Enhancing the dining experience while boosting nutrition
A good meal can offer more benefits than just nutrition; food plays an important part in social life and activity; especially in the elderly. A good meal is often used to mark welcomes and goodbyes, celebrations such as birthdays and other special days. Over the years, science and social experiments have proven that such occasions can help to encourage eating, release memories, and stimulate conversation amongst elderly people – even enhancing morale within care homes in some cases. In residential care accommodation, residents are often encouraged to invite guests, whether it be friends or family members, for a simple meal or even just for a cup of tea. As residents will be used to dining with family members prior to residing in their care home, this idea also creates a sense of familiarity, too and is beneficial to the wellbeing of residents. Mealtimes are a mainstay of life in a care home in which residents’ experiences are characterised and enhanced. Understanding how residents interact with one another, accommodating their preferences and encouraging autonomy are pivotal aspects in enhancing dining experiences. The transition from independent living to life in care can be stressful for some residents, and accommodating their needs during social events such as mealtimes can improve health and wellbeing over the long-term. Blueleaf has identified some key elements in improving the dining experience for care home residents and discuss the importance of doing so. Enhancing wellbeing using interior design It goes without saying that every effort should be made to make the eating environment as attractive and as culturally appropriate as possible. A recent trend known as Biophilic Design which involves connecting with nature to improve health and wellbeing would be an advantageous trend to consider, as it is proven to reduce stress and improve cognitive function. A recent study, in which 7,500 people were surveyed across the world showed that there was a 15% increase in perceived wellbeing and creativity and a 6% increase in productivity when people were exposed to biophilic elements. A dining environment that is welcoming, relaxing and comfortable has the ability to increase food intake and social interaction. This is important within a care home as levels of loneliness tend to be quite high. A nice environment to dine in can make the eating experience more enjoyable and reduce feeding difficulties in people with dementia living in care homes. Spatial planning within care homes is also an important consideration; generally residents are used to and familiar with eating in a relatively confined space. i.e. the dining room at home. They would have only experienced a wider space for dining when attending a restaurant or were staying in a hotel, for example. Nursing home dining rooms tend to be large, open space and this contrast has the power to change the paradigm for eating. Therefore, it is a good idea to break the space down into smaller areas, which can be done with clever use of free-standing screening or using furniture pieces as room dividers. This will help to make a smaller, more homely space feel without creating a navigational nightmare or spending large sums of money on renovation. Using familiarity and routine to help tackle dementia People with dementia can have problems eating and drinking, often putting them at risk of malnutrition. Regular mealtimes are good biologically as they provide rhythm and routine, eliminating the risk of malnutrition or dehydration. In addition to arranging set meal times, nurses and other caregivers should consider exploring ways of providing a social environment that promotes individual dignity and comfort, whilst encouraging residents suffering from dementia to eat. Turning meal times into a social activity will help create and maintain independence, so offer company if the resident doesn’t enjoy eating alone. Familiar sounds of cooking, smells of food, and familiar sights can help offer stability within residents suffering from dementia; as do regular meal times. Although people have different eating routines and preferences – some like a light lunch and larger evening meal whilst others prefer to have a main meal in the middle of the day, it is important to arrange consistent meal times. Don’t overlook the importance of variety and options It should be ensured that elderly people living in residential care accommodation are offered variety and an alternative choice of food. It is also beneficial to keep records of the food preferences of each resident in some cases, a food diary. This will allow nurses to keep track of what residents are eating and drinking when, and how much, to reduce the risks of malnutrition and dehydration. In 2018 it was reported that hundreds of care home patients have died suffering from malnutrition or dehydration. From 2013 to 2017, dehydration was noted in 398 cases, whilst malnutrition recorded 226 times, so more needs to be done to ensure fewer patients are at risk of these conditions. One of CQC’s regulations is meeting nutritional and hydration needs. The intention of this regulation is to make sure that people who use services have adequate nutrition and hydration to sustain good health and reduce the risks of malnutrition and dehydration while they receive care and treatment. Forward-planning menus with various options not only allows nutritional food to be planned in, but also allows residents to create an appetite for a particular meal. A recent report which comprised the opinions of 302 residents, 81 visitors and 250 staff from 31 care homes, showed that within care establishments across the UK, there was no publication of a second food option and no menu plans for the week ahead displayed. This shows that resident choice and control was limited and that more needs to be done to create a menu that reflects the needs and wants of residents. Another way to stimulate appetite can be done by planning and encouraging residents to go on trips and outings outside the residential care home. This may activate appetite by providing exercise, fresh air and a change of food choice. Reducing loneliness through social
Unplanned Care Congress: February 2020, London
Reducing trips to Accident and Emergency is the focus of the Unplanned Care Congress: Improving Flow & Reducing Statistics, which aims to help healthcare professionals reduce the 23.8 million A&E attendances which were seen in 2017-18. Following on from three highly successful and well followed urgent care conferences, Convenzis is organising this must-attend event which takes place in London in February 2020. Across the NHS, staff work around the clock to deliver the best possible care to more patients than ever before, but it’s becoming increasingly difficult as demand continues to rise. Some current urgent and emergency care stats bring home how important this issue is: • In 2017-18 there were 23.8 million attendances in Accident and Emergency. This is an increase of 2 per cent compared with 2016-17 and 22 per cent since 2008-09 • England had the second-highest reported A&E attendance rate amongst the home nations with 27,639 attendances per 100,000 population • 4-hour waits in A&E rose to a new high with 18.5% of people attending major departments experiencing long delays compared with 16.5% in 2017. Attendances rose by 0.6% in 2018 • The waiting list for consultant-led treatment rose to a new high in 2018, and the 18-week treatment target was not met NHS England is currently driving some key initiatives throughout the UK to help reduce these statistics and new rapid care measures – which will provide people experiencing a mental health crisis with treatment under an hour – are among a raft of proposed clinical improvements that aim to deliver rapid assessment and treatment for patients. The SDEC (same-day emergency care) care model aims to benefit both patients and the healthcare system by reducing waiting times and unnecessary hospital admissions. Book your place at the Unplanned Care Congress Join the debate on urgent care Join us on the 26th of February 2020 at London Prospero House to join the debate on how the NHS can reduce the raising statistics surrounding emergency and unplanned care, and we will lay host to 10 sector-leading speakers that will be on hand to talk you through the latest policy and care models being implemented across the UK. Our 4th Urgent Care Congress will promote the power of networking, with 200 like-minded public-sector professionals in attendance our they will allow you to meet and engage with peers within your area of expertise from across the UK. Our events promote the power of networking, with 200 like-minded public-sector professionals in attendance our they will allow you to meet and engage with peers within your area of expertise from across the UK. Benefits of attending: • Listen, learn and engage with industry-leading speakers • Input directly to the discussions and panel debate sessions • Gain 8 CPD Points • Engage directly with over 200 of your peers from across the UK • Network with ten thought-leading commercial sector solution providers • All food and refreshments provided Speakers at the Unplanned Care Congress include: Aidan Rawlinson, Programme Manager for NHS Benchmarking Network Aidan is a project manager and information analyst with over 15 years’ experience of designing and running benchmarking projects. Aidan has a masters degree in Biochemistry and spent 12 years as part of CIPFA’s benchmarking team. Currently, Aidan is managing a number of projects for the Network which include Radiology, Pharmacy and CCG Functions, and a variety of projects for NHS Wales. Aidan has exceptional VBA skills and is always innovating and producing new reporting systems and analytical tools for Network members. Dr Mark Harman, Strategic and Brand Director at eConsult, Clinical Fellow and NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Mark qualified from Kings College School of Medicine in 2014 and has since worked in a wide range of specialities across primary and secondary care and is currently on the GP VTS. Prior to studying medicine, Mark held some senior strategic and brand executive positions in some of the world’s leading blue-chip companies, such as Nike, Speedo, The Arcadia Group and Marks and Spencer plc. Krista Burslam, Clinical Lead for Urgent Care at eConsult Krista has over 17 years experience in emergency nursing, latterly as Matron of Emergency Department, Kings College Hospital, London, a major trauma centre. She has worked across different acute trusts in the UK and has spent time practising abroad in Australia, the Far East and Africa. *Reference Source: NHS England Research sources: House of Commons library, NHS Improvement, NHS England, NHS digital
‘Until society sees social care differently, we won’t solve the real crisis in the sector’
There’s no doubt that the social care sector needs a major overhaul. But until society stops seeing care work as a second-rate profession, we will never solve the biggest issue – the workforce crisis, says Victoria Sylvester, Director of Acacia Training. Earlier this year, MPs called for a radical overhaul of the social care system in Britain. Recommendations included the mandatory registration of all care workers, overseen by a governing council, and the creation of a National Care Service. The proposals, published in a new report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Social Care were long-awaited after months of headlines about the ‘chaos of the care system’. Reports of half a million unqualified and untrained people working in the care sector shocked the nation, with many fearing for the safety of their elderly relatives and neighbours. There’s no doubt that stories like these are extremely concerning – and that the sector needs reform – but they also contribute to the negative image of a sector which is already struggling due to chronic underfunding and a major workforce crisis. In this country, social care is seen as a second-rate sector. When you think about it, this is incomprehensible considering that care work is a highly-skilled job which our society relies heavily on. With an ageing population, demand is continuing to increase and it is estimated that the sector will need at least another half a million jobs, and people to fulfil them by 2030. Yet there are currently around 75,000 vacant posts in the social care sector according to the GMB union. Skills for Care estimates that the vacancy rate for care workers is 9.1% – more than three times the average for all jobs. We are already seeing the impact of Brexit, with fewer EU workers entering our care sector. Attracting people to the sector has never been more critical and what we need now is incentives, not barriers. The cost of regulation For the entire time that I’ve been in the sector there has been talk about registering care workers. From a quality and safeguarding point of view, it’s an excellent idea. Putting it into practice, however, is going to be a challenge. Consider the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). They set the education standards that professionals must achieve to practise in the UK. If nursing professionals don’t uphold the standards and behaviours set out in their code they can be removed from the register. This gives people the confidence that they will receive quality, safe care. But the NMC is primarily funded by an annual registration fee, which all nursing professionals have to pay. Forcing care workers to pay an annual fee on the current salary levels could become a deterrent to people joining the sector. Wages are notoriously low and don’t match the level of responsibility that social care roles demand. Why should they pay to be on a register when they can earn the same wage in a supermarket? Training can ensure high standards and help to engage and motivate employees, but cost can be a barrier here too, both for employers and workers. Fully-funded training can act as a much-needed incentive to attract – and keep – people in the sector. My family founded Acacia Training after struggling to recruit and retain quality staff at the two care homes we own in Staffordshire and Cheshire. Where we can, we proactively seek out funding opportunities in order to deliver training to carers across the UK. This benefits both employers and employees in order to continually improve standards in the sector. Previously all care workers had to achieve a level 2 qualification within two years of joining the sector but now it’s more of a grey area in terms of expectation. We need to set clear, mandatory minimum standards for all care workers. Retention is just as important as recruitment Ongoing training is also important in retaining employees – another area where the care sector is struggling. There is a real lack of progression opportunities for staff. The opportunities are there but they are not visible or accessible to the majority of people. The care sector is hard. Many people who decide to join it aren’t prepared for how physically and mentally draining it can be. Others get disillusioned by the low salaries and lack of progression. Yet every day hundreds of thousands of care workers get up, go to work and do an absolutely incredible job, caring for society’s most needy and vulnerable people and contributing enormously to their health, happiness and wellbeing. So yes, the care sector does need a radical overhaul and the APPG report is an important step in the right direction. But it also needs an image overhaul too. Let’s stop undervaluing the workforce in this sector and instead look at what we can do to motivate and inspire people to love their job and be the best they can be. Let’s celebrate the hardworking and dedicated people who working tirelessly in this sector to make a positive difference. Victoria Sylvester is a registered nurse, owner of two care homes and Director of Acacia Training, which provides apprenticeships, short courses and government-funded qualifications in the health, social care and early years sectors. For more information, visit: www.acaciatraining.co.uk.
How can care homes attract more staff?
Emma Platt, division manager of White Recruitment Health & Social Care, one of the UK’s foremost recruiters for care homes, discusses recruiting and retaining good-quality staff members… As the UK healthcare sector continues to suffer from the worst staffing crisis in recent memory, more and more care homes are being forced to shut down. In addition to this, with an ageing population, the strain on these institutions is only set to increase. However, despite an unfavourable staffing situation, there are still many things that care homes can do to attract more nurses. CPD Offering and encouraging nurses to pursue training and development helps greatly with attraction, and also retention – with one survey suggesting 70% of workers will remain in their roles due to job-related training and development. By becoming known as a care home that gives nurses the chance to progress through the ranks, and actively encouraging them to take charge of their careers – you will be seen as a far more appealing place to work. Mentoring Tying in closely with CPD, mentoring is another key approach to boost attraction. By being known as an organisation that gives mentoring to young employees, provides them with feedback, guidance, and the opportunity to soak up the valuable experience within your workforce, you can take advantage of an easy, cost-effective way to bring more nurses into the fold. Flexible working It’s vital to offer employees as much as possible in terms of work-life balance, as the excessively demanding schedules of care workers are in part contributing to the current crisis. This can be done by introducing non-traditional working arrangements such as flexible working. The desire for this is clear, especially amongst younger workers, with 67% of millennials claiming ‘flexi-time’ was something they expected as standard from a job. Technological advances, such as e-rostering and e-job planning, should make this easier to implement. Employer Brand A strong employer brand is key to talent attraction, and retention. Research shows 63% of employees admit that a trusted employer increases job satisfaction. Care homes need to build a relevant Employee Value Proposition (EVP) for potential recruits. This can be achieved in a number of ways, such as finding a recruitment partner that is well placed to assist with communicating an authentic, attractive employer brand. Ultimately, with plenty of more ‘fashionable’ brands to compete with, care homes must take action to get in front of young audiences and give people a glimpse of some of the high-tech, cutting edge work going in the sector. Communicate your purpose Any employer brand must also communicate your purpose across all touchpoints. Many workers nowadays, especially millennials and gen Z, are value-driven and committed to finding a company that aligns with their beliefs. By emphasising the ethical, socially minded aspects of working in a care home, and the difference that can be made in patients’ lives – recruitment will be a far easier job. Highlight the ways your organisation gives back and is actively engaged in the community, and make sure you are vocal about your core values – and that this is integrated into any employer branding. No ‘one size fits all’ approach Ultimately, there is no magic solution for solving the current staffing crisis in care homes. However, by embracing the above methods, those in the sector can begin turning things around. Fortunately, these solutions are interchangeable, and by embracing any one method, you will be going some way to implementing the others. For instance, by investing in flexible working solutions, your employer brand will benefit.
The importance of oral hygiene in care
Roger Daniel is CEO at Red Homes Healthcare. Having grown up working in and around care homes, Roger has vast experience in delivering care. Here he discusses how important it is to have an oral hygiene policy in place… CQC research released earlier this year found that 52% of care homes were without an oral health policy, and 73% of care didn’t sufficiently cover dental health. This is such an important but often overlooked aspect of care that protects residents’ oral health and in turn their overall wellbeing. Conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and dementia which affect a person’s ability to brush their teeth effectively, medications which reduce saliva and the fact that natural teeth are now maintained for longer all lead to greater oral health problems. For those in our care. we must not only address these issues as they arise but also put initiatives in place to prevent them from occurring in the first place. The effects of poor oral hygiene in care A bad oral hygiene routine can severely impact a person’s wellbeing and if we as caregivers are not on top of residents’ oral health it can have significant implications. Loneliness is something which all of us in the care sector are aware of and having teeth which we are uncomfortable with others seeing can lead to low self-esteem and a resident not partaking in social activities. This results in them feeling disconnected and unable to build relationships with those around them. Aside from the cosmetic implications that bad oral hygiene can have on a resident’s self-esteem, not upkeeping oral health can have numerous repercussions on physical health. Just some of the these include: • Respiratory issues as a result of ingesting bacteria from gum disease (recognised in The Journal of Periodontology) • Cardiovascular disease, put simply, as a result of bacteria entering the bloodstream, travelling to the heart and causing plaque to build up in the arteries • Inflammation of the mouth (stomatisis) resulting from a lack of dental care • Increased symptoms of diabetes, as gum disease makes it harder to manage blood sugars. Those with diabetes are also more prone to gum disease. The steps towards positive oral health When someone moves into a care home, they should undergo a full oral health assessment as this helps to identify any issues from the outset. Some simple questions this initial evaluation should include are how they normally manage their oral hygiene, what dental aids they currently use, whether they have dentures (checking they’re clearly labelled if so) and whether they already have a dentist. If dental information is recorded using the oral health assessment tool recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and specific needs are outlined in someone’s personal care plan, it’s easier to keep on top of ongoing dental requirements. This also ties in greatly with offering person-centred care which is tailored to each individual. In order to maintain a positive dental routine, it’s important that staff are aware of how they can best support residents. This includes the basics of general oral hygiene such as brushing their teeth or dentures twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and using their preferred products. As well as a good daily routine, staff must be aware of the implications that bad oral health can have on residents’ wellbeing and know the steps to take if they are concerned about a person’s dental condition. Working alongside doctors, dentists and community nurses is key to ensuring all aspects of optimum health. Having an effective oral health policy in place can have a huge impact on confidence and social skills, which helps those in care build relationships with both staff and other residents – massively increasing their quality of life. Not only this, but it ensures that residents are able to enjoy food comfortably and can get the night nutrition they need to keep fit and healthy. [1] https://www.cqc.org.uk/publications/major-report/smiling-matters-oral-health-care-care-homes [2] https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/life-stages/oral-care-age-55-up/the-importance-of-oral-health-for-older-adults-0914
The use of mobile devices in healthcare
Mobile devices are becoming an increasingly important tool within healthcare delivery. In fact, 4 out of 5 doctors make use of these devices as part of their everyday work. This has led to the phenomenal growth of Mobile Health, or mHealth, technology which is now projected to hit a global value of €53 billion ($60bn) by 2020. Mobile devices make it easier for medical professionals to access patients’ electronic health records. This is becoming increasingly common, with 43% of doctors admitting to using their mobile devices as the primary screen for accessing patients’ data. This has great implications for productivity as information can be quickly accessed and is far less likely to be lost or mishandled. In fact, 74% of hospitals that use mobile devices to collect information from patients are more efficient than those which don’t. However, with more patient data on mobile devices, the onus is on healthcare professionals to keep these devices safe and secure. If a device gets lost or stolen, very sensitive data may very well find its way into the wrong hands. Mobile health technologies help medical professionals to overcome communication issues. For example, the use of note-taking and communication apps make it very easy to exchange messages and information quickly between relevant parties. This improves information management and facilitates collaborative efforts to ensure a greater quality of care for the patient. Discover more about mHealth Scroll through the infographic below from Home Healthcare Adaptations to find out more about how healthcare professionals are using mobile devices for work. This guide covers some interesting statistics about the rise of mHealth and also includes a break-down of the key benefits and challenges associated with these technologies.
Committed to providing high-quality care services since 1986
Nightingales, which operates in London and the South East, grew from two residential homes in 1986 to an additional home care service which serves 100 clients. Nightingales Home Care division celebrated 25 years in operation this year. Here, founder Sarah Bruce and Head of Home Care Donna Roch explain how the care provider has gone from strength to strength thanks to an ethos of prioritising residents and providing high-quality staff… Nightingales care services Q&A Tell us about the history of Nightingales’ care services… Nightingales was founded by Nick & Sarah Bruce in 1986 providing private residential care at our two private homes, firstly in Bromley and then also in Reigate. Our mission was to provide the kind of care that we would give to our own parents. It seemed natural to extend that experience in providing home care, first in the Bromley area expanding through Croydon to the Reigate area. How many staff are at Nightingales now, and how many people do you care for in their own homes? Across both homes and the home care service, we have about 100 staff. Not all of these are full-time and we provide flexible working arrangements. We are also transitioning to 50% employee-ownership, so whoever you speak to at Nightingales, you will be speaking to someone who thinks like an owner. Further to this, 95% of our management team has been promoted from within the company. We currently support about 100 home care clients with a variety of care needs. The ageing population means care has changed a lot in recent years – how do you find people’s needs are changing over time and how have Nightingales addressed this? With 12 million adults in the UK aged 65+ and around 1.6 million aged over 75, almost without exception the elderly want to stay living independently in their own homes for as long as possible. The vast majority of those aged 80+ live alone with small social networks. What’s important from a care perspective is that we are flexible and able to respond to the changing needs of our clients over time; we’re certainly seeing an increase in demand for live-in care. On-going training is absolutely crucial for our carers so that they are able to confidently and competently support clients whose needs become increasingly complex both physically and mentally. All our carers have been trained extensively in dealing with dementia for example. The staff turnover rate is often a problem for care providers – why do you think employees stay for longer at Nightingales? There is a very real career path within Nightingales and opportunities across all the divisions. Our 10-Year Lunch Club which is an annual event and celebration of all those who have 10 years’ service has almost 20 members now, with the longest-serving about to celebrate 30 years with the company. Yes, the industry has a reputation for staff churn, but we are a value-driven company, and our staff like working to the high standards that comes from that. Our culture is one of professional and personal development supporting people in their career aspirations, I think our team recognises it’s something quite special that we have created here. Three years ago we adopted an Employee Ownership business model to better reflect that culture. Being part of Nightingales is so much more than a job, passion and commitment runs through all that we do and we understand that caring for the elderly is both a massive responsibility but also a huge privilege. How does Nightingales ensure CQC standards are met? Our carers receive possibly the most comprehensive training in our industry. They go through a thorough induction process, completing the nationally recognised Care Certificate course, and then enter our ongoing training programme. This typically involves them completing one assessed training module per month plus any additional training that is necessary. They will also be entered into NVQ training as well as receiving an annual appraisal and quarterly supervision sessions. However, it is our staff who really make our training special by choosing additional subjects each year which they feel will make the most difference to our clients. Each course typically involves them studying in their own time over a period of 12 weeks, which underlines just how engaged they are with everything the company is about. As an independent healthcare provider, what do you think policymakers could do to help people live in their own homes for longer? We are fortunate in that we only care for privately-funded clients, but the key issue to support people in their own homes is funding. At a certain needs point, residential funding becomes cheaper, and where limited state funds have to be rationed between everyone in need of care, difficult choices have to be made. Increasing funding to match need would therefore be the best thing that can be done. What’s in store for the future at Nightingales? Nightingales is committed to providing the same high quality of care it has always done. One of our mantras is to always do the right thing, and then work out how we will pay for it. There is always a way, but by putting the focus on the clients’ needs means the best decision for them is always made. We are also continuing to expand. With our transition to employee ownership, the appetite to grow the company in a sustainable way has increased, and we are therefore actively expanding into new home care areas, and looking to buy an additional home. We feel our approach to care is unique in the industry, with a total focus on quality of care and activities, and keeping our homes small and personal, with the highest quality of décor. We even make sure our residents continue to enjoy good-quality wine and other drinks. After all, they want to continue enjoying their lives, and we’re determined to make sure they do! For more information please visit nightingales.co.uk
Bookshelf – Care and nursing books for staff and families
We take a look at some of the new care and nursing books out there for staff and families. Covering a range of topics, these titles off CPD, advice and comfort as well as proving a great resource for activities. Sign up to our magazine for more care and nursing books and look out for book package prizes on our competitions page… Namaste Care for People Living with Advanced Dementia: A Practical Guide for Carers and Professionals By Nicola Kendall (£18.99, Jessica Kingsley Publishers) Namaste Care is a therapeutic approach to caring for those living with advanced dementia, focused on improving their quality of life through a simple, soothing and rewarding process. This step-by-step guide is for anyone looking to translate the principles of the Namaste Care approach successfully and professionally into a home or care setting, with an emphasis on the value of volunteers in the community in implementing this. The Namaste Care approach is focussed on giving comfort and pleasure to people with advanced dementia through sensory stimulation, especially the use of touch, and this book provides extensive guidance on every stage of the process, including harnessing community interest, recruiting and training volunteers, and managing pain and discomfort. In a time of ever-growing strain on healthcare resources, this practical guide is a timely reminder of the power and value of informal care and compassionate communities in helping to care better for people with dementia, and is essential reading for carers, professionals and family members. In this book: • The author brings extensive personal experience to the book, having implemented its processes herself, in her own community. • Foreword by Joyce Simard, the original developer of the Namaste Care method. • Extensive detailed information on the actual implementation processes involved in delivering Namaste Care. • Details of a very cost-effective method of caring for those with advanced dementia; appropriate for current economic strain on healthcare systems. About the author Nicola Kendall is a qualified psychotherapist, complementary therapist and mindfulness teacher, as well as the Namaste Lead at St Cuthbert’s Hospice, Durham. She is responsible for setting up a community project involving trained volunteers delivering Namaste Care to people living with advanced dementia at home. Making Sense of Dementia (Orchard Care Homes) If you work in a care environment with people who have dementia you will know that one vital aspect of their wellbeing is continued positive interactions with visits from relatives and friends. But what must it be like for the children who visit? It can be a scary and confusing experience for children. Orchard Care Homes, a leading provider of high-quality care for the elderly, has launched a new children’s activity book, ‘Making Sense of Dementia,’ designed to develop understanding and remove some of the fear and confusion associated with the condition. The book features fun traditional games such as mazes, spot the difference, optical illusions, memory tests, word searches and much more. Every activity is linked to the challenges somebody with dementia may face, with many pages asking children to question what they could do to help. By taking part in these activities, children will better understand the difficulties of having dementia as well as empathise and bond with family members who have the condition. See orchardcarehomes.com to find out more about the book and about how the Reconnect specialist dementia care model will deliver a holistic approach to caring for people with dementia that is significantly improved over traditional dependence on medication. Evidence-based Practice in Dementia for Nurses and Nursing Students by Dr Karen Harrison Dening (£24.99, Jessica Kingsley Publishers) Dr Karen Harrison Dening, editor of Evidence-based Practice in Dementia for Nurses and Nursing Students, discusses why dementia care is changing over time – and what care staff should be taught to ensure they can offer the best support… More people are living longer in old age, thus we are seeing an increase in both the prevalence and incidence of age-related conditions such as dementia. Dementia is a term used to describe a syndrome; a collection of symptoms, including a decline in memory, reasoning and communication skills, and a gradual loss of skills needed to carry out daily living activities [1]. The symptoms are caused by structural and chemical changes to the brain as a result of neurodegenerative change and processes. These include tissue destruction, compression, inflammation, and biochemical imbalances. In other words, the process of dementia is the end-stage manifestation of numerous brain disorders [2]. But that is the underlying technical rationale for what is going on; what about dementia care? Dementia care has changed massively on many levels since my days as a student nurse in the 1970s where people with dementia were contained in ‘back wards’ in large psychiatric hospitals. We saw the advent of such marvels as the ‘Kitwoodian’ approach to person-centred dementia care [3]. Also as the large psychiatric hospitals were closed we saw the expansion in a variety of dementia care settings and range of dementia services, education, technology, validation and revalidation of professional registrations…need I go on? As I moved through my career, reflecting on my practice and knowledge I would sometimes find myself saying ‘if only I knew then what I know now’ – then where would I be today? What resources might I have benefited from during my years of training and then as an early career nurse? I would have highly valued a book such as this that introduces the knowledge I needed, the evidence base for practice but that also the guidance to transfer this newly acquired knowledge into my everyday practice. The book was an inspiration following the publication of a very successful series of articles on dementia that ran in a well-known nursing journal between 2015 and 2017, which included 30 individual papers in all from prominent practitioners and academics in the field of dementia care and research. The section editor for the journal approached me and invited me to plan, commission and co-edit on a range of issues and topics on dementia and care
Care innovations: wearable technology for the elderly
As healthcare improves, life expectancy rises and people are opting to stay at home for longer. Families are having an increased responsibility in the care of their older relatives and many opt for domiciliary care. It is crucial that older people are given as much freedom as possible to live an independent and active life whilst being comforted by the knowledge that help is available as and when they need it – families and carers cannot always be around, but wearable technology can. Wearable technology can give more and more freedom to elderly people and their families to stay independent and active whilst allowing their families, carers and healthcare professionals to be able to monitor their health whilst they are with them – and also remotely. Technology is also being used to improve the care that is being given to older people. According to 24-hour care experts at Helping Hands Home Care “the ability to track and manage home care visits effectively is so important to providing a safe and efficient service”. Technology is certainly changing the way that we are able to care for our elderly relatives, whether it is delaying the time that it takes for them to need more full-time care, the monitoring of certain health aspects or giving family peace of mind. Wearable technology for elderly people In a similar way that we can monitor certain aspects of our health through wearable technology, such as a Fitbit, there is now more and more technology becoming available for elderly people. Here are some of the best and most effective pieces of technology that you might wish to consider to be ensured of their safety and monitor existing health conditions with ease and accuracy: Lively Mobile Plus GreatCall’s Lively Mobile Plus is an excellent option for family members who are worried about their elderly relatives having a fall. As people get older and frailer, the possibility of falling becomes greater and the consequences of falling also become potentially more serious. The Lively Mobile Plus consists of a wearable pendant or clip that is waterproof and connected to agents 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It can be worn in the shower and by simply pressing a button your loved one can speak to an agent whenever they need to. It is also fitted with a GPS meaning that should your loved one get into trouble when they are out and about, they can easily be found. Users pay a monthly fee for the monitoring services. Alert-1’s Mobile + Home Fall Detection System Another option for those who are mainly concerned about family members having a fall is the Alert-1 Mobile + Home Fall Detection System. There are two systems – a small and light, portable device with fall detection technology, GPS and two-way voice calling. A separate sensor unit can be worn at home giving the portable device time to charge, available either as a pendant or a wristband. If the sensor detects a fall, a call is put through to the Alert-1 call centre, the staff of which can then send help if it is needed. Care Touch Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor Blood pressure is a concern for many older people. The Care Touch Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor is worn as a wristband, battery operated and can give you quick and accurate blood pressure readings. The monitor is much less bulky than other machines and will give the results in a bright and easy to read display – as well as being able to store up to 60 readings. The monitor will also alert the wearer if they have an irregular heartbeat, but it does need to be fitted properly and calibrated to get accurate readings. ActiveProtective Airbag Smart Belt Soon to be hitting the market is the ActiveProtective Airbag Smart Belt. Breaking or fracturing a hip during a fall is unfortunately very common, and the consequences of this can often be even more serious. The Airbag Smart Belt is fit just like any other belt but incorporates technology to detect when a person is falling, triggering the belt to inflate and protecting the hip. It takes the belt 60 milliseconds to inflate and also includes Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to be able to alert caregivers that someone has fallen. The belt is lightweight and comfortable to wear but offers an extra layer of protection – which is much needed as our loved ones get older and frailer. Although many of us can be reluctant to embrace everything that technology has to throw at us, some technological advancements can be highly beneficial to us. With wearable tech, we cannot only see the quality of life for our loved ones improve, but we can also have more peace of mind ourselves.
