July 2017
no.249 • £4.75 incorporating
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Scheme helps residents gain confidence By Dominic Musgrave
RESIDENTS at a Rhyl care home have new found confidence and improved health thanks to a scheme giving carers skills in oral hygiene. The Gwên am Byth programme has seen carers at Bron Haul receive training in oral health, helping residents at the home to stay on top of their dental hygiene. Members of staff have received training from the Health Board’s Community Dental Service team. One of the carers, Kim Owen, has also been appointed as the home’s dental champion, to oversee the mouth care provided for residents. The training helps staff to pass on good oral health practices to residents at the home, and also helps them to spot signs of potential oral health issues such as dental decay, gum problems, or even mouth cancer. Improved oral health has been found to have a positive effect on other aspect of residents’ health – with improved confidence helping prevent social isolation. Research also shows that improved oral health has a positive effect on a number of other conditions, including heart disease, endocarditis, stroke prevention, rheumatoid arthritis and lung condition The scheme has seen staff in 16
residential homes in Denbighshire receive training, as well as in a number of other locations in Gwynedd and Flintshire. The Gwên am Byth programme is now being rolled out across elsewhere in north Wales as part of a national drive to improve the oral health of older care home residents Debbie Williams, manager of Bron Haul, said: “The change we’ve seen in some of our residents has been incredible. We’ve seen people who were quite reserved and quiet really come out of their shells thanks to the confidence having better teeth has given them. “The work Kim and the rest of our staff have put in has been brilliant, and the support from Angela Walmsley, dental health educator for the Denbighshire area, and the rest of the community dental team has been invaluable. Knowing there’s a friendly voice at the end of the phone to offer further support is really reassuring for our staff.” Sian Chelton, dental health promotion manager, added: “Evidence shows that poor oral hygiene is linked to heart disease, stroke, endocarditis and poor lung condition. We’ve also heard from residents here about how having better oral hygiene has given them a boost in confidence, which in turn helps improve their mental and social wellbeing.”
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and award-winning singer Craig David attended Jewish Care’s annual fundraising dinner, which raised more than £5m. Before delivering his speech to an audience over 1,000, the Mayor spent time talking to clients including David, Sid and Hyman whose stories appeared in a powerful film shown during the event. Craig visited a Jewish Care home the week before the dinner to see firsthand the impact the organisation has on the lives of individuals.
TIME is running out for you to book your place for the next of our must-attend regional conferences. The fourth of our ‘Leaders in Care: Raising the Standards’ events takes place at York Racecourse on Wednesday, July 5. Speakers confirmed for the event sponsored by Cura Systems and Well Careplus, include National Care Association chairman Nadra Ahmed OBE, Skills for Care’s Angela Thompson and independent social care consultant John Kennedy. Tanya Stokes and Sheila Grant from the CQC will also give an update from the inspectorate. Completing the line-up will be representatives from apetito, Zenith Lawyers, Cura Systems and Well Careplus. Alongside the conference there will also be an extensive exhibition, which will showcase all the latest products, advice and technology for a care home. Caring UK editor, Dominic Musgrave, said: “We’re delighted to have put together such a stellar line-up of speakers for the latest in our conferences that are a mustattend for anyone working in the care sector.” Further events are scheduled at the Riviera International Centre, Torquay and Bristol Zoo on October 4 and 5 respectively. n For full booking details turn to pages 33 and 34.