Helping Care Teams Engage
Happy Days Dementia Workshop & Nostalgic Design are constantly designing and creating nostalgic environments, engagement and reminiscence materials to help care teams, volunteers and families engage with elderly and people living with dementia. Creating a nostalgic environment in your care home or hospital ward can really bring residents, patients, care teams and families together, says Gillian Hesketh, MD of Happy Days Dementia Workshop. ‘A complete room isn’t always necessary. Nostalgic or more modern interesting wall art in corridors can help people engage. Interactive displays and trolleys, themed reminiscence baskets with memorabilia can bring about stories to share, encourage activity and enrich a sense of well-being for everyone.’ Choose from 1950s & 1960s Displays – Post Office Corner – Table Top Market – Mini Tool Shed – Train Carriage – Laundry Day – Nurturing – Seaside – Ladies Salon – Garden Room – Reminiscence Room and more … We enjoy working to your budget, not ours. Email: gillian@dementiaworkshop.co.uk – Shop online: www.dementiaworkshop.co.uk
How To Create An Accessible Care Home Garden
If you’re thinking of creating or improving your care home garden, there are a few things to consider before heading off to the garden centre… People are living longer than ever before. As medicine and healthcare improve and people are more aware of the need for diet and exercise, society has increased its ability to live healthier lives for longer. It was revealed that by 2039, one in 12 people in the UK will be over the age of 80. Those born in 2013 are now expected to hit 100. Old age can decrease mobility, and compromise the ability to tend to gardens properly, so it is important if you are thinking of creating a garden at your care home to address how the space can be made more accessible and user-friendly for the elderly. It’s important to ensure the safeguarding of residents and staff in the garden. This is suggested by figures obtained by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, as in 2007 it was recorded that there were 115,000 garden falls, slips, and trips. This guide will advise on keeping your care home garden safe and accessible – which will encourage members of residents’ families to share and enjoy the garden space too. Raised flowerbeds When it comes to the garden, i.e. when residents are trying to reach flowers and plant them, it gets harder to bend down for long periods of time and tend to them properly. However, if you’re worried about this, then raised flowerbeds can be a great way of avoiding this difficulty altogether. If residents are able to bend down for a short while, or are in a wheelchair or mobility scooter, then flowerbeds that are 18-24 inches off the ground will help. Alternatively, if residents can’t bend down at all, then opt for flowerbeds that are 30 to 36 inches off the ground. As we grow older, we often become more fragile, and as a result, more people end up needing assistance such as mobility scooters — this means you need sturdy pathways to accommodate. The paths should be around 3-4 ft or 91-121cm wide; the paths should provide residents with enough room and access to every corner of the garden. Try to ensure that pathways are made of a surface that isn’t slippy and provides enough grip. If you use a gravelled surface, then this should provide enough safety for anybody using your garden. Flagstone or tarmac, meanwhile, are cost-effective materials that will last a long time and offer support in terms of grip and safety. A space for zoning out Your garden may be accessible, but it also needs to be enjoyed. This means you need a place to zone out and relax. If you place an outdoor sofa or bench in the corner of your garden, then this can become a mini-retreat within an already tranquil setting – providing you with greater comfort within your garden. For a more alternative approach, embed seating areas within plants to create a floral atmosphere while residents are sitting down and relaxing. The perfect decking For all gardens, the decking is the centre-piece that hosts all of your outdoor activities. It can be a place where everyone sits and admires your green space! It’s important to choose the right composite decking boards that will be a reliable safe space within your care home garden. To boost accessibility even more, handrails should be built in by professionals. A care home garden is a great space where everyone can socialise and, by making it more accessible for all, then residents, family members and staff can enjoy without any compromises. See arbordeck.co.uk for decking options to create your accessible garden.
British Healthcare In Crisis
Jonathan Bruce, Managing Director at Prestige Nursing + Care, discusses the need for politicians to focus on the future of social care. They say a week is a long time in politics, and the past few have seen the long-term future of British healthcare plunge deeper into uncertainty. The latest episode of this healthcare crisis was aired in May, with the news that the Social Care Green Paper was not to be published for at least another five months. It had been originally slated for Autumn 2017. What makes this issue and development particularly worrying is the supposed disagreement on how to fund the plans, between No10, the Treasury and the Department for Health, which has become so wide that there have been rumours that the Green Paper could be dropped permanently. This would be disastrous for all concerned in the care industry. The change in Prime Minister will only serve to continue the confusion and stagnation surrounding the long-term healthcare plans. Can the new PM really balance the task of getting the care industry out of this crisis while getting to grips with the most important job in the country over the coming months? Moreover, the next Prime Minister will have their own agenda, ambitions, as well as people in mind to fill Cabinet positions. It’s possible that Matt Hancock won’t remain as Health Secretary beyond this leadership election, as one of his competitors may have brought in someone that aligns more with their beliefs. We have little idea of what the next Health Secretary will do with these Green Paper plans, whether they’ll support them or rip them up and start again. All this means is that the Green Paper that could do so much good for the industry will fall further and further away from seeing the light, at a time when it is needed the most. See https://www.prestige-nursing.co.uk to learn more about the health and social care provided by the group.
What to look for in a window restrictor in a care home
Since starting with Jackloc in January, I have been to a number care sites and acute mental patient hospitals, talking to directors and managers about window safety. The care market for Jackloc is a busy one, sites have 100+ windows and often many locations around the country. Personally, I feel it is essential for me to understand through these meetings, what our client objectives are regarding window safety in their individual settings. I want to know why Jackloc products are selected, used and what the users and staff feel about their operation, and to establish if there is scope for better understanding or improvement. Window safety in Care In the care sector, guidelines for the use of window restrictors have been issued by the Department of Health to help reduce the risk of falls from windows. To achieve this, window restrictors must comply with BS EN 13126-5:2011 standards to withstand a force of up to 500N being applied to the window in a forced opening test. In addition, an Estates and Facilities Alert was issued in 2014, following an incident where a fatality occurred when a care home resident fell from a window that had been restricted with a brand of restrictor that would now be considered as not fit for purpose. This alert suggested that within the health and care sector, window restrictors should be capable of withstanding forces in excess of 500N mentioned in the above BS EN standard, or that two restrictors may be required if one alone is considered in sufficient. It’s also worth noting that it’s not just falls from windows which a restricted window can help reduce. If a vulnerable resident is able to leave a ground floor window, then they may wander without care in confusion. My own mother lived with Dementia in a care home seven years ago, and would often revert back to childhood saying that she wanted to go outside to play on the swing. She had a ground floor room with a window that opened straight out to the garden, so would’ve been quite likely to try to use the window had she been alone and the window had the ability to open. So, in a market where restrictors are recommended by the Department of Health, what more can a window restrictor manufacturer do? With an already captive market, will waving a few restrictors around mean that people will come flocking to purchase them? In a competitive market it is key to stand out and be present, but what is most important is not preaching to the converted – there’s clearly a requirement for restrictors in this environment; but more importantly talking about HOW to maintain them properly and that’s where relationships with clients is essential. Engaging messages In this market, the environment, testing and maintenance are the some of the most important areas to consider. Installation of window restrictors are included in the guidelines, however, they need to be regularly maintained and assessed. Just having restrictors in place doesn’t mean that they will remain working effectively, only regular testing and updating, if required, will achieve this aim. During meetings with care providers, I want to create an open dialogue to listen to their needs and identify what The Jackloc Company can bring to make things work as well as they can, and to provide peace of mind to resident’s families and care providers on an on-going basis. Maintenance Organising site visits and risk assessments takes time out of everyone’s day, but it’s important to have a regular maintenance plan in place to ensure that the restrictors are doing their job. Regular wear to both the window and the restrictor will occur over time, and the window opening can flex and widen when under that pressure. Jackloc are hoping, to shortly be in a position to announce a partnership agreement that will provide a network of skilled installers and technicians who will be able to fit new Jackloc products. They will also be able to test window restrictors that are already installed, to ensure they are still achieving pass levels under load test. This will demonstrate to CQC assessors that maintenance regimes are being adequately adhered to. The future We recently attended the NASHiCS Health and Safety Conference for Social Care and continued discussions directly with care providers on how to improve window safety. At the event we demonstrated our folding restrictor, which can hold a force of 4800 Newtons, or 74 stone. In fact, under test conditions the window failed before the restrictor, which remained intact still attached to what was left of the window frame. We built the folding restrictor intentionally for the care market as it’s the strongest available. Since joining Jackloc earlier this year, I’ve been incredibly impressed with it. It’s been very well received by the trade and customers alike and we have big plans to promote the product over the Autumn. If you would like to hear more about our maintenance plans and see the folding restrictor demonstrated in action, then let’s arrange a meeting to discuss how we can work together and how Jackloc can help with your window safety requirements. #windowrestrictors #windowsafety #preventingfalls Eric.collins@jackloc.com
Great Oaks invests in robotic technology
Great Oaks invests in robotic technology to boost residents’ health and wellbeing Residents from Great Oaks care home in Bournemouth have benefited from the addition of two new robotic animals as part of the home’s pet therapy sessions, Biscuit the robotic dog and Arthur the robotic cat. Great Oaks is already home to the residents’ pet budgie called Smuggler which often brings a smile to everyone’s face when he starts to sing. It has been recognised since Smuggler was introduced to the home, that he has encouraged social interaction and visibly reduced stress and anxiety in residents with dementia. Biscuit the robotic dog and Arthur the robotic cat are a welcome addition to the home’s dedicated pet therapy sessions. Biscuit responds to touch and speech, just like a real dog would, making him the perfect companion. Arthur mimics a cat’s typical behaviour by meowing, purring and lifting its paws in response to speech. Michele Blake, wellbeing manager at Great Oaks, explained: “Animals have always been part of our varied care programme at Great Oaks due to the positive impact they have on our residents’ wellbeing and overall health. However, the recent investment into the robotic pets means that our residents now have access to them throughout the day and can pet them for longer. “One of our residents had been quite unsettled one morning and soon after she interacted with the cat, she appeared much calmer while stroking it, and told everyone how lovely her new pet was. We always welcome new ways to grow and enhance the high standard of care which we provide and look to incorporate new technology into the home that is going to benefit our residents.” Great Oaks is managed by Encore Care Homes, with two other care homes in Christchurch and Fareham, and a fourth due to open in Poole later this year. The 80-bed care home is fitted with state-of-the-art facilities, designed to enable staff to provide the highest standard of 24-hour, personalised care and ensure residents are comfortable and happy in their surroundings. Please visit www.greatoaksbournemouth.co.uk for more information or call 01202 476960.
Gangsta Grannies raise £1,200 for local hospice
A team from leading mobility and home healthcare equipment supplier Clearwell Mobility, took part in the annual Dragon Boat Festival dressed as Gangsta Grannies to raise money for charity on Sunday September 8. The entertaining event at Tilgate Park was the 17th dragon boat festival in aid of St Catherine’s Hospice, which helps support terminally ill people in West Sussex and East Surrey. A dragon boat is a boat of a traditional Chinese design and decorated to look like a dragon. The Clearwell Mobility team set themselves a fundraising target of £1,000 which had already been exceeded before the race. This was through sponsorship pledges and a staff raffle, with the chance to win an extra day’s holiday, causing much excitement from the staff and netting £300. This year saw 34 teams race across Tilgate Park in a bid to win the Dragon Boat Festival Crown, with Clearwell Mobility taking part in three races against other local businesses. Duncan Gillett, Clearwell Mobility’s managing director, said: “We had a great day at the festival, meeting the other teams and people linked to St Catherine’s Hospice. The staff there provide a fantastic service to those in difficult circumstances and have touched the lives of many families locally and further afield. “We may have not won the race, but we were keen to help raise donations and so far, we’ve raised more than £1,200. It’s not too late to sponsor us if you’d like to show your support. Visit justgiving.com and search for Clearwell Mobility Ltd.” Clearwell Mobility’s fancy dress theme came with inspiration from a David Walliams’ 2011 book called Gansta Granny, which saw the team dressed in wigs, thief masks and pearl necklaces.
Care home celebrates new eco-garden with local MP and Wildlife Trust
On Friday, 6th September, an Oxfordshire care home welcomed local MP, Robert Courts, and Chair of the Board of Trustees of Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust, Barbara Muston as they celebrated the unveiling of their new eco-garden. The garden, designed to attract more wildlife for nature loving residents, has meadow and prairie areas that feature paths leading to birdboxes, hedgehog homes and a variety of plants and flowers. The garden has been specifically designed to ensure it is accessible to residents, encouraging them to spend more time in the garden. To celebrate, Churchfields held a garden party where guests enjoyed tours of the garden, along with a special cake. The two VIPs spent time exploring the new garden as well as chatting to residents about the benefits of the newly designed space. On the garden, MP Robert Courts expressed; “I’m absolutely delighted to come to Churchfields to celebrate this wonderful wildlife they have here. Just looking around today and you can see the wonderful job Jane and the team have done. “Primarily it provides a wonderful area for the residents, everything that is done here is for the care of the people who live here. It will give a wonderful area for people to relax and get closer to nature.” On the day, Barbara Muston, Chair of the Board of Trustees of Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust commented: “People who have spaces like this, spaces that haven’t been doing anything for nature at all, can be turned into a wonderful habitat. We’ve been hearing from Jane about how the animals, the birds and the insects are all returning to this space which had nothing four months ago, so it’s fantastic.” And the work won’t stop there. Further additions will include an allotment area and summerhouse and the care home will continue to work with the Wildlife Trust to improve and expand the garden. Jane Roberts, Churchfields Care Home owner, commented: “It was lovely to welcome the MP and local Wildlife Trust as we celebrated the new garden. With the project taking considerable amounts of thought and planning, it’s been fantastic to hear such positive feedback from both Robert and Barbara. “Our residents are already making the most of the garden, taking regular visits to the garden to view the birds and insects which have been slowly arriving in the new space.” For more information on Churchfields Care Home, or to take a look around the home, please call 01865 88140 or visit http://churchfieldscarehome.co.uk/.
Online Questionnaire for Potential Recruits Launched
Sunrise Senior Living UK and Gracewell Healthcare Launch Online Questionnaire for Potential Recruits Sunrise Senior Living UK and Gracewell Healthcare have launched an innovative recruitment questionnaire for potential candidates to find out whether a career in care is right for them. The care organisations carried out comprehensive research through research groups and worked in conjunction with a business psychologist to develop the online ‘Self-Selection Questionnaire,’ enabling them to take a values-based approach in their selection process. Self-selection refers to the process where a jobseeker is given information about the more challenging aspects of a vacancy and employer as well as the positives, in order to better enable them to make an informed decision about whether to apply for a job role. The new tool will allow interested candidates, including people that may not have had a career in care before, to ‘look in and see’ what a role in care at Sunrise and Gracewell is like, as well as the qualities they need to be successful. The organisations are specifically looking to reduce their attrition point, where workers leave a role, and ensure overall retention of team members, especially within the first 90 days of joining. Used by large national businesses such as Marks & Spencer and British Airways to recruit team members, self-selection has been found to significantly reduce resignation rates, which are high among recent recruits, and, according to 61% of employers, improve the performance and motivation of newly hired team members. Its reasoning is simple: the aim is to ensure that the candidate, if offered the role, accepts with full understanding of what is expected of them by managers, customers, fellow team members and anyone else they may interact with. Sunrise and Gracewell hope that as they create and shape their employer value proposition (EVP), the questionnaire will allow for a richer candidate experience to engage with the organisations at the earliest opportunity and be informed about what lies ahead. The questionnaire will now be placed onto the Sunrise and Gracewell Careers sites and elsewhere online to direct potential candidates to complete it before they submit an application. David Evans, Head of Talent Acquisition at Sunrise Senior Living UK and Gracewell Healthcare, said: “We’re delighted to have developed such an advanced and invaluable online tool to ensure that we are recruiting the care leaders of tomorrow. “We believe this tool will allow us to engage with a wider pool of potential candidates at Sunrise Senior Living UK and Gracewell Healthcare, including those who may not have considered a career in care before. “The questionnaire is confidential and doesn’t need to be taken to see our current opportunities, but it does give a greater insight into our world before someone commences the application process. We hope that it will encourage potential applicants to know with full confidence whether care is the right pathway for them.”
Calling All Those Thinking About A Career In Care
Local children and young adults’ charity, Chailey Heritage Foundation is inviting those thinking about a career in care to join them at its Career Open Day and Roadshows, held around Sussex in September. As part of recruitment drive, Chailey Heritage Foundation is holding the open day and three pop up events for those interested in becoming support workers to the children and young people with complex physical disabilities and high health needs that attend the school and residential facility: · Friday 20th September – Uckfield Civic Centre 10am-2pm · Tuesday 24th September – Burgess Hill Shopping Centre 10am-2pm · Thursday 26th September – Haywards Heath Waitrose 10am-2pm · Saturday 28th September – Chailey Heritage Foundation, 10am-12pm The events give those interested in a career in care the opportunity to talk to members of the Chailey Heritage team and have a chance to see how the nationally recognised centre of excellence makes a difference to both those they support and their families and friends. The local charity is looking for carers, with both experience and new to the care for a number of roles including day and night support workers, bank support, for those wanting a more flexible work pattern, and community support workers. Rob Hambrook, Head of Community Operations for Chailey Heritage Foundation, comments, “Our support workers are the heart of what we do here at Chailey Heritage and their role is integral to the wellbeing and happiness of every one of the young people. The role not only brings opportunities to those looking for a career in care, or the next step up on their career ladder, but also gives those they care for the opportunity to reach their full potential and prepare them for life.” Kate, who presently works at Chailey Heritage as a support worker continues, “Working with the children and young people and their families at Chailey Heritage is life changing. You have the opportunity to understand the support these amazing young people and their families need and how you can make a difference as well as learn skills and gain experience in how to care for those with complex disabilities and high health needs.” Renumeration packages range from £ 17,127-£ 20,090 dependent on experience (based on 37 hours per week) with comprehensive benefits. To book a place on the open day, call 01825 724 444 ext 709 or Click Here to book your free place or by using Eventbrite.
