for a UKVI sponsor licence n order to employ qualified foreign workers and help your business grow No business should be turning away / down work due to a staffing problem which has a solut on Harjap S ngh Bhangal is a Director at Immigration Specialist firm GLS Solicitors (Global Legal Solutions) and

Care Home Finance from Global Business Finance