Care home residents cast their vote in European election
ELDERLY care home residents have taken to the polling booths to cast their votes in the European election. Staff at Ingleby Care Home, in Ingleby Barwick, Stockton-on-Tees, wanted to ensure residents could exercise their right in the European election to vote despite their mobility issues. Those keen to cast their vote were taken to their nearest polling station in wheelchairs by their carers. Resident Sheila Colburn was among them. She said: “I couldn’t thank the staff enough for taking me to vote. “I’ve always voted and didn’t know what would happen after moving to Ingleby Care Home, with my family working. I really appreciated the staff taking me.” Resident Charlotte Stephenson added: “It’s nice we can still get to vote.” Cassie McCloskey, unit manager at Ingleby Care Home, said: “It was great to be able to take residents to the polling station and they were really happy to be able to vote. “Moving into a care home, either due to lack of mobility or other issues, should not mean the end of their right to vote. “Many residents still want to take part in elections and we are only too happy to support them to do so.” Ingleby Care Home is part of the Hill Care Group. For further information visit www.hillcare.net.
Collaboration launched to safeguard the lives of care home residents
An initiative to safeguard the lives of care home residents and reduce the impact on ambulance services, particularly during periods of winter pressure, has received the backing of Welsh Health Minister Vaughan Gething. The break through project, developed in partnership with the National Collaborative Commissioning Unit, Welsh Ambulance and Mangar Health received funding from the winter pressures support package announced by the Welsh Government last December. Building on recommendations in the Mills, S & Whitehead, R (2018) Amber Review, the project recognises that patients that have called for an ambulance to attend and are allocated an amber category often end up waiting too long for an ambulance, resulting in a negative impact on long term health. An uninjured fallen resident living in a care home will routinely be allocated as an Amber category by the ambulance service, which can result in long wait times and have the associated health implications. Concern around this practice has been growing as leaving a resident on the floor for more than an hour is associated with complications such hypothermia, pressure areas and kidney failure. (ROSPA 2017). A key recommendation from the Amber Review proposes; “the longest waits for patients in the community must reduce.” More than 10,000 residents living in care homes in Wales will fall every year and often traditional manual handling policies restrict the options care staff have for lifting. It is common for care homes to rely on a paramedic to perform the lift, even though more than 45% of fallers will be uninjured. The new Wales Care Home project is designed to create better outcomes for residents through safeguard and the education of staff and the use of appropriate lifting equipment. The initiative empowers care staff to apply post fall management protocols, including the introduction of health assessment techniques used by paramedics. Care Homes across Wales have received a Mangar Camel Lifting Cushion, specifically selected because it delivers a safe, secure lift for residents and protects the carer performing the lift from injury. In addition, care homes have been taught the consequences of leaving a resident on the floor for long periods of time while waiting for an ambulance to attend and when it is appropriate to call for an ambulance, contact their GP or ring 101. Falls account for more than 10% of all ambulance call outs and an early project evaluation has seen care homes report an 80% reduction in decisions to call an ambulance within the first month of receiving the support package. Simon Claridge, CEO at Powys based Mangar Health says, “This project is a perfect example of how public and private sector organisations can work together to achieve better healthcare outcomes for vulnerable people relying on healthcare services in Wales. “Mangar Health’s lifting equipment has been used by Ambulance Services across the UK since 2006 and by drawing on our experience in both the ambulance and care home sector we have been able to develop a package of support that will bring considerable benefit to both.” For more information and articles such as the safeguard of care home residents click here
Blondie the Shetland pony delights care home residents
Blondie the Shetland pony trotted into a Teesside care home to meet elderly residents. The tiny, all white pony paid a visit to those living at Ingleby Care Home, on Lamb Lane, Ingleby Barwick. The delighted residents greeted Blondie with smiles and even a song – which almost wooed the pony to sleep. Resident Ivy Thomas began singing as soon as she approached, when Blondie rested her head on Ivy’s knee and closed her eyes. Fellow resident John Cliff Magson, who is profoundly deaf and chooses not to participate in many activities, was overcome with the visit. He said: “It was the best thing I’ve ever seen. It brightened up my day. It brightened up my whole week.” Resident Norman Curry said: “I didn’t ever expect to see a horse walking into my room.” Kirsty Walsh, activities coordinator at Ingleby Care Home, said: “It was great to have Blondie in the home – especially as we had to delay the visit from earlier in the year due to heavy snowfall. “It warmed my heart to see how the residents responded. Especially Cliff and Ivy. “We want to say a big thank you to K&L Ponies for bringing Blondie to the home and we look forward to seeing her again.” Ingleby Care Home and Blondie is part of the Hill Care Group. For further information visit www.hillcare.net
Huddersfield Giants teens entertain care home residents
BINGO brought teenagers and elderly care home residents together in Huddersfield. National Citizenship Service (NCS) students from the Huddersfield Giants Community Trust have been paying regular visits to Aden Court Care Home. The 15-to-17-year-olds organised a bingo night with nibbles and drinks, as well as a games afternoon, quiz and arts and crafts sessions. Pairing up with the home’s residents, the students helped create gift tags and decorations for Christmas. Resident Jean Heapworth teamed up with volunteer Cameron Parks. She said: “No matter how old you get or how long your husband has been gone you always miss male conversation. Cameron has made my day.” Resident Ruby Hobson said: “It was such a shame they had to leave. I thoroughly enjoyed having them in the home.” The visit also saw the students add to the home’s memory cloud project, which invovles residents writing down their most treasured memories, which are then displayed in their rooms. The students wrote their own memory clouds, to remind residents of their visit. Lisa Boyd, home manager at Aden Court Care Home, on Birkhouse Lane, Moldgreen, said: “The NCS students and staff brought loads of energy and enthusiasm into the home. “The residents and staff all loved having them here. The activities they organised were fantastic and enjoyed by everyone. “They are welcome back anytime. We look forward to working with the Huddersfield Giants Community Trust again in future.” www.hillcare.net
Exemplar Health Care – residents getting into the Christmas spirit
As the countdown to Christmas begins, care home provider Exemplar Health Care have revealed how they are working to make this Christmas special for their residents. Providing care for adults with complex needs, Exemplar homes and services are tailored to the needs of the individuals in their care. With the aim to make every day better, it’s no surprise that there is a great deal of activity and enthusiasm about the Christmas season. Supporting independence is at the core of care plans and this year Exemplar have worked with their Service User Council to develop a Christmas card competition. Residents across the care homes have been involved in designing cards to be sold from their home with regional winners announced. Exemplar’s Service User Engagement Manager, Sophia Feurtado said “We were impressed with the entries to the competition and loved seeing residents’ creativity come to the fore. Over the last year we’ve seen the people in our care show entrepreneurial spirit and I’m thrilled that we’ve been able to support them in creating the Christmas cards to help them increase the money available in their activities funds.” The winning homes have received £100 towards their activities fund and each individual home that sells the card designs will be able to use the income towards fun, additional activities such as cinema trips, visits to National Trust properties and simply a coffee in town. The card competition follows other entrepreneurial activity from residents such as the opening of a pop-up coffee shop, The Platform at Quarryfields in Doncaster. The space is being transformed for Christmas and has a new menu of festive-themed treats and gifts available, alongside a cookbook of recipes that the volunteer-led team have created since the pop-up opened in April. For food lovers in Exemplar’s care who have swallowing restrictions, Exemplar’s Catering Manager at Willowbeck Care Home, Claire Fretwell has been developing pureed food techniques to provide plates of pureed meals that look like the whole foods. Claire has utilised moulds, piping bags and blenders to display the food so that it looks like a traditional Christmas dinner, mince pies, Christmas cake, and cheese and crackers. Claire and her team have been working with her team since the summer to perfect the creations so that they look as realistic as possible. Claire said “Christmas can be an incredibly joyful time of year, but it can also be difficult for some of our residents. This might be because it’s the first year in a home setting or because it evokes memories. Food is usually at the heart of gatherings at Christmas and we understood that those in our care would enjoy and benefit from us transforming their meals into recognisable Christmas treats.” She added “We always try to make anything that’s requested, and we’ve included a few other dishes to our Christmas selection to make it even more special. The team are excited to see the faces of our residents when the foods are served over the Christmas period.” As well as supporting food related traditions, the care team at Havenmere in North East Lincolnshire are working together to present a Panto-like nativity performance to delight their residents. The performance will be made up of short scenes with lots of music and dancing to get the Havenmere residents into the Christmas spirit. The nativity isn’t going to be your traditional Christmas nativity with lots of Pantomime tropes such as ‘me-to-you’ scenes as the stage is set and Angel Gabriel lecturing on health and safety policies and procedures. For more information about the care Exemplar provides for adults with complex needs please visit www.exemplarhc.com
Reach Sled Dog Rescue helping care home residents with dementia
Reach Sled Dog Rescue recently visited Stocks Hall Care Home in Skelmersdale, Lancashire to meet all the ladies and gentlemen living at the Home. REACH is a sled dog rescue founded in November 2015 focusing mainly on Huskies and Malamutes. Its five founders are all experienced sled dog owners with prior experience in animal rescue. The rescue relies heavily on the dedication of its community members with help fostering unwanted dogs, assisting with events and fundraising, as well as spreading the word concerning these unique and often misunderstood breeds. These gorgeous dogs were able to visit those that wanted to spend time enjoying pet therapy, whether that be walking the dogs around the gardens at the care home or simply enjoying a cuddle from the comfort of their own bed or an arm chair. Mark Clintworth, Activities Staff at the Home says “These gentle giants use their special skills to bring comfort to residents and take their work very seriously. Younger family members also came along for many cuddles, whilst spending quality time with their relatives.” “It was just wonderful to see the faces of the ladies and gentlemen brighten up and their eyes sparkle.” As the event has been so successful, Stocks Hall Nursing & Care Group have now organised that the Reach Sked Rescue Dogs return on a monthly basis.
