Each year Home Instead employees are invited to take part in an anonymous survey which is run by Workbuzz.
“But we will need to get back on with tackling the domestic issues that haven’t gone away and are still putting people’s care and people’s livelihoods at risk.
conferencescallCampaignerstoscrap
Whilst the ICG welcomed the six-month cap on energy prices for businesses announced by the Prime Minister, it has warned more needs to be done.
their teams feel involved and valued in the“Beingbusiness.recognised as a forward-facing company that people aspire to work for is really important to us. This is our network’s best result yet and I send my congratulations to the offices who achieved five-star status.”
Book a demonstration today by calling 01925 386800 or visit www.carebeans.co.uk
A Christchurch care home resident was one of the last people in the UK to receive a 100th birthday card from the Queen. Mercia Crighton recently celebrated her landmark birthday at Fairmile Grange, based on the aptly-named Royal Close. She was thrilled to open her card from the Queen, which had been delivered to the care home just days before Queen Elizabeth II died. Mercia was treated like Fairmile Grange’s own queen for the day, complete with a tiara, and was joined by a host of special guests for her birthday party. The guestlist included her son Neil and his wife Julia, who had travelled from Sweden to be there, and took Mercia out for lunch before they returned for more celebrations. Two Dorset Police officers fulfilled her birthday wish by presenting her with her card from the Queen in honour of her late husband, who was a police officer.
The survey explores areas such as the training and development on offer, relationships with managers and day-todayTheresponsibilities.resultingscores paint a picture of employee engagement which is a measure of the involvement and enthusiasm of employees in their workplace.
“Now isn’t the time for politicians to be going off to Liverpool or Birmingham to hold conferences, it is the time to be in Parliament coming up with solutions to the current crises.”
“At the same time, we need to see urgent measures to help us tackle the dire shortage of care workers, which is severely limiting the care we can provide.
Jones said: “We continue to champion the benefits of working in care and what a rewarding career it is – these engagement scores help our local offices to ensure that they are on track and that
CAMPAIGNERS are calling on politicians to scrap party conferences to concentrate on tackling problems facing the country, including the crisis in the care of older and vulnerable people.TheHouse of Commons is due to rise tomorrow (Thursday) for the party conference season and not return until October 17.
“We need to see more of the Health and Social Care Levy targeted at social care straight away to help providers to recruit.”
Independent Care Group chair Mike Padgham said: “Understandably we have lost an awful lot of parliamentary time over the past couple of months, at a time when the country is in crisis. With households and businesses facing the current devastating cost of living crisis, this isn’t the time for politicians to be spending more time away from the House of Commons.
Mike added: “Rocketing fuel prices for homecare providers and gas and electricity prices for care and nursing homes are plunging many into very real financial difficulty and threatening their existence.
parliamentary business was quite rightly suspended due to the death of the Queen.
“These are extraordinary times and I would say they call for an extraordinary response and if that means cancelling the party conferences so that our elected MPs can concentrate on getting the country out of the current mess then that is what should happen.”Mikesays the Tory Party leadership caused a period of limbo when action was needed over the cost-of-living crisis.
“Then, quite understandably,
“We are urging the Government to make good on its promise to provide more help for vulnerable sectors and to include social care in those sectors.
HOME Instead has announced that 48 of its franchise offices have been recognised as five-star employers by independent employee engagement experts Workbuzz. These offices have been recognised for their supportive leadership, the quality of training and development on offer and workplace culture.
The weekly online newsletter for the care sector Issue21.09.22121
Part of Home Instead’s mission is to be recognised as a forward-facing company that people aspire to work for, work with or recommend, and this recognition bears testament to the initiatives the company has in place for its network and theirCEOteams.Martin
“Prime Minister Liz Truss took office and began announcing measures to try to tackle the crisis,” he added.
Offices are ‘five-star employers’
A Surrey care home resident has celebrated her 109th birthday with friends and family. Kathleen Shaw, the third oldest individual in Surrey (31st oldest in the UK), is a resident at Caring Homes’ Knowle Park Nursing Home in Cranleigh. Originally from Grantham in Lincolnshire, she moved down to Surrey to become a secretary for the board of London Buses and has remained in the county ever since. Kathleen spent her big day with fellow residents and long-distance family and enjoyed some of her favourite foods. Throughout the day she was joined by loved ones including her son and grandchildren from America, as well as local performer Alex Eberhard and a visit from vintage ice cream truck, Moooh!
“Follow your dreams” – the words of advice from a Wren House resident who recently celebrated her 104th birthday alongside friends and members of the Wren House community. Presents and decorations were in abundance at the Warminster care home as residents tucked into birthday cake all afternoon. Muriel, a lifelong Manchester City fan, is an experienced traveller and has been fortunate enough to follow her dreams by travelling around the world alongside her husband Eric. After the struggles of the Second World War the couple moved to Scotland, where he worked for Scottish Airlines. Eric’s job allowed Muriel to travel to some amazing places, with the Seychelles being her favourite place to visit. One memory that sticks with Muriel was during her honeymoon when Clark Gable sat himself next to the couple.
Gwynneth Davies, a resident at RMBI Care Co. home Albert Edward Prince of Wales Court, in Porthcawl, has celebrated her 100th birthday. She enjoyed a celebration with her sister, resident Roma Davies, who turned 101 in June, as well as with other fellow residents and staff at the home. She also welcomed Porthcawl’s Mayor, Councillor Mark Chegwen, who wanted to congratulate her in person. Gwynneth worked in the post office until she married her husband Jack in 1957. The couple enjoyed many happy holidays in their campervan for more than 60 years. They also enjoyed gardening and made their own jams and chutneys out of their home grown produce. When Jack passed away, Gwynneth decided to move to the care home to stay close to Roma.
A much-loved woman living in Inverness has celebrated her 105th birthday at Meallmore group’s Culduthel Care Home and has shared her secret to a long and happy life. ‘A good wee dram’ was one of the reasons centenarian, Marjorie Stuart attributes to her longevity. Plenty of laughter and keeping active were some other explanations she credits for her 105 years. She is the oldest resident in the care home and celebrated her milestone birthday with friends and family, where four generations were present. Marjorie spent her childhood and adulthood in the small Scottish village of Conon Bridge. She was educated at Conon Bridge School and later Dingwall Academy, before she began a career in the Civil Service as a secretary. Marjorie married local vet James and together they had two children, Hamish and Deidre. She now has many grandchildren and great grandchildren.
CARINGWEEKLY2 THE UKCARING2022AWARDS Thursday 1st December 2022, THELEICESTERATHENA, SPONSORSHIP PACKAGES STILL AVAILABLE NOMINATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED LOOK OUT FOR THE SHORTLIST COMING SOON! SEE YOU IN LEICESTER ON DECEMBER 1 Call 01226 734605 or email tb@scriptmedia.co.uk for details For general enquiries call: 01226 734630 IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SPONSORED BY
The BBQ was organised by the carers at ACI Care, with the home’s chef Stephen Avery showcasing his culinary skills by serving up muchloved favourites such as gourmet burgers and sausages in brioche buns, alongside delicious lamb kebabs skewered with lightly roasted peppers.Toconclude the event, an Elvis tribute act put smiles on everyone’s faces with his nostalgic renditions of ‘Blue Suede Shoes’, ‘Hound Dog’ and ‘Love Me Tender’, which saw residents and guests alike laughing, clapping and singing along.
excitement when it was launched last week. We sold 15 pieces within the first five days, made by a variety of different artists.”
“We plan to put the proceeds towards new activities equipment such as garden games and sensory systems.“Theauction is being held online via Facebook and it created a lot of
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They all agreed that Echo and Perci were their favourites, with one resident calling the barn owl ‘a beautiful creature.’
All the residents put on a protective falconry glove and literally opened their arms to welcome the visiting owl as she landed on them.
Ravi Sodha, director of the ACI Care group, said: “We strive to keep our residents entertained to allow them to lead fulfilling lives, and believe events like these are an excellent way of achieving just that.
“Our residents enjoyed their time meeting different animals from The Creature Teacher’s varied reptilia, warrens, parliaments, lounges and businesses – which I’ve learnt are the collective names.”
Other residents whose works were included in the auction were Shirley Kearle, Keith Moore, Betty Tucker, Bobby Spong, Brenda Winn, Anita Graver, Joan James and Helen Dixon.
Lisa Priddice, who leads the activities team at Avalon Nursing Home, said: “It turns out that we have a lot of very talented people living at Avalon whose dementia has not dimmed their artistic abilities, and they have produced some fantastic work.“Alot of the pieces have been on display at Avalon this year and received so many compliments from visitors that we were inspired – with the artists’ consent – to auction selected pictures and craft items to raise money for residents’ activities.
“We see it as an important part of our jobs to inform ourselves about our residents’ backgrounds and interests because it gives us such a natural way to encourage and maintain their engagement in the world around them, despite the challenges posed by dementia.”
Mountside Care Home, a branch of ACI Care that specialises in residential, respite and dementia care, recently hosted an open BBQ on its premises to integrate residents with the local community.
Alongside residents’ family and friends in attendance, the event also garnered interest from prominent figures within the community, such as the deputy mayor of Hastings and councillor of Braybrooke Ward, Margi O’Callaghan.
events in the near future.”
Family fun BBQ reintegrates residents into community
“Unfortunately, due to the lockdowns this was put on hold, so it was wonderful to finally host another fun, interactive zoological afternoon.
“Overall, the open BBQ was a huge success and we hope to host similar
The artists living at Avalon whose works were auctioned included Tom Rooney, a 94-year-old retired Grenadier Guardsman who is “an incredible artist” according to Lisa, who loves painting nature and people.
Resident Ann Samuels and Perci the giant rabbit.
Ewa Kuwalek, Avalon’s art therapy lead, added: “Tom feels most at ease and happy when he has a paint brush in his hand, and some music on to help him create his masterpiece.
This came about thanks to a visit from The Creature Teachers, an animal encounters and experiences company which brings a variety of exotic and domestic animals into care homes for one-to-one interactions.
When the ‘Dementia Tour Bus’ pulled up at Holbeach Meadows Care Home the team didn’t know what to expect; however, they were all looking forward to the eagerly anticipated training. The virtual dementia tour bus is operated by Training 2 Care and has been medically proven to provide those with a healthy brain some concept of what it may be like to live with dementia. The bus is kitted with a sensory equipment that works alongside the virtual experience. Through the technology the team at Holbeach Meadows were given a unique opportunity to understand some of the everyday struggles faced by people living with the dementia.
Residents get up close and personal with a variety of animals
A HASTINGS care home has thrown a family fun BBQ event in its grounds in a bid to rebuild stronger community links and bolster resident morale following the pandemic.
“Following the unprecedented outbreak of Covid-19 we were keen to start reintegrating our residents with the local community, as we believe this greatly improves resident morale.
RESIDENTS at Friends of the Elderly’s RNNH Care Home in Bournemouth
WORKS of art created by people with dementia living at a Bridgwater care home have been sold in an online auction, boosting the residents’ activities fund by more than £100 and creating great excitement among the artists and their families and friends.
have been having a ‘whale of a time’ talking and engaging with a wide range of unusual animals.
As part of the care home’s varied activity programme, residents spent an afternoon sitting in the shade in the home’s grounds being introduced to and engaging with a barn owl named Echo, two ferrets – Sunshine and Chester, Vincent the tortoise, Perci a giant rabbit and a snake, Jasper; talking to the animals just like ‘DoctorRegisteredDolittle.’manager Alan Johnson said: “Following their previous visit before the Covid pandemic, I’d invited Lisa Kiely and The Creature Teachers team to return for another visit.
Successful online auction of art by people living with dementia
The people living and working at Limetree and Windmill Lodge were so grateful to be included, as the news has profoundly affected everyone, and they wanted to pay their respects in every way Christopherpossible.firstvisited Windmill
Care homes across the group are taking part in a variety of dance-themed activities and will be experiencing a host of different dancing styles at various events.
Residents of Richmond Villages Aston-on-Trent have been knitting, crocheting, and stitching blankets to send to those affected by the conflict in Ukraine. The retirement village has been running weekly knit and natter sessions since September 2021 organised by activities coordinator Sharon Gretton. The residents currently have a goal of 50 blankets to send to those in need. Those who can’t knit or crochet have been lending their support by stitching together the completed squares, while those with conditions such as arthritis have been able to join in thanks to tools such as ‘knitting aid’ that are available in the knitting group.
“It was like going back in time for our residents, seeing famous dances performed by the stars of the films they used to watch.”
“We also had a small afternoon
Homes join Lambeth community in sending condolences to the Queen
physically pay their respects with the rest of the country,” said Marcia.
Kenna. “Everyone enjoyed dancing to the songs of their generation and watching Katie perform. They were amazed by her tap dancing and the speed of her moves.
Home manager Joanne Warren said: “Everyone in the home has been very moved about the passing of The Queen.“Throughout the period of mourning we have spent time following the events on television and paying our respects throughout the Queen’s final journey from Scotland to“WeLondon.have also spent time creating a memorial display, which has included crafts and memory hearts.
shared the picture of him in uniform with everyone. It touched everyone’s hearts, and Marcia talked through the photo with Trevor, prompting him to reminisce on his time.
Activities coordinator Karen Casey said: “We suggested donations and they were very generous. The residents joined us and were very happy to meet the neighbours and wave to people on the open-topped buses passing by.”
As they signed the book they reminisced and shared their stories with Christopher and Marcia.
At Ferrars Hall residents enjoyed a visit from Katie Lewis, who demonstrated her tap-dancing skills to songs from musical legends such as Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.
The staff used pink ornaments to decorate the home, including its extensive gardens, and organised a series of afternoon tea parties. Relatives gave a hand by making cakes for everyone to enjoy.
“The care sector has faced so many challenges over the last few years, but you have banded together and shown compassion and kindness in the toughest of times. On behalf of His Royal Majesty, I thank you all.”
“For the funeral our chefs created a full home-made afternoon tea in honour of Queen Elizabeth and we had some quiet time for everyone to sit, reflect and reminisce on the last 70 years.”
“We have loved listening to the stories of our residents and hearing their special memories of The Queen.
Following the news of Her Majesty’s death, residents have been sharing their stories and memories.
Lodge, where he was joined by Councillor Marcia Cameron, Lambeth’s Cabinet Member for Healthier Communities.
EXCELCARE’S two Lambeth-based care homes, Windmill Lodge and Limetree, received a special visit from Christopher Wellbelove DL, the Representative Deputy Lieutenant of Lambeth.Christopher acts as a county representative for His Royal Majesty and has been visiting care homes in the Lambeth area in light of Her Royal Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s passing, so that the people living in the homes can sign their book of condolences.
Home’s residents share their memories of HM The Queen
CARINGWEEKLY4
The pair were accompanied by members of the team as they toured the home, inviting residents to sign the book of condolences.
tea during the Queen’s procession through London.
Many of the people living at both Windmill Lodge and Limetree
Dancer gets toes tapping
RESIDENTS and staff at RMBI Care Co. Home Zetland Court in Bournemouth joined forces to raise money for Breast Cancer Now, a charity that provides research and life-changing care for people affected by the disease.
Home goes pink for charity
have witnessed the reign of Queen Elizabeth II from the day of her coronation more than70 years ago, until the day she passed away at Balmoral Castle, and were greatly affected by the news of her passing.
“These visits are but a small way of making sure that everyone is included, as they are part of the community and should not be overlooked.”Christopher’s visit to Limetree Care Home also evoked many memories for the people living and working in theSigninghome.the book of condolence made some residents quite emotional as they shared their opinions of the Queen.When asked for her thoughts, resident Peggy said: “It’s lovely signing the book. It is so sad to see that she’s gone as she was so nice. Every time I saw her on TV, she seemed really down to ChristopherEarth.”ended his visits by thanking the teams for all of their hard work over the last few years.
The care home has managed to
raise around £500 from raffles and donations.Residents and staff set up tables on the end of the drive and served tea, coffee and cakes to passersby, neighbours, ambulance staff, postmen and refuse collectors.
One resident, Trevor, used to be one of the Queen’s Royal Guards. As he was leaving his condolences in the book, a member of the team
“As we remember the Queen at this time of great sadness, we have been working to ensure that everyone in care is included during this period of National Mourning. Most of the people living in care homes have been around since Her late Majesty’s coronation but may not be able to
RESIDENTS at Ferrars Hall in Huntingdon enjoyed entertainment from ‘Tap About Town’ – a professional dancer specialising in Broadway and theatre-style tap dance – as part of Country Court’s ‘Strictly Country Court’ month.
“It was great to see so many residents enjoying her performance and singing the classic songs,” said customer relations manager Chloe
STAFF and residents at Fleetwood Hall Care Home have been mourning and paying tribute to the Queen.
Bronnie recalls watching the Coronation as a young girl, Derek met the Queen while serving in the Navy and Kenneth had his RAF uniform inspected by Her Majesty.
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Scarf is a parent-led charity based in the New Forest which organises regular term-time and holiday activities for children and young
Vayyar Care announces partnership with Southern Care Maintenance
Diane Cathcart, activities manager at the Holmes Care Group operated site, said: “The pandemic was a difficult time for everyone, and Nina was a rock for the other residents.
“It’s a privilege to welcome SCM to our expanding partnership program that will deliver quality installations of Vayyar Care throughout the UK,” said Stuart Barclay, Vayyar Care UK sales director. “David Knight and his team have extensively tested the Vayyar Care solution on all their nurse call offerings. It’s been a pleasure working with people who always have a solution-focused mindset.”
Staff recently took her and another
part of a unique ecosystem that includes leading industry providers such as Panacea Healthcare Group, Vayyar Care’s principal UK distributor.
and help people regain their sense of identity, no matter their stage of dementia.Pamadded: “Making music together offers companionship without any pressure of conversation or the need to pick-up on social cues.
THERAPY sessions that help people connect, communicate and engage, have hit the right note with residents at Belong Warrington, who are enjoying the benefits of creative expression as part of a flourishing relationship with music therapy charity, Nordoff Robbins.
7CARINGWEEKLY
Musician helps dementia specialist make melodies
dovetails perfectly with our mission to provide our customers with the very best “Thanksservice.toVayyar Care, long lies and severe complications that can occur when a resident suffers a fall but doesn’t receive prompt assistance will soon be a thing of the past.
Belong enlisted the charity as part of its ethos of promoting the wellbeing of customers through meaningful occupation in line with their interests. Both organisations share the same approach using music and the arts to unlock memories, reduce isolation
SCM’s quality installations and post-sales service will play a key role in delivering Vayyar’s touchless solution to care homes and social care“Weproviders.aredelighted to partner with Vayyar Care and are excited to work with people who have so much enthusiasm and passion for their product,” said David Knight, founder and commercial director of SCM.
“We’ve seen a number of remarkable outcomes, such as a gentleman who was able to recall his previous session – for him, it’s quite a special achievement.”Thecollaboration follows a number of opportunities involving the arts Belong has promoted for its customers. Past experiences include visits from choirs, performances from local schools and interactive theatre workshops.
Rose Arcellana said: “Everyone at Kingfishers is proud to be a sponsor of the Scarf charity and as we love to hold events and get together and have fun, the fete presented an ideal fundraising opportunity.”
“The result is a sense of social connection, purpose and having an identity, and this impacts positively on people’s wellbeing.”
The event raised £408 for the home’s chosen charity Scarf (Supporting Children with Additional Needs, Relatives and Friends).
Supporting the residents as they contribute as they please using instruments including tambourines, drums and their voices, she matches their energy and tone of voice to build a Pamconnection.said:“It’s very person-centred and ability doesn’t matter; it’s about going with their flow and as the narrative unfolds, the residents become more confident with their playing and singing.
A HAMPSHIRE care home hosted a Hawaiian-themed summer fete to benefit a New Forest children’s charity.Residents, families and staff at Colten Care’s Kingfishers in New Milton wore leis and enjoyed an afternoon of island-inspired raffles, a tombola and games, including guessing the number of sweets in a jar.Companionship team leader
VAYYAR Care, a global leader in automatic fall detection and remote monitoring, has established a new partnership with Southern Care Maintenance Ltd, a premium maintenance and service provider for nurse call systems and home care equipment.Afirst-in-class service provider, SCM offers innovative solutions that leverage the most reliable technologies at the most competitive prices.Thecollaboration will strengthen Vayyar Care’s installation efforts across southern England and forms
people (up to 25 years) with special needs and their families.
resident to the zoo where they had a day with the animals.
with any nurse call system, Vayyar Care and its wide network of nurse call and platform partners are leading the way towards a new, accessible future of digital care.
Three koalas, Tanami, Inala and Kalari, became celebrities in Fernlea House Care Home after they kept a resident entertained during lockdown.NinaChristie watched the zoo’s live camera daily as she was interested to find out what happens in their lives. Her wish was to see the koalas in person once restrictions ended.
“Her good spirits lifted everyone in the care home, so we have an immense gratitude for the cuddly creatures.”
“The best solution in fall detection
“It’s especially worthwhile working with residents whose health means they are confined to their beds. It’s been rewarding to be able to take the music to people wherever they are in the village and they have responded very
Vayyar Care’s instant fall detection and activity data enables personalised, proactive care management.Interoperable and integration-ready
“This is sure to be a product that will continue to go from strength to strength in the marketplace.”
Pam Thomson and resident Arthur Burton.
Home’s Hawaiian fete helps children with special needs
The children have a broad range of additional needs including autistic spectrum conditions, Down’s Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy and learning difficulties.
“It can help to access memories, foster feelings of connection and belonging. The experience has been very encouraging, so far, and it’s been a pleasure working with everyone.
THE most unlikely heroes of the pandemic live in Edinburgh Zoo and eat eucalyptus leaves.
Koalas reunited with admirer
Companion team leader Rose Arcellana enjoys the Hawaiian theme at the summer fete with resident Joyce Russell.
Pam Thomson, an experienced music therapist and Goldsmiths, University of London alumna, is working with the not-for-profit dementia specialist’s customers in small groups and one-to-one to translate their personal experiences, memories and observations of the world through the power of music.
Advertiser’s announcement
Junewell.”Newton, experience support worker at Belong Warrington, added: “It’s wonderful having Pam with us; her presence has been well-received, particularly by our customers further along their dementia journeys who are less able to access social connection or are non-verbal and find it hard to express their feelings.
They saw all manner of exotic creatures from across the globe, including lions, tigers and giraffes.
