How to make private healthcare more accessible
Rob Cottingham, credit director at consumer finance specialist, Duologi, discusses the pressure on the NHS and how this can be alleviated via accessible private healthcare. Despite efforts to alleviate the issue of NHS staff shortages and rising patient admissions which put the health services under increasing strain, it appears impossible to meet the growing demand for treatment in the UK. In particular, this is hindering the handling of non-urgent care. From hip and knee replacements to IVF, many patients looking to undergo ‘non-essential’ surgeries are waiting up to two years for treatment and – in some cases – procedures are cancelled altogether. Despite not being critical, these operations are often vital for quality of life. Many patients are therefore left with no other option but to turn to private healthcare practices to handle these costly procedures. Flexible finance solutions, however, which enable healthcare providers to split the cost of their treatments into instalments, could help address this issue by making these procedures far more affordable and accessible to those who need them. Not only could this alleviate the pressure on an already overburdened NHS, but private healthcare providers that effectively establish such offerings can expect to attract more patients and simultaneously boost revenue figures. With this in mind, here are a few ways the sector can make private healthcare more financially accessible. Putting it into practice 0% interest – Offer patients flexible finance without any added interest. Our recent research found that 38% of people would be more likely to utilise finance options if there was no mounting costs to consider. By making this type of service more commonplace, private practices can expect to increase their client base. Buy now, pay later – Allow people to make no initial payment for treatment for a fixed period of time. After the agreed timeframe, if the original cost of care has not been paid, then monthly payments will begin to accrue interest. However, as this payment option requires no initial funding it will undoubtedly encourage more consumers to consider private treatment. Effective promotion – Ensure patients are aware of the financial offerings available. Given that 94% of people wouldn’t even think to ask if a merchant offered POS credit, simple tools such as pop-up banners near till points, posters in the waiting room or a clearly visible website header can alert potential customers to the benefits of finance solutions. This provides a clear reason to purchase from that provider in particular. Going forward It goes without saying that our growing and ageing population will only continue to place increased levels of strain on the NHS. The sector must therefore look to capitalise on rising demand for private healthcare. By reducing the financial strain of non-public healthcare and making it more readily available through flexible finance, organisations can expect to increase treatment accessibility, improve patient satisfaction, as well as boosting their bottom line. For more information on private healthcare, see duologi.com
Twiddlemuffs and doll donations help residents with dementia
Twiddlemuffs and dolls have been donated to a North Yorkshire care home to help residents with dementia. Volunteers from two separate groups knitted and donated the therapeutic items to Sycamore Hall Care Home, in Ripon. The Ripon Cathedral group of the Mothers’ Union Diocese of Leeds dropped off around a dozen handmade twiddlemuffs at the home. While the volunteer group Comfort Dolls and Twiddles for People With Dementia made a separate donation of twiddlemuffs and several comfort dolls. A twiddlemuff is a knitted or crocheted handwarmer with accessories such as ribbons and buttons sewn on to them, which help to calm those with dementia by keeping their hands and minds occupied. Dolls are also used to provide therapeutic effects, particularly for those in the later stages of dementia, with residents being comforted by holding and interacting with them. Chrissie Medway Steele, home manager at Sycamore Hall Care Home, said: “The donations from both groups came as a surprise but a very welcome one. “Both twiddlemuffs and dolls provide great therapeutic benefits for our residents with dementia, helping to improve mood and wellbeing. “A huge thank you to the Mothers’ Union Ripon Group and Comfort Dolls and Twiddles for People With Dementia for making these donations. Sycamore Hall Care Home is part of the Hill Care Group. For further information about twiddlemuffs and doll donations and about Sycamore Hall Care Home visit www.hillcare.net.
Double marathon sponsored walk for care home garden
WALKERS are aiming to conquer a double marathon in less than 24 hours to raise funds for a sensory garden at a Cheshire care home. More than half a dozen volunteers will tackle the 49-mile route – which is only three miles short of a double marathon – to raise £1,000 for Halton View Care Home, on Sadler Street, in Widnes. Brian Freeston, husband to the home’s activities coordinator Laura, has organised the walk from Widnes to his hometown of Rhyl, on the Welsh coast. He has been backed by DW Sports Fitness, on Cross Street, Widnes, who have offered one-hour a week of free personal training to anyone who takes part. The gym is also arranging additional fundraising events during March, involving a treadmill and exercise bikes. All funds raised will be used to buy raised flower beds, flowers, herbs and vegetables, providing a colourful, edible garden to stimulate both sight, sound and smell for residents at Halton View Care Home. Laura said: “We wanted to raise funds for a sensory garden for our residents to enjoy. “Brian has done lots of charity walks and bike rides to various places before and, being originally from Rhyl, he came up with the idea of walking there from Widnes. “He’s currently planning to complete the walk in approximately 17 hours and anyone else who wishes to take part is welcome to do so. “We’d also welcome any and all donations, which can be made through our JustGiving page or we have sponsorship forms at the care home.” The sponsored walk from Widnes to Rhyl will take place on Saturday, 13th April. To sponsor the team, visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/haltonviewcarehome. Anyone who would like to take part in the walk or marathon should contact Laura Freeston at Halton View Care Home by calling 0151 422 0001.
Newborns receive Random Act of Kindness from care home
RANDOM Act of Kindness Day saw care home staff and residents donating a trove of supplies for Teesside’s newborns. Nappies, beanie hats, mittens, blankets, sleepsuits, nappy sacks and baby wipes were among the items collected at The Beeches Care Home, Green Lane, Stockton-on-Tees, following an appeal. Staff, family members and residents were among those who donated. The items were wrapped into gift parcels for new mums and their babies on the neonatal unit at University Hospital of North Tees. Sister Julie King, who works on the neonatal unit, said: “I’m delighted to accept the donations on behalf of the unit.” Alwyn Behan, who lives at The Beeches Care Home, was among those to visit the hospital to deliver the gifts. She said: “I was moved to tears after seeing premature baby Jasper produce a smile just for us.” Fellow resident Janet Wren said: “It’s lovely to be able to do something to help the tiny babies. And the nurses were lovely too.” Jess Brown, home manager at The Beeches Care Home, said: “Anything we can do to help others is a good thing so, with Random Act of Kindness Day coming up, we decided to launch the appeal. “We had a great response from friends, family members, staff and residents, who all donated items for the neonatal unit at North Tees Hospital. We’d like to say a big thank you to all of them. “Residents Alwyn and Janet also loved visiting the unit and were thrilled to be able to help others.” The Beeches Care Home is part of the Hill Care Group. For further information visit www.hillcare.net
Technicolour dressing gowns to keep elderly warm this winter
JOSEPH’S technicolour dressing gowns were knitted by Hazelgrove Court care home residents in Saltburn-by-the-Sea. Residents at Hazelgrove Court Care Home, on Randolph Street, created the gowns for elderly people to keep warm this winter in their own homes. They were taking part in a Knit for Peace UK initiative, which encourages knitters to produce items for those in need. The care home residents chose to make dressing gowns by knitting six by six inch squares and then attaching them together to create the finished piece. The gowns take 114 squares to produce, as well as a knitted belt to match. The residents described the finished gowns as “Joseph’s coat of many colours”, according to Hazelgrove Court Care Home manager Tina Temple. She said: “It’s really important for us to continue to involve residents in activities that help the wider community. They all love to knit and were very impressed in the finished dressing gown.” The home’s activities coordinator, Sharon Lewis, found out about Knit for Peace UK when she was looking for a community project to involve the residents in. There are many keen knitters living at the home, so the residents were pleased to get involved with the initiative. Resident Joyce Baxtrum said: “We’ve been doing this for weeks and I’m really proud of myself. The dressing gowns look great. After trying on one of the gowns, fellow resident Joyce Tibbertt said: “It’s so warm. I don’t want to take it off.” Sharon Lewis added: “It’s lovely to do something for the community and that will make a difference in someone’s life.” For more information about Hazelgrove Court Care please visit http://www.hillcare.net/
Giving a helping hand to the elderly during the festive season
While there are various positive aspects and associations related to the festive period, Christmastime can also result in loneliness becoming clearer for people to see. The Mental Health Foundation has found that 19.7 per cent of people aged 16 years old and above across the UK showed symptoms of depression or anxiety in 2014, while the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported that there were five per cent of adults throughout England alone who reported feeling lonely either ‘often’ or ‘always’ in 2016 to 2017. If you feel lonely, the festive season can be a time of year that is met with dread. This is because they could see the holiday season as a time of the year where they witness those around them getting reacquainted with loved ones, with these instances likely to make their feelings of emotional isolation more profound. Take note too that, according to the ONS, older widowed homeowners who live along and with long-term health conditions were especially likely to report feelings of loneliness more frequently. Elderly citizens who have had to say goodbye to a loved one may be made more aware that someone is no longer with them when they carry out traditions that they used to enjoy doing as a couple. Everything from hanging up Christmas decorations to having a Christmas dinner can trigger these moments of sadness. As the festive season is quickly coming around once more, Brits have been urged by curved stairlift manufacturer Acorn Stairlifts to provide a helping hand to elderly loved ones and neighbours throughout the holiday period. Here’s some advice on how to do so… The joys of volunteering with the elderly Volunteering feels even more special and thoughtful when carried out across the festive season. There’s nothing quite matching helping others and then seeing their appreciation in the way they respond to the acts of kindness and the positive looks on their faces. People who feel lonely can also find volunteering very helpful. However, it can be intimidating doing it on your own at first. Therefore, why not consider working at a soup kitchen or organizing a gift drive and then asking others if they want to get involved, too? On the topic of volunteering, be sure to take the time to enquire with an elderly relative or neighbour if they need any help carrying out tasks around their homes this Christmas. Whether it’s giving them a hand to put up decorations or clearing their yard after a heavy snowstorm, you’ll be helping while also giving those you’re assisting some company. Christmas traditions that you can get elderly people involved in Christmas comes with traditions that people like to get involved with year after year, regardless of their age. Therefore, have you enquired with elderly neighbours and relatives of their interest in getting involved in fun-filled occasions throughout the festive season? They may enjoy joining you for some Christmas shopping, for example, or to see your town or city’s Christmas lights display. See if they also want to get involved when you go carolling, are decorating your homes or are making holiday crafts too — many of these are likely to remind them of their youth and can also see many generations all enjoying the holiday period together. Be aware too that some people will worry that they are intruding on someone else’s family time, choosing not to ask if they can get involved in an individual’s Christmas traditions as a result. However, they won’t need to worry about this if you’re the one to reach out and present them with the friendly invite. Avoid only using electronics to connect with the elderly The problem of loneliness can be heightened when people spend large amounts of time on their computers and mobile devices. Dr. Jennifer Caudle, an assistant professor of family medicine at Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine, stated that loneliness can be “an invisible epidemic”, masked by an individual’s online persona. An individual’s online persona is unlikely to be reflecting their real-life emotions of loneliness either, Dr. Caudle was also keen to point out. Therefore, be sure to take the time to see people in person no matter how hectic the holiday season is. “Being connected electronically isn’t the same as in person,” Dr. Caudle went on to acknowledge to CBS News. “There’s something about a person-to-person interaction that’s generally better for our well-being. Maybe it’s intangible. But I think being around other people, family or friends, and that reassurance, communication, or something as small as a smile or a touch; these are small things, but I think they’re very important.” Sources: https://www.aclsonline.us/articles/the-guide-to-overcoming-holiday-depression-for-the-elderly-and-their-caretakers/ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-squeaky-wheel/201312/surviving-loneliness-over-the-holidays https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/statistics/mental-health-statistics-depression https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/wellbeing/articles/lonelinesswhatcharacteristicsandcircumstancesareassociatedwithfeelinglonely/2018-04-10
Care UK secures its fourth outstanding rating from CQC
Perry Manor care home in Worcestershire has become Care UK’s fourth home to secure an outstanding rating from the Care Quality Commission. The home opened in 2014 has places for around 80 residents and is the first older people’s care home in Worcestershire to be rated as outstanding. One of the five areas inspectors gave the highest rating was for leadership – which is spearheaded by home manager, Katherine Matthews. In the report, one relative mentioned: “I cannot praise or thank the team enough. They are shining examples of outstanding, exemplary care. Much of this comes down to leadership and I am indebted hugely to Katherine and her team.” Home manager, Katherine, said: “I’m over the moon the CQC’s inspectors have rated us ‘outstanding’. My team constantly strives to create the very best caring and supportive atmosphere for the residents here at Perry Manor. It’s brilliant to have our hard work recognised by the national care regulator. “I’m incredibly proud of the team, and our ‘outstanding’ rating just shows the dedication and commitment every one of them has to making Perry Manor a fantastic place to live. I would like to say thank you for their hard work – something which I know is echoed by the residents and their families here at the home.” Inspectors commented on the philosophy of the home, and how it focuses on residents being supported to live the lives they chose. The team were commended on their ‘can do’ attitude which enhances residents’ quality of life. One resident said: “They are great at helping me to do the things I enjoy, I’m very happy here”. A relative commented: “The team are marvellous, really friendly and take time to talk to you. They are there for you when you really need them to be.” Credit was given to the team for including residents in all decisions about the home’s environment. It was noted that the team’s willingness to spend time with, and create special moments for, the residents was clearly appreciated by their loved ones. One relative spoke about how the team had bought their loved one a musical instrument so they could continue to use their talents, commenting: “all small things in themselves, but hugely important for mum to create a sense of calm and belonging.” Inspectors noted that the inclusive approaches the team had developed to support people with dementia was exceptional, including team members positioning themselves in one resident’s reality which is orientated to their working life. The report relays how one relative said: “The team treat residents with dignity and respect and, most importantly despite their dementia, care for them as individual people with very different needs and wants.” The Care UK team had created an ‘always welcome’ home environment, with communal areas decorated to make them dementia-friendly. Different pictures and memory boxes are added to bedroom doors to assist residents in identifying their rooms. The report noted that the home’s person-centred care plans detailed information about individuals’ likes, dislikes, aspirations and care needs. In addition, the home’s ‘Wishing Tree’, has allowed the lifestyle team to arrange trips and activities based on residents’ aspirations on both a planned and spontaneous basis. For example, one resident, who had been a shepherd in her younger years, was surprised when the team arranged for a lamb to be bought into the home. Praise was given for the strong links the home has within the local community, including relationships with schools, charities and interest groups, as well as creating a support network for people caring for loved ones in the local area. Care UK’s other outstanding homes are Broadwater Lodge in Surrey, and Mildenhall Lodge and Cleves Place in Suffolk. Perry Manor is a state-of-the-art care home which provides full time residential, nursing and dementia care, as well as short term respite care. Designed to enable residents to live enjoyable and fulfilling lives, the care home has its very own cinema, coffee shop and hairdressers, and there is plenty of space both indoors and out for relaxation and recreation. www.cqc.org.uk
It’s Time To Be Bold When It Comes To Attracting Younger Talent
It is no secret that there is a recruitment crisis within the social care sector and recent statistics suggest that one million new care workers are needed by 2025 to cope with the ageing population. Statistics show that currently, 800,000 young people are not employed or in education2, and evidence suggests that by attracting these young people to apply for a role within your care setting, it can bring new, fresh ideas and different perspectives on caring for others as well as helping to plug this gap. However, there seems to be a stigma around working in care which is preventing younger people from applying for roles, this could be due to the lack of awareness and education around the career path available within care homes. This stigma really needs to go! So, what can you do to attract younger people into roles within your care home? Will Shepherd, CEO at Cohesion, provides his top recruitment tips: Create a specific recruitment strategy solely focusing on young people – different aspects of the job attract different groups of people; therefore, recruitment plans should be tailored to various target audiences. Consider careers fairs, social media advertising and customise the recruitment process itself – tailoring your application process to be short and including language that appeals to younger people. Try removing barriers such as ‘minimum requirements’ and instead use ‘values-based techniques’ which better allows the candidates strengths to be recognised. Work closely with schools and colleges – consider approaching local schools and colleges, especially those that teach a health and social care course by offering to share presentations to the students. This can include, talking about the benefits of working in the care sector and the career pathways available in your organisation. Consider offering work experience, this provides a chance for you to welcome young people into your homes for several hours a week, allowing them to gain a positive experience and a taste for working in the care sector. If they impress, you could offer them a guaranteed interview upon completing their studies. Of course, interaction with youngsters can start much earlier, with some organisations engaging with those as young as 5-years old! A visit to one of your homes, which allows for interaction with residents is a great opportunity that it often over-looked. Occasions such as Harvest Festival, Christmas and Easter are a perfect opportunity. Engage parents and guardians – our experience of delivering early talent recruitment including sizable graduate and apprenticeship programmes has taught us how important it is to engage with parents and guardians. It is clear that parents have one of the greatest influences on their children’s careers – but do they know enough about the sector in order to encourage care as a rewarding career route? When recruiting younger people, it is a good idea to create a section on your careers website for parents answering any typical questions they may have. Use case studies on your website and social media – unsurprisingly the internet is an amazing platform to use when trying to gain the interest of young people. Social media sites can be used to advertise and emphasise the benefits of working in care – demonstrating that this career isn’t only for older generations but that there are huge opportunities for young people too. Under 25-year olds who are already working in care can be showcased on your website, through videos, and social media to act as ambassadors and give positive examples of how successful and rewarding working in care can be. Having young employees featured on your website can be a real selling point for future talent. Make the job attractive to young people – highlighting the benefits of working in care is a great way to attract young people. Flexible hours, and the opportunity to earn a good wage are both great starting points. But from our findings, the most important element can be the opportunity of coming away at the end of a shift feeling that you have made a difference to someone’s day. Showcase your employees’ achievements –award schemes targeting your ‘star’ employees can really have an impact. Not only will you identify current young key players in your business now, but you’ll demonstrate that you mean business when it comes to recognising your team’s achievements and saying ‘thank you’ – no matter what their age. For more information about strategies to engage young talent contact us at: cohesionrecruitment.com.
What a No Deal Brexit would mean for social care
Care England, the largest representative body for independent providers of adult social care, has submitted evidence to the Health and Social Care Select Committee’s inquiry into the impact of a ‘no deal Brexit’ on health and social care. Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive of Care England says: “The prospect of a No-Deal Brexit only accentuates the fragility within the social care sector. It magnifies potential uncertainties in the recruitment and retention of foreign workers upon which many independent community care providers depend, currently the sector includes 233,000 employees that have foreign nationality. With vacancy rates running at around 90,000 at any one time, this dependency is significantly important to the sustainability of the sector – particularly as it is predicted that by 2035 an extra 650,000 social care jobs will be required to keep pace with rising demand”. “Not withstanding the potential impact of Brexit upon the sustainability of social care, the sector is already at crisis point. Relentless pressures on funding, increases in the level and complexity of need and widespread challenges in the retention and recruitment of the workforce required are compounding at an exponential rate thus endangering the continuity of care of thousands of vulnerable people. The Government must address the immediate funding gap, estimated at£2.5bn by 2020, alongside putting in place arrangements that secure access to this highly skilled and valued workforce as an integral part of its Brexit negotiations”. Care England has produced a briefing for its members regarding Brexit. The main focus is the recruitment and retention of foreign workers, including Registered Nurses, with particular reference to areas of the country that may be most at risk; for example in the South East of England 23% of the social care workforce is non-British, with regional unemployment at 3.7% compared with the North East of England which has only a 4% dependency on non-British social care workforce and has an unemployment rate of 4.4%. Martin Green continues: “In a sector characterised by low pay and negative stereotyping we are worried that a No Deal Brexit would cut off, or restrict, the foreign workers that we need and depend upon”.
