Empathy dolls help Hartlepool’s elderly feel calm
EMPATHY dolls are helping Hartlepool care home residents with dementia gain a sense of meaning and purpose. Queens Meadow Care Home, on Stockton Road, has been using the therapeutic dolls to help residents feel more comfortable and communicative. Julie Armstrong, home manager, said: “The empathy dolls have been really successful with our residents who have dementia. “Holding and interacting with the dolls helps them to feel calm, gives them a sense of meaning and purpose, as well as improves social interaction and communication.” The dolls have been donated by charity History of Hartlepool, which also makes reminiscence DVDs featuring images and stories from the town. The charity was founded after a Facebook group created six years ago gathered support, with members requesting more information about the town. The founders began creating films, photos and newsreels about Hartlepool’s past and selling them to raise funds for the town’s care homes. Money raised by the charity is then used to buy specialist sensory equipment, such as the empathy dolls, and to pay for daytrips. Debbie Wilkes, activities coordinator at Queens Meadow Care Home, said: “We’ve purchased all of History of Hartlepool’s reminiscence DVDs as our residents really respond to the images and stories that are included. “It’s a bonus the group donates money to the home so that we can buy new things that interest them.” • Queens Meadow Care Home is part of the Hill Care Group. For further information visit www.hillcare.net.
New partnership offers care homes flexible way to enjoy top-quality nursing beds and furniture
A new partnership between a leading UK business finance provider and top furniture manufacturer is set to offer care homes more flexible ways to enjoy high-end beds and furniture. Henry Howard Finance (HHF), has launched an exclusive national partnership with German medical and nursing home bed and furniture manufacturer, Wissner-Bosserhoff, part of the Linet Group. This exclusive funding partnership will allow Wissner-Bosserhoff to offer straightforward and flexible finance solutions to UK customers wishing to purchase its high-end nursing home and hospital beds. Wissner-Bosserhoff uses a combination of leading technology, high-quality design and a customer-driven focus to deliver tailored nursing solutions to retirement homes, residential care establishments and hospitals across the world. As part of the wider LINET Group SE – based in the Netherlands – the company has over twenty years’ experience in the nursing sector, and has operated in the UK for over fifteen years. Gareth Williams, account manager at Henry Howard Vendor Finance, said: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to work with Wissner-Bosserhoff, helping the company to develop its presence within the UK market and to continue delivering first-class products to clients. The UK’s ageing population and the growing focus on quality of care is creating huge market potential for Wissner-Bosserhoff and we look forward to providing a steady funding line to support the firm in its future endeavours.” Rob Marsden, UK sales and marketing lead at Wissner-Bosserhoff, said: “As a leading supplier of both functional and elegant nursing products, we provide bespoke nursing beds and mattresses for healthcare providers across the UK market, including care homes, hospitals, trusts and charities. “As the healthcare sector faces increasing acute financial resourcing pressures, we also appreciate that the availability of finance to providers is an essential element in service delivery. As such, we are delighted to team up with a national leasing partner who can offer flexible finance solutions for our customers.” Mark Crook, group chief executive officer of Henry Howard Finance, added: “This is an exciting time for HHF as we continue to expand our multi-faceted finance offering to medical and healthcare providers across the UK.” Henry Howard Finance is one of the UK’s leading business finance providers for SMEs, supporting more than 20,000 UK businesses across a variety of sectors.
Re:Cognition Health launches new Alzheimer’s clinic in Birmingham
Re:Cognition Health, a leading provider of final phase, international, clinical trials for Alzheimer’s disease and other neurological conditions, has launched a new centre in Birmingham. Located in the Calthorpe Medical Estate, at 100 Hagley Road Road, B16 8LT, the new site will provide access to the very best healthcare and treatment options for Alzheimer’s disease and related conditions, whilst pioneering research to ultimately help pave the way to finding a cure for the disease. With over 130,000 people living with a diagnosis of dementia in the Midlands, Re:Cognition Health aims to support individuals with memory loss and other symptoms of cognitive impairment through providing education, clinical excellence and access to the most advanced treatments available worldwide. Dr Emer MacSweeney, chief executive and medical director of Re:Cognition Health, said: “We are delighted to be launching this major clinical studies centre in Birmingham, offering individuals the opportunity to have access to life changing treatment and medication.” Dr Jo Rodda, consultant cognitive expert at Re:Cognition Health and Clinical Lead at the new Birmingham centre added: “We are able to offer the opportunity to be involved in clinical trials of the next generation of emerging medications. Participants receive outstanding medical care and are monitored regularly throughout the study by a team of cognitive experts; we are looking forward to making a difference to the lives of people in the Midlands.” All medical costs are covered by the pharmaceutical company, so the very best care and medical facilities are provided at no cost to the individual. It is an exciting time for research into Alzheimer’s disease and other causes of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia. Results from clinical trials are always encouraging, bringing us ever closer to treatments to slow down or, ideally, halt the progression of the disease and to improve its symptoms. Why clinical trials? Clinical trials are essential for advancing our understanding of medicine and improving the healthcare and quality of life for everyone affected by dementia and cognitive impairment. By participating in an international clinical study, individuals can gain the potential personal benefit of early access to a new treatment, whilst also having an important global impact on our ability to treat a given condition. Dr MacSweeney said: “With the introduction of new biomarkers to detect evidence of Alzheimer’s disease at its earliest stage, there is reason for cautious optimism that new generation medications will delay progression of disease and also boost cognition. Just as research through clinical studies has improved our outlook for numerous diseases including previously fatal infections and certain forms of cancer; the same action is being taken today for Alzheimer’s disease.” Re:Cognition Health is proud of the pioneering work being undertaken by the consultants and cognitive experts at the clinic and continues to work hard to become one of the most successful clinics in the world for enrolling individuals onto final phase international clinical trials for Alzheimer’s Disease. An early diagnosis is essential to have a change to change your future. 10 early symptoms of cognitive impairment which may lead to dementia include:
National drive to reduce medication errors in care homes
Omnicell is calling for care homes in the UK to look again at the way they administer medication to residents and patients. It’s astounding to think that some homes are still relying on original pack dispensing alone to administer complex medication regimens to dozens of residents. It’s an unsafe and unnecessary practice that the industry needs to work together to tackle. A study released this July by University College London School of Pharmacy1, looked into medication administration errors between original medication packaging and multi-compartment compliance aids in care homes. Results showed that 178 errors were identified from 2493 opportunities for error. As you would expect, more medication administration errors were made when using original medication packaging compared to multi-compartment compliance aids (9.3% and 3.1% respectively). It’s great to see that multi-compartment compliance aids, like SureMed by Omnicell, can help to improve patient safety in a care home environment and we’d like to think that in most cases this is standard practice. However, there is now an even safer way to administer medication to these patients and it’s one that we are pleased to see care homes starting to turn to. Following the successful launch of Omnicell eMAR in autumn last year, Omnicell is now working with 32 pharmacies servicing more than 49 care homes. A further 9 care homes will have Omnicell eMAR implemented by the end of October 2017. Omnicell eMAR is proven to help care homes reduce the risk of medication errors and drives-up patient safety standards. This recent research highlights the importance of introducing an effective automated management system to tackle the widespread issue of medication errors. The Omnicell eMAR system automates the entire medication management and administration process making it safe, simple and compliant for everyone involved. It gathers information, provides prompts and accurate instructions for staff and gives managers real time medication administration data at the touch of a button, so they can be sure that the right dose has been administered, at the right time, to the right resident. By investing in automation like Omnicell eMAR, care homes can help tackle the serious issue of effective medication management which has been an ongoing problem for a number of years. Reports show that almost 70%2 of residents have experienced at least one error in their medication regime. Residents take an average of 7.2 medicines per day3, and with each additional medication comes the increased risk of errors in prescribing, monitoring, dispensing and administering. Poor medication adherence not only results in compromised quality of life for patients but in some cases, it causes death of those most vulnerable. While it’s great to see that some Pharmacies and Care Homes have started to embrace automation as a way of improving patient safety, we are now calling for other care homes to review their practices and do the same in the light of this new research. Rishi Bhatia, owner of Scorah Pharmacy, comments; “In this day and age no care home should be relying on original pack dispensing alone to administer medication. It leaves too much room for error which could result in potential harm to patients. For many years in the UK, MDS trays have been the answer and they have worked well. However, with the recent emergence of eMAR systems there is now an even safer and more efficient way to administer medication within care home settings. All the homes I supply now administer medication using Omnicell eMAR. This means original dispensing packs can still be used, but with the added advantage of patient specific barcodes and a system that provides prompts and instructions for staff right down to an individual patient level. Not only does this provide a valuable safety net for healthcare professionals, but it also frees up time for the pharmacy and care home team, which can be redirected to patient care.” The system allows each individual medication to be identified through a barcode applied within the pharmacy, which can then be tracked at all stages from check-in at the care home to administration to the resident – it also ensures that all unused items are disposed of, or returned, to the pharmacy. Omnicell eMAR uses on-screen photographic identification and provides an important medical history for each patient including a simple alert and verification system to minimise the risk of medication administration errors. Julie Spencer, Head of Care at Avery Group Care Homes, uses the system in two of their specialist dementia homes; ““Prior to using Omnicell eMAR the checking in of medication would take 5 hours per floor, totalling 15 hours of staff time per month for 3 floors. Since we have introduced the system this has been reduced significantly to 2 hours per floor which is now only 6 hours per month. This reduction of 60%, means our staff can spend more time providing face-to-face patient care. Our staff have really embraced the new system and we have had multiple reports detailing just how easy it is to use. Our previous systems always meant there was a risk of human error, but since we’ve introduced Omnicell eMAR the risk of this has been significantly reduced and our residents’ safety has increased.” You can find out more about Omnicell eMAR at this year’s Pharmacy Show at Birmingham NEC on October 8-9 by visiting Omnicell at stand PD10 for a free demonstration. Authored by Paul O’Hanlon, Manging Director of Omnicell UK&I
Heroic Battle of Britain pilot Tom chooses Theraposture Rotoflex bed
96-year-old Tom Neil is a famous Royal Air Force fighter pilot and ‘Ace’ of the Second World War who is benefitting from better sleep and more comfort thanks to a powered profiling and rotational bed. Tom is a highly respected veteran of WW2 and completed 141 combat missions for the RAF during the Battle of Britain. He is the last surviving ‘Ace’ from this historic engagement and has published several books recalling his experiences flying Hurricanes and Spitfires between 1938-1964. Tom has multiple awards for bravery, held the position of Chairman of the Fighter Pilots Association and was a key figure in the 75th anniversary commemoration of the Battle of Britain. Now approaching the age of 97 Tom still retains his determined yet Gentlemanly persona – along with a desire to remain independent at home for as long as possible. Tom does not want full or part-time professional carers just yet and only has assistance from his sons a few days per week. Tom wants to remain as active as possible on his own terms so chooses to use assistive equipment. Getting in and out of bed without assistance was becoming more of a challenge as was achieving a comfortable position at night. Tom spent a few years discussing possible solutions with his late wife until he decided upon ownership of an electrically powered Rotoflex bed from Theraposture. This electrically operated rotational, height adjustable and profiling bed has future proofed Tom’s independence at home. The Rotoflex is available as either a bed for one person or part of a double combination that can be shared by couples. Every design is available in a variety of surrounds and conceals precision German-engineered mechanisms that provide smooth and quiet functionality. There is only one Rotoflex – an ergonomic rotating bed that includes a vertical seat lift for safe and controlled sit-to-stand transfers. Tom is able to benefit greatly from a sophisticated and accomplished proven solution that has been developed and continually improved for over 20 years. Tom has owned his Rotoflex bed for a few months and is delighted with the support it has provided. Tom explains: ‘I had considered an assistive bed for some time, but did not want a piece of apparatus that looked like a hospital bed. This is my 38th home after being stationed all round the world and I want it to remain the same. I saw the Rotoflex in an advert and was impressed with its abilities, it is my understanding that it is the best rotational bed on the market. Key to my decision was that it was practical, easily controllable and looked like a domestic bed.” Following a visit to his Suffolk home by one of Theraposture’s Trusted Assessors, the Rotoflex was deemed appropriate for Tom as it would provide increased comfort, support and safety. Tom chose a 4’6’’ wide Rotoflex for increased space to relax and a Damask upholstered surround. The bed is ideally suited to Tom’s decor and its castors ensure the Rotoflex can be moved easily for floor cleaning. Being able to sleep well has always been important to Tom ever since he began flying combat missions during WW2. It was essential he achieved as much rest as possible in between missions so he was alert, able to engage the enemy effectively and return to base unscathed. There was very little time between missions during the Battle of Britain as Tom’s squadron was permanently ready to scramble. Being able to get to sleep quickly was essential and now later in life Tom is able to do the same with his Rotoflex bed. Tom continues: “My Rotoflex is as comfy as a Spitfire. When you are very old you need to move around and readjust yourself regularly to remain comfortable. The movement of my Rotoflex helps me adjust my position without difficultly day or night, this is the joy of the bed.” With ownership of a Rotoflex from Theraposture Tom has the extra support he needs to access his bed safely and on his own terms. He currently does not need to use all of the bed’s functionality but feels it is essential for the future. Patrick Neil, Tom’s son added: “We are continuing to help Dad remain as active as possible as we know his independence is important to him. We are avoiding as much full-time care assistance as possible for now – helped significantly by the Rotoflex. Its lying to seated powered action has greatly improved Dad’s sleeping arrangements and is a major factor in keeping him at home for as long as possible. As a family, we love being here together in our final family home which Dad built nearly 40 years ago. We don’t want that to change for anything – the Rotoflex has made that possible”. Patrick adds: “When you introduce full time carers you quickly become dependent upon them and your capacity to function can deteriorate quickly. This is why we continue to challenge Dad with tasks that are fair and achievable.” Tom concludes: “My son took my car away so I cannot drive anymore which I was not happy about but is probably best. At least I can still move around the house and get in and out of bed on my own. The Theraposture Assessors and installers were impeccable and reassured me. At last I can sleep better at night.” www.theraposture.co.uk
Jobs and recruitment in the care sector
CV-Library, the UK’s leading independent jobs board, offers advice around why now is a great time for professionals to look for new opportunities in the care sector. Now is the perfect time for carers to look for jobs or their next career opportunity Ongoing uncertainty in the UK has led to doubt within the care sector about the implications of Brexit, the recent general elections and the future of the industry as a whole. The sector is notorious for staff shortages, with care workers stressed to maintain job standards, and many companies struggling under the pressure to keep up with public demand. It’s true that EU workers have helped the care sector to deal with staff shortages, as many foreign professionals bring their valuable skills to the job market. So presumably, less trained EU workers, will mean a bigger problem for the care sector – right? Not quite. The latest data from CV-Library indicates the opposite, and that the sector is showing no signs of slowing down. Jobs, salaries and applications all saw an increase in July 2017, suggesting that now could be the perfect time for job hunters in the industry to look for their next opportunity. There are more jobs available to care workers There has been a staggering 15.6% rise in job vacancies year-on-year in the care sector. This is particularly positive news for those seeking opportunities within this industry, especially given that during the same period last year the Brexit backlash was yet to hit. For professionals in the industry it means that now is a good time to look for work, with candidates standing a better chance of landing their dream job. Alongside this, there will more than likely be a wider range of roles for candidates. This rise means that those applying for new positions or starting a career within the industry will have a variety of different opportunities to choose from. As a result, the care sector is becoming increasingly appealing for future career prospects, encouraging talented candidates to enter the industry. Salaries are on the rise Even better for professionals in this sector, salaries have increased by 3.8% year-on-year. It’s clear that care organisations are working hard to attract talented candidates in to their businesses, using higher salaries. This means it’s an even better time to look for jobs in this industry, proving to be an affordable career option with good prospects. The salary increase also serves to make the care sector more desirable for new recruits and those who want a career path that is rewarding in financial means too. This is important with the increased cost of living, and could be a good place to start when it comes to reducing staff shortages in the industry. Care workers are feeling confident And it’s clear that confidence is also being reflected amongst professionals in this sector, with care roles seeing a 1.3% rise in job applications last month. This is good news for the industry, bringing in fresh talented individuals. That said, this extra competition for roles means candidates will have to work harder to stand out from the competition to ensure they are offered the job. But it’s great to see that the industry is thriving, despite concerns around the state of the job market in the sector. Overall, the care sector has shown that there are increasing job prospects with more vacancies and higher salaries, which is great news for both employers and employees. This means that there are new, talented and exciting professionals entering the industry. And it’s also positive news for workers in this industry, with improved career prospects and higher pay packets. This is essential to make the industry more accessible to the public under the increased cost of living. Therefore, this industry is challenging the negative news from Brexit and ongoing uncertainty as it continues to thrive.
Care home garden makeover by teen NCS volunteers
YOUNG volunteers from Nottingham spent a week helping care home residents living with dementia. The Future Foundations National Citizenship Service (NCS) spent time at Longmoor Lodge Care Home, in Sandiacre, as part of their social action project. The 15 to 17 year olds renovated the home’s garden, adding a vegetable patch, colourful flowers, garden ornaments and a sensory table incorporating sight, hearing, smell and touch. The multisensory additions will be particularly beneficial for those living with dementia, said Samantha Ely, home manager. She said: “We were delighted to be contacted by the Future Foundations NCS group, who were working on a dementia focused project and aiming to give something back to the community. “When they explained their project to us, we jumped at the opportunity, and invited them to the home to work with our residents. Volunteers from the Future FoundationsNational Citizenship Service (NCS) in theLongmoor Lodge Care Home garden. “We’d like to say a massive thanks to all those who took part. The garden looks great and the residents are already thoroughly enjoying it.” Volunteers from the Future Foundations NationalCitizenship Service (NCS) in the Longmoor Lodge Care Home garden To mark the end of the project, the NCS volunteers and staff at the home organised a tea party for residents and their family members. “We had a great turnout to the tea party,” Samantha said. “It was a fitting end to a great project. We look forward to seeing them back at the home in future.” • Longmoor Lodge Care Home is part of the Hill Care Group. For further information visit www.hillcare.net. Future Foundations NCS programme aims to inspire young people to achieve their full potential. For further information visit https://www.ncsingeus.co.uk/provider/future-foundations/.
Toddler trip to see Nottingham’s elderly care home residents
Toddlers took a trip to a Nottingham care home to enjoy a day of games with the elderly residents. Arts and crafts, playdough making, balloons and singing kept both young and elderly entertained before they shared lunch. Longmoor Lodge Care Home, on Longmoor Lane, Sandicare, hosted the children from Brookhill House Day Nursery, on Brookhill Street, Stapleford. The three to five year olds have been making regular trips to the care home, playing parachute and ball games, reading and sharing photographs and stories, among other activities. “There are great benefits for both the children and our elderly residents,” said Samantha Ely, home manager at Longmoor Lodge. “The children have a lot of fun, learn about disabilities and the elderly, and get loads of attention from the residents, which they thrive under. “While the residents are thrilled to spend time with them, playing games, reminiscing about their own childhoods, children, grandchildren and even great grandchildren. “It makes their week when the youngsters come in to see them. We will certainly continue working with the nursery.” Longmoor Lodge Care Home is operated by the Hill Care Group, which has homes across the north of England. Many of the group’s homes foster similar working relationships with their local nurseries, which have proven hugely beneficial. Wendy Waddicor, managing director of Hill Care, said: “The effects of the elderly and young interacting in a care setting has rightly started receiving a lot of attention, with Channel 4’s documentary Old People’s Home For 4-Year-Olds the latest high-profile example. “We have always encouraged and supported all our homes to actively forge similar relationships with their local nurseries and schools, as they have proven particularly effective at improving residents’ activity levels and mood during the visits and for days afterwards.” • Longmoor Lodge Care Home is part of the Hill Care Group. For further information visit www.hillcare.net.
Help for healthcare employers on apprenticeship levy and assessment
Healthcare employers looking to make the most of the new apprenticeship levy will have help on hand from one of the UK’s leading awarding organisations. Highfield Qualifications has been approved by the government to provide end-point assessment (EPA) services for the new healthcare assistant practitioner, healthcare support worker and senior healthcare support worker standards – which are currently being introduced throughout the sector – and will be offering healthcare employers a full range of support services to make the most of their potential apprenticeship levy payments. The changes are some of the biggest ever to training in the UK, and will see new apprenticeship standards use EPAs instead of continuous assessment, meaning individual apprentices will have their work and competence assessed towards the end of their learning against criteria established by healthcare employers. There has also been the introduction of the apprenticeship levy from May 2017, with larger employers paying into a central fund that must be used for apprenticeship training, while smaller employers will see 90 per cent of their costs covered by the government. Chris Sprenger, Highfield MD, said, ‘With our recognition by the government as an apprentice assessment organisation (AAO), Highfield is in a position to provide specific assessment services for those organisations already taking on healthcare apprentices. We can also offer consultancy and advice to any organisation still trying understand the changes and make the most of them – whether they are looking to take on apprentices for the first time, wanting to have their existing in-house training recognised, or searching for services and resources to ensure they claim the full share of their funding entitlement’. He added, ‘Apprenticeships are great for businesses and can provide a welcome boost to staff development and productivity when it is most needed, but it’s vital that organisations understand from day one how to make sure the changes are of benefit to them and their employees’. Highfield’s apprenticeship services are being offered through its Highfield Assessment brand. For more on the healthcare standards, go to the ‘Apprenticeship Qualifications’ section of www.highfieldassessment.com You can also contact Highfield at info@highfieldassessment.com or by calling 0845 2260350. Regular social media updates are available at https://twitter.com/HighfieldABC and www.facebook.com/HighfieldABC
