Health Care staff urged to get their Flu vaccination
Royal College of Nursing are urging health care staff to get their flu vaccination this winter. They have explained that it is a professional responsibility for all nursing staff to ensure that they are vaccinated in order to help protect vulnerable patients and clients that they will be working closely with. It is estimated that one in four health care staff are thought to be infected and affected by Influenza (flu), and as a result, put their patients at risk of developing severe drawbacks to their health as a result of contracting the flu. About the flu vaccination Influenza, also known as ‘the flu’ is a virus that infects the throat and nose and sometimes even the lungs. If developed, it can be mild to severe and some times, can lead to death. According to Royal College of Nursing’s #BeatTheFlu campaign, you can be in full health, yet still contract severe complications such as “bronchitis, secondary bacterial pneumonia, meningitis and encephalitis.” People that are at a higher risk than others are women who are pregnant, elderly people and those who suffer from other illnesses such as asthma, kidney disorders, diabetes and weakened immune system. Royal College or Nursing state that anyone who is in full contact – at work or home – with a person who is a high risk patient for the flu, should receive the vaccine. They recommend you do this, as it is one of the easiest and safest ways to safeguard your patients and yourself. According to the NHS, it is your employer’s responsibility to ensure there are arrangements for everyone at your workplace to have their flu vaccination. However, if your employer doesn’t offer a flu vaccination programme, you can also receive your flu jab from either your local GP surgery or pharmacy who offers the service. RCN state that “You will also help keep vital services operating in the winter months and instill best practice on the health care professionals of the future.”
Care homes invited to take part in annual ‘road’ cycling event
Motitech, the Norwegian startup motivating older people and those with dementia in care homes to engage in more physical activity, has announced its partnership with British Cycling and Sport England. The partnership will support Motitech in delivering opportunities for older people to remain active through cycling. This includes the Road Worlds for Seniors 2019 cycling event that takes place throughout the month of September. Road Worlds for Seniors is Motitech’s global activity programme for cycling within care homes and care centres, which will run throughout September alongside the UCI Road World Championships in Yorkshire. It will set the focus on physical activity for older people using its concept, Motiview, in which older people cycle through a choice of 1,700 locations on stationary bikes via a video projection that plays whilst the person pedals. The combination of exercise and visual stimulation increases activity levels in older people, and gives them the opportunity to revisit familiar places from their childhoods and other important points in their lives. This element of Motivew is especially important for those who live with dementia, as it provokes fond memories of familiar locations, such as their home town, or favourite holiday location, sparking conversations that bring the memories back to life. Everyone who participates will be rewarded for their efforts, with additional awards going to those who have cycled the furthest, and the care teams that have provided the best support. But this isn’t just a one-off event. The five-year partnership will see British Cycling and Sport England support the project through their Places to Ride capital grants programme, designed to deliver a lasting legacy from the 2019 Road World Championships by funding the development of multi-use facilities as well as facility improvement and equipment. The programme will engage with a broad spectrum of cyclists – encouraging people who have never cycled before to get on their bikes. Places to Ride has been made possible through a new £15m commitment from the UK Government, and will be delivered over the next three years through a unique partnership between British Cycling, Sport England and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS). For Motitech, it means that the company will be able to provide equipment to an increased number of care homes, encouraging as many people as possible to get involved in physical activity in general, which has a significant, positive impact on physical and mental wellbeing. British Cycling will also be supporting the marketing and communications for the Road Worlds for Seniors. Road Worlds for Seniors creates friendly competition “We are incredibly excited to be able to announce the partnership with British Cycling and Sport England ahead of Road Worlds for Seniors this year”, says Jan Inge Ebbesvik, President of Road Worlds for Seniors at Motitech. “The support means that we can get even more people and care homes involved in Road Worlds for Seniors across the world, and create that feeling of friendly competition and community. We want to encourage older people to compete, have fun and get active at the same time. Through the combination of exercise, support from friends, families, and carers, as well as the support provided by British Cycling and Sport England, this year’s event is set to establish the unique application of technology to benefit older people as an initiative in parallel to existing cycling competitions, and a special fixture of the British sporting calendar.” “We are proud to be a key partner of Motitech’s cycling activity programme and the Road Worlds for Seniors”, adds Julie Harrington, British Cycling CEO. “It is vital that everyone has opportunities to remain physically active throughout their life, and the Motiview concept brings people together, forming new communities that may have never existed. We want people to get physically active and feel motivated to take part and cannot wait to see where, around the world, Motiview takes them.” Sports Minister Mims Davies said: “Sport has an incredible power to boost people’s mental well-being, as well as their physical health. I am delighted that our investment in this innovative project will help older people, and those with dementia, to get and enjoy being active.” Sport England’s Director of Facilities Charles Johnston said: “The benefits of physical activity for older people are considerable but often there are limited opportunities, especially for people living in care. We are pleased to have supported Motitech in bringing their innovative concept to the UK and are delighted to now be part of their long term partnership with British Cycling. The project will build a lasting legacy from the 2019 Road World Championships and accelerate access to opportunities for people living in care, across England, to have more opportunities to be physically active as part of their daily lives.” Jan from Motitech added: “We would love to have even more participants in this year’s Road Worlds for Seniors championship and anyone who is interested in finding out more, or even taking part, can email us at email@motitech.co.uk.”
Hospital tombola helps care home raise funds for charity
CARE home staff are continuing to raise hundreds of pounds for stroke survivors and their families – as part of a year-long fundraising campaign. A tombola at the University Hospital of North Tees was run by staff from The Beeches Care Home, on Green Lane, Stockton-on-Tees. Deputy manager Rachel Harris and activities coordinator Jess Roth manned the stand, selling tickets and giving away prizes including scented candles and toiletries. Alongside a coffee morning at the home, this has added another £97 to the £660 total the home has already raised for the Stroke Association throughout last year. Previous events included a supermarket bag pack, cake sale and sponsored walk. Rachel said: “We’d like to thank North Tees Hospital for allowing us to run our tombola for the Stroke Association. “We had a lot of interested and raised a good amount of money for the charity. Thank you to everyone who bought a ticket and congratulations to the lucky prize winners.” The Beeches Care Home is part of the Hill Care Group. For further information visit www.hillcare.net.
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Gracewell of Camberley in the running for ‘Care Home of the Year’
Gracewell of Camberley are delighted to announce that they have been shortlisted for ‘Care Home of the Year’ at the National Care Awards 2018. The National Care Awards were devised to celebrate the very best in the long-term care sector highlighting excellence and rewarding those who work tirelessly to provide consistently outstanding care. They are organised by social care’s leading publication, Caring Times. Gracewell of Camberley in Blackwater provides high quality, personalised residential, dementia and nursing care which the individual needs of each of their residents in mind. It is a luxury care home which has been rated ‘outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and accommodates up to 91 people in a new, purpose-built environment set within beautiful grounds. Nothing is too much for the Camberley team. Their home has a standard ethos – when a team member enters the building, they have to ask themselves: how will I make someone’s day today? Through committed and flexible teamwork, Gracewell of Camberley is always there for its residents. Indeed, the CQC stated that the home’s open and inclusive atmosphere has fostered a strong sense of team-work and continuous improvement. Luxury Care Home rated ‘outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) The home regularly arranges activities for its residents, including sports and exercise events for all to participate in. Whether it is a game of sitting golf, arts and crafts, bingo, baking club, or Teapot Tuesday, when it comes to activities and social events the whole team gets involved. Maintenance will serenade residents at lunch with an acoustic guitar, the head housekeeper runs a weekly knit and natter group and the concierge team runs a weekly gentleman’s club. The home has two members dedicated to supporting people with meaningful activities and events throughout the home. It ensures it is an active participant in the local community by engaging with local schools who visit for special events and performances, hosting regular coffee mornings and providing families with opportunities to meet the team. Over the years, the team has developed strong and caring relationships with its residents which respect their independence, privacy and dignity. Residents are encouraged to take part in decisions about their care and support, whether it is the personalisation and decoration of their room or their food preferences. Residents are always put at the centre of processes to monitor and improve the quality of the services they receive. Gracewell of Camberley also has a systematic approach to working in partnership with other agencies to improve the care experience of residents. They work alongside a range of multi-disciplinary teams to improve team knowledge, including community opticians, dentists and nurses. The home works with support and advocacy services such as Age Concern, the Alzheimer’s Society and Citizens Advice Bureau, and has a good relationship with the local clinical commissioning group and hospice to provide a high standard of care for those nearing the end of their life. Melanie Jacobs, General Manager of Gracewell of Camberley, said: “We are absolutely honoured to have been shortlisted for the ‘Care Home of the Year’ Award at the National Care Awards. This is a reward for all the hard work of our dedicated team members, who strive every day to provide the best care and support for our residents possible. “When one team member at Gracewell of Camberley struggles, a colleague will step in to support – no one is alone. It is through this teamwork that we ensure that we are always there for our residents. “Our residents are at the heart of what we do, and this nomination is for them too. We look forward to finding out whether we have won!” Gracewell of Camberley, who are a finalist in what is the 20th anniversary year of the National Care Awards, will discover whether they have been successful at a very special award ceremony on Friday 30 November 2018 in London.
The Care Home Residents Proving Age is Just a Number
Ahead of International Day For Older Persons, residents from Romsey care home, Abbotswood Court, are demonstrating how older people can provide valuable contributions to their community. Over 30% of the local population in Test Valley are now over the age of 60, with this figure set to continue increasing. Globally, by 2050 over 20 percent of the world’s population will be aged 60 or older. With this in mind, the 1st of October is officially marked by the United Nations as ‘International Day of Older Persons’, a day dedicated to highlighting the particular needs and challenges faced by older people. Equally, the day aims to raise attention to the essential contribution the majority of older men and women can continue to make to the functioning of society if adequate guarantees are in place. In Romsey, residents at Abbotswood Court Care Home are highlighting these possibilities by making substantial day to day contributions at the care home assisting staff and other residents. Care home residents are making substantial day to day contributions Commenting on the valuable contributions these residents make to the care home, General Manager Gemma Ridout-Bowden said: “Our aim at Abbotswood Court is to help older people live happier, healthier, more fulfilled lives. Many of our residents are keen to contribute to life at our home and the wider community and it’s our job to help facilitate and support them in this.” Residents at the care home have been involved in developments at the home from interviewing prospective candidates applying for roles at Abbotswood Court, working with the home’s activities co-ordinators to plan days out and give back to the local community, to choosing local food suppliers to be used by the care home’s chefs. One such resident, Tom, aged 93, also sings regularly with local entertainer Paul Nicholls at the home’s weekly community coffee mornings. Joy, another Abbotswood Court resident, assists by picking runner beans and tomatoes growing in the home’s vegetable patch which are then used by the kitchen. Gemma continues: “As the number of older people in our population continues to grow it’s essential that we support them as valued and contributing members of our communities. We hope that people across Romsey, Hampshire and the UK will look to the example our residents and other inspirational older people across the country are setting and realise the contribution the majority of older people can make in all aspects of society.” Abbotswood Court is a new modern care home set in beautifully landscaped gardens in Romsey. It provides accommodation and individual care for older people with a range of needs including dementia. For more information about the care, accommodation, services, and events that Abbotswood Court provides, visit www.cinnamoncc.com/luxury-care-homes/abbotswood-court/care-and-facilities or for the latest events updates follow them on Facebook.com@abbotswoodcourt.
Care & Nursing Essentials
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