Turing, Cambridge and US longevity experts named judges of ground-breaking dementia tech prize
Innovation prize specialists Challenge Works today announces details of the judging panel for the Longitude Prize on Dementia, naming nine judges including representatives from The Alan Turing Institute and University of Cambridge. The Longitude Prize on Dementia, which launched in September, is a £4+ million challenge prize to incentivise the creation of A.I. and machine-learning based technologies that provide personalised solutions to help people with dementia to live longer, higher quality lives at home – learning from a person’s data about what they do, who they know and what’s most important to them as an individual. Applications to the prize remain open until 26 January 2023. In the summer, once the judging panel has assessed the candidates, 23 teams will be selected to receive £80k Discovery Awards and expert capacity-building support to develop their solutions. Five will receive an additional £300k in 2024 to develop a validated prototype or product with one going on to win the £1 million first prize in 2026. Judging the entries and guiding the selection of the 23 teams making it through to the Discovery Award stage of the prize are: Eric Kihlstrom, Longitude Prize on Dementia Judge and Ambassador for Aging 2.0 says: “After the initial effects of the pandemic lockdowns, ageing has become a ‘white hot’ area for innovation, and Alzheimer’s falls into that category. This prize is focused on improving the quality of life for people living with dementia and their carers. If we can do that, we can keep people living with dementia out of institutional care, and we can help people live the lives they want to. “If you’re an innovator with an inspirational idea, you sometimes don’t know where to go and don’t know what’s already been done. If we, as judges, can make that journey faster and help innovators to focus on the critical questions – it can make a big difference.” Dawne Garrett, former Lead for Older People & Dementia Care, Royal College of Nursing says: “The outcome of this prize has potential to make a tangible and lasting change to how people living with early-stage dementia approach this disease. There is no doubt that the kind of technology we hope to see will uproot lazy assumptions about what people living with dementia can and can’t do, and ensure that people can live in a dignified and fulfilling way.” Ruth Neale, Global Health Programme Manager at Challenge Works says: “Applications remain open until 26 January 2023 for the Longitude Prize on Dementia – this is a prime opportunity to put forward ideas that can make a real difference in helping those who live with early-stage dementia.” People with lived experience of dementia (people living with dementia, carers and former carers) will be involved at every judging stage of the Longitude Prize on Dementia. The Lived Experience Advisory Panel (LEAP) will be made up of international representatives and will review designs, ideas and give insights into how technologies could support and enable independent living for a person with a diagnosis of dementia. For more information on the Longitude Prize on Dementia visit dementia.longitudeprize.org
What You Need To Know When Buying Furniture For A Care Home Or Nursing Home
Are you looking for new furniture for your nursing home or care home? Selecting the right furniture for these contexts involves more factors than many people realise. So, if you want to buy the perfect furniture for your care home, then read this comprehensive guide from the Rosehill team first… What Type Of Furniture Can You Use In A Care Home Or Nursing Home? First off, let’s begin by answering a common question. What type of furniture can you use in a nursing home or care home? The answer is contract furniture. Contract furniture is furniture which is designed and manufactured for use in high-traffic, well-used public environments. As such, contract furniture uses designs and materials that are far more robust than the types of designs and materials that you’ll find used on domestic furniture for the average private home. Contract furniture also has to meet a series of fire, safety and dimensional standards that are far above the standards that domestic furniture must meet. So, if you’re going to be buying furniture for a care home or nursing home, you must first establish that you are buying contract-quality furniture. Here at Rosehill, we sell only contract furniture. Traditional Versus Modern Nursing Home And Care Home Furniture When many people think of nursing homes and care homes, they think of rather plain institutions that resemble healthcare establishments, or are an extension of a hospital. That may have been true in the past, but today’s best nursing homes and care homes have gone to great efforts to create a decor and atmosphere that resembles a private residence, and a comfortable living space. In addition, many modern care homes and nursing homes have moved away from older-style canteens and cafeterias, to create sumptuous modern, restaurant-style dining areas instead. See our full bog here!! https://www.rosehill.co.uk/blog/what-you-need-to-know-when-buying-furniture-for-a-care-home-or-nursing-home/
A Royal Remembrance: Her Majesty’s pallbearer returns to hometown to speak with wartime veterans at a Surrey care home
A Surrey care home welcomed one of Her Majesty’s pallbearers to hear and reflect on the wartime memories of its veteran residents and share his experiences from one of the most historical events in modern history. Lance Corporal Tony Flynn, of the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, visited Princess Christian Care Centre, part of the Nellsar group, to hear and reflect on the mix of poignant and uplifting memories of the home’s veteran residents who had lived through the Second World War. Tony, 23, returned to his hometown following a recent tour of Iraq and was welcomed to the 96-bed care home, originally built in 1914 as a home for wounded soldiers, having recently served as a pallbearer during the state funeral of the late Queen Elizabeth II. Watched by billions across the globe, Tony was credited for his ‘impeccable’ role alongside seven members of his regiment who carried the coffin of Her Majesty before laying to rest the longest-serving monarch in British history on Monday, 19th September. Commenting on the experience, Tony said: “It’s been an unforgettable few weeks, to say the least. Serving as one of Her Majesty’s pallbearers was the greatest honour of my life and was made even more special by the fact that it was an experience shared by only seven other people across the globe. To be honest, it still hasn’t sunk in and I don’t think it ever will. Rewatching the day unfold at Westminster Abbey and listening to everything that was happening outside the room was probably the first moment where I truly understood the magnitude of the day.” A former pupil at Holmesdale School, Snodland, Kent, Tony joined the infantry regiment more than three years ago and recently married his long-term partner, Hayley, Resident Liaison at Nellsar, who accompanied him during the service. Tony spent the morning speaking with a host of wartime veterans at the home before being joined by Woking Town Mayor, Saj Hussain and local MP, Jonathan Lord, for an afternoon of remembrance and reflection. Speaking of his day, Tony said: “It was so nice to return to my hometown for a day that centred around appreciating everything that’s been made possible due to the sacrifices of those before us. It was a very informative and humbling experience to spend the day with Princess Christian’s residents and families. I really enjoyed exchanging life stories with some remarkable individuals as I don’t often get the chance to hear stories from the past. To accompany the local veterans for a day of remembrance and hear first-hand about their wartime experiences serving our country, was something I’ll never forget.” Mario Taherian, Registered General Manager at Nellsar’s Princess Christian Care Centre, said: “As with every year, it was a very special day for everyone connected with Princess Christian Care Centre and the wider Woking community. Our staff and residents were delighted to be joined by Tony, who knows first-hand what it means to serve in the line of duty. Tony is a remarkable individual and our residents loved chatting with him and exchanging stories – even our resident cat made herself comfortable on his lap! “It was something that our staff and residents have long been looking forward to and were well prepared to make wartime displays and wreaths using poppies, while sharing and celebrating the medals of residents who were active in the war. An afternoon of poignant reflection was followed by tea and cakes before we enjoyed our resident singer, Vick, performing some great songs, including a moving performance of ‘The Last Post’ on the trumpet. All in all, the day was an overwhelming success. I’d like to thank Tony, Saj and Jonathan for playing such an influential role in bringing a smile to our residents’ faces.” For more information on Princess Christian Care Centre, please visit https://princess-christian.nellsar.com/. Or for more information on Nellsar, visit https://www.nellsar.com/.
CQC framework uncertainties shouldn’t mask benefits of processing streamlining
The process for establishing the new regulatory framework by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) will move a significant step forward this month. At this time the pilot schemes come to an end and the regulator will evaluate the impact of its proposed changes. Charlotte Rowe, Care Practice Manager at Markel Care Practitioners, discusses the stages and wider implications. With the expectation that the CQC will deliver its more substantive framework by the end of the first half of 2023, there is still a great deal of uncertainty but the aims behind the changes and the structure of the future framework are now evident. While some areas will challenge providers, a number of positives will be delivered under the new framework, with renewed flexibility within the inspection process one of the most significant. A changing CQC inspection process The first question providers were asking when the plans were announced was how the CQC inspection process would be affected. Previously, the CQC assessed care services solely via onsite inspection, gathering all the evidence through visits alone. Under the new model, the commission is moving to a broader, continuous approach by collecting evidence on an ongoing basis. Routine inspections will remain key, but other methods will now assume real importance to the final outcome including submissions from providers and conversations with managers. Inspectors will look to incorporate people’s experiences and obtain more detailed feedback from staff and leaders. They will include observations of care, and the outcomes of care set against evidence of process. In addition, they will seek feedback from partners. The CQC will now be able to update a service’s rating at any time without onsite inspection in order to better respond to risk. The frequency of care inspections was previously based on a provider’s most recent rating (with some ongoing monitoring), a system which troubled providers with many feeling it was difficult to improve their rating. That looks to be addressed in the new framework. The new continuous approach increases flexibility and frequency, enabling commissioners and stakeholders to be presented with a more accurate assessment quality of care provided. Reports will also be shorter and score-based, making outcomes easier to digest. The ability to grade in a more reflective manner is also of real importance. It will benefit families of service users to have more updated information on the standards, quality and concerns relevant to the provider. For families this is a real positive, and will likely act to support relationships with stakeholders. Single assessment framework One of the most important changes is the CQC’s move to a single assessment framework – a strategy that was first introduced in 2021 with the aim of putting the emphasis on care integration, people’s experiences, cultures of safety and learning. Previously, there were different frameworks for the type of service being administered – e.g. hospital care vs adult social care – and for registration and inspection. The main change with the single framework is to move away from the CQC’s Key Lines of Enquiry (KLOE) to quality statements which providers will now be measured against. This is intended to remove duplication and complexity by setting out one set of overall expectations that apply universally. Building in greater clarity The CQC has recognised the need for clarity on the changes, how they will be implemented and any variations in the requirements from providers. To help understand the new single assessment framework, the CQC has illustrated it using a pyramid, which reduces 300 lines of enquiry down to 34 quality statements. Moving down in chronological order, the top of the pyramid focuses on the ‘five key questions’, which ask whether a care service is safe; effective; caring; responsible; and well-led. These remain the same as before. The next step down is quality statements, are also known as ‘we statements’. These are examples of behaviours and actions that reflect the five key questions at the top of the pyramid and are designed to keep the focus on ‘high-quality, person-centred care.’ The bottom two levels of the pyramid refer to the evidence-gathering stage, with the latter stage more bespoke and specific. The aim of the single framework is to better streamline the process. The CQC hopes this streamlining will also improve waiting times for results – something that has caused concern in the past. Waiting times have also caused issues for providers hoping to improve their gradings – impacting their status with commissioners and stakeholders. The importance of data There will now be far more reliance on data. For providers that are not data ready this could be a real challenge, especially where paper based systems remain in play. This is particularly important for areas such as nursing staff, where changes in recording and systems are a key part of their daily undertaking. The CQC aims to use data more effectively via a range of audit tools in order to simplify the process, tailoring its assessment to different services and to have one framework. The sector should welcome the use of technology and data to streamline what has always been a complex and often subjective process. The ability for changes made by the providers to address any issues identified in an inspection and have the capability for those changes to be recognised in their rating is a significant plus. Rolling out the changes The CQC has been open in its process for the implementation of the new framework. Since the change in approach was first announced in March, the timetable towards its wider rollout has been explicit. From August, the CQC began rolling out various elements of the new framework to a select group of early adopters. The first group to be invited comprised home carers who had not yet engaged with the CQC’s registration process. In September, we saw the number of early adopters expanded to include some GP practices, independent providers, and care homes. October saw the CQC began carrying out its first assessments using its new approach, again with a small group of
Future of Care Leaders Conference London
Date: Tuesday 28th March 2023Location: The King’s Fund, London Future of Care Conference is back with a fresh new name, the Future of Care Leaders Conference. The re-brand highlights the individuals who should consider attending – the leaders of the sector. The conference is set out to bring key trends, challenges and developments in the care industry in front of the people who matter. Year on year the conference has acquired the trust of senior care professionals from across the UK to unite and work towards building a brighter future for the sector. Entering the new year provides new opportunities and the conference is no exception to this. With a new and improved layout and a quality speaker programme, delegates can expect new additions including a networking breakfast and drinks reception to end the day on a high and strengthen relationships made throughout the day. The day includes an extensive programme with informative sessions held by a coveted list of speakers and hosts a selection of exhibitors in the networking space. Delegates can enjoy a selection of refreshments throughout the day, as well as a quality lunch included in the cost of the ticket. The programme this year will focus on a range of important subjects, which will be discussed in focused speaker slots and panel debates. Topics include; Key speakers at the conference this year include: Kate Terroni, Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care and Integration, and Interim Chief Operating Officer at Care Quality Commission; Nadra Ahmed, Executive Chairman of National Care Association; Avnish Goyal CBE, Chair of Hallmark Care Homes and Vic Rayner OBE, Chair of the National Care Forum; who is also Conference Chair. You can find out more about how to book your ticket and view the full programme here – www.futureofcare.co.uk
Future of Care Leaders Conference 2023 – Leading the Care Sector Into a Bright Future
Leading the Care Sector Into a Bright Future Returning in 2023 with a fresh new name, the Future of Care Leaders Conference has re-branded to highlight the individuals who should consider attending – the leaders of the care sector. Bookings are now open for the highly sought-after conference being held at The King’s Fund, London on Tuesday 28th March 2023. The conference will be entering the new year boasting a new and improved layout. Alongside the quality speaker programme, attendees can expect exciting new additions including a networking breakfast and drinks reception to end the day on a high. Founders’ Comments Founder and Managing Director Emma Barrett shared: “We are proud to be heading into the new year with our recent re-brand as the Future of Care Leaders Conference. For 2023, we wanted to highlight the positive change care advocates would like to see – leading the care sector into a bright future. The healthcare industry has some crucial challenges to face and we hope to tackle these, as well as celebrate all the good the sector does.” “It is a joy to witness the fellowship between our delegates and we expect many partnerships to be formed during and after the conference” Voice for Change Emma Barrett concluded: “We look forward to welcoming new voices that are campaigning for call-to-actions and exciting changes across the sector. We’ll be opening the floor for progressive conversation in the hopes delegates will leave feeling empowered.” There is great anticipation to witness the Future of Care Leaders Conference programme develop in 2023. Individuals interested in attending can currently purchase tickets at a Super Early Bird rate saving 43% off for a limited time only. To find out more and book your ticket, head to the website here. https://www.futureofcare.co.uk
Parliamentary Candidate visits care home
Mary Chapman Court Care Home in Norwich has welcomed Alice Macdonald, the Labour Party Parliamentary Candidate for Norwich North. Alice, who was selected by the Labour Party last year to contest the Norwich North seat at the next general election, reached out to the care home to arrange the visit. The 31-bedroom residential care home, which is part of the UK-wide Maria Mallaband Care Group, hosted Ms Macdonald on January 5. She was offered a tour of the purpose-built facilities and an opportunity to meet with those living and working in the home, taking time to chat with them over light refreshments. Home manager Mihaela Laza said: “It was lovely to meet Alice and to see how interested she is in the social care sector. “We were very proud to show her the home and talk about the work we do and what it takes to deliver truly person-centred care and create a safe, happy and lively community.” Prospective Parliamentary Candidate Alice Macdonald said: “Improving our social care system is one of the biggest challenges facing the UK and so I am keen to learn more about how it works and understand the challenges on the ground. There is no better way to do that than by meeting with care providers and those they care for. Care workers here and across the country do a fantastic job and deserve all our gratitude. “It was a great pleasure visit Mary Chapman Court, and chat with the amazing team and some of those living there too. They were incredibly open and generous with their time, and I’d like to thank everyone for the warm welcome.
Care provider targets over a million visits in January, to aid government promise to cut NHS wait times
In the government priority announcement this week, Rishi Sunak focused on the issues facing the NHS – and A&E in particular – as patients fit to be discharged remain in hospital beds across the country. The Prime Minister noted the importance of extending telemedicine and helping patients access better data to inform decisions – to deliver high-quality, responsive healthcare for generations to come. Leading home healthcare provider Cera is today announcing a commitment to deliver over one million visits in January, to more than 20,000 patients per day. With around two million visits made to A&E departments in England each month, Cera has the scale to make a real impact in relieving pressure from the wider health service and enable more people to receive safe, effective care from the comfort of home. As Europe’s largest provider of digital-first home healthcare, Cera is already equivalent in capacity to 50 NHS hospitals, working with numerous NHS Integrated Care Systems and Local Authorities nationwide to deliver care, nursing, telehealth and repeat prescriptions. During a visit from Cera’s team of carers and nurses, a patient’s symptoms and health data are collected via the Cera App, which data analytics uses to predict deterioration in conditions 30x faster than traditional methods and can anticipate up to 80% of hospitalisations seven days in advance. This machine learning triggers earlier health interventions to prevent people from becoming unwell. It has been proven to reduce hospitalisation rates by an unprecedented 52%, keeping more beds free across the NHS. Last month, Cera launched its rapid discharge service in the Midlands, Yorkshire, Cheshire, and Merseyside, in advance of a national rollout. This service enables c.80% of patients who can be discharged from the hospital to be seen on the same day by Cera carers or nurses, by digitising the matching of the right carer or nurse with a patient faster and driving efficiencies through electronic scheduling.* Dr Ben Maruthappu MBE, CEO and Co-founder of Cera, comments: “In Wednesday’s announcement, the Prime Minister outlined the NHS’s wait times and the need to discharge people out of hospitals and into social care as one of the nation’s biggest priorities. Healthcare services are now required to do more with less, with demands increasing alongside an ageing population that requires more complex care, battling lengthy waiting lists across hospitals, and sector-wide struggles with staff burnout. “Through its technology-powered model, I am proud to announce that Cera will be in a position to provide over a million care visits this month, to help more patients leave hospital and relieve pressure on the NHS. Using machine learning and data analytics, Cera offers a care solution that does more with less and keeps patients safely at home through predictive technology. Moving healthcare services from the hospital to the home reduces the cost of healthcare ten-fold – the cost-effective solution the country needs.”
Aria Care Home wins award for Initiative Care
Aria Care Home awarded Best Initiative in Care at the prestigious Caring UK Awards 2022 Aria Care Home, the 28-bed residential home in Newport for people living with Dementia, has been recognised at the Caring UK Awards for its commitment to improving the culture for its workforce – which saw employee retention levels reach 100% for the year. The Caring UK Awards is a UK-wide initiative that celebrates outstanding people in the care sector. It took place at the Athena, Leicester, hosted by Emmerdale actor, Dean Andrews. Aria was also recognised as a finalist in the Regional Care Home of the Year – Wales & Midlands Category. Managing Director of Aria Care Home, Ali Al-Mufti, said of the achievement: “A national award for a small, single care home like ours is enormous recognition for the entire team that has worked relentlessly this year to buck the trend of recruitment and retention in the care sector – and have created an environment that elevates the home for our residents and each other.” The home is an accredited Real Living Wage employer, offering additional schemes such as employee wellness programmes to support the mental health of team members. Ali added: “The past year has been an incredible and unforgettable year for Aria Care Home. We don’t intend to rest on our laurels and will continue to better the care we provide to our residents. I am so pleased that the hard work of our team members has been acknowledged on a national level, they deserve so much recognition.” The care home, offers its residents person-centred care from highly qualified and experienced staff who deliver award-winning dementia support. The home has a diverse range of amenities and opportunities that offer residents surroundings that fit their lifestyle and care needs. The home has been regularly named in the “Top 20 Care Homes in Wales”, accredited by carehome.co.uk which is determined solely by reviews from residents and their families.
