New partnership to help elderly LGBT community
A TEESSIDE care home, Gables Care Home, has teamed up with a charity to tackle the challenges faced by elderly members of the LGBT community. The Gables Care Home has begun working with Hart Gables, which supports all those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or trans (LGBT) in the North East. The partnership is part of the Stockton-on-Tees based charity’s ongoing project – Ageing with Pride in Middlesbrough. They aim to help elderly members of the LGBT community in need of support find a care home or sheltered housing. Development workers from Hart Gables visited The Gables Care Home, on Highfield Road, in Middlesbrough, to run an arts and crafts workshop. The session was held for all residents – irrespective of whether they were part of the LGBT community or not – as a way for the charity to gain experience of working with elderly people. Andy Towers and Sian Parker, from Hart Gables, worked with the residents to create rainbow coloured baskets. Andy said: “All the residents and staff who took part were so friendly and welcoming, and it is clear how dedicated they are to providing the best care for the residents. The rainbow colours of the baskets sparked discussion of the Hart Gables Age with Pride project, which aims to support LGBT+ residents of care homes and sheltered housing across Middlesbrough. Hart Gables is excited about engaging with The Gables Care Home to promote safe, welcoming and inclusive care environments for older LGBT+ people.” Sian added: “It was delightful to meet the residents and we had a really great afternoon. I work with volunteers at Hart Gables, and encourage anyone thinking of volunteering to consider care home work.” Kate Charlton, home manager at The Gables Care Home, said: “We approached the LGBT charity Hart Gables to see if we could find common ground in helping with the challenges faced by elderly people from the LGBT community who may develop dementia and need to look for a care placement. They were also looking to work with a care home and people living in sheltered housing as part of their Ageing with Pride project, so it was a great opportunity to start working together. The residents all had a great time at the first of what we hope will be many arts and crafts sessions with the charity’s development workers. We look forward to welcoming them back in future.” For more information about The Gables Care Home please click here
Old Images of Sheffield at forefront of new dementia care service
Pictures and memories of bygone Sheffield are set to provide a pivotal link with residents at the city’s newest dementia care service, Fulwood Lodge Care Home. Fulwood Lodge Care Home has hand-picked key landmarks from the city as a way to connect with the minds of residents set to fill 17 new beds. Roy Young, managing director of Sheffield-based Silver Healthcare that runs the home, said: “At the heart of high quality dementia care is the need to ensure residents are kept calm, safe and happy. Loss of short term memory is regularly an early sign of the illness but long term memory can remain pin sharp. A high proportion of our residents are Sheffield born and bred and providing the links with the past are vital ingredient in their overall care and stimulation.” Old images of The Moor, Wicker Arches, Pond Street, the pre-1960s trams and the Hole In The Road have already proved their ability to provide an instant connection with residents at the company’s other two dementia homes in the city. Fulwood Lodge Care Home will also be providing regular interactive games and activities, frequent outings throughout summer, as well as regular garden potting and planting sessions. The home has launched the new service in addition to its existing nursing and residential care. The home – set over three floors – can cater for up to 40 residents in total. Fulwood Lodge Care Home is run by Sheffield-based Silver Healthcare Ltd that also runs two additional homes that cater for dementia sufferers – Rosebank and Leahyrst. Lesley Christian, manager of Fulwood Lodge Care Home, said: “Moving into a care home can transform the quality of life for many older people who find that living in their own homes is no longer the best, and safest option for them. All our care homes are bright, clean, and provide warm and loving settings where carer’s, nurses and residents develop strong bonds and enjoy spending time together. We also understand the importance of serving up tasty and nutritious food. Our catering team pride themselves in making mealtimes and menus enjoyable and fun, helping residents to explore new tastes or savour favourite foods from their childhood.” More information on Fulwood Lodge Care Home can be obtained from Lesley Christian on 0114 230 2666 or fulwood@silver-healthcare.co.uk More company information can be found on: www.silver-healthcare.co.uk, & www.carehome.co.uk
Speedy and clear communication can save lives
Speedy and clear communication can save lives, a trainer from Radstock who has worked in the medical profession has found. Yvonne Bignall, who worked at an international medical training academy as a joint director believes developing emotional intelligence and assertiveness can improve healthcare. The award-winning facilitator said: “Learning to develop soft skills and having the confidence to speak out and question certain decisions is vital. “It can improve treatment, minimise errors, save money – and, most importantly, save lives.” The Royal College of Physicians has released a report in which it said effective teamwork was shown to reduce medical errors, increase patient safety and improve patient mortality rates. And the World Health Organisation (WHO) describes ineffective communication as a leading cause of ‘inadvertent patient harm’. Research also shows poor communication leads to a duplication of tests, delays in treating deteriorating patients and can result in preventable hospital admissions. Yvonne, who has worked in the health, leisure and well-being industry for over 20 years, said: “Lack of clear communication can be, quite literally, a killer. It’s important to keep asking questions – both as the healthcare professional and the patient.” Yvonne has worked with senior members of the health industry in Jordan. They discovered a gap in the consistency of service across hospitals and healthcare providers in the region, due to a lack of training in leadership, management and communication skills. Yvonne’s research and experience, alongside CEO and founder Dr Aref Alabed, led to the creation of over 20 CPD (continued professional development) accredited courses at the International Medical Training Academy. It includes courses in emotional intelligence, effective teamwork and clear communication with patients and teams. Yvonne said: “We found communication was the biggest issue facing doctors, nurses and all healthcare professionals. Often they are very academic, but sometimes interpersonal skills need to be developed to help them do their job to a much higher level. It’s important that people feel their opinions will be heard, so they are more likely to speak up. This helps a team to recognise any issues and resolve them quickly, which is of the utmost importance in life and death situations.” For more information about how Yvonne Bignall uses clear communication in her life please visit www.yvonnebltd.com
New NHS funding must focus on services outside hospitals
New NHS funding must focus on services outside hospital including social care and community health services, according to NHS finance directors surveyed for the latest quarterly monitoring report from The King’s Fund. Providing more care outside hospitals and closer to people’s homes has long been a goal for NHS policy-makers. A survey of NHS trust finance directors and clinical commissioning group (CCG) finance leads carried out for the report asked them to identify their top three priorities for additional funding: The top three priorities for investment identified by NHS trust finance directors were social care (chosen by 67 per cent of respondents), community services (53 per cent of respondents) and mental health services (47 per cent of respondents). The top three priorities identified by CCG finance leads were general practice (79 per cent of respondents), social care (65 per cent of respondents) and community services (65 per cent of respondents). The survey – which was carried out in May, before the Prime Minister’s recent announcement on NHS funding – suggests that new investment should prioritise services in the community and underlines the importance of increasing social care funding in the next Spending Review. The new funding announced by the Prime Minister will not be available until April 2019. In the meantime, the survey indicates that the NHS is in for another very challenging year. Following on from last year’s NHS provider deficit of £960 million, the report highlights wide disparities in the financial position of different NHS organisations. The survey found that more than two in five (42 per cent) of NHS trust finance directors and nearly two-fifths (39 per cent) of CCG finance leads surveyed expect to overspend their budgets this year. This is a significant concern at this point in the year and underlines the deterioration in CCG finances, on top of provider deficits which remain substantial. Other key findings from the survey include: Less than a quarter (23 per cent) of NHS trust finance directors and only one of the 32 CCG finance leads surveyed are confident of getting back on track to meeting the four-hour A&E target by March 2019. To help manage financial pressures, nearly 80 per cent off CCG finance leads said their organisation is considering extending the number of low-value treatments and prescriptions that will no longer be funded. Staff morale has risen to the top of the list of concerns among NHS trust finance directors, with nearly a quarter (24 per cent) identifying this as one of their top three concerns, the highest proportion since 2013. With more than 4 million patients on the waiting list, the report highlights how difficult it will be to meet the Prime Minister’s ambition of getting waiting times for hospital treatment back within target range. This will leave more patients waiting longer, often in pain, for the treatment they need. Siva Anandaciva, Chief Analyst at The King’s Fund and lead author of the report, said: ‘Policy-makers have long sought to provide more care in the community, closer to people’s homes, to improve patient care and reduce pressures on hospitals. These attempts have for the most part failed and hospitals remain full to capacity, while underinvestment in community services continues. Our survey suggests that finally delivering this vision should he at the heart of the forthcoming NHS 10 year plan and that additional funding for social care must be a top priority for the forthcoming Spending Review.’ ‘It is clear that the current NHS finance regime is broken, with huge deficits in some trusts and booming surpluses in others. The new funding settlement provides an opportunity to re-think the current system and to ensure that financial management in the NHS is proportionate, fair and effective.’ For more information about NHS funding or to view the report please visit www.kingsfund.org.uk/publications/how-nhs-performing-june-2018
Inverness care home transformed following Meallmore acquisition
A local Inverness care home has been transformed and is now providing the highest standard of care to its residents, following a recent acquisition by Meallmore. The leading care provider took over Culduthel Care Home last April and has since undertaken an extensive refurbishment programme which has significantly enhanced the facilities available for residents. Following the revamp, the home now offers 62 fully furnished en-suite bedrooms and six luxurious living/dining areas. It also features a cinema where residents can view the latest blockbusters, two café areas for sharing a cuppa and a bite to eat with family and friends and a hairdressing and beauty salon for a spot of pampering. Meallmore is supporting its staff team, many of whom transferred at the time of acquisition, to provide exceptional standards of quality care across the home. Anne Mawdsley, Highland Area Manager at Meallmore, said: “All the residents, families and staff at Culduthel are over the moon with the way the home has been completely transformed. The design is very tasteful and it feels much brighter and more spacious. Also, the investment in technology and equipment means we can adapt to the needs of individuals with dementia as well as promote safety and well-being for all our residents. At Meallmore, we’re committed to delivering exceptional standards of care and to developing positive and caring environments where people enjoy living and working. This is exactly what we will be doing at Culduthel and we are very excited for the future.” More information about Meallmore Ltd can be found here. Meallmore is a leading provider of nursing and residential care in Scotland run by experienced qualified nursing and care staff. Meallmore is committed to exceptional standards of quality care that can be trusted to always put residents first by going that extra mile. Meallmore invests in highly skilled experienced staff and quality resources to ensure its commitment to high quality care. The acquisition of the 62 bed Culduthel Care Home brings the company’s ever-expanding portfolio to a total of 23 care homes across Scotland, the majority of which provide specialist care for the frail elderly, including Dementia, palliative and end of life care. Between them, the homes have over 1,200 beds and the company employs 1,600 staff across the country Culduthel Care Home is located at West Heather Road in Invernesss
Keep loved ones safe with new security advice for carers
The leading trade association for the locksmithing profession – the Master Locksmiths Association (MLA) – gives security advice to carers According to a recent report by Age UK, there are 11.8 million people aged 65 or over in the UK, and two million of those over 75, live alone. For the 6.5 million carers in the UK looking after a parent or elderly relative who lives on their own. Making sure they are as safe and secure as possible in their home is vital. To aid this, the leading trade association for the locksmithing profession – the Master Locksmiths Association (MLA) – is offering advice to carers on how to keep their loved ones safe in the home. Dr Steffan George, Managing Director of the MLA, says, “If you are caring for a vulnerable person in their own home, there are steps you can take to make sure that their home is secure. Getting the right advice is important, so take the time to research the best options. There’s lots to think about – for example, getting the balance between making sure the person living in the home is not trapped in case of an emergency, whilst also ensuring burglars are not easily able to break in.” Steffan recommends the following tips, to give you peace of mind: Think about access – Make sure you can gain access to the home in a way that doesn’t’t jeopardise security. You could use a key safe and coded key safes can also help provide easy access to carers as well. Be sure to check that the key safe is tested and independently approved by an organisation such as Sold Secure, as there are cheap versions on the market that can be compromised very quickly. Key safes should always be located in a discreet place and not be obvious from the road or path outside. Be Smart Security aware – Smart security is growing in popularity and can be a useful aid to provide access to carers who may be coming and going through the day. But be careful to make sure that it is supported by tested and independently approved mechanical security measures. The UK has for a long time had excellent security standards for mechanical security. However the first safety standards for smart locks have only just been published and as a result, none of the currently available smart locks have yet been tested against the new safety standards and therefore shouldn’t be used alone. User-friendly security – f the person you are caring for is suffering from reduced visibility or loss of strength in their hands, then they may struggle with locking up or manoeuvring handles. Invest in key turners – plastic handles designed to attach to a key at one end, and rubber handle covers which provide better grip. You could even invest in a remote locking system. Invest in deterrents, like timed lighting – Do your best to make the home look as busy as possible, particularly if the person is living on their own. Timer lighting helps make a house look occupied and can give the impression there is more than one person within the property. A fake TV, which works on a timer to emit multi-coloured LED lights, works in the same way and uses less power than a standard lamp. Outdoor lights with motion sensors are an excellent way to deter thieves. Keep valuables out of sight – If the person you are caring for owns expensive items that they do not wear or use frequently, such as jewellery and ornaments, keep them out of sight. Better still, invest in a professionally-installed safe. Use a professional – It can be tempting to try and improve or install security measures yourself. But mistakes are easy to make and can cost more to fix in the long run, or even invalidate your insurance. The MLA is recognised as the authoritative body for locksmithing by the Police and our members undergo strict vetting, including criminal record checks, so you can be confident they have the knowledge, experience and integrity to keep you and your family safe and secure. To find a local MLA accredited locksmith to review your loved-one’s home security as well as further top tips ad security advice, visit the MLA’s website www.locksmiths.co.uk. Visit www.soldsecure.com to find a list of independently tested and approved security products. Find us on Twitter @MLA_locksmiths Facebook https://www.facebook.com
Dechoker saves second care home resident from choking death in five weeks
Dechoker UK are pleased to announce their device has helped save another care home resident from choking, just over a month since their first in the UK. The 87-year-old was enjoying lunch at one of Oakdale Care Group’s homes when he began to choke on a piece of food which had become stuck in his airway. The incident occurred at the recently opened Timken Grange Care Home in Duston, Northampton. The home, along with the rest of Oakdale’s portfolio, have Dechoker devices on every floor with their care teams comprehensively trained both how and when to use them. “Choking is responsible for around 6 care home deaths every month.” said Matt Oakley, Director at Dechoker UK. “We are both pleased and proud that once again Dechoker has been shown to be effective in a choking emergency.” The effects of a choking death are far-reaching. Initially there will be an emotional impact on the other residents and staff, especially those involved. In addition to this there is the reputational damage to the home, the time and implications associated with a visit from the CQC and the subsequent Coroner’s inquest. “We are delighted that our carers have been trained and are comfortable with using the Dechoker.“ said Rachel Cadd, Timken Grange Home Manager. “We are confident that we would not hesitate in using the device again should the occasion arise.” Dechoker continues to develop relationships with care providers large and small to ensure the safety of both their residents and care staff in the event of a choking emergency. Latest ONS Statistics show that 66 people die as a result of choking in care homes in 2016 in England and Wales. Dechoker works by creating manual suction to remove an obstruction from the airway. Dechoker costs less than £100 with training options to suit. For more information about Dechoker UK please click here.
East Yorkshire care provider to open two new care homes with HSBC funding
An award winning East Yorkshire care home provider, Yorkare Homes, is to open two new care homes with the support of an eight-figure funding package from HSBC. Established in Brough in 1988, Yorkare owned and managed a group of care homes before deciding to sell its portfolio and focus on the development of innovative new build homes. The group currently owns and operates five care homes across East Yorkshire, providing residential and dementia care to over 350 residents. The business has a strong reputation in the care sector for delivering high quality accommodation, with its Magdalen Park and Lindsey Hall homes being granted various industry design and clinical care awards, as well as gaining Outstanding CQC ratings. To meet growing demand for its services the business has commissioned the construction of two new care homes, each in Hessle and Hornsea. The new care homes will accommodate up to 64 residents apiece and feature ‘street scene’ facilities that include a house bar/café, shops, salons and a cinema. In addition, the new care homes will border countryside, with residents enjoying access to large gardens. Preparatory works are already underway at Tranby Park Nursing Home, Hessle, and it is expected to open its doors to residents in May 2019. Yorkare expects work to start on the Mere View Nursing Home, Hornsea, in October this year. The business expects to create up to 160 new local jobs as a result of the two homes. Laurence Garton, Development Director at Yorkare, said: “It is no secret that the demand for care homes is growing rapidly across the UK. However, with this increasing demand is also a higher expectation on the quality of the care beds available. With the financial backing of HSBC, we are now positioning Yorkare to meet this demand with these two extra developments in our local area and we are already discussing the potential of delivering new developments in the near future.” Scott Christian, HSBC’s Relationship Director for North Yorkshire and Humber, said: “Yorkare is a fine example of a dynamic Humberside business that is delivering a fantastic service to its residents, as well as creating scores of local jobs. It is a pleasure to support Yorkare as it undergoes rapid expansion and we look forward to seeing the business welcome residents to its new homes.” For more information about Yorkare Homes please click here
Teary eyed care home resident enjoys Church flower festival
A BLYTH care home resident was brought close to tears by a church’s annual flower festival. Residents from The Oaks Care Home, on Durban Street, attended the festival at Central Methodist Church, on Beaconsfield Street. Elsie Patterson, who lives at the home, said: “I was close to tears because it brought back so many happy memories. I used to go to the festival with friends all the time but it has been so long. Then I saw them and we shared lots of cuddles and tears of happiness.” The Flower Festival was opened by Blyth Mayor Councillor Adrian Cartie, who met with the residents during their visit. One of those was Dennis Allen, who shared a joke with the Mayor about wanting to have his chain. He said: “It was a lovely atmosphere and I was happy to send time getting to know our new activities coordinator Angela.” Angela Hedley, a former carer at The Oaks Care Home who recently became activities coordinator, came up with the idea of taking the residents to the festival. She said: “I was looking to find new links with the local community and saw a brochure advertising the event. The residents thoroughly enjoyed it and they all wanted to stay all day.” Ann Mielnik, home manager, said: “It was lovely to hear Elsie had met up with friends she had not seen for a long time. We’re always looking to meet with community groups, take part in events or organise joint activities.” For more information about the annual flower festival please click here
