Nutrition & Safety in Dementia Care
Dementia can affect anyone, at any age, it does not discriminate. It is, however, more common in those over the age of 65. Currently in the UK, there are over 850,000 people living with a form of dementia, expected to rise to over one million by 2025. One of the most problematic issues when it comes dementia care is that everyone will experience the condition differently. Meaning there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to caring for someone with the condition. Although no sweeping set of processes can be put in place to guarantee care for everyone, there are measures that can be implemented to ensure residents receive a nutritious and safe dining experience. Dementia can cause a change in residents’ relationship with food and they may struggle to eat for a variety of reasons, such as a change in food preferences, a reduced appetite or mobility and coordination problems. These changes can all lead to weight loss. As a leading expert in nutritious and delicious food for older people, apetito work in partnership with care homes to cater for every dietary requirement, providing reassurance and peace of mind that residents are eating well. Snack stations, finger foods and beverage facilities can aid the eating process. Energy dense meals provided in a smaller portion are a way of ensuring residents receive the required nutrients. As a thought leader in the sector, apetito is also a vital source of knowledge to care homes, working with experts in the field to provide advice on everything from dietetics and nutrition to dementia care. As dementia progresses into the advanced or severe stages, individuals may experience oral deficits which cause dysphagia, an increasingly common complaint in residents living with dementia. Mealtimes can be increasingly stressful for someone with dysphagia and dementia as they may become confused by the texture modified food and can worry about risk of choking. Moulded texture-modified meals are a great solution to providing appealing, nutritiously balanced meals that also reduce the risk of choking. Suppliers, such as apetito, offer a wide range of texture-modified meals appropriate for all levels of swallowing difficulties and all dietary requirements. Providing a supportive dining environment plays a crucial part in aiding residents to live and eat well and is an important first step in creating a safe and nutritious dining experience. Research suggests the design of the environment in which food is served to those living with dementia, can influence their nutritional intake and overall enjoyment of food, centred around the sensory experience. www.apetito.co.uk
CLOSED – WIN A Christmas Hamper with Care & Nursing Essentials!
The latest issue of Care & Nursing Essentials is now live on our website! Issue 96 takes an in-depth look at how Brexit will affect care sector recruitment with Stephen Wilson (CEO and co-founder of recruitment platform Novacare), we also focus on dementia care and training for staff – as more and more people are diagnosed in later life, there is some catching up to be done across the care sector regarding awareness and adapting practice. There is also a brilliant case study of a care provider who has got recruitment and retention right – Nightingales in the south east, which offers both residential and home care, focuses on training, social events and company values to ensure staff want to stay – some have worked there for nearly 30 years. A privately-funded service, Nightingales also has an Employee Ownership scheme so staff really are part of the future of the business. As well as all the latest news and views from the care industry, we are giving you the chance to win a fantastic Christmas hamper! To win the Christmas hamper all you need to do is tell us what page the “Cleaning and disinfection in the healthcare sector” article is on in issue 96. How do I enter? Simply find the answer in Care & Nursing Essentials issue 96, then enter your details and the answer on Rafflecopter here Terms & Conditions ***The administrator of this competition is Care & Nursing Essentials Magazine (“administrator”). By participating in the competition, each Entrant unconditionally accepts and agrees to comply with and abide by these Official Rules and the decisions of Administrator, which shall be final and binding in all respects. Administrator is responsible for the collection, submission or processing of Entries and the overall administration of the competition. Entrants should look solely to Administrator with any questions, comments or problems related to the Competition. Administrator may be reached by email at socialmedia@euromediaal.com during the Promotion Period. * This giveaway will close at 12.00am, 9th December 2019. * The prize is A Christmas Hamper. The prize is non-transferable, non-refundable. There is no cash alternative. * Open to UK residents aged 18 or over, excluding employees of the Administrator, the sponsor, their families and anyone else professionally connected with this promotion. * There is one compulsory entry which requests that to enter the competition you answer a question based on issue 96 of Care & Nursing Essentials magazine. Additional entries are available. * The prize winner will be asked to provide their email address so that contact can be made to arrange prize delivery, and their name and county be published in the next issue of the magazine * By entering the competition, you grant the Administrator permission to add your details to the mailing list, share your email address and any other personally identifiable information with the other competition Entities for the purpose of administration and prize fulfillment, including use in a publicly available Winners list. * Entries will only be accepted as instructed and any entrant that does not complete the qualifying requirements will be disqualified * The winners will be chosen using the random entry selector built into the widget. * The winners will be informed by email within 5 days of the closing date, and must respond within 5 days to claim their prize. If there is no response within the 5 days and new winner will be drawn at random. *This prize draw is governed by English law and the courts of England shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any dispute arising in connection with it. For further T&C and our privacy policy please see here Euromedia Associates Ltd: Privacy Policy https://www.iubenda.com/privacy-policy/66331438/legal**
Simplifying the specification process with new ironmongery guides
A new guide on architectural ironmongery and specialist applications has been launched for those specifying hardware in care homes. The Specifier’s Guide to Ironmongery for Specialist Applications is one of five guides created by the Guild of Architectural Ironmongers (GAI) to ensure that anyone involved in the specification of architectural ironmongery has access to the latest, best practice advice. All of the guides are available to download for free from the GAI website. “We have produced these guides to ensure that all construction industry professionals have access to comprehensive guidelines and best practice covering all aspects of architectural ironmongery,” said Douglas Masterson, technical manager at the GAI. “We recognise that specifying architectural ironmongery can be complex, so we’ve pulled together all of the information a specifier will need to ensure the hardware is not only compliant but also performs as expected and suits the environment it is being used in.” The Specifier’s Guide to Ironmongery for Specialist Applications gives information on accessibility regulations that impact the specification of ironmongery including specialist closing devices, door automation, visual contrast and light reflective value (LRV). It also covers more specific hardware solutions such as anti-ligature hardware, anti-microbial door furniture, finger protection and specialist signage, detailing relevant product information, current standards and best practice. There is also a guide to accessibility that outlines the best practice guidelines of accessible and inclusive design. As well as covering all of the relevant ironmongery, the guide includes information on the dimensional guidelines required for lever and pull handles, locks, keys, thumb turns and handrails to be compliant with BS 8300. It also covers specifying ironmongery and signage that has strong visual contrast and LRV to assist those with visual impairments to meet BS 8300 guidelines, as well as legislation that applies specifically to this area of architectural ironmongery. This includes the Equality Act and guidance documents to building regulations on accessibility throughout the UK and Ireland, including Approved Document M. The other Specifier’s Guides cover fire and escape doors, security and access control. All five guides can be downloaded from the GAI website. The GAI is the body that represents the interests of the UK architectural industry. Its qualifications, education and CPD programmes are widely respected in the UK and overseas. Its technical information service is the only specialist service of its kind and provides GAI members with comprehensive advice. To download the guides for free, visit www.gai.org.uk
HeadStart Volunteering At Borough Care
Borough Care, the largest not-for-profit provider of care for older people in Stockport, is offering volunteering opportunities to young people through its links with The Challenge, which created and developed the HeadStart volunteering programme. HeadStart connects young people between the ages of 16 and 19 to local volunteering opportunities, with the aim of up-skilling and empowering them for further education and employment.HeadStart volunteers have been busy planning fundraising events for Borough Care’s resident amenity fund, which provides the little extras that make life more colourful for residents. The first HeadStart project with Borough Care took place at its Wellcroft home in Gatley. The ‘PlayStreet Youth Volunteering Challenge’ featured outdoor games and a tombola for residents, their families and friends.The next HeadStart project is taking place at Borough Care’s Silverdale home in Bredbury. For the project, entitled ‘Shared Lives’, the young volunteers will be speaking with residents to capture their life stories and exploring the similarities and differences with their own lives.Commenting on the HeadStart link up, Geraldine Blow, Area Manager at Borough Care, says: “It’s fantastic to welcome so many enthusiastic and imaginative young people to Borough Care. Being able to provide young people with the skills they need to enter the world of work, while giving our residents the chance to take part in fun and exciting projects, means it’s a win-win for everyone.” Find out more
Care2Connect Staff Short-Listed For Great British Care Awards
Care2Connect, the West Sussex homecare provider, has announced that three of its care team have been shortlisted for the Great British Care Awards. As a result of the nominations Julie Storey, Care Manager, Leanne Luxford, Care Worker and Lily Martin, Care Co-Ordinator have been invited to the regional finals which take place in Brighton next month.Julie Storey has been shortlisted for the Home Care Registered Manager Award. This award recognises those individuals who demonstrate a high level of expertise together with exceptional skills in managing the complex business of running a care agency, whilst developing person-centred care and supporting staff to meet the ever changing needs of clients.Lily Martin has been shortlisted for the Home Care Coordinator award which recognises the knowledge and skill needed to co-ordinate a care team in an effective and efficient way, motivating and supporting staff whilst ensuring the clients remains at the heart of the service.Leanne Luxford has been shortlisted for the Home Care Worker Award which acknowledges the significant role of those who consistently provide a high quality standard of care for people living in their own homes.The Great British Care Awards are a series of regional awards celebrating excellence across the care sector. The awards promote best practice within home care and care homes and recognise those individuals who have demonstrated outstanding excellence within their own field of work.Colin Young, Chairman of Care2Connect, comments: “We are delighted that three of our team have been shortlisted for these important awards. Home care is a growing need across West Sussex and the UK, and ensuring that the elderly or infirm can continue to live in their homes for as long as they want to is an important issue. We pride ourselves on promoting excellence across the care sector and it is encouraging that three of our personable, calm and professional team have been recognised in this year’s awards.” The awards will be presented at a Gala Dinner in Brighton on 9th November. www.care2connect.co.uk
Shaping the future of care
Shaping the future of care – with a wide range of services, Care Vision offers a spectrum of solutions that will bring all your care home needs under one roof. Only a care home manager knows just how complex and challenging care management is. Care Vision has been built on the principle, that simplifying means unifying: the many types of tasks and departments that share space under your one roof should also share one integrated system. From E-mar to food prep, housekeeping, health & safety, HR and family visits. Care Vision is designed to save time whilst meeting and going beyond CQC requirements. Rishi Jawaheer has been a director of the Jawa Group for over 12 years. The family’s first dementia care home was established in the 1980s, in London. Consulting with carers, families and professionals Rishi has created Care Vision. A solution built from the challenges of providing care and recording required information in real situations. Care vision has been designed to meet the complex needs of individuals using the service, from the perspective and skill level of carers. The quality of the record keeping satisfies the regulators. Care Vision works with providers to create a tailor-made solution that suits your service. Care notes can be entered in a few clicks at the point of service. Using icons and speech to text but also having the ability to easily edit makes this a fantastic tool for a modern-day carer. By using Care Vision, you can save up to 2-4 hours per week, per resident in staff hours. That means if you have a care home of 20 residents you can save up to 40-80 staff hours per week, 160-320 staff hours per month. That’s equivalent to 1-2 fulltime staff. To find out more, check out the film on www.carevisioncms.co.uk
Christchurch-based care home shortlisted at the Great British Care Awards 2019
Fairmile Grange, a specialist nursing care home based in Christchurch, has been shortlisted in ‘The Ancillary Worker’ award category at the Great British Care Awards. The Great British Care Awards hold a series of regional events throughout the UK, which recognise excellence across the care sector. Fairmile Grange is celebrating after its housekeeping team has been recognised for the excellent, person-centred service they provide to each resident at the care home. Cecilia Thomson, Home Manager at Fairmile Grange care home, said: “Receiving a shortlisting at these prestigious awards is really exciting for us. In addition to our nursing staff, our housekeeping team, from the catering staff to the cleaners, work exceptionally hard to provide the best quality care to our residents. They take special pride in their work, so this is a very well-deserved acknowledgment for them.” “Representatives from our housekeeping team travelled to Ashton Gate Stadium in Bristol earlier this month, where they attended the judging day for the awards, along with the other care providers we are competing against. We are delighted to get this far and hope we will be able to continue our journey in this competition and be recognised as a successful candidate at the next stage.” Fairmile Grange is an 80-bed care home, which is managed by Encore Care Homes. Situated in the grounds of Christchurch Hospital, Fairmile Grange has state-of-the-art facilities, a stunning landscaped garden and expertly trained staff who are supportive and provide excellent care to the residents. For more information about Fairmile Grange care home please call 01202 082722 to speak to a member of the team.
What is Outstanding Care?
Care Roadshows London is hosting a seminar which hopes to answer what it takes to deliver outstanding care. The free regional care events are coming to Epsom Downs Racecourse on Tuesday 19th November and are open to all care professionals, managers and care business owners. Designed specifically for the care sector, the one day event includes informative seminars and workshops as well as offering the opportunity to source new suppliers and services. Speaking at the event will be CQC Inspection Managers, Kima Sutherland-Dee and Natalie Reed, who will be exploring the topic ‘What is Outstanding?’ Using the case history of Dot, an 83-year-old mother and widow, they’ll be looking at expectations of care and how the care sector can exceed them.Also speaking at the event is Nadra Ahmed OBE, Chair of National Care Association who will be talking about the challenges and opportunities for care providers. Jackie Pool, Director of Memory Care at Sunrise Senior Living, is delivering a seminar on how rehabilitation programmes can improve every day quality of life for those with dementia. Headline sponsor, Quality Compliance Systems will be available to answer your questions on compliance and QCS Residential Care & Inspection Specialist, Ed Watkins will be talking about the Provider Information Return in his seminar. Care Roadshows London will also host interactive workshops from Creative Minds, who will be introducing you to seasonal crafts you can share in your care environments. Plus there’ll be a wide variety of great care brands with services and products to help your care business achieve its maximum potential. Find top brands and service providers like Blueleaf, apetito, Boots, everyLIFE Technologies, Florence and many more. Event tickets are free, including all seminars and workshops. Find out more about the event at: https://www.careroadshows.co.uk/london/Book online at: https://bit.ly/2OwuLxm
State of Social Care
Care England, the largest representative body for independent providers of adult social care, has welcomed the Care Quality Commission’s State of Healthcare and Adult Social Care in England report published this morning. Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive of Care England, says: “CQC’s annual report, State of Care, identifies workforce and inadequate funding as major concerns and echoes the sector’s call for a long term strategic plan for adult social care. The regulator recognises providers that have seized the initiative and attempted to work in different way to head off the impending crisis and asks that Parliament, Local Authorities and Commissioners support them. Moreover, the report only accentuates the fact that the Government cannot side-line social care reform for any longer. The risks of further inaction are too grave”. State of Care outlines the challenges faced by the care sector; namely funding and workforce but also shows how quality is more uniform and on an upward trend. The CQC is quite strident in its assessments and call for a long term strategy for adult social care stating that the fragility of the sector is of grave concern highlighting the plight of Learning Disabilities and winter pressures. The report highlights the extraordinary and acute nature of the problems that the care sector faces.
