The Role of Disinfectants in Infection Control in Care Homes
Hand hygiene is a fundamental aspect of infection control and prevention in healthcare settings and everyday life. Effective hand hygiene not only reduces the risk of infection transmission but also plays a crucial role in maintaining public health. Infections pose a significant risk in care homes, where residents often have compromised immune systems. Preventing infections is crucial to maintaining the health and well-being of the elderly population in these settings. Regular handwashing is a simple yet powerful measure to reduce the spread of infections. In care homes, it is vital that staff are trained on proper hand hygiene techniques and encouraged to wash their hands frequently, especially after contact with residents, handling medications, or touching potentially contaminated surfaces. Additionally, residents should be educated on hand hygiene, to reduce the spread of infections. Victor Adendorff, managing director Scientific Sanitation Solutions (SSS), explores the importance of hand hygiene and its challenges, and argues that to improve infection control and hygiene practices in care homes, a step-change in hand hygiene strategy could be the catalyst for greater compliance and reduced transmission of infectious diseases. Why hand hygiene matters Hand hygiene is a cornerstone of infection prevention, recognised as a simple yet powerful measure to reduce the transmission of infectious agents. The hands, being in constant contact with the environment, can serve as vehicles for the transfer of pathogens from surfaces to mucous membranes, leading to infections. Human hands are adept at collecting and carrying microorganisms. Touching contaminated surfaces or interacting with infected individuals introduces pathogens onto the skin. Subsequent contact with the face, especially the eyes, nose, and mouth, provides a direct route for these pathogens to enter the body. Pathogens such as bacteria and viruses can survive on hands for varying durations, depending on factors such as the type of microorganism, environmental conditions, and the presence of organic matter. Failure to practise proper hand hygiene contributes significantly to the spread of infectious diseases. In a care home setting, inadequate hand hygiene among workers can lead to healthcare-associated infections for residents, compromising their safety. Scientific evidence supports the effectiveness of hand hygiene in reducing the incidence of infections. The use of soap and water, disinfectants or alcohol-based hand sanitisers disrupts the lipid envelope of many viruses and the cell walls of bacteria, rendering them inactive. Proper handwashing, following recommended techniques, ensures the removal of a significant proportion of pathogens. Additionally, the regular and thorough practice of hand hygiene contributes to the overall reduction of microbial load on hands, mitigating the risk of transmission. Hand hygiene is a global public health imperative. Initiatives promoting hand hygiene awareness and compliance have a substantial impact on reducing the burden of infectious diseases, particularly in resource-limited settings. Simple, cost-effective interventions, such as providing access to clean water and soap, can significantly improve hand hygiene practices, leading to positive health outcomes on a large scale. The scientific evidence overwhelmingly supports the critical role of hand hygiene in preventing infections. Understanding the scientific underpinnings of hand hygiene empowers healthcare workers, care professionals, and policymakers to implement effective strategies that contribute to a healthier and safer community. Why disinfectants? A step change in hand hygiene strategy Disinfectants have a big role to play in hand hygiene. They can often complement other more widely used sanitisers such as alcohol based on the go gels. While alcohol based sanitisers have their merits in terms of convenience and portability, they can be harsh on the skin with prolonged use. Alcohol can strip the skin of its natural oils, leading to dryness, irritation, and even cracking. A recent RCN survey found that 93% of nursing staff had experienced some form of skin condition, including dryness, redness, cracking, itching and pain, in the previous year. Not only does this impact worker health but adds further strain to our already under-resourced secondary care system. We need to think of alternatives and milder disinfectants is one of them in our hand hygiene arsenal. Disinfectants formulated for skin use often contain mild ingredients that are gentle on the skin. They are designed to kill germs while maintaining the skin’s moisture balance, preventing excessive dryness and irritation. Additionally, some disinfectants may also include soothing or moisturising components that further nourish and protect the skin. Therefore, when it comes to maintaining healthy and well-nourished skin, choosing a suitable disinfectant designed for skin use can provide a more gentle and beneficial experience. Disinfectants also offer a broader spectrum of action. They are designed to eliminate various types of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and even spores. One significant advantage of disinfectants is their ability to provide a lasting residual effect. Once applied, many disinfectants create a protective barrier, preventing the recontamination of the treated area for an extended period. This residual effect is particularly crucial in high-traffic environments such as care homes where continuous sanitisation is challenging. Alcohol-based sanitisers, in contrast, evaporate quickly and do not leave a lasting protective layer, necessitating frequent reapplication. Another benefit of disinfectants, especially those with specific virucidal properties, is that they can effectively combat both enveloped and non-enveloped viruses, ensuring comprehensive protection against a broad range of infectious agents. Disinfectants can also offer an added benefit of improved cleaning capabilities. Many disinfectants contain surfactants and detergents that aid in the removal of dirt, grease, and organic matter. This dual action of cleaning and disinfection ensures not only the eradication of harmful pathogens but also the removal of visible impurities, leading to cleaner and more hygienic hands and environments. Versatility matters Disinfectants come in a variety of forms, including sprays, wipes, and solutions, making them adaptable to different cleaning scenarios. This versatility allows for effective disinfection of a wide range of surfaces, including hard surfaces, fabrics, and electronic devices. The selection of disinfectants must be meticulously done, considering their effectiveness against prevalent and medically significant pathogens. However, there are some negatives to disinfectants. For example, chemical disinfectants, by their very nature, possess the capacity to harm living organisms, including humans. While they aim to protect us from illness,
Two-year project of images projected onto public buildings
Arts in health innovation charity Rosetta Life have been collaborating with carers to create poetry, dance, movement and visual arts The result of the two-year project will be a series of images projected onto public buildings with a sound score of music and carers poems Carers from Bristol Black Carers , Kingston Carers’ Network and carers referred to Helix Arts, North Tyneside have taken part 5pm, 19 January 2024: Ancient Market House, Kingston-on-Thames Linskill Centre, North Shields Bristol Council, Bristol @rosettalife | #HeartOfCare | rosettalife.org The culmination of a two-year project working with carers, who are often excluded from cultural activities because of their responsibilities, Heart of Care is an artwork made up of a series of images with a sound score that will be projected in public spaces. The artwork will shine a light on the invisible role that carers play in families and communities, and challenge the perceptions of care in an inclusive society. The images were inspired by the movement workshops and were developed into curated images, and express the compassion displayed in the role of carer. The artwork will be over 10 metres high and projected over the course of one to two hours, accompanied by original music composed by Matthew Peters blended with poems written by carers and recorded in their own voices. During the pandemic, Rosetta Life formed a carers’ chorus who performed alongside stroke survivors in the online opera I Look For The Think. Inspired by the group, Rosetta Life extend their activities with carers, and partnered with Helix Arts, Bristol Black Carers and Kingston Carers’ Network to create a new project in new communities, including North Tyneside, Bristol and Kingston. The two-year project acknowledges the dedication, sacrifice and profound impact of caregiving, and gives and offers carers a platform to express their experiences creatively. Creative Director of Rosetta Life Lucinda Jarrett said, “All our societies rely on families to care for people who cannot manage alone; however, carers often feel invisible and unrecognised. Heart of Care will create public art works to share dynamic images of care that illustrate the resilience, strength, dignity and joy of caring.” Participant Penni Cotton said, “Heart of Care has been cathartic for carers. The poetry sessions helped us to gain trust in each other, release our pent-up feelings and gain confidence in ourselves as poets. Further artistic input encouraged us to visually represent our words and, finally, feel brave enough to add movement to our experiences. This creativity has released us from responsibility and allowed us to be ourselves.” Carers found the sessions invoked a mixture of feelings like joy, happiness, sadness, and a recognition that they often felt unappreciated but all told that they felt motivated to share their feelings with each other. The Heart of Care projections emerged from a project started by the HeArt of Care Alliance, an alliance of international organisations who are working together to raise awareness for the role of carers in our societies. The organisations who make up the alliance are Rosetta Life, End of Life Care Rwanda, Bristol Black Carers, Kingston Carers’ Network, Caregivers India, India and PallChase. Rosetta Life is an arts in health innovation charity, who have 25 years of evidence based practice working with leading artists. They pioneer meaningful performances that are transformative to participants, audiences and society. Each project is a social problem-solving incubator presenting scalable solutions. Their ongoing project Stroke Odysseys has included performances: Hospital Passion Play, an opera performed by seventy performers including professional singers and a choir of twenty stroke survivors at the Victoria and Albert Museum; I Look For The Think, an online opera released during the pandemic, and touring music and dance showStroke Odysseys. In 2024 Rosetta Life will be presenting 360 immersive film Room2Dream, made with young people including refugees and those in children’s hospices, and conference event Let Silence Speak in collaboration with English National Ballet and Breathe and will be touring regionally. Listings and creatives information 5pm, 19th January 2024 Ancient Market House, Kingston upon Thames, KT1, Market Place, Kingston upon Thames KT1 1JS Linskill Centre, Linskill Terrace, North Shields NE30 2AY Bristol Council, Bristol City Hall, College Green, Bristol BS1 5TR Social media Twitter: @rosettalife | @HelixArts | @KingstonCarers | @BlackCarers Instagram rosettalife_ | helixarts | bristolblackcarers Facebook www.facebook.com/Rosettalifearts | www.facebook.com/BristolBlackCarers www.facebook.com/HelixArts
Joint investment to purchase care at home business
An entrepreneur has completed the acquisition of a Telford home care agency after securing £350,000 joint investment from UKSE and BCRS Business Loans. Rick Kaul purchased Supreme Home Care to become one of the first applicants to successfully receive investment from the newly formed West Midlands arm of UKSE. The Tata Steel subsidiary provided £200,000 towards the purchase, with a further £150,000 from West Midlands and Wales based BCRS Business Loans. As a result, 130 jobs have been safeguarded with a potential to create an additional 50 new roles following the acquisition. Covering Shropshire, Telford, Newport and surrounding areas, Supreme Home Care, which is based in Pearson Road, Telford, provides emergency, rehabilitation and long term care to adults with a wide range of physical and mental needs, as well as respite at home support. Providing strategic loan and equity packages of up to £1m to generate growth, UKSE’s West Midlands team create local job opportunities and bolster the economy by supporting SMEs across Birmingham, the Black Country, Coventry, Staffordshire and Telford. BCRS Business Loans provides funding to West Midlands and Wales businesses that are struggling to access finance from traditional lenders. Businesses can secure loans from between £10,000 and £150,000 from BCRS Business Loans to support growth and recovery plans. Welcoming the investment, Rick Kaul commented: “Supreme Home Care is a successful business providing high quality at home care services to adults in the region. “I plan to create additional job opportunities as we expand into complex critical care support and specialised care for adults and children. “In addition, we will be working with Telford College to provide level 3- level 6 health and social care apprenticeships. “I would like to take this opportunity to thank UKSE and BCRS Business Loans for their support.” UKSE area manager Steve Grice commented: “We are proud to announce Supreme Home Care as one of our first investment deals for the newly formed UKSE West Midlands team. “Supreme Home Care is a strong example of a growing company that is sustaining valuable jobs and strengthening employment in the region.” Stephen Deakin, Chief Executive at BCRS Business Loans, said: “We are so pleased to have delivered the funding together with UKSE to safeguard and create future jobs. “As a lender that delivers funding for intentional social and economic impact, it is great news that the funding will secure the future of Supreme Home Care.” Established in 1975, UKSE is a wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Steel UK Limited with a mission to enable and encourage businesses and the people behind them to create jobs, grow and prosper, within communities affected by current or historic changes in the steel industry and its jobs. UKSE supports the local economy by making equity investments, ensuring management stays in control of the business and offers a flexible exit policy. Unsecured loans up to £200,000 are also available, often without the need for personal guarantees. To date, UKSE has invested over £110m, supporting 7,650 businesses, stimulating the creation of an estimated 81,000 new jobs. As a Community Development Financial Institution, BCRS Business Loans’ purpose is to provide access to finance to enable local businesses to grow and prosper. Since it was founded in 2002, it has provided loans worth more than £85 million to businesses across the West Midlands. The lender’s social impact report for 2022-23 showed that it lent £6.5m to 72 businesses, safeguarding 999 jobs and creating 473 roles, adding £33.7m in value to the economy of the West Midlands and surrounding region. https://www.ukse.co.uk/
Innovative VR technology built specifically for the care sector
Care home residents across the UK are experiencing captivating, personalised virtual environments to improve their mental and social wellbeing with the launch of innovative VR technology built specifically for the care sector and supported by Alzheimer’s Society’s innovation programme. With Recreo VR residents can experience environments that reflect their own personal histories, hobbies they’ve enjoyed and topics of interest from the past, such as hobbies, interests and favorite holiday destinations. Bespoke content can be requested by individuals, promoting person-centred care and empowerment while helping to stimulate memories. The easy-to-use headsets and software, which come with full training and support for staff, have proven successful in trials, with 90 out of 100 people living with dementia enjoying their experience. Feedback from residents and care home staff has been hugely positive across the trials as Danielle Savage. Care Home Manager at Wrawby Hall Care Home said: “To see the smiles on their faces was just wonderful. We can’t recommend Recreo VR enough.” “A lot of what the residents were seeing on the headset prompted memories for our residents, which they were then able to discuss and reminisce about. Such a truly wonderful experience. My heart could burst and I did have a few tears, it’s amazing our residents can have these wonderful experiences.” Founders Alex and Sam were inspired to create Recreo VR after seeing the transformation a journey to a beach had on Sam’s grandmother towards the end of her life. Joyce, who lived with dementia and had been non-verbal for a long time, began to smile and engage in conversation during the trip. This experience is what Sam and Alex aim to replicate using VR technology, as they said: “We believe that virtual reality has the power to transform the lives of residents, build social connections and enhance their quality of life. We want to empower care organisations to embrace new technology and create experiences in their settings that have noticeable impact on both residents, their families and staff that go beyond the traditional approaches.” Recreo VR, is supported by Alzheimer’s Society’s Accelerator Programme, a service that champions dementia innovation. Simon Lord, Head of Innovation at Alzheimer’s Society, said: “We’ve been blown away by the impact Recreo VR technology has had on people living with dementia and the incredible feedback from the care sector. We believe in the power of technology to help improve and personalise care for people with dementia, which is why we chose to support the founders to develop the product and use our testing panels to help shape the experiences. It’s vital that those living with the condition are able to still doing things that bring them fulfilment, for as long as possible. And that’s exactly what products like Recreo VR can provide.” The headset, which was rated comfortable by 97% of residents during trials, is lightweight and counterweighted for increased comfort. When it is turned on the Recreo VR app immediately loads and is easy to use, with sessions led by carers making it accessible for residents to engage with. The software is operated by using eye movement to navigate, this means there is no need for controllers and difficult interfaces, reducing barriers for engagement for both carers and the people they support. Recreo VR technology experiences using a strict filming criteria to ensure the environments are suitable for older people, and the reminiscence content has been co-designed with individuals living with dementia. To discover more about Recreo VR and it’s ability to enhance the lives of residents and empower caregivers visit recreovr.co.uk. Anyone with a great product or innovation idea to improve the lives of people with dementia can apply for funding and support through the Alzheimer’s Society Innovation programme. Visit alzheimers.org.uk/accelerator.
Grimsby care home under new ownership
A leading Yorkshire-based social care group has new ownership of a care home in Grimsby as the organisation grows a portfolio of personalised services to meet the changing needs of users. Hull-based HICA Group has purchased Fairways Care Home on Little Coates Road, Grimsby from Care Plus Group for an undisclosed sum. Fairways Care Home is a 55-bed single storey, purpose-built home located within a large, landscaped site. The home provides high quality residential and dementia care. The employment of all 65 staff has been secured in the handover to new ownership, and manager Sam Brackenbury will continue to lead the team. HICA already has a strong presence in Grimsby, operating Cranwell Court, a 56-bed purpose-built residential and dementia care home in Cambridge Road; the 41-bed specialist care home, the Anchorage in Rutland Street; and homecare organisation HICA at Home, based in Wilton Street. A spokesperson for Care Plus Group explained: “We are pleased that by selling Fairways as a going concern, all current staff have transferred over to the new owners and there will not be any disruption to the residents and their care. “We are proud to be handing Fairways over to another not-for-profit organisation with other care homes locally, allowing Care Plus Group to focus on our community health and social care services. “The Board would like to thank all the staff at Fairways for their hard work during the time Fairways was part of Care Plus Group and wish residents, their families and HICA all the best for the future.” Terry Peel, HICA CEO, said: “As we broaden our care home horizons with the inclusion of Fairways into the HICA portfolio, we eagerly anticipate the opportunities it presents to enhance the lives of our residents and their families. “This new ownership is part of our ongoing strategy to expand our commitment to delivering exceptional care and support services to the communities we serve.” He added: “We would like to extend our gratitude to Marcus Armstrong and the dedicated team at Brabners solicitors for their exceptional support and expertise throughout the acquisition process, and to Ian Wilkie of Healthcare Property Consultants Limited for his invaluable guidance in navigating the complexities of the healthcare property sector. Their collective efforts have played a pivotal role in making this acquisition a reality.” Fairways goes beyond the conventional care facility; it is a purpose-built home offering comfort and companionship. With spacious en-suite rooms on a single floor, the strategic layout ensures easy access to communal areas, fostering an environment for residents to enjoy an active social life. Heather Joy, director of operations at HICA added: “We take great pride in extending a warm welcome to both residents and their loved ones at Fairways. Our team is committed to preserving the legacy of exceptional care and support services, previously established by the Care Plus Group. It is an honour to continue to build upon this tradition, infusing it with the unique and caring touch that defines HICA’s approach to compassionate caregiving.” As a not-for-profit company, HICA Group has a strong community, care-focussed ethos – with any operational surplus invested back into its portfolio of care homes and its homecare services.
Community gathers for caring for YOU roadshow
DOZENS of healthcare workers from across Kirklees gathered for the caring for YOU roadshow, to share information, products, and advice for mental and physical wellbeing. The “Caring for YOU” roadshow came to Aden Court Care Home, Birkhouse Lane, Moldgreen, Huddersfield, for the latest gathering of the region’s care staff. The initiative is organised by Kirklees Health and Care Partnership, Kirklees Care Association, and Calderdale Cares Partnership as a way for various organisations to share their products, services, information and advice. Among those to host stands at the event was The Health and Wellbeing Academy, part of the University of Huddersfield, who offered free health checks to attendees. Halsa Wellbeing gave diet and nutrition advice, alongside free samples of various teas, dried fruits, breakfast pots and vitamin D sprays. Calderdale Cares Partnership was there to give advice on mental health and finances, as well as the Kirklees and Calderdale Integrated Schwartz Rounds Network, a forum for clinical and non-clinical staff to discuss the emotional and social aspects of working in healthcare. Diane Roberts, operations director for the Hill Care Group, which operates Aden Court Care Home, was one of those in attendance. She said: “We were delighted to be able to host an event where we could focus on the health and wellbeing of social care staff in Kirklees. This is a great initiative and feedback from our staff shows it has had a positive impact. We plan to build upon this in the future.” Wendy Waddicor, director and chair of the Hill Care Group, added: “We were delighted to host this event in collaboration with various health and social care partners for all care home staff in the Kirklees area. “The care and welfare of our staff is as important to us as the care and welfare of the people we all look after. It’s essential that we look after ourselves and these health and wellbeing events are a great support and source of information for our staff.” https://www.hillcare.net/our-homes/aden-court-care-home-huddersfield-west-yorkshire/
Future of Care Conference in Harrogate
Next week, the eagerly anticipated Future of Care Leaders Conference North 2023 is set to take place at the Pavilions of Harrogate on 28th November 2023. This landmark conference promises an insightful exploration into ensuring a brighter future for care, featuring prominent speakers and organisations leading research and change in the industry. Leaders in social care are encouraged to reserve their space at the event before spaces are filled. The conference will feature a session with the independent regulator of health and social care in England, the Care Quality Commission (CQC), providing delegates the opportunity to engage directly with the regulatory board. Other speakers in attendance include: · Conference Chair: Sameena Ali-khan, ITV News Presenter · Keynote Speaker: ‘Big Ian’ Donaghy, Dementia Campaigner · Mike Padgham, Chair, Independent Care Group · Amrit Dhaliwal, CEO, Walfinch · Professor Yvonne Birk, Associate Dean (Research) Faculty of Social Sciences & Associate Director at NIHR School for Social Care Research · Dan Archer, CEO, Visiting Angels UK · Frank Van Dillen, Partner, Dementia Village Associates Beyond the programme, delegates can take advantage of additional benefits included in their ticket. This encompasses ample refreshments, including breakfast, a hearty lunch and regular snacks. To conclude the day, delegates can enjoy a complimentary drinks reception. The last few tickets are now available at futureofcare.co.uk
Social Tech Trust to turn assistive technology concepts into prototypes
· Challenge Works – a Nesta enterprise – has announced a new partnership with social innovation charity, Social Tech Trust, to provide technical and data support to innovators in the Longitude Prize on Dementia and help develop working prototypes of new assistive technologies. · The Longitude Prize on Dementia is incentivising the development of breakthrough technologies that can learn from people living with dementia and adapt to their changing condition to help ‘fill the gaps’ as cognitive function is reduced by the disease. · 24 semi-finalists were announced in June 2023, all of whom will be submitting a working prototype ahead of five finalists being selected in summer 2024. Tuesday 14 November: Challenge Works – a Nesta enterprise – is partnering with social innovation charity Social Tech Trust, to support teams competing in the Longitude Prize on Dementia, to develop working prototypes of new assistive technologies to help people living with dementia remain independent for longer. The £4.34m Longitude Prize on Dementia, funded by Alzheimer’s Society and Innovate UK, is incentivising the development of breakthrough assistive technologies for people living with dementia. 24 international teams are developing solutions that use AI to learn about their users and adapt to help ‘fill the gaps’ as their cognitive function is progressively reduced by the disease. The solutions will help people to live independently for longer while maintaining fulfilling lives. Five finalists will be selected from these 24 teams in summer 2024. Social Tech Trust, a charity that challenges organisations to think differently about technology’s role in society, will be helping each innovator to assess where their product might benefit from support and provide appropriate technology and data advice. The charity will also leverage its network of experts to introduce innovators to big tech companies, including Microsoft, AWS and NVIDIA. The semi-finalists include a range of innovations, from AI gamified software that promotes positive social experiences to help delay decline in brain function (from Memory Lane Games) to biodynamic lighting and sensor systems that can ease symptoms of sundowning – irritability and confusion that can worsen as daylight fades (from Chroma Lighting). Chris Blues, Director, Social Tech Trust said: “Around 50 million people worldwide are living with dementia, including 900,000 in the UK. Tech has enormous power to help with many social challenges – including dementia, which can devastate lives, causing people to lose their memory, identity and sadly, relationships. Supporting innovators with technical and data support to help refine their prototypes is the first step in using technology to ease the lives of those living with dementia.” Wider capacity-building support and co-creation The partnership will form just one element of the non-financial support offered to teams participating in the Longitude Prize on Dementia. Alongside the technical support, wider support is being provided through opportunities to ensure all technologies are co-created with people living with dementia or caring for people with dementia. The innovators will attend two co-creation workshops this month, one focusing on social connectedness and technology features from the Centre for Aging and Brain Health Innovation (a Canadian partner of the prize) and another on user-centred AI design and personalisation hosted by Innovate UK and National Innovation Centre for Ageing (NICA). Co-creation is essential to ensure that new technologies developed through the prize are designed to meet the needs of their intended beneficiaries and their lifestyles. Alzheimer’s Society has also established 38 local focus groups involving people living with dementia and their carers. These groups will assist innovators in ensuring their product is co-designed and has considered some of the most important elements of living with dementia. International co-creation and access to user opportunities have also been set up with international partners. This will help to ensure that every innovation learns from people living with dementia and can adapt and support changing needs over time. Challenge Works is also offering advice and guidance from 15 dementia experts, ranging from frontline dementia healthcare professionals to, leading dementia academics as well as design and customer experience experts. The innovators will be able to book one-on-one sessions with each expert. Ruth Neale, Programme Manager for the Longitude Prize on Dementia at Challenge Works said: “We’re excited to join forces with Social Tech Trust to provide semi-finalists in the Longitude Prize on Dementia with tailored technical and data support to develop their ideas into prototypes. The team at Social Tech Trust will provide a bespoke technology support package for our international cohort to drive high-quality tech products for the next stage of the competition. This is one element in the programme of capacity-building support that is being provided to teams in the next 12 months.” More information about the Longitude Prize on Dementia can be found at dementia.longitudeprize.org
Pain monitoring technology helps gives residents a voice
