Long-Lost Friends
Two long-lost friends who first met at a ladies’ club have been reunited after 30 years in a care home in Macclesfield. Anna Jeffrey and Mary Braddock became close friends at the Inner Wheel Macclesfield club, spending lots of time fundraising together, but lost touch around 30 years ago. However, the pair become reacquainted when they ‘bumped’ into each other at Prestbury House Care Home. Mary, aged 95, moved into the home owned by Porthaven Care Homes seven years ago following her dementia diagnosis. Her 92-year-old best friend Anna made Prestbury House her home in November 2023.Anna said: “I was coming through some double doors at the home and just as the care worker pushed the door there was a lady at the other side who I recognised. It was Mary. Our two faces literally almost touched each other.“I said to her ‘you’re Mary’ and she just said, ‘yes, my name is Mary’. I knew she recognised me but my name didn’t come to her lips. It was incredible. I was very, very happy. She looks exactly the same.”Darcie Howard, client services manager at Prestbury House, spends a lot of time with both Anna and Mary. Since the pair have reconnected they regularly enjoy dinner and afternoon tea together, as well as flower arranging, which they both used to love.She said: “The reunion was lovely. So very heartwarming. We have seen them come together and reminisce about their history. I don’t think any of us at Prestbury House have ever had a situation where friends have reconnected after so many years – to then be back together under the same roof.“I supported Anna hugely with her move, and this really has sparked a new sense of identity for her. Life had taken them in different directions, but they have found each other again!”According to Age UK, 1.4 million older people in the UK are often lonely. The National Institute for Health and Care Research found that older people who experience loneliness are at a higher risk of developing mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety. Porthaven believes that wellness should be a priority in their residents’ lives and in the lifestyle choices they make and strive to provide engaging activities and communities for their residents.Darcie added: “It’s easy for people to feel like they can lose their identity when they move into a care home, so we strive to ensure our residents feel like this is their home and they feel independent. We want our residents to hold onto their memories and to keep their history alive.“This friendship is so lovely, and we have spent lots of time discussing Anna and Mary’s past. Reuniting people and reigniting those memories is a huge part of what we do – and this story was such a lovely surprise!”Prestbury House, part of Porthaven Care Homes, provides 24-hour residential, nursing, dementia and respite care in an elegant and spacious home. For more information about Prestbury House, visit www.porthaven.co.uk or call 01625 506100.
It’s all about the flooring….
The Contract Flooring Association is the leading independent professional voice of the contract flooring industry and this year is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Members of the Association include specialist flooring contractors, manufacturers, distributors and consultants — both large and small, operating from locations throughout the UK. The CFA’s membership now accounts for a significant proportion of the UK’s commercial flooring market. Most of the UK’s largest and most well-known companies from throughout the flooring sector supply chain are CFA members. With such a high level of commitment from so many companies and individuals, the CFA has a wealth of resources at its fingertips. It is this breadth and depth of information that makes it so much more than just a trade association. The objectives of the CFA are to promote the highest standards of professionalism, safety and training while at the same time, providing essential services and expert information to ensure the quality and productivity of our members’ businesses. The CFA produces the following industry-leading publications together with the Contract Flooring Journal, which is the official journal of the CFA, to ensure that the flooring industry has up-to-date information to hand: In addition to providing up-to-date information for the industry through publications, all of which are available to view and download in our downloads website page, the CFA also has various committees such as the Manufacturing Committee working on a national basis for the benefit of the industry as a whole. CHOOSE a CFA member – the difference between success and a flooring failure Flooring is a major element in most contracts and, with more products to choose from than ever before, obtaining the right installer has never been so important. Flooring is diverse and technically demanding: each product type has its own challenges and options in terms of installation specification. A quality contractor will know the correct adhesive for the flooring product, or the right primer for the subfloor and so will help maximize your investment and minimise flooring failures. Architects, specifiers and main contractors require the quality of service, installation and support that CFA members can provide. Consequently, many public and private organisations and an increasing number of local authorities are now specifying that CFA members must be used. All our contractor members have passed the CFA membership vetting process and are annually audited to ensure that they continue to meet our membership criteria. They are all established quality companies offering high standards of installation. Through the CFA they all have access to up-to-date technical, environmental and quality Standards and all adhere to the Contractors’ Code of Conduct. The CFA provides members with a wealth of knowledge to assist with both flooring installation and running a business, including: • British Standard Institute (BSi) Codes of Practice • Employment Law • Health and Safety • Technical support and advice including the CFA Guide to Contact Flooring • Training • Dispute resolution Specifying a CFA member for your next flooring project could mean the difference between success — or a flooring failure. Being a CFA member is a mark of quality. It will provide you with peace of mind and reassurance that you are dealing with a quality company. The CFA is a leading trade association representing the Contract Flooring Industry. If you would like further information please contact the CFA offices on 0115 941 1126, email info@cfa.org.uk or view our website at www.cfa.org.uk.
National gold standard for Nursing Preceptorship Programme
Future of Care Leaders Conference London
Date: Tuesday 30th April 2024Location: The King’s Fund, London The Future of Care Leaders Conference returns to London for 2024. Aimed at bringing together leaders in care, this conference extends a warm invitation to care home and home care owners, managers, CEOs, directors, and all dedicated care professionals. Offering a dynamic platform for knowledge exchange, networking, and discussions on the latest sector trends and advancements, this conference is an unmissable experience for those at the forefront of care. Do you find it difficult to build valuable and consistent relationships within the industry? The Future of Care Leaders Conference London provides an invaluable opportunity to connect with like-minded professionals and initiate pivotal conversations. Immerse yourself in multiple networking breaks including a quality hot lunch, refreshment breaks and an end-of-day networking drinks reception. Build lasting relationships that can make a difference to your business and the sector. With Darren Edwards taking the role of Keynote Speaker, the conference programme boasts an impressive line-up of top speakers. With fresh, new speaker sessions, the programme explores the latest trends, challenges and developments in the sector. Sessions will explore topics such as; Championing Change in Care for the Long Term, Innovation in the Adult Care Sector, The Application of AI in Adult Social Care and more. Esteemed speakers include: In addition to the riveting program, the Future of Care Leaders Conference London invites the industry’s leading exhibitors. Delegates can explore a diverse array of cutting-edge technology, innovative solutions, and invaluable resources. The exhibition promises to offer a glimpse into how you can lead the care sector into a bright future. Find out more, view the full programme and book your tickets here: www.futureofcare.co.uk
Join Industry Leaders in Care at Care Roadshows 2024
Join us for Care Roadshows 2024, the premier series of free regional care events throughout the UK. Care Roadshows provide a platform for care home owners, care managers, domiciliary providers and all healthcare professionals to come together, share knowledge and drive positive change in the industry. Key Highlights: Why Care Roadshows? Join the Care Community Today! Register now for your free ticket to Care Roadshows 2024 and save the dates for our upcoming events: Care Roadshow Scotland: 16th April 2024 Care Roadshow North West: 14th May 2024 Care Roadshow Midlands: 16th May 2024 Care Roadshow South: 15th October 2024 Care Roadshow North East: 5th November 2024 Care Roadshow Wales: 12th November 2024 Don’t miss this opportunity to connect, learn, and grow with leaders in the care industry. Register for your free ticket today!
Buy 9 Get 1 FREE!
Since 1993, HealthCare Direct Ltd has been supplying nursing supplies and medical equipment to care homes, individuals, and various businesses across the UK. Our product range has been developed largely in response to requests from customers and through sourcing high quality products from leading manufacturing companies worldwide. We house over 4000 products including Examination Gloves, Housekeeping Supplies, Continence Care, Profiling Beds and more. Why choose us? Our strong supplier and product knowledge have enabled us to develop our reputable brands, as many of our products are unique and exclusive to us… Handi Blue Nitrile Powder Free Gloves Our very own Handi Blue Nitrile Powder Free Gloves are disposable and crafted from man-made synthetic rubber. These gloves, latex-free and with a low protein level (AQL 1.5), deliver excellent puncture and chemical resistance. Our current offer is Buy 9 Get 1 FREE. Integra Tilt-In-Space Shell Chair Designed specifically for nursing home environments, our Integra Shell Chair serves as an essential tool for moving and handling residents. This chair facilitates easy transfers and offers users both support and comfort. The Integra Shell Chair tilts forward easily to help the user stand up from the chair, and is useful for users who are seated for long periods at a time and at risk of developing pressure ulcers, therefore requiring additional support, comfort and positioning assistance. Please visit our website for current offer. www.healthcaredirect.co.uk For more information on our products or sample requests, contact us today via: Telephone: 020 8236 0060 Email: sales@healthcaredirect.co.uk Website: www.healthcaredirect.co.uk
apetito Introduces New Meal Offerings
As we spring into the brighter months, leading care homes meal provider, apetito, has unveiled a selection of brand-new nutritious meals for residents to enjoy, building on its already extensive range. This includes additions such as a vibrant and aromatic Orange & Ginger Chicken which boasts a sweet yet spiced flavour, alongside a traditional Hunters Chicken, which includes smoked bacon pieces in a rich barbeque tomato sauce with mozzarella cheese. Both new meals cater for those requiring a gluten-free diet. This season, apetito has added two new Vegan options to its menu in response to the growing demand for vegetarian and plant-based diets. The new Vegan Sausages offer a versatile plant-based alternative suitable for any meal, from breakfast through to dinner. Additionally, the Tempeh, Sweet Potato & Spinach Hotpot, topped with crispy sautéed potatoes, provides 15g of protein per portion, meeting the BDA criteria for Energy Dense meals and supporting individuals living with or at risk of malnutrition. To perfectly compliment these new main meals and elevate the dining experience, you can also expect to see some new versatile side dish choices on the menu, Wholegrain Rice and Carrot Tips. Alongside this selection, apetito has also expanded on its delicious dessert offering with a new dairy-free Summer Fruits Sponge. Packed with apple, blackcurrant, and raspberry pieces, and topped with a scrumptious vanilla-flavoured sponge, it’s a delightful treat for those with a sweet tooth. Plus, it’s coded as a ‘Healthy Choice,’ meaning residents can indulge guilt-free! For those requiring a texture-modified diet, two new meals have been introduced to apetito’s award-winning specialist nutrition range. The IDDSI Level 4 Purée Beef Hotpot presents a dual-layer format, showcasing the latest shaping innovation from the ready meal provider. This gluten-free dish features puréed beef topped with sautéed potatoes, accompanied by savoy cabbage, and with over 500 calories and 20g of protein per serving, it’s a nutritious Energy Dense option for residents living with dysphagia. A gluten-free Level 5 Shepherd’s Pie has also been added to the range. Tasty and traditional, this recipe consists of minced mutton, carrots, onion and garlic, with hints of rosemary. It’s also made without all the 14 major allergens, providing increased choice for a wide range of dietary needs. Richard Woodward, General Manager of Care Homes for apetito said: “We’re pleased to be introducing even more choice to our range as we head into the spring and summer months. Our new meals really elevate our current offering and provide some delicious and exciting new flavours for residents to try. “Our new additions to the menu consider the increasingly diverse dietary needs of residents and the importance of having a wide selection of options for them to choose from – making sure there is something for everyone!” Discover more about apetito’s care homes meals: https://apetito.link/carehomemeals
Conference highlights living well with dementia
Healthcare professionals joined non-clinical colleagues to discuss the latest developments in dementia services at a conference in Bournemouth. Colten Care’s leadership academy event, Connecting Through Dementia 2024, brought together 80 attendees for a day of presentations, discussions and workshops. The main theme, across the agenda, was the importance of ‘connecting physically, emotionally and spontaneously with people who live with dementia so that they feel valued, cared for and loved’. The conference, at the Fusion Building on Bournemouth University’s Wallisdown campus, attracted nurses, carers, specialists in dementia therapies, and colleagues such as training managers, chefs and care companions who work alongside clinical teams. “It was about how we all connect with those living with dementia and their familes,” said organiser and Colten Care Operations Manager Peter Doyle. “We focused on what outstanding clinical care and the wider mix of care services should look like in the context of enabling people to live well. “My aim for the day was for everyone to have one key takeaway to help them grow in knowledge, understanding and insight and for them to connect with one another to develop in this area.” Among practical sessions geared to appeal to different learning styles was a workshop on design ideas and the modelling of features in a dementia community. A key highlight of the day was a question-and-answer session with presenters Peter Berry and Deb Bunt, co-authors of a book charting a year in Peter’s life after he was diagnosed with early-onset dementia aged 50. The Suffolk-based pair discussed valuable insights from their book ‘Slow Puncture: Living Well With Dementia’ and how they have celebrated what you can achieve rather than feeling limited by how it can impact day-to-day life. One example was a successful 350-mile cycling challenge through four counties, which involved Peter often leading the way on a penny-farthing. Colten Care attendees at the conference included team members from the provider’s five dementia care communities: Linden House in Lymington; St Catherines View in Winchester; Fernhill in Longham; The Aldbury in Poole; and Newstone House in Sturminster Newton. Experts who spoke included Kay Gibson, Colten Care’s Admiral Nurse, who has evolved a company-wide dementia care strategy since her appointment in 2016. Kay’s input has benefited residents, families and communities around Colten Care’s 21 nursing homes, including the five dementia-specific care settings. Also giving presentations on the latest thinking around dementia care were Rachel Johnstone, Dementia UK Business Development Officer, and Fiona Pritchard, Colten Care’s Music & Arts Partner. Fiona discussed a musical collaboration she has led with multiple care homes which was recorded and made into a short film. The purpose was to demonstrate the impact of music. The conference ended with an expert panel discussion chaired by Dr Chloe Bradwell, Postdoctoral Researcher in the Centre for Dementia Research at Leeds Beckett University. Among the panel members were Helen Hyde, a relative of a Colten Care resident, and Anne Ward Ongley of the dementia carers’ charity TIDE, Together in Dementia Everyday. Elaine Farrer, Chief Operating Officer at Colten Care, who was also on the panel and gave the closing address at the event, said: “This was a thought-provoking and highly informative conference that gave attendees the opportunity to learn from each other and share best practice.” For more information on dementia care at Colten Care and to connect with Admiral Nurse Kay Gibson, visit www.coltencare.co.uk/our-care/dedicated-dementia-care/. To view a short film about Peter Berry and Deb Bunt’s cycling challenge and Peter’s dementia diagnosis, visit www.peter-berry.com. https://careandnursing-magazine.co.uk/reducing-medication-for-people-living-with-dementia/
Why won’t we talk to our parents about elderly care?
A new survey exploring attitudes towards the elderly has uncovered that most people are unwilling to talk to their elderly relatives about their future care plans, despite the UK having an ageing population, most with unmet care needs A new survey commissioned by Taking Care Personal Alarms has uncovered that just two in five people have had the conversation with their elderly parent or relative about how they will be cared for when they get older and more frail. The results are at odds with the current elderly care crisis, with councils facing increased pressure to enhance government-backed care provision to support the UK’s ageing population. The survey data, which was commissioned as part of Taking Care’s #HaveTheTalk campaign, which encourages people to speak with relatives sooner about their future care and support wishes, reveals peoples’ reluctance to engage in these tricky discussions with their relatives early enough. 58 per cent of respondents admitted they haven’t talked to their parents about plans for when they get older, with one in three citing that they simply don’t want to think about their parents getting older. Elderly care plans are a crucial step in planning for the future, and with experts now estimating a typical stay in a care home could cost as much as £40,000 a year due to rising costs, having conversations about care options sooner will ensure people are best prepared to make informed decisions and plan ahead. Commenting on the findings, Lauren Frake, an elderly care expert from TakingCare Personal Alarms, said: “We want to get Britain talking more openly about the future – however uncomfortable that might be. “Unfortunately, we often find that elderly care is put in place reactively, likely in response to an older person experiencing an accident – often a fall at home – that triggers the need to find a quick solution. “However, preventative measures that are put into place before an accident happens are so much more effective and can head off potential issues before they happen. This also means that the older person has more of an input into the type of support they might want, making them far more likely to actually make use of the solution.” The fear of talking about elderly care is an issue impacting thousands of households across the country, two in three people being unwilling to enter into the conversation with their parents. One in four admit they avoid the conversation in case they upset or offend their parents and less than one in five people haven’t even broached the topic of elderly care plans, despite being happy to discuss more sensitive subjects sych as end of life wishes and funeral plans. TakingCare has also worked with psychologist, Dr Soha Daru, about why people find it so difficult to talk about ageing and elderly care. Dr Soha says: “The topic of elderly care can bring up all sorts of fears and anxieties for both adult children and their relatives. This could range from a fear of offending and upsetting the relative, to a general denial around the fact that they are getting older and might need additional care. “These fears and anxieties are perfectly normal and understandable. Seeing those who were in a position of authority or formerly cared for us and are now in need of that care can be difficult to see and deal with.” The issue also extends to people considering their own future care needs, with 40 per cent of survey respondents saying they haven’t considered their own elderly care, and one in four admitting they are scared of the prospect of needing care one day, with insights showing that a massive 80 per cent of people haven’t planned for their elderly care. Lauren added: “We need to work harder to undo the perception that elderly is a taboo. It’s no different to funeral planning, Wills and inheritance discussions or end-of-life wishes. We want to encourage UK households to have The Talk as soon as possible and as often as possible as we know it is a simple way of alleviating some of the stress associated with people getting older. Sooner or later, we’ll all need that extra helping hand, so let’s get ahead of that, together.” To find out more about TakingCare’s #HaveTheTalk campaign, please visit: https://taking.care/blogs/resources-advice/elderly-care-have-the-talk
