apetito’ dietitians helping care homes tackle malnutrition for Nutrition & Hydration Week.
Having the right nutrition and hydration is essential to residents’ wellbeing, yet malnutrition is one of the most pressing nutritional issues care homes are facing. It’s estimated that some 35% of residents enter a care home with malnutrition. One of the key messages for Nutrition and Hydration Week is ‘making a difference every day’ and that’s exactly what apetito plans to do. From Monday 13th to Friday 17th, between 9am – 11am, its dietitians, Emily Stuart and Maia Fergus-O’Grady will be offering live chat support and answering your questions on nutrition and hydration. To ask Emily and Maia questions, or get advice about any aspect of nutrition, sign up using this link – apetito.link/askadietitian apetito will also be sharing top tips on how care home staff can help provide good nutrition and hydration support to their residents. The Top Tips to Good Nutrition will be available on https://www.apetito.co.uk/news on the Monday 13th March. Emily explains why apetito is so keen to share its expertise around nutrition: “Malnutrition affects approximately three million people in the UK. It’s such a prevalent condition because it can go easily undetected, is underdiagnosed, and can be poorly understood, despite being incredibly costly to social care and largely preventable. “Nutrition and Hydration Week has enormous value in signposting the issue and as a company that has immense expertise within its team, we are keen to share our knowledge and support care homes dealing with malnutrition. “We hope by answering questions and sharing our Top Tips, we’re able to help those caring for residents who would value some helpful guidance.” To find out more about apetito’s care homes meal service visit https://carehomes.apetito.co.uk/ or call 0808 239 2399
Zoom calls with Alzheimer’s patients to search for dementia warning signs
Zoom calls with people living with Alzheimer’s disease will help scientists search for the warning signs of dementia in a new University of Essex study. Psychologists hope older adults in the early stages of the disease can help identify early symptoms from the comfort of their own homes. The relaxed sessions will help researchers from the Department of Psychology explore how retaining information in the ‘working memory’ is affected by the degenerative condition. During the virtual sessions, simple exercises will help researchers see how memory is impacted by dementia. The results will then be compared against other older adults to see how healthy ageing differs from Alzheimer’s-induced memory loss. The research is being led by Dr Vanessa Loaiza, who said: “This study will help us learn more about Alzheimer’s from the people on the frontline of the disease. “We know how devastating a diagnosis can be and that’s why we are using Zoom to make it as easy as possible for them to join our study from the comfort of their own homes. “Although it is early stages this research could help us find the difference between an ordinary ‘senior moment’ and something a lot more serious. “We really need the help of people with Alzheimer’s to find out more about the disease and I urge anyone who can help to get in touch with my team.” The study will focus on working memory which is what we use when doing mental arithmetic. Healthy older adults tend to struggle with tasks requiring working memory, which can impact their day-to-day lives. Anything from reading and listening to problem-solving, is limited by what we can keep active in working memory. Dr Loaiza’s study will distinguish between the subtle kinds of working memory mistakes that healthy older adults make compared to older adults living with Alzheimer’s disease. Clearly distinguishing normal forgetfulness from dementia will help scientists and medical professionals catch and treat the condition early in its progression. Alzheimer’s is a disease which damages the brain and more than 520,000 people in the UK have dementia caused by Alzheimer’s disease – with this figure set to rise. The progressive condition sees chemical messengers in the brain decline sparking memory loss and difficulties with thinking, problem-solving or language. The study is funded by the Experimental Psychology Society and will involve roughly 150 people in total, with initial results expected in the summer.
Empowering Positive Action in the Care Sector at Care Roadshows 2023
Care Roadshows 2023 are a series of free regional events spread across the UK, welcoming professionals from across the care industry – particularly those working with older adults. The shows, which have been running since 2011, have been awarded the ‘Trusted Care Event’ stamp that indicates the events are focusing on improving the sector and wanting to make an active difference within care. Each show includes free access to an exhibition that hosts between 40-60 suppliers and associations. Here, visitors can test a variety of products and source new services that will benefit their care business or practice. Find training and recruitment support, activity ideas, management systems, help with employment law and so much more. The Roadshows also offer free entry into a series of seminars and panel discussions that cover topics such as dementia, technology vs. human connection and raising the profile of the care sector. At each location, local regulators will be in attendance to give you updates and guidance on inspections and new strategies, with the opportunity to get your questions answered by them. As the events are regional, they create the perfect opportunity for intimate, local networking. Join your care community today and register for your free ticket here – https://careroadshows-2023.reg.buzz/cn Event Dates & Locations: Care Roadshow GlasgowHampden Park Stadium – 18th April 2023 Care Roadshow Birmingham Villa Park Stadium – 23rd May 2023 Care Roadshow Liverpool Aintree Racecourse – 25th May 2023 Care Roadshow London Epsom Downs Racecourse – 17th October 2023 Care Roadshow Cardiff Cardiff City Stadium – 14th November 2023
‘Adopt a Grandparent’ strengthened in mission to combat loneliness amongst UK elderly with appointment of Irwin Mitchell as official legal sponsor
‘Adopt a Grandparent’ is being supported in its mission to tackle loneliness in UK care homes and beyond following the appointment of leading law firm Irwin Mitchell as its legal sponsor – who will support the charity in its 2023 plans to connect more than 100,000 people across social care and local communities. The two are joining forces via a tailored package that will see Irwin Mitchell support the charity’s efforts to combat loneliness – having already donated £10,000 to enable the award-winning scheme to launch a digital app to facilitate, streamline and speed up its ‘adoption’ process. The legal firm will also include links from the Adopt a Grandparent website to the firm’s website, for those in need of additional support. Founded in 2019, Adopt a Grandparent is an independent charity committed to reducing feelings of loneliness and isolation by pairing volunteers with the elderly community. By bringing people together, the charity aims to support people in developing meaningful and lasting relationships – with more than 90,000 people signed up across the globe. Some of its existing volunteers include Hollywood stars such as Ruby Rose and Bitsie Tulloch, while the non-for-profit initiative has also been endorsed by The Duke of Edinburgh charity as part of its volunteering section. The sponsorship comes off the back of the announcement of Andy Doherty joining Adopt a Grandparent as its new Director of Fundraising – as the charity sets out its 2023 plans to reach 100,000 sign-ups globally. Shaleeza Hasham, the founder of Adopt a Grandparent, said: “When we started on this path in 2019, we wanted to take action to abolish loneliness among the old and young alike. We’ve been overwhelmed with support and are delighted to welcome Irwin Mitchell as our legal sponsor. “Having already spoken on some of Irwin Mitchell’s podcasts, I know the firm understands what we are trying to achieve and with their support I’m sure we can continue to reduce loneliness and bring more people together in the year ahead.” Over nine million people in the UK are impacted by loneliness each year, while 200,000 older people haven’t had a meaningful conversation in over a month. This ‘loneliness epidemic’ has been shown to increase the risk of heart disease, cognitive decline, and dementia. The initial focus of Adopt a Grandparent was to identify and connect willing virtual volunteers with lonely older people via video chat. Volunteers would apply to join the scheme, which would see them outline their hobbies, activities, and interests, before being manually vetted and paired with the perfect candidate – with both parties then benefiting from rewarding intergenerational relationships forged on life experience and similar interests. What started as a small project in Surrey has grown to be a global phenomenon and as the charity’s legal sponsor, Irwin Mitchell will be using experience gained through its own later life programmes and campaigns to help the charity raise awareness of the impact of loneliness and support its broader aims of delivering better outcomes for the people they support. Emma McCann, partner at Irwin Mitchell said: “The long winter period can leave many people feeling lonely or down so this is an important moment to be supporting Adopt a Grandparent, a charity committed to tackling loneliness. “The charity’s objectives tie in with many of our own campaigns and having worked with the charity’s founder, Shaleeza, on some of these in the past, we’re delighted to be able to join forces again, where we can work together to raise awareness of the impact of loneliness and offer practical help for those with specific needs. “The winter season can be a challenge for older people who experience loneliness throughout the year, and many can be embarrassed to admit they are lonely. We’re looking forward to helping Adopt a Grandparent offer solutions and deliver a brighter 2023, where more people in our communities are included and no one has to feel left out.” Those who wish to join Adopt a Grandparent and Irwin Mitchell’s mission to end loneliness in the UK can sign up as a volunteer by visiting the website or downloading the free app, which is available through Apple’s App Store and Google Play. They can also donate to the charity’s GoFundMe page. For more information on Adopt a Grandparent please visit https://www.adoptagrandparent.org.uk/. For more information on Irwin Mitchell, visit https://www.irwinmitchell.com.
Elderly ravers enjoy care home beach party
A BEACH party at a Saltburn care home saw elderly residents painting their faces in UV colours and busting a move to thumping dance music – in a nod to Redcar’s famous Majuba beach festival. Those living at Hazelgrove Court Care Home, on Randolph Street, waved their hands and hankies in the air as DJs from the Woven Nest Theatre put on disco lights and blasted the tunes. The “Rave in the Waves” workshop is delivered by the North East based theatre-company for older people living with dementia, and was commissioned by Redcar, Cleveland and Middlesbrough Council as part of the Creative Health Strategy, funded by South Tees Public Health. Designed as a multi-sensory exploration of the North East coast, the workshop included a cinnamon scented sandy beach, interactive rock pool of hidden items, and waves made from a material that emulates the frothing sea, alongside drumming and dance music. Fourteen residents took part in the rave, run by facilitators Poppy Crawshaw and Liv Hunt, and with sound designer Elliot Mann, all from the Woven Nest Theatre. One of those, Judith Pearson, 79, said: “I never thought I would get to tell my family I had been to a rave.” Joyce Wooffindin, 83, said: “Can we have a rave every day?” Ellen Else, 91, said: “I have never had so much fun.” Sharon Lewis, activities coordinator at Hazelgrove Court Care Home, worked closely with the Woven Nest team to design the workshop to ensure it catered to the residents’ individual needs. She said: “After our conversations, Poppy came back to me and said they’d had this idea to create a rave. We’d never thought of this, so we asked the residents if they’d ever been to a rave before and most of them said no, but they seemed excited. “It was so effective how Woven Nest used storytelling to move us from one section to another, and you feel like you’re being transported somewhere else, but each part was participatory, and the residents were always involved. “Well, after the session had finished, the residents were saying they wanted to rave every day. I could hear residents telling their family members that they’d been at a rave. It just goes to show that no matter what age you are and regardless of whether you live in a care home, you can still have new experiences.” Poppy Crawshaw, from the Woven Nest Theatre, said: “As we moved to the music, there was a genuine feeling of release and freedom. Whether residents were dancing in chairs or getting up to dance, it felt elating to move to music you don’t usually associate with care homes. I think we can all relate to shaking it out and letting go through music and movement. “This is the first time we’ve created a rave in a care home and I’m quite overwhelmed by what a joyous experience it was. There was a moment when we were recreating the waves with a material than emulates the froth of the sea, and the residents were shrieking and laughing and lifting their feet to catch the waves. So simple but so impactful.”
Apprenticeship Programme Bridges Gap Between Care and Nursing Sanctuary Care’s Fast Track Route to Nursing Aims to Futureproof Care Sector
A Nursing Associates Programme launched by not-for-profit care provider, Sanctuary Care, seeks to bridge the gap between care and nursing roles. The two-year scheme enables apprentices to gain valuable on-the-job experience in the care sector, whilst studying for nationally recognised nursing qualifications to advance their careers. The scheme seeks to upskill care assistants to supplement nursing and clinical teams, whilst tackling recruitment challenges facing the health and social care sector. These issues have become increasingly prevalent in recent years, with a 62% increase in vacant care home nursing posts reported between 2020/21 and 2021/22[2]. The Nursing Associates Programme is fully funded by Sanctuary Care, which provides residential, dementia and nursing care in over 100 homes across England and Scotland. It enables students to gain alevel 5 foundation degree, and upon graduating, register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council to move into permanent roles as nursing associates within Sanctuary Care homes. The apprenticeship sees academic study complemented by clinical work experience with Sanctuary Care and partnership organisations across NHS sites, GP practices, learning disability schemes and children’s services, ensuring students develop the skills to deliver safe and effective care to residents. The programme has so far seen five apprentices successfully complete a Nursing Associate Foundation Degree at Plymouth University, the University of Greenwich and the University of Derby. Charlie Moore, 23 from Exeter was amongst the scheme’s first graduates, gaining a Nursing Associate Foundation Degree from Plymouth University in 2021. Charlie said: “I had initially secured a place at university where I planned to study Law, but I decided to take a gap year and joined Greenslades Nursing Home as a Care Assistant. It was never intended to be a permanent, but I loved working in care from day one, and when the opportunity to study to become a nursing associate arose, I didn’t look back.” Charlie completed her qualifications during the peak of the pandemic which saw a move to online learning, whilst working on the front-line delivering the highest quality of care to Sanctuary Care residents. Sarah Clarke Kuehn, Sanctuary Care Director, said: “Attracting new talent to the care sector can be a challenge, as many people are unaware of the varied benefits and career opportunities available within the industry, of which our Nursing Associate Programme is just one example. “This scheme enables apprentices to gain valuable on-the-job experience enriching residents’ lives in our care homes, whilst earning an income and gaining nationally recognised qualifications to complement their careers”. Along with the Nursing Associate Apprenticeship, Sanctuary Care offers an Assistant Practitioner Apprenticeship. This scheme also provides an alternative route to nursing qualifications, bridging the gap between care and nursing roles, with apprentices learning to carry out clinical duties such as monitoring vital signs and administering medication. CASE STUDIES Billy Pattison’s Journey from the Army to Nursing Associate Apprentice Moving from a role in the army to a career in care, Billy Pattison, 31, started his career at Sanctuary Care’s Fernihurst Nursing Home in Exmouth, which provides expert residential, dementia and nursing care for elderly residents in the local community. He joined in 2015 as a domestic and kitchen assistant but quickly realised care was his true calling. He started his Nursing Associate Apprenticeship when he was a Senior Care Assistant and wanted to develop in the direction of nursing. Now in the final stretch of the two-year programme, Billy said: “Working in care has made me realise the vital job that care and nursing home workers do, day in and day out, bringing that little bit of sunshine to those who need it most.” “The Nursing Associate Apprenticeship has been great in terms of my own aspirations, but also for the home, enabling the nurses to focus on their role with my support in picking up clinical tasks. I’ve felt my confidence grow and have shown competence in the workplace; I would say to anyone considering an apprenticeship to do it!” Abbie Troop Shines a Light on Becoming An Assistant Practitioner After joining The Laurels Residential and Nursing Home in Derby as a Care Assistant, 22-year-old Abbie Troop knew right away it was her calling. She completed her Assistant Practitioner Apprenticeship, which bridges the gap between care and nursing roles, at the University of Derby in December 2022. She said: “I love knowing that I am making a difference to our residents, making sure they are happy. You build such a good rapport with the residents; they are like your family.” Abbie has a very simple message for anyone considering becoming an apprentice with Sanctuary Care: “Go for it. It’s the best thing I ever did. I feel very proud to be here, I never thought I would be where I am now.” For more information on career opportunities at Sanctuary Care, visit: www.sanctuary-care.co.uk/jobs
HC-One celebrates annual National Apprenticeship Week 2023
Influential homecare CEO spells out the scale of crisis in the sector
Increased demand, a recruitment crisis, poor pay and repeated failures to meet the needs of the most vulnerable members of society are some of the major issues hampering the provision of homecare, according to a leading figure in the sector. Dr Jane Townson, CEO of the Homecare Association, fears people are being ‘neglected in the community’ because of problems impacting the sector. Around 1 million people are estimated to receive homecare in the UK, for a variety of reasons, such as post-hospital care, old age, physical disability, dementia or sensory impairment. In a stark and honest interview with Newcross Healthcare’s Voices of Care podcast, Dr Townson, the boss of the professional association representing and supporting providers of care in people’s own homes, laid bare some of the key challenges facing the sector. These include; Dr Townson said: “We’ve got a population aging with multiple long-term conditions, and obviously the preference of most people is to stay at home surrounded by people that they love in familiar surroundings and able to do what they want when they want. “But we’re seeing staffing issues translate into problems discharging people from hospital. Nuffield Trust reported that one in four people who are stuck in hospital are waiting for homecare and then, at the front end because people are being neglected in the community, they’re deteriorating, ending up in ambulances in A&E when, with some support at home, we could keep them safe and well in their own homes.” Recent research from the Homecare Association found that the average price being paid by public organisations for home care in England after 1 April 2022 remains significantly below the cost of recruiting and retaining a skilled workforce and delivering high-quality, sustainable home care services. Meanwhile, the podcast heard how the pay rate for someone in care was once higher than someone in retail or sales, but is now much less, making the sector unattractive to those looking to decide their careers. Dr Townson said poor pay, terms and conditions was impacting the quality of care people received, adding: “So many councils still purchase home care by the minute. So that puts such a lot of pressure on the care workers. They feel that they’re rushing from one place to the next and they’re in it because they want to make a difference to people’s lives, and they want to meet people’s needs. “But it’s really stressful when you can’t do that. And we’re seeing in some areas an increase in the number of 15-minute visits. You’ve barely parked and got in the door and, somebody got out of their chair and then you’ve got to go again. It’s just not enough time for the level of need that people have. So, the fundamental issue is the lack of investment.” She also criticised the lack of investment from the government in improving the technology and digital tools available to homecare workers, describing the improvements when staff were given just basic smartphones, which made it much easier for them to communicate with each other and access services like online rotas. When discussing solutions to the crisis, Dr Townson called for increased funding for the sector, a clearer pay structure and more flexibility when it comes to training new recruits, including the ability to train remotely. She also called for a greater focus on multi-disciplined teams working together in the community to help those in need of care. She said: “What we’d really like to see, are more multi-disciplinary teams on the ground, because in practice the care worker is talking to the district nurses, the social workers, the hospital staff. And then we can organise the training to support that team, that would start to make quite a big difference because then you start to get that mutual respect as well.” She said the government’s most recent white paper, ‘People At The Heart of Care’ had left her feeling ‘optimistic’ that the need for change was recognised and some of her recommendations would be put into place. She added: “There was a very strong element of a vision that was about keeping people well at home. I think everybody sees the sense of doing that. The rhetoric and the funding don’t quite match, but I think we’re marching inexorably to that point.” Also appearing on the podcast was Mark Story, Head of Learning Innovation at Newcross Healthcare, who said the company recognized issues around pay and was actively trying to do something to improve the situation. Its workforce receives pay 16.4% above the National Living Wage. He explained: “It’s part of our commitment to show that a career in social care or healthcare is a viable career option. “So, as an employer, we’re doing what we can, but there is more to do. But it’s not just about pay. I think there is a pay element to it, but there are also other benefits that we can offer as a result of being a large employer. “And when we come on and talk about career development and enhancing people’s ability to develop their careers, then I think that plays into that mix of what we can offer the healthcare and social care staff as well.” Hosted by healthcare expert Suhail Mirza, the podcast episode featuring Dr Jane Townson is available now alongside previous episodes in the series on various platforms including You Tube, Apple, Spotify and the Newcross Healthcare website
Brew Monday: Kent care home avoids January blues by putting the kettle on
A care home in Kent shook off the January blues by celebrating ‘Brew Monday’ with its residents, setting up a fun and tasty tea sampling to get people talking. Fairways Care Home, a branch of ACI Care that specialises in residential, respite and dementia care, decided to ignore the dreaded ‘Blue Monday’, supposedly the most depressing day of the year, by celebrating Brew Monday instead – a day dedicated to reaching out for a cuppa and a catch-up with the people you care about. While Blue Monday accounts for January’s worsening weather, lapsed New Year’s resolutions and the joy of Christmas fading, Brew Monday helps to combat these negative feelings by enjoying a hot beverage and socialising with loved ones. Residents were treated to four different teas: Peppermint and Liquorice, Mixed Berry, Blackberry and Blueberry Infusion and Ginger Green Tea, with the latter coming out the firm favourite. Brew Monday is just one of the many activities the staff at Fairways organise for their residents, to help bring variety to their days and encourage them to socialise together. The home has a busy schedule planned for the rest of January too, celebrating the upcoming National Popcorn Day, National Hug Day and Australia Day. Alison Yarnley, Registered Manager at Fairways Care Home, said: “We always like to have something for our residents to look forward to and our fun activity schedule promotes that. The staff have been proactive with each resident, which has contributed to their wellbeing and enhanced their daily lives. “Afternoon tea at Fairways was a fun treat for all, residents enjoyed socialising, interacting with each other and reminiscing about their memories of afternoon tea throughout their lives. Brew Monday was something simple and engaging that the residents looked forward to, just one of the many activities that create a joyful atmosphere and uplift the well-being of our residents and staff within the home.” The activities regularly put on within the home offer a host of benefits for residents including the opportunity to socialise and form friendships, help keep the mind active, and alleviate feelings of isolation and loneliness – all of which can occur in care home residents who may miss being in their own homes with partners and family. The Brew Monday campaign started in 2020 and was set up by mental health charity, Samaritans. It encourages groups of friends to stay in touch, share their troubles, and to dismiss the myth about Monday being ‘blue’ and instead start a conversation over a brew. For more information on Fairways and ACI Care, please visit https://aci.care/fairways/.
