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December 2013
incorporating
no.211 • £4.75
The Number One magazine for the care sector
Survey warns of exodus by home owners By Dominic Musgrave MORE than a third of care home owners in Wales don't expect to be in business in five years' time. That's the stark warning from Care Forum Wales – which represents more than 500 independent care providers– following a survey conducted with members. According to the association, home owners are becoming increasingly fed up with the chronic underfunding of the sector and difficulties in recruiting staff because of the lack of funding which suppresses pay. This has led to almost 800 nursing home beds being closed in Wales over the past four years, with others currently in administration. Key findings of the survey included: 34 per cent of respondents expecting to quit over the next five years. 73.4 per cent having difficulty recruiting staff. Chair Mario Kreft MBE said if the predicted exodus materialises it would place an extra burden on the NHS, which is already creaking under the strain. He added: “Sadly it’s not surprising that people feel so despondent that they are really think of throwing in
the towel. “I think it particularly affects the smaller, community based homes often in rural areas that rely on the owners’ input. “Increasingly, I'm afraid, the sums just don't add up and nobody knows how these places are going to survive – everybody now knows that health boards are underfunding basic health board funded nursing care in Wales. “We are almost certainly going to see a major reduction in the number of available nursing beds unless something drastic is done to address the situation. Mario added that 60 per cent of those operators surveyed were also unhappy with the current inspection regime in Wales. “We are having significant numbers of members saying that they have a regulatory visit and they feel as though they’re demotivated, they feel as though the process is not a constructive one,” he said. “The regulator was in the past seen as a critical friend but typically the approach now is one of more subjective judgement and the issuing of reports on people's homes without the residents having the opportunity to review what is being said about what is after all their own home.”
Honorary Doctorate for group chairman
Television and radio broadcaster Gloria Hunniford was a guest judge at Anchor’s Strictly Dancing Final at West Hall care home in West Byfleet. Joined by hundreds of the group’s residents and employees, she watched as eight acts competed for the top prizes. After months of rehearsals and dance competitions, the winners were Jean Twyman and Craig Young from Orchard Court (Lingfield); Eric and Janice Stevens from Prospect Place (Epsom) and Faith Cordy and Fred Pinder from St Clements Court (Eastbourne). The competition aimed to promote the benefits of staying active in older age.
DR Chai Patel, chairman of HC-One Care Homes, has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Sheffield Hallam University. He has developed a close relationship with Sheffield since he spent time living in the city and working with a number of local charities and community groups for Channel 4’s Secret Millionaire in 2012. While taking part in the programme Chai donated over £100,000 to local community projects. He said: “It is a great honour and privilege to receive this degree, from such a dynamic and innovative University, in a beautiful city, with a great History. “I have been very fortunate to enjoy four different careers and I can honestly say working with some amazing charities here in Sheffield has provided me with some of the most inspirational and rewarding experiences.” His family foundation, the Bright Futures Trust, also announced a £10,000 donation to the Gleadless Valley Community Forum.
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Lottery winner vows to continue working A CARE assistant from Sutton is almost £8m richer after his Lucky Dip numbers came up on a recent Lotto Rollover. Ron Elliott, 67, buys his ticket before 6am each Saturday morning on his way to work at MiHomecare, and often has to wait while his retailer switches on his National Lottery terminal. He ended Saturday in front of his TV watching his numbers appear on The National Lottery Live on BBC1. “If I’m not working I’ll watch the show and was sat there ticket in hand as the first three numbers came out,” added Ron. “I thought that winning £25 was a change and fantastic news. Then I had the fourth and fifth and thought I might get a couple of grand.” Waiting on the sixth ball, Ron thought: “I can’t see 49 coming out, and then it did and my god I had all six.” He called Camelot immediately to register his claim, but his win amount could not be confirmed until the draw was verified. Ron remained relaxed and put the ticket in his pocket only checking it again on Sunday morning. Despite seeing that there was only one winner of the £7,959,312 jackpot on Sunday morning, Ron still got up and went to work. He was called by Camelot during his shift to have the win confirmed, prior to ticket validation, but still
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Ron Elliott celebrates his Lottery win. carried on working at the care home. “I had a few calls while at work,” he said. “So couldn’t keep it quiet. I work in a small team and was desperate to tell people anyway. They were all more excited than I was, none of them could believe how cool I was, I’m just taking it in my stride.” Ron plans to carry on working in a job he loves. He will however be treating himself to further breaks in Indonesia, a
regular holiday favourite across the last few years, and is already arranging to pay off his son’s mortgage. He plans to move to a house from the maisonette he currently lives in. Ron said: “I don’t have to worry anymore about what to do as I have money in the bank. I can treat colleagues at work, and would also like to see if we can give the residents some sort of do leading up to Christmas.”
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Trevaylor Manor Jack Reed is offered a sweet inside the mock 1950s shop by Sue Godfrey, manager of the dementia care unit.
‘Memory Lane’ therapy programme expanded by Cornish operator By Dominic Musgrave A CORNISH care home operator has rolled out reminiscence areas in all of its homes for the elderly following a successful trial. The Poldhu care home, near Helston, is the last of Swallowcourt’s three elderly residential homes to have introduced a reminiscence area to help its residents who have dementia. The areas use objects from the 1940s and 1950s to trigger memories to help comfort dementia patients and spark conversation. Swallowcourt homes Trevaylor Manor and Ponsandane, both near Penzance, have introduced reminiscence areas within the last year and their success means that the care home organisation has encouraged it at The Poldhu. Sue Giles, activities co-ordinator at The Poldhu, has been putting together items for the project for several months. She said: “We have a cabinet of old china, an old sewing machine, a record player, radio, posters and a
table laid for afternoon tea. If somebody was to sit there, they could almost imagine being in a room from the 1940s or 50s. “I’ve been using reminiscence for about three years now. The idea has been going around for a long time and I think it’s only now that the homes are becoming aware of it. The residents completely open up, they’ll talk to you about their past and their family. They just go back and they’re happy.” Sue Godfrey, manager of the dementia unit at Trevaylor Manor near Penzance, introduced a replica 1950s shop in August. She said: “Reminiscence can have a very therapeutic use for people who have short term memory problems which is a significant feature of dementia. “They’ll look at something and say ‘Oh, I remember that!’, and then they’ll start saying things like ‘Mum used to go to the Co-op, Mum used to buy broken biscuits.’ They become the teller, they tell you about their experience at that time and it has a really positive effect.”
Biennial ball raises £1m LORD Dyson and comedian Matt Lucas helped care home organisation Nightingale Hammerson raise more than £1m at its biennial fundraising dinner at the Guildhall in London. More than 500 supporters attended the event, where head of civil justice Lord Dyson spoke about his personal experience with the charity and his time as the Master of the Rolls. Matt Lucas acted as compere for the evening. The money raised will assist with the running of the group’s two care homes, Nightingale House and Hammerson House. Plans to upgrade the latter to an increased capacity of 110 rooms were also unveiled during the event. Speaking about the redevelopment
plan, Nightingale Hammerson chairman Harvey Rosenblatt said: “We must be realistic about the immense challenge that we face in raising the funds on which this vital development is totally dependent. “The anticipated cost of £25m will be met in part through monies raised from the sale of assets belonging to the charity, but we will also need a major fundraising campaign if we are able to meet the cost of this work which is likely to start in two years’ time. For our residents Nightingale Hammerson is not a charity or a cause. It is simply home. What greater respect can we bestow upon our old than to bring care and dignity to their lives and surety and comfort to their families.”
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CQC’s new chief inspector outlines her priorities ... By Dominic Musgrave THE new chief inspector of adult social care has outlined her priorities for transforming how the CQC will monitor, inspect and regulate care homes and other adult social care services, with a greater focus on public involvement and improvement. Key proposals unveiled by Andrea Sutcliffe include awarding ratings to ever home and service by March 2016 to help people make informed decisions about their care, and establishing expert inspection teams involving people who have experience of care services. Her plans and priorities are set out in A Fresh Start for the Regulation and Inspection of Adult Social Care, ahead of a full public consultation in spring 2014. Andrea said: “This is a fresh start for how care homes, home care, and other adult social care services are inspected and regulated across the country. I will be leading CQC’s new approach by making more use of people’s views and by using expert inspection teams involving people who have personal experience of care. “We will always be on the side of the people who use care services. For
every care service we look at, I want us to ask, is this good enough for my mum? If it is, this should be celebrated. If not, then as the regulator, we will take action. “Our assessments will be based on expert judgement, not regulatory compliance. You cannot regulate for love, compassion, tenderness, dignity and respect, but these are values that our inspectors will be looking for. Adult social care is the largest and fastest growing sector that CQC regulates and so it is imperative that we get it right.” Inspections of adult social care services will be structured around the five key questions that matter most to people – are the services safe, caring, effective, well-led and responsive to people’s needs. CQC will explore what each of these means for the adult social care sector. CQC intend to rate care services as outstanding, good, requires improvement or inadequate, so the public has clear information about services. As part of these changes, the inspectorate will explore how its ratings can encourage services to improve and how they can influence the timing of future inspections. Other plans and priorities in A Fresh Start for Adult Social Care include:
From April 2015 and subject to the Care Bill becoming law, CQC will monitor the finances of an estimated 50 to 60 care providers that would be difficult to replace if they were to go out of business. CQC will take a tougher stance when registering care services by ensuring that those who apply to run them have the right values, motives, ability and experience. Also, the regulator is committed to taking tougher action against services that do not have registered managers in place. CQC will discuss the risks and potential benefits of mystery shoppers and hidden cameras to monitor care, and whether they could contribute to promoting a culture of safety and quality, while respecting people’s privacy and dignity. CQC will encourage those providing care in residential homes to explore how they can be involved in the local community and will work with Healthwatch to get its views on care homes locally. The next steps are for CQC to discuss and explore these proposals with the public, people who use services and their carers, care providers, CQC’s own staff, and organisations with an interest in its work, ahead its public consultation in spring 2014.
Home-based care provider Heritage Healthcare is expanding across the region with the opening of a new office in Teesside. The office, based in Middlesbrough, will bridge the gap between the company’s existing branches in Darlington, Loftus and Guisborough and will enable clients in Middlesbrough, Stockton, Thornaby, Billingham, Yarm, Stokesley and the surrounding areas to take advantage of the domiciliary care and healthcare services Heritage Healthcare provides. Zoe Newbury (pictured above) has been appointed as care manager to lead the new office.
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Delivering quality care and support remains managers’ priority By Dominic Musgrave DELIVERING quality care and support is the overwhelming priority of managers in the care sector, a ballot of National Care Forum members has found. Conducted at the recent managers conference, the survey asked delegates “As a manager in the care sector, what matters to you?” with 22.0 per cent of the responses ranking quality as the top for a third consecutive year. Des Kelly, executive director of the National Care Forum, said: “This annual check on what matters most to managers provides some valuable insights. Managers have shown, yet again, that quality is their number one concern. Recruitment and retention also attracted a high proportion of the vote and the relationship between the two is significant. “I am not surprised to see funding rise up the list but I am particularly encouraged by the emphasis on values, compassion and creativity featuring in the Top 10. “The NCF managers’ ballot shows very clearly that it is people management issues and their underpinning
“This annual check on what matters most to managers provides some valuable insights.” values that lie at the heart of managers’ priorities.” The top 10 (previous years’ ranking in brackets): 1. Quality of care (2012: 1; 2011: 1). 2. Recruiting and retaining the right staff (2012: 4; 2010: 3; 2009: 2). 3. Funding/budgets and sustainability (2012: 10; 2010: 1; 2009: 1). 4. Relationships – people receiving care and support and their families (2012: 9). 5. Regulation and compliance (2012: 9; 2010: 2; 2009: 4). 6. The value of a skilled, well-trained and motivated workforce (2012: 6; 2011: 3; 2008: 4). 7. Media image and portrayal of care services (new entry.) 8. Delivering person-centred care and support (2012:2; 2011: 2). 9. Compassion (new entry). 10. Arts and creativity (new entry).
Bill McGrath, Matt Smith, Alan Smith, Michael Goodwin and Jim Wiggam with Silversprings resident Louisa Glover.
Golf club helps residents take to their own green RESIDENTS at Care UK’s Silversprings care home in Thorrington will be taking to the greens as a new golf course, designed and built by Clacton-on-Sea Golf Club, is officially opened. Club captain Bill McGrath and head green keeper Alan Smith joined Sally Rushant, the home’s manager, to open the Silversprings Woodland Course six-hole putting green. She said: “Many of our residents have been keen golfers for years.
When we looked at how we could develop our large grounds, they were very keen on the idea of a course. “We were delighted when the team at Clacton-on-Sea Golf Club generously offered to design and build the course, as well as donating putters and balls. Not only will it please experienced golfers, but it will also provide an opportunity for other residents to try something new. As well as being a fun activity, it will help residents to stay fit and healthy.”
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Pets win prizes for Vicarage THE Old Vicarage in Leigh near Sherborne, Dorset, has been nationally recognised as the Pet Friendly Care Home for 2013. The award by the specialist charity The Cinnamon Trust was presented at the Lanesborough Hotel in central London. “The presence of animals in a care home can jog memories, provide comfort, and help conversation to flow,” said Annie Sinnott, co-proprietor of the Old Vicarage, who in 2007 was awarded an MBE for her commitment to the care industry. “We have a warm and friendly atmosphere here, and our animals are part of the fabric of the place. We have always supported the work of the Cinnamon Trust. In return they have offered advice and interest in what we do to integrate pets into the life of the home.” This summer the home held its annual dog show in which dogs belonging to residents and villagers took part in fun events like beauty parades and obedience games, raising over £600 for charity Canine Partners.
Group founder Mike receives lifetime achievement award FOUNDER and former chief executive of Barchester Healthcare, Mike Parsons, was presented with the Craig Thomas Lifetime Achievement Award at the 11th annual Wales Care Awards. The glittering ceremony at City Hall in Cardiff was hosted by BBC presenter Lucy Owen, with entertainment provided by mezzo soprano Sioned Terry. Among those also honoured were a trio of female staff who fought through thick smoke to rescue an elderly nursing home resident from a freak fire. Registered nurse Tessie Thomas and care assistants Pat Scanlon and Shelley Jones brought the pensioner to safety and helped evacuate other residents at the College Fields home in Barry near Cardiff. They shared the gold “Social Care Health and Safety Award” sponsored by Public Health Wales. Meanwhile, two staff members who bravely waded through icy waistdeep water to ensure elderly residents were safe when flash flooding hit a care home in St Asaph, North Wales, were also rewarded for their courage. The Old Deanery was one of 400 properties affected when torrential rain caused the River Elwy in St Asaph to burst its banks early on
Dignity winners Janet Atherton, Sophanit Francis, Ben Perkins and Neil Roberts with Deputy Minister Gwenda Thomas and Local Government Minister Lesley Griffiths. November 27 last year. But, thanks to the efforts of home manager Lisa Bowen and senior care assistant Jane Heath-Coleman, all 21 residents, ranging in age from their seventies to 98, stayed safe and dry. Mario Kreft MBE, the chair of Care Forum Wales, said: “This awards ceremony is our opportunity to pay tribute and to celebrate the talent and commitment that is improving the quality of life for thousands and thousands of people throughout Wales. We take our hats off to them.” Other winners: Spirit of Care (gold) – Phil Disson (Atlantic View, Cardiff);
Exceptional Newcomer (silver) – Phil Disson (Atlantic View, Cardiff); Dignity in Care (gold) – Ben Perkins (Care in Hand), Neil Roberts (Elliots Hill Care Ltd), Sophanit Francis (Towy Castle Care Home, Carmarthen) and Janet Atherton; Supported Living or Small Group Community Living Care Practitioner (gold) – Neil Roberts (Elliots Hill Care Ltd); End of Life Care (silver) – Ben Perkins (Care in Hand); Outstanding Service (silver) – Sophanit Francis (Towy Castle Care Home, Carmarthen; Promoting Fulfilled Lives (bronze) – Janet Atherton.
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The new owners of a Midlands nursing home have taken on a £3.5m project to expand their business in Sandwell in the West Midlands. Dominic Musgrave reports.
“Mouth-watering” investment aims to set a new benchmark WOLVERHAMPTON GP Dr Narinder Narhlya and his lawyer wife Sandeep purchased Poplars Nursing Home in Smethwick from Halesowen-based Carlton Care Group Ltd in May. As part of the deal they also bought the neighbouring property – the former Ex-Servicemen’s Club, complete with 12-table billiard room, theatre, bowling green and dance hall. Directors of Carlton, Tony Billingham and Carole Jenkins, had purchased the landmark for their own care business expansion more than two years ago, but had shelved the project, and the building had become a target for metal thieves and vandals. The property and its extensive grounds are now central to development plans at Poplars, taking nursing bed numbers from 37 to 60, and in addition a six-bed dedicated unit for those with acquired brain injuries. The project will create 35 new jobs for the area. A practitioner for 17 years and a partner in a multi-centred primary care practice, Narinder said: “We had
been looking to expand our portfolio and came to see the Poplars. It had a reputation second to none for its high level of nursing care and it was quickly apparent during that visit it had something very special to offer. “We were very interested, but a chance comment that the previous owners were trying to sell the former Ex-Servicemen’s Club building next door to a wedding catering company made the proposition a mouthwatering opportunity. “The distinctive building is well known locally and some of the staff at Poplars can recall going to functions there in its heyday. Interest in the club diminished and it was closed three years ago. “Although dilapidated, the extensive footprint of the building and large grounds presented us an opportunity to ‘future-proof’ care development for our family business and replicate the successful, homely nursing model already established.” Work began as soon as contracts were exchanged and currently the building has been gutted. Narinder added: “Most of the ground floor internal walls have been
Poplars directors Dr Narinder Narhlya and his wife Sandeep check their plans. removed so we can deliver a bespoke, ground-level nursing service. Large, en-suite rooms with the latest equipment and wide corridors will enable the very best of clinical environments to help set a new benchmark of caring for the area. “We recognise the changes in modern health care and intend to deliver them. Every part of the old
building will be renovated, with the first floor being used for offices and training.” Extensions are also being added which will connect the existing Poplars to the new-build where rooms will have patio access to a courtyard and a landscaped garden area. A large car park will be provided for staff and visitors.
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North East home at centre of two-year GP healthcare trial By Dominic Musgrave
Sanctuary Care residents, school children and people from the local area gathered to unveil the results of a piece of community artwork which has been over six months in the making. The residents and team at Iffley Residential and Nursing Home welcomed the community and pupils from local schools, Saint Gregory the Great Catholic School and Isis Academy, to the grand unveiling of a mosaic in the gardens of the home. The honour of cutting the ribbon was that of resident Joan Brown, who turned 100 earlier this year. Picture credit: Seddon.
VENTRESS Hall in Darlington is one of a number of care homes participating in a two-year pilot scheme that could be a UK first, as GPs in the town are to carry out weekly ward rounds in local facilities. Care home managers, members of NHS Darlington Clinical Commissioning Group, GPs, district nurses and other social care professionals meet regularly to discuss issues such as safeguarding, end-of life-care and sharing best practice that increases the wellbeing of residents. The group meets at different venues, most recently at Ventress Hall. The meetings are always very positive and are chaired by a representative from the council. Home manager Judy Wray said it was at one of these meetings that Dr Matt Sawyer, a GP from Clifton Court Medical Centre, first put the idea of the weekly rounds to the group. She added: “Rather than only responding to calls from care homes, GPs will visit on a regular basis to try to stop health problems developing. “We hope the scheme will improve the quality of care received by
residents and reduce emergency admissions to hospital. “Ventress Hall is our residents’ home and most of them would prefer to be able to stay here to receive treatment rather than face a stay in hospital. “Choice is crucial to maintaining dignity and we hope this new service will increase dignity as well as the wellbeing of our residents.” Sixteen facilities and six GP practices in and around Darlington are participating in the pilot and Ventress Hall will be working with the Blackett’s medical practice, a few minutes’ walk away from the home. “We were delighted to be partnered with the surgery,” said Judy. “50 per cent of our residents were already registered there and the team is popular with the residents. “Dr Jenny Steel has begun her regular weekly calls and it is working really well and of course we can still phone the surgery if someone needs to see a GP outside of her visiting time. “Residents who haven’t been registered with the surgery before are getting to know Dr Steel and we will be inviting her to all our events so she becomes a firm part of the Ventress Hall extended family.”
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Care Rocks for earth scientist By Dominic Musgrave AN earth scientist has launched Care Rocks – offering fun, hands on earth science activity sessions in care homes. The interactive sessions cover all aspects of earth science including earthquakes, volcanoes, climate change, space, energy, dinosaurs, fossils, minerals and gemstones. Prior to setting up Care Rocks Ltd, Luke Plewes completed a Masters in Geology and then worked in Australia as a geologist. He came up with the concept after regularly visiting a relative in a care home and helping out with meals on wheels. “I gained a lot of attention from the residents through my studies as an earth scientist,” said Luke. “Everybody would always want to discuss aspects of earth science and current events going on around the world, such as what really is an earthquake? “Earth science is the world we live in and is a fantastic tool for conversation. I then came to realise that there were limited activities on offer to care homes and day care that really promote learning and discussion.” “I found myself thinking if I was in a care home, I would be longing more
“I found myself thinking if I was in a care home, I would be longing more variety to keep my mind stimulated and maintain a strong level of health and wellbeing.” variety to keep my mind stimulated and maintain a strong level of health and wellbeing.” He launched Care Rocks “to ultimately challenge this lack of learning activity, by providing unique earth science outreach sessions within the care sector”. “I am very passionate that people in care can still learn and question the world,” Luke added. “After running sessions in multiple care homes, it became apparent very quickly that there are a lot of people with brains in care even those with the onset of dementia.” Care Rocks currently covers the North East, Yorkshire and the Humber, North West and the East and West Midlands.
The garden at Kingston House in Calne.
Memory garden wins award KINGSTON House Residential Care Home in Calne has received a Silver Gilt New Homes Garden Award for a unique memory garden specially designed for residents with dementia. Stocked full of flowers and scents the garden at the Greensleeves Homes Trust facility also includes an aviary and has access for wheelchairs. It was built following the home's recent full refurbishment, which involved the creation of a 25-bed dementia unit.
Manager Carol Grainger said: “Staff and residents are elated to receive this award. The garden is uplifting and wonderful for morale and wellbeing.” Landscape designers' Tim Lynch Associates carried out the design of the garden, which had to include a conservatory and be a safe place for residents. Residents are encouraged to help with the gardening, and to ensure it is just like home there is also a washing line.
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Ice-cream meal wins Craig best roast title THE Elms, an Edinburgh care home managed by Cross Reach and catered by Caterplus Services, has beaten off stiff competition from almost 100 hopefuls to win the first Best British Care Home Roast title. Catering manager Craig Macfarlane impressed the judges, including representatives from the National Association of Care Caterers and Age UK Surrey, thanks to an ‘exciting, creative and original’ roast beef and horseradish ice-cream meal. Care home chefs were challenged to create two or more roasts with a flavoursome twist before sending in which one their residents preferred and why. The challenge was set by British Roast Dinner Week, sponsored by
Knorr Gravy and supported by Colman’s, to encourage care homes to make mealtimes the highlight of residents’ days. In addition to the prestigious title, Best British Care Home Roast 2013, The Elms also won a certificate, Knorr and Colman’s goodies, local coverage to shout about its success and a giant board game for residents. Craig said: “I’d been waiting for an opportunity to try out something new for my residents, so when I heard about the competition horseradish ice-cream seemed like a good idea. “They really enjoyed it so it’s going to appear on my menu more often. I’m so proud of my creation; it’s given me the confidence be creative in the kitchen.”
Provider offers free support scheme BUPA is offering a new health and support scheme free to its care home employees. The scheme – called Business Fit – is aimed at helping people to stay healthy and provides a range of support including measures to help tackle mental health and musculoskeletal conditions. Bev Ashby, people director for Bupa Care Services said: “Offering Business Fit to our people will help them to stay fit and healthy - which is good
for them, good for Bupa, and good for the residents they look after.” Business Fit provides: Early intervention to help people get diagnosis and treatment as quickly as possible. Physiotherapy for muscle, bone and joint conditions. Fast, direct self-referral for mental health conditions. Access to Bupa Anytime Healthline for round-the-clock medical advice from a nurse or GP.
Mayor of Kings Lynn and West Norfolk, councillor Elizabeth Watson, is pictured with Downham Grange head of care Wendy Bruce, manager Helen Forsyth and deputy manager Cathreen Masih.
Mayor opens new home KINGSLEY Healthcare has opened its state-of-the-art care home in Downham Market, West Norfolk, which specialises in nursing and dementia care for older people together with respite and day care. The 62-bed care home ‘Downham Grange’ is the only facility with nursing facilities in Downham Market and the surrounding area. Daya Thayan, CEO of Kingsley Healthcare said: “We are proud to have developed this care home with state-of-the-art modern facilities. The home will provide top class specialist nursing and dementia care for 62 residents, serving the local community
of Downham Market, West Norfolk and the surrounding areas. It is about allowing individuals to feel fulfilled, relaxed and positive in a place they are happy to call home. “Kingsley Healthcare has committed our investment and expertise into this area which has been seven years in the making, serving the local community and creating employment for up to 80 people.” The purpose built care home, designed by Feilden+Mawson Architect and built by Morgan Sindall Group PLC, was officially launched by the Mayor of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk, councillor Elizabeth Watson.
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Award for homecare provider BUCKINGHAMSHIRE homecare provider Caremark (Aylesbury & Wycombe) scooped the top UK franchise industry award at the British Franchise Association HSBC Franchisee of the Year awards ceremony held at the ICC Birmingham. Janis Anderson, MD of Caremark (Aylesbury & Wycombe) took the coveted award, beating a number of other finalists for the top prize. She made it a double win by also clinching the award for Female Franchisee of the Year before being crowned Franchisee of the Year 2013. Janis said: “It’s brilliant to be recognised for all the hard work which contributes towards Caremark’s success, especially at such prestigious awards. I became a Caremark franchisee at a challenging time when cuts were being introduced but this spurred me on to drive the business forward and we have since grown from strength to strength. At Caremark we pride ourselves on our staff, and the team excels at ensuring only the best level of service is provided for all of those we look after.”
Care group owner to compete in ‘toughest footrace on earth’ By Dominic Musgrave THE owner of a South West care group and his daughter are tackling a 250km marathon across the desert next April dubbed ‘the toughest footrace on earth’ by National Geographic. Len Collacott, a former police officer, who has been in the care industry for 15 years and currently owns two care homes in South Gloucestershire under his company Windmill Care Ltd, will compete in the Marathon des Sables with his daughter Laura. The pair hope to raise more than £10,000 for The Smile Train and All as One charities, having paid the substantial £3,500 fee to enter the sixday race themselves. Len said: "I first heard of the MDS when I read an account written by a PC from my force who took part in one of the early races. It sounded awesome and I always wondered if I was tough enough to do it. “However, as I started to suffer from a calf injury when I increased the distances I ran I thought it was beyond me. “As a second best I was able to travel to Morocco and watch my nephew complete the race in 2010. What a great event. I felt so fortunate to be able to be there even to do it by proxy.
“What I discovered then was that the cut off times are generous and the race could be completed without the need to run it. I was really excited by that as I was sure that if I could fast yomp rather than run the course my injury problems would not be a factor. Game on. Am I tough enough to do and pass the mental challenge? I am going to find out.” Until signing up to the race, both Len and Laura had been casual runners, running to keep fit and competing casually in 10km races and half marathons. “My wife thinks I’m crazy,” said Len. “She may be right. But I think that it’s a brilliant opportunity to raise a significant amount of money for people who really need it. “We could really make a difference in quite a few lives and – provided we finish – achieve a great accomplishment and long-term dream in doing so.” Len is currently the chair of Care and Support West, the independent care providers’ association for the former Avon area and is being supported by his colleagues in the industry. They, too, think he is crazy but are willing him on to complete the challenge and reach his fundraising goal. To sponsor Len and Laura visit www.collacotts.wix.com/mds2014
Len Collacott and his daughter Laura
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Care home set to be transformed thanks to grant By Dominic Musgrave AN OXFORDSHIRE care home is set to undergo a complete transformation, thanks to a national grant from the Department of Health which was secured by the County Council. Westgate House in Wallingford, which is operated by The Orders of St John Care Trust, received the funding as part of the county-led Oxfordshire ‘Dignity Plus’ Programme and will use it to renovate its specialist dementia wing. The purpose of the DH national grant and the Oxfordshire ‘Dignity Plus’ programmes is to put into place dementia-friendly environments in care homes and hospitals, based on proven research models and to share learning and best practice as a consequence. Set for completion next April, the £100,000 refurbishment will convert the current dementia centre into a fitfor-purpose ‘destination zone’, providing a safe, relaxing and therapeutic living environment for all residents, including those living with dementia. In addition to the construction of an old-fashioned cinema inside the home, the project will also see the centre’s lounge/dining area converted
into a themed café, garden room and library. Tim Plant, dementia development manager at The Orders of St John Care Trust, said: “As an organisation, we are committed to leading the way in dementia care and ensuring the highest possible quality of life for our residents. “We are really delighted to have been awarded this DH grant, which will enable us to introduce new facilities to enhance the life experiences of our residents living with dementia. “Working in partnership with Oxfordshire County Council, we have planned the renovation using techniques specifically designed to enhance the living environment for our residents with dementia, and our Admiral Nurse and training team will be working with staff and carers from the home to ensure that the new features will be used for the maximum benefit to residents.” Interior design will focus on relaxation and tranquillity, but also encourage interaction and engagement from residents. Walls will be decorated with sensory art, interactive objects and nostalgic photographs, while colour schemes and custom murals will stimulate a peaceful and calm environment.
Angela Culhane, Care UK’s finance and commercial director, residential care services, with the Sunday Times 250 award.
Provider climbs Top Track table CARE UK has been unveiled as the highest ranking health and social care organisation in the Sunday Times Grant Thornton Top Track 250 league table of Britain’s leading mid-market private companies. Last year the provider was ranked 36 but, on the list published in the Sunday Times recently, it now ranks number 22. This puts Care UK ahead of wellknown household names such as the Priory Group, Selfridges and the RAC.
Chief executive Mike Parish said: “This standing reflects the fact that we have continued to invest heavily in bricks and mortar, services and colleagues. “For example, we’re proud to have opened four new, luxury care homes in Edinburgh, Kent, Sussex and Worcestershire in 2013, with two more due to open later this year, as well as expanding the healthcare service that we provide as part of the NHS.”
Gemma MacNulty and Debra Bollan from Contact the Elderly are handed a cheque for £15,000 by Anchor Community Band members Denise and Dave Speedy, Anchor chief executive Jane Ashcroft and Alyson Bowcott from Legal & General.
Band’s proceeds given to charity A CHEQUE for £15,000 was presented to Contact The Elderly by Anchor at West Hall care home in West Byfleet. The money was raised following the release of The Anchor Community Band’s first single ‘See Yourself’. Members of the band and the charity were joined by Legal & General, who funded the production costs of the single, for the cheque presentation. Anchor’s chief executive Jane Ashcroft said: “We are proud of The Anchor Community Band, as it celebrates the positive aspects of
ageing and challenges stereotypes and misconceptions in a fun way. “We are pleased the funds raised are going to a very good cause and that many older people will benefit from the work that Contact the Elderly does.” Over 350 older people formed the Anchor Community Band across the country including those at West Hall, who were involved in writing and recording the single which reached number 17 in the Official Indie Chart and number one in the Amazon download chart.
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Domiciliary care group opens new £5m village
Mishel Ingle has joined Hadrian Healthcare Group as specialist services manager, based at the group’s newest care development, Wetherby Manor. Mishel, who has worked in the care sector for 16 years, is managing the Chesters accommodation, which is specially designed for people with dementia, and providing direction and guidance on dementia care across the group’s homes in the north of England. She said: “The key for people living with dementia is encouraging them to maintain their independence so they can continue to enjoy the activities they love, within a supportive environment.”
SPRINGFIELD Healthcare Group, one of the largest independent providers of domiciliary care in Yorkshire and Humberside, has opened a new £5m care village in Leeds. Creating 100 jobs, it is currently the only healthcare project in the country to attract finance from the Business Growth Fund, the independent company established to provide growth capital to the UK's growing businesses. The £1.9m investment in Seacroft Grange forms part of BGF's overall £4.4m investment in Springfield Healthcare Group and recognises both the company's potential for growth, as well as its quality as a well-managed business. The opening follows a five-and-ahalf year project to transform a dilapidated historic Grade II listed building overlooking an ancient village green into an innovative new care complex for a wide range of age groups, with the aim of being at the heart of the local community and meeting new standards of care. It has been designed to adapt to a person's changing care needs and will offer a full range of services including aspirational day care, residential and nursing care, as well as private independent living apartments for a wide range of age groups.
Standing in front of the newly completed Seacroft Grange care village are registered manager Mike Higginson, Springfield Healthcare Group finance director Ian Robins and founder and CEO Graeme Lee. Springfield founder and chief executive officer Graeme Lee said: “Finding the right care for a family member can be an extremely stressful process. Our model helps families make an informed choice earlier in the planning process and then moves with the needs of individuals or couples as their care needs progress, at the same time ensuring long term consistency where the care team and quality of information are concerned. “We believe this is what the government wants when it talks about integrated healthcare and
joined-up thinking from the people in charge of that care. “After the standard of care itself, one of the most important things for family members is to ensure that their loved one is able to have as normal and independent a life as possible. At the heart of our care village is a Grade 2 listed building which will be the basis for all our social and community activities and houses a cinema, therapy spa and gym, hair salon and coffee shop that wouldn't look out of place on the high streets of York or Harrogate.”
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Residents play Bitter Sweet Symphony for ex-The Verve bassist FORMER bassist from The Verve, Simon Jones, joined residents during a music therapy session at Adlington Manor care home in Macclesfield. Musician Simon accompanied Nordoff Robbins music therapist Richard Sanderson on one of his weekly visits to the home to find out more about the engaging and beneficial work they provide. Simon said: “It was amazing to see the work Nordoff Robbins does with the old and young. “After visiting Adlington Manor I was blown away by the therapist Richard Sanderson and how he engaged with the group. “They were completely absorbed in music during his session, myself included. His work must have a profound effect in enhancing their lives." Richard has delivered music therapy sessions at Adlington Manor since 2005, when the Barchester Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy Initiative was set up. As a music therapist he provides one-to-one and group sessions that are important for all residents’ general wellbeing, and especially beneficial for those individuals in need of rehabilitation or living with dementia. The group experience at Adlington Manor involved 10 residents and was based around Richard playing a
“They were completely absorbed in music during his session, myself included.” piano and singing songs. These music therapy sessions often trigger memories and feelings that are not accessible through other activities. The aim is to evoke feelings of wellbeing, happiness and comfort. Mark McDonald, general manager at Adlington Manor care home, said: “Music has become key to the wellbeing of all our residents. It has the unique ability to allow the expression of feeling and thought without the use of language. “Richard’s inspirational therapy is invaluable and has struck a chord with many residents taking part. After receiving national acknowledgement on the BBC1 documentary series ‘Imagine’, Richard has shown that he has a unique talent. “The visit from Simon continued to raise the awareness of music therapy in a care home setting and the positive impact Richard has on each resident he works with."
Staff and guests help at Hoar Cross Nursing Home’s open day.
Home celebrates 25th birthday A BAND, pottery painting and the owl out of the Harry Potter films were all part of the open day celebrations as Hoar Cross Nursing Home in Burtonon-Trent celebrated its 25th birthday. More than 50 people toasted the anniversary in style, with district nurses, members of the social care community, visitors and former attendees of the children’s home joining residents to enjoy homemade cakes and share memories. A painting of the home from the early 1900s was also presented to Walter Garbett, the original founder of the home in 1988. Kathy Cleaver, general manager, said: “It was fantastic to get everyone together and enjoy a really fun day where residents got involved with
activities, former staff returned to see what we were up to and new people visited with view to placing some of their loved ones in our care.” “The feedback we received from guests was excellent; we just can’t decide who was more popular…the Noisy Neighbours band or Olivia the owl from the Harry Potter films. “We are looking forward to providing another 25 years of excellent care and making sure the home continues to go from strength to strength.” The 25th birthday also brings up another milestone for Hoar Cross, with £1m spent on updating all the buildings, a six-bed luxury extension and landscaping of two-acre grounds to create a picturesque and tranquil environment.
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Dorset home placed into administration A 31-BED nursing and residential home in Dorset has been placed into administration ahead of going up for sale. Julie Palmer and Simon Campbell, of business recovery specialists Begbies Traynor, have been appointed joint administrators for The Old Rectory Nursing and Residential Home, run by DAH Healthcare Limited, in Langton Matravers, near Swanage. The care home, whose 21 residents have not been affected by the situation, puts its woes down to cash flow difficulties resulting from historical occupancy rate and staffing issues. However, the business is continuing to trade, thanks to a range of stabilisation measures taken by the administrators to ensure its viability in the medium term. Julie Palmer, Begbies Traynor’s south west deputy regional managing partner based at the company’s Salisbury office, said: “We have worked hard to ensure there is no disruption to residents and that they continue to receive an excellent standard of care. We have also reassured relatives that their loved ones will be completely unaffected during this interim period. “We would also like to stress that despite past difficulties the business is fundamentally profitable and is now in a position to prosper. As administrators, we will now be
The Old Rectory near Swanage. trading the business forward with a view to a seamless sale in order to minimise disruption to residents and staff.” She added that there would be no job losses resulting out of the business being placed into administration. The business is expected to become available for sale within the next three months and is likely to receive significant interest from a variety of care home operators. Accommodation at The Old Rectory is provided over two floors with a communal lounge, dining area and landscaped gardens. It currently caters to both private and publicly funded residents. CQC inspectors visited the home in May of this year, reporting positively. The administrators are being advised by care home experts on regulatory compliance and care delivery during this period.
Avante Care and Support’s cooks with Rosemary Shrager.
Chefs work with TV’s Rosemary CARE home workers across Kent and the South East have completed a unique and ground-breaking training course with TV chef Rosemary Shrager. The cooks working in Avante Care and Support care homes attended a specially-devised cookery course at the celebrity's new cookery school in Tunbridge Wells to help them in their work preparing a range of meals each day for residents at their respective care homes. Many residents at the homes live with dementia and may suffer loss of appetite due to their condition. Sophie Murray, head of nutrition and hydration at Avante Care and Support, said ensuring residents eat
well by cooking fresh, nutritious and tasty food for them is paramount to their health and well-being. She added: “This has been a really positive experience for our staff which will translate into improving further, both the quality and health value of the food that they prepare and serve to our residents. “Our key focus at Avante is on the health and well-being of our clients. “By investing in our staff to attend Rosemary's cookery school, we have recognised the importance of a healthy diet for people living with dementia and for our staff to develop their skills and their understanding of the benefits of cooking with and eating the right foods.”
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CARINGHEALTH, FITNESS, REHABILITATION AND WELLBEING
Whole body vibration training plays key role in care plans WHOLE body vibration training can significantly improve the mobility, health and wellbeing of elderly and inactive patients and could play a key role in their care plan. It can help address health complications common to care home patients including compromised mobility, joint pain, arthritis, risk of falls, water retention and poor circulation. Fitness instructor Charli DillonCambridge has spent the last four years working with elderly and disabled residents and day care clients at Yates Court, an ExtraCare housing scheme in Evesham, Worcestershire, managed by the ExtraCare Charitable Trust. Charli uses Power Plate devices with the majority of her clients and has noticed significant improvements among a wide range of people with several different healthcare concerns. She said: “Power Plate has transformed our health care plans here and the beauty of the machine is that many people can use it for many different conditions. “Each person uses Power Plate for just a matter of minutes to bring about the desired health benefits. This means everyone can have time on the Power Plate in each activity session: it’s the most time-efficient and widely used piece of equipment in our fitness room.” Charli incorporates the Power Plate sessions into her clients’ exercise programmes. She has seen
particularly good results among people with reduced mobility, painful or stiff joints, arthritis, poor circulation and water retention. Those prone to falls also show a marked improvement after using Power Plate as it helps boost their strength, circulation, co-ordination and balance. Joyce Daley, 88, has been using the Power Plate under Charli’s supervision for three and a half years to help build up the strength in her legs as she is in a wheelchair. “Gradually as time has passed using the Power Plate my mobility and my posture has increased dramatically,” said Joyce. “I walk in an upright position and tend not to shuffle as much. With the aid of Power Plate my confidence in walking has increased.” Richard Gedge, 73, came to Charli over two years ago to improve the range of movement in his legs. She devised an individual programme that incorporated the use of the Power Plate and the Therabike to help him regain sensation in his left hand side after he suffered paralysis following a stroke. He added: “I am able to feel the vibration much more prominently on my left side with the help of the Power Plate. With the improvement in my circulation I have increased the range of movement in my left leg and am able to lift my leg further up off the foot plate these days “I suffered badly with cramp in both
Trainer Charli Dillon-Cambridge with Joyce. of my legs when I came to Charli to use the Power Plate. “I used it for only four minutes and it really helped to relieve the cramp in my legs – I’ve not experienced bad cramp since.” The whole range of Power Plate machines are certified as class IIa medical devices under the Medical Devices Directive (MDD) 93/42/EEC for the ultimate peace of mind among therapists recommending vibration training to their patients and clients. Regular sessions on Power Plate equipment can assist with a wide
range of conditions including: Improving muscle strength and power. Alleviating pain. Increasing bone mineral density. Preventing bone mineral density loss related to ageing. Improving circulation, cardiovascular and cardiorespiratory functions. Improving flexibility and range of motion. Improving balance, mobility and strength. Decreasing arterial stiffness.
Grosvenor Park wins annual competition
Residents Lettie Bennison and Cathy Stewart admire the collection of mini knitted hats.
Residents take on challenge TALENTED knitters at a Falkirk care home have picked up their needles in support of a national campaign to keep older people warm this winter. Staff and residents at Airthrey Care Home in Airth have been knitting little woolly hats as part of the Innocent Big Knit Challenge. The national campaign invites people to create cute and colourful hats for the top of Innocent smoothie bottles, with the drinks manufacturer donating 25p from every bottle sold to Age UK.
This is the first time Airthrey Care Home has been involved in the campaign with residents knitting over 50 brightly coloured hats with decorative pom poms. Manager Lesley Black said: “Age UK is a charity close to our hearts and knitting is already a popular activity with our residents.” Money raised from the campaign will be used to buy hot water bottles, blankets, hot meals and social gatherings for elderly people across the UK.
GROSVENOR Park Care Home in Darlington has beaten tough competition, including first and second runners-up Ty Hafod and Meadowbank, to win Four Seasons Health Care’s annual gardening competition, sponsored by Proxima. Grosvenor Park’s left-field theme of recycling helped the home to stand out among the competition. The garden’s re-design involved decorative embellishment at the front of the home with colourful plants in planters made from old decking planks, and stones spelling out the home’s name. Two flower beds, low maintenance shrubs, extended paving areas and an improved lawn were added to the rear of the home. Several seating areas were also created during the project, allowing residents and staff to enjoy new items including a life size ‘flowerpot man’ made from old flowerpots complete with walking stick and flowers for his hair. Home manager Angela Hird said: “I’m proud of the residents and their relatives and the home’s staff for coming together to create our beautiful garden. Winning the competition means a lot as so much effort and energy was put into it.”
“Winning the competition means a lot as so much effort and energy was put into it.” Ty Hafod’s entry came in second and was designed with the residents and their relatives very much in mind. The front of the home underwent a transformation with the creation of several sensory areas; the herb garden and vegetable planting area provide a range of smells, sounds and colours for the residents and their families, and a new seating area makes this easy to access and enjoy. Meadowbank came third with an ambitious and fun entry. An old wooden shelter was repainted and transformed in to a beach hut. A sea was made by covering a designated zone with blue polythene and a large paddling pool with white pebbles around the edge. To complete the beach atmosphere, a space was sanded over and decorated with deck chairs and a large windbreak. Lights and mobiles gave the garden a sensory factor.
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CARINGHEALTH, FITNESS, REHABILITATION AND WELLBEING
Company aims to prove importance of elderly exercise A NEW company has been set up in a bid to prove to all residential homes how important exercise really is. Age Elita founder Emma Thompson, a sports coach and a qualified first aider, has built the exercise programme through her qualifications within exercises studies. She told Caring UK she has had brilliant feedback so far from participating homes around the North West. “As a company, we believe that you’re never too old to limber your joints, strengthen your muscles and stretch your body,” added Gemma. “It is no secret that if any part of the body that has a function is unused and left idle, they become liable to disease, defective in growth and age quickly. “Our coaches/instructors even cater for those that are partially paralysed, confined to a wheelchair or bedridden. They also provide group and individual exercises depending on what your home requires. We will do all we can to help increase the quality and length of your residents lives.” Age Elita initially offer all new homes a free no obligation taster session where you can decide if this is a programme you wish to try within your home. Emma added: “We do not work miracles, we simply encourage exercise. All exercises are seated and are accompanied by music from the residents’ era. “Originally all sessions start of a mild difficulty (just like all fitness classes). As the residents begin to become more comfortable with the exercise, we start to challenge them more. “We do this through increasing the resistance on specific exercises or in some cases, increasing repetitions. This in turn will create more demand on the cardiovascular and muscu-
Sophie Leicester and Ruth Ker deliver a nutrition workshop to residents of Middleton Hall Retirement Village.
Experts deliver workshop
Emma Thompson loskeletal systems and therefore result in increased physical fitness. “Once the programme is fully underway we provide the home with a feedback sheet. In most cases, we provide the sheet once every four sessions. The sheet allows the activities coordinator within the homes (and residents in some cases) to state what they like, what they don’t like and where we can improve the sessions.” Homes are also given the opportunity to change their coach/instructor if they feel they want to try someone new. Sessions can run on a weekly, fortnightly or monthly basis, but are encouraged to be as often as possible so residents benefit from a social aspect and not just physically.
Barchester Healthcare chefs have been digging out their favourite winter warmer recipes to ensure residents enjoy a tasty and nutritional array of their favourite homecooked meals throughout the winter months. And this year everyone can enjoy these recipes too as Barchester has made them available as a set of six recipe cards to see people through the cold winter months ahead. They are available at the group’s homes throughout the UK.
TAKING vitamin D supplements and eating more oily fish are just two of the ways older people’s health can be boosted, retirement village residents have learned. Sophie Leicester, of Nutrition in Sheffield, and Ruth Ker, who has a Masters degree in nutrition, visited Middleton Hall Retirement Village, near Darlington, to deliver a food and health workshop to residents. Sophie said many older people didn’t realise they could be deficient in vitamin D, levels of which are boosted by exposure to sunshine. “As we get older our bodies find it more difficult to convert sunshine into vitamin D plus older people can tend to cover up or not go out in the sun enough,” she added. “Research shows it can be associated with conditions from diabetes and heart disease to osteoporosis, depression and inflammatory diseases.
“We talked about the importance of vitamin D and how the NHS recommends that people over 65 should take a vitamin D supplement every day.” The event was part of Middleton Hall’s Living Well philosophy, which encourages residents to enjoy maximum health and wellbeing. As well as vitamin D, residents heard how eating more oily fish and vegetable proteins, such as legumes and beans, would boost their health as well as hearing about foods which lower cholesterol. Staff also received nutritional oneon-one sessions to help improve their health and wellbeing. “It’s not about living off mung beans or being skinny,” said Sophie. “If you’re older, it’s better to be at the higher end of the healthy range than the lower end so if you get ill you have a bit of a buffer.”
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CARINGINTERIOR DESIGN AND FURNISHING Advertiser’s announcement
Hartwood House care home in Lyndhurst (left) where Gainsborough fitted en-suite bedrooms, bathrooms and ceiling track systems.
Gainsborough delivers assisted bathing and patient transfer solutions at home GAINSBOROUGH Specialist Bathing, part of the Care in Bathing Group, was selected to design, supply and install a range of assistive bathing and transfer solutions at a prestigious new care home in Lyndhurst, Hampshire. This development encompassed the comprehensive refurbishment of Hartwood House and the construction of a new wing to accommodate 50 permanent residents in a long-term care setting. Assisted bathing and hoisting was required in the high dependency wing of the building so that residents could be transferred with dignity and in safety, between communal, bedroom and bathing areas. Solutions were required to assist vulnerable residents in the specialist dementia care unit and bespoke nursing area. Residents required care for conditions such as dementia, Alzheimer’s and restricted mobility from old age. Carers also required ergonomic assistance for hygiene routines and powered transfer capabilities when moving residents around the building. As the first joint venture between The Hartford Care Group and the building contractor, The Highwood Group, Hartwood House represented an investment of over £3million so the latest in care provision could be delivered. Construction began in January 2012 with a focus on providing high specification interiors and a ‘sense of
Project: Hartwood House, Lyndhurst, Hampshire. Installation: 10 accessible en-suite bedrooms and five bathrooms in a high dependency wing. Client: Hartford Care Group Contractor: The Highwood Group Products specified: Five Glide 200 Ceiling track systems, four Kent specialist hi-lo baths and one Ascot specialist hi-lo bath community’ for residents. The need for powered bathing and hoisting solutions that were aesthetically pleasing, durable and safe, led to the contractor selecting Gainsborough Specialist Bathing as the preferred supplier. Gainsborough’s ability to provide comprehensive support and installation guidance further strengthened its position during the tendering process. Project challenges GAINSBOROUGH successfully resolved several challenges during the build so that solutions were still delivered on time and within budget. The schedule of works was demanding and thus required decisions to be reached quickly and efficiently. Gainsborough technical designers were able to achieve this whilst providing pre-installation details for structural modifications where required. Driven by the size of pre-
Geometric brings ‘flair to care’ GEOMETRIC Furniture Limited is a well established family run and owned contract furniture business. Based in Manchester, the company has a 17,000 sq m manufacturing facility which includes office, showroom and storage space. Geometric has invested in its own in- house designs, skilled craftsmen and customer service to deliver a quality product for a fair price. Product ranges include loose furniture, soft seating, fixed seating, bespoke joinery, cabinet works and case goods which can be tailored to suit individual specifications. Whether you choose from Geometric’s current collection or commission bespoke items they have the capability to meet your expectations, from single unit supply
to large scale turnkey projects. Their extensive skills and experience within the contract furniture market show through in the extra care and attention to detail, given in all their products, to provide the outstanding service on which the company has established its reputation.
determined rooms, Gainsborough recommended optimum layouts and ensured maximum accessibility. Seamless transition of residents between bedrooms and en-suites was also achieved at Hartwood House. Commonly the hoisting of residents between rooms involved the transfer of a sling from one lift motor to another, as track rails terminated at dividing walls. However single rail applications that run between rooms were made possible resulting in the need for only one hoist unit. This provided multiple benefits in terms of cost saving, improved operationally efficiently and a better transfer experience for residents. Products specified GAINSBOROUGH Specialist Bathing solutions were installed throughout the development and included four Kent hi-lo assistive baths, one Ascot hi-lo bath and five Glide 200 ceiling track systems. The Gainsborough designers utilised their unique AspectTM design software to establish the most appropriate bathroom layouts throughout the care home. As the baths incorporated hi-lo movement and powered transfer seats, carers assisted residents at safe working heights and employed best practice in moving and handling. In addition to baths, fully operational ceiling track hoisting systems were provided in five of the bedrooms.
Other bedrooms were ‘future proofed’ with structural and ceiling fixings in readiness for installations in the future. The completed rail configurations provided powered transfer of residents via the use of Gainsborough Glide 200 hoists and suitable slings from chair to bed to bathroom. End-to-end support DURING 2012, initial site surveys were undertaken by Gainsborough technical engineers to ascertain all specific requirements. These were critical so that precise structural, electrical and plumbing pre-installation guidelines could be provided at a later stage. Gainsborough’s AspectTM design programme ensured rooms were designed appropriately in terms of ergonomics, wheelchair access and resident safety. Gainsborough then completed additional feasibility surveys so that final plans were approved by early 2013. Both contractor and Gainsborough installers were then able to systematically proceed with common details and a clear vision of the final objectives. Once fully operational, an area sales manager attended on site to provide comprehensive product training. Now in daily use, Gainsborough provided a comprehensive service and maintenance package so that equipment continued to operate efficiently and safely.
Knightsbridge contributes to hospice redevelopment DINING furniture and social seating has been supplied by Knightsbridge Furniture as part of the extensive redevelopment of the in-patient unit at Kirkwood Hospice in Dalton, just outside Huddersfield. Smart upholstered seating welcomes Kirkwood patients and visitors alike, with mid-back and highback chairs and three-seat settees from Knightsbridge Furniture’s traditionally-styled Jasmine range nestling alongside the more contemporary profiles of Maddie club chairs and supportive high-back armchairs from the company’s Arran range. Seating is on hand throughout the unit thanks to the provision of 50+ versatile Zeta stacking chairs, which are the perfect complement to the Harvey timber-topped tables in the dining area, Palma tables in the patients’ lounge and multi-bed bays, rectangular Polo and Ascot tables in the activity rooms and the neat Ventura lamp table in the beverage bay. The order has been completed by a Knightsbridge Dalton armchair modelled
specifically for bariatric users, together with a pair of Optimum bookcases in the lounges and two Panama double sofa-beds to accommodate overnight visitors. Enquiries: Visit www.knightsbridge-furniture.co.uk
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CARINGINTERIOR DESIGN AND FURNISHING
Trends that are meeting needs A SPECIALIST care furniture manufacturer has seen a massive upturn in contracts and enquiries from savvy operators looking to stand out from the crowd as care industry focus switches to customer comfort and independence. Shackletons, the Yorkshire based care furniture specialists, has been working within care environments for 50 years. Jason Bloom, national sales manager, said: “There has been a distinct shift within the care sector regarding furniture. Of course we still have fitfor-purpose considerations to apply, but form is becoming just as important as function as the sector considers the needs and wants of their varying customers. “The care sector has many forward thinking and dynamic care operators who are certainly nothing like the old stereotyped images many people still have. As the market becomes more competitive and more aware of its customer the need for appealing and creative interior solutions has become majorly important.” Considerable investment in research and development has enabled Shackletons to take an expert role in the development of care specific furniture. Taking the gauntlet they recognise that everyone engages with furniture differently and this is reflected in the design process. Considerations in design are based on the end users’ needs and experience; comfort, mobility, safety, free-
dom and enjoyment. “Cleanability is still a big focus for the sector and we understand this is essential in maintaining a clean and healthy environment, but this doesn’t come at the expense of design,” added Jason. “We have spent many years developing a satisfying solution that not only aids carers in their roles but enables residents to live their lives as independently as they can in comfortable and enjoyable surroundings.” Robust and functional fabrics and design methods are used to meet the needs of the many care providers who demand a product that is a million miles away from the institutionalised look. Intelligent fabrics and innovative designs are developed to meet the standard feature requirements, such as waterproof membranes, stain repellent technology and odour control. Design is applied in a way that considers the physical support the end user may need as well as how individuals’ senses will react – what does it look like, how does it feel. Jason added: “There is still an image crisis concerning old age, we cannot assume all residents within a care home are frail, immobile, infirm and incapable of making a decision. The elderly have the same expectations as all of us. “They want to socialise, enjoy comfortable surroundings, relax, and be active and independent. The physical and mental ability of residents are always taken into account, we design
and manufacture furniture that truly is bespoke without compromising on style, quality and visual appeal.” In more recent times the company has also responded to the growing needs of care operators looking to maintain a better quality of life for residents with dementia. Jason added: “Having dementia doesn’t mean loss of independence or quality of life; but confusion, disorientation, and frustration can result in a lack of quality of life if residents are not accommodated in a way that promotes and enables a dignified and independent way of life. “Design can help with this. We consult with many operators on this
topic. We use colours, choose appropriate fabrics and consider the overall constructed design of our furniture.” “Development of furniture for a care environment obviously has very specific and necessary requirements concerning space planning and mobility. Our CAD system allows for efficient design and layout planning. We help our clients visualise how wheelchair users and elderly residents’ mobility can be accommodated as well as improved. “Working this way helps care providers consider how compliance and regulations can find a pleasing design fit with end user choices and independence.”
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Phase two of £9m carbon zero development gets underway By Dominic Musgrave AN AWARD-winning retirement village has started work on phase two of its £9m development scheme to create the country’s first zero carbon retirement bungalows after the first batch sold out within months. The new owners of the first six independent living eco properties at Middleton Hall Retirement Village, near Darlington, are expected to move in later this month, with builders already working on the second phase of the 35 homed development. The expansion of the village’s
accommodation and facilities is creating 45 jobs and has included creating a new orangery with a cafe, bar and farm shop, which will sell produce from local organic farms and grown at Middleton Hall. Jeremy Walford, managing director of Middleton Hall Retirement Village, said: “These properties are not the traditional kind of retirement bungalow which is what’s attracted so many people to them in the first place. Buyers have told us they love the idea that they’re buying something new and sustainable, with extra space to entertain their friends and family combined with low running
costs. They also like the idea that they’re buying something that’s the first of its kind in the country – rather than simply downsizing to a tiny bungalow that may have seen better days.” Each of the dormer bungalows is fitted with wood burning stoves, triple glazed windows and thick insulation as well as solar thermal panels and electricity generated from PV panels. The development, called the ‘Waterside,’ is set within 17 acres of woodland with a wetland area and a large duck pond designed to attract wildlife.
Construction manager Graeme Bell with managing director Jeremy Walford.
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CARINGCOMMERCE
Care agency expands into homes’ market By Dominic Musgrave A LANCASHIRE domiciliary care agency is expanding into the residential homes market. Seva Line Ltd, which has been providing home care services in the Bolton area for 20 years, recently established a sister company, Seva Line Care Homes Ltd. The new firm has purchased its first property, Hurstead House Nursing Home in Rochdale, after receiving a significant funding package from Yorkshire Bank to assist with the sale price. The deal was facilitated by Garry Birchall, business development manager with the Bank’s Business and Private Banking Centre in Bolton. Seva Line Ltd’s management team formed Seva Line Care Homes to apply their extensive experience of domiciliary care services to the care home sector. The business aspires to offer residents the same level of dignity and independence as they would
enjoy within their own homes. Ish Patel, managing director of Seva Line Care Homes, said: “Acquiring Hurstead House Nursing Home is the first step in our long term plans to create a chain of high quality care homes. From our work in domiciliary care, we know that some elderly people have reservations about staying in care homes. But we want to change their minds and show them that it is possible to receive the same care within a residential setting as they would receive in their own houses.” Hurstead House enjoys an excellent reputation locally for its high standard of accommodation, quality facilities. The team, which includes a manager, six registered nurses and 27 care workers employed at the home, have been there since its inception. With the 30-bedded property enjoying an occupancy rate of more than 90 per cent, its new owners are already making plans to extend the home and create new jobs.
Morleigh Group adds homes to portfolio TWO large care homes in Cornwall have been sold by specialist property adviser Christie + Co. Tregertha Court Residential Home in Looe and St Theresa’s Nursing Home in Callington have been sold to the Morleigh Group.
Morleigh Group directors Steve and Trisha Juleff are now believed to be the largest owner of privately-run nursing and residential homes in Cornwall with seven homes. Malcolm Freeland, who bought the homes in the 1980s, has now retired.
Advertiser’s announcement
Exclusively for the sector GLOBAL Business Finance was established just over 24 years ago by the firm’s present senior partner Mark Widdows, and since then has arranged more than £1bn in loans for clients. The firm works exclusively in the care sector providing a very personalised service as every client is individual with individual requirements. Mark and his team spend time getting to know each of their clients in order that they can ensure each person’s needs are met and the loan facility can be tailored to that person’s requirements. Global offers national coverage and with the support of e-mail, fax, regular telephone conversations and face to face meetings the firm are able to put together a professional and comprehensive bank application. The bank managers that Global work with are all specialist healthcare managers who have extensive knowledge within the sector and fully understand the requirements of the
clients that Global introduce. Mark Widdows, the firm’s senior partner, trained as an accountant before establishing the brokerage in 1989. Other key executives include his wife Sally-Ann, who specialised in nutrition before becoming a registered care home manager, and Rupert his son, who is also a registered manager and this year completes his degree in dementia studies with the UK’s leading dementia research team, the Bradford Dementia Group, at the University of Bradford. The family own and run their own specialist dementia care home, so fully understand all aspects and issues of care home owners which brings a unique ability to the firm to work with clients and convey their needs to the bank who is lending. With over £1bn in completed care home loans you should strongly consider Global Business Finance to represent you for your next loan application. See their advert in this issue.
Work begins on first phase of development DECS Group has begun the first phase of a £1.5m extension and refurbishment programme at Inwood House Care Home near Wakefield. Phase one includes a 20-bed extension to the existing 35-bed home, a basement for back of house facilities, an orangery, residents’ cafe and part refurbishment of the existing home. A further six further bedrooms will be added as part of an extension in phase two. Owner Richard Barraclough said: “The investment will bring much needed employment to the area and provide enhanced facilities for our residents.
“A key factor in selecting the contractor was the experience and knowledge in undertaking similar developments and it was important to ensure minimal disturbance during the works.” Phase one is due for completion next June. Decs Group undertakes refurbishments, extensions and new build care facilities nationally. Enquiries: For further information contact either Jamie Cliff or Steve Pippard on 0113 385 0888.
The Beeches in Brentwood.
New home to create 150 jobs BARCLAYS has supported care home provider Signature Senior Lifestyle with a £14.8m loan to develop new care nursing facilities in Brentwood. The Beeches features a variety of 99 spacious private studio and one and two bedroom apartments and will create 150 new jobs in the local area, with a number of nursing roles available. The new home offers a full spectrum of 24-hour residential and nursing care for individuals and couples, along with assisted living, giving day-to-day support. Respite and post-operative convalescence care is available plus specialised dementia and end-of-life care.
The facility has been under construction for 18 months at a cost of approximately £25m and includes a cinema room, cafes and restaurants for residents to enjoy. The Signature homes also offer spa bathrooms and a hair salon. Tom Ball, finance director, Signature Senior Lifestyle, said: “We have been looking forward to opening The Beeches at Brentwood for some time now, further adding to our portfolio of premium care and nursing homes. “At Signature we always seek to provide the very best quality of environment and range of services for our residents, resulting in large capital demands for development projects.”
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CARINGCOMMERCE
Residents move in to Drovers House An artist’s impressions of Sunnybank House, which will open next year.
Group reveals plans to build three more homes in county HARTFORD Care has unveiled plans to build a further three care homes in Hampshire following the successful opening of Hartwood House in Lyndhurst. The new homes are planned for Fair Oak in Eastleigh, Netley Abbey near Southampton and Abbotswood in Romsey and, together with Hartwood House, represent an investment in the region of £30m. These homes will be designed to create the best possible environments for providing quality residential, dementia, nursing, respite and day care for older people in Hampshire. The projects also bring considerable employment opportunities to the Southampton area. In addition to the high levels of economic activity generated locally during the construction phases, once completed
these projects will create in the region of 300 new, long-term jobs. As part of this Hartford Care will also work with local colleges to offer care apprenticeships for young people within each of the homes. Work commenced on the prestigious Sunnybank House development at Fair Oak in June. This new 60-bed care home with nursing will be ready for occupation next summer. Later this year work will commence on the Netley Abbey project which will bring 65 beds and nine exclusive, assisted living apartments to Southampton by spring 2015. Land has been acquired in Abbotswood, Romsey and plans are underway to commence work on Hartford Care’s fourth new care home in spring 2014.
WCS Care Group has taken possession of Drovers House in Rugby, Warwickshire. The facility is a £4.6m new build 75 bed care home situated on the former cattle market in the town. Working within the constraints of an existing external design already holding planning permission, Pozzoni worked with WCS Care Group to replan the internal layout to suit the client’s operational requirements, incorporating best practice principles for designing for people with dementia. Pozzoni acted as client advisor to WCS Care Group and worked with the team through the construction phase to ensure the client’s vision was successfully delivered.
Facilities include a coffee bar, shop, hair and beauty salon and a reminiscence area with displays and activities relating to local landmarks and features, such as the railway works and Rugby Public School. Christine Asbury, chief executive of WCS Care Group Ltd, said: “WCS Care is proud to have opened such a high quality building that really caters for the specific needs of people living with dementia; and everybody who has walked through the door has been hugely impressed. “It is a vibrant home which facilitates WCS Care’s person centred approach to care and it will provide high quality accommodation for many generations of older people in Warwickshire.”
Target Healthcare acquires homes SPECIALIST Healthcare Property Consultant HPC acted on behalf of private investor Mike Bullas in the sale of two care home investments to Target Healthcare REIT Limited at a price of approximately £11.5m, including costs. The facilities are situated in St Helens, Merseyside and Longridge near Preston. Both opened in 2008, when they were acquired by Mike, and provide a total of 154 en-suite bedrooms in
modern, purpose built buildings. They are leased to existing operator Orchard Care Homes with a period of approximately 30 years remaining. Target is a specialist investor in UK care homes and the acquisition sees its portfolio increase to 10 care homes since it listed its shares on the London Stock Exchange’s Main Market in March. Target was advised by Richard Harris of Vector Property Group.
Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking relationship manager Mike Craigie, left and owner Mark Hammond in front of the new wing of rooms at Chelfham House.
Bank helps home to reduce its footprint A RESIDENTIAL care home near Barnstaple has become more environmentally friendly with the support of Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking. Chelfham House, which has been open for 30 years, specialises in caring for dementia patients over 65 and was taken over by Mark Hammond and his wife in 2004. The Edwardian house has been expanded from 38 bedrooms to 41 and includes a newly built lounge and wetroom, while creating employment in the local area. Previously, the residential home sported three boilers, causing excessive overheads as well as
emissions. In order to save on energy bills and reduce the home’s carbon footprint, a new biomass boiler has been installed that uses wood pellets, which cost half the price of oil. Mark said: “As well as reducing our emissions, the new biomass boiler we have installed is set to provide significant cost savings for the business. “Chelfham House has 100 per cent occupancy and a waiting list due to the care and attention provided at the care home. This improved efficiency will mean we can improve our care for residents more.” Plans are in place to expand the home by 20 more rooms in future.
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CARINGDEMENTIA
A new set of dementia care services are being hailed as a beacon of best practice in North East Lincolnshire. Dominic Musgrave found out more.
Guests celebrate the opening of the new dementia services at a ceremony at Cranwell Court care home in Grimsby.
Trailblazing dementia services celebrated at Cranwell Court CRANWELL Court care home in Grimsby officially launched the scheme recently following years of research by staff and a £1.4m investment from owner L&H Homes. This has completely transformed the facility to provide an environment that completely meets the needs of people living with dementia and enhances their safety. The building work also created a new section of the building for their enhanced care services. Nicole Rands, business manager for registered services at L&H Homes, who has been behind the plans, said: “We began researching best practice into dementia care about four years ago, way before a lot of other people began to notice that there was a huge growth in demand for these kinds of services. “From what we found by visiting specialist dementia care providers and the latest research we’ve been able to incorporate best practice into every element of Cranwell Court.” Based on the team’s work, L&H Homes won tenders with North East Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Group to provide: Eight beds of shared care and
assessment. 12 beds of enhanced residential care unit for people with high dementia needs. Cranwell also provides Day Care services to people with enhanced levels of dementia on behalf of CCG for up to 12 people each day. To provide these services effectively, the interior of the home has been completely transformed to incorporate best practice in the layout and design of the dementia units: Highly contrasting walls, floors and doors which help residents with orientation. Doors are painted specific colours and are easily visible within individual flats and across communal areas. Individual flat doors are coloured and made to look like an exterior front door; residents are encouraged to put personal items outside their flat to help them recognise where they live. Many objects, in particular in the bathroom, are in red as this is the last colour a person with dementia loses. Where it is needed, crockery is in contrasting colours to make food easier to see. Preventative measures are taken to
enhance safety and reduce the risk of hospital visits such as directive and responsive sensor lighting at night to reduce the number of trips and falls. Assistive technology is used to alert staff to high risks such as incontinence, overflowing sinks or when residents are out of bed at night. On top of the physical environment being adapted for residents’ needs, the way in which staff interact and engage with residents has changed. Manager Sally Eddom added: “We work very closely with everyone involved in our residents’ lives and it’s proving a very effective way of supporting someone to live with dementia. “Finding out about someone’s life history, their lifestyle, social and family networks, circumstances and environment means we can build up relationships with them, increase selfconfidence, keep their mind and bodies active and improve quality of life. “We can also recognise some of the triggers that cause people to become upset or anxious and step in to deescalate situations. Being able to connect with someone on the same level they are at, or knowing what is important to them can make a huge
difference. A lot of thought has also gone into how staff appear to residents – we’ve got rid of uniforms, so residents feel more like they’re talking to a human being than a nurse or carer and have large print name badges with our first names so people can easily read our names if they’re having trouble remembering and it makes us more approachable.” L&H Homes’ distinct approach to dementia care is in line with the aims of the North East Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Group with whom the care and support team is continuing their close partnership working to inform strategy based on the latest findings and best practice. A more recent development within the service is a drive to finding alternative methods and therapies that help people living with dementia deal with pain, depression and overcome some of the behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia , in response to the call to action in reducing the use of anti-psychotic medication for people with dementia. Hand massages and aromatherapy are already proving extremely effective at helping people relax enough to be able to connect with others.
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CARINGNEWS
Satisfied with your insurance arrangements? By David Waters WHAT is it that upsets us all about paying our insurance premiums, even me, an old insurance man? I think it’s pretty much down to not knowing whether we will get value for money or not – we pay for our premiums, hope we don’t have reason to claim, but if we do, then we want the claim handled professionally, speedily and paid. At CHIS (Care Home Insurance Services) and PrimeCare (Domiciliary care insurance specialist), we only work with care providers. We have no other clients, we know how quickly news can spread amongst the care community, so we know we have to be at our best at all times and we certainly all try our hardest for every one of our clients. In an effort to gauge how our customers view our service we have recently undertaken a survey of some of our customers who have recently renewed. We sent out a survey questionnaire to 131 customers, we’ve had responses from 26, that’s 20 per cent responding to an insurance customer survey – way beyond our expectations, so thank you to all of you who have responded. This really helps us to shape our service to you for the future and we’re always looking to make improvements wherever we can, any suggestions. The questions raised by and responses received from the survey were: How would you rate the speed of service you received? 72 per cent excellent and 28 per cent good (25 respondents). How would you rate the technical insurance knowledge of the person you spoke to? 65.38 per cent excellent and 34.62 per cent good (26 respondents). How would you rate the quality of the claims service you received? 42.3 per cent excellent, 15.38 per cent good, 3.84 per cent satisfactory and 38.48 per cent not applicable – they haven’t had claims (26 respondents). How helpful did you find the staff member you spoke to? 73 per cent excellent) and 27 per cent good (26 respondents).
Lawrie launches new charity
David Waters Is there any area you feel we could improve on? 73 per cent no and 27 per cent yes) – comments ranged from “You are excellent in every aspect of what you do” through to “Not sending emails referring to renewal when I’m a first time customer”. How useful is our website to you? 11.5 per cent excellent, 26.9 per cent good, 7.7 per cent satisfactory and 50 per cent not applicable – never used our websites (26 respondents). Would you recommend us to other care providers? 100 per cent yes. We also gave our customers the opportunity of naming the person who had helped them with their renewal and make their own appropriate comments. 16 of 26 have done so and all have made positive, complimentary comments. Options on responses were excellent, good, satisfactory, poor or very poor, so there is no slanting towards only achieving an answer of excellent. This makes great reading for my colleagues and I, especially the 100 per cent of our customers who would happily recommend us to other care providers. The areas we evidently need to improve upon are helping our one customer who has evidently had an issue with a claim, maybe we have not explained the situation well enough, but we work really hard to make sure all our customers get a full, fair and prompt claims settlement. David Waters is managing director of CHIS.
Record crowds for Care Show ALMOST 3,000 visitors flocked to the Care Show Birmingham, providing 28 per cent growth from 2012 and 76 per cent increase from 2011. Part of this success was down to organisers UBM Live introducing a new section to the event, the Dementia Care Show, which provided advice tailored to care providers, social services, GP’s and NHS professionals that are involved in delivering dementia care. Event director James Samuel said:
Lawrie McMenemy cuts the ribbon to open the HOPE New Forest advice centre and shop with Laura Rolph, Colten Care marketing executive (left), and Julia Pride, the charity's chair of trustees.
“We are delighted with this year’s visitor figures and feedback as it proves this is a growing industry. “With the introduction of the Dementia Care Show, Care Show Birmingham provided visitors with a wide range of content to ensure best practise covering the entire care sector. We are committed to continuing the promotion of the need for dementia care and be seen as the lead event in the market-place within this topic and the industry.”
FOOTBALL legend Lawrie McMenemy MBE has helped kick off an independent charity for older people supported by Colten Care. Lawrie cut the ribbon to open HOPE New Forest’s combined shop, office and advice service in New Milton. The charity has been set up by a group of local volunteers to offer free, impartial advice on any issue affecting older people. It will generate income through donations including clothing and other items sold in the shop and develop outreach services from New Milton to Barton on Sea, Milford on Sea, Lymington and Brockenhurst. The former Southampton, Northern
Ireland and England under-21 manager has been active in helping older people’s charities for many years. Julia Pride, chair of Trustees for HOPE New Forest, said: “Elderly people can often be confused about what help there is locally on issues involved in managing money, claiming benefits and accessing care. “Our service is rooted in the local community. Our advisors, volunteers and trustees are all in touch with the grass roots of the area and by bringing our advice and information services under one roof we hope to be able to make a positive difference.”
New accessible wet rooms GAINSBOROUGH Specialist Bathing, Europe’s leading choice in hi-lo baths, has launched a new range of assisted wet rooms suitable for a wide variety of long term care and acute care settings. Suitable for new-builds or refurbishments, these accessible wet rooms offer care providers, healthcare professionals and carers with a flexible, yet exceptionally durable solution that meets the unique challenges of specialist bathing. They incorporate a safe wet deck area with level access and slip resistant flooring so client accessibility and safety is maximised. There is a choice of decorative wall paneling, thermostatically controlled shower units and either flat glass screen or half-height shower doors that include MicroGuard antimicrobial protection. An integrated, soft-touch padded
shower seat with folding armrests is also incorporated along with a fluted grab rail. With a nationwide network of skilled fitters, Gainsborough also provides a complete end-to-end installation service from concept to completion.
Using a compact scrubber drier instead of mop cleaning ... BY investing in a professional BR 30/4 C floor scrubber-drier machine from Kärcher, consistent cleaning results are guaranteed, and floors are left dry and reusable without risk. Because floor cleaning is so much faster than with a mop, cleaning staff can be deployed elsewhere and therefore whole life costs can be dramatically lower than mopping. The BR 30/4 only uses clean water for cleaning, and ensures that operators don’t come into contact with dirty water or detergents during filling and emptying. The BR 30/4 C is available with
mains or battery power, and it scrubs and dries floors in a single pass, saving time, giving better results and increasing safety when compared to mop and bucket cleaning. The 30/4 gives consistently high quality cleaning results on a variety of hard floor surfaces and is ideal for locations such as wards, kitchens, WCs and even reception areas. With powerful lithium-ion batteries, the BR 30/4 C battery-powered model can be used at any time of day without posing a safety risk, as there is no mains cable to pose a trip hazard.
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CARINGPRODUCT NEWS
New seating and tables unveiled at the Care Show NEW seating and tables designed to meet the specialist demands of care and nursing homes have been introduced by Knightsbridge Furniture. Forming part of the company’s Care Collection, the newcomers were previewed at the Care Show Birmingham. Intended to enhance lounge and reception areas, bedrooms and social hubs within all categories of residential care facilities, the extensive Knightsbridge Lucia range is distinguished by stylish, uncluttered lines and subtle retro-references. Featuring under-frames in either natural timber or gracefully curving wire, Lucia seating includes armchairs and twin/triple-seat sofas together with compact club chairs: completing the line-up are coffee tables in a range of formats complemented by elegant circular or square lamp tables, all characterised by lustrous timber tops set on
polished wire bases. Lucia seating is offered in a wide selection of waterproof fabrics, vinyls and faux hide. Showwood is available in complementary Cherry, Natural Beech, Bleached Beech, Wenge, Walnut or Oak. Customer-specific requirements can also be accommodated. Enquiries: Visit www.knightsbridge-furniture.co.uk
One unique cloth. Twice the performance VILEDA Professional has unveiled the latest addition to its microfibre cloth range – PVAmicro. This innovative new product is unique to Vileda Professional and includes patented technology that allows for streak free, scratch free cleaning. Due to the PVA coating, the knitted microfibre cloth is proven to exhibit excellent rinsability, holding 60 times less dirt particles after rinsing compared to a conventional knitted microfibre cloth. This dramatically reduces the risk of damage to sensitive surfaces and the surface also dries faster. As well as exhibiting excellent microfibre cleaning performance, PVAmicro also provides cost savings due to its ability to be washed up to 400 times without losing its effectiveness. It’s clear to see why PVAmicro is fast becoming a favourite amongst cleaning professionals when it provides ecological cleaning, improved satisfaction due to the superior cleaning capabilities, and the added benefits of cost savings and reduced wastage. Enquiries: For more information on the new product launch, or the complete range of cleaning solutions, visit www.vileda-professional.com/en-GB
manually, Easydor will store enough kinetic energy to operate the door for one wheelchair user. Enquiries: Installed with no fuss, Easydor is available by visiting www.firecoltd.com or calling 0845 241 7474.
Risedale Care Homes install new Girbau laundries ESTABLISHED in 1987, Risedale Estates operates seven high quality care homes with a total 285 bed capacity from its four sites in Cumbria. The company had always owned and maintained its laundry facilities, but it recently decided to renew the ageing laundry equipment across the group. It chose to lease the new equipment and wanted to outsource laundry maintenance to a reliable provider. Girbau UK took time to understand Risedale’s needs, designing and planning the installation of equipment with precise detail. It also re-designed the laundry of the Abbey Road home in Barrow-in-Furness to give an improved divide between the areas for clean and dirty linen to prevent the risk of crosscontamination. Each of Risedale’s four sites has a dedicated laundry. In total Girbau UK supplied 11 of its HS-6017 high speed energy efficient washers; three for three
A NEW web-based ‘Understanding MRSA’ tutorial has been introduced by schülke for healthcare professionals. It has been designed for schülke customers and is split into six modules which include: Healthcare associated infections (HCAIs). What is MRSA? Infections caused by MRSA. Screening and decolonisation. MRSA transmission and prevention. Practical demonstration about using octenisan antimicrobial wash. At the end of each module there is a selfassessment questionnaire which is completed before moving onto the next module. After completing the tutorial, a certificate is awarded. Trusts wishing to use the training tool will be given a unique log in code for the hospital. Staff undertaking the training will be able to use the code and complete the modules.
sites and two for the newest site. For dryers it installed eight of its 55lb capacity Pro Series II tumble dryers and two of its latest 75lb capacity ED energy efficient dryers. Enquiries: Call 01462 427780 or visit www.completelaundrycare.co.uk
A record is kept of the completed modules and time spent undertaking the training. This will provide valuable feedback to those responsible for ongoing education programmes. Enquiries: Call 0114 254 3500, email mail.uk@schuelke.com or visit www.schulke.co.uk
New medicines management guide from Rosemont A NEW guide to medicines management and older people is now available from Rosemont Pharmaceuticals. Called ‘Medicines management and older people – a guide for healthcare professionals’, the new booklet aims to help healthcare professionals learn more about how medication works, how the ageing process affects medicines, common adverse drug reactions, the definitions of compliance and concordance as well as to give an overview of some of the legal aspects of medicines management. The content of the guide is based on current best practice
Easydor the ideal solution for care homes SAFETY and convenience often don’t sit well together. We all know we need to keep fire doors closed to hinder the spread of fire, yet often particularly in nursing and residential care buildings ease and convenience mean doors are propped open. Leading fire safety provider, Fireco provides residential and care homes with the ideal solution, Easydor. An eco-friendly wire free door operator, it brings accessibility and convenience to visitors while allowing companies to adhere to disability discrimination legislation. A heavy duty, low energy opener, it also acts as a door closer, making your establishment safer and helping you conform to fire safety legislation. Designed for places where there is a high level of traffic, Easydor uses a regenerative drive system that charges its internal battery pack, eliminating the need for an electrical power supply. For every four users who open the door
Online MRSA tutorial launched by Schulke
and the most up to date evidence about medication management. The focus is on the care of older people, who have a higher prevalence of illness and take around 50 per cent of all prescribed medicines (Kelly 2011). Four in five people over 75 take at least one prescribed medicine, with 36 per cent taking four or more medicines (NSF 2001). Enquiries: To receive a free copy of the guide email marketing@rosemont pharma.com call 0113 244 1999 or visit www.rosemontpharma.com
Simple solutions SINCE 1982, Colne (Lancs) based, Richards Residential Supplies have concentrated upon supplying simple solutions to common nursing home problems. The new WACMAT® adheres strongly to this tradition. With its ultra absorbent cotton pile and 100 per cent waterproof backing, the remarkable WACMAT® is an ideal accessory where spills may occur. Used as a commode mat, in bedrooms or bathrooms, the WACMAT® ensures full carpet protection. Then, after use, simply machine wash and tumble dry! It’s that simple... The WACMAT® will then be clean and odour-free, ready to perform time and time again. Alternatively the flat-laying WACMAT® can be used as an entrance mat, saving you hundreds of pounds in rental costs alone. Enquiries: Telephone 0800 074 3749.
Claim VAT back on your home even if you are not VAT registered IT is true, care providers can reclaim VAT worth about £3,000 per bed for any residents who stayed in your home between 1993 and 2002 paid for by the local authority. You don’t have to be VAT registered to make a claim. We can usually find the information required with minimal disruption to your business. How is this possible? Well in 2002 a care provider called Kingscrest challenged the view held by HMRC and won. There is no cost to you unless we are successful. Typical claims: 50 beds – £240,000; 40 beds – £170,000; 287 beds – £1.25m. And the best part is that you get the money in your bank account before you pay us. Don’t forget the tax repayment is free of tax – it is extra profit.
Enquiries: Call 01233 640985 and ask for Howard to find out more.
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Anthony entertains guests ANTHONY Bygraves, the son of legendary comedian, singer, actor and variety performer Max, entertained the residents, families and guests at Sunrise Senior Living of Westbourne. Anthony wowed the crowd with a selection of wartime favourites that saw the audience singing along as they were swept away on a wave of nostalgia. He returned a few days later with TV personality and Ground Force favourite, Charlie Dimmock to pay further tribute to his late father. The pair planted ‘Tulips from Amsterdam’ – a special package of bulbs touchingly named after Max’s 1958 hit. One bulb will be known as ‘Max's
Blossom’, to pay tribute to both Max, and Blossom, Antony’s late mother. Next Spring Sunrise of Westbourne will host a ‘Spring a long a Max’ event where they will celebrate Max’s memory in front of the newly blossomed flowers. This will then become an annual event. Wendy Blow, senior director of community relations at Sunrise of Westbourne, said: “Anthony is a good friend to our residents at Sunrise and we always enjoy his company. “We love to involve the wider community in all the events we have going on and would encourage everyone to come over and have tea and cake with us in memory of Max, who himself suffered from Alzheimer's.”
Is it time to switch lenders? A Lancashire care home has been recognised for its outstanding food hygiene standards. Canterbury Care owned Riverside Care Centre in Sawley was awarded a fivestar rating by Environmental Health after a rigorous inspection of food hygiene standards. Manager Gail Ainsworth said: “We are delighted to have been awarded five stars for our food hygiene. It is incredibly important that we achieve the highest possible standards of food hygiene and all the members of staff at Riverside Care Centre work incredibly hard and are dedicated to maintaining our excellent standards.” Susan Jones and Lyn Spencer, the cooks at Riverside Care Centre, are pictured.
Safer Bathing
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