Older people feel cancelled, research finds
A NEW survey from Home Instead has been carried out to better understand the hopes, fears and aspirations of the UK’s population towards retirement and later life.
The findings of this latest piece of consumer research from the homecare provider are captured in a report, ‘The New Ageing Index’.
The results show that many older people feel excluded and marginalised, leading to an increased sense of isolation and loneliness.
The survey of 1,000 adults also found that traditional stereotypes about retirement and old age have become outdated with older people embracing sport and dating in later life as well as espousing an active, healthy and dynamic lifestyle.
It also showed this group’s eagerness to learn about, and use, technology in their daily lives.
Home Instead CEO UK and International Martin Jones MBE said: “We urgently need to challenge how older people are both perceived and treated in this country.
“Traditional stereotypes have become completely outdated. Older people can make a huge contribution and it’s clear from our research that they want to embrace life and be catered for at every level.
“This research shows that we need to bin the stereotype and rethink what it means to old in Britain today.
“Today’s older generation want to be active, to have fun – and to
be involved. The image we may have of retirees whose horizons have shrunk to just a bit of daytime TV and a cup of tea simply doesn’t stand up to scrutiny.”
Some of the key findings from the survey included:
n More than a third of respondents believe being old is like being cancelled and this rises for women aged over 75.
n Older generation’s dynamic lifestyles start with fitness – with 89 per cent of the UK’s oldest people now espousing an active lifestyle.
n Rather than fearing tech, people increasingly embrace it and want more products aimed at them including AI to combat loneliness.
n Independence is a priority –people are more concerned about the prospect of ending up in a care home (44 per cent) than they would be about the death of a partner (36 per cent).
The research will be repeated quarterly across a full calendar year looking into new aspects of age and ageing each time.
Time is running out for entries
OPERATORS wanting to put themselves forward for recognition have been urged to enter the Caring UK Awards in partnership with Virgin Money.
Nominations for this year’s event are now open at www.caringukawards. co.uk
The awards, organised by Script Events in partnership with Caring UK, recognise excellence and achievement in all corners of the care industry.
And with more than 20 categories up for grabs, there’s something to suit every type of care business.
These include everything from Quality in Housekeeping and Catering Team of the Year to Best Outdoor Environment and End of Life Team of the Year.
Event director Dominic Musgrave said: “We are really excited to be introducing the seventh Caring UK
Awards – nominations are coming in and our events team is already busy ensuring that this year’s event is bigger and better than ever.
“Obviously, our main aim is to recognise and honour the best in our wonderful care sector and showcase the innovation and dedication that goes on every day so please share your successes and tell us about your hard work and initiatives by sending in your nominations … it’s a real privilege to read them.”
A shortlist in each category will then be drawn up, with winners chosen by an expert industry panel.
Trophies will be handed out at a glittering ceremony at the Athena in Leicester on Thursday, December 5 presented by television personality Emma Jesson. Closing date for nominations is September 2nd.
Residents of a dementia care home in Plymouth were charmed to receive a visit from two Macaws, brought in to visit them by Adrian Lowther of Plymouth Parrots. The visit by Toni, a 17-year-old blue and gold macaw, and five-year-old Zazu, a green winged macaw, to Butterfly Lodge in St Budeaux was arranged by Tania Dorey whose father, Davis Harris, lives at the home. Tania liaised with Plymouth Parrots and organised the visit as a treat for her dad and the other residents, and a ‘thank you’ to staff for the care they provide. Resident Ivy Christopher-Walsh is pictured with Toni and Zazu.
Martin Jones MBE
Housebound client thanks operator for lovely trip out
A HOUSEBOUND client has paid tribute to a homecare assistant who gave up a day off to take her out on a ‘lovely’ trip – the first time she had left her home in months.
Theresa Miller, who works for Westmorland Homecare’s Poulton, Fylde and Wyre branch, took 78-yearold Chris to Barton Grange Garden Centre, near Preston.
The duo had lunch, Chris looked around the shop and then enjoyed driving around the car park on her powered wheelchair.
“It was great to go out and I felt really free,” said Chris, who lives at Garstang. “It was so lovely to be out and with Theresa because I enjoy her company.”
Chris has multiple sclerosis and broke her hip about five years ago, which made her immobile, and she has had care from Westmorland Homecare since then. She uses a powered wheelchair permanently.
Her husband, Steve, used to take her out on trips but had to surrender his driving licence due to failing eyesight and other family members have not been able to help for the past year or so because of their own health problems.
Theresa, who until recently was one of Chris’ main carers, said she had been given a voucher to visit Barton Grange by Westmorland Homecare for being a loyal customer.
“Chris offered to give it to me because she could not use it because of the difficulties in travelling there,” said Theresa, who is now a training and recruitment coordinator for Westmorland Homecare. “I said the voucher was for her to enjoy and I offered to take her there.
“We agreed a date, which had to be on my day off. She put me on the insurance for their mobility car and Steve gave me some verbal instructions on how to use it.
“Chris was very excited on the day I picked her up to take her to Barton Grange. She really enjoyed
the atmosphere there and was a little overwhelmed, but in a nice way.
“At the end I suggested she drive around the car park and she put her wheelchair on full power – she is a fast driver.
“I took her on the trip because I want her to be happy and to have the same freedom as everyone else. Chris has asked me if we can go out again and I have promised to take her to Starbucks.”
Chis added: “It was so lovely of Theresa to offer to take me to Barton Grange on her day off but it is typical of her. She has always gone the extra mile to help and the trip was a good example of that.
“Westmorland Homecare is a wonderful company. They take good care of their staff and clients and employ wonderful staff who care about you.”
Everything going swimmingly for care home’s residents
RESIDENTS of Peregrine House in Whitby are enjoying one of the new initiatives introduced by home manager Joe Bowman.
The Monday swimming club is an opportunity for residents to enjoy a trip to the pool at Whitby Leisure Centre for a quiet swim along with carers from the home.
The 25m pool and adjoining learner pool are ideal facilities for the therapeutic sessions.
Joe said: “Being in the water is really refreshing for everyone and a relaxing swim is an excellent gentle form of exercise without impact as the water supports up to 90 per cent of your body weight.
“It’s perfect for not only our more active residents but also those whose mobility is generally not great. Everyone feels safe because they get to enjoy the activity with their regular
Army Staff Sergeant and friend run for charity
A SOLDIER is putting his body on the line again to raise money for a care charity.
Staff Sergeant Greg Smith will take on three 100km ultra marathons in three months with long-time pal Pete Seabrook.
It is the second time the pair, who are from High Wycombe and are known as The Charity Adventurers, have chosen to support Royal Star & Garter.
In 2020 they raised £1,500 for Royal Star & Garter by taking part in a 190mile hike, which stopped off at each of the charity’s three Homes.
The pair had heard about Royal Star & Garter through Greg’s mother, who is a nurse at the High Wycombe Home.
Their latest challenge began with the Stour Valley Path 100km Ultra Run. Greg and Pete aim to complete the course in just 15 hours.
They will then take on their second ultra marathon in September, and complete the challenge in October, with the aim of raising £1,000.
The Charity Adventurers is the brainchild of Pete. It raises money for military and civilian charities, and
carers alongside them.”
Alongside introducing new activities at Peregrine House, the management team have been overseeing improvement work on the building with five new bedrooms scheduled to be completed next month.
reflects the friends’ backgrounds. Greg, 41, joined the Army 17 years ago and works with Apache helicopters in the Army Air Corps.
He is currently based at Army Aviation Centre Middle Wallop, and said: “We think Royal Star & Garter is an amazing charity which does great work for veterans, which obviously resonates strongly with me.”
He said the pair toyed with the idea of running three 50km ultra marathons, but decided to push themselves further.
“Until training for this challenge, the furthest I have ever run before is a half-marathon in 2013, and I’ve hiked 50 miles over two days with the Army,” Greg added.
“We considered running 50km but Pete and I both thought we could go further. We’re not marathon or ultra-marathon runners, but we really wanted to test ourselves.”
The pair recently took part in a 50km training run, and Greg added: “There’s a lot of unknowns for us. I’m feeling nervous. We don’t have any experience in this so we’re going in blind. But we’re looking forward to the challenge.”
Pete Seabrook and Staff Sgt Greg Smith will run three 100km ultra marathons for Royal Star & Garter.
Residents at RMBI Care Co. Home Queen Elizabeth Court, in Llandudno, enjoyed a day trip to a local distillery. Accompanied by the activities coordinator, the residents went on a tour around Penderyn Distillery, which has been around for more than 100 years. They learned about the unique heritage and craftsmanship of Welsh whisky and how the village of Penderyn was chosen because of the site’s own supply of fresh natural spring water. The residents were treated to few whiskey samples, much to their delight.
Home is inaugural winner of group’s garden competition
BRACKLEY Care Home in Northamptonshire has won the inaugural Kingsley Healthcare Green Garden Competition with an impressive range of projects involving residents, staff and the wider community.
The operator challenged staff at its homes around the country to show their green credentials by devising schemes to improve the environment.
Projects included sensory gardens to enhance resident wellbeing, vegetable and herb gardens to supply the kitchen and a variety of schemes to attract wildlife – even one including a creative squirrel obstacle course at Gower Gardens, in the West Midlands.
Kingsley co-founder Sumi Thayan, one of the judges from the company’s operations team, said: “We had a fantastic response.
“Enhancing the beautiful gardens of our care homes is the perfect way to demonstrate our commitment to green values as well as improving amenities for our residents.”
What impressed judges so much about Brackley Care Home was the way the whole community had become involved in transforming the garden into a green oasis since its opening at the end of 2020.
Customer relations manager Julie
Wilson added: “Starting from scratch, we are delighted with what we have achieved.
“So many people have played their part, including the children from local schools who entered our competition to design an area of the garden for visiting families.”
Raised beds were an impressive
Home opens its doors to local community
A STUDLEY care home made the most of the gaps in the summer showers to host an open week for the local community.
Studley Rose has been providing care for the community since 2012, regularly hosting lively events for residents, relatives and locals to enjoy together. Its latest open week culminated in a celebratory garden fayre, which was graced by some rare summer sunshine and four furry guests of honour.
Bringing smiles and creating memorable moments for many were a group of alpacas and llamas named Honey, Hannah, Bonnie and Geraldine, who toured the fayre to greet guests.
Home manager Faye Maycroft
said: “We were overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity in support of our wonderful home at our summer garden party.
“We’d like to say a huge thank you to everybody who came to visit us. Given the summer has been off to a damp start, we’re so glad there was a break in the clouds to enable everyone to come together in the gardens and enjoy the music and ice cream.”
The day was kicked off by town crier Adrian Smith, before visitors were able to enjoy a range of refreshments including iced coffees and an ice cream van. Children enjoyed the bouncy castle and were spellbound by a local circus performer and singers. Meanwhile, a range of stalls offered gifts to remember the day by.
feature of the garden, allowing residents and staff to grow vegetables, herbs and fruit for use in the kitchen.
Activities lead Barbara Foley said the absolute foundation of a successful garden was really good soil which resulted from really good compost.
“We have a double compost heap which we started about 18 months
ago and our wonderful kitchen staff place all vegetable peelings there, which we then turn into compost,” she added.
The Brackley team has also focused on encouraging local wildlife, including birds, bees, hedgehogs, foxes, and on one occasion a weasel.
Barbara said: “We have linked up with Brackley Hogwatch which is an amazing charity that monitors, protects and rehabilitates hedgehogs. We were lucky enough to have a hedgehog house donated to us and we have placed that in a quiet sheltered spot in our garden.”
Over the past couple of years they had been encouraging birds to visit the garden and take up residence in nesting boxes which were decorated by residents and placed in sheltered places.
“Our residents also decorated bug boxes which have been placed along our fence and these will encourage ladybirds, solitary bees, solitary wasps, spiders and wood lice which perform the necessary task of breaking down leaf matter,” she added.
The two runners up in the competition were Branksome Heights in Bournemouth and Allonsfield House in Campsea Ashe, Suffolk.
RAF pilot recalls island’s evacuation 50 years on
AN RAF pilot who was serving in Cyprus when it was rocked by fighting has remembered the conflict, 50 years after it broke out.
Richard Haven had been based on the Mediterranean island for four years before fighting broke out between Greek and Turkish communities.
The 92-year-old was speaking on the 50th anniversary of Turkey’s intervention in Cyprus in 1974.
Richard has lived at Royal Star & Garter in High Wycombe since 2021. He joined the RAF in 1950, and served for 27 years, rising to the rank of Squadron Leader.
Richard was based at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, with his family, when conflict broke out on the island. His tour had officially ended, and he was due to leave the island.
Richard had spent months organising a road trip with his family through Europe to return home, but instead plans were cancelled at the last minute and he worked at the evacuation centre, carrying out administrative work to help repatriate British citizens.
He said: “People on Cyprus were worried and concerned about what was happening on the island. The British community were happy to be sent back home, given the circumstances. It was quite a violent time.
“It was a time of great uncertainty for people living on Cyprus. I imagine the British community felt a great relief to escape the island and
return home to Britain.
“People were very grateful to us for helping them escape what was essentially a war zone. I think the majority of them flew home in RAF aircraft.”
Among those that left the island was Richard’s wife Emma and their four children.
He added: “It must have been a very difficult time for them as well, but it was a great relief for me when they returned home from Cyprus. My wife always supported me, and she was a very special and important person in our family.”
Richard himself stayed on in Cyprus a little longer, before being stationed at RAF Strike Command in High Wycombe.
Richard Haven
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Operator donates 65 backpacks to schools
ALCEDO Care Group has donated 65 backpacks to primary schools in Huyton, Merseyside.
Responding to a request from Merseyside Children’s Holiday Fund, the homecare provider was pleased to donate the bright blue backpacks for use by pupils and staff at Park View Academy and Blacklow Brow for residentials, sports events and school trips.
Established more than 50 years ago, Merseyside Children’s Holiday Fund provides disadvantaged children from across Liverpool with an annual holiday to Colomendy Camp in North Wales. Supporting children across the region, the charity provides a bridge between schools, families and local organisations to deliver an excellent short holiday for those children most in need.
Park View Academy and Blacklow Brow were chosen through Merseyside Children’s Holiday Fund to receive the backpacks which will be used, among other things, by the schoolchildren taking part in the Colomendy Camp trip.
Sturdy and robust, the backpacks
were originally purchased by Alcedo Care for use by its busy regional team of carers to carry PPE, medical supplies and paperwork to their home visits across Merseyside.
When the family-run business was approached with the request, it was only too happy to help with managing director Andy Boardman personally signing off on the donation.
He said: “We are only too happy to provide the backpacks and are grateful to Merseyside Children’s Holiday Fund for bringing the requirement to our attention.
“Supporting the communities in the areas in which we operate is incredibly important to us and we are delighted to be able to use our resources to help make a difference.”
Alcedo Care’s mascot Al accompanied the team that dropped the backpacks off with Damien Kenny, executive headteacher across both schools.
Merseyside Children’s Holiday Fund has been nominated for the King’s Award for Voluntary Service and will find out if it has been successful later this year.
Home celebrates resident’s
72nd wedding anniversary
BEAUMONT Park in Biggleswade celebrated a remarkable milestone as resident Gwyneth Jones marked her 72nd wedding anniversary with her husband, Gordon.
To honour the special occasion the Healthcare Homes Group operated care home organised a celebratory lunch for the couple.
The pair enjoyed a meal of fish and chips prepared by the kitchen team.
The intimate setting featured rose petals and candles on the table, with a collection of Frank Sinatra’s music
Weather doesn’t dampen spirits for celebrations
ST OLAF care home in Nairn, run by Meallmore Ltd, was celebrating the season despite the weather at their summer fundraiser.
The annual event, which invites residents, their families and the local community to join together for a day of fun and frivolity, was made extra special by performances from the Nairn Little Theatre and a surprise visit from Bubbles the Clown and Mrs Clown.
Music was provided by John Matherson MBE on the fiddle, Peem Stevenson on accordion and George Hutchison on drums, with songs by Howlin Gaels and Sandra Mills.
Residents were joined by children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren, with all generations entertained by a ceilidh band, face-painting and magic tricks, while enjoying an impressive selection of freshly baked cakes, courtesy of the home’s chefs Noel Perez and Damian Kelly.
The gardens at St Olaf were transformed into an outdoor gallery, with displays of art and colour provided by local businesses. These included ‘silk story flags’ loaned from the Nairn Book and Arts Festival; bunting made by the local Green Hive charity and scrap metal sculptures by Eve Graham of Eve’s Scrap Art.
General manager Kath Allan said: “It was fantastic to see St Olaf looking so magical, filled with colour and happy painted faces.
“There were smiles all round, with everyone commenting on what a wonderful time they were having. Our brilliant entertainers did such a great job, lifting spirits outside – despite the weather – and also spending time inside with residents who couldn’t come outside.”
To top off the event, birthday girl Marion Martin, who turned 88 on the day, had a special visit from Miss Cherry and Miss Florrie, the florist from the Nairn Little Theatre.
The event raised £510 for the home and local charities. The £400 raised from the raffle and lucky squares game is being split between Alzheimer Scotland, Nairn beach wheelchairs, Trike Nairn, Therapets and The Little Theatre, while the remaining £110 will go to the home’s residents’ fund.
1950s themed party for home’s birthday
THE theme for Formby Manor fifth birthday was the 1950s as voted for by the residents.
playing softly in the background.
Attentive waiter service from the team added to the atmosphere, making the occasion an unforgettable one.
After their meal the couple were presented with cards and flowers from the team, including home manager
Tryness Tshuma.
“We are over the moon to celebrate this significant milestone with Gwyneth and Gordon,” she said. “It was an honour to create this special moment for them and see their happiness.”
The £15m care home officially opened in November 2019, with the first residents and the then worshipful mayor of Sefton, Councillor June Burns, cutting the red ribbon. Over the course of the last five years Formby Manor has gone from strength to strength, and is now very much an integral part of the local community. To mark the milestone residents and staff dressed up in 1950s outfits, including swing dresses, pencil skirts and pink lady jackets, with an array of props scattered
around the lounge and dining room for residents to wear and enjoy.
Home manager Nikki Foster said:
“Being able to celebrate our fifth birthday with the residents and their loved ones has been such a great day for all staff at Formby Manor.
“It’s lovely to mark the milestone and the 1950s theme was a huge hit, especially with the residents, many of whom loved dressing up for the day.”
A best dressed competition also took place, with Formby Manor team leader Debbie Casey selected for her impressive choice of accessories, including glasses, rollers in her hair and neck scarf.
Birthday girl Marion Martin, who turned 88 on the day, gets a special visit.
More than a millennium as centenarians celebrate at Hampshire care home
TEN people aged 100 or more met for a centenarian celebration over afternoon tea.
The seven women and three men all live at Colten Care homes in the south and gathered for the get-together in a lounge at the provider’s Court Lodge home in Lymington, Hampshire.
Joining six Court Lodge centenarian hosts were fellow Colten residents born in 1924 or before and now living at care homes in Salisbury, Bournemouth, Lymington and Brockenhurst.
After introducing themselves, the attendees shared stories from their long lives and spoke about their families, careers, interests, the care they receive today and how they feel about being centenarians.
Among those sharing early memories was 101-year-old Ula Rigg, who travelled to Lymington from Braemar Lodge in Salisbury where she has lived for the past two years.
Ula recounted how, as a five-yearold, she was chosen by her school to present a purse of money to the then Duchess of York, later the Queen Mother, who was making an official visit.
Ula, who was born in the Midlands and brought up in Bristol, passed round a photo of herself learning to curtsy before she met the famous royal and said: “As well as the curtsy I had to walk up four steps to the little platform where the Duchess was
Developer Charterpoint has strengthened its team with the appointment of Miles Howard as director of acquisitions. The new position has been created as part of the continued expansion of the Charterpoint Group. Miles brings with him 30 years of experience in the land market, having worked within the residential sector and the senior living sector. His new role at Nottingham-based Charterpoint is a nationwide one which will support the developer as it continues to identify and acquire sites for development across the country. Miles has previously held positions as land director at a number of well-known companies within the senior living and residential development sectors. Charterpoint is currently working on a number of developments across the country including local neighbourhood centres and care homes.
standing.
“I presented the purse and then to my utmost horror I nearly fell down the steps because I was so excited. I wanted to get back to my mum.”
With most of the group being great grandparents, there was considerable discussion of family life.
Ula was one of those who highlighted Skype and Facetime as means of staying in touch with children, grandchildren and great grandchildren here and across the world. All of the group had their younger years impacted in one way or other by the Second World War.
Among her duties in a job at the Foreign Office in London, Court Lodge resident Iris ‘Margaret’ Honeyman worked on activities in
Midlands-based New Age Care has announced the appointment of Nav Singh as its new head of governance and quality assurance. With a career spanning more than 15 years in regulatory, inspection, and governance roles within the healthcare sector, Nav brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record in driving quality improvements. Over the past seven year he has continued to build on his expertise in governance and quality assurance, supporting a range of healthcare organisations from mental health services to residential and community care. His efforts have consistently led to improved outcomes for service users and enhanced CQC ratings for the organisations he has worked with. Nav joined New Age Care in April, and has recently transitioned into his new role.
support of the French Resistance.
Former Royal Navy officer Boyd Salmon was just 18 when he was badly injured clearing enemy mines from a beach in The Netherlands in 1945.
After the war, Lymington-born Boyd, who now lives at Court Lodge, became a chartered engineer, his profession until retirement.
Some of the group shared their ‘secrets of longevity’.
Ethel Wise, a former cook from Kent who lives at Avon Cliff in Bournemouth, said: “Hard work and a sense of humour.”
The advice from ex-nurse Diana Creasey, who lives at Woodpeckers in Brockenhurst and was a volunteer at Oakhaven Hospice for several years,
is: “Keep active, follow a good diet and make sure to have lots and lots of fresh air.”
Court Lodge resident Eric ‘Richard’ Robinson, 100, said his secret was “never having smoked much and drinking very little alcohol”, adding: “When I was in the army, I gave my cigarettes and whisky away.”
Suggestions from others for a long life included chocolate, red wine, bananas, ‘staying calm and not getting heated about things’ and ‘staying away from men’, but the importance of family love and support was cherished most.
Asked how it feels to be a centenarian, Iris summed up the thoughts of several party guests, saying: “It feels no different but I do feel very proud to have made it to this age.”
Yorkshire-born Enid Docker, another Court Lodge resident, used to be a ballerina and ran her own ballet school for young children.
And on her life at Court Lodge now, Enid said: “I feel safe here, being 100 and still being alive feels nice.”
A specially made banner was displayed at the party highlighting that 100 years is the equivalent of: 1,200 months; 5,200 weeks; 36,500 days; 876,000 hours; 52,560,000 minutes; 3,153,600,000 seconds; 3,784,320,000 heartbeats; 894,000,000 blinks of the eyes; and 736,000,000 breaths.
Beverley Tarka, the former president of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, will join the Skills for Care board in September. Having concluded her highly successful ADASS presidency in April, Beverley continues to serve as the director of adults, health, and communities at Haringey Council where she began her career as a residential social worker. Beverley’s extensive experience within the borough, coupled with her various roles in the local authority, has uniquely equipped her to influence and shape social care policies and practices. Skills for Care chair John Coughlan said: “Beverley has long been a strong voice for our diverse social care workforce, and her experiences will be invaluable in helping us embed the recently launched Workforce Strategy across the sector. We are thrilled to welcome her as a trustee of Skills for Care.”
Westgate Healthcare has announced the appointment of Allan Foad to the newly created role of head of IT and digital transformation. With more than 20 years of experience in the IT industry, Allan has a proven track record of delivering advanced solutions across various sectors, including healthcare. His expertise includes infrastructure development, technology integration, and strategic leadership. Allan is also accredited in Leadership and Management by ILM, highlighting his proficiency in guiding teams towards innovative outcomes. In his new role he will play a pivotal part in enhancing Westgate Healthcare’s IT infrastructure to support its continued growth. This involves optimising existing software and introducing new technologies across all care homes in line with strategic objectives.
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