Care homes getting worse in one in three local councils
Care homes getting worse in one in three local councils – urgent action needed to end inadequate standards of care, says older people’s charity The quality of care homes has worsened in the last year in more than a third of local authorities (37%) Independent Age has found. With over 2.6 million over-65s living in areas where an increasing number of care homes are rated ‘inadequate’ or ‘requires improvement’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) many older people and their families have no choice but to choose a poorly-performing care home. The older people’s charity analysed a snapshot of the CQC’s inspection data in January 2018 and January 2019, and found: · More than a third of local authorities saw a drop in performance between the two dates. This is an extremely concerning trend, and a stark increase on the 22% of local authorities where care home quality worsened between 2017 and 2018 · In Manchester local authority, 44% of care homes were rated ‘Inadequate’ or ‘Requires Improvement’ · There were 16 local authority areas where between 30%-40% of care homes attracted this rating. For a care home to receive a ‘Requires Improvement’ or ‘Inadequate’ rating, the service must be failing to deliver the minimum quality of care that is expected. Issues highlighted in poorly rated care homes have included residents not receiving medicine as they were prescribed, and their nutrition and hydration not being monitored. Today’s report compares the immediate action taken by Ofsted to address failing schools to the general acceptance of poorly-performing care homes. The charity believes lessons can be learned from the education sector’s approach to making improvements. Ofsted’s approaches to tackling failing schools have included a comprehensive improvement plan, such as management changes, arranging for expert help from other schools as well as regular re-inspections. These tactics are not consistently employed across the care home sector, but could be used to help tackle poor performance. Independent Age is also calling for urgent action to end the poor and inadequate quality of care. Residents and their families fund care homes, as well as taxpayers, but increasingly are not getting value for money. The charity is also calling on the government to finalise a sustainable long term funding settlement for social care now. Only with a substantial investment which puts social care on a sustainable footing, can the Government truly resource the sector so that it can tackle unacceptable variations in quality. George McNamara, Director of Policy and Influencing at Independent Age, commented: “These findings are truly alarming, and show thousands of vulnerable older people live in homes that are failing to deliver even the bare minimum. “Years of dithering by the government, and the failure to reform the social care system, is a main cause of increased pressures on the care home market and more areas with poor performers. Unless the forthcoming Green Paper is bold and ambitious, it will do little to address the crisis in care. “Essentially, the government continues to stand by and do nothing to address the quality of care suffered by older people, many of whom live with conditions such as dementia, and who are being robbed of their ability to enjoy life as much as possible. “As well as being dangerous, poor care is miserable, involving things like being woken up in the night to be dressed or taken to the toilet because of staff shortages. Care homes are where many of us will live out our final months. No life should end in misery.” Find out more
Et Voilà! Bearsden Care Home Residents Learn French
Residents at a care home in Bearsden are proving it’s never too late to learn a new language by taking up French lessons. Meallmore’s Antonine House care home has teamed up with Glasgow-based social enterprise Lingo Flamingo, who visit once a week to provide interactive language classes. Language learning in later years has been shown to have a number of benefits and it is believed that speaking multiple languages can delay the onset of dementia by up to five years. The classes help to improve residents’ cognitive ability, communication skills and well-being, as well as build their confidence. The course material is designed to be accessible and the classes are very interactive, focusing on speech as well as using props to introduce sensory learning through touch and smell. Through the topics covered, such as food and drink, travel and school, residents are inspired to share their memories and stories. They also enjoy singing French songs together, such as Frère Jacques. Bobby Dougan, care home manager at Antonine House, said: “We run a number of activities in the care home to encourage residents to interact and have fun and there is no doubt that the French language workshops are one of their favourites. “We have had 16 lessons so far and it has been wonderful to see residents become more and more engaged as the weeks have gone by. As well as learning the language, they have also found it really interesting to learn about French culture and customs. “We’re committed to providing exceptional standards of care at Meallmore and this is just one of the ways in which we look to enrich our residents’ lives.” Judith Eck, French Tutor from Lingo Flamingo, said: “One main benefit of language learning for the residents is that it gives them a “mental workout” and re-ignites language that they may have learned in school. “We find even the quietest residents find their voices when we work with numbers or days of the week and can join in. There’s no worry of having ‘forgotten the words’ because everyone is at the same stage. “The group really enjoy the lessons and they participate well. It’s also a great social hour – they love getting together and sharing their stories and memories and it’s a real privilege for us to hear them.” More information about Meallmore Ltd can be found at www.meallmorelodge.co.uk.
Knitted walking frame bags bring joy to care home residents
Hand crafted walking frame bags have given care home residents more freedom to get about carrying their “essentials”. A knitting group from Thornaby Methodist Church, near Middlesbrough, created the bags for residents at Mandale House Care Home. One of those residents, Mavis Thomas, has been a member of the church and friends with the knitting group organiser, Shirley Whitfield, for over 50 years. Shirley established Chat and Craft to help members work through their grief after their husbands passed away. They began knitting items to raise funds for the church and later diversified into baby clothes and blankets, for Blue Light Babies charity. The group then started knitting items for care homes in the area, including the walking frame bags for those living at Mandale House Care Home, on Acklam Road, Thornaby. Shirley said: “The group loves helping others and making a difference to the community. “The ladies who go to the group enjoy the company and that they’re creating something useful to help others. “They’re delighted the Mandale residents love the bags and use them all the time.” The knitting group has also donated baby dolls and knitted clothes to the home, as residents with dementia find dressing and holding them comforting, according to home manager Louise Hawksby. She said: “The knitting bags that residents are able to fasten to their walking frames have been really popular. They are absolutely delighting the residents. “They are having a hoot collecting and carrying around their essentials. Some of the things they’re carrying are packets of biscuits, tissues, fruit, twiddle muffs and toys. “The knitting group also supplied two fully clothed dolls for the dementia suite. They came with knitted trousers, beanies, cardigans and a blanket made from lace trimmed terry towelling nappies. “They have been a hit with our residents, as they bring back memories of when they used to look after their own children. The simple act of dressing and holding the dolls can provide a lot of comfort and joy.” Residents Florence Jinks and Margaret Morris have both been making use of their new walking frame bags. Florence said: “It’s really handy. I like to keep my biscuits and tissues in my bag.” Margaret added: “I have been filling mine with fruit from the fruit bowl.” Mandale House Care Home is part of the Hill Care Group. For further information visit www.hillcare.net.
Naidex 45: bringing you the future of healthcare
Over the past few years the patient journey has been streamlined thanks to personalised care available through the innovative technology ready for professionals to take advantage of. Naidex is Europe’s largest even dedicated to healthcare professionals and will be the biggest platform for the display of industry innovation that will help provide essential, personalised care for people living with a disability. Taking place on the 26th and 27th March, the event will attract 15,000 visitors to fill the NEC in Birmingham, transforming it into the hub of the health, care and rehabilitation world. Manual handling is a daily activity for most healthcare professionals. For that reason, the Moving and Handling Lab will return this year, for visitors to come and witness live demonstrations covering topics such as hoisting, manual handling, toileting slings, single handed care, plus sized handling and postural management. Not only that, you’ll also get the opportunity to experience first hand the capabilities of the latest products demonstrated in the Lab. And best of all, gain CPD points for free by attending these demonstrations, saving you thousands of pounds and keeping you at the top of your professional knowledge! Also, you’ll find that all of our 250 seminars are CPD accredited as well, making sure that visitors never miss out on this essential training and accreditation. The Naidex seminar schedule features experts that are spearheading the whole industry, and will keep visitors up to date with all the latest training and techniques. Throughout the day, you’ll hear from the likes of Nadra Ahmed from the National Care Association, who will discuss the challenges professionals face and consider the opportunities arising from innovative partnerships. Amy Bean from Saebo, will also look to provide ideas of how Saebo’s product range can help in the process of high repetitions and intensive practice, whilst also beginning to be incorporated into everyday tasks. The full line up of speakers at the event can be found at naidex.co.uk! Naidex will also be hosting 350 world class exhibitors! Brands such as AAT GB Ltd & Posture Care will be on hand to discuss how their products can help fallen persons as well as help them sleep with pressure relief and thermoregulation. This is just the tip of the iceberg, as Naidex boasts technology that is defining the market like ReWalk Robotics GmbH and their wearable exoskeleton. Get the opportunity to meet companies like Centrobed, Ardoo, Coloplast, the HCPC and more. With such a wide range of options you are sure to find what you’re looking for, meaning that everyone can leave Naidex having their every requirement met. Across the Moving and Handling Lab, the CPD accredited seminars and the cutting edge exhibitors present, Naidex will truly be the best chance for professionals to experience the evolving health and care industry. 15,000 visitors will fill the halls of the NEC in Birmingham across the 26th and 27th March, so be sure to join us by securing your free tickets from Naidex 45: bringing you the future of healthcare now!
Sunrise of Sonning launches placement scheme for budding Nursing students
Sunrise of Sonning, on Old Bath Road, has launched a scheme to give nursing students an opportunity to train and learn in a hands-on environment, in addition to their university studies. Their first placement student began on 21st January and is undertaking a five week placement. This marks the first placement student that Sunrise Senior Living UK has taken on, and the company hopes to start introducing the scheme across its other care homes in the UK over the coming months. Annegy Mataso, who is in her 3rd year at the University of West London (UWL), is the lucky student now working at Sunrise of Sonning care home. Following an assessment of the Community and a lot of paperwork to get the process signed off, Sunrise of Sonning was considered a suitable place for student placements and started looking for their first candidate. The Community will now offer these placements to students, and has the capacity for two placements at a time. Sunrise of Sonning has also already organised for two students to follow on from Annegy. Carmela Magbitang, General Manager of Sunrise of Sonning, said: “I am really pleased to have been able to get the placement programme off the ground. This project has been a personal passion of mine and I am really looking forward to working more closely with Annegy and all future students. “These individuals will be exposed to a whole new side of nursing and will have the opportunity to gain real practical experience, to enhance what they are learning at the University. It’s only been a week and the team have already taught Annegy so much – we want all students to be able to become the best nurses they can be and there is no greater feeling than helping them accomplish this. I have a great interest in mentoring and I know a lot of the team at Sunrise of Sonning do too. We hope the students have a wonderful experience here.” Annegy Mataso, Placement Student at Sunrise of Sonning, said: “I am so grateful to be the first student who has been accepted to do their placement at Sunrise of Sonning. At first I didn’t know what to expect when I found out I had been placed in a Care Home for my placement. “Carmela, the GM has been very welcoming. She took me around the Care Home and showed me the Community, I met some residents and other staff, who have been really supportive. “I had the chance to work with my Mentor, Daisy, she has taken me under her wing and showed me there is a lot to learn and so much experience to gain. I am surprised at how much I have learnt in a short space of time and I really look forward to everything I will learn during the rest of my placement.” For more information about this placement scheme, or to speak to one of the team please contact Sunrise of Sonning on 0118 207 2723. Click for more info
Borough Care Appoints New Board Member
Borough Care, the largest not-for-profit provider of care for older people in Stockport, has appointed Lee Omar to its Board of Directors. In his new position as a Non-Executive Director, Lee Omar will support Borough Care’s Executive Team at a strategic level and also engage with residents, their families and staff, to provide invaluable feedback to the leadership team. Lee’s role will include developing relationships with external stakeholders, to help Borough Care innovate and remain commercial focussed. Commenting on what attracted him to becoming a Board member at Borough Care, Lee Omar says: “Having been a Non-Executive Director for NHS Trusts, I was interested to work in social care as I believe one of the great challenges we face is how we meet the requirements of our ageing society. We are living longer lives and I want to be part of the change that sees us offering aspirational products and services for this ageing population.” Lee Omar continues: “I am looking forward to working with Borough Care’s innovative leadership team and adding my expertise and skills to the mix, as we empower our residents and their families by delivering a world class service. As a founder and CEO of a start-up company, I have had to be innovative to grow my business and survive. This has meant creating trusted partnerships with external stakeholders and doing things differently. I will be bringing this approach to Borough Care.” Dr Mark Ward, CEO at Borough Care, says: “It’s great to have Lee joining us at what is an exciting time for Borough Care. As a forward-thinking company, we have ambitions to lead a step change in the approach to care for older people and Lee’s expertise will be invaluable in helping us achieve this.” Lee Omar is CEO of Red Ninja, a design led technology company that makes apps for the healthcare and transport sectors. He also advises governments on technology at Prime Minister and President level. At Red Ninja, Lee has designed apps that help older people shop online and improve their nutritional intake. He has recently worked on an app that helps prevent falls in care homes, which has been adopted by the NHS. Find out more
Carrot Cake Day helps Chesterfield care home residents
NATIONAL Carrot Cake Day has been helping Derbyshire care home residents living with dementia. Residents at Springbank House Care Home, on Ashgate Road, in Chesterfield, have been recalling their baking skills to mark the national day. They helped make and decorate buns and cakes before they were served during afternoon tea. Using their baking skills has proven beneficial for those with dementia, according to home manager Karen Busby. She said: “We’re always looking for activities where our residents can use familiar skills, especially for those living with dementia. “Tasks that bring back memories can have a very positive effect on their mood and wellbeing. “Many of the residents used to bake for their families and friends, so National Carrot Cake Day was an opportunity to get them mixing, whisking and decorating their own cakes and buns. “Everyone had a great time making and then eating the cakes.” One of those residents who got involved in the activity was Eileen Ransome, 95. She said: “I was taught by my mother to cook and, in those days, there were no mixers. You had to mix the butter and eggs with a wooden spoon – adding eggs slowly because it would curdle. “Today, they buy cakes or get cake mix in packets – not like in the olden days, where we made them from start to finish.” Another resident, Freda Botham, 96, said: “My mother made beautiful bread and biscuits but I lost her recipe book. “I always disliked chocolate cake but I made them for my children, David and Diane.” Alongside the baking activity, the home’s staff introduced two mascots for the day, Kevin and Katie Carrot. The pair of cuddly toys kept residents company and rode the serving trolley while the cakes were handed out with afternoon tea. Home manager Karen added: “The residents thought having Kevin and Katie Carrot in to help was lovely and cute. “The pair have now retired and we have agreed to put them on display and raffle them to raise money for the residents’ fund” “The team at Springbank work so hard to give the residents a lovely time and fill the home with cheer and laughter, which is as good as any medicine.” www.hillcare.net
Care home’s first coffee morning a “huge success”
FAMILIES, friends and VIPs turned out for an inaugural coffee morning at a Peterlee care home. The Town Mayor Councillor Scott Meikle, Deputy Mayor Councillor Terry Duffy and Councillor Gordon Carne were among the guests at the first Bannatyne Lodge Care Home community coffee morning. They were joined by staff, residents and visitors for hot drinks, cakes and a chat. There was also a tombola to raise money for the residents’ fund, which contributes towards activities and outings for those living at the home. Lynn Chapman, home manager at Bannatyne Lodge Care Home, on Manor Way, said: “Our first coffee morning was a huge success. “We all enjoyed cakes, tea, coffee and a big tombola. Residents and their families, friends of the home and council members all came along to show support. “Anyone is welcome to attend our coffee morning events, so we hope to see as many as possible at the next.” Bannatyne Lodge Care Home is part of the Hill Care Group. For further information visit www.hillcare.net.
Medical Refrigeration in Care Homes: Safety, Stability, Quality and Reliability
Medical refrigeration is a topic that any hospital, pharmacy or medical facility must take seriously. The same applies to care homes, which handle and manage medication on a daily basis for their residents. The correct storage of medicines and vaccines is essential to ensure drugs maintain their effectiveness, and failure to store them properly can lead to serious problems. Care homes must follow the same rules and procedures as hospitals and other medical facilities to ensure they are storing medicines safely. According to The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), all care homes should adhere to a written policy, which gives staff information on how to; o Share information about medicines o Keep records about medicines o Deal with any mistakes that may happen o Review and accurately list the medicines o Order, receive, store and disposal o Give medicines to people in their care Former Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, recognised the problem in February, after a study revealed that drug errors in England were causing harm and – in some cases – death. It reported that pharmacists, hospitals and care homes may be making as many as 237 million errors a year – the equivalent of one mistake made for every five drugs handed out. Why Correct Storage Is Essential Not only can storing certain medicines at the wrong temperature shorten their shelf life by affecting the composition of the drugs, but it can even be dangerous to the end user. If drugs are not stored correctly, they can quickly become ineffective. This may waste considerable amounts of money when batches are ruined and have to be disposed of. All medication in care home facilities must be safely stored under lock and key, so that only authorised persons can have access. Common medications in care homes which must be refrigerated include insulin, eye/ear/nose drops, injections, creams and even vaccines. The only safe way to store certain medications and vaccinations is in a medical refrigeration unit. Even slight temperature deviations can ruin medications, so only the very best medical refrigeration products should be used. This means standard domestic fridges designed for storing food and drink must never be used for this purpose. They simply cannot provide the same strict temperature control and monitoring that specialist medical fridges offer. What to Look For in a Medical Fridge There are many factors that make refrigerators suitable for storing medicines and vaccinations. Firstly, a medical fridge will have very strict temperature controls. A suitable fridge keeps the temperature stable and prevents it from fluctuating too much, which is a common problem with standard fridges. Secondly, a medical fridge will not only measure the temperature of the air inside the fridge; it will also measure the temperature of the medication itself. This is the temperature that really matters and it must be kept stable, so measuring the air temperature alone is not sufficient. The temperature should be recorded on a daily basis by staff. How to Store Medicines Correctly As you probably know, storing medicines is not the same as storing food and drink in a normal domestic fridge. There are a few rules to follow to ensure your medicines and vaccinations are stored properly, as follows: Always keep medicines in their original packaging to protect them from the light and make them easy to identify alongside other medicines. This will help staff identify who the medicine is for. Never overfill the fridge. The maximum capacity should remain at 75%, and storing the fridge with more medicines than this could lead to a build-up of ice that can affect the temperature control. Pay close attention to the position of medicines and vaccines inside the refrigerator. They should be carefully placed so they are not touching the back wall, which can adversely affect their temperature. There should also be a 1cm gap between them; again, this helps to keep the temperature stable. Correct Fridge Maintenance Guidance While all medical fridges are different, there are a few guidelines to follow with whichever one you use to make sure you look after it and ensure the integrity of the medicines kept within. Electrical safety is imperative in a care home, make sure your medical fridge is in good working order. You should always check the wires regularly and carry out an annual servicing or calibration using an expert service. Also check the integrity of your electricity supply – sockets and switches in particular – to ensure they are safe to use. Also check for the build-up of ice. As mentioned, this can become a problem, especially if the fridge is filled to over 75% capacity. Ice can affect the temperature control of the medicines, so defrost the fridge if you need to. If there is a build-up of ice inside the appliance, check the door seal to see if it has been crushed and is therefore not sealing properly. It is also worth considering taking out a maintenance contract to ensure that your fridge is serviced regularly and works as it should. Advantages of Choosing the Right Fridge Choosing the right fridge for your care home is essential. Doing so will help to prevent vaccines and other valuable medicines from being ruined. Losing vaccines and medicines can be expensive as well as dangerous and a good quality fridge will greatly reduce the risk. By keeping your medicines fresh and safe, you will be able to give the best possible care to your residents. Using suitable medical refrigeration in your facility should be considered essential to prevent problems with your medicines and make financial savings. www.coolmed.co.uk
