Social Care provider celebrates two glowing CQC reports
A social care provider is celebrating after two of its services – a rehabilitation team and a care home – both received 100% ‘Good’ reports from UK’s health watchdog. The Optalis support and rehabilitation team, who provide short-term care and support to people in their own homes across the Windsor and Maidenhead area, was rated as ‘Good’ in all five categories of the CQC report, published on the 8 January. Delivering support to around 30 to 40 adults per month, the service provides personal care and rehabilitation on a short-term basis to customers recovering following a hospital stay, ensuring they are able to get back to leading an independent life as soon as possible. In the report, the CQC said: “People were supported and treated with dignity and respect; and involved as partners in their care. “Staff we spoke with knew people’s preferences and used this knowledge to care for them in the way they wanted.”One relative told the inspector: “It’s an amazing team” and “ The service has been an absolute inspiration to me.” The report added that people’s needs were met through good organisation and delivery of care. “Some people had very complex needs, and staff recognised the need for alternative methods of communication with them. “People said they were encouraged with their independence. We saw from care plans that people were empowered to make choices and have as much control and independence as possible.” In addition, 5 Winston Court, a care home run by Optalis in Maidenhead also received a 100% ‘Good’ report, which was published in December. The 8-bed home provides residential care for young and old adults who have a physical and/or learning disability. Assistant Director of Provider Services at Optalis, Helen Woodland, who is responsible for both services, commented: “Congratulations to the teams on their 100% positive results. Their dedication and motivation has ensured that they are delivering truly person centred care and support. “We are dedicated to listening to the needs and wishes of our customers and will continue to invest in quality so that we are able to go above and beyond minimum requirements.” Four Optalis’ services that were inspected by CQC teams over the last six months have been rated as “Good”, and three of them have improved from ‘Requiring Improvement’, successfully delivering part of Optalis’ strategy to improve the quality of care and support provided across the organisation. Optalis now has 100% ‘Good’ scores in the key categories of Caring, Responsive and Well Led in all of its CQC reports. The CQC is the independent regulator of health and adult social care in England. They ensure health and social care services provide people with safe, effective, compassionate, high-quality care and encourage care services to improve.
Dulux Trade partners with BRE in flagship Dementia project
Dulux Trade has furthered its work with the Building Research Establishment (BRE) to deliver evidence-based principles to help improve environments for people living with Dementia and their carers. Chris and Sally’s House, a project designed to develop solutions for an ageing population, has been created using insight from academics, design experts and people with first-hand experience of living with, or caring for someone with Dementia. It is estimated that some 850,000 people in the UK live with Dementia and 70-80% of those continue to stay in their unadapted homes rather than in any specialised form of housing or dedicated care environment. Working with the BRE Trust, BRE, Loughborough University, Halsall Lloyd Partnerships and Liverpool John Moores University, Dulux Trade has supported the development of a demonstration home to present evidence-based approaches to adaptation and support solutions that allow people to age well at home. The number of people living with Dementia in the UK is set to top 1million by 2025 and double to 2million by 2051. The aim of the project is to enable people to stay in their own homes for longer and furthermore, to provide an enhanced environment for people living with Dementia in care homes across the UK. The Dulux Trade colour schemes used within Chris and Sally’s House have been developed as part of a holistic occupant-centred design consideration, evidencing how wall coatings are able to transition from simply delivering core functional performance or aesthetic requirements, to making a valuable contribution to the wellbeing dimension of a specification brief. Inclusive design encourages the application of colour to enable occupants to more readily identify different areas of the entire living space – balancing their needs alongside the needs of their carers or family and giving them greater confidence to move independently within their living spaces. Careful consideration of colour combinations are also central to the set of accessibility design features. Colour has also been used within the design solution as a way of reinforcing positive personal connections and to provide stimulation within the space. Dulux Trade is participating in this BRE-led project as part of its commitment to gathering evidence on how colour and design can transform spaces and therefore the lives of the people who use them. This BRE innovation project aligns with the aims of Dulux Trade to understand how to impact users through colour and design frameworks developed with specific places or sectors in mind. The ultimate aim is to tailor adaptation to match the building owners’ objectives, the building’s function and importantly, incorporate occupants’ needs. Paul Fleming, Commercial Services Manager for Dulux Trade, says, “As market leaders we are proud to work with BRE, particularly on this project, which resonates with so many as it is addressing one of the biggest social challenges of our time. “We have been investing substantially in research, working to develop frameworks for different spaces and demonstrate, with tangible results, just how powerful colour and design is in the built environment. This Dementia-friendly demonstration house is a perfect example of this and the project has allowed us to develop insight that means we can help people in the built environment across the UK. One in three people born this year will develop Dementia in their lifetime, so now is the time to think ahead. We hope the results can lead to real change in the way we consider our built environments for long-term occupation.” Dr. David Kelly, Group Director, BRE comments, “Dulux Trade and its colour experts have been instrumental in this project, which we hope will deliver evidence-based results to provoke real, lasting change in the way our environments are designed across residential and healthcare spaces.” www.duluxtradepaintexpert.co.uk
Inaugural #GladtoCare competition successfully brings the care sector together
Carers from across the UK were invited to take part in a photo competition run by Person Centred Software and The Care Workers Charity. Alice Taylor, the cook at Primrose Lodge Southbourne care home in Bournemouth, won a Haven holiday in the #GladtoCare competition. The winning entry features a photo of Alice cooking and her message: “I’m #GladtoCare making home cooked food daily for my residents and have been for seventeen years.” The esteemed panel of judges including David Brindle, the Guardian’s public services editor, Professor Martin Green, Chief Executive of Care England, Vic Rayner, Executive Director of the National Care Forum and Alex Ramamurthy, former-CEO of the Care Workers Charity, selected the winning entry. Vic Rayner says, “I really liked Alice’s entry as I felt that it gave you a real sense of pride, commitment and long-term career. Here is someone who has provided one of the key components of great care – good food – for seventeen years – and at the end of that time is not only still smiling – but is #GladtoCare – inspiring.” The #GladtoCare competition was designed to boost the profile of carers, who work extremely hard with very little public recognition. It aimed to show carers that they are appreciated and to raise their morale. Carers were invited to take a photo of themselves doing something that makes them ‘glad to care’, along with a message describing their photo. Person Centred Software received many entries from carers who were delighted to share their skills, creativity and dedication. The finalists can be viewed on Person Centred Software’s website at https://personcentredsoftware.com/gladtocare/ Primrose Lodge Southbourne, part of the Affinity Care Management group, has been using Person Centred Software’s Mobile Care Monitoring system to evidence care and support since January 2016.
Book explores how to enable older people to live independently for longer
A new book, exploring the increasingly important area of reablement services in community care, has been written by health and social care professionals at the University of Chester. Led by Valerie Ebrahimi, Programme Leader for the MEd in Professional Education, with Dr Hazel Chapman, Senior Lecturer, the book entitled Reablement Services in Health and Social Care, is a guide for both students and support workers. Valerie’s role as a senior lecturer also extends to teaching on a BA in Health and Social Care and her expertise lies in the field of ageing. Hazel’s background is in adult and learning disabilities nursing as well as psychology. Her doctoral thesis was on the experience of people with learning disabilities in healthcare. Both lecturers are based in the University’s Faculty of Health and Social Care. Reablement is a service which involves facilitating people with a long term condition, disability or impairment, to carry out their own personal care and other daily living activities. This takes place over the course of six weeks, to enable people to develop the confidence and skills to carry out their chosen activities independently. For many, it also means that they can continue to stay in their own home. Paid care is one of the greatest financial burdens across the health and social care sector. Reablement services can therefore help to reduce this need. The book introduces the theoretical underpinnings and practical considerations of reablement. It advocates placing service users at the centre of the service; promoting autonomy, as well as exploring how advances in technology can help, but also hinder participation. The chapters include contributions from a number of professions, namely occupational therapy, social work, nursing and physiotherapy, and encourage disciplines to work together effectively, whilst promoting the value of co-production. To this extent, the book offers perspectives from service users, carers and support workers, to give a rounded introduction to effective reablement practices. With a background in occupational therapy, Vala wrote the proposal for the book after recognising that this was an area of service growth across the UK. Vala said: “Reablement is an emerging trend across the country, but there is not enough robust evidence to support it. This was surprising given the investment. “Reablement can bring about cost benefits when people are able to look after themselves at home rather than paying for care. For those reliant on state funding, it can help to reduce costs in the interim, even if the individual needs paid care at a later date. “It is an area of service growth that will be of interest to GPs (commissioning) and nurses through to social workers, care workers and occupational therapists.” Vala is now working with an Australian researcher and the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) on further projects relating to reablement. A workshop critical discourse proposal in January 2019: “Re-thinking reablement services: are we supporting people as social participants?” has just been accepted by the RCOT. Furthermore, Vala is presenting at the Ageing and Social Change: Ninth Interdisciplinary Conference in Vienna early in September 2019. The book is published by Macmillan International Higher Education. For more details visit https://www.macmillanihe.com/page/detail/Reablement-Services-in-Health-and-Social-Care/?K=9781137372642
Living with Dementia and the benefits of gardening
Gardening can have a profound impact on someone’s quality of life, especially those living with dementia. Gardens provide a familiar environment of relaxation, sensory stimulation and can also help to create a sense of community. With a wide range of benefits for both physical and mental wellbeing, gardening provides an excellent activity for someone living with dementia. Reminiscence Gardens are often perceived as places of happiness and joy, whether from childhood memories of playing, seeing and smelling your favourite flowers, or taking part in gardening as a relaxing hobby in later life, they can often spark brilliant memories. As gardening is a familiar activity for many, taking part in activities designed around the garden will help encourage memories and conversation for someone living with dementia. For those who may not be able to take part in physical gardening, simply setting up a place where they can sit and relax will help spark conversations as they reflect and reminisce. Sensory Stimulation As we get older our senses can diminish and it is important to provide dementia activities which can engage and stimulate a variety of senses. Gardens are an excellent platform for multi-sensory stimulation. The scent of a favourite flower can bring back memories of the past, seeing the colours of the garden partnered with the ability to touch petals and hear wildlife can also help aid relaxation and create a brilliant sensory environment for someone living with dementia. Physical Exercise Gardening can be a very active hobby and has been shown to improve health and wellbeing. The acts of planting, using a trowel, sweeping or simply walking around a garden can have great health benefits. As well as providing a way to exercise, gardening can also help improve hand eye coordination and strength. Socialisation Loneliness often occurs in later life, and can become more prevalent with someone living with dementia if they struggle to communicate. Setting up a place where people can garden together can help bring about a sense of community and encourage socialisation. Relaxation Providing a place where someone can relax will help reduce agitation and aggression, plus improve sleep and increase energy. Gardens have been proven as excellent places for relaxation. Sitting amongst the wildlife, or taking care of the plants can help someone living with dementia as they take part in something which is familiar and known to be relaxing to them. Whether you set up a small garden outside a care home, set up gardening activities indoors during poor weather or perhaps take your loved one to a garden centre where they can be amongst the flowers, the calming effect of gardens can have a resounding positive effect on your loved ones quality of life. Contact Details: Active Minds www.active-minds.org info@active-minds.org +44 (0) 203 488 2001
Could Carer Technology Help Battle Elderly Loneliness?
The government recently announced that it would be launching the first ever loneliness strategy, aiming to empower all GPs in England to be able to refer patients suffering from loneliness to community activities and voluntary services by 2023, but how can impacts be made in the meantime? Loneliness can affect any individual of any age, but with 3.6million of the elderly living by themselves and 1.9million saying they often feel alone or invisible, it’s particularly an issue for those in later life. People can become socially isolated for many reasons but those with mobility issues or other health conditions are often unable to engage with many activities outside of their home, and with families now regularly separated by great distances, any social time with others is highly valued. Carers can play a key part in reducing feelings of loneliness, but only if they are given the right tools to tackle the problem. The implementation of technology can help carers to give better care and increase the face-to-face time with their client. The amount of paperwork required to record any visits means that currently carers can spend the majority of their time filling out forms, but if this process was digitally transformed, less time would be spent on admin and more on the client. If carers used an app that combined a simple user interface with voice recognition, then this admin burden would be reduced and the information more detailed as it would be easier for carers to record more personal patient information such as a mood or extra activities. This more in-depth report can then be shared with the families of the individual to help alleviate any worries over whether their loved one has been visited and cared for while also letting them know what that individual has been doing. This means that when they pick up the phone or come to visit, family members will already have things to talk about and feel more connected to one another, helping individuals to feel less isolated and alone. As well as allowing the regular carer to spend more time with the client, this system also allows other carers to access the information and provide more personalised care experiences, should they happen to be assigned to that individual for the day. Introducing a non-intrusive system of IoT based sensors alongside the app can also help to provide a better care experience. Sensors can make the delivery of 24/7 care possible by tracking habitual behaviour and spotting changes in real time. This technology then facilitates carers to confidently monitor how well their client is doing at home, and organise their visits more effectively. As a result of this carers can ask more well-informed lifestyle questions and identify any problems faster. It’s not always possible for the elderly to go out and make new connections, so the connections they do have are vital. In order to minimise the levels of loneliness felt by clients and loved ones, carers and families need to find ways to ensure not only that more time is spent with the individual but that they feel they are connected to others and vice versa. Loneliness is a complex issue to solve but little changes could make a big difference.
Castle View Windsor had to be ‘Good enough for Mum’
Just completed, Castle View Windsor, had to be ‘good enough for Mum’ – that was the vision of Robin Hughes, Founder and CEO, Castle Retirement Living, set out to achieve – and an urban retirement development with a difference. With a third of apartments already reserved, Castle View Windsor offers some of the most spectacular castle views in town from its own rooftop sky lounge, bar and terrace. One of the largest and most innovative urban retirement villages in the UK, the £50 million development provides a total of 64 apartments including five spectacular rooftop apartments, along with a neighbouring 72 bed care home, which is being operated by Care UK. With Robin’s Mum amongst its first residents, prices at Castle View Windsor start from £390,000 for a one bed to £790,000 for a three bed or two bed plus apartment with dining or study on the first-third floors, while prices will be released for the rooftop apartments shortly. Ranging in size from 605 sq ft to 1,185 sq ft, each contemporary living apartment has its own private entrance and most also have a large balcony along with fully equipped kitchens, large spacious bathrooms with walk-in showers – with ease of use and comfort key throughout. Set in three acres of landscaped grounds, about a mile from the castle with lift access to all floors, underground car parking and 24-hour reception and concierge provides security around the clock, offering peace of mind and great ‘lock and leave’ living. Regular activities and village events are being provided to create a full community environment while all apartments can be purchased exclusively by those over 55. Mum’s story Robin’s Mum, aged 85, Betty Hughes said: “Having lived in Windsor since I was 20, I didn’t want to move away from family and friends when I couldn’t manage the stairs anymore in the family home and Robin has ensured I don’t have to. I’m close to all my usual facilities and services in Windsor and still see my old friends too – but without worrying about the upkeep of the house, or the stairs – all in a comfortable new home.” “It already feels like we’ve got a great community and I’ve lots of new friends. I’m looking forward to joining all the village events, putting my feet up more and enjoying the castle views.” “Robin has always been enterprising and likes building things. He’d seen retirement villages in New Zealand about 15 years ago and liked the concept. After building a couple for other companies about 10 years ago he told me about his plan of creating his own retirement village in Windsor near our family home including a home for me. “I knew it would happen given his tenacity. He’s a force of energy, gets everyone involved and makes things work! It’s great to have moved into my new two bedroom apartment. “Castle View is so central and convenient to my local church, the town centre and friends who have been my neighbours for years. After a fall last year, the family home became too much and the idea of enjoying my future with Castle Retirement taking care of chores and running the building makes a great deal of sense.” Says son, Robin Hughes, Founder and CEO, Castle Retirement Living, who worked in the property and care sector for over 20 years before creating his own vision as an independent retirement developer: “For me, everything about the development from start to finish has been attention to detail in every aspect which has to be ‘good enough for Mum’. “I want her to be very happy and comfortable here along with other residents and retirees with as much support as and when they need it with our range of assisted living packages. Having lived in the town all my life I wanted to create a great quality, affordable local retirement village. “We’re running the building and creating a community environment. Most of the purchasers are local, so Mum is amongst friends and like-minded residents. “While along with our stunning castle views, we’re offering residents access to great local facilities such as Windsor Lawn Tennis Club and Windsor Leisure centre, a pet friendly policy in all ground floor apartments, and no smoking across the development. “Working with a first class team, I’m very proud of what we’re creating at Castle View Windsor for all our residents. Building a project of this scale and complexity and delivering it on time is setting a new standard for urban retirement villages in the UK. I’m delighted to have achieved this in my home town and that Mum is one of our first residents.” Heathrow is just 20 minutes away, while London can be reached in about 35 minutes on the train. Offering additional excellent facilities to the village, Windsor town centre is just a mile away, while the M4 can be reached in just two miles. For further information on Castle View Windsor please call 01753 378127 or visit www.castleviewwindsor.co.uk.
Care home staff say residents have dementia dolls
52% of care home staff say their residents have dementia dolls, according to a new survey by the leading care home reviews site, carehome.co.uk. The poll of 2,491 care home owners, managers and staff, also found 72% think there are benefits to people with dementia using the dolls. Nearly three quarters of care staff view the dolls in a positive light, but doll therapy has left some respondents sitting on the fence, with 23% ‘unsure’ whether they provide a benefit, while 5% say they do not. Robotic therapy pets, which respond to touch and sound and provide stimulation and companionship, are also growing in popularity in care homes, with one in 10 care home staff (11%), saying their care homes have them. Robotic therapy pets mimic real animals and include life-like dogs which bark and furry cats which miaow and purr. Doll therapy and robotic pet therapy are becoming more recognised as a way of calming and comforting people with dementia, although doll therapy in particular can be controversial as it can be challenging for relatives to see their family member cradling a doll and there have been suggestions it infantilises people with dementia. Experts in the field have a number of tips for those considering the therapy. These include introducing the doll gradually, using the doll at appropriate times and ensuring people do not neglect their own needs in favour of the dolls. Sue Learner, editor of carehome.co.uk, the leading reviews site for care homes, said: “To see your mum or grandma cuddling a doll and caring for it like a real baby can be very disturbing. But if the residents are getting comfort from this, it is good so many care homes are embracing this controversial therapy. “People with dementia can be anxious and distressed and doll therapy has been found to be very calming. However to allay relatives’ concerns, it is important care homes fully explain what doll therapy is and how it can help. Caring for a doll or a robotic dog or cat may make those with dementia feel needed and wanted and it may remind them of a time when they were a parent of a young child. “There are cases where the person with dementia will forego food so they can feed their baby or sleep on the floor so the baby can have the bed. So the way they relate to the doll or robotic pet does need to be closely monitored.” Lynne Loughlin, senior activities coordinator at Barchester Iddenshall Hall and Beeston View Dementia Unit in Tarporley, uses therapy dolls for its residents with dementia. She said: “We have found they work really well. We don’t give them directly to the residents. We wait for the residents to approach the dolls themselves. “They tend to think they are real and enjoy cuddling them and taking care of them. They like sitting with the dolls and talking to them. It offers them comfort and seems to give the residents a sense of calm. “We have explained to the residents’ relatives and friends about the dolls and how they can bring about a real sense of wellbeing for their loved ones with dementia. They have had no objections as they can see they work and the residents enjoy having them.” Dr Gary Mitchell, who wrote ‘Doll Therapy in Dementia Care’ and teaches nursing at Queen’s University in Belfast, said: “The research has consistently demonstrated that doll therapy can have a life-changing impact for some people living with dementia by increasing levels of wellbeing and reducing need for behaviour modifying medication. “So it is excellent to see a high percentage of care homes utilising the therapy in their practice. It is also encouraging to that care homes are also utilising robotic therapy pets – this intervention builds on the same principles of attachment for which doll therapy works so well. “While these interventions are very positive and the care homes who have introduced these innovative practices should be commended, I would always caution that provision of doll therapy or robotic pet therapy should never be a substitution for human contact. Instead the interventions should be incorporated into an already socially enriched day at the care home for the person living with dementia.” Full data Do residents in your care home have dementia dolls? 52% of respondents say that residents do have dementia dolls 36% say that they do not have dolls 12% are unsure whether residents have dolls Do you think dementia dolls are beneficial for people with dementia? 72% of respondents say that they are beneficial 5% say they are not 23% say that they are unsure whether they are beneficial. Do residents in your care home have robotic therapy pets? 11% of respondents say that residents do have robotic therapy pets 78% say they do not have robotic therapy pets 11% are unsure
When Things Work We Should Get On And Do It
Care England, the largest representative body for independent providers of adult social care and Busy Bees have come together to develop an innovative and practical solution to help people fund their long term care. This initiative was developed from the successful salary sacrifice scheme for childcare which Busy Bees developed. Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive of Care England says: “Social care shouldn’t be seen in a vacuum. It is staggering how much common ground there is whether people are parents, carers, employees or employers. The salary sacrifice scheme invented by Busy Bees is an excellent means to make care more affordable alongside other ideas including those involving intergenerational aspects. We need to think global but act local and judge on outcomes and whether it delivers”. Care England and Busy Bees both share a passion for crafting solutions to the long term funding of social care and agree on the need for societal solutions rather than political ones in order to bring about change. John Woodward OBE, Founder President of Busy Bees says:“Our relationship with Care England will help open up options for intergenerational care. Faced with the demographic time bomb we need to have more money going into the system and a salary sacrifice scheme is one means of bring innovation and promoting opening dialogue” Martin and John have produced a podcast where they thrash out some issues around the long term funding of social care (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPg2Y0CkLHg&index=1&list=UUSO06k8BcZnvbb…) and call for a healthy dialogue to lead to much needed change. Martin Green continues:“We are delighted that Karen Mackay, Head of External Affairs at Busy Bees, will be compering the 2019 Care Pub Quiz”.
