Eating Disorders in the Elderly – Are we taking the threat seriously?
Challenged to conjure the image of a person with an eating disorder, who are you going to picture?Someone female perhaps? Skeletal? And, most likely…an adolescent or very young adult.Of course, no-one can accuse you of being wrong with that assumption.Indeed, eating disorders have an extremely high prevalence of onset among those of school-age, and slightly above.But here’s where we’re in danger of being blinded by social perceptions and perceived ‘norms’.In fact, eating disorders can – and do – affect those as young as six, and those well into their pensionable years.Wednesday’s Child, a not for profit organisation established to support those experiencing eating disorders, has found an increasing number of enquiries from elder adults – and their concerned family or friends.“Despite the perception of eating disorders as something predominantly experienced by young females, we know that this devastating disease can manifest in a boy, girl, man or woman, at any age in their life,” says Wednesday’s Child’s founder, Debbie Watson.“Often, issues might develop in times of stress, crisis, or as a result of changing lifestyle circumstances which impact the way a person feels able to cope, or how they view their body.“Contact we receive suggests it is increasingly the case that losing a long-term spouse, having to move into a residential home, or losing confidence through a health episode, can indeed be triggers for an eating disorder to develop.”While these may be obvious scenarios of the ‘perfect storm’ which threatens someone’s mental health, evidence suggests that even health professionals can be in danger of spotting the early onset of an eating disorder.“We hear experiences of where elder people have reached out to a GP and been told ‘not to worry’ and that ‘they’re appetite is naturally going to fade as they get older’,” adds Ms Watson.“This is a devastating reaction to hear for someone seeking help at a very low point in their life.“It’s also worth remembering that eating disorders don’t typically have a ‘look’ so we cannot assume that someone has or hasn’t got an issue, only when they are in a smaller body. A person could just as easily be maintaining a relatively normal weight, but developing unhealthy behaviours about their food, or in a potentially critical cycle of restricting and purging.”Worryingly, a recent exploration by the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire programme was able to discover that some of the country’s specific eating disorder clinics have a cut-off age of 65.This potentially creates a gap in specialist provision for those in the age band who are urgently in need of support.Clarifying that body image is indeed an issue for the elder population, a recent survey by Gransnet found 77% of their respondents were unhappy with their weight, and that of those reporting ‘eating issues’, only 40% had sought help. Most who had failed to do so, said it had been as a result of ‘embarrassment’.With stigma still unfortunately attached to this deathly illness, it’s imperative we all take more care about appraising the likelihood of someone’s vulnerability to an eating disorder.For information about support for sufferers, or training for health and care professionals in this area, contact Wednesday’s Child on hello@wednesdayschild.co.uk
Borough Care Residents Explore Wonderland Festival
Residents from Borough Care’s Meadway Court in Bramhall recently visited the Wonderland Festival at St Michael and All Angels Church. A multi-sensory interactive walk-through experience, based upon Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland, the Wonderland Festival was a magical morning out for residents. Meadway Court has excellent links with the local community and residents and staff regularly attend events at St Michael and All Angels Church. Amanda Millett, Activity Lifestyle Facilitator at Meadway Court, says: “We had a fabulous morning at the Wonderland Festival. We were all so impressed with the organisation and effort the volunteers put into this event to make it such a fascinating experience.” Meadway Court resident Pam Autherson has attended a number of events at the Church and was keen to visit the Wonderland Festival. Pam says: “It was lovely to see so many people of all ages enjoying the Wonderland experience. My favourite character was the White Rabbit.” Phyllis Price is staying temporarily at Meadway Court on an active recovery programme. A very lively 94 year old, Phyllis is always keen to join in the wide range of activities put on by the home. Phyllis attends church regularly and was keen to see what the Wonderland Festival was all about. Commenting on her visit, Phyllis says: “I never imagined that exploring Wonderland would be such an adventure. It was magical going from one area to the next discovering the Alice in Wonderland story.”
What can Going Digital look like?
This a question we are often asked at Care Vision and more so in the social sare industry. It is seen as a scary prospect and someone said “It’s like driving without holding the steering wheel”.In reality for us, it’s adjusting from using manual gears to automatic, saving you all the time and effort on the road that is social care.Technology, media and the internet has been having a huge impact in our lives for decades now. But the sudden reliance on digital usage has brought much better and more advanced opportunities to business, marketing and general public awareness. NHSX’s Chief Digital Officer, Tara Donnelly, stresses “it’s the opportunity for digital tools and personalised care to collectively improve health care experience and outcomes as well as reducing pressure on the system and provide value for money”.The Future of Healthcare: Our Vision for Digital, Data and Technology in Health and Care recognises that “the potential of cutting-edge technologies to support preventative, predictive and personalised care is huge”. Even the NHS Long Term Plan, has a clear vision for a digital-first approach: “People will be empowered, and their experience of health and care will be transformed, by the ability to access, manage and contribute to digital tools, information and services.”In social care we often wait for direction from the NHS and wait for their lead. At Care Vision we didn’t wait for that change to happen, we led by example and developed a digital system which has engulfed the NHS vision, NOW!:“IT solutions should be able to be accessed in a way which provides maximum flexibility for users, including through a range of devices such as different types of smartphone and through mobile and web apps. They should also support assistive technology, enabling solutions to meet best practice guidance around accessibility.IT solutions must provide accurate record keeping for all user’s IT solutions should enable accurate electronic record keeping. They should record decisions made, by whom, when, including the reasoning and how this decision was communicated to the relevant people. This supports the legislative duty as part of due process”. Care Vison was born directly from a care home and the carers’ first-hand knowledge of the physical and emotional demands and the frustrations that the industry brings. The system was trialled and tested in our own homes before an inspector suggested sharing it with other providers. NHSX’s Chief Digital Officer, Tara Donnelly, believes “IT solutions should give people the confidence and ability to move away from paper-based record keeping”.Care Vision is icon based, it provides ease of use for the carer and a single piece of software for the Manager that brings all your care home needs under one roof.Staff simply carry around a mobile device to log and document what happens in real time throughout the day which is stored onto the care home’s cloud-based system, this means nothing is missed and more accurate notes can be taken.Embracing ‘going digital’ could help all the day to day bureaucracy and compliance issues. Making it a thing of the past, it’s like having an extra administrator, BUT cheaper.Now making that transition to ‘going digital’ doesn’t have to be scary but automatic.
Care technology plays growing role in facilities for the elderly and infirm
Electronic systems are helping operators in the growing care homes sector to provide caring environments that are not only comfortable and friendly, but also safe, efficient and good business propositions. Higher standards of living and medical advances are helping to increase life expectancy for many people and security-based technology is becoming an important factor in their later-years care. Secom, one of the UK’s top electronic security solutions providers, has a care technology offering that adds sector-specific systems to its overall portfolio for clients in the public and private sectors. Neil Fitzwalter, Secom’s Care Technology Manager, says: “The care sector is growing rapidly on the back of massive investment in facilities catering for the elderly, ranging from the healthy to those with possibly serious medical issues. “Developers need the ability to deliver the best possible care service in order to achieve a reasonable return on their investment. Purchasers – and their families – need the assurance of a quality lifestyle for residents and a truly professional approach to caring. “Our range of systems can provide all-round assurance, including access control, security monitoring and fire detection as well as ensuring efficient deployment of staff to handle day-to-day needs of residents – and their personal emergencies. “We offer the latest in wired and wireless technologies, giving us complete flexibility in meeting clients’ specific requirements. We can also fully integrate our solutions with the full range of life safety and security systems such as access control, fire alarms and closed circuit television. “The traditional emergency button is at the core of ‘nurse call’ technology, but in the digital era it comes with added features that boost efficiency and help to enhance the care provider’s reputation.” He says this is particularly important for providers, who are subject to Care Quality Commission scrutiny and are competing to attract future residents. “The ability to produce clear and concise activity reports can be a valuable benefit, enabling care providers to monitor day-to-day service performance and overall efficiency. These records can also provide crucial evidence for addressing complaints over service delivery – for example, when residents or their relatives perceive that a call may have been unanswered for an unreasonable length of time. “Management reporting of this type is vital for an efficient care business – but it is also highly desirable if an operator is to achieve ongoing CQC approval of care facilities. This approval, in turn, is an important marketing tool, and a licence to continue operating.” Neil Fitzwalter says while care technology is vital for efficiency and service quality in accommodation for the elderly and frail, it is equally appropriate in homes for vulnerable adults or children and other residential properties where there is a duty of care, such as boarding schools. He says: “In these cases, the links between our security and monitoring systems are particularly important. Access controls and intruder alarms keep unauthorised people out, while monitored CCTV addresses safeguarding issues as well as recording other undesirable activity. Automatic fire detection systems help to save lives and limit damage. “These systems mostly feature on-site monitoring and recording, but the are often also cloud-based, giving authorised managers immediate access to information at any time and, in some cases permitting monitoring by external agencies, such as Secom. This connectivity is, naturally, carefully controlled to avoid breaches of privacy. “We are in interesting times, with security poised to become a partner in caring for vulnerable people of all ages. Our role is to provide systems that enhance the integrity of the care sector – so that staff can ensure residents are always safe, comfortable and speedily attended to when necessary.”
Borough Care Appoints New Area Manager
Borough Care has promoted Nerys Carpenter to the position of Area Manager. Nerys was previously Home Manager of Borough Care’s Shepley House in Hazel Grove. Borough Care is the largest not-for-profit provider of care for older people in Stockport and has eleven homes across the borough. As an Area Manager, Nerys will support Borough Care’s Home Managers in providing the best possible care and making sure services continually improve. Ensuring the teams at Borough Care’s homes provide a safe, harmonious environment for residents, and support their physical and emotional wellbeing, will be a critical part of the job. Commenting on her new role, Nerys Carpenter says: “I’m looking forward to taking on a new challenge and working with the great teams Borough Care has at its homes. Having been a Home Manager for four and a half years, I can bring first-hand, practical experience to my new role, ensuring we all work together to provide exceptional care for our residents.” Nerys has spent her whole career in care at Borough Care, having worked there for over twenty years. She has worked her way up; starting as a Care Assistant and progressing through the ranks to Care Supervisor and Deputy Manager. Nerys has worked at five of Borough Care’s homes, including Marbury House, which is a specialised Active Recovery residential care home. Dr Mark Ward, CEO at Borough Care, says: “At Borough Care, we love to promote home-grown talent wherever possible and we’re very proud of what Nerys has achieved. She brings a wealth of practical experience to her new role, along with an enthusiastic nature. Her colleagues already hold her in high esteem so I know she will successfully assist our Home Managers and their teams. Find out more about Borough Care here
Call for volunteers for study into benefits of singing for people with dementia
The transformative power of singing for people with dementia was brought to the public’s attention in the recent BBC1 documentary, ‘Our Dementia Choir with Vicky McClure’. People living with dementia came together to form a choir and stage a triumphant performance at the Royal Concert Hall. Their experiences showed the power of music to improve the lives and wellbeing of people with dementia. Now, a new grant from the Alzheimer’s Society, will allow for further research to examine the effects of group singing on the quality of life of people recently diagnosed with dementia, and the relationship between them and their carer. It is the first randomised, controlled study to focus on how singing can support people who have been diagnosed with dementia in the last 12 months, and their carers. Justine Schneider, Professor of Mental Health and Social Care, at the University of Nottingham said: “If the benefits of singing can be established scientifically, through this small trial and hopefully with a larger one to follow, it could help to secure more funding for singing. This would provide greater support for people with dementia and their carers to live well with the condition, for as long as possible. In turn this could help delay long-term care admissions and reduce the cost of health and social care.” Dr James Pickett, Head of Research at Alzheimer’s Society, commented: “We owe it to the 850,000 people living with dementia in the UK to not only fund research to find new treatments, but also to improve support for people today. Alzheimer’s Society is committed to investing in, and accelerating, research like this study which can help transform the lives of people affected by dementia. At our Singing for the Brain groups, we see the positive effect that music has on people’s wellbeing and mood. We’re delighted to be funding this project which will help better understand the impact music has on people affected by dementia. But research like this simply cannot happen or progress without people taking part so we’d encourage anyone interested to get in touch with the team today.” Call for volunteers for groundbreaking study into benefits of singing for people with dementia The research team, from the Institute of Mental Health at the University of Nottingham, is looking for about 80 pairs, made up of the person with dementia and their main carer. Although some participants, chosen at random, will be asked to wait before they start attending the singing group, everyone will eventually have the chance to attend 10 weeks of free weekly singing sessions, led by experienced musicians. Researchers will use questionnaires to collect information about quality of life, mood, cognition and the relationship between care partners. They will also talk to people who attend the singing groups and observe sessions, to understand how people take part, what they get from it and whether they change over time. The singing groups will be fun, informal and no singing experience is necessary. The sessions will be held in Mapperley initially, with more starting in the Mansfield area later in the year. For further information or to volunteer, call 0115 748 4315 or email, preside.research@nottingham.ac.uk
Does the UK Government need to rethink social care?
Nine in ten over 55 say UK Government needs to rethink social care for the older population Audley Group also found that eight in ten (82%) do not think the resources are in place to support a growing older population – a stark reminder of the worries facing those looking ahead to the future. The same proportion (82%) also believe the UK’s attitudes towards care of those in later life need to change. The number of over 75s is predicted to double in the next 30 years1, giving new urgency to act now. Yet 88% of over 55s believe there isn’t the provisions in place to support this growing elderly population. Only a quarter (29%) of over 55s are comfortable that they are financially prepared for their future care needs, with three in five (61%) saying they worry about how they will fund future social care if they need it. Crucially when discussing their confidence in the government, only a third (32%) trust that the state will provide for them financially if they have care needs in later life. Nick Sanderson, Audley Group CEO, commented: “Social care is an issue which has plagued British politics in recent years and it’s clear that it’s a pressing concern for the majority of people. Inaction from the government and ever-increasing delays on the social care green paper has meant that the public have lost trust that a suitable solution will be offered. Boris Johnson has publicly committed to solving the social care crisis, and we need to see his words put into action and genuine change implemented. A first step here is removing the need for people to go to hospital and in turn cutting the strain on the social care system. A holistic approach which brings together housing, social care and health will be what makes the difference here and will place more trust in people that they will get the support they need, when they need it.”
Stevenage nursing home residents visit primary school for lunch
School caterers HCL, alongside a primary school in Hertfordshire, are piloting a new project that brings elderly people from local care homes into school so children and elderly residents can share a fun lunchtime together. Four Care Home residents, along with two carers from Roebuck Nursing Home in London Road, Stevenage, visited Shephalbury Park Primary School in Burydale in December as part of a project that will continue to see monthly visits from senior citizens to the school. The delighted children set up a special dining room for lunch with their special guests to enjoy meals served by HCL, the leading school caterers in Hertfordshire. On the menu was roast chicken with sage and onion stuffing and roast potatoes with seasonal vegetables and gravy, plus a reduced sugar dessert. Studies suggest this type of collaboration can decrease older people’s loneliness, delay mental decline, lower blood pressure and even reduce the risk of disease or death. The project also aims to promote and narrow the intergenerational gap. Mr Conway, Headteacher at Shephalbury School, said: “We’re delighted to partner with HCL and Roebuck Nursing Home. There was a really lovely atmosphere throughout the morning in the school, everyone was smiling, and the children were thrilled to see their elderly guests enjoying their favourite meal, chatting about their lives and what they enjoyed doing, and playing some games. “As a school, we think it’s important to promote intergenerational activities. The potential benefits for children include positive changes in perceptions and attitudes towards the elderly, increase in self-confidence and positive behaviour in school.” Parents of the children were very supportive of the visit saying that their children had been telling them all about their experiences and the conversations they’d had with the guest visitors.” Doreen, Resident at Roebuck Nursing Home, said: “It was a lovely lunch, in a specially decorated room by the children. The children were so well behaved, it was the highlight of my week. I enjoyed my morning spending time with the children, we spoke about their schoolwork and played a few games. “Things have changed a lot since I was in school, with the children using more technology and remembering our school meals were never as tasty as what we ate today. It is fair to say school lunch is a lot better now than it was back then and it was nice see the world from these wonderful children’s perspective.” If the project is successful it will see residents from different care homes across Stevenage visiting Shephalbury School once a month where they will share lunch provided by the school’s caterers, HCL at no extra cost to the school or care home.
Care Sector Ball confirms headline partners for 2020
The leading supporters for the care sector’s biggest fundraising event have been confirmed for 2020. Specialist care provider, CareTech plc, and independent grant-making foundation, the CareTech Foundation, will once again be headline partners for the event. CareTech plc and the CareTech Foundation have supported the Ball as Headline Partners from the event’s inception. Their combined support represents a £30,000 contribution to the Ball. The Care Sector Fundraising Ball, which this year raised a staggering £200,000 for charities in the care sector, was first established in 2018. Since then, it has raised a total £345,000 for charities in the care sector. Organisers are confident that next year’s Ball will build on the success of previous years, and the beneficiaries for the 2020 event will be the Care Workers’ Charity and Alzheimer’s Society. Haroon Sheikh, CEO of CareTech plc, said: “The company is delighted to be supporting this amazing event for the third year. As a leading provider of social care for young people and adults with learning disabilities, we take our responsibility to the communities we serve very seriously. The Ball provides an excellent opportunity for us to support two powerful charitable causes close to our hearts and we look forward to this year’s event raising even more funds for them.” Jonathan Freeman, CEO of independent charity the CareTech Foundation and Vice-Chair of the Ball Organising Committee, said: “Over the last couple of years, the Care Sector Ball and the organising committee have shown just how much this event can achieve, raising desperately needed funds for the care sector. The Ball is a perfect opportunity, not just to support these deserving charities, but also to take a moment to recognise the outstanding work of the UK’s care workers. I’m very pleased that we’re able to support it as it enters its third year, and I’m confident that the Ball will continue to be a real success.” Avnish Goyal, founder of the Care Sector Ball and Chair of Hallmark Care Homes, said: “We are hugely grateful to CareTech plc and the CareTech Foundation for once again supporting the Care Sector Ball. Without their support, it is unthinkable that the event could have been so successful in 2019 and raised so much for our two worthy charities. We’re all hugely ambitious about what can be achieved in 2020, and having CareTech plc and the CareTech Foundation as our Headline Partners has got us off to a tremendous start.” Next year’s Care Sector Ball will be on Saturday 26th September 2020. Already, almost 50% of table sales have been confirmed in under two months. Places are going fast so please contact info@caresectorball.org.uk to sponsor a table now.
