Surfaceskins battle to improve infection control
Brian Waligora, CEO of Surfaceskins, discusses the revolutionary new product which is winning the battle against infection… 1. How did Surfaceskins get started? Initially Surfaceskins were developed to address the issue of germ transmission between door users as the inventors noted people adopting many strategies to avoid touching dirty door handles when leaving public wash-rooms. Research showed that touch and dirty doors played a significant role in germ contamination and Healthcare Associated Infections (HAIs) in clinical settings. The current Surfaceskins were designed by a Professor of Technical Textiles with input from a Professor of Infection Control to provide a self-sterilising surface that removes the need to touch contaminated door surfaces and helps reduce the number of HAIs experienced by at-risks groups. SurfaceSkins ensure that washed hands stay clean and anyone touching a door with a germ-laden hand does not contaminate subsequent door users. 2. Where can the product be found in use today? Following successful validation trials in NHS Laboratories, Surfaceskins’ launch has resulted in global interest with distribution requests and orders as far afield as Australia and Peru. Closer to home we are in discussions with several corporations who are keen to promote the product within the UK. Trials to confirm that Surfaceskins also promote better hand hygiene compliance by increasing hand washing and higher use of hand gel dispensers are currently taking place. 3. What makes SurfaceSkin so invaluable to healthcare premises? HAIs are a concern for healthcare premises and it is widely believed that germ transmission via contact with dirty doors is a significant contributor to these infectious episodes, especially for vulnerable groups such as the elderly, ill or newborns. Surfaceskins are innovative door pushpads and pullhandles which have been designed and proven to kill deposited germs in seconds to protect each and every door user and help break the contamination chain. Surfaceskins also have the ability to convey high-profile messaging which can be used to encourage greater hand hygiene compliance practices such as hand-washing or use of alcohol gel dispensers. By helping to reduce the occurrence of HAIs in healthcare premises Surfaceskins address a serious concern and can reduce associated financial and reputational costs. 4. How much does SurfaceSkin cost per unit and how often does the product need replenishing/replacing? Surfaceskins provide protection for 1,000 activations which is sufficient for seven days in most care-homes and hospital wards. The cost of Surfaceskins is £4.95 each which for an average carehome, wishing to protect three washrooms and a food preparation area, equates to a total monthly cost of under £25. For hospital wards, with average usage and a discount for contract purchasing, the price would be less than £100 per month. The ability to print on Surfaceskins provides an ambient media opportunity for healthcare messaging or income generating advertisements which can offset the cost of the product. For more information, see the Surfaceskins website
Midlands end of life care service rated Outstanding by the CQC
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has found the quality of care provided by Marie Curie Nursing and Domiciliary Care Service, Central Region (MCNS Central), to be Outstanding following an inspection. This service provides palliative and end of life care services to adults with terminal illnesses across the West and East Midlands. It supports people in their own homes across Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Staffordshire, Stoke, Derbyshire, Birmingham, Solihull, Warwickshire, Walsall and Dudley. At the time of the inspection there were more than 300 people receiving the service. Inspectors found staff were caring and compassionate and people were being provided with safe, responsive, caring, effective and well-led care. A full report of the inspection has been published on CQC’s website. Under the CQC programme of inspections, all adult social care services are being given a rating according to whether they are safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led. Marie Curie Nursing and Domiciliary Care Service, Central Region (MCNS Central) was rated Outstanding for being caring, responsive and well-led and Good for being safe and effective. Rob Assall-Marsden, CQC Head of Inspection for Adult Social Care in the central region said: “Our inspection team was really impressed by the level of care and support offered to people using Marie Curie Nursing and Domiciliary Care Service, Central Region (MCNS Central). “Families were overwhelmingly complimentary about the service, praising staff for the compassion and kindness shown to their relatives and themselves. Family members had confidence in the knowledge and skills of staff and felt the collaborative approach of staff had a positive impact on their relatives’ care. Family members told us care was tailored to their relations’ individual needs. “Commissioners and health care professionals who worked alongside staff were consistent in their praise of the service and spoke of its determination to continually improve. “People were treated with kindness and their individuality was respected and staff worked with people using the service and their relatives to ensure they were central to any decisions about end of life care and treatment. The result was that the service ensured people had a dignified and pain free death as possible, as well as providing support to family members during and after their relative’s death. “People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrict way possible. “All of this meant people received a high standard of care, which is why it has been rated Outstanding.” Andrea Sutcliffe, Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care, said: “The quality of care which our inspectors found here was exceptional and I am very pleased that we can celebrate the service’s achievements. “An outstanding service is the result of a tremendous amount of hard work and commitment. I would like to thank and congratulate everyone involved.” To see the report, go to the CQC website here.
Mental Health Awareness Week: are you coping with stress?
This week is Mental Health Awareness Week and the Mental Health Foundation (MHF) is asking: are we coping with stress? After carrying out research into the prevalence of stress in the UK and its implications, the MHF is urging people to raise awareness of mental health issues: the report found that 74% of people have at some point felt so stressed that they felt overwhelmed or unable to cope. The survey, commissioned by the Mental Health Foundation and undertaken by YouGov, polled 4,169 adults in the UK in 2018. The mental and physical implications of stress can be depression, anxiety, self-harm and suicide and the MHF makes recommendation for a less stressed nation, from health care professionals addressing stressors of their patients to teachers being trained in mental health literacy. Mark Rowland director of fundraising and communications, says, “As a species, we’ve been around for 200,000 years. For most of that time, mental health has not been on our radar. Too busy surviving. But we are starting to understand that mental health is essential to make life worth surviving. “Stress is not a mental health problem itself. The stress response is a survival strategy to keep us safe. It was a vital adaption when looking to survive being eaten on the savannah.” Mark points to the social scientist Michael Marmot, who describes stress as what happens when we cannot control what is happening to us. Mark adds, “Today our brain cannot distinguish between a lion’s menacing presence and the affront of a rude person who pushes past you in the queue. The physiological response is the same. Many of us are triggering our stress response repeatedly every day – day in, day out. “It leads to what the experts call the allostatic overload. Instead of out-witting the lion and then retreating to a nearby cave, repeated stressful events is like being chased all day by a lion on repeat. Sound like one of your days? It turns out that this is very bad for us. It makes us sick. “In one of life’s bitter ironies, our stress response – which has done so much to keep us alive – now threatens to drastically reduce the quality of our lives.” Meanwhile, mental health charity Mind are focusing on helping to create a less stressful workplace. Mind offer a range of services to help find practical ways of reducing stress, both for employers and employees. Mind feature a blog post from Stacie-May, a former ambulance service worker, who explains, “Getting outdoors helps me better manage my mental health and I know running is good for me, but having the motivation to go out and run can be incredibly hard. I sometimes find just getting up and washing difficult, let alone running.” In the healthcare profession, a Perkbox study found that workers are the third most stressed in the UK: 48% of healthcare workers reported experiencing stress relating to money and finances, 47% relating to loved ones and family life, 39% relating to their own health and wellbeing and 35% relating to romantic relationships. For more information on Mental Health Awareness Week, see: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/blog/stress-are-we-coping https://www.mind.org.uk/workplace/mental-health-awareness-week-2018/ And for our related stories on stress and mental health, see: https://www.careandnursing-magazine.co.uk/news/healthcare-staff-stress https://www.careandnursing-magazine.co.uk/news/mental-health-act https://www.careandnursing-magazine.co.uk/content/mental-health-funding-gap-widens-further%C2%A0 https://www.careandnursing-magazine.co.uk/blog/MindEd
Two thirds of healthcare staff affected by significant stress levels
As Mental Health Awareness Week takes place, a study has revealed that people working in healthcare are amongst the most stressed in the UK. Two thirds of those working in healthcare reported suffering from significant levels of work-related stress, according to a study of 3,000 UK workers – making them amongst the most stressed employees in the UK, behind financial services (69%) and Government (68%). Work was significantly more likely to cause stress and emotional strain for healthcare workers than any other aspect of their lives. 48% of healthcare workers reported experiencing stress relating to money and finances, 47% relating to loved ones and family life, 39% relating to their own health and wellbeing and 35% relating to romantic relationships. Almost all of those working in healthcare (95%) admit that stress has a tangible impact on their lives, with the most common consequence being sleep loss, which affects 58%. Almost 1 in 2 (47%) healthcare workers suffer anxiety as a result of work-related stress. As part of the study 2018 UK Workplace Stress Report – carried out by employee benefits platform Perkbox – a stress ‘heat map’ of Britain has also been published, showing the parts of the UK that suffer the most with this kind of strain. Research revealed that those aged 25-34 are most likely to face stress brought on by work, with almost three quarters (73%) experiencing it. Chieu Cao, CMO & Co-Founder at Perkbox, said: “The healthcare industry is notoriously high pressured and so it makes sense that it’s the sector which has the third highest levels of stress in the UK. “Today’s hectic family schedules naturally take their toll on our lives, however despite this, it is still work that is proving to be the biggest stress factor for Britons. Those aged 25 to 34 are the most affected – most likely because this can be a particularly pressured time in their career as they fight their way up the ladder and perhaps even take on more work or responsibility in order to prove themselves. Quite often people at this age will also be saving to buy a house, organising weddings or even starting a family.” Healthcare workers are amongst the most stressed workers in the UK, ahead of those working in professional services and education sectors (both 65%) and just behind those employed within financial services (69%) and local and national Government (68%). Chieu continues: “There are many things people can do to manage their stress levels – from taking the time to exercise, reducing the amount of time they spend working at home close to bedtime and taking time out to enjoy hobbies. But the onus isn’t just on them. “It is in employers’ interests to ensure that workers are not feeling overly stressed – and the data clearly shows that, in some industries, there is a more urgent need for bosses to take action than in others. It is particularly worrying that almost 1 in 2 healthcare workers suffer anxiety as a result of work-related stress. Taking the time to recognise workers’ efforts, introducing health and wellbeing schemes which give staff the opportunity to take time out and do things that will reduce their stress levels and organising regular one-to-ones with supportive managers are just some of the things employers can do to ensure their workforce is not overly burdened with job-related stress.” To find out more, click here to view or download the 2018 UK Workplace Stress Report. Perkbox works to help companies increase motivation and engagement among employees, making businesses more inspirational place to work. The online platform provides access for employees to snap up incentives and rewards, earned through their workplace. For more information about Perkbox and to book a demo, visit www.perkbox.com The most stressful industries to work for in the UK: Financial services – 69% Local and national Government – 68% Healthcare – 66% Professional services and education (joint) – 65% (both) Hospitality – 64% Media – 63% Retail – 60% Manufacturing – 59% Admin and supportive services – 55% Information and communications – 53%
Pride In Care Conference supporting LGBT patients
Professor Ben Thomas, an NHS expert in mental health who also works for NHS Improvement, tells Care & Nursing Essentials about the Pride in Care conference in London on June 13. What is the Pride in Care Conference and what are its aims? Pride in Care is a new national conference helping to shape health and social care services to better address the needs of older LGBT+ people. The conference is organised by Opening Doors London, Britain’s leading provider of information and support services for older LGBT+ people. The conference aims to raise and address the key concerns of older LGBT+ with regard to accessibility, safety and inclusiveness of health and social care services and housing. The conference will provide an opportunity for health and social care providers to identify how services can be personalised to better address the needs of older LGBT+ people including the particular needs of older Trans, bisexual and Black and Minority Ethnic people. It will also be an opportunity to hear about and share good practice and support the work of health and social care champions who are doing innovative work. How are LGBT community cared for when it comes to mental health? The LGBT+ community have a greater prevalence of poor mental health, psychological distress and health risk behaviours than the general population. Research shows that LGB people are at more risk of suicidal behaviour, poorer mental health such as depression and anxiety, increased substance misuse and dependence than heterosexual people. (There is little information about the Trans community). Despite these findings LGBT+ people continue to face stigma and discrimination which have a negative impact on their self-concept and self-esteem. There is evidence that many LGBT people have experienced negative and mixed reactions from mental health professionals. Fears of negative treatment and care for mental health conditions can be a major barrier for seeking help. Delayed treatment can lead to increased and prolonged symptoms. Mental health services vary across the country and many organisations are improving and making an effort to become more LGBT+ sensitive by training staff and raising awareness about the needs of LGBT+ people. Are UK homes inclusive of LGBT residents or is there more work to do? Unfortunately, the majority of care homes are not particularly inclusive of LGBT+ residents and are not that LGBT+ friendly. There are reports of residents experiencing victimisation, discrimination and sometimes abuse. Many people have reported that they are fearful to disclose their sexual orientation in case of discrimination and you often hear of people going back into the closet. After all the advances we have made with equal rights it is shameful that older LGBT+ do not have the trust in care staff to be able to live out the rest of their lives openly and honestly with the sensitivity and respect they deserve. There is much more work to do, all forms of inequality and negativity have to be addressed and care homes must employ staff with positive attitudes and sensitivity to LGBT+ residents. It is reassuring to see care homes that champion the needs of older LGBT+ and many now put their staff through awareness raising training such as that offered by Opening Doors London. Tell us about your Prostate Cancer talk at Pride in Care Conference? Prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer found in men in the UK. Like all men it can affect gay and bisexual men and also male to female transgender women. However, support for what has often been referred to as an ‘invisible group’ is limited and patchy throughout the country. Recognising this deficit Opening Doors London and Prostate Cancer UK are piloting national virtual support and discussion group. Originally the group was meant to run for six months but has now been extended for another three months. The group gives individuals the opportunity to talk with others in an open, safe forum about their cancer related experiences and how it effects them and their lifestyles. Many of the discussions have focused on erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence and by far the biggest problem they have faced is stigma and discrimination from healthcare staff. As healthcare staff it is illegal to discriminate against people based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The NHS has a legal duty to treat people fairly. Unfortunately, because these inequalities still exist it can have a profound effect on not only these men’s quality of life but on their survival rates. We know that that large numbers of men are diagnosed with prostate cancer at a late stage of the disease which results in their chances of survival being reduced. Many of the men in the group reported they did not tell their doctor about their sexual orientation for fear of discrimination. Fear of a negative experience often leads to some men to delay or avoid early detection making it harder to treat their prostate cancer. The Pride In Care conference takes place on June 13 at University College London. Book tickets at lgbtconsortium.org.uk.
Find Changing Places with the loo.org app
Tom Gordon has a background as a master locksmith and now produces RADAR keys for accessible loos. He has developed a helpful app for disabled people or carers to find their nearest Changing Places. Here, he speaks to Care & Nursing Essentials editor Victoria Galligan about the product development and what else needs to be done to make the UK truly accessible. Tom explains the difference between types of loos available, saying, “Disabled Toilets are correctly called ‘Accessible toilets’ but not all accessible toilets are the same. Changing Place toilets have been designed for use by people who have a carer and include a full-size changing bench, a hoist and a peninsular toilet. Changing Places ‘U’ toilets and Space2Change toilets are similar but don’t have all the features of the full Changing Places standard.” Tom adds that Changing Places are not normally available for independent disabled people who can use a standard accessible toilet. As for the number of facilities available, Tom says, “There are 20,000-30,000 accessible toilets and 1,400 Changing Places in the UK, but there are never enough – partially because many councils are saving money. A dozen more are being built every month. Wales is particularly short of facilities.” So are all accessible loos locked with a RADAR key? “There is no standard which demands public accessible loos are locked with a RADAR lock but the vast majority do use them, if they are locked. It all depends on the toilet provider – some have a local key or a code or an intercom or a card. Some you have to pay for entry. Our phone apps tell you how to get in to each loo at www.loo.org. Eire and Europe and Australia all have their own National Key Scheme key – the links are also on www.loo.org. Tom’s RADAR key only costs £250 plus P&P, and he adds that they are available for bulk orders too from www.radarkey.org. He continues, “We have discontinued the steel keys which we supplied to RADAR for 25 years (until the charity shut down). They all still work all the locks but our new solid brass keys are improved in three main ways: the unique raised rim to the head gives much better grip; the computerised keycutting and other manufacturing and design improvements give a more reliable key, but we still have a master locksmith check every single key on two RADAR door locks (not the simpler mechanism of the padlock) to ensure that when a disabled person is outside the only toilet nearby which is suitable for them, they can reliably get inside; and it looks pretty, which is not irrelevant – why should a disabled person be forced to have an ugly product?” At www.loo.org you can check out Tom’s app “Changing Places Toilet Finder” which also features Spaces to Change, and he plans to produce apps for UK public toilets and accessible toilets too. Tom adds, “The website has the same data as the phone apps but the larger screen and power etc means that we can add extra features compared to the app. They all show where 1,400 Changing Places are, who can use them, opening hours, how to get there, how to find the toilet once you are there, how to get in and if it doesn’t comply with the full CP specifications, how it falls short. It even tells you the time of the next train or bus to get there.” Tom also offers free signage for the loos as he says a lack of information at the site is “a universal problem”. He adds, “This means it is difficult to identify them, even when you are nearby. Also, it’s not clear who is meant to use each type of toilet or what key is needed. It can be difficult to find out about other toilets nearby and a mystery who to report faults to.” Tom explains, “As we do business with most of the toilet providers, it was easy for us to contact the right people to get the necessary information and then use our existing skills and technology to solve this problem.” As campaigners continue to urge businesses to invest in Changing Places, it’s imperative that people can actually find and get into them – and through the app, key service and sign production, Tom is ensuring that loo.org is pulling all the factors together to make the country more accessible. For anything you need to know about public accessible loos, including Changing Places, go to www.loo.org
“Having MS is a different journey – we encourage a positive approach”
On World MS Day, Positive About MS founder Kaz Laljee talks to Care & Nursing Essentials editor Victoria Galligan about offering a lifeline of support for people all over the world who have been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. When were you diagnosed with MS and how did you react? “I set up Positive About MS in 2010, about a year after I was diagnosed. Everything I had read, seen and heard about MS since my diagnosis has been negative. I was being told that my life was over: that I should just go and watch TV, or go to Switzerland and kill myself. “For example, I was watching a TV show called Waterloo Road and a young teacher, who had her whole life in front of her, announced to her colleagues that she had MS, was portrayed in as if she’d announced a death sentence. A few weeks later, I tuned in and there was a funeral – she had killed herself. “That was the final straw for me. I am a strong-willed person and I wanted other newly diagnosed people to see something positive about MS.” How many people connect with Positive About MS? “Positive About MS has become popular all over the world: people in the US, the Far East, all over Europe joined us. We have a reach of around 20,000 people now.” What kind of work do you do as part of Positive About MS? “I work voluntarily alongside my marketing job. We campaign for World MS Day and MS Awareness Week (when our posts reached 93,000) and highlight new treatments and medical innovations. And I give talks to people who have been newly diagnosed with MS, working alongside Salford Royal Hospital – a centre of excellence for MS. “I want people to go away from my talks feeling good. We aren’t a charity but we are crowdfunding to pay for marketing and admin, without which we wouldn’t be able to reach as many people.” Why is Positive About MS such a success? “We want to provide good, valuable information and offer regular content to inform people. Our social media campaigns are very well received and we are one of the most popular groups in the country when it comes to MS. “We get lots of messages from people who are grateful for the support Positive About MS offers. Our posts are shared throughout the community. “Having MS is a different journey but we want to show people that if they have a positive approach it’s better. And we want to show people what they can do, rather than what they can’t. “In Dubai, people don’t use the word ‘disabled’ as it’s seen as an insult there. They use the term ‘determined people’.” • To support the crowdfunding campaign and see details of how the money will be spent, see https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/positiveaboutms
Author Colleen Doyle on Moving into Residential Care
Colleen Doyle, who co-authored Moving into Residential Care: A Practical Guide for Older People and Their Families with Gail Roberts, talks to editor Victoria Galligan about the impact on families of such a transition. What does your book Moving Into Residential Care cover, and who should read it? Moving into Residential Care; a practical guide for older people and their families by Colleen Doyle and Gail Roberts is a book about what helps and what doesn’t help during the life transition of moving from living independently to living in residential aged care. It is written for older people and their families. Aged care staff may find it beneficial to read as well. It covers the psychological impact of moving at this stage of life. What do you find is the main psychological impact of having a relative moving into care? Moving into care is a major life event, and viewing it in this way can help families and the older person themselves to understand the impact, allow themselves permission to experience a range of emotions and to adjust to their new circumstances. Can you give an example from your book of how families have struggled with finding a suitable residential care home? In the book we provide some stories from real people who have recently experienced the move. For example, Gerard (not his real name) had to move unexpectedly into a care home after a period of hospitalization. He and his family found the move very difficult, as some quick decisions had to be made. Care home staff made the transition easier by allowing Gerard as much control as possible over his routines and checking with him and his family to give them a sense of empowerment. Care homes that provide pastoral care during the transition period and beyond pay special attention to ‘being with’ the resident. Can you give some good examples of care homes which provide transition support? Good homes will allow new residents to maintain as much of their old routines and preferences as possible. By assisting residents to maintain a sense of purpose at every stage of their transition, the psychological impact can be buffered. The book gives some tips for maintaining resilience in the face of this transition. Making connections, changing the way you think about events, accepting that nothing every stays the same, and having some goals for each day no matter how small can help people to adjust. With an ageing population, is there enough provision for elderly care in the UK? With ageing populations in the UK and other western countries, a range of care options are needed. Moving into residential care is often not the first choice for people, but it can enable people to continue to live their life with some comfort and enjoyment given the right social supports, individual resilience and care home supports. Our book provides some tips to help with the transition to residential care for people in the UK, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand and some practical information such as internet resources for each country. For a 10% discount on Moving Into Residential Care (full price £10.99), use the discount code MRC on jkp.com
‘NHS funding gap is preventing an integrated health and social care service’
Tim Barclay, CEO of Appello, talks to Care & Nursing Essentials about why the Government needs to follow through with promises to integrate health and social care. “With a wider remit, and a new job title following the latest cabinet reshuffle, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Jeremy Hunt has the unenviable task of finding funds to plug large holes in both the NHS and social care budgets. While we do not yet know how the newly formed Department of Health and Social Care will arrange its funding pools, but there is no doubt that he will need to find a significant amount of funding to relieve current, and future pressures – with some estimates at around £2.5bn by 2019-20 for social care and a further £30bn by 2020/21 for the NHS. “Keep those figures in mind when you also consider our ageing population – the number of people aged 85+ in England has increased by almost a third over the last decade and will more than double over the next two decades. “The formation of a combined health and social care department is the clearest sign yet that the Government is committed to an integrated health and social care service – but talk to most at the coal face of health, care and housing for older people and you will find that the reality is slightly different. “Recently, we hosted a panel discussion with representatives from the Better Care Support team, the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, Mears Group, Housing & Care 21 and Independent Age. The discussion asked how we, as a combined ecosystem responsible for the care and support of older people, will tackle the challenges ahead and make sure older people do not fall through the gaps between departments and funding pots.” Is the integration of health and social care really happening? “There is still much confusion over who funds services, and where to turn for health and social care when it’s needed. This is a view echoed by Alan Mears, Chief Executive of Mears Group, whose care teams provide support to around 300,000 people a year: ‘There is still so much ambiguity around what integrated health and care actually means. Are we integrating services, data, technology or organisational structures? There seems to be a real lack of joined up thinking and good examples of integration across the sectors that can be scaled. How can you draw a line between people receiving a health service or social care? We should not be having a debate about funding or who pays. Is this an NHS or social care bath? These services should be integrated with funding coming from the same pot.’ “Margaret Willcox, the President of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (Adass) held similar views: ‘The fundamental problem between health and social care is the funding. Access to healthcare, through the NHS, is on the whole universal, but adult social care is funded through eligibility criteria. Indeed, changes to self-funded care now means those with more than £23,250 in capital are required to pay the full cost of residential care, so people will pay for their own care as they age. When you add in housing to the other two funding streams it becomes even more complex because social housing has its own eligibility criteria. Some of our predecessors have concentrated on integrating structures, but that is almost impossible; what you actually need to do is integrate practice.’ “I wholeheartedly agree with the original reasons the Government pushed for integration – that we need to put the individual at the heart of the care pathway. What I believe is missing is a decision-based metric that genuinely finds money from available resources irrespective of where that might be. At present, there seems to be little proven practice of a system that can arbitrate across those funding pots.” Who will fund integrated health and social care? “Considering for a moment that the Government does manage to integrate services effectively, there is still some question over where the extra funding will come from as Janet Morrison from Independent Age outlines; “It’s clear that the Government needs to be more honest about funding. We cannot keep up the pretence that if we all work a bit harder in health and social care then we can make it work. The Government must start a public debate that addresses the funding that will be needed by individuals to fund their care and support in older age, and what is available in terms of funded assistance. When we come to fund this as individuals, I think we need to look at whether social insurance is the answer. “The concept of individuals taking more responsibility for their own old age care is something that comes up again and again as a solution to the current funding crisis, but as Matthew West from the Better Care Support team mentions, the rhetoric needs careful consideration if it’s to be sold to a public, already feeling the pinch. Mathew believes the Government must position it in a way that the public sees the value and that it must be looked at as an insurance, rather than an additional taxation, and the conversation must be about how the Government will share the care, health and housing risk with the public.” How can technology help reduce the financial weight on the public and Government? “We know that the task ahead for those responsible for looking after our older population is going to be a difficult one – the funding gap figures speak for themselves – but there are some changes that can be made now to improve efficiency. “We have to start spending the money that we do have in smarter ways, to benefit those in need. I feel frustrated that technology is not being used more widely to fill the glaring gaps in funding and to better understand the needs of older people. This is a view also held by Alan Long from Mears Group, ‘I think
