T H E P U B L I C AT I O N F O R N U R S I N G A N D R E S I D E N T I A L C A R E H O M E S
W W W. T H E C A R E R U K . C O M
The Carer Digital
THECARERUK
THECARERUK
Issue 29
Bring Our Care Workers In From The Cold Says Report
Age UK the charity representing older people says that it is “time for the government to bring care workers in from the cold� and has called for care sector workers to have wage parity with the NHS. In a major new report, the charity revealed that despite providing a vital, life enhancing service, care workers earned 24p an hour less than shop assistants. The report reveals how tough life has been for care workers during the pandemic. And highlights the extent to which care workers have often had to put their own health and financial worries at the bottom of the pile while battling to keep the virus at bay and their clients safe and well. Those on the front line of this crisis have rightly been lauded as heroes, but for our care workers these have too often been merely warm words. The Charity is calling on the Government to do more to recognise their enormous contribution by improving their salaries so they are the same as those for people doing the equivalent job in the NHS, and by supporting their physical and mental wellbeing. Today, care workers are still labouring on the frontline, working long hours to
help older and disabled people, while being extremely tired and, in some cases, still coming to terms with the suffering and loss they witnessed and tried valiantly to prevent earlier in the pandemic. Despite being roughly equivalent in size to the NHS workforce, the 1.65 million strong care workforce has seen only relatively limited support put in place. While the NHS has been prioritised for PPE, testing, mental health support, priority access to shops and pay rises, offers to social care have been more limited and have generally only arrived late in the day. On top of this, many care workers are left struggling to make ends meet, with the average salary for a care worker being only around ÂŁ15,000 about half the UK average. This means care workers are paid 24p less an hour than shop assistants, despite the vital nature of their role and the skill required to help people with complex needs. Meanwhile, their counterparts in the NHS have been awarded a real-terms pay increase up until 2020/2021.
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EDITOR'S VIEWPOINT Welcome to the latest edition of The Carer Digital! “There are only four kinds of people in the world. Those who have been caregivers. Those who are currently caregivers. Those who will be caregivers, and those who will need a caregiver.” ROSALYN CARTER One of the great joys in my job here as editor, is reporting on some of the wonderful uplifting and heart-warming stories from residential and nursing care homes around the country. I do get many, and we are humbled and thrilled to give them as much coverage as we possibly can. This time a year of course, Remembrance Day is particularly poignant, and once again care homes around the country have done us and themselves proud the many celebrations and projects they have undertaken to mark this special day. So very well done from everybody here at THE CARER, and would draw your attention to pages 16 – 17. News that care sector staff and residents are to be prioritised with the newly announced COVID vaccine has been warmly greeted by sector organisations. The residential and nursing care sector was, of course,the most significantly affected during the first wave, and it makes sense that vaccinating frontline health and social care workers would be key to preventing the transmission of infection to vulnerable patients in these settings. However, I would draw your attention to some observers urging the need for caution. Pfizer's vaccine is a new type of technology that's never been used in mass human vaccination before and there are a number of experts urging caution, that much remains unknown, with concerns raised regarding safety, how long it might work and who most might benefit. I would draw your attention to a thought piece article provided to us from Philippa Shirtcliffe, QCS, Head of Care Quality, (see page 6) highlighting in particular the importance of infection, prevention and control protocols (IPC), which have proved to be vital in the prevention and spread of COVID-19. We should not under any circumstances view the vaccine as a silver bullet. IPC procedures that have been implemented for the past 10 months have been highly successful, and it is essential that these procedures continue to be implemented and overseen. The world was wholly unprepared for the pandemic, so a call for a national health security strategy to help deal with any such epidemics in the future is something we hope to report on in the coming months. We have also included an article in the issue about “reinventing social care” (page 11), with key reforms put forward. The article rightly makes the point that the pandemic has
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TYPESETTING & DESIGN Matthew Noades thrust the sector into the spotlight, with care workers working at great personal risk, and the article goes on to describe the sector as underfunded, understaffed undervalued. With public perception of the industry so high, this is an ideal opportunity to completely reinvent the sector. However, it is important, in my opinion at least, to ensure that the public “buy into” a reinvented sector and that will mean accepting their own fair share of responsibility when it comes to future financing and lifestyle changes. It has always been the elephant in the room, or, a can kicked down the road, but I often refer to a seminar I sat on at a national care show in Birmingham several years ago, when one of the world’s most distinguished specialists on dementia highlighted the fact that healthier lifestyle changes adopted in our formative and early adult years can drastically reduce the possibility of developing dementia at a later stage in life. The point was emphatically made that if these changes in lifestyle are not adapted at around the age of 34 then any future changes will have little effect. So I do hope near the top of the agenda in reinventing social care is motivating the public to buy in by taking personal responsibility! I can always be contacted at editor@thecareruk.com
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THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 29 | PAGE 3
Bring Our Care Workers In From The Cold Says Report (...CONTINUED FROM FRONT COVER) The report highlights an example from a care home manager who says: “Money is always the elephant in the room, if I’m paid the bare minimum to deliver care safely, I can only pay my staff the bare minimum to do their jobs and the work that my staff have done, particularly at the moment, deserves better. Our care staff have to work an 80 hour week to earn £2500 per month, and in that 80 hour week every week, they are at risk of catching [Covid-19], and they work so hard.” If terms and conditions are not urgently improved, Age UK delivers a stark warning for the future of care for older people. Even with a recent recruitment drive, the care sector in England still needs to fill around 122,000 job vacancies – a huge task. It was also estimated prior to the pandemic that to meet the needs of an ageing society the care workforce would need to grow by 2.6% every year until 2035, to a total of 2 million jobs. Need has been increased by the pandemic so that startling statistic is now in all likelihood an under-estimate. The facts: • Four in five social care workers reported that their mental health had been damaged by their work during the pandemic • 42% of healthcare workers felt the Government had not done enough to support their mental health • One in ten care workers said they were aware of colleagues who continued to work, despite having COVID-19 symptoms • 8% – percentage of respondents to Unisons’ survey of care workers who were told they would receive no pay at all if they had to self-isolate or were off sick • 54% – percentage of care workers who were paid less than £8.72 prior to the New Living Wage rise • £15,000 – the average salary of a care worker • £4.18 million – the extra cost faced by providers for PPE for the months of April to September
• 1000% – the increase in the cost of masks reported in April . The cost of gloves increased by 30%, aprons by 166%. • 122,000 – estimated number of care workforce vacancies before the pandemic • 25% – average percentage of frontline care staff unable to work by the end of March • 6.35 million – extra days that providers lost to staff sickness in March and July, more than twice what is usually expected This national health emergency has thrown into sharp relief how poorly care workers are supported to do their work. During the pandemic we clapped for care staff to thank them for their amazing contributions, often carried out at risk to their own health. This richly deserved gratitude must now translate into practical improvements in care workers’ terms and conditions. Age UK is calling on the government to: Treat care workers fairly by: • Implementing nationally set pay scales that providers must meet, that achieve parity with the NHS for the same roles, paid for through extra Government funding • Making an improved learning and development offer to care workers so they are better equipped to care for people with increasingly complex needs. • Ensuring that any new immigration system allows for overseas workers, including those from the E.U. to enter the country easily, to take up a role working in social care • Support the physical and mental wellbeing of care staff through a national initiative, locally implemented, as the NHS has done with its ‘People Plan’. Protect social care workers and those they care for throughout the pandemic by: • Publishing a workforce plan which addresses minimum staffing ratios and how to increase the number of staff working in care • Ensuring PPE of appropriate quality is readily available to all social care providers and really does reach everyone on the front line, not only those working in care homes
• Continuing to distribute money via the Infection Control Fund to support providers to meet the extra costs of PPE, and to allow care staff to remain on full pay if they have to self-isolate • Tasking Skills for Care and the CQC to work with social care providers to spread good practice in managing and supporting care staff through the remainder of the pandemic. Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director at Age UK said: “We owe so much to the care workers of this country, who labour day in, day out to support millions of older and disabled people. They have had a torrid time during the pandemic and now we need to properly reward them for their staying power and their commitment. “Older people often tell us how grateful they are for the help they receive from care staff and I know from the experience of my own Mum that they make a life-changing difference. But how have we allowed a position to be reached in which you can earn more working in a supermarket than providing vital care, and enjoy better terms, conditions and career opportunities in the NHS for doing precisely the same job?” “The lack of Government funding for care often translates into exploitative working conditions for care staff, which in turn undermine the quality of care on offer to older and disabled people. Social care is above all a people business and if you don’t value the men and women who provide it you are undervaluing those who receive it too.” “For the sake of everyone who needs social care as well as all those who deliver it we are calling on the Government to treat care workers fairly and provide the funding for them to get a decent wage. Their pay and conditions need levelling up to match those of similar roles in the NHS. “The pandemic has shown how much we rely on social care and how badly it needs to be reformed, and a good place to start is by paying the workforce properly.”
Urgent Need to Bridge the Gap Between Rhetoric and Reality The National Care Forum (NCF) has issued a response to the government’s newly introduced guidance for visitors to care homes. The NFC say that it acknowledges the sentiment expressed in the government press release around visiting guidance under lockdown, but are very concerned about the lack of meaningful guidance, when minute by minute we get closer to national lockdown. Vic Rayner, Executive Director of the National Care Forum says: “It is very important that the Secretary of State and the Care Minister have understood just how vital visiting is to the hundreds of thousands of people who live in care homes, and how heart-breaking it is to be separated from families and friends. In a time of national lockdown it is a positive step that the government has not locked out visitors completely. However, warm words will not escape the fact that these arrangements, without urgent support, will leave
many, literally, out in the cold.” “We call on the government to urgently clarify what these arrangements mean in practice, and as a bare minimum to provide homes with additional financial support to rapidly put the necessary measures in place so that visiting can be a reality for all in care homes during this period. Homes have been provided with less than 12 hours’ notice of the intention for them to be open for visitors, many in areas of the countries where Directors of Public Health have prevented visits happening for many months. In order for this to be a reality, the guidance needs to be practicable, supportive, resourced and facilitate meaningful visits that relatives and residents can gain from, and that care homes can provide. We urge the government to ensure that the detailed guidance is flexible enough to support meaningful visiting, balancing risks without rigid criteria.” “We also need the government to very clearly outline what the exit position is from this lockdown. There will be some who are able to gain comfort from these changes, but many who will not. Surely as a society we should expect more from the government to bring an end to that suffering and pain. The government must be clear that this is a stepping stone and it must urgently move forward its pilot of designated visitors to ensure that at the end of this lockdown residents and their loved ones are back together again.”
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A Care Home Is Defined By Its Care Workers By Hugo Spalding, Managing Director, Gather Care (www.gathercapture.com/gather-care)
They are the life blood of homes, driving day to day processes and administering care to some of society’s most vulnerable, making the lives of residents as comfortable and fulfilled as possible. It all happens because of the care workers, but it falls to care home managers to help their care colleagues, both in delivering the right level of care and in reacting to issues, such as outbreaks of illness. Care services that operate with a high staff retention rate set themselves up to be able to deliver the right level of care. This can only be
achieved through staff sticking around long enough to develop meaningful relationships with their residents. This is because to provide adequate care, especially complex care, carers need to have the knowledge of past and present medical conditions, personality type, likes and dislikes for each and every individual resident. Despite the invaluable service that nurses provide, they do not get adequate government recognition and therefore often must compromise on salary and the support offered to them. This can be an issue for care homes as quality local carers can be hard to find and even harder to keep. Low staffing levels and high turnover can have drastic effects on the level of care a home provides. Low staffing will result in an overworked, demoralised staff team. To rectify this, agency staff are often sourced, which does address low staffing numbers but poses its own problems with inconsistency in training and knowledge. A lack of relationship with residents also increases the time spent having to look at care plans and reports to understand what specific care needs each resident has. It also impacts on the dignity of residents who may have different people carrying out intimate personal care rather than someone they know and trust. There are many ways providers and managers can offer support to their staff when confronted with staffing issues. Streamlining and simplifying reporting and ‘look up’ processes help to maximise the amount of time actually giving care. The best way to help staff is by offering
them information at a glance, to enable them to decide the level of care through accurate accessible data. Data is the key to unlocking vital insights in seconds. Data has become an integral part of care homes and utilising it correctly allows carers to flourish and do what they do best. Care homes now have the ability to instantly visualise symptom counts with an early warning app. This enables managers to predict when potential infectious outbreaks may occur and prevent rather than react. This knowledge allows carers to work in lower stress environments as they are better able to keep residents healthy. Keeping up morale will also help ensure nurses are working to the best of their ability and carrying out the right levels of care, while protecting vulnerable people from illness. Establishing an early warning system for infection control is even more vital in these challenging times. Collecting and sharing anonymously on the number of residents displaying symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, chest infections, flu and others including of course COVID-19, highlights areas where action may be needed in order to stop an outbreak. Being able to react quickly and control illnesses will help care homes to provide excellent care and assist in creating a safer environment for residents and staff. Supporting care staff with accurate and accessible data is key to enabling them to deliver exceptional care in a healthy, happy and safe care setting.
Belong Celebrates Care Champions In Its First Ever Virtual Awards Ceremony Dementia care provider, Belong, has recognised the outstanding achievements of its colleagues in a jubilant celebration at its annual Champion Awards. As part of its first ever virtual awards ceremony, live streams across all Belong villages brought over 300 colleagues, customers, their families, and local communities together and enabled them to cheer on the winners as they collected their accolades. A total of 12 awards were handed out for categories including leadership, compassion, and community engagement. Nominees from Belong’s seven care villages, home care service, and support services were assessed in interviews with an independent judging panel to determine the winners. The panel, comprising members of Belong’s non-executive board and senior figures from partner organisations, were full of praise for those shortlisted, describing them as ‘inspirational’ and commended teams’ support for one another and community engagement projects which ‘reach positive outcomes for the benefit of all.’
Belong’s people and development manager, Tim Kirk, said: “It’s been a very challenging year and the outbreak of the pandemic part way through our awards process disrupted our plans to bring everyone together, as it has so many other things. We felt strongly that it was still important to celebrate the commitment and successes of our village teams over the last 12 months, albeit under slightly different circumstances, and we are thrilled that so many of our customers and their relatives could join us for the online event.” Tracey Stakes, Belong chief executive added: “Our colleagues always look forward to the Champion Awards and though we’ve had to move this year’s online, it’s been our best yet. It was wonderful seeing our teams, customers and their loved ones all together, donned in their finest attire to celebrate and say ‘thank you’ to everyone for their dedication and hard work these past 12 months.” The Champion Awards 2020 was made possible thanks to the support of Collective Purchasing, Marr Procurement, Person Centred Software, Search Consultancy, Pozzoni Architecture, Triangle PR and the Seddon Group.
Globe-Trotting Ex-Nurse Hilda Who Cared for Injured Dunkirk Soldiers Celebrates Her 103rd Birthday A remarkable globe-trotting former nurse who cared for soldiers injured in the 1940 Battle of Dunkirk is preparing to celebrate her 103rd birthday. Travel pioneer Hilda Richards enjoyed regular coach trips until last year when had a wonderful time on unaccompanied holidays to Llandudno and Eastbourne. Great great grandmother Hilda and her late husband Trevor took to travelling the world after she retired in the 1980s. After Trevor died 10 years ago, Hilda lived alone until February of this year when she moved to Pendine Park’s Gwern Alyn Care Home where she says she’s “very happy”. She was born in Ruabon on November 10 in 1917, almost a year to the day before the end of the First World War. Fast forward to World War 2 and Hilda was a 23-year-old State Registered Nurse working at Liverpool’s Alder Hey Hospital when soldiers injured at Dunkirk were ferried around the coast and up the Mersey to be treated there. Hilda vividly remembers the injured soldiers, many in battle dress torn to shreds and having suffered horrific burns, being brought in on stretchers and laid out in rows. It was a real eyeopener for Hilda who was born and brought up in a cottage on the Wynnstay Estate, Ruabon. “I left school at 18 at Christmas and in the January, I started at Alder
Hey as a student nurse.” “It was three years of hard training but in the first year you never got to see a patient it was all about mopping and cleaning floors and bathrooms.” “Looking after gravely wounded soldiers from Dunkirk was an awful job but one I was privileged to do.
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“It was so sad. The state many were in was horrible, especially the burns. “I then transferred to Wrexham General Emergency Hospital in 1942 when she married Trevor who was serving in France. “We had children from Alder Hey Hospital sent across the Mersey to us to escape the bombing. “We also had two Jewish doctors who had escaped the Holocaust and found their way to Britain. We treated soldiers from all the Allies, Americans and Canadians, not just British.” Son Ralph, 73, said: “She was living independently at home until she had a fall and was getting unsteady on her feet. She’s happy at Gwern Alyn. Gwern Alyn manager Cindy Clutton says Hilda is popular resident who has led an extraordinary life. She said: “Hilda really is an incredible woman who has done so much in her life. I can’t imagine what she went through nursing soldiers injured at Dunkirk and civilians injured in the Blitz. “She has a remarkable memory and can recall in vivid detail what she and her fellow nurses went through before, during and after the war. “Hearing all about her and Trevor, her husband’s travel exploits doesn’t surprise me in any way. She really is an amazing woman.”
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THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 29 | PAGE 5
Residents and Healthcare Staff First in Line for Vaccine
Care home residents and staff are set to be first in line for any Covid-19 vaccine that is approved by regulators, England’s deputy chief medical officer has said. The Government has procured 40 million doses of Pfizer/BioNTech’s vaccine, with 10 million doses being manufactured and available to the UK by the end of the year – if the vaccine is approved by regulators. Vaccine experts advising the Government have previously published a detailed list of who should get any Covid-19 jab first. This covers 20 million people because the vaccine needs two doses. In a press briefing at Downing Street yesterday evening (November 9), Professor Jonathan Van-Tam said: “If you look at the staggering likelihood of hospitalisation or death, with increasing age and in the elderly, I predict very strongly that there will be a very significant demand in the elderly for this vaccine. “The vast majority of hospitalisation and death is being driven by the elderly and that hospitalisation rates rise very dramatically after the age of 50". Professor Van-Tam said the independent body, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) “will guide the government on the priorities" of who gets the vaccine but a “preliminary priority list” shows “age is the biggest priority”. The interim guidance states that priority should be given to: – Older adults in a care home and care home workers – All those aged 80 and over and health and social care workers, though they may move up the list – Anyone 75 years of age and over – People aged 70 and over – All those aged 65 and over – High-risk adults under 65 years of age
– Moderate-risk adults under 65 years of age – All those aged 60 and over – All those 55 and over – All those aged 50 and over – The rest of the population, with priority yet to be determined. The vaccine, developed by US drug company Pfizer and German firm BioNTech, has been tested on 43,500 people in six countries, with 22,000 having received the vaccine. Two doses per person are required, and trials of the vaccine in Germany, Brazil, Turkey, south Africa, and America the US, reveal 90 per cent protection is achieved seven days after a second dose. The data is based on only
the first 94 volunteers to develop COVID. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said that the NHS is ready to start providing the new coronavirus vaccine "as fast as safely possible", Asked whether it could be available by Christmas, he said that was "absolutely a possibility", but he expected the mass roll-out "in the first part of next year". The Health Secretary also said vaccination clinics would be open seven days a week, and he was giving GPs an extra £150m. He did however urge people to be patient. "We just don't know" how many people will need to be vaccinated before life can return to normal, Mr Hancock added. The move has been welcomed by care providers . The Independent Care Group (ICG) which represents providers, said it hoped the new vaccine would be a true turning point for carers. ICG Chair Mike Padgham said: “News of the vaccine is excellent and it is wonderful to know that the vulnerable people we care for and those care workers on the front line are to be the highest priority to get it. “Covid-19 has taken a terrible toll on older and vulnerable people this year and an end to that suffering through a vaccine cannot come soon enough.” Figures from the Office for National Statistics show 168 people died from Covid-19 in care and nursing homes across England and Wales in the week ending 30th October, up from 153 the previous week and 106 the week before. Deaths have been rising over the weeks before that, at 63, 46, 38, 31, 27, 17 and 23, respectively. Some 16,140 people died from Covid-19 in these homes from 28th December to 30th October.
Music Therapy Brings Joy To Residents At RMBI Care Co. Home In Chislehurst Residents and staff at RMBI Care Co. Home Prince George Duke of Kent Court in Chislehurst are celebrating the return of life-enhancing music therapy sessions brought to them through their partnership with Nordoff Robbins music therapy charity. Carers at the Home say that the weekly sessions with music therapist, Ellie Fletcher, have a ‘transformational effect’ on the wellbeing of their residents, particularly those with advanced dementia. Violinist and pianist Ellie, is spending a whole day every week at the Home, working with small groups of residents to make music together. Mum of two Ellie began her visits to the Home last year whilst training on the Nordoff Robbins Master of Music Therapy programme. Ellie has since completed her training and is now a fully qualified music therapy practitioner, employed by Nordoff Robbins. The charity and Prince George Duke of Kent Court have worked in partnership to ensure that Ellie’s music therapy sessions are Covid-safe, strictly following
Government guidance. Among the residents basking in the music this week was 89-year-old, Mollie Watts, who is a trained opera singer. Mollie said: “Music therapy is brilliant! With music in your heart, you can overcome anything.’’ Ellie says: “It’s such an enormous privilege to be back at Prince George Duke of Kent Court. I got to know the residents so well last year and it’s wonderful to be able to work with them again. Music is so powerful in the way that it breaks down barriers in communication and enlivens people. It taps into memories and sparks conversations like nothing else.” Home Activities Coordinator, Valerie Allen, said: “Ellie’s music sessions are so uplifting, the effect that they have on our residents’ health and wellbeing is transformational. For example, one of our residents with advanced dementia who rarely speaks, was encouraged by Ellie and another of our residents to join in. Quite out of the blue, she suddenly began to join in with the music! It was extraordinary to witness and everyone was very moved by it.”
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A Covid Vaccine Is Very Welcome But It Is Not A Silver Bullet
By Philippa Shirtcliffe, QCS, Head of Care Quality
Many people outside the pharmaceutical industry had never heard of Dr Albert Bourla, but when Pfizer’s chairman and chief executive proclaimed earlier this week that it was “a great day for science and humanity”, the world took note. Dr Bourla was of course talking about the first set of results from Pfizer’s COVID-19 trial, which have been shown to be “90 percent effective”. In other words, preliminary analysis, has proven that the vaccine, which has been developed in conjunction with BioNTech, can prevent 90 percent of people from contracting COVID-19. Over the last few days, newspaper headlines have been extremely positive. The Times echoed Dr Bourla’s optimism by quoting scientists saying that it ought to be possible to “return to normal life by spring” , while The Economist described the breakthrough announcement as “the shot that rang across the world” . This newly found hope all seemed a million miles away from the spring when some hospitals were overrun by COVID-19 patients. That there might now be light at the end of the tunnel must rank as one of science’s great achievements in the last few decades. However, while it’s right to be sanguine, it's important that we don’t get too carried away. There are several barriers to negotiate. Some members of the scientific community, for example, have raised questions regarding regulatory approval (it is easy to forget that it hasn’t been granted yet). Efficacy is another issue. Some scientists have queried why the interim findings were released before a full set of
results were completed. Another worry is virus mutation. Will a vaccine still work if the virus has mutated, as it has done in Denmark? Finally, the vaccine needs to be stored at -70 degrees centigrade, which might present logistical and financial challenges for GP surgeries. But, in my opinion, one of the greatest dangers that we will face in the next few months is managing complacency. With a vaccine on the way, it will be tempting for many to disregard infection, prevention and control protocols (IPC) and perhaps take more risks. Increased hand washing, donning face coverings and only spending time with people from the same household have not just proven to be highly successful prevention steps, but over the last ten months or so, these robust measures have become ingrained in the collective DNA of the nation. There is a risk that talk of a vaccine might damage this hugely effective IPC culture that companies like QCS have created and care providers have worked so hard to embed. But governments, and the regulatory bodies that oversee healthcare and the social care sector must also be on their guard. They too must not see a vaccine as the ultimate panacea. In fairness to the government, the Health Secretary, Matt Hancock has already warned the public that the vaccine “was only one step of many we need to get out of this and to tackle the pandemic once and for all”. Ministers, however, must ‘walk the walk’ and not just ‘talk the talk’. In addition to a vaccine, the government will need to put in place an effective test, track and trace programme, which it is has failed to do during the course of the last six months. It must also look beyond this pandemic and develop a highly effective national health security strategy, which safeguards future generations. Returning to the here and now, from a health and social care perspective, regulators have a key role to play. The CQC must be proactive in its guidance. Even, if and when, a vaccine becomes universally avail-
able, the CQC must continue to promote the value of embedding robust and effective IPC measures - most notably promoting regular hand washing, the correct use of PPE, and championing regular test, track and trace protocols. Another key question that needs to be promptly addressed by governments is deciding who receives the first batch of vaccine? In the UK, Matt Hancock has already said that it will be offered to those working in health and social care sectors and the elderly people they look after. While Mr Hancock is right to make this pledge, which group (or groups) should be prioritised next? Anonymised and aggregated real-time data, is already helping to pinpoint regions where the R-number is above one, but in the future if data scientists can use AI to sift through data and join up all the dots, they should be able to gain a much more accurate infection picture at both a local, regional and a national level. Privacy challenges aside, in the future, this could help inform their decisions as to which age groups are carrying and spreading the most infection. But public health officials shouldn’t wholly rely on data. This summer’s GCSE and A-Level grading debacle, which used an algorithm to predict grades with disastrous affects, demonstrates the pitfalls of taking such an approach. It would be equally short-sighted to pin all our hopes on a vaccine that while extremely promising - is yet to be licensed. It may indeed prove to be a game changer, but that shouldn’t be at the expense of infection prevention and control policies and procedures, which are a cornerstone of outstanding care. For more information about QCS, call us on 0333 405 33 33 or email sales@qcs.co.uk. To enquire about a free trial, please visit www.qcs.co.uk/free-trialhttps://www.qcs.co.uk/free-trial/
Resident Receives Royal Message at Malvern Care Home Sue Tomkins, a Resident at HC One’s Court House care home, spent some time writing a letter to send to the Duchess of Cambridge. Sue spent some time at the Malvern care home writing a letter to send to Katherine, Duchess of Cambridge. In her letter, she wanted to explain how she had worked with the Martineau family in Tewkesbury at their nursery,
planting flowers and vegetables. Sue realised the connection when she was reading a book about the wedding of William and Kate and a distant family member was mentioned. When Sue saw the surname was the same as her relative, she did some digging and found out that her friend David had a Great-great Aunt who was related to Kate's
maternal side of the family. Sue was thrilled to receive a letter back with a lovely picture of Kate. She has put it up in her room on display. Sue commented, “it is very nice that they reply to our letters as I’m sure they are very busy.”
THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 29 | PAGE 7
Say Hello to The Carer’s Latest Unsung Hero… We here at the CARER are thrilled to announce that Tracey James of Oaktree Court Care Home, Wellington Somerset, is THE CARER Unsung Hero!
Tracey is head of gardening at Oaktree Court which boasts over 9 acres! Over the years Tracy, whose nickname is “Flower” has become an integral part of the Oaktree Court team, however when the pandemic broke which led to restricted visitations and brought a temporary halt to resident outings, Tracy stepped up with the creation of dedicated flower gardens and a “veggie-village” tended by residents from the home, dubbed “Oaktree gardening Group”. This gave the opportunity for residents to enjoy the pleasures gardening brings, and the opportunity for socially distanced visits from family, helping unite families with their loved ones in these very difficult times. The project also helped give the residents, who were clearly feeling the impact of isolation, a new sense of purpose. Tracey also drew on the local community who supplied raised beds “made from old tanks” in the garden and veggie village, to help involve residents in wheelchairs. When the pandemic first broke there were concerns that not only supplies of PPE may be affected but also groceries, and the veggie village has proved to be an invaluable source of fresh produce to the home! Residents have already had many great days harvesting homegrown organic vegetables. When lock down commenced this year, Oaktree Court’s Care Home Manager Marie asked Tracey to 'go large' on the vegetable production with the aim of providing as much organically home-grown fresh produce as possible in case of shortages from outside suppliers. A lot of this information for growing organic vegetables came from the residents directly, many of whom had their own vegetable gardens and allotments in the past and were more than happy to share their experience and knowledge. Tracey and the resident team went into mass seed germination in the greenhouse. Fast forward and they now have everything from sprouts, kale, cabbage, carrots and runner beans to lettuce, tomatoes spring onions and cucumbers on the go. The team are very popular with the chef and even more so with the residents getting to sample the delicious foods produced. Anything and everything has been used as a place to grow produce - from plastic bins to old water tanks. Tracey has attempted to grow first early potatoes in used compost bags which she hopes will succeed! Marie George, Care Home Manager at Oaktree Court said: ‘’I am absolutely delighted that Tracey has been recognised for all her hard work in our grounds at Oaktree Court. “We have 9 acres of land, including woodland and a meadow and Tracey has done an amazing job at making them look beautiful throughout the whole year.” “Every time I discuss a project with her or ask her to do something, she not only meets what I’ve asked but surpasses it.” “At the beginning of the pandemic I asked her to create an area to grow our own fruit and vegetables to use in the home and where the residents could assist her. She developed raised beds that residents
can tend and pick the produce and an allotment with an array of delicious home grown vegetables.” “The colours of her veg and lettuces are vibrant and have been outstanding quality. In liaison with our chefs she has produced what they have asked and the residents have helped to pick such things as Kale, Onions, cabbages, tomatoes, lettuces, runner beans, marrows, pumpkins and other root veg.” “We are very proud of her in the home and her passion in her work is unquestionable.’’ A delighted Tracey said ‘’ I came to Oaktree Court nearly three years ago as a complete novice. During that time I have shared my passion for plants with staff and residents by creating new flower gardens and developing our popular Veggie Village. The joy I see when a resident smells a rose, picks the runner beans or just dozes in the sunshine surrounded by flowers takes my time here beyond 'a job'. Sharon Suzette Chef at Oaktree Court ‘’It is fantastic to have fresh vegetables from the garden to cook for our lovely residents here at Oaktree Court. Tracy has provided us with a delightful selection of home grown produce over the past few months which really makes the difference to us chefs and what the residents. It is appreciated by all.” Worthy winner Tracey can now look forward to a wonderful two-night break for two in a selection of luxury hotels throughout the UK! When we started the award back in 2015 we just had one outright winner, however as it became more difficult to pick an overall winner we added two runner-up prizes! And, we are delighted to say that Dorcas Mukuzwazwa, a deputy manager at Sunrise House Beaconsfield, and Bernie Richardson who is a Carer at Blackwood Care Home Cornwall Care are our two “official” runners-up and £50 Marks & Spencer’s gift voucher is on its way to them both. Since picking winners and runners-up was the most difficult of tasks, after sitting round the table of hours, finding it virtually impossible, we decided to add an extra 5 “unofficial runner ups”! Just a small gesture on our part to show some appreciation not only to the nominees but to those people who took the time to nominate them. We are very proud to be involved in such a vital and dedicated industry and are 4 extra runner ups were: Kay Byrne- a Healthcare assistant Bury Hospice Bury Stacey Allen - Housekeeper - Royley House Care Oldham Sara Morrissey - Healthcare assistant Withen’s Nursing Home Kent Ricky Eagle -Handyman Ashill Lodge Thetford Susan Shaw - Head Cook Woodside Grange Care Home Stockton-on-Tees A £25 Marks & Spencer’s gift voucher is on its way to each Well done to you all!!! We would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who put forward nominations we had a wonderful response, it may sound tired old cliché but it is not meant to be, when we say, that in our eyes “every nomination was a winner” and we are just sorry we cannot give an award to everybody! Watch out for further details of our next “Unsung Hero” with the same great prize of a luxury break for two people in the choice of hotels throughout the UK!
New Social Care Standards Support More Personalised Care New standards for integrating key health and social care information will ensure services can work together better to provide more personalised care. The new national standards have been introduced to ensure that information is recorded and shared in a clear and consistent way across health and social care. This means professionals will have a full picture of a person’s needs, enabling them to provide safer and individually tailored care. Sam Bergin Goncalves, citizen lead on the project and mum to 22-year-old Shane – a user of health and social care services - said: “Improved care is where people are listened to, valued and understood. It means goals and health ambitions are taken into account and support is offered to help achieve them.” The standards have been commissioned and led by NHS Digital and produced by the Professional Record Standards Body (PRSB). More than 1,000 people, including frontline health workers, patients and carers, helped develop the new standards as part of a consultation which also involved clinical and professional groups, charities, suppliers and researchers. The five new standards will ensure important personal details, such as the need for additional social care support after a person’s hospital stay, will be recorded and shared with their care team. Other important non-medical information can also be included, such as a photo and details about work, family or friends, or the ways a person usually behaves when they are in good physical and mental health. This will provide professionals with a better understanding of the person, not just their illness or condition. The new standards cover: • ‘about me’ - the personal details that a person would like to be recorded about themselves • health and care information shared in care homes
• information shared by local authorities • referrals for community assessments for care and support after a hospital stay • the urgent information needed when a person is transferred to hospital from a care home Professor Adam Gordon, vice president at the British Geriatrics Society and clinical lead on the project, said: “This standardised information will help everyone involved in care to access the information they need to help people to live the best possible lives they can. “From crucial information about medication and its effects, right through to daily goals and aspirations, it will help to ensure that everyone can be treated as an individual.” James Palmer, head of the Social Care Programme at NHS Digital, said: “The development of these standards marks a major step forward for social care, supporting better care for service users and wider use of shared digital records across the UK. “Several areas across the UK have already begun implementing the standards, resulting in improvements to wellbeing and health and care. The learning from these pilots will be shared across the country." The development of the standards is part of NHS Digital’s Digital Social Care Pathfinders Programme, in which funding to roll out local digital projects has been awarded to 16 organisations which provide and commission adult social care services. The pathfinders have previously piloted products and services and are now implementing them on a larger scale, many using these standards to support interoperability. The new standards for information shared by local authorities and ‘about me’ will be incorporated into the existing shared record standard, known as the core information standard, which was published in 2019.
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PAGE 8 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 29
How the Care Sector Can Best Plan for the Future
By Stuart Evans, Partner and head of commercial litigation, law firm BLM (www.blmlaw.com/people/stuart-evans)
There has been no shortage of commentary on the challenges facing care homes in recent years, which has intensified during the pandemic. High infection and fatality rates, a lack of testing and PPE, a loss of income due to lower occupancy, reduced staff levels and reputational risks have created a challenging atmosphere for the sector. As we enter a second wave of infections and lockdown in England, there are concerns that many care homes may go out of business. Whilst these existential threats will be the primary concern, for viable care businesses it is important to plan for the future in order to ensure sustainable growth. At this moment in time, there are a number of key things to consider.
HAVE A CLEAR ACQUISITION OR EXIT STRATEGY FOR YOUR BUSINESS If you have decided on how you want your business to look and function in an environment shaped by the pandemic, you may wish to follow a strategy of growing by acquisition. With the sector having had its business models, structure and solvency rigorously tested, there will be some care homeowners that have decided that now is a good time to sell their business. Purchasing a business through a share or asset sale is a sensible avenue for those seeking to expand their portfolio. On the contrary, if you have decided to divest yourselves of a struggling care business or business line, you can seek out purchasers that are willing to take over all or part of your business for mutual benefit. If you don’t want to sell but do wish to strengthen working capital, you may wish to think about the sale, lease or licence back of key assets, such as your property (if you own the freehold), intellectual property or other physical assets. Alternatively, you may wish to raise more funds through retail debt options, by giving security over assets, from debentures and mortgages to cross guarantees and charges over shares or credit balances. Debt finance can be raised from other investors in the form of the issuance of convertible loan notes or the allocation of shares, perhaps with preferential distribution rates and set redemption characteristics attached to them. Make sure you get profes-
sional advice to demystify some of the heavy documentation that these options can entail.
REVIEW YOUR SUPPLY CHAIN CONTRACTS Take the opportunity to look at your supply chain contracts and make sure they are weighted in your favour where possible. COVID-19 has meant that force majeure clauses – that essentially free both parties from liability, either temporarily or for the duration of the contract – have come under real scrutiny of late. Businesses who do not have such clauses in their commercial agreements have suffered significantly as a consequence. Ask yourself this important question: do you want to build bridges with your suppliers and negotiate new terms, or has the time come to end the relationship? If it’s the latter, make sure that you have clear provisions on termination, which enable you to end the relationship if you need to, without unnecessary dispute. As the UK is bracing itself for the impact of Brexit on 31 December 2020, to what extent is your supply chain affected? Do your contracts provide for the extra costs incurred for customs declarations if no agreement is reached following the transition period? Or do they make allowances for the delays in shipments, particularly if their goods are time critical? These issues are now weeks away from becoming a reality.
STAFFING REQUIREMENTS Are your staffing requirements under control, given the current stateof-play for furlough arrangements and job support measures? If you are growing and looking to recruit, it is worth a review of at your standard terms of employment, policies or procedures. For existing staff, you must establish whether changes to contracts, salary, work patterns or places of work are necessary. On the other hand, if you are looking at possible redundancies, due diligence is critical and a thorough consultation process must be followed. Similarly, you must have a plan in place to deal with members of staff that refuse to return to work, either because they are vulnerable or they have health and safety concerns about the workplace environment.
ESTATE PLANNING For family-run care homes, in the same way that the pandemic ought to have triggered a review of your wills and estate planning, the same goes for the underlying constitutional documents of companies that you own or have interests in. In the context of their estate planning, the following should be considered: • What happens if a shareholder is incapacitated due to illness and cannot carry out their role in the business?
• What happens if the company’s articles or a shareholders agreement expressly conflict with the provisions you have included in your will? • Are you even permitted to leave your shares to your chosen beneficiary, or is this option blocked for you? These considerations in the context of family businesses need exploration to ensure that your wishes are protected.
RESOLVING CLAIMS & RENT ARRANGEMENTS If your business has ongoing claims against others or against the business itself, it is important not to underestimate the fiscal and emotional toll an ill-advised claim can cause at this stage. In such turbulent times, decisions need to be made on whether it is worth resolving such claims amicably, possibly by mediation, or whether you truly have no alternative but to claim. If the claim concerns tenancy, with landlord rights of recovery currently restricted, this may be a time to time to renegotiate rental payments, including outstanding rent, or agree variations or restructuring of your leases. You should also take stock of what government initiatives on rent holidays are applicable to you and your situation.
PROTECT YOUR REPUTATION Do you need help with the protection of your reputation and responses to hostile commentary or publicity in the event of an incident or more generally? A well planned program of responses may restore valuable goodwill to your care business.
PROTECTING YOUR BUSINESS If your care business is in distress, there are currently some statutory restrictions on creditor action that may be available to give you some respite from them, but be prepared to make cost savings measures now; consider the funding support that is available and your ability to service that. Cash remains key, so take steps to maximise your cash reserves and see if you can negotiate with creditors for the extension or renegotiation of payment terms. If you are concerned about paying your debts or your balance sheet, take professional advice as soon as possible, as if this is done early then a turnaround restructuring solution or orderly formal insolvency process can often be implemented which could mitigate your risks of personal liability. If done on a timely basis, there is always the chance to sell your business or merge with a larger, more cash rich entity. Needless to say, with restrictions and lockdowns being imposed, and support packages being finessed with such regularity, your care business may be subject to changes that will impact upon its viability, so do keep in close touch with your advisers to stay on top of these changes and what they mean for you.
Local Care Association Call for Nominations of ‘Care that Made a Difference’ Care and Support West is launching their renowned 2021 Care Awards early, in reaction to the hard work, passion and dedication of everyone involved in the local Care Industry throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. A new category has been added to the 2021 awards, named ‘The Rainbow Heart’, which will shine a light on the heartfelt and challenging work many care professionals have undertaken during this time. As well as care professionals, loved ones of service users can also nominate care workers and organisations which they feel have made a true difference to their lives in difficult circumstances. Nominations can be received on the Care and Support West website or via social media for ease of entry, the awards will launch on November 18th. Working across Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire and Bath & North East Somerset, Care and Support West is a leading representative body for companies, charities, organisations and individuals involved in the social care, support, and health sectors. The Care Awards is an annual event which in usual times would take place in October each year at Ashton Gate Stadium in Bristol, due to the COVID-19 pandemic the 2020 gala evening had to be cancelled. Commenting on the launch of the event, David Smallacombe CEO
of Care and Support West said: “2021 will be a very special year and a brilliant chance to celebrate with, and thank all our social care workers for the amazing work they have done – and continue to do – in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Launching these awards early means we are able to capture the inspirational stories which I know exist in our region. Now is the time to celebrate the people who have supported some of our most vulnerable residents to live healthier lives in extraordinary circumstances, the comfort and support they have provided to families and loved ones is also immeasurable. “We hope this next awards event will attract people far and wide from the regions we represent to participate positively, now is the time – more than ever – to support each other and those most vulnerable in society. We’re planning to go ahead with the event next year – but even if we can’t fulfil this pledge, we hope our region can come together and support these very special care staff.” Whilst most of Care and Support West’s important events have gone ahead in recent times using video conferencing tools, it is hoped the Care Awards will go ahead to a live audience in October 2021.
Record £200,000 of PPE Training Donated to Healthcare Workers
Ilkley-based High Speed Training has announced it has provided more than £200,000 of PPE training free of charge to social care and frontline staff during the pandemic, its biggest ever charitable donation. The new ‘PPE Training for Healthcare Workers’ course launched earlier this year and received almost 1,500 advance sign-ups ahead of going live. It is designed to build on existing knowledge of PPE among health and social care workers, and provided immediate support to volunteers
including retired NHS workers that came forward to scale up the workforce. In recognition of High Speed Training’s commitment to the health and social care sector and following the milestone donation to support workers in the fight against COVID-19, social care education charity Skills for Care has endorsed the company as a recommended online training provider. Dan Jordan, CEO, at High Speed Training said: “We would like to share our thanks with all the frontline staff that have been the driving force in the fight against COVID-19. The past few months have been an incredibly challenging time for all those with a responsibility to provide care, and our course was designed to help those people to feel confident in their use of PPE so that they could get on with the task at hand. We are delighted to have been able to help in this small way as part of the nation’s response to the pandemic. We are also proud to be recognised as a Skills for Care endorsed training provider, a trusted quality mark only awarded to the best learning and development providers
within the social care sector.” Lori Barber-Field, Project Manager at social care education charity Skills for Care, said: “In recognition of High Speed Training’s commitment to learning and development for the social care sector, Skills for Care has awarded the company endorsement.” For more information and guidance related to COVID-19, simply visit https://www.highspeedtraining.co.uk/covid-19-courses-resources/
THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 29 | PAGE 9
New Guidance Issued To Safe Care Home Visits During Lockdown Care homes will be encouraged and supported to provide safe visiting opportunities as new national restrictions come into effect. All care home residents in England should be allowed to receive visits from their family and friends in a COVID-secure way – with social distancing and PPE – following new guidance to be used while national restrictions are in place from Thursday 5 November. The guidance will enable care home providers, families and local professionals to work together to find the right balance between the benefits of visiting on wellbeing and quality of life, and the risk of transmission of COVID-19 to social care staff and vulnerable residents. It will set out clear principles for how visits are conducted – with arrangements to be adapted from home to home, based on the needs of their residents and taking into consideration factors such as layout and facilities – and reiterates the importance of ensuring social distancing and proper PPE use is observed. Options for safe care home visits in line with the guidance could include: • visits using COVID-secure visiting areas/pods with floor to ceiling screens and windows where the visitor and resident enter through different entrances, are separated by screens and visitors do not need to enter or pass through the care home • visits at windows, where the visitor doesn’t need to come inside the care home or where the visitor remains in their car, and the resident is socially distanced • outdoor visits with one other person – visitors can meet outside with a loved one, in areas which can be accessed without anyone going through a shared building • further support for virtual visits, encouraging the use of video calls Plans are currently being developed to allow specific family and friends to visit care homes supported by testing. A sector-led group is overseeing the development of these plans with trials set to begin later
this month. A new national programme for weekly testing of professionals who regularly visit care homes, including community nurses and physiotherapists, will also be rolled out in the coming weeks following a successful pilot in Cambridgeshire, Peterborough and Northamptonshire. Health and Social Care Secretary, Matt Hancock, said: I know how heart-breaking and incredibly frustrating it has been for families and friends who haven’t been able to see their loved ones during the pandemic. Care homes should feel empowered by this new guidance to look at safe options to allow visits to care homes that suit their residents and facilities. We’ve seen some really innovative solutions used to help families see each other safely, face-to-face, which has been life-changing for some. It is vital high quality, compassionate care and infection control remains at the heart of every single care home to protect staff and resident’s lives, but we must allow families to reunite in the safest way possible. Minister for Care, Helen Whately said: I know how incredibly hard visiting restrictions have been for families, friends and residents in care homes. There is no escaping the pain and the very real consequences of being separated for such a long period of time. The accounts I have heard personally are truly heart-breaking, especially where care homes have been unable to reopen for visiting during the summer. I am determined to bring loved ones back together even during this second wave of the pandemic; that’s why I am advising care homes to enable COVID-secure visits across the country.
We are also working to trial testing for visitors, so that we can reduce the risk of indoor visits and give families more opportunities to spend time with relatives in care homes. We must get the balance right between reuniting families and ensuring care staff and residents are safe from COVID-19. The government is also working with providers to help them communicate to families and help them plan visits in a way that minimises the wider risks – for example, avoiding travelling to and from the home using public transport, or maintaining social distance from other families when they arrive at the home for their visit. Visits outside of these principles should still be allowed in exceptional circumstances such as end of life. Care homes should support the NHS Test and Trace system by keeping a temporary record, including address and phone number, of current and previous residents, staff and visitors as well as keeping track of visitor numbers and staff. It is recommended homes have an arrangement to enable bookings or appointments for visitors and ad hoc visits should not be permitted. Protecting staff and residents has been a priority throughout the pandemic, with 120,000 tests being sent out every day solely for the care sector. The government has provided access to £3.7 billion for local authorities through un-ringfenced grants so they can address the expenditure pressures they are facing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including social care, as well as £1.1 billion provided to support infection control in care homes. In addition, 11,000 iPad tablets, worth £7.5 million, will soon be distributed to thousands of care homes across England to help residents keep in touch with loved ones.
Huddersfield Care Home Residents Star in CBBC’s ‘Our School’ Residents at Bryan Wood care home in Huddersfield became stars for the day when television cameras visited the home to film an episode of the hit CBBC series, Our School*. The home on Bryan Road featured in the episode ‘Age Is Just A Number’ and welcomed students from Ryburn Valley High School to talk about life as you get older. The programme ‘Our School’ focuses on young pupils as they prepare to move from primary to secondary school and the challenges they might face. When the students arrived at the home, Margaret Bradley, 85, Cynthia Appleyard, 82,Terry Wheat, 76, John Kaye, 62, Rachel Powell, 82, and Cynthia’s husband Eric Appleyard, 85, each engaged with the young people and shared their hobbies with them and chatted about their lives. To return the favour for the hospitality, the students invited the residents to their school for an afternoon tea party. Everyone enjoyed cakes and refreshments, and some even took to the dancefloor to show off their ballroom moves.
Margaret, one of the residents who starred in the series, said: “I thoroughly enjoyed the time we spent filming for CBBC’s Our School with the children from Ryburn Valley High School. “I have made some wonderful memories and now have lots of new young friends that I would love to see again soon.” Jenny Hanson, home manager at Bryan Wood care home, said: “Our residents were thrilled to be a part of the show and I’d like to thank Ryburn Valley High School for their kindness, in particular the wonderful students we met for the show. “It was a once in a lifetime experience for us – it’s not every day you get to be on the TV! “Community bonds are so important for care homes and we have made some great connections and friendships with the children at Ryburn Valley. “Although we’re unable to have visitors at the moment, we would love to see them all again soon to catch up with each other.”
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PAGE 10 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 29
How COVID-19 is Paving the Way for the Digital Revolution in the Health and Social Care Sectors
By Alan Gibson, Vice President of EMEA at Alteryx (www.alteryx.com)
In the aftermath of any crisis, change is inevitable. The pandemic has not only disrupted lives, economies and industries, it has been the greatest disruption to the global health and social care sector, triggering an unprecedented transformation. COVID-19 also accelerated the already growing reliance on data-based technologies. As a result, care providers are now being asked to aggregate more and more data sources to create accurate diagnoses, treatment plans and strategies. The current pandemic does not yet measure the extent of change, but one thing is certain: digital health care will continue to evolve. Teleconsultation, for example, is experiencing astronomical growth, rising by 500% since the advent of COVID-19. While not seeing a doctor or care worker in person used to be considered sacrilege, this is no longer the case. In the same vein, the adoption of remote monitoring is also increasing, allowing health care teams to monitor, manage and engage patients while leaving them in the comfort of their own homes. Data is essential to provide relevant diagnosis in telemedicine. Physicians can use a large amount of potentially useful external information and compare or analyse patient data based on it. For highrisk individuals, the fact that care coordinators are relying on teleconsultation and remote monitoring to reduce the number of patient visits to their offices represents a sustainable opportunity for healthcare providers to reduce the risk of readmission at 30 and 90 days, while ensuring better patient outcomes and reducing costs. Of course, it will require data governance to ensure that the use of patient data remains a benefit and not a risk, which implies a strong ethical imperative. Data is also powering visibility. Jersey Hospital, for instance, has been working with Alan Lab to create a platform that provides a ‘minute by minute’ visualisation of the situation in hospital, tracking patient numbers,
equipment and island-wide bed use. Likewise, they’ve also updated their waiting list system to allow patients to quickly understand appointment wait times. One of the biggest frustrations of the pandemic has been among non-Covid patients, whose treatment—often for serious diseases like cancer—has been delayed. For context, more than 83,000 patients in England waited more than a year for NHS treatment in July, which is the highest number October 2008. Jersey Hospital using available data to improve patient visibility, therefore, is a hugely positive move, and one that should be employed by hospitals and care homes nationwide. From a technical point of view, another obstacle has been the availability of COVID test kits. The fact that it took 10 to 20 days to collect the samples, process and send them to diagnostic suppliers (who were overwhelmed by the volumes), then wait for the results to come back and communicate them to patients, further compounded the problem. Fortunately, healthcare leaders and start-ups have responded to this crisis by offering a plethora of artificial intelligence-based applications in the cloud that can be deployed on mobile devices and tablets (now known as Mobile Health - mHealth), many of which can capture and store patients' vital signs on online portals for instant access by healthcare teams and clinicians. In addition, data processing can go even further: spatial analysis, for example, can be used with test kit data to visually map epidemic hotspots. In light of all these new challenges, healthcare leaders see tremendous potential for RN and analytics to deliver on the promise of better quality care at lower cost by empowering their executives, business leaders, clinicians and nurses to harness the power of predictive and prescriptive analytics. Many healthcare organisations are looking to harness the vast potential of artificial intelligence (AI) and its four components - machine learning (ML), natural language processing (NLP), deep learning and robotics - to transform their clinical and business processes. They seek to apply these advanced technologies to make sense of an ever-expanding "tsunami" of structured and unstructured data, and to automate iterative operations that previously required manual processing. The key, however, is to implement change that will both boost efficiency and care quality, but also increase visibility for patients awaiting treatment.
Cornerstone Healthcare Named the Best ‘Complex Care Provider’ in the UK Specialist care provider, Cornerstone Healthcare, has been named as ‘Complex care provider of the year’ in the 2020 HealthInvestor awards. The industry accolade comes just two years after the group established its first two homes in Hampshire. South Africa Lodge in Waterlooville, along with Kitnocks House in Curdridge, cares for people with challenging behaviours associated with complex neurological and mental health needs. Cornerstone beat off competition from nine other providers to win the award and CEO, Johann van Zyl, said it is recognition for the entire team. “We are beyond delighted to win this award!” he said. “Not only have we successfully created ‘forever homes’ for many people who can’t find care that meets their complex needs, we have done it to a world class standard. “HealthInvestors is the leading authority in national and international healthcare investment in the UK and the recognition doesn’t come much bigger than this. “We knew there was a need for our type of specialist care and having that focus has allowed us to become expert at what we do. “Our staff should feel immensely proud of their work, particularly at a time when their roles are made more challenging by the coronavirus pandemic.”
The HealthInvestor Awards 2020 took place on the 15 October, with an interactive digital ceremony. This year, the judges were looking for organisations and individuals that have made an outstanding contribution to healthcare in 2019/20, and represent the leading players in the market. Cornerstone Healthcare is the only operator in the south east of
England offering specialist nursing care for people with challenging behaviours as a result of neurological or mental health need and is also increasing their footprint with new developments in the south west of England. The judges recognised Cornerstone’s specialist care and its ability to offer a home to those who struggle to be cared for in “ordinary” care home settings. They praised its “impressive” and “innovative” approach to dealing with individual service users. “The service has proved that it can support people with some of the most complex needs, who have often been failed by other services and other parts of the system,” they said. “What is particularly impressive is the comprehensive nature of this service which looks at the physical and emotional needs of the people it supports and their families.” The group will open its third home in January 2021. Marula Lodge will offer 42 bedrooms in Camberley in Surrey. Two further homes – one in Bristol and one in Somerset – are in the developmental phase and will be in operation from 2022 onwards. This will take the company’s bed capacity to 355. Johann added; “We have ambitious plans for the next five years and we know we have the right model and the right staff to give people with complex needs the very best quality of life.”
SmartSpaces Work with St Teresa's Care Home and Opens ‘Garden Room’ To Support Covid-Safe Visiting
St Teresa's care home in Wimbledon, which provides high quality nursing & residential care to up to 28 people, is proudly announcing the opening of its temporary ‘garden visiting room’. SmartSpaces are proud to work with the Care Home to provide this much needed family support for both the residents and family members. SmartSpaces offers a bespoke design service for their garden rooms so made sure the design meets all the requirements.
The purpose-built wooden cabin is situated in the communal garden at the Home and provides a safe space for relatives to visit residents whilst Covid-19 continues to pose a risk. SmartSpaces designed this build to have a seperate access for the resident and also for the family members. The Home has implemented a wide range of health and safety measures since the pandemic outbreak was declared, which has involved stopping all external visits from the beginning of lockdown, to limited, socially distant visits wearing PPE. The team has been keen to find a way to make visiting more comfortable for residents and their loved ones so has created the temporary garden room. SmartSpaces designed a bespoke space which was both suitable for the residents and family in this testing time. Equipped with a Perspex screen to separate visitors from residents, an intercom to make communicating easyandthe room enables loved ones to get together without increased worry. The room is well insulated andappropriately heated. Home Manager Chris Glynn said; “At a time of great uncertainty we all look to our families for support and lockdown has prevented this personal contact. Technical solutions only have a moderate benefit for our Residents, so we needed something that would provide a more personal experience for Residents & families, plus a solution to an ever changing set of rules. With Smartspaces we were able to design a bespoke space that addressed the unique needs of a Covid secure visit. Visits are now safe-
ly conducted in a warm and comfortable environment, that allow Residents & families to relax, enjoying their time together. It has made the world of difference to our Residents & families, a visible difference to their well-being.” For more information on how SmartSpaces can create a covid safe visiting room, get in touch www.smartspaces.co.uk, info@smartspaces.co.uk. or call 0800 6345223
THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 29 | PAGE 11
Reinventing Social Care: Care Industry Leaders Set Out Key Reforms For The Sector Leading industry figures from the field of social care have set out the key reforms needed to reinvent the sector, as they look to improve its funding, efficiency, working conditions and public image. With social care having come under the spotlight throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, public consciousness of the value of the sector has never been greater. Staff have been working tirelessly, often at great personal risk and sacrifice, to keep people safe from harm. Consequently, more and more are recognising the essential contribution of carers and their ancillary support workers to society. Despite this, the sector is beleaguered – underfunded, understaffed and undervalued, with recipients of care and their families facing wildly varying fees and often a lack of genuine choice about the nature and provision of care. In the face of these ongoing challenges, the Board of Directors at the Surrey Care Association, one of the UK’s leading care industry associations, are determined that, rather than sitting back and watching the sector struggle on, they look to solve the puzzle of social care and present a working plan for reform and reinvention that sets the industry up for long-term survival and success. The basis of this is a 60-page manifesto, which outlines the key steps that the board, with its wealth of experience across the full spectrum of social care, believe need to be taken to overhaul and reinvigorate the sector. Broken down into 5 central pillars, the core components of the reforms centre on: 1) A fresh start with a new name, and a new ethos 2) A valued workforce 3) New processes, led by people who access services 4) Fair and transparent funding arrangements to secure a bright long-term future 5) Reformed roles and structures Within these five pillars, the board outline in detail the measures that they believe are necessary to provide
a fully functioning service that supports both care recipients and workers, whilst safeguarding the long-term future of the industry. The initiative has been launched with a virtual roundtable event, chaired by Professor Martin Green, CEO of Care England, which, alongside the directors at the Surrey Care Association, was also attended by the Rt. Hon. Jeremy Hunt MP and Sir Robert Francis QC, Chair of Healthwatch England. David Holmes, Director and former Chairman of the Surrey Care Association, said: “Social care has long suffered from a public perception that’s at odds with the reality. In recent years, many people have come to view social care negatively. Since the advent of the pandemic though, the public view has shifted notably. For the first time, social care has been championed alongside the NHS.” He continued: “Now, with public awareness and appreciation probably at a high-water mark, we believe it’s the perfect time to reinvent social care, to overhaul its image and create foundations for long-term success. Our paper, ‘Reinventing Social Care’ sets out how we see this being achieved.” David concluded: “A huge proportion of society will interact with social care services at some point in their lives – whether as individuals or through family members. At present they will do so with trepidation, concerned about the quality of care and support they will receive and the huge, unmanageable costs they might incur. We want to reinvent the Social Care system with the focus firmly on the individual. Our radical proposals will ensure that all people accessing Social Care are supported to live rich and purposeful lives, and the process through which we do this will be consistent and transparent, giving reassurance and breaking down the trust barrier. Our society will come to cherish the incredible and essential work carried out by those who work in care. The term ‘care’ should be a badge of pride and we’re determined to make it so.” The executive summary of the manifesto can be found via: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/52rjnmg3o4mjsvr/AADbmM3dET-sbjD_-YFNKHQja?dl=0
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PAGE 12 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 29
The Carer Talks with Patrick Ettenes ‘Bring Dementia Out’ Ambassador
Housing association The Guinness Partnership has championed ‘Bring Dementia Out’ training for employers in the housing and care sectors. Guinness staff are the first professionals in the country to undergo this training. The need for the ‘Bring Dementia Out’ programme was brought to light by a project developed by the Alzheimer's Society. It vividly showed the additional challenges faced by LGBT+ people living with dementia. Housing and care were areas of huge concern. Patrick Ettenes, (LGBT Dementia Lived Experience Advisor and Diversity Award Winner 2019), is one of the youngest people in the UK living with dementia and is a customer of The Guinness Partnership. The first signs of early onset dementia were seven years ago when Patrick had a nervous breakdown after an abusive relationship. He could not function; became agoraphobic and couldn’t leave his home and couldn’t do simple tasks such as put the numbers from 1 to 5 in order. That would take half an hour. He started to forget his family; he could not remember his cousins. After a stroke in 2015 he had a brain scan and the doctors said he had more brain wastage than they had seen in anyone. After a CT scan of his brain he was diagnosed with frontal atrophy. Patrick says; “Without this
minor stroke I would never have found out what was happening. My father has Alzheimer’s and I can see my behaviour in my dad. My mother has to look after him, which means that I am more isolated.” A few people are diagnosed in their 30s, but it is rare. The chance of having dementia between the ages of 30 and 60 is less than 1%. Patrick has had to adapt him home to his condition. For example, he’s had to change his front door because he kept locking himself out. Patrick went to a dementia support group three times, but he had nothing in common with the older people in their 60s, 70s, 80s. LGBT people are less likely to have a partner, family, next of kin. Patrick explains: “You can’t expect friends to do caring duties, even if they offer at first. Some LGBT people are worried about signing over ‘life decisions’ because they have trust issues.” When ill you don’t tell anyone, in order to not appear weak. Dementia comes with taboo because identity is a lot for us to lose.” People can show a lack of awareness. Some of the weird things people have said include; “Find a boyfriend on Grindr to take care of you”. Astonishingly a hospital consultant said: “You don’t have dementia; you’re too well dressed” and another person said: “You don’t look like you have dementia”. Patrick is a founder of the LGBT Dementia Network which is run by volunteers. Patrick found it hard to sustain leading this group until the Alzheimer’s Society becoming involved. The network identified that single people are not always listened to without an advocate. They don’t always have kids and family, so they are less likely to have their voice heard. A chance meeting with Wendy Wells, Head of Policy and Business Implementation at The Guinness Partnership, changed everything. Patrick and Wendy got chatting at a housing event and she thought The Guinness Partnership housing association could help. Patrick, the LGBT+ Foundation and The Guinness Partnership are campaigning for broader take-up with care providers. Patrick would like to see the whole NHS adopt Bring Dementia Out training. LGBT+ people face higher levels of isolation and loneliness; leading to extra healthcare needs, and day-to-day experiences for LGBT people accessing health care can sometime still not be great. Given the chance Patrick would explain to health leaders “a little change sticks to
people”. As he says: “Bring Dementia Out is my baby and I hope widespread adoption of the training will be my legacy. It should be mandatory for all care and housing staff across the UK. When I want something, I fight for it. I want this to be a global movement. But it starts here.” Patrick continues: “It’s amazing when housing associations help tenants. A happy, safe home is a basic human need. Many fear losing their home due to dementia. So Bring Dementia Out can help people stay in their homes and live the life they choose.” Levi Selby, Wellbeing Officer at the LGBT Foundation gives some thought provoking examples from the helpline he works on. Some of the themes that we hear about involve LGBT people who have their identity and their past stolen from them when they reach a level of dementia where decisions are being made for them. For example, an elderly gay man whose relatives had never accepted his sexuality. When he needed nursing care, the family deliberately misled staff about his past. For example, ignoring the existence of their father’s long term male partner, and only referring to his ex-wife (their mother) as the significant relationship in his life. This totally denied the man his right to openly grieve his lost partner. This can also occur with trans people who may be placed into a single sex facility of their ‘assigned at birth’ sex instead of their self-identified gender, causing immense confusion and upset for the person. Relatives may do this as a way of dealing with their own sense of loss of a parent, for example, and even believe that as the dementia sufferer is losing their grip on the past, it won’t affect them. Before reaching that stage of needing care provision, LGBT people in the community sometimes express that services have cis gender/hetero-normative practices and training. This in itself can act as a barrier to people who need support asking for it. If as a gay or trans person, you see advertising which is full of smiling elderly ‘man and wife’ imagery and are asked questions which assume your experience, people can feel that they have to justify and ‘out’ themselves. For further information visit website: www.lgbt.foundation/bringdementiaout or email: claire.days@lgbt.foundation
HC-One Celebrates Black History Month Promoting and Embracing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion During the month of October, HC-One care homes across the UK embraced the celebration of Black History Month with a range of interactive, engaging and enjoyable activities. Residents and Colleagues at Roseberry Court Care Home in Redcar enjoyed reading poems by Joshua Beckford called ‘Saving Mother Earth’, and also learnt more about the experiences of the Windrush Generation. Roseberry Court Resident, Peggy Cheung said: “The Windrush story is very powerful. I loved reading the poem from that amazing young boy.” Springwater Lodge Care Home in Nottingham celebrated Black History Month by tasting flavoursome foods from different cultures. Colleagues at the home also brought in artefacts and ornaments of significance, sharing the history of the items with Residents who expressed a great interest in all the information shared with them about different cultures and backgrounds. In Newton Heath in Greater Manchester, Averill House Care Home marked Black History Month by creating vibrant and colourful display boards, showcasing prominent key black figures in British and American history including Harriet Tubman, an American abolitionist and Rosa Parks, an American activist. Numerous discussions took place between Residents and Colleagues including talks about the Windrush generation; the career of Doctor Angelina Osbourne, an independent researcher and heritage consultant for the Windrush scandal; and discussing the civil rights movement, and British black heritage. Vera Smith, a Resident at Averill House Care Home commented: “It’s been really interest-
ing. I didn’t know all of this, and to learn about this history has been amazing.” Residents and Colleagues at Seabrooke Manor Care Home in Ilford, Essex also discussed the Windrush generation and Gladys Chibanda, Home Manager commented: “As part of our Black History Month celebrations we showed an exhibition of the Windrush generation. One of our Residents, Mr Albert, was part of the Windrush generation and he recounted the story of that time on the boat. It was nice hearing the Windrush History from one of our Residents as part of our Black History Month celebrations.” Aston House Care Home organised a special meal to mark the contribution that the black community has made to British society. Residents and Colleagues enjoyed the celebrations including a lovely tea party with the home decorated for the occasion. Residents and Colleagues thoroughly
enjoyed listening, singing and dancing along to cultural music including music from popular artists such as James Brown, Bob Marley and Nina Simone. Home Manager, Seema Sandeep-Jose, said: “The day has been a brilliant opportunity to celebrate cultural diversity, traditions and history. We have many Residents living in Aston House and Colleagues who came to Britain for a new life and they have made such a great contribution to society that we wanted to celebrate their achievements. It’s so important that organisations celebrate Black History Month and use this opportunity to raise awareness of black history and culture – for many people, it can be a first step to embrace diversity and difference all year round.” In addition to the countless activities taking place across its care homes, HC-One Colleagues also marked Black History Month by: • Welcoming special guest speaker Doctor Patrick Vernon, OBE, a social commentator and campaigner who is known for his work in tackling health inequalities for ethnic minority communities in Britain, to hold an exclusive presentation and speech to all Colleagues and Residents at HC-One. • Sharing a selection of poems including the Windrush poem and the Mother Earth poem with Colleagues. • Promoting individual profiles of key African, Caribbean and Black figures from history on internal social media pages and groups. • Changing the desktop wallpaper of all Colleagues electronic devices and email signatures, as well as the company Facebook banner and frame with Pan-African flag colours to mark the occasion.
THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 29 | PAGE 13
Cost Of Dementia For Hospitals In England Doubles In A Decade Dementia is having a crippling effect on the NHS and government must act now, says Alzheimer’s Research UK, as the charity reveals the cost of the condition on hospitals across England has doubled over the past decade, with 90% of these costs coming from emergency admissions. The figures reveal major pressures on the hospital system even before the impact of COVID-19 – and the charity argues that without lifechanging dementia treatments, these pressures will continue to grow. The UK’s leading dementia research charity has highlighted the impact of dementia on hospitals with a new interactive tool. Alzheimer’s Research UK hopes the new tool will put a spotlight on the desperate need for more research into the condition, to bring about life-changing treatments sooner and protect people from the distress of unnecessary hospital stays. The figures show that dementia continues to have huge implications for the NHS, with the addition of COVID-19 exacerbating existing challenges for the health service, people living with dementia and their families. According to the Office of National Statistics (ONS); dementia was the most common main pre-existing medical condition among COVID-19 deaths between March and June this year, with a quarter of all COVID-19 deaths linked to dementia during this period. With national attention focused on the need to protect the hospital system, Alzheimer’s Research UK argues that the government needs a renewed focus on addressing the pressures from dementia including more investment in
dementia research to find new treatments for the condition. To create the tool, Alzheimer’s Research UK commissioned a healthcare intelligence agency to provide Hospital Episode Statistic (HES) data for people aged over 65 with dementia and those without. The charity’s analysis has revealed: • The cost of dementia on hospitals has increased from £1.2bn (2010/11) to £2.7bn (2017/18). • The number of people being admitted to hospital with dementia increased by 93% from 210,000 (2010/11) to 405,000 (2017/18). • The number of hospital bed days for people living with dementia increased from 6.3m (2010/11) to 9.4m (2017/18). • Stays in hospital due to dementia rose 180%, from 345,000 to 975,000. • In 2017, people with dementia had a significantly higher proportion of emergency admissions (77%), compared to those without (34%). • For patients with dementia, 90% of the total costs for the NHS are in emergency admissions, this is compared to 60% for patients without dementia. • Underlying causes of admission for people with dementia included admissions for potentially preventable conditions such as pneumonia, sepsis, urinary system disorders, and leg fractures. Alzheimer’s Research UK’s data dashboard gives people the opportunity to see the impact of dementia on the Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) where they live. It offers insights into people’s hospital experiences, including the number of times people have been admitted and how long they spent in hospital. The number of people living with dementia is expected to rise to 1m in just three years, the same year that dementia is projected to cost our
economy £30bn. The charity hopes its findings will prompt government to deliver on its pledge to double dementia research funding, to save the NHS from the pressures caused by the lack of life-changing treatments for the condition. Prof Jonathan Schott, Chief Medical Officer at Alzheimer’s Research UK and Professor of Neurology at the UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, said: “The cost of dementia on the UK hospital system is increasing at an alarming rate. These latest findings show the effect that the rising tide of dementia was having on our NHS even before the huge additional pressures associated with the current pandemic. Hospital stays are not just costly but have profound impacts on individuals with dementia and their loved ones, and are associated with a higher risk of death. It is therefore vital that we do everything possible to keep people healthy and out of hospital when at all possible. There are currently no treatments that have been proven to alter the course of the major forms of dementia. Now more than ever we need to invest in research which is the only way we will make the breakthroughs we so desperately need. COVID-19 is having a catastrophic impact on dementia research, and critical progress is at stake if we don’t invest now. Government must deliver on its promise to double dementia research funding to over £160m a year, so we can bring about the lifechanging treatments we desperately need both to protect our hospitals and those affected by dementia.”
Over £1000 Raised for Brendoncare Froxfield by Jumping Out of a Plane Brendoncare Froxfield’s Activity Coordinator, Deborah Aliyu has raised over £1000 for the care home near Marlborough, Wiltshire. She took on the challenge of a skydive from Old Sarum, near Salisbury. Staff have been working relentlessly to care for residents during the coronavirus pandemic and Deborah decided to take part in this challenge to raise funds towards an interactive table for residents at Brendoncare Froxfield. The table is projected with games, music and social activities for residents to interact with and is particularly beneficial for people living with dementia.
Deborah Aliyu, Activities Coordinator at Brendoncare Froxfield, said, “I enjoy making people around me happy and work hard to ensure our residents are engaged with various activities that are meaningful and beneficial to them. I know the interactive table will bring lots of smiles and enjoyment to them. “Thank you to everyone who donated to my challenge. I am delighted to have raised just over £1000 towards the interactive table at Brendoncare Froxfield. I look forward to taking on another challenge soon!”
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THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 29 | PAGE 15
ADASS and TSA Launch Commission to Explore Role of Technology in a Reformed Social Care System Two national care bodies have joined forces to make recommendations to government, the health, care and housing sectors and the technology enabled care (TEC) industry on the role of digital in a reformed adult social care system. The Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) and the TEC Services Association (TSA) have set up a Commission to explore how better access to technology could improve joint working between health, social care and housing and offer more preventative, responsive support, shaped around the individual. The Commission will bring together influential figures from adult social care, health and housing, including local authority Directors of Adult Social Services, Chief Executives from councils, care and housing bodies and leaders from NHSX, Department of Health and Social Care and the Local Government Association. The voice of service users will be represented by Think Local Act Personal (TLAP) and a number of leading technology suppliers will also join the Commission. Chaired by internationally renowned Spanish health care leader, Rafael Bengoa who is Co-Director of The Institute for Health & Strategy in Bilbao, Spain, the Commission will hear evidence on effective models of technology enabled care via UK and international best practice case studies. In March 2021, the Commission will launch its final report, which will include a series of practical recommendations to central and local government on how to scale up and mainstream the use of everyday devices, data insights and specialist technology to extend people’s healthy lifespans and enrich their lives. Iain MacBeath, Strategic Director of Health and Wellbeing at City of Bradford Metropolitan District and ADASS Honorary
Treasurer said: “We set up this Commission because of a recognition by directors of adult social services that more needs to be done to integrate technology with social care. We bolt it on the side of services but rarely commission anything integrated or innovative and this just can’t continue. Over the next 25 years, the number of 85-year-olds will double, and all people will expect technology to play a crucial role in supporting individuals. This Commission will encourage local authority leaders to procure social care services in a different way so they lead the process and technology manufacturers can respond and invest appropriately.” Alyson Scurfield, CEO of TSA said: “Over the last few months, technology enabled care has been a lifeline, improving people’s quality of life during very difficult times and supporting individuals to self-manage their own health. We want to build on this normalisation of technology and create a roadmap for improving social care through more innovative and informed commissioning of digital solutions. We hope that this Commission also gives the technology industry impetus to invest their resources in developing solutions that are unwaveringly focused on improving outcomes for individuals.” Rafael Bengoa, Chair of the Commission and Co-Director of The Institute for Health & Strategy in Bilbao said: “In many countries, Covid-19 has exposed a disconnected and inefficient social care system. This, combined with a rapidly growing older population, calls for a significant change in the way social care services are planned and commissioned. Digital health and social care have filled the gaps during the pandemic and the Commission seeks to pull together this knowledge to make it easier and quicker to adopt, spread and scale innovations with the aim of creating a more preventative UK social care system.”
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Working Women Are at Reduced Risk of Memory Decline Later in Life New US research published today (Wednesday 4 November) in Neurology suggests women at work are at a reduced risk of worsening memory. Dr Rosa Sancho, Head of Research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “An estimated 850,000 people in the UK have dementia and 500,000 of them are women. This research adds to the idea that aspects of our lifestyle may help to build cognitive reserve, a type of resilience that allows people to function for longer before showing dementia symptoms. The study suggests that working during early adulthood and midlife may provide benefits to the long-term health of an individual, however this type of study cannot determine cause and effect. Continued research is vital to understand the causes of memory loss that can have such a devasting impact on people’s lives, which is why it’s important that government delivers on its promise to double funding for dementia research. “There is no sure-fire way to prevent dementia, but our brains don’t operate in isolation from the rest of our bodies. The best current evidence indicates staying both physically and mentally active, not smoking, controlling blood pressure and cholesterol, only drinking within recommended guidelines, and eating a balanced diet, are all linked to better brain health as we age.”
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PAGE 16 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 29
Residents of Little Weighton Care Home Mark Remembrance Day with the Royal British Legion Remembrance Day came early for the residents of Manor House care home in Little Weighton as they were visited by volunteers from the Royal British Legion. The home, based on White Gap Road, was called on by the local Cottingham Royal British Legion. The Last Post was played, and a twominute silence was held to allow the residents to honour lost loved ones from the forces. The Legion also brought a wreath for the veterans at the home to sign in time for it to be laid at Cottingham war memorial on Remembrance Day. The event was held at a social distance this year due to COVID-19, but staff and residents did not want the pandemic to prevent them from taking part in the community’s remembrance proceedings. Leanne Hatch, home manager at Manor House, said: “It was very kind of the Royal British Legion to come to visit us here at Manor House. Many of our residents were concerned that they wouldn’t be able to formally mark Remembrance Day this year, an anniversary
teers for making it such a special event for us.” Audrey Yeaman, 80, a resident at Manor House, said: “Remembering the members and veterans of the British Armed Forces is very important, and it was brilliant to meet with the British Legion volunteers, even though everything was socially distanced.” Major Gary Fraser (Retd)AAC, RBL secretary, said: “The residents were brought out to watch myself and Major Jerry Cross RLC, standard bearer and chairman of Cottingham RBL say the Exhortation, play the Last Post, observe a two minutes silence and lay a wreath. It was quite cold, so we started as soon as possible. Full Covid-19 measures were taken to ensure the safety of the residents. “The wreath was laid at the Cottingham memorial on the 11th which is personally close to many of their hearts. “We would like to say thank you to the Royal British Legion volun-
November. We hope that everyone had the opportunity to mark remembrance in their own way and it was a pleasure to do this for them.”
Droitwich Care Home's Reflective Remembrance Day Activities Ravenstone care home in Droitwich prepared for a quiet Remembrance Day of reflection, as COVID restrictions mean traditional activities must go on hold. Residents at the care home, based on St Andrew’s Road, would usually visit nearby Droitwich Baptist Church to remember brave service people, or attend an event at a local memorial to lay a wreath, however this year these events did not take place due to government restrictions designed to stop the spread of coronavirus. To ensure the residents of Ravenstone still have the opportunity to remember those who served in the World Wars, and subsequent conflicts, the home arranged internal events to allow for reflection and to celebrate the lives of the veterans and their families. Resident John Tarleton has received a memorial wreath from his regiment to ensure he can still take part in Remembrance Celebrations. John served in the Royal Mechanical Engineers and will be laying his wreath in the home’s garden. John requested that the wreath is then taken to Droitwich War Memorial, which was laid there by Dylan son of carer and British Legion member, Sarah Moore.
Wendy Stokoe, home manager at Ravenstone, said: “It has been a very strange year for everyone, however we have been working hard to help the residents feel included as part of the wider community, as well as feeling safe and stimulated within the home. “Remembrance Day is incredibly important to many of our residents, particularly those who are veterans or who have family members who have served, and we knew we needed to find a way to mark it appropriately, even if we couldn’t visit a public event. “We are giving our residents time and space to reflect and remember and sharing stories of our own experiences and those of our loved ones on this significant day. We hope that next year we will be back out in the community, together again.” John Tarleton, a resident at Ravenstone, said: “I was very pleased that the home decided to mark Remembrance Day, because we can’t go to church or the memorial. It’s very important that we never forget those who gave their lives for us all those years ago. “The poppies on the window look lovely and I will be remembering my relatives and friends when we have our two-minute silence.”
Care Home Residents In Whittlesey Raise Funds for the Royal British Legion Whittlesey community knew that it would be hard for the Royal British Legion to collect as normal for donations for the poppy fund this year due to the pandemic. They set out a mission and asked for the community to help and support this very important charity. They asked their community to knit, crochet, and make poppies from different resources so they could arrange them around Whittlesey Town for everyone to see. They had 25 panels that they asked companies for sponsorship and all the donations go to the RBL, these were all sold withing two days. Over 120 volunteers have provided poppies for the Poppy Blitz from the very young to the elderly. When the residents at Aliwal Manor Care Home in Whittlesey heard about the project, they straight away volunteered to help with this wonderful community spirit to help make funds
for the RBL. The residents helped to make some of the wonderful poppy wreaths that are now proudly displayed in Whittlesey. They have also made some blue poppies from the bottom of old lemonade bottles. They are displayed outside at the front of Aliwal Manor for everyone to admire. The Blue poppies represent “Blue Petals with Love for frontline workers” that was started up by Kym Kynaston to help raise funds for the victims and families of COVID-19, which many of the Cambridgeshire Excelcare Homes have supported. Kim Kynaston, Deborah Slater, Kim Howard and others also created a beautiful rainbow of poppies, donated by the Blue Petals with Love and Helping Whittlesey Groups for part of the spectacular display for Remembrance Day in Whittlesey.
HC-One Residents and Colleagues Take Time to Reflect, Honour and Remember Fallen Soldiers HC-One care homes across the country have been preparing for Remembrance Day on Wednesday 11th November. At The Sycamores Care Home in Hyde, Colleagues and Residents have been creating poppy wreaths and other arts and crafts in honour of Remembrance Day. The Residents selected the colours they wanted to use on their wreaths, before sticking and collaging the shapes together to produce poppies. The Residents also took the time to reflect, and wrote messages and phrases on their wreaths. Each Resident was happy and proud with their creations, and they enjoyed participating in the activity as their creations have significant meaning behind them and symbolise hope and peace. Colleagues assisted them with hanging the wreaths up on their bedroom doors as a sign of showing their respects. The poppy wreaths have brightened up the corridors of The Sycamores Care Home. Residents also participated in colouring in template picture designs based on the topic of Remembrance. These have been displayed in the windows of the care home for passers by to see as they walk past. Kath Power, Resident at The Sycamores Care Home said, "My Grandfather was in the war and I always like to make something hand-made in his memory". In Scone, Catmoor House Care Home Residents have been creating and decorating biscuits to commemorate Remembrance Day. One Resident in particular, Eliza Reynolds, enjoyed getting her hands
messy mixing all of the ingredients and led the way in creating her own World War II themed biscuits with the help of Care Assistant, Megan Douglas. Eliza showed over her baking skills by creating some edible poppies to place on top of her biscuits that were coated in black icing to symbolise and represent a soldier’s uniform. Catmoor House’s Home Manager, Carol Riley said, “Eliza has created wonderful biscuits to commemorate the fallen this Remembrance Day, she cannot wait to try them.” As well as Residents taking part in a variety of activities in honour of Remembrance Day, Colleagues across HC-One care homes also took the time to help mark the occasion. At Woodlands View Care Home, Shawn Heppenstall, the Chef at the home took a week of annual leave to do an extraordinary act of kindness. Shawn takes a week off every year in November in order to help The Royal British Legion by standing outside shops and supermarkets to sell poppies. On Remembrance Day, Shawn leads a parade by carrying the Royal British Legion’s Standard but due to the national lockdown this year, this will be carried out differently and the memorial is by invitation only. Shawn is very passionate about being in the British Legion, as he spent four years in the armed forces in the Royal Corps of Signals and has been a member of the British Legion for five years. Woodlands View Home Manager, Deby O'Hare, commented, “We are all so proud of Shawn for his dedication and we are all happy to support him where we can.”
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Because We Never Forget Care UK teams and residents have found ways to join communities across the country in commemorating Remembrance Day. At Priors House, in Leamington Spa, residents and team members worked together to organise a special Remembrance Day service as they installed a brand new, permanent war memorial. As part of the service, which was organised by the home, residents read poems and laid poppy wreaths. There was also a socially-distanced cornet performance featuring the Last Post and Reveille, which was specially organised for a resident who used to play the instrument himself. Francine Summers, home manager, said: “I’m incredibly proud of how hard everyone at Priors House worked to create a permanent war memorial for the home and organise our Remembrance Sunday service. From the maintenance team and chefs to our lifestyle coordinators and nurses, everyone helped – I think it’s part of what made the event so special. It was a beautiful ceremony, complete with a lovely cornet performance,
which the residents greatly appreciated.” Residents at Care UK’s Smyth Lodge, in Sidcup, marked Armistice Day by creating a sculpture of individually designed poppies in memory of their friends and family who have served in the armed forces. Resident Jim Farmer, aged 93, shared his memories of being evacuated from London to Tunbridge Wells in 1940. He joined his school’s air training corps and attended a camp at Biggin Hill RAF Station, where he flew an aircraft for the first time. Leaving school in 1943, Jim joined the army and was accepted into the Intelligence Corps. Home manager Roda Williams said: “Creating poppies was a wonderful way for residents to take part in the Remembrance Day activities – and it was fantastic to hear the memories of residents growing up in wartime Britain and serving their country. We’re thrilled with the result of their hard work, and it’s great to see the sculpture displayed in the home for everyone to see.” At Bickerton House in Bracknell, memories of
times in the services were recalled and tissue paper was used to create poppies to remember friends and family who had served in the armed forces. Resident Peter Hale shared his memories of volunteering for the RAF when he turned 18 in 1940. After his basic training, he was taught to fly the iconic Spitfire and flew across Europe, including Belgium, Holland and Germany, intercepting bombs. As well as recalling his flying career, he also chatted to other residents about his memories of VE Day: he was on leave in Worthing at the time, and saw celebrations and street parties across the whole of the seaside town. At Parsons Grange, near Reading, residents not only remembered those who served in the World Wars but also those who served in more recent campaigns. They created more than 100 felt poppies, some of which were added to the silhouette of a soldier in the home to form a sea of poppies, while others were sold to the community. All proceeds from the poppies’ sales will go to an armed forces charity. Residents and teams in Care UK’s homes will again be offered the opportunity to pay their respects during the two minute silence on 11th November.
Croston Care Home Marks Remembrance Day with Intergenerational Art Project Residents at a care home in Croston marked a socially distanced Remembrance Day by receiving some artwork from a local pre-school. Croston Park care home, based on Town Road, was sent some specially designed Armistice Day-themed art from the children at Croston Pre-School. The residents would normally be able to mark the occasion with a visit to a local church or memorial, however this year, plans had to change due to COVID-19 restrictions. The pre-school wanted to help the home to make Remembrance Day special for the older generation and created some artwork around the theme of poppies to be displayed in the home on 11 November. Debbie Lewis, home manager at Croston Park care home, said: “Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day are very important to our residents and we wanted to make sure they were marked appropriately, despite the lockdown regulations.
“We’d like to thank Croston Pre-School for sending over such fantastic artwork. The residents love looking at it and think the children are very talented.” Marjorie Baxendale, 95, resident at Croston Park, said: “It’s lovely that the children took the time to make us pictures for Remembrance Day. When we can all meet up again, it would be nice to share some of our stories with them too. We always enjoy having a chat with the youngsters.” Janet Williams, manager at Croston Pre-School, said: “We value such activities across the generations very highly, particularly in these difficult times when many children are not able to meet with the wider family. “Remembrance is a huge part of our cultural capital and the beauty of the poppy really helps the children develop an appreciation of the special people who have helped to keep us safe.”
Surrey Care Home Residents Hand Make ‘Poppy Cascade’ To Mark Remembrance Sunday Residents, staff and staff family members at a Surrey care home hand-crafted a cascade of poppies to mark this year’s Remembrance Sunday. Residents living at the Huntington & Langham Estate in Hindhead, along with staff and their family members, have been busy in the last few weeks making more than 200 model poppies to create an eye-catching art installation that will serve as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices so many have made during the two World Wars and other conflicts. Installed on the 4th November alongside the iconic silhouette of a First World War soldier, the 10ft by 15ft display honoured those who died, with many of those living in the home having vivid memories of the wartime period. The poppies featured in the memorial have been handcrafted by both residents and staff using a variety of techniques. Some have been laminated from paintings, while many have been fashioned using the bottom of a Coca-Cola bottle, which served to form the perfect shape of a poppy.
Charlie Hoare, Director of the Huntington & Langham Estate commented: “Remembrance Sunday is always an important occasion here on the estate. Many of the people living here experienced the war, with even more living through the aftermath, including rationing and the post-war rebuilding process. Consequently, we’re keenly aware of the sacrifice of previous generations, and we want to do what we can to honour their memory.” He continued: “More than twenty residents and many more staff members have taken part in some from or other so it really was a team effort. Everyone wanted to contribute where possible – and we’re delighted with the result.” Charlie Hoare added: “We’re so privileged to be able to hear first-hand stories from the war, and it’s important for those who experienced it to be able to talk about it if they wish, particularly if they lost someone close to them. Taking an active involvement in remembering those who have gone before helps to keep their memories alive and this is something we’re very keen to encourage.”
Colten Care Homes Decorated with Hundreds of Remembrance Poppies Residents of Colten Care homes across the south have handcrafted hundreds of model poppies to put on display for Remembrance season. Relatives, care staff and community contacts also spent time fashioning the poignant tributes by knitting, crocheting and felting red fabric and sewing on black buttons. An appeal for friends and families to lend support resulted in more than 900 wool and felt poppies forming a prominent cascade outside Abbey View in Sherborne, a landmark easily visible to passers-by. Viewing the sea of red, 90-year-old Abbey View resident Captain Gerald Blackburn spoke of his pride in helping with the display. “I was particularly touched while watching the poppy display grow as we have worked on it over the last few weeks,” said Gerald, who joined the Merchant Navy aged 16 in 1946 and quickly rose to gain a Masters Certificate. “It’s a very special thing we have done and deeply touching to know that even during Covid times we are able to remember the lives of the fallen. I’m very proud of the display.” Among the contributions from the community were felt poppies made by
Sherborne Beaver Scouts and nine poppies knitted by eight-year-old Grace Turner and her family. In an accompanying letter, Grace wrote: “Dear Abbey View, here are some poppies for your Remembrance day display, knitted by myself, my mummy and my grandma. Best wishes to you all.” All 21 Colten Care homes in Dorset, Hampshire, Wiltshire and Sussex marked Remembrance with poppy displays and physically distanced gatherings including services and wartime poetry readings. Diane Duffield, Companionship Team Leader at Abbey View, said: “Remembrance is always an important occasion for us as so many of our residents have childhood memories of the war and its aftermath “Preparing our display was a lovely project to be part of. Our residents really enjoy their arts and crafts and the poppy making activity certainly prompted many conversations and recollections.” Complementing the displays of poppies, Colten Care homes have also been fundraising for the main annual poppy appeal run by the Royal British Legion.
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Care Homes In Turmoil, But Experiences Save Lives By Benedict Ireland, Head of Experience at Splendid UNLIMITED, part of UNLIMITED (www.unlimitedgroup.com) Before Covid-19 struck the UK, the care sector was in turmoil. A fragile care infrastructure for the provision of adult social care has long been exacerbated by a shortfall in the number of staff available within the sector. The impact of Covid-19 shone a light on the shortcomings – it’s incredibly hard to maintain a safe environment, and even more difficult to allay the fears of those in care and also their families, when family visits aren’t possible, and contact remains sparse. While some hasty measures were taken to offset some of the impacts, as a nation we’re a long way from being able to respond to the warning given by the CQC in 2017, when they announced ‘…services had to think beyond their traditional boundaries and reflect the experience of the people they support.’ With ongoing lockdowns looming as ever-present threats, how do we prepare, whilst also ensuring that we plug some of the gaps in that experience? Usually, solutions lie in a better understanding of the challenges and better identification of what’s required. There are two glaring issues – the lack of staff, and a huge gap in the way families, patients and carers are served. If we look to other sectors and see how they responded to the sudden shift in behaviour, the obvious stand out is the shift in ‘channel’, moving physical services to digital channels, where possible. On the high street, banks have rapidly enhanced services to allow for remote access to accounts, increasing features and functionality of their software, and have seen an enormous spike in the acceptance and usage of digital services. This behaviour will continue. In general practice, software provider iPlato added video consultations as a service to their My GP app, and
were rapidly followed by competitor app Patient Access in doing the same. Again, these services will continue beyond the current pandemic. Cera Care’s recent digital-lead engagement app demonstrates how families, their loved ones, and the carers can be more ‘connected’ throughout the care process. Through the app, families are notified the minute the carer arrives, and receive a full report of the visit the same day – a vast improvement over sector norms. The family can also message the carer and make bespoke requests, such as reading a particular article from the news or reminding them that it’s a granddaughter’s birthday soon. But this doesn’t solve the lack of carers. With unemployment numbers rising, retraining workers to become carers is a route that the Department of Health & Social Care’s CARE service is banking on. Their digital-lead service enables candidates to register interest, undergo DBS checks, and complete their training and enter the market as a carer. It’s probably not an overstatement to imagine that combined, the improvement in service provided through these and similar initiatives will not only improve but in some instances save lives. The outcome of these initiatives should lead to more staff, better care, better engagement, and better working practices. It also demonstrates the power that digital channels can have, especially in today’s fractured and uncertain landscape. When we look at extending the data which can be gathered through digitising services, there is scope to identify trends in behaviour or health through analysis of the data provided in care visit reports. Now, more than ever, the care sector and businesses within it are going to be increasingly under pressure to perform, and under increasing scrutiny. We need to consider what can be done. We need to think about the role of all channels, especially digital. We need to revisit the processes we use to deliver care, and step back to identify where we can change those processes to better provide care under Covid-19. And most of all, we need to have a human understanding and remind ourselves that in every aspect of the services we provide – it’s about people. Those who care, those being cared for, the family members and everybody involved in the provision of care. That is the challenge of the upcoming months.
Q4 To See Record Healthcare Investment Volumes Despite COVID-19 The UK healthcare property market is set to see record quarterly transaction levels for both M&A and fixed income in Q4 2020 with investment volumes in 2020 YTD already 25% higher than last year, according to global property adviser Knight Frank. Total investment volumes into UK healthcare property in 2019 totalled £1.76 billion, whilst investment volumes in the sector so far in 2020 total almost £2.24 billion. With Q4 set to see the completion of a number of prominent and high value deals, Knight Frank predicts that the final quarter of 2020 will witness the highest ever quarterly transaction levels in the UK healthcare real estate sector. High-profile healthcare property deals that are on the market and in the pipeline include England’s largest mental healthcare provider The Priory Group (£1.5bn), mental health services provider Elysium Healthcare (£900m), children’s care and education services provider Keys Group (£250m) in addition to another £3bn of specialist (mental health, learning disability) providers and £1bn of broader healthcare property transactions. This comes as healthcare property has seen surging interest from
investors both in the traditional sectors such as care homes and private hospitals, in addition to rising demand for more specialist assets and providers such as mental health, learning disability and children’s services including children’s homes, foster care and schools. Julian Evans, Head of Healthcare at Knight Frank, said: “With a number of high-profile and large portfolios in the healthcare property market being brought to market, we are predicting record sales taking place in Q4 2020. There are currently two distinct investment silos: institutional capital is chasing social care fixed income such as real estate and private equity and infrastructure funds are seeking specialist sector companies. “The COVID-19 pandemic has shone a light on the UK healthcare sector, both demonstrating the very best of the UK’s healthcare sector, with outstanding collaboration between the private sector, social care sector and NHS at this time of need, in addition to unfortunately highlighting the lack of investment by successive governments into the sector, and therefore the urgent need to prioritise preventative and crisis funding.
“As such, the investment appetite for healthcare real estate remains strong, both in more traditional assets such as care home developments as well as the increasingly popular mental health services sector. This demand is only strengthened by the limited supply within the healthcare market combined with the awareness of the ever-growing demographic fundamentals for these assets which are driving the sector. As a result, there will undoubtedly be a flight to quality as investors seek defensive healthcare assets and we anticipate that investment into the sector will continue to rise, from a broad church of domestic and overseas investors.” Knight Frank’s predictions about record healthcare volumes follows the firm’s findings that the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for investment and innovation in the UK healthcare property sector, having accelerated trends that will lead to closures of healthcare properties, including care homes, that are no longer fit for purpose, resulting in a significant national shortfall of bed provision.
A Person-Centred Approach to Mobility and Hygiene Maintaining a level of independence and involvement in activities of daily living for those in your care can be a challenge. Using the Mobility Gallery™ assessment tool (figure 1) allows you to understand a person’s functional mobility, the level of assistance required, the risk to the caregiver and the importance to stimulate functional mobility.
Figure 1 © 2020 Arjo
Person centred care places the resident at the centre of all we do. This assessment tool helps to optimise the mobility of the resident, improve dignified care and reduces the risk of injury to both the resident and the
equipment • Restricted spaces • Lack of education and training for care skills To mitigate these risks, evidence has demonstrated that education alone is insufficient. Use of the right equipment improves caregiver safety and reduces injury-related costs for the organisation. Understanding functional mobility, combined with selection of appropriate equipment to support your resident and caregiver can assist in addressing this challenge. To learn more about Arjo's solution contact 08457 342000 or see the advert on the facing page.
caregiver. Promoting mobility is the driving force behind The Positive Eight™ philosophy shown in figure 2. When looking at specific hygiene tasks, needs differ significantly across care settings and need to encompass both physical and cognitive capabilities determined through individual assessment. Assisted hygiene solutions are designed to allow you to work in an ergonomically sound position, to reduce the risk of injury, whilst supporting a beneficial interaction with your resident. Caregiver safety is paramount, and factors, which affect the risk of musculoskeletal injury, should be considered, such as: • The number, type and functional mobility levels of residents being transferred or participating in hygiene routines • The inadequacy (or absence) of suitable
Figure 2 © 2020 Arjo
ISO/TR 12296:2012 Ergonomics — Manual Handling of People in the Healthcare Sector, 2012 Matz M, 2019. Patient Handling and Mobility Assessments: A White Paper Second Edition
Manchester Care Home Support Breast Cancer Awareness Day Colleagues at HC One’s Barton Brook care home joined in with breast cancer awareness day to raise money. The staff at the Manchester care home work pink in honour of the breast cancer awareness day, some of the Residents joined in too. The home held this special day at Monton House at Barton Brook. The staff and Residents played games, had a raffle and there was even a pink cake made by Chris the Assistant Chef from the kitchen. The cake was served with fruit punch. The home wants to say a big ‘thank-you’ to everyone in Monton
House and around the care home for their support. The event raised £376 for the breast cancer charity. Monton House staff chose this charity in support of their much loved General Manager, Lynn Kaye, who herself is a survivor. The home wants to send much love to Lynn for all her support over the years. Colleagues at the home said “we will miss her as she has decided it is time for herself to retire. Enjoy your Retirement Lynn xx”.
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£300 Million Reclaimed By UK Families Wrongly Denied NHS Care Funding For Elderly
Lisa Morgan, Partner and Head of the Nursing Care team at Hugh James (www.hughjames.com)
Over £300 million has been successfully reclaimed by families who were wrongly charged for the NHS care of their elderly relatives since 2012* shows research by Top 100 UK law firm, Hugh James. Hugh James’ analysis shows that individual families have each secured an average of £30,000 in successful claims, but tens of thousands of families are still due redress**. The disparity between reimbursements across UK regions highlights a worrying postcode lottery, with significant variations in decisions around eligibility and amount of redress awarded meaning some families are left completely out of pocket merely because their relative lived in a particular area. Families who are denied funding to pay for the care home fees of their loved ones are often forced to take the costly and heart-breaking step of
selling their homes to foot the bill – care bills can cost up to £6,000 a month. The burden of paying for care is also adding to the concerns of families worried about the risks of Covid for their elderly relatives. Many families remain either unaware of their legal rights and the support available to them or their loved ones are wrongly assessed by the NHS as being ineligible for state support. Hugh James explains if someone needs care home support because of long-term physical or mental health needs, they or their families can apply for funding from the NHS Continuing Healthcare funding scheme. This funding should be provided to all who need it, regardless of their wealth. However, with around 40% of Britain’s 440,000 care home residents self-funding their care, thousands of families in England and Wales are likely to be wrongly paying out themselves. Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCG’s) in England assess eligibility for care funding using a checklist developed by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). Health boards in Wales make assessments based on a Government framework. Critics of the assessment say that it is far too easy for CCGs to deny care funding as the wording used is too subjective This often leads to decisions that individuals are ‘not ill enough’ to receive funding (full explanation of funding criteria is in the attached background note). According to Hugh James, over the last decade, many people who should have been eligible for funding have been wrongly rejected. This has since resulted in a wave of claims, with the DHSC encouraging families to come forward in 2012. Since then, more than 50,000 cases have been reviewed but only 15,000 families have been reimbursed for the incorrect decisions made. However, the scheme is still open for patients who have received care after 2012, with more successful claims expected. The claims process is a lengthy and complex one, which can put a huge strain on patients and their families. In some cases, delays mean
money is refunded some-time after the individual concerned has died. The success rate of claims and amount paid in redress also significantly varies across the UK. Research shows the North Cumbria CCG has paid £5.8 million in redress to 174 claimants – a success rate of 72% for claimants. In comparison, Bedfordshire CCG has only paid £260,000 to 11 claimants, at a success rate of just 4%. Hugh James adds some CCGs have outsourced the processing of these claims to third party businesses – often set up by former CCG staff. Some CCGs, including Guildford & Waverley, Hertfordshire Valleys, Nottinghamshire West, Liverpool and Swindon, have paid more in fees to these third parties than it’s paid to claimants. Lisa Morgan, Partner and Head of the Nursing Care team at Hugh James says: “Despite many obstacles, the figures show that victory is possible for families who should never have been burdened with the nursing care fees of their loved ones in the first place.” “It’s hugely disappointing to see people denied care funding – their legal right – just because they happen to live in the wrong areas. If you live in Leeds, you are likely to be treated a lot more fairly than if you live in Liverpool.” “But it’s not just thousands of families losing out. This is a cautionary tale for the health sector too - which is incurring unnecessary delays and interest fees in the recovery process because of incorrect patient assessments and a process littered with unnecessary delays.” https://www.hughjames.com/blog/how-failures-in-nhs-continuinghealthcare-assessments-led-to-tens-of-thousands-of-compensationpay-outs * The total amount awarded across England and Wales includes around £25 million of reclaimed backdated interest. ** Hugh James has produced an interactive map which shows the regional breakdown of the figures
Residents Share in a Celebration of British Summertime Older people at a city care home enjoyed a day out at the seaside and a celebration of British summertime – without stepping outside. To spark memories of childhood holidays and as a last hurrah to the end of summer, pensioners at Belleville Lodge in Edinburgh were treated to a garden celebration complete with seaside activities, fish and chips in paper bags, and a holidaythemed singalong. The dining room was decorated with Union Jack flags and staff crafted placemats made from pictures of different seaside towns across the UK. Matron Margaret Russell, Matron at Belleville Lodge in Newington, said: “We wanted to make sure our residents had the chance to go to the beach before the evenings darkened and the weather turned, and to make up for us not being able to take them out on their usual outings. “We decided to bring the beach to us, decorating the dining room with flags and celebrated a typical British summer at the seaside, which the residents remembered well. “To help spark some memories, we made placemats out of popular seaside towns, including Blackpool which was a great favourite and somewhere most of us had visited. “We had a chat about what they did at the seaside, what it felt like to be in the sea. They reminisced
about donkey rides on the beach, visiting Blackpool Tower and the famous ballroom – with lots of the ladies being fans of Strictly Come Dancing, they were very familiar with it.” The staff organised sensory activities with buckets and spades, listening to sea sounds in seashells, as well as a holiday singalong. Belleville Lodge is one of 11 bespoke care homes run by Mansfield Care which specialises in providing residents with exceptional quality of personal care geared to their needs and wishes. It is a beautiful stone villa set within award-winning private walled gardens, with space for up to 25 residents. Activities at Mansfield Care homes are led by residents’ wishes, with each home having a wellbeing coordinator to plan social activities. Favourite activities for residents at Belleville Lodge include trips to the barge at Ratho and nearby Salisbury Arms bistro. Margaret added: “It was great to have a holiday atmosphere, especially since trips haven’t been possible. “We always aim to have different activities and themed days happening to keep our residents entertained and busy. Last week, we had a talk about famous artists from around the world, and this week we’re having a Royal Family themed afternoon tea. “Our themed days are always popular with residents, it keeps them busy and ensures they have something to look forward to every week.”
A Guide To Living with Dementia and Incontinence As age is the most significant risk factor for dementia there is naturally expected to be a growing number of people with dementia as the population ages. Let’s look at some of the statistics • It is estimated that in the UK, at least three to six million people, therefore 5-10% of the population, suffer from urinary incontinence • In 2015, the number of people with dementia was approximately 10.5 million in Europe. The number of affected people is predicted to increase to 13.4 million by 2030 and to 18.7 million by 2050 • There were an estimated 44.4 million people in the world diagnosed with dementia in 2013 and this figure is predicted to rise to 75.6 million by 2030 and to 135.5 million by 2050 What is clear from these statistics across the UK, Europe and the rest of the world is that the situation is only going to worsen not improve. And it’s not just an older person’s problem as younger people can also develop dementia. Although it is less common, it is important to avoid associating dementia uniquely with the older people and overlooking the many younger people who also experience it. Ontex understands that a review of numerous studies has demonstrated a correlation between increasing age and an increased preva-
lence of urinary incontinence and suggests that age is an independent risk factor for urinary incontinence. Alex Shaw, Marketing Manager UK & Ireland for Ontex comments, “Ontex believes that dementia is not an inevitable consequence of ageing and neither is incontinence. Equally, incontinence is not an inevitable consequence of dementia, however in cases of advanced dementia, where sufferers are completely dependent, incontinence will unfortunately be inevitable.”
a sign near the toilet entrance, a toilet seat or rail and things that might help at night such as a commode. • Keep continence pads in the bathroom and bedroom.
HOW ONTEX CAN HELP
To be continent you must be able to: 1. Recognise the need to pass urine 2. Identify the correct places to do so 3. Reach the correct place 4. Hold on until you get there 5. Pass urine once you are there If someone has a problem with any of these issues they are at risk of becoming incontinent. A person with dementia is more likely to have problems going to the toilet or suffer from incontinence than a person of the same age without dementia if they are unable to follow these five important steps.
Ontex specialises in products for continence management and has designed its products ranges around discretion and giving confidence to the user. Both the iD and Lille product range covers all types and levels of incontinence for males and females of all ages. Approved by Dermatologists, the iD and Lille product ranges covers all types and levels of incontinence for males and females of all ages. The products deliver ultra-fast liquid absorption and keep liquid locked in the pad, as well as providing anti-leakage protection, odour control and breathable material for added comfort.
HOW TO HELP SOMEONE IN THIS SITUATION
THE NEW iD PANTS RANGE
THE FIVE CONTINENCE ACTIONS
• Be supportive and remember that the person may feel embarrassed and upset as they may not realise they have been incontinent • Look for the non-verbal signs that someone needs to go to the toilet • Try to offer prompts and reminders every few hours to use the loo • If someone has an accident they may try to hide wet clothing or bedding. Discreetly deal with it to avoid further embarrassment. • Try to encourage the person to drink six to eight glasses of fluid per day as it’s really important to stay hydrated • It’s also helpful to encourage a healthy, balanced duet with plenty of fibre • Consider practical things you can do in the person’s home such as placing
The new look pants range now offers extra skin benefits by incorporating an improved top sheet with a mix of camomile, known for its soothing and calming properties, Vitamin E with antioxidant properties and zinc oxide, a natural purifying mineral component to help protect the skin. For more information call our product Advice line telephone number: 0800 389 6185 or email: salesandmarketing@ontexglobal.com or see the advert on page 5.
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PRODUCTS AND SERVICES Why Specify a Yeoman Shield Fire Rated Door Edge Protector? When specifying for a structure, it’s important to be aware of the level of wear and tear a door can be exposed to in a public building. Door edges, in particular, can be easily damaged or worn down by regular use – which can then render them non-compliant for fire safety regulations. To ensure that a project remains compliant, an architect can specify durable door edge protectors to add durability and longevity to doors. Not only will specifying edge protectors increase the longevity of doors, they will enhance the cost efficiency of a project by reducing maintenance demands and the possibility of having to replace unsafe fire doors. Yeoman Shield fire rated Door Edge Protectors are unique with a 2.0 mm Vinylac outer and a specially formulated 9mm PVCu reinforced core. They are FD30 (1/2 hour) and FD60 (1 hour) rated
with intumescent seals that are in accordance to the fire door’s specification. Fire rated Door Edge Protectors are suitable for commercial applications such as residential blocks, schools and hospitals etc. Door Edge Protectors can also be specified with different fire seals, from a plain intumescent fire seal to a brush, fire and smoke variant. Of course, for doors that are non-fire rated in an architect’s project Yeoman Shield also provide quality edge protectors without seals to enhance durability and reduce wear. Source a full range of door protection panels and kick plates from a single supplier by choosing Yeoman Shield. Our door protection panels and kick plates offer the same lasting durability and quality as our door edge protectors. See page 12 or visit www.yeomanshield.com for details.
Care sector employers looking to reward hard working staff for their efforts during lockdown have helped double new business at one of the UK’s leading gifting and engagement companies. Appreciate Group saw the sharp rise in demand from new clients between April and August as firms looked to thank employee efforts during the pandemic. The year-on-year increase was particularly high in the care sector – where many employees remained in the workplace throughout lockdown. Appreciate Group’s business products include Love2shop gift cards, e-gift cards and vouchers all of which companies can use to reward their employees and customers. Love2shop can be redeemed with many of the nation’s leading retailers and leisure providers. Frank Creighton, Director of Business Development at Appreciate Group said: “Employees up and down the country have needed to adapt to new and different ways of working during these challenging times, be
that working from home or abiding by social distancing rules in the workplace. “These challenges have also led to an increasing number of employers finding new ways to say thank you to colleagues for their efforts during lockdown, including digital rewards.” “Recognition gestures such as gift cards can go a long way in making staff feel that their employer values their commitment. Many companies will need these hard-working employees as they continue to deal with, and emerge from, the challenges of COVID-19.” Employers are able to use the tax-free Trivial Benefits Allowance to reward staff with gift cards up to the value of £50. For more information on tax-free gifting for employees, visit: www.appreciate.co.uk/tax-free-gifts-foremployees/ or email Alex Speed, Head of Business Development, at Appreciate Group alex.speed@appreciategroup.co.uk.
CareZips Dignity Trousers ™
CareZips™ preserve dignity and privacy of people receiving care during diaper changes. CareZips™ make diaper changes easier and faster, reducing workload, saving efforts, and saving time! CareZips™ help to deliver better standards of care! Fitted with unique 3-zip fastening system, the CareZips™ make changing of incontinence diapers more dignified and comfortable for the patients and easier and faster for the carers. CareZips™ feature 3 strategically positioned zips, 2 of which run from the waist to the knees on both sides of the body. The 3rd zip goes from the inside of one knee up to the crotch and down to the second knee on the inside of the other leg. This zip facilitates total opening of the trousers at the crotch during diaper changes. The 3-zip system ensures fast and easy access to the abdomen and crotch without having to undress the patients or pull their trousers down.
CareZips™ are suitable for men and women. They are available in 7 sizes for perfect fit. CareZips™ are soft and wrinkle resistant with stretch and give for extra comfort. Practical, durable, washable and non-iron, the CareZips™ trousers are the perfect choice for daily use. Contact Win Health Medical Ltd - 01835 864866 www.win-health.com or see the advert on page 3.
New Scale for Mobility-Impaired Residents Could Reduce ‘Risk of Injury to Staff and Demand From Care Sector Firms Rewarding Staff In Residents’ and ‘Costs to Healthcare’ Lockdown Drives Surge In Recognition Products
Euroservice Trolley Manufacturers celebrating 40 years of experience in the sale and manufacture of wooden trolleys for the catering trade, Euroservice trolley manufacturers have now acquired a worldwide reputation and still offer an extensive /comprehensive range of top quality wooden trolleys manufactured in the UK. Top quality is a priority in the production of all of our products and Euroservice are specialists in the manufacture of sturdy and beautiful looking trolleys which will grace any environment from the small privately owned restaurant to the splendid 3 to 5
star hotels, resorts and Residential homes. Euroservice’s excellence in the manufacture of wooden trolleys is backed by a personal, efficient and friendly service second to none. We are always busy researching the needs of the market and launch new ranges according to market demands. Whatever your needs you can be assured that Euroservice can cater for them and we look forward to your call. Freephone: 0800 917 7943 www.euroservice-uk.com sales@euroservice-uk.com
C & S Seating Postural Management C & S Seating has been providing postural control equipment to hospitals, nursing homes, hospices and medical equipment services nationwide since 1991. With 9 different sizes of T-Rolls and Log Rolls in a removable and machine washable, waterproof Titex or Soft Knit material. These rolls are used to control posture and position of the body in either supine or side lying. Our Knee & Leg support wedges are available in 2 sizes. C & S Seating is the sole manufacturer of the Alternative Positioning Support (APS) system. Ideal when more control of the abducted lower limb is required (See photo) which has
removable side cushions and middle pommel; this is available in small or large. Our popular range of Soft Knit covers in a choice of 5 vibrant colours provide a softer alternative that fit easily over our standard waterproof rolls. It is recommended you seek professional advice to select the correct product depending on your needs. Contact us on 01424 853331 or visit us at www.cands-seating.co.uk to request or download a brochure, pricelist or order form, request an individualised quotation, speak to an advisor or to place an order. See the advert on page 10.
A new chair scale with a lifting seat, believed to be the first of its kind, will ‘reduce risk of injury to residents’ and ‘support the musculoskeletal health of staff’ when weighing individuals with limited mobility. By making the weighing process easier, the new device could also ‘reduce costs to healthcare’’ according to the manufacturer. The M-250, available now from scale manufacturer Marsden, is a chair scale that features a seat that rises and lowers to help a resident get into, and out of, a sitting position. Marsden says it has been introduced in response to requests from customers for easier ways to weigh residents who cannot stand unaided. The tilting seat base, operated by a handheld remote control, rises to the resident and then gently lowers them into the seat. Once weighing is complete, it rises slowly to assist them from sitting to a near-standing position. The new weighing scale is Class III Approved, meaning it is legally suitable for weighing individuals for medical purposes. It provides an accurate weight reading to the nearest 100g, and has a capacity of 250kg. The seat is slightly wider than standard chair scales, meaning it can accommodate larger residents. Development of the new weighing scale began in 2017, with input provided by care homes, back care specialists and other industry experts, including medical device design house PD-M. The scale was developed alongside the Patient Transfer Scale, Marsden’s transfer board with built-in weighing scale that was launched in late 2018.
“The M-250 is designed to make weighing residents with limited mobility more comfortable, less stressful, and potentially even reduce the time and number of staff it typically takes to weigh these individuals,” said Dave Smith, Marketing Director at Marsden. “We want to see it reducing costs to healthcare too, through quicker, easier weighing processes and less risk of injury to care staff.” Mark Coates, Operations Director at Marsden, said: “The biggest challenge of weighing residents with limited mobility is the time it takes, the stress on the individual and the amount of effort required by staff. “When developing the scale we had to consider the benefit to the resident and the member of staff. What’s safest and easiest for the healthcare professional without compromising comfort for the resident? “Our finished product has been tested by individuals with varying levels of mobility, and with both one and two members of staff. Through this testing we found that effort required by staff to help the resident out of the seat was greatly reduced compared to a standard chair scale or wheelchair. “Plus, we’ve focused on reducing risk of injury to residents as well as supporting the musculoskeletal health of healthcare staff when weighing those with limited mobility.” “We’re looking forward to seeing the M-250 make a real difference in care homes in the UK, and around the world.” The M-250 Chair Scale with Stand Assist is available to order now on the Marsden website. www.marsdenweighing.co.uk or email sales@marsdengroup.co.uk
NEW Adaptawear Clothing Website Helping Independent & Assisted Dressing Adaptawear has recently launched their NEW and improved website making it even easier for customers to browse, buy and shop online. Benefits of New Website • New Adaptawear logo – easier and cleaner to read • Faster and simpler to buy online through your mobile, tablet or PC • Improved navigation to relevant collections & categories: ladies wear, menswear and lifestyle and comfort • Updated and enhanced product photography • Easier & additional payment opportunities: • Secure & reliable • Ability for customers to set up account online so you can track orders and make it easier for repeat or new orders • Improved order tracking functionality • Integrated customer reviews Adaptawear provides adaptive clothing that are specially designed to making dressing easier and the elderly and disabled; both for independent dressing and assisted dressing. Adaptawear clothes are ideal for arthritis, stroke, Parkinson, incontinence and dementia
sufferers as well as people of all ages who struggle with fastenings, buttons and zips. If you are a healthcare or care home worker or Occupational Therapist and struggling to dress your patients during this Covid-19 pandemic; then take a look at our range of Adaptawear adapted clothing for both men and women CARER OFFER: SAVE 10% Do go and visit online at www.adaptawear.com to buy adapted clothing online. Carer readers please quote CR10 for 10% discount off your first order.
Antimicrobial Contract Fabrics for Added Reassurance Skopos has recently launched a new sub-brand, Skopos Pro-tect Plus, as a marker for all Skopos products offered with an antimicrobial finish. Skopos has been offering antimicrobial fabrics for over 15 years, however the new sub-brand helps to clearly identify this offer to our customers, at a time where extra reassurance within contract interiors has never been more relevant. Within Pro-tect Plus Skopos customers have a choice of fabrics for different end uses; Antimicrobial drapery fabrics, Antimicrobial woven upholstery fabrics, Antimicrobial faux leather and vinyls. The upholstery fabrics offer includes luxury velvet, printed fabrics, vinyls and a large range of woven collections, mostly waterproof, soil and stain resist, perfect for caring interiors. Many of our drapery and bedding fabrics can be finished with an antimicrobial treatment, so
please ask. Choices include print basecloths, plain and woven designs. All antimicrobial fabrics are flame retardant and tested to the high standards required for contract interiors. Skopos antimicrobial fabrics have bacteriostatic, viral-reducing and anti-fungal properties. Fabrics are not seen as a beneficial host for Sars Cov-2 even without antimicrobial treatment, however including this extra benefit viruses and bacteria are greatly reduced. Free samples of our fabrics are available online or via our customer services team: sales@skopos.co.uk. www.skoposfabrics.com
THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 29 | PAGE 23
How Carers Can Keep Their Spirits Up This Christmas Imogen Clarke is a Creative Writing graduate and freelance writer who specialises in topics such as mental health and elderly care. When she is not reading or writing, she can usually be found with her dog, Charlie. Christmas is typically a joyous time of the year where you can spend time with loved ones and enjoy the festivities, but thanks to the pandemic, many are worried about how their Christmas will be impacted. And this time of year is already stressful enough for people who are dealing with the demands of caregiving. Caring for a loved one can be extremely rewarding, but it is also hard work. Taking care of the needs of someone else can be physically and mentally draining and you must make time for yourself now and then. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to ensure that you are happy and healthy over the coming months. Here are some ideas to help carers keep their spirits up this Christmas.
TAKE A BREAK FROM CAREGIVING Caring for someone is challenging and you are likely to devote a lot of your time tending to your loved one’s needs. As a carer, you will become an essential part of your loved one’s life, but it’s important to pay attention to your health and wellbeing as well. Expert care providers Helping Hands explain that “Caring for another person can be physically and mentally demanding and the emotional strain can take its toll.” Everyone needs some time for themselves and you shouldn’t feel guilty about needing a break from caregiving occasionally. Fortunately, a respite carer can step in and relieve you of your caregiving duties for anywhere from a few hours to a few weeks. This will allow you to catch up with family and friends, go away on holiday, or simply enjoy some relaxation time alone. You will then be able to return to your loved one feeling refreshed and ready to face the demands of caregiving.
CONNECT WITH LOVED ONES The festive season is often associated with social events, group meals, and lots of family fun. That said, many people feel lonely at this time of the year and Christmas can be extremely isolating for carers, even more so thanks to the restrictions of COVID-19. Combat feelings of loneliness this Christmas by staying in touch with family and friends. Make an effort to attend family events and maintain an active social life, while remembering to be sensible and respectful of the COVID-19 restrictions. Remember that you can rely on respite care services to get a break from caregiving when you need it. You can also use apps like WhatsApp and Skype to connect with loved ones who you are not able to meet in person.
DECORATE YOUR HOUSE The pandemic may have halted many social events this year and may also affect upcoming Christmas
events such as markets, panto and light switch-ons. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t still bring the festivities to your home! Decorating your house with Christmas decor is a great way to improve your mood and get into the festive spirit. If you live with your loved one, then decorating your home together can be a fun Christmas activity. Turn your home into a winter wonderland with a Christmas tree, tinsel, fairy lights, artificial snow, and other Christmas decorations. You could even buy some art supplies and make unique handmade Christmas decorations. Doing arts and crafts is a fun way to spend quality time with your loved one and improve your own mood and wellbeing. You can search online for inspiration and enjoy getting creative with your decorations. Watch Christmas films Christmas films are uplifting and create feelings of warmth and happiness. In fact, research has found that watching Christmas movies can reduce feelings of stress and anxiety. Studies have also discovered that watching festive films with someone else can help strengthen your relationship. Some classic feel-good Christmas movies to watch with your loved one include Home Alone, Elf, Miracle on 34th Street, and The Muppet Christmas Carol. Perhaps plan one evening a week where you and your loved one watch a festive film together in the lead up to Christmas.
SUMMARY We understand that Christmas can be a tough time for carers, especially if you are unable to see your loved ones. And with all the uncertainty surrounding this year, it can be difficult to get into the festive spirit. But everyone needs some time for themselves and carers should enjoy a well-deserved break from caregiving and focus on their own needs over the festive season. Try the above suggestions to lift your spirits and help you start looking forward to Christmas.
SOURCES ‘Respite Care’, Helping Hands, https://www.helpinghandshomecare.co.uk/home-care-services/respite-care/ ‘Christmas can be isolating for young carers – they need time to be children’, Loughborough University, https://www.lboro.ac.uk/news-events/comment/christmas-can-be-isolating-for-young-carers/ ‘Brilliant Christmas Events in the UK’, Design My Night, https://www.designmynight.com/uk/brilliant-christmas-eventsin-the-uk ‘Christmas DIY: cracking Christmas decorations you can make yourself’, Closer, https://closeronline.co.uk/family/news/diy-christmas-decorations/ ‘Expert claims watching Christmas films all year round is good for your health’, Entertainment Daily, https://www.entertainmentdaily.co.uk/news/expert-claims-watching-christmas-films-all-year-round-is-good-for-yourhealth/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CChristmas%20decorating%20will%20spike%20dopamine,a%20feel%2Dgood%20hormone.%E2%80 %9D&text=Watching%20Christmas%20films%20can%20also%20reduce%20stress%20and%20anxiety.,shift%20that%20can%20 produce%20happiness.
Keeping a Close Eye on the Health of Care Home Residents The Docobo telehealth project was initially piloted for six months in two care homes in Maidstone, Kent. In the first three months, it resulted in a 32 per cent reduction in hospital admissions, a 25 per cent reduction in 999 calls, a 67 per cent reduction in 111 calls and a 44 per cent reduction in all GP contact. As a result of this success, it is now running in four care homes, with three of the homes in Maidstone and one in Tonbridge. The project was paused during the first wave of COVID-19, but resumed and extended in September (2020). Using a Docobo telehealth solution, staff at the care homes carry out simple health checks with residents each day and record these via a Docobo app. This system is closely monitored by the Complex Care Team at Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust (KCHFT) which can instantly see if a resident’s health is stable or deteriorating. The team can then immediately step in with the most appropriate action, which might be as simple as carrying out increased observations to monitor a patient more closely, or tweaking a patient’s medication. Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust (KCHFT) Project Manager Andy Platt said: “We extended the project because the clinical team at KCHFT and staff at the first two care homes established an excellent relationship and a new way of working, which resulted in improved outcomes for the care home residents. “The result from the trial showed a clear
reduction in unplanned hospital admissions and contact with emergency care services, which is vital for these key NHS services, and we expect the level of reductions we are seeing will remain the same, as the number of care homes we support, increases. “Together with the excellent results we have achieved, it’s also important to realise how using this is benefitting care home residents. Their health is being closely monitored and any deterioration in their health is detected much quicker than before, resulting in spending less time with GPs and in hospital and more time feeling comfortable in their homes. A visit to A&E can be stressful and unsettling.” The project has seen KCHFT and care home staff monitoring residents with longterm conditions, such as heart failure, diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The care home staff do simple healthcare checks with residents each day and ask condition specific questions, such as have they felt dizzy, short of breath or more tired than normal. They record this information using the Docobo app, which is installed on a tablet. Andy said: “The Complex Care Team at KCHFT closely monitors the data trends and will quickly detect if a resident’s health is deteriorating. We have set up parameters for each patient and if their observations fall outside of these, an alert is sent to the on duty complex care nurse who would then respond to the alert. “The project is reducing pressures on urgent care services. It also means the
Visioncall Eyes Growth Following Restructure
Eye care specialist Visioncall is focussing on growing its operations across the UK following a restructuring process designed to improve its clinical service. Visioncall is one of the UK’s leading providers of eye health services
to care homes and has had to adapt its operating model to facilitate growth in a market heavily impacted by Covid-19. The restructure consolidated managerial, administrative, bookings, and HR roles to the company’s Cambuslang base. Head office will act as the nexus of the hub and spoke model of operations with lead optometrists and dispensing opticians focussing on the delivery and standard of care. Three new regional lead optometrist roles and three lead dispensing optician positions have been created to provide deeper and broader coverage south of the border. Michelle Le Prevost, Managing Director at Visioncall, led the restructuring programme. She said: “Covid-19 has had an immeasurable impact on businesses across the country and around the world, and few have been as hard as our partners and patients in the care home sector. It became clear very quickly that we would have to adapt our operations significantly to be able to continue our person-focused eye care, which – while difficult – gave us the capacity to look at our broader business operations and adapt for the future.
Complex Care Team can focus on the patients who urgently need the specialist care that they provide. “The care homes we worked with during the trial were very positive about this project and said it has resulted in their staff becoming more confident in looking after residents and carrying out basic observation checks, including blood pressure and temperature. It has helped improve their knowledge and skills.” Andy has worked on the project with colleagues Steph Rhodes, Head of Long Term Services and Lauren Warburton, Operational Manager west Kent. It has been overseen by KCHFT Medical Director Sarah Phillips. The care homes involved in the project are The Oast, Chippendayle Lodge and Eastfields, in Maidstone and Chestnut Lodge, Tonbridge. Andy ran a quality improvement (QI) project to help with the introduction of Docobo. He aimed to reduce hospital admissions, calls to 999 and GP visits, each by 10 per cent, but far surpassed this initial target. Adrian Flowerday, Managing Director and Co-founder of Docobo, said: “It’s brilliant to see the real benefits of remote monitoring for care home residents, and the fantastic stats speak for themselves. “Docobo has been working in Kent for some years now and the quality improvement route taken to develop the new way of working in care homes is something we’ve been happy to support the excellent team at Kent with. The great results are a combination of the people, process and technology coming together, so I’d like to personally thank the staff at KCHFT and the care homes for the amazing outcomes, and the fact that it helps so much during the pandemic and lockdown, is great. “ To find out more about how KCHFT is looking at what it does and seeing how it could do things better, see the trust's quality improvement (QI) website: https://qi.kentcht.nhs.uk/ “Our clinical teams are the experts in the fields and specialise in the looking after our elderly and vulnerable patients, including those with dementia and communication issues. Because of the nature of our core patient base, it’s essential that those clinical teams can focus on the implementing the highest standards of care rather than roles like processing bookings which can be done remotely. “The new operating model also allows us to be more flexible to changing markets. Care homes remain our central and core audience although as the way we each live our lives is changed, perhaps irrevocably, by Covid-19, there are opportunities to expand and innovate with new routes to market for eye health businesses like ours. “The future of the care home sector and the wider economy is uncertain, but by taking these brave steps now, we’re securing the future of our business and protecting our patients’ eye care and the improvements in quality of life that accompany clear vision.” Visioncall has been delivering person-centred eye care to the UK care home sector since 1994. Its services include home sight tests, optical dispensing and dementia-friendly eye exams. More than 50% of UK care home residents suffer with sight loss, which can increase anxiety and frustration, having knock-on effects on other aspects of an individual’s physical and mental health. To find out more about Visioncall, please visit: www.vision-call.co.uk
PAGE 24 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 29
Nutricia Welcomes Publication in Alzheimer’s & Dementia of ® the 3 Year LipiDiDiet Clinical Trial Results of Souvenaid ™ * (Fortasyn Connect) in Prodromal Alzheimer’s Disease tive of the study is to assess a change in cognition, using a number of neuropsychological tests called the NTB 5 item composite.
ABOUT THE LIPIDIDIET 3 YEAR CLINICAL TRIAL RESULTS Over 36 months (i.e. 3 years), significant reductions in decline were observed between the intervention and the control group for the NTB 5-item composite, CDR-SB (a set of tests assessing cognition & functional abilities), memory, and hippocampal, ventricular and whole brain atrophy (measured by MRI brain scans). Commenting on behalf of Nutricia, the developer of the nutritional intervention Souvenaid® (Fortasyn™Connect), Dr. Patrick Kamphuis, Senior Medical Affairs Director at Nutricia said, “These results show there is now an evidence-based nutritional option available to doctors to recommend for people with mild cognitive impairment, and furthermore the effects are both considerable in scale and long-lasting. We’re pleased to share this news with the Alzheimer’s community.”
ABOUT PRODROMAL ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE
Dr. Patrick Kamphuis
Dr. Tobias Hartmann
Nutricia, part of world-leading food, beverage and nutrition company Danone, today announced publication in the peer-reviewed journal of the Alzheimer’s Association – Alzheimer’s & Dementia – of the results after 36 months from the LipiDiDiet clinical trial, which addresses prodromal Alzheimer’s disease – the early stage of the disease, also referred to as mild cognitive impairment (MCI). This clinical trial has been evaluating the effects of a nutritional intervention (the drink Souvenaid®, containing a combination of nutrients called Fortasyn™Connect) on cognition and related measures in prodromal Alzheimer’s disease. After 36 months, the results of the trial showed this nutritional intervention slowed the decline on clinical and other measures related to cognition, function, brain atrophy, and disease progression. The results also indicate that the benefits of this intervention increased with long-term use. “36month LipiDiDiet multinutrient clinical trial in prodromal Alzheimer's disease” was published online ahead of print in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.12172. The LipiDiDiet clinical trial is being carried out by the LipiDiDiet Research Consortium made up of world leading researchers in neurology, led by Consortium Co-Ordinator and co-author Professor Dr. Tobias Hartmann, Department of Experimental Neurology, Saarland University, Germany: “Through research, we’re increasingly learning that early intervention is key, and in the LipiDiDiet study our consortium has been studying the potential long-term effects of certain nutrients on the brain of patients with prodromal Alzheimer’s Disease. The 36-month data clearly shows it’s possible to have a significant impact on the early stage of the disease. Importantly, we found the effect to be long-lasting and to improve the longer participants stayed in the trial.”
ABOUT THE LIPIDIDIET RESEARCH CONSORTIUM The LipiDiDiet Research Consortium conducting the LipiDiDiet clinical trial was established to assess the impact of nutritional lipids on neuronal and cognitive performance in aging, Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia.1 The LipiDiDiet clinical trial is the longest ever randomised, double-blind, controlled trial conducted in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). 311 people were included in the study over a period of 36 months: one group was given the nutritional intervention Souvenaid® (Fortasyn™Connect) (a 125mL once-aday drink), and a second group was given an isocaloric, same tasting, placebo control drink. The main objec-
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder. Generally, the neuropathologic features of AD begin 15 to 20 years before obvious cognitive symptoms. The prodromal stage of AD is often referred to as mild cognitive impairment (MCI) due to AD. Individuals in the prodromal AD stage will exhibit obvious short-term memory deficits. Family members will often report that the individual at the prodromal AD stage will ask the same question over again as if they had not asked it before. They may misplace items more frequently and have more difficulty learning something new. Formal memory testing will typically reveal a reduced wordlist learning curve, lower-than-expected free delayed recall, false positive intrusions on word recall, and not clueing as well on word recognition testing. Often the individual will not recall the date correctly. Language skills, working memory, and sense of direction are generally intact, but there is usually some decline in problem solving and decision-making skills.2
ABOUT SOUVENAID® (FORTASYN™CONNECT )* Souvenaid® contains a combination of nutrients, called Fortasyn™Connect, designed to meet the specific nutritional needs of people in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. These include omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (fish oil), uridine monophosphate and choline, together with phospholipids, B vitamins and other nutrients at levels difficult to achieve from normal dietary intake alone.
ABOUT NUTRICIA Since 1896, Nutricia has pioneered nutritional solutions that help people live longer, more joyful and healthier lives. Building on more than a century of research and innovation, Nutricia has harnessed the power of life-changing and life-saving nutrition to create a leading specialized nutrition portfolio that can change a health trajectory for life. With its nutritional solutions, Nutricia supports healthy growth and development during the first 1000 days and helps to address some of the world’s biggest health challenges; pre-term birth, faltering growth, food allergy, rare metabolic diseases, age-related conditions and chronic disease, such as frailty, cancer, stroke and early Alzheimer’s disease. As part of Danone, Nutricia embraces the company’s “One Planet. One Health” vision reflecting that the health of people and the health of the planet are interconnected and therefore seeks to protect and nourish both. For more information visit www.nutricia.com
REFERENCES http://www.lipididiet.eu/ https://practicalneurology.com/articles/2019-june/preclinical-prodromal-and-dementia-stagesofalzheimers-disease
Platinum Wedding Anniversary For Care Home Couple Celebrating 70 Years Together Joan Hirst and Edwin Hirst both live together at HC-One’s Larchwood care home, in Braintree, Essex. They recently celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary which is traditionally marked as platinum. They marked the day with fellow Residents at the home as well as Colleagues; everyone was wishing them a ‘happy anniversary’ all day and the couple received a card, flowers, a cake, chocolates and two bottles of fizz to enjoy. Both were delighted with their gifts. Joan, who will be celebrating her 92nd birthday tomorrow, said, “We both got married the day before my birthday so we could get double the presents!” Staff at the home also set up the lounge with a romantic dinner for two.
They had roast chicken dinner together and enjoyed a slice of cake with some cream and a tipple while listening to some music from the 1950s. Joan said she enjoyed the music, it brought back memories of the year they got married. When we got married, we had a buffet at the family home and watched the movie ‘Annie Get Your Gun’.” Edwin commented, “We enjoyed everything about the day; the gifts and the lovely meal together. Home Manager, Jade Smith, remarked, “There is going to be more celebrations tomorrow Joan’s birthday. She will definitely get double presents! We are going to put the photo taken of them in a special frame for them to keep.”
Don’t Delay Combi-Cleaning, Warns Rational Rational is warning that it’s essential for kitchen staff to follow the cleaning procedures recommended by their machine’s manufacturer in order to keep combi steamers operating safely and efficiently. The marketleader says that, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, some operators are choosing to delay cleaning in order to save money. “We are already seeing an increase in service call-outs arising from this,” says Trevor Lath, national service director of Rational UK. “It’s a problem that will be affecting all combi steamer brands,” he adds. Typically combi steamers should be cleaned every day as part of the kitchen routine. Most quality machines have self-cleaning programs that make what would be a time consuming and unpleasant chore effortless. On Rational’s new iCombi Pro the iCareSystem tells operators when they need to run the programme to clean the combi, so it minimises the use of chemicals – because it only asks for a clean when it’s necessary. The iCareSystem also deals with scale, so there’s no need for a separate water treatment system, or for expensive professional descaling. “The problem is that some operators are ignoring the iCareSystem’s alerts, on the assumption that delaying a clean and descale will save them money and won’t really do any harm,” says Lath. “This is not the case.” Deferring cleaning routines will lead to the build-up of dirt and scale, which may compromise cooking results, increase energy consumption and running costs and ultimately
lead to equipment breakdown. If a descale becomes necessary it could cost hundreds of pounds. There are additional risks: the Rational detergent cleaning tablets don’t just clean and descale the machine, they also break down fats and grease, preventing drains from blocking and subsequent kitchen floods. “At the very least, you’re looking at unwanted costs and unwanted downtime,” says Lath. “Worst case scenario, you could block drains, flood the kitchen and damage the appliance permanently.” By making the equipment unsafe, not cleaning the combi may even compromise HACCP. “The answer is simple,” says Lath. “Follow the machine’s alerts, or the manufacturer’s guidelines, and run the cleaning program when it’s required.” HACCP data available from the iCombi Pro combi-steamer and via Rational’s ConnectedCooking platform will give the operator a comprehensive summary of the combi steamer’s daily operation, including the number of cleaning programs that have been run during a specified period. RATIONAL is the leading provider in hot food preparation equipment and, with the iVario multifunctional cooking system and the iCombi Pro combi steamer, the company delivers 95% of all conventional cooking applications. Rational’s ConnectedCooking allows operators to monitor, manage and update their Rational appliances remotely, from a PC, tablet or smartphone. iKitchen is the combination of the iCombi Pro, iVario Pro and ConnectedCooking – iKitchen delivers the best kitchen management and the best cooking solutions. For information and brochures, or to find out about free Rational Live online demonstrations and webinars, call +44 (0)1582 480388, freephone 0800 389 2944 or visit www.rational-online.com
THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 29 | PAGE 25
CATERING FOR CARE
Malnutrition Matters
By Lesley Carter, Programme Lead, The Malnutrition Task Force, and Dr Trevor Smith, President of BAPEN
BAPEN1 and the Malnutrition Task Force2, came together again earlier this month to run the third UK Malnutrition Awareness Week3 - #UKMAW2020. This is an important week in the nutritional calendar as it highlights national efforts to raise awareness of the causes and consequences of malnutrition for more vulnerable, older people, and for those with disease-related risks of malnutrition in the UK. The care home sector is under exceptional and extraordinary amounts of pressure and managers are having to finding new and innovative ways of working to keep everyone safe. It is now even more important that nutrition remains a priority. There are many challenges; we already know that 30-42% of people who were admitted into a care home setting pre COVID-19 were already malnourished or at a higher risk. New admissions will likely be even more vulnerable. Residents may be admitted recovering from COVID-19, others may have experienced a deterioration of their physical condition during the lockdown in their own homes, making them unable to cope independently. People living with dementia may experience more rapidly advancing symptoms, family carers may be finding it more difficult to cope with less available domiciliary care, and therefore may be seeking admission to residential care. There are grave concerns about the nutritional status of older people who are already resident in care homes, whose lives have been changed dramatically because of COVID-19 related issues, isolation in their own rooms, reduction in the amount of usual contact with staff and other residents, their lack of understanding and fear about staff dressed in PPE and most importantly, their lack of usual contact with their friends and relatives. These difficult changes in circumstances are often translated into loneliness, with a lack of well-being, less interest in food, and a smaller appetite. Residents may be reluctant to eat because of oral health difficulties which
have been hard to treat, resulting in dehydration and weight loss, which we know can lead to health complications associated with poorer outcomes. Care homes must have a food and drink strategy that addresses the nutritional needs of people using the service4. The strategy needs to be underpinned with a robust policy for nutritional screening and development of appropriate nutritional care plans, with guidelines and staff training. Each resident must have a personalised nutritional care plan (which is shared with the kitchen and menu planning staff) which manages their nutritional risk, with regular monitoring and evaluation which will ensure that residents do not experience unplanned weight loss, or if they do it is picked up immediately. Alongside this it is positive practice to have a section in the ‘getting to know you’ conversations with the resident and their friends and relatives, prior to or during admission, to get a clear understanding of what, how and when the new resident likes to eat and drink. This knowledge helps to ensure that mealtimes are an enjoyable experience. We know that undernutrition is not always obvious, it's often hidden and not easy to identify by just looking at a person. Measuring of malnutrition risk (undernutrition) and assessment through screening is essential to accurately identify risk. This can be done easily using BAPEN’s Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (‘MUST’). It is then important to put in place an individualised nutritional care plan based on the results of screening for malnutrition risk. Some guidance on this can be found here. Undertaking a nutritional assessment using the ‘MUST’ tool on admission will identify any risk, and help to compile a personalised nutritional care plan which clearly sets out the plan for all staff to see and follow. It will include food and drink preferences, identify the help that is needed to eat and drink independently, be specific about the help that is required to cut food, and physically support someone to get food from the plate to the mouth. Special requirements must be set out e.g. IDDSI5 (International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative) and any adaptations required e.g. to cutlery or sitting positions. The ‘MUST’ score and care plan should be updated regularly, but at least monthly, and any changes or concerns should be mentioned at the regular GP round. There are other, small changes that can make a significant difference to the overall mealtime experience, making sure that there is a calm and
comfortable feel about mealtimes. It is important to ensure that people have the tools and support they need to allow them to eat and drink as independently as possible. In these new ways of working in the COVID world, the importance of not rushing a resident who needs help to eat and drink or is slow to chew and swallow cannot be overemphasized as often they will just give up – and if this happens at each meal the malnutrition risk is great. When people are forced to eat alone because of isolation or social distancing, listening to a favourite piece of music or the radio, or watching an enjoyed television programme can help. Think about how a focus on food can be integrated into the residents’ activities schedule. There are many tools, information sources and resources that can help organisations to make significant and beneficial changes that are easily achievable and can help to positively improve the experience of eating and drinking in care homes. • Make contact with your local dietetics team who can assist with training and support. • When reviewing your organisation’s nutrition strategy - the information on the Malnutrition Pathway website gives helpful information at https://www.malnutritionpathway.co.uk/carehomes • The Malnutrition Task Force has resources that can help and has examples of positive practice from other care homes. Positive practice can be shared on the MTF website at https://www.malnutritiontaskforce.org.uk/eatingwell Nutrition is the foundation of health and wellbeing. We invite you to join us in continuing to shine a light on the risk of malnutrition. Throughout October, all social care professionals are being asked to submit data to help build a national picture of risk status. Last year, we had a great response from care homes, and we hope even more care homes will submit data this year, just choose one day of the month to report and enter information online at https://data.bapen.org.uk/maw/maw-home. It is important that as many organisations and practitioners as possible become part of this nationwide effort to screen for malnutrition. The impact of this year on the health and wellbeing of older people must be reviewed, analysed, and acted upon. 1 The British Association of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (BAPEN). https://www.bapen.org.uk/ 2 The Malnutrition Task Force. https://www.malnutritiontaskforce.org.uk/ 3 UK Malnutrition Awareness Week. https://www.malnutritiontaskforce.org.uk/uk-malnutrition-awareness-week-2020 4 Care Quality Commission. Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities). Regulations 2014: Regulation 14 Meeting Nutritional and Hydration Needs. https://www.cqc.org.uk/guidance-providers/regulations-enforcement/regulation-14-meetingnutritional-hydration-needs 5 IDDSI. International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative. https://iddsi.org/
Taking Combi Steamer Productivity To The Max One of the stars of Rational’s new iCombi Pro combi steamer is an advanced feature called iProductionManager which, the company says, not only increases productivity but also adds enormous flexibility to production schedules. At the same time it reduces running costs. The option of cooking different products at the same time in a combi steamer isn’t new, but iProductionManager takes the whole concept to a higher level. As well as telling you what products can be cooked together, it allows chefs to select whether they want all the food to be ready at the same time, or if they want it all to be cooked as quickly as possible, or if they want it cooked as energy efficiently as possible. Depending on the choice, iProductionManager then automatically prepares the optimum schedule. For example, suppose a full breakfast is being cooked where everything is wanted at the same time. The system will inform the chef when to load the eggs, the bacon, the tomatoes, and so on, staggering the start times so that the hash browns are perfectly cooked at exactly the same moment as the mushrooms – and all the other breakfast components. On the other hand, chefs may want each food cooked as quickly as possible. In this case, food is loaded onto the different shelves and iProductionManager simply lets staff know when each shelf’s load is ready. As one shelf’s food is being taken out, iProductionManager automatically compensates for the loss of temperature due to the door opening, and recalculates the cooking times for food on all the other shelves. Energy efficiency is increasingly important and iProductionManager can help here, too, by creating the most energy efficient schedule for multiple different
foods. The iCombi control panel makes everything simple. Once the chefs have selected what type of schedule they want – synchronised, speedy or efficient – they simply drag the relevant icon, such as sausages, onto the appropriate shelf on the panel, so the system knows which food is where and can monitor it accordingly. With iProductionManager chefs can even split shelves, so that two different foods can be cooked on the same shelf, with the system monitoring each to ensure they are perfectly cooked. “The new normal is already creating new challenges for chefs,” says Simon Lohse, managing director of Rational UK. “Consumers want more flexibility in terms of when they eat – all day eateries are going to be more common; many kitchens may have fewer staff; and every operator will have the overriding need to reduce running costs. More efficient management of the production process will provide solutions in all these areas – and iProductionManager delivers the most advanced, easy to use and practical technology available.” iProductionManager is one of a suite of new, advanced intelligent features on Rational’s iCombi Pro combi steamer. RATIONAL is the leading provider in hot food preparation equipment and, with the iVario multifunctional cooking system and the iCombi Pro combi steamer, the company delivers all a commercial kitchen’s thermal cooking requirements. Together, the two appliances offer the best cooking solutions. For information and brochures, or to find out about free Rational Live online demonstrations and webinars, call +44 (0)1582 480388, freephone 0800 389 2944 or visit www.rational-online.com
EF Group Launches CaterCloud - The Secret Ingredient for Menu Management Success Manchester-based, EF Group has announced it is offering free for life access to its new cloud-based, menu management platform, CaterCloud, which launched this week. The easy-to-use, next generation allergen, nutrition, menu planning and costing system offers a wealth of enhanced functionality to help caterers gain significant efficiencies in their operations, to control costs and increase profits. CaterCloud helps businesses ensure food safety remains a key focus. With food labelling regulations set to change in October 2021, as a result of Natasha’s Law, all England-based businesses working in the food industry will be required to clearly label all foods produced and packed on their premises with a full list of ingredients detailing the full allergen profile. Designed to help businesses prepare for this upcoming regulation, CaterCloud provides sub-allergen information and tagging; QR Code scanning for live allergen and nutritional information, along with the ability to print Natasha’s Law compliant food labels. CaterCloud also offers customers access to a range of accredited training for allergen awareness and food safety. CaterCloud’s innovative functionality also boasts many other benefits to enable simple menu management for caterers across the hospitality, healthcare, education and retail sectors. It offers effective menu planning with dish and menu costings; access to a nutritional database with 1,000s of ingredients and customisable dashboards to record KPIs. Users of CaterCloud can also join the e-foods’ Buyers’ Club and benefit from its substantial buying power. The Buyers’ Club is made up of a net-
work of trusted accredited suppliers across the UK. Users can purchase food and non-food goods from these suppliers with savings of between 5 to 10%. Paul Mizen, Chief Executive, EF Group said: “The service industries are
moving at pace towards technology to help meet their stock ordering, menu planning and compliance challenges. Our experience shows that there is increasing demand for more advanced dish and menu costing tools, as well as detailed, easy to use product data. “Catering managers require their menu management software to seamlessly integrate with their ordering systems and demand best value from their food suppliers. With CaterCloud, we will remain at the forefront of delivering the innovative features the industry needs. “The entire catering industry has been heavily impacted by the Coronavirus pandemic and as businesses work hard to recover, we are providing CaterCloud for free to help maximise efficiencies and reduce costs. This is our way of giving something back to the industry upon which our business is founded.” CaterCloud is a web-based menu planning, nutrition, allergen and costing system which is part of the E-F Group. CaterCloud helps hundreds of hospitality businesses deliver performance and control costs while reducing food safety risks. CaterCloud is committed to innovation in food management, its leading-edge platform helps to manage food offerings from front desk to kitchens, with the aim of improving efficiency in catering operations. Live menu costings help businesses to see how their business is performing every day, enabling them to focus on producing quality food and increasing profitability. CaterCloud’s clients are mainly in the following sectors: healthcare, education, hospitality and retail. For more information, see the advert on page 22 or visit www.CaterCloudCare.com
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DYSPHAGIA myAko Develops Dysphagia Online Courses For Carers Swallowing difficulties are common in people residing in care homes. Early identification, assessment and management by care home staff may result in a decrease in the incidence of pneumonia and death. Therefore, it is important for staff to be aware of the signs of dysphagia and what to do in order to prevent further deterioration in a resident’s condition. Dr. Elizabeth Boaden is a fellow of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists and has spent over 30 years working to improve the quality of life of those living with dysphagia. Dr. Boaden has created a set of courses on dysphagia. These courses have been researched and developed for the benefit of all healthcare workers and nurses, and are due to be available on myAko.com.
WHAT IS DYSPHAGIA? Dysphagia is the term used to describe difficulties swallowing. Difficulties may range from a decrease in chewing ability to food and drinks going onto the lungs causing aspiration pneumonia and death. Dysphagia is a common feature of many congenital and acquired structural and neurological difficulties. It is not possible to provide accurate figures regarding the prevalence of dysphagia, as it is often unrecognised and underdiagnosed. Dysphagia affects approximately 8% of the global population. Although swallowing difficulties are seen in the paediatric population, the greater incidence is in adult client group. The incidence of
commonly occuring elderly neurological diseases in the older population are stroke (45-78%), Parkinson’s disease (75-100%) and Alzeimer’s disease (90%). Swallowing involves six cranial nerves and over 26 pairs of muscles, with the oesophagus opening within a fraction of a second of airway closure. It is therefore unsurprising that everyone has experienced at least one incident where just a slight incoordination of the swallow has caused coughing and choking as food and drink enter the airway. It is therefore to be expected that dysphagia occurs in approximately 35% of the normal aging elderly population owing to weakness in the muscles for swallowing. Furthermore, it has been reported that up to 74% of residents in care homes will present with swallowing difficulties of some description.
AWARENESS AND EDUCATION The training, available on myAko.com, helps healthcare workers to better understand the impact of dysphagia and how to help those in their care. The nurses training helps them support Speech and Language Therapists with remote dysphagia assessments, without the need for face-to-face visits. Utilising remote teleswallowing techniques helps to reduce current NHS waiting lists and nurses and carers are able to improve early diagnosis and treatment of dysphagia.
MOVING FORWARD It is imperative for care staff to be able to quickly and effectively screen for dysphagia, as a delay in doing so may have devastating effects. It is a care worker’s duty to ease the struggle presented by dysphagia; not only to avoid the possibility of death, but to simply ensure that a resident’s later life and emotional well-being is as comfortable and content as possible. Visit www.myako.com, email help@myako.com or call 01202 283383 for further details.
Are You in Need of Dysphagia Training ? *
*This training is intended for healthcare professionals only.
Did you know that between 50-75% of nursing home residents suffer from dysphagia1? Nutricia has a training solution for you, a FREE e-learning covering the fundamentals of dysphagia management using Nutilis Clear. The training is divided into 4 sections and has been specially designed for busy health and social care staff caring for people living with dysphagia. It takes 60 minutes in total to complete, however you can complete one section at a time. How can this training help you? • Easy & convenient online solution to dysphagia training • Visibility to track progress in your care home • Raise the quality standard of dysphagia care in a consistent way The quality standards aim is for all new health and social care staff members caring
for patients with Dysphagia to complete the modules as part of their induction programme. Existing health and social care staff members should also complete the learning to support their continuing professional development. There is a certificate that can be downloaded once the training has been successfully completed. Use the camera on your phone to scan the QR code to access the e-learning and get started! For any questions contact your local Nutricia sales representative or our Resource Centre at resourcecentre@nutricia.com. Nutilis Clear is a Food for Special Medical Purposes for the dietary management of dysphagia and must be used under medical supervision. Reference: 1. O’Loughlin G, Shanley C. Swallowing problems in the nursing home: a novel training response. Dysphagia 1998; 13, 172-183.( https://www.rcslt.org/speech-and-language-therapy/clinical-information/dysphagia)
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HYGIENE & INFECTION CONTROL Guidance For Staff Returning or Joining the Care Sector COVID-19 is an infectious disease that is highly contagious (Li, 2020). While most people will experience mild to moderate symptoms, the elderly are at greater risk of becoming seriously or gravely ill. Those who live in care homes are at an increased risk (CDC, 2020). It is therefore important that care staff or those who a new to the care sector remain vigilant and are up to date on best practice hygiene and infection control as government advice is constantly evolving. This will be key to prevent the spread of the virus in care settings.
HANDWASHING AND HYGIENE
It is important that care staff wash and disinfect their hands frequently to help limit the spread of the virus. There should also be emphasis on correct handwashing (Aymood et al 2020). Studies have found that correct handwashing can limit the spread of coronavirus by 69% (Nicolaides et al 2020) . Research has found that most people do not wash their hands correctly, forgetting to disinfectant areas such as between the fingers, fingertips and thumbs. Staff should be aware of best practice hand hygiene.
How to disinfect your hands
It is also imperative that staff know when to perform hand hygiene, this includes: • Before touching a resident
To prevent germs from being transferred to the resident from your hands • Before an aseptic procedure e.g. changing dressings or taking bloods To reduce the risk of germs entering the body during the procedure. For guidance on dressing changes, Molnlycke Healthcare have a suite of free resources for carers https://www.molnlycke.co.uk/education/woundareas/wound-healing/how-to-look-after-your-wound/ • After body fluid exposure risk To protect yourself and the care home environment from harmful resident germs • After touching a resident To prevent transfer to yourself, the environment and other residents • After touching a resident’s surroundings To remove germs picked up by touching the resident’s local environment
Article by GAMA Healthcare (www.gamahealthcare.com)
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
It is important that PPE is available for staff to use. When carers are in close personal contact with a resident, they should wear PPE to prevent the transmission of coronavirus. Staff should also be familiar on what type of PPE to use based on the situation (Public Health England, 2020) Public Health England guidance recommends the following types of PPE for each situation: When providing close personal care in direct contact with the resident(s) (e.g.touching) OR within 2 metres of anyone in the household who is coughing • Disposable gloves – to protect from fluids, secretions and contact from residents body • Disposable plastic apron - to protect from fluids, secretions and contact from residents body • Fluid repellent surgical mask – This can be worn throughout the shift, unless staff need to eat, drink or take a break • Eye protection – protect from secretions and droplets from residents mouth, this is particularly important when a resident is repeatedly coughing. When within 2 metres of a client or household members but not delivering personal care or needing to touch them, and there is no one within 2 metres who has a cough • Type 11 surgical mask - This can be worn throughout the shift, unless
staff need to eat, drink or take a break (Public Health England, 2020). It may also be prudent to wear visors, but they have been found to limit the inhalation of the virus by 92% (Perencevich, 2020)
DISINFECTION OF SURFACES.
Coronavirus can live on surfaces for days. It is therefore important that effective surface hygiene is incorporated daily to prevent the spread of the virus. Carers undertaking cleaning duties should be aware of the 5 principles of the cleaning. GAMA Healthcare has a suite of free downloadable resources which can be shared amongst colleagues and provided to in house or agency cleaning staff. These include posters that can be put up as a daily reminder www.gamahealthcare.com/coronavirus/resources. All waste should be put aside for 72 hours before being put inside the household. By incorporating these practices into daily duties, carers can help limit the spread of the infectious disease and protect themselves as well as residents.
Staysafe Visor - CE-Certified PPE Manufactured in the UK Staysafe Visor is a subsidiary of 1st Packaging Ltd, a leading specialist UK plastics manufacturer founded in 2002. Used in a wide range of health and commercial settings, our high-quality recyclable CE-certified face shields offer protection against liquid droplets, sprays and splashes. Our visors are comfortable to wear for extended periods of time, are anti-fog and easy to assemble. As a long-established UK company, we have been able to step up our manufacture of PPE to meet high demand
during the current unprecedented circumstances. Our facilities enable us to produce well in excess of 200,000 items per week. At Staysafe Visor our experienced team takes very seriously its role in supporting the health of the community by helping to maintain a safer environment. Availability and affordability are the cornerstones of our operation. Because we sell directly to businesses, organisations and the general public, we are able to remove the need for
intermediaries and keep costs low. We believe that we offer the most competitive rates on the market for this type of CE-certified PPE. Our high-quality products are helping to better protect employees in the NHS, care homes, education, transport, manufacturing and a host of other workplace settings. For further details about our range of visors please do not hesitate to contact our friendly expert team. See page 4 for details or visit www.staysafevisor.co.uk
THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 29 | PAGE 33
HYGIENE & INFECTION CONTROL Greyland Spray and Wipe Ultra Disinfectant Has ‘Huge Impact on Cleaning Industry’ In this statement from Richard Dyson, MD of Greyland, “From not existing, the new Greyland Spray and Wipe Ultra Disinfectant has had huge impact on the Cleaning industry since its launch in early March 2020. “Trading patterns are very hit and miss at the moment, with different pressures hitting UK Cleaning chemical manufacturers on a daily basis. “One thing that has been consistent, is the weekly sales growth for the new Spray and Wipe Ultra Disinfectant, with just a 1 minute anti-coronavirus contact time, the product available in both 750ml ready to use Trigger Spray and top up refill 5L, has very quickly become Greyland’s number 1 best seller.” Luckily, the Greyland factory in Manchester has been
purpose-built for both volume capacity and versatility, in order to quickly and readily switch production focus with minimum fuss. Expansion to capacity at any time has also been planned in from the start, with continual investment and upgrades to production equipment, and increased staff. Richard Dyson continues: “After the initial March and April early reactions to the pandemic, we have coped with everything thrown at us, and right now in mid June our production flow and renowned industry order-to-delivery lead time is pretty much back to normal.” Contact the company now: T. 0161 343 3830 E. sales@greyland.co.uk W. www.greyland.co.uk
MAG Launches Ozone Generator Proven To Kill Covid–19
One of the UK’s leading suppliers of commercial laundry solutions, MAG Laundry Equipment, can now offer a generator that has been proven to kill the Covid–19 coronavirus. In a ground-breaking study conducted by Nara Medical University, it was confirmed that ozone gas can effectively inactivate the virus up to 1 / 10,000 CT (cycle threshold). In real conditions, it shows that Covid–19 can be inactivated on all surfaces and that ozone can be used in the sanitisation of all environments. Putting the new discovery into the practise, the MAG Ozone Generator emits ozone through the air to sanitise surfaces and kill bacteria, microorganisms and viruses including Covid–19, while permanently eliminating unpleasant odours. Proven to eliminate SARS coronavirus, norovirus, E.coli, salmonella and more than 99% of harmful bacteria and viruses, ozone is recognised as the strongest and fastest method of destroy-
ing microorganisms. With cycle times from 15 minutes to 72 hours, the generator is suitable for quick cleans and full airregeneration projects and can be used across all business sectors. Commenting on the new product, Mark Dennis, managing director of MAG Laundry Equipment said: “The ability to offer a product that has been proven to kill the Covid–19 coronavirus is a real triumph for us as a business. “With the UK economy now officially in a recession, it’s important that the Government and businesses look at how people can return to work safely, protect jobs and keep the economy moving. The ozone generator could be a key part in that, with the ability to sterilize office spaces, hotel rooms or hospitality venues quickly and effectively.” More information on MAG Laundry Equipment is available at https://maglaundryequipment.co.uk/.
Please Please mention mention THE THE CARER CARER when when responding responding to to advertising. advertising.
THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 29 | PAGE 35
HYGIENE & INFECTION CONTROL Why Care Homes Need Change from Traditional Toxic Cleaning Products to a More Sustainable, Safe and Low-Cost Alternative By Chris Speak, Managing Director, Purozo Limited (www.purozo.co.uk) If we took the time to analyse our present cleaning regimes, it would unearth some startling facts. Firstly, the huge cost and quantity being spent in our homes on a range of cleaning and sanitising products is adding pressure to budgets which are already over stretched, as well as putting more strain on our wonderful care staff. Secondly, the extra storage you need for multiple chemicals, the plastic waste they produce and the worry of running out of stock also presents additional challenges.
THE PROBLEM WITH CHEMICALS
Aside from all of the challenges listed above, there are unfortunately much more worrying aspects to a home full of chemical cleaning products that we need to consider - especially when it comes to the safety of our precious residents and dedicated staff. In an enclosed environment within a care home, what effect can these toxic chemicals have on an already fragile community? We already know that harmful side effects of chemicals can include
aggravating chest conditions, skin issues, and allergies for both staff and residents. Although we try to eliminate these possibilities with COSHH training, it still does not remove the danger. In this new dawn of environmental awareness, we still continue to pump all these toxic chemicals down our drains and into our rivers, lakes and coastline, and for what reason?
THE SOLUTION
Can we do something about it? Of course we can. Joining many care homes from across the UK in switching from toxic chemicals to the chemical-free Tersnao Lotus Pro will create a more sustainable, toxin free home, which is safe for your residents and staff – and at a fraction of your current cost. There is also no requirement for COSHH training and you will be creating a fresh, clean and sanitised home. Why wouldn’t you want to change? For more information please visit our website www.purozo.co.uk or contact us on 01594 546250 |
New DePuro Pro Air Purifier In Use In Two NHS Hospitals The new DePuro Pro air purifier has been successfully installed in two NHS hospitals in Essex as part of their fight against the spread of Covid-19. The twelve units have been installed in three dental rooms and nine treatment rooms in a project to improve the air quality in the hospitals and increase patient turnaround in a clean and safe environment. The DePuro Pro unit comes in two sizes, it is a plug and play set up and uses two HEPA 14 filters which retain up to 99.995% of particulates including virus, bacteria and droplets within the air.
Dean Hill and Mark Coutts from Essex based contractors TH Electrical said: “We worked alongside VORTICE to specify the DePuro Pro to effectively clean and purify the air in these hospitals. As we know from the science, good indoor air quality is vital to the fight against the spread of Covid19 and we’re delighted that these units are already starting to make a difference after only two weeks of being used.” For more information about the DePuro Pro and other products from VORTICE visit www.vortice.ltd.uk
Clinical Waste Management Cromwell Polythene’s Sansafe® and clinical waste management ranges are designed to support the care sector in their infection prevention and control procedures, for washroom, sanitary and clinical waste. Special consideration is needed when dealing with clinical waste, which requires different treatment and disposal methods appropriate to the hazard it may present. Our range includes refuse sacks, wheeled bin liners, tiger stripe sacks for deep landfill of offensive/hygiene waste, yellow sacks certified to UN standards for incineration of hazardous waste and orange UN standard sacks for alternative treatment of infectious and potentially infectious waste at a licensed or permitted facility The most recent addition to the Sansafe® range is tiger stripe sacks incorporating Biomaster silver antimicrobial technology, added during the film extrusion process. This inhibits the growth of harmful bac-
teria, including E. coli and Legionella. Pine Scentmaster® fragrance helps mask unpleasant odours. These features eliminate the need to add separate antimicrobial products and intoxicating fragrances. The tiger stripe sacks are designed for the collection and disposal of offensive/hygiene waste collection, which can be disposed of through Energy from Waste (EFW), incineration or deep landfill. Typical examples of this type of waste include non-infectious used gloves, masks, dressings, incontinence waste, and sanitary products. Any liner used in a care setting – whether for hazardous, sanitary, or general waste – should have been independently tested to prove its effectiveness and safety. Check for recognised quality standards including the Cleaning and Hygiene Suppliers Association (CHSA) certification mark for refuse sacks and EN and ISO standards. Visit www.cromwellpolythene.co.uk
Unigloves Expands Its PPE Range Hand protection specialist Unigloves is expanding its product portfolio with the launch of a range of sanitising hand gels and facemasks. Added to its range to help in the fight against Covid19, the new products complement Unigloves’ range of disposable gloves designed for use across a wide range of industrial sectors including healthcare and care homes. Available in 480ml and 200ml pump dispenser and 50ml flip top sizes, the new 70% alcohol hand gel with added Vitamin E kills 99.9% of all bacteria. Fast-drying, leaving the hands feeling soft and smooth, the new gel also moisturises the hands, making it ideal for the healthcare sector and high use environments. Joining the hand gels is Unigloves’ Profil facemasks. Available in boxes of 50, the 3 ply, pleated Type II facemasks have a Bacterial Filtration Efficiency (BFE) of 98%. Tested to EN14683 the facemasks are manufactured from soft, non-
woven fabric with integrated noseband and soft ear loops for a comfortable, secure fit. “Our hand gels and facemasks are part of our global response to the Covid-19 outbreak, which has seen us manufacturing for the NHS and a wide range of healthcare-associated settings both in the UK and internationally. “In tandem with our extensive gloves range, the combination of hand protection and respiratory protection, provides companies with an effective solution to the increased focus on hygiene protocols,” said Unigloves’ Marketing Director, Donald Gillespie. For more information on the range of hand gels and facemasks from Unigloves, visit https://unigloves.co.uk/products-by-category/disinfectants/hand-gel-with-vitamin-e and https://unigloves.co.uk/products-by-category/facemasks/profil-face-mask .
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HYGIENE & INFECTION CONTROL CTU Services' Thermal Access System With the introduction of various measures to constrain and manage the emergency of COVID-19 in the UK, CTU Services Thermal Access System presents the ideal solution. To address the challenge of social distancing many public places are implementing restrictions on customer flow. This includes locations such as the hospitality industry and the retail sector. CTU Services perfectly resolves the problem of "how to accurately and efficiently control customer flow in a premises" Their system detects how many people are present in the targeted area and display the figure in real-time. If the capacity is reached the system's display immediately indicates no more people should enter. The two systems that CTU Services supply can be merged together to give you more security and social distancing. The Thermal camera can be wall mounted or comes on a sleek stand. It will also notify
any number of members of staff of any issues with potential clients entering the premisses via text or email. • Facial recognition is fully integrated with body temperature monitoring. This means no additional staff are required. • The solution is contactless, reducing the risk of cross infection. • Extensive storage of facial images and temperature information enabling easy historical access. • Fast facial recognition and temperature monitoring reducing access congestion. In Scotland will detect if you are or are not wearing a mask / face covering. • Integration with third party products such as turnstiles and VMS. See a demonstration of the system at https://youtu.be/lcQllOytA7Y For further information, see the advert this page, call 01257 477060 or visit www.ctuservices.com
Sheffcare Teams Up with Haigh Sheffcare continue to stay at the forefront of resident health, safety, and care. With ten homes across the city of Sheffield, Sheffcare a leading care charity, serves the needs of more than 500 older people and is strongly committed to providing high quality, compassionate care which enhances quality of life. Like a clean kitchen, often the most important aspects of infection prevention are out of sight. Best in class providers continue to invest in their facilities, ever-improving client health and experience. Most recently, Sheffcare has upgraded its waste management to Haigh's disposal units. These allow the hygienic disposal of disposable toileting items, simplifying and improving a challenging task for staff, reducing cross infection risks, and helping drive down long-term costs. Sheffcare noted "Investments like this are taken only once we have strong evidence. We trialled the
Please Please mention mentionTHE THE CARER CARER when when responding responding to to advertising. advertising.
Haigh Quattro and Haigh Incomaster at several of our sites. The improvement was noticeable, improving resident experience and for our care staff." Haigh has been designing bed pan disposers since the 1950s, supporting hospitals across the UK and worldwide, while investing in the UK economy. For further information, visit www.haigh.co.uk
THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 29 | PAGE 37
HYGIENE & INFECTION CONTROL Electrox Sterilising Water Electrox Sterilising Water is an ecological disinfectant that kills viruses, bacteria, spores and fungi significantly faster than bleach and other traditional disinfectants. It is 80 x more effective than bleach, no alcohol, non corrosive, pH neutral and hypoallergenic. The active substance in Electrox is hypochlorous acid, which has been successfully tested for full virucidal activity as defined in EN14476:2013, and has activity against all viruses. This includes all coronaviruses and SARS-CoV-2. When used with fogging machines, Electrox can sanitise care homes rapidly, with minimal disruption and without the harsh chemicals found in traditional disinfectants. Electrox customer Eddy Pyatt, Director of Platinum Care Homes
says “We’re using Electrox Sterilising Water and the fogging machine in four of our Care Homes and have found it provides real peace of mind and assurance to our residents and their visitors. We are fogging communal areas, outdoor visiting areas in between visits and resident’s rooms within our care homes to make sure we’re providing a sanitised environment for our staff, residents and their visitors alike. We wanted a sanitising product that didn’t involve large amounts of chemicals and found Electrox to be the most cost effective of all the solutions we looked at.” Contact Electrox today: www.electroxwater.co.uk 0117 318 0830 sales@electroxwater.co.uk
Sanozone. The Easy Way To Sanitise Your Indoor Spaces SANOZONE, which delivers the most efficient sanitisation performance in indoor spaces, is now available from Barbel. Manufactured by Vitaeco S.r.l., the world famous manufacturer of the highly regarded HotmixPro thermal blender range, SANOZONE sanitises rooms of many sizes in enclosed HRC sites, hotels, restaurants, bars, conference rooms and similar establishments where totally reliable and regular sanitisation is needed. SANOZONE is particularly suitable for hospitals and care home areas, where absolute cleanliness is mandatory, and in areas where it is difficult or impossible to deliver effective sanitisation throughout. The SANOZONE range of
machines use Ozone (O3) technology, a gaseous form of Ozone that fills the room, reaching every corner of the space, santising surfaces and critical hard-toreach corners homogenously, consistently and safely. The SANOZONE range of sanitisation machines are all equipped with the latest technology and customised disinfection programmes to suit your specific requirements. The running costs are considerably lower than any traditional disinfecting programmes and most importantly, there is no manual labour involved. For further information about the SANOZONE range, please contact Barbel on 01629 705110, email info@barbel.net, or visit the website at www.barbel.net
Elgin Bay Offer The Mac500 Proven Solution to Combating Coronavirus panies and individuals in the fight against the spread of coronavirus. We have not invented a miracle cure for coronavirus that can stand alone, but we may have one of the weapons needed to reduce the infection”, explains Michael Kløcker, JIMCO A/S. Elgin Bay are the UK suppliers of Jimco UVC and Ozone technology. The Mac500 is an air purifier developed and manufactured in Denmark by Jimco, that reduces viruses in the air. With the air purifier the reduction of viruses is both fast and significant, achieving 99.99% reduction within 3 hours. A study from a technological institute in Denmark states that The MAC500 effectively reduces viruses from the air. In rooms where the air purifier is in use, The study documents that the MAC500 reduces viruses in the air by 89 percent in one hour. After two hours, the virus is reduced by 99 percent, and after three hours, the reduction is 99.9 percent. “We have tested the air purifier on a virus that is 7-10 times more resistant to UV light than coronavirus. The results of this study are very uplifting right now, because we are all trying our best to avoid infections”, says Michael Kløcker, business unit manager at JIMCO A/S. The MAC500 air purifier works partly by burning harmful particles such as viruses with the help of UV-C rays, and partly by letting out a small amount of ozone, which can destroy bacteria and viruses. The amount of ozone is equal to the amount occurring in nature by the Sun. “You can use the air purifier everywhere, and our greatest customer segments are businesses and industries where it is difficult to keep distance or where customers are at a greater risk”. “It is very common to use air purifiers in Care Homes, Hospitals, Dentists and in private homes where you feel extra exposed”. “The aim is to strengthen the indoor climate as well as limiting the spread of viruses through the air”, Matthew Cove, MD at Elgin Bay explains. “We are very happy that we are able to offer a product that can help both com-
About MAC500:
The MAC500 air purifier has been on the market for nearly 20 years and is already operating in many homes and workplaces around the world. Other benefits include: • Reduction in Virus/Bacteria/Fungi • Reduction in Odour within the room • Reduces indoor air pollution and eliminates the sources of headaches, respiratory problems (COPD/Asthma) For further information, please contact Matthew Cove on 07920 254379 or matthewcove@elginbay.co.uk The report can be requested by contacting matthewcove@elginbay.co.uk or downloaded here: https://jimco.dk/CustomerData/Files/Folders/5ppdf/ 2407_ms2-test.pdf
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HYGIENE & INFECTION CONTROL AtmoSan Supports Safety at Avery Care Homes In a further step to ensure that its care homes continue to be some of the safest places to live, Avery Healthcare has deployed AtmoSan systems to all of its services. As a part of its comprehensive approach to hygiene and sanitisation, supported by extensive staff training, it is now using AtmoSan Fogging machines, a ULV ultra-fine droplet cold fogging system, to provide complete room decontamination, prior to a new resident moving in and for regular cleaning and virus prevention. AtmoSan is a specialist manufacturer of decontamination solutions
against surface and airborne pathogens, and its advanced Biocide is completely natural, 100% safe and non-toxic to humans, animals and plants. Accredited and approved to multiple European and British Standards sanitisation standards, it kills 99.999% of all known pathogens, including viruses such as norovirus, MS2 and the coronavirus, bacteria such as Campylobacter, fungi, spores and moulds. Coronaviruses are enveloped viruses, meaning they are one of the easiest types of viruses to kill with an appropriate disinfectant product. Biocide Regulatory Agencies such as the USA Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) employ a ‘hierarchy-based’
approach for new virus strains, meaning a product such as Biocide that is found to be effective against harder-to-kill viruses is likely to kill a virus such as COVID-19. Tony Devenish from AtmoSan was thrilled at the agreement; “We are delighted to partner with Avery Healthcare in providing an effective aerial and surface disinfection solution for their 56 care homes nationwide. It is a privilege to work with such a proactive care group and to be able to contribute towards increased resident safety and providing peace of mind for their families in these difficult times.” Director of Care and Quality for the Avery Group, Julie Spencer, was similarly enthusiastic with the project roll-out: “After testing and a pilot phase, we are confidently deploying the AtmoSan systems to all our homes as part of the fight against the coronavirus and other health risks. It’s a great addition to our other protocols and will help keep our residents, staff and their respective families safe when in an Avery environment.” Find out more at www.atmosan.co.uk
Angloplas Dispensers Help Reduce the Risk of Cross Infection Angloplas are a UK manufacturer who specialise in producing dispensers for the health and hygiene industry. Although these are designed to keep the workplace tidy and uncluttered they are, more importantly, built knowing the control of healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) are a priority for healthcare providers, and who are employing a combination of infection prevention and control strategies, including hand hygiene, cleaning, training and the adoption of new technologies, to tackle the problem. As a result, a wide range of infection control products and technologies are emerging on the market, including antimicrobial technology. Angloplas’ range of dispensers are produced in the world’s first proven Antimicrobial PVC with silver ion technology and which is
Clean Air Solutions There are a lot of cost-effective equipment that could be put in place quickly and easily to actively assist in lowering or eliminating the virus contaminated particles of any room helping eliminate the spread of viruses. Air and Surface Treatments are the most effective method for treating all manner of smells, viruses, volatile organic compounds and all other airborne and surface contaminants. These type of unit utilise either O³ (Ozone) or OH (Hydroxyl) Ozone is created when the kind of oxygen we breathe O² is split apart into single oxygen atoms. Single oxygen atoms can re-join to make O², or they can join with O² molecules to make ozone (O³) when the energy is available to do so. Ozone breaks down when it reacts with other compounds, harmful viruses included.
exclusive to Angloplas. This helps reduce the risk of cross infection by stopping the growth of bacteria and mould and works continuously for the lifetime of the product, reducing levels of bacteria such as MRSA, E Coli, Legionella, Salmonella and mould by up to 99.99%. For non-clinical environments Angloplas has recently launched its new Budget Range of products which are made to the same exacting standards as the antimicrobial protected ones but with lower price tags. You can order Angloplas products directly from its website by going to www.angloplas.co.uk and clicking Hospital, Health and Hygiene or by using the Quick Response code. The machines that produce Ozone in higher effective concentrations must be used in unoccupied spaces, high concentrations of Ozone can cause issues with the respiratory system, with this said they are extremely effective at sanitising a space (airborne and surfaces) after a manual clean down. Hydroxyl machines are by far the most user friendly, firstly because they’re more adaptable and easily integrate into our normal daily lives. Much like the Ozone units, a volatile OH compound is produced which reacts with all airborne contaminants. The OH compound reacts by oxidizing and this cascade reaction will continue until the area is free of contaminants, the OH particles will then simply become H²O once there is nothing left to react with. Hydroxyl units are safe for use in constantly occupied rooms and will provide the constant decontamination required in a busy office. For more information please contact Axair Fans to discuss your requirements. www.axaironline.co.uk sales@axair-fans.co.uk 01782 349439
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HYGIENE & INFECTION CONTROL
Germgard from Fireco With the outbreak of COVID-19, good hygiene practice has become more important than ever before. Fireco has recently released its newest innovation, Germgard, a smart sanitiser combined with digital signage. Germgard has been designed to promote awareness of the importance of hand sanitisation to all building users. It can also be tailored to suit individual business needs, helping as a building management tool. Some examples of potential messaging includes instructing users to follow your one-way system or putting on a mask before entering. Germgard is a smart sanitising station which monitors people passing through your chosen doorways. A PIR sensor will detect someone approaching and a screen will show your personalised message. Germgard can also be combined with a range of door systems so that the use of hand sanitiser is a requirement before gaining entry. Integration options include electronic door locks, automatic doors, and access control systems. James Wheeler, Chief Commercial Officer at Fireco says, “Our customers require visual, physical products as evidence in promoting their return to work strategy to their workforce. Germgard meets those requirements, ensuring best practice, encouraging occupants to self-police when moving around the building.”
GERMGARD HELPS BUSINESSES REOPEN SAFELY
As lockdown restrictions started lifting in July, businesses had
to plan their back to work strategy in line with the Government’s Health & Safety Executive COVID-19 Risk Assessment guidelines. Staff and members are detected when entering the building, they are presented with a digital display asking them to sanitise their hands. Castle Snooker & Sports Bar chose to connect their Germgard system with their electronic door lock, meaning that the door will only unlock for people who have used the sanitiser unit. This reduces the possibility of human error when controlling the transfer of germs. “Germgard has played a vital role in making our COVID Secure Strategy strikingly obvious to our customers. We wanted to ease anxiety and make sure our members feel safe when returning to the new normal.” “I would recommend Fireco. They have helped us to reopen our business safely.” Fireco manufactures wireless fire door closers and retainers, notification systems, disability aid products and hygiene equipment, all designed to provide simple solutions to a range of needs: fire safety, compliance, access, ventilation and hygiene. Fireco’s operations are in alignment with International Standard ISO 9001:2015. All of our products meet relevant British and European fire safety standards. With some products gaining primary test evidence with fire door manufacturers. For more information about Germgard or how Fireco solutions can assist with COVID-secure strategies, visit www.fireco.uk or call the Fireco team today 01273 320650.
Antimicrobial Handle Helps Boost Care Homes’ Active Protection Methods Against Bacteria Care homes can now help to reduce the spread of bacteria using a maintenancefree, antimicrobial surface for door hardware. HOPPE has developed SecuSan®, an antibacterial and antimicrobial surface for door and window handles, to help ensure high hygiene standards wherever people are present in large numbers. SecuSan® immediately suppresses the growth of pathogens on the handle on a lasting basis. Independent tests have proved that SecuSan® reduces microbial growth by more than 99%. Andy Matthews, head of sales at HOPPE (UK), said: “SecuSan® is ideal for facilities managers trying to take care of high traffic buildings. In these types of buildings where there is so much to monitor and keep clean, SecuSan® helps to maintain high hygiene standards. It actively fights bacteria and fungi from the moment it is installed and is wear-free on a long term basis. This is particularly important in care homes where residents are much more vulnerable.”
Protecting Staff And Residents with Continual Airborne Sanitisation The COVID-19 pandemic raises particular challenges for care home residents, their families and the staff that look after them. With no end in sight and millions of pounds being spent every day on cleaning and sanitisation methods that are costly and labour intensive. SOH Group has a revolutionary new product ‘SOH Pure’ that is already helping thousands of people and businesses by continuously sanitising their premises. The SOH Pure systems work in a similar way to that of a fogger but is an ‘always on’ solution that continually sanitises an area of up to 80m2. Achieved by cold air diffusion technology liquid is turned into a vapour the is lighter than air. This vapour
cleans and sanitises the air whilst airborne and then sanitises all surfaces when it falls creating a unique dual action air and surface approach. Using the SOH Pure system will help reduce the amount of time that is required cleaning and will help re continually sanitise high traffic areas, such as staff gathering hot spots building entrances , lobbies and delivery zones and more. Let us help you today give your staff and residents that extra piece of mind! Get in touch for more details and other environmentally friendly products 02037276400, info@sunglobalsupplies.com or www.sunglobalavf.com
The surface can be applied to a wide range of popular HOPPE handle designs including the Amsterdam and Paris series, all available in aluminium silver and stainless steel. It is also covered by HOPPE’s 10-year operational guarantee that applies to all HOPPE door and window handles. For more information on SecuSan®, please contact Andy on Andy.Matthews@hoppe.com or 01902 484 400. www.hoppe.com
FORBES
PAGE 42 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 29
LAUNDRY SOLUTIONS JLA's Ozone Washing System Proven To Remove All Traces of Coronavirus in University Study of Infected Laundry
Treating coronavirus-infected laundry with a professional ozone washing system could have major implications for the future of infection control for the care sector, according to new research. The in-depth study carried out at De Montfort University in Leicester found that the OTEX washing system, which uses ozone to kill bacteria even at low temperatures, completely removes all traces of coronavirus (OC43), a model virus for SARS-CoV-2. The system, created by JLA (the UK’s leading supplier of commercial laundry equipment) was tested by a research team overseen by Dr Katie Laird, Reader in Microbiology and Head of the Infectious Disease Research Group, and expert virologist Dr Maitreyi Shivkumar, Lecturer in Molecular Biology. The research found that cleaning with the OTEX technology completely removed the coronavirus, even in large washing loads. Additional testing also proved that the virus was not transferred to other textiles in the wash. Believed to be one of the first studies of its kind, the research proves that coronavirus-infected laundry can be cleaned even at low temperatures, allowing heat sensitive items such as personal clothing, hospital mattress covers, emergency rescue wear and microfibre items to be cleaned effectively. Dr Laird and her team are now completing the next stage of their research, looking at the rate at which the virus is inactivated in the cleaning process to give more data on the length of time and quantities of ozone required for the virus to be eliminated. Dr Laird comments, “A key element of tackling the spread of COVID-19 is to understand how effective infec-
tion control can be implemented in real world settings. There are a variety of situations in which textiles potentially carrying the virus need to be cleaned, such as care homes, hospitals and hotels. “Until now we have had little data about how the virus responded to different types of cleaning. These initial results demonstrate that cleaning with ozone, as in the OTEX system, completely removes the model coronavirus. “This held true even when treating larger loads of washing, as is likely to be the case in a real laundry setting. This result can give reassurance that such cleaning is effective .” The implications of these findings are hugely significant for the healthcare sector in the fight against COVID19 and the protection of both service users and staff. The financial and environmental benefits are equally as impressive. Research shows that over the average sevenyear lifespan of a standard 30kg thermal disinfection cycle, using OTEX can reduce operating costs by over £130,000, whilst also reducing the businesses total carbon footprint by over 400 tonnes. Helen Ashton, CEO from JLA commented “I am really excited about the results of these tests as here at JLA we play our part in eradicating this terrible virus. We have been developing and refining the OTEX laundry system for over fifteen years and its benefits to our customers are clear - full eradication of disease, including coronavirus, even at low temperatures and a significant reduction in operational cost coupled with a meaningful benefit to the environment. “The system has been designed to be easy to use with real time verification of the disinfection process on every wash which provides a unique audit trail of full compliance to regulatory standards.” This is the latest accolade for JLA’s innovative OTEX system, having been previously recognised by the NHS Rapid Review Panel in 2009 set up by the government to fast track new technology to address hospital acquired infections, achieving the highest grade (level 1) for infection control products. More recently, assessment of compliance with current Public Health England HTM01-04 guidelines for the decontamination of healthcare linen. The OTEX ozone system is also fully supported in line with the EU Biocidal Products Regulation. For more information about OTEX by JLA, please visit: https://jla.com/otex or see the advert on the facing page.
Forbes Professional Helps the Care Industry Adhere to Stringent Laundry Regulations For a care home, their laundry operation is always a central part of the infection control that has never been more pressing than today. The Department of Health’s CFPP 01-14 guidelines state that each wash cycle must provide the requisite disinfection. Machines must be also approved to WRAS category 5 due to elevated risks of contamination. In order to meet stringent laundry hygiene standards, PPE is essential as are established processes to enable efficient transportation and procedural segregation of clean and soiled items. As standard, CFPP 01-04 requires that laundry is washed in a commercial washing machine at the highest possible temperature. For enhanced hygiene requirements, all washing cycles must have a thermal disinfection cycle that reaches 71°C for at least three minutes, or 65°C for at least ten minutes. Forbes is proud to be partnered with Miele which enables us to provide highly efficient commercial laundry solutions to care homes and the NHS. The new, highly programmable and user-friendly Little Giant range from Miele provides thermal disinfection at 85°C for 15 minutes to kill viruses and bacteria. It is
also WRAS approved to category 5 and delivers faster wash cycles and impressively low energy consumption, making it an ideal choice for any care environment. Our laundry solutions include a complementary site survey, free installation, commissioning and user training as well as a first-class service support, at no extra cost for the life of the contract. Contact www.forbespro.co.uk, call 0345 070 2335 or see the advert on page 37.
5 Reasons Why You Should Choose LaundryTec Chester based LaundryTec since its foundation in early 2016 has become one of Alliance Internationals major UK distributers. Founded by Jeremy Hartigan, the team of industry professionals with the backing of the Alliance Lavamac brand and supported by its service partner PDS Laundry based in Nuneaton. They supply a significant number of the UK’s leading health care operators with equipment, installation and after sale support. The LaundryTec designs offer not only washing, drying and ironing equipment but a full range of handling, distribution, folding and identification systems, to create a fully functioning laundry complete with all items necessary for efficient operation. Every LaundryTec machine includes full installation options, including the removal and disposal of an existing machine. A training program and a minimum of 24
0151 317 3127
www.laundrytec.com
months part and labour warranty. The environment is at the forefront of every operator’s mind. Standard specification on a Lavamac machine includes functions that automatically weigh and control the energy input into the machine and store the data in the machines memory. Our LS range of electric heat pump dryers require no ventilation or gas services and operates at 3kw per hour.
5 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD CHOOSE LAUNDRYTEC 1. Cost 2. Efficiency 3. Service 4. Design 5. Innovation Telephone 0151 317 3127 Web www..laundrytec.com
info@laundrytec.com
5 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD CHOOSE LAUNDRYTEC 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Washer Extractors
Tumble Dryers
Cost Quality Service Design Innovation
Flatwork Ironers
Other Equipment
PAGE 44 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 29
TRAINING Care Certificate by Laser Learning High Speed Training Endorsed By Skills for Care During the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, many employees were furloughed, whilst others (such as those in Care Homes and the NHS) bravely worked on the frontline and continue to do so. Here at Laser Learning, we are proud to have supported both of these groups, in different ways. This was achieved through the Laser Care Certificate course and CPD short courses. The Laser Care Certificate course provides knowledge to cover every standard included in the official Skills for Care specification. Every lesson includes bespoke video tutorials specifically for the Care Certificate course, as well as reading materials and good practice examples. Furthermore, a mandatory quiz at the end of each lesson (which requires a 100% pass mark) ensures both competence and confidence. Managers are able to create their own accounts to enrol staff on the course and track their progress. All of the content is accessible remotely via computer, smartphone or tablet, enabling care professionals to
make progress towards the certificate in a way that suits their circumstances. Additionally, Laser delivers CPD short courses to help the ongoing development of skills and expertise of both furloughed staff, who had the silver lining of time on their side, as well as those working through the pandemic amidst concerns of job security. Two courses in particular – ‘Causes and Spread of Infection’ and ‘Infection Control and Prevention’ – were especially popular during this period. Unlimited use subscriptions are available at affordable rates, for organisations wishing to take advantage of a large number of short courses. Whether you are an owner, manager or independent learner, please don't hesitate to get in touch for a free demo of the Care Certificate course platform, and/or the CPD short course offering. The Laser Learning team can be contacted on info@lasersys.co.uk or +44 (0)1753 584 112. See the advert on this page for further details.
High Speed Training is proud to announce that we’re a Skills for Care endorsed training provider! This means our online training courses make a significant difference, not only to the learner but also to the person accessing care and support. Skills for Care Endorsed Provider What Does it Mean for High Speed Training Learners? Our mission has always been to deliver training that helps people to be engaged, effective and safe in the career they’ve chosen. We work tirelessly to ensure all our online courses are relevant and meaningful to a variety of sectors and roles. Skills for Care endorsement is a trusted quality mark only awarded to the best learning and development providers within the social care sector. We welcome High Speed Training to Skills for Care endorsement. They’ve demonstrated dedicated commitment to the core requirements, such as effective leadership and management, robust quality assurance, equal opportunities for staff development as well as keeping learners central to all learning and development. We look forward to working with High Speed Training in the future.
Receiving Skills for Care endorsement is highly significant for our learners who work in social care and demonstrates our commitment to constantly providing the best training and support we possibly can. Businesses all over the world have been using their resources to help during the COVID-19 pandemic wherever they can. We worked hard to develop a course that would inform people how to use PPE safely. This information was so important that we gave the course away for free to those who work in front line healthcare. To this date, we have trained over 6,000 people in safe PPE practices for free. For more information and guidance related to COVID-19, simply visit www.highspeedtraining.co.uk/ covid-19-courses-resources/
Engage With Your Residents - In-House Practical Training Workshop Scripts Bring About Happy Days Happy Days Dementia Activities & Design has created a new range of engagement training scripts for residential care and dementia homes. The workshops are designed to be presented in-house, saving time and costs. Easy to follow training scripts are practical in nature and help care teams engage with elderly and people living with dementia. Through activity, discussions, role-play and practise with nostalgic materials, carers can feel more equipped to engage and enrich social care. Packages include demonstration materials to use during your workshop. Training Scripts and engagement materials can be created to suit your organisation, care team requirements and resident interests. Ideal for home care services too - Help your carers engage and create meaningful
moments during visits. With Covid19’s restrictions and safety procedures, it makes sense to train your care teams on site. ‘Bringing your care teams together can build carer confidence, boost morale and uplift mood. If a carer feels good, this will reflect on the the person being cared for’ says Gillian Hesketh, MD of Happy Days Dementia Activities & Design. Passionate about helping people living with dementia to live well, Happy Days also supplies nostalgic displays, reminiscence baskets, conversation prompts and more See The Carer front page or Shop Online: www.dementiaworkshop.co.uk - We accept NHS purchase order numbers and care home accounts. Phone Gillian direct on: 07971-953620 or see the advert on page 1.
THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 29 | PAGE 45
NURSE CALL AND FALL PREVENTION
Fall Savers - Affordable Fall Monitoring Solutions Fall Savers®, are an experienced market leading healthcare provider of resident safety solutions for over 15 years.
FALL SAVERS ® WIRELESS MONITOR Eliminate all cables with our new generation falls management solutions! Upgrade your falls programme with the latest technology from Fall Savers®. The NEW Fall Savers® Wireless eliminates the cord between the monitor and sensor pad. This results in less work for nursing staff, improved safety for patients and reduced wear and tear on sensor pads. Wireless advantages include the ability to use one monitor with two sensor pads simultaneously and support for many new wireless devices.
Benefits include: Safer for patients; less work for staff Bed and chair pads available One monitor works with two sensor pads Integrates with most nurse call systems A variety of options, including: Call button
Pager Floor sensor mat Wireless door/window exit alerts
TREADNOUGHT ®FLOOR SENSOR PAD The TreadNought® Floor Sensor Pad is built to last with a durable construction that far out lasts the competition. Our anti-bacterial floor sensor pad is compatible with most nurse call systems or can be used with a portable pager to sound an alert when a person steps on to the sensor pad. Caregivers typically place the sensor pad at the bedside, in a doorway or other locations to monitor persons at risk for falls or wandering. An optional anti-slip mesh reduces the potential for slippage on hard surface floors.
Features include: Connects directly to most nurse call systems High Quality anti-bacterial Floor Sensor Pad Large Size Pad: Measures (L) 91cm x (H) 61cm Options (sold separately): Anti-slip mesh for hard surface floors See the advert on this page for further details.
Aid Call Nurse Call Systems Aid Call has been leading the way in wireless nurse-call systems for over 40 years. We offer a wide range of products and bespoke solutions. All of our products have been developed following feedback from our customers who are the forefront of care delivery. We tailor our offering
life easier and more efficient for your staff and are simple for residents to use too. The combination of flexibility and functionality allows you to focus on the most effective care delivery, rather than being constrained by the limitations of technology. Our nurse call systems are not only powerful,
specifically to each individual customers require-
functional and reliable, but also robust enough to
ments to ensure you get the perfect system for
withstand the demands of a care or nursing home
your needs.
environment of any size or scale.
Aid Call wireless nurse call systems can make
See the advert on page 1 for further information.
Please Please mention mention THE THE CARER CARER when when responding responding to to advertising. advertising.
PAGE 46 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 29
NURSE CALL AND FALL PREVENTION
NURSE CALL
IT’S NOT OBSOLETE UNTIL THE OPERA LADY SINGS
EDISON TELECOM LTD (IN BUSINESS SINCE 1984)
have spares, enhancements and expertise for wired and wireless systems abandoned by the original manufacturer, whoever they are.
Call us on 01252-330220 We can give most systems a new lease of life and maintain them into the future.
www.edisontelecom.co.uk Please Please mention mention THE THE CARER CARER when when responding responding to to advertising. advertising.
Wireless Fall Prevention
By Ben Kilbey – Business Development Manager, Spearhead Healthcare
The last thing any care home wants to have to deal with is an elderly resident falling in their home. However, with over 255,000 hospital admissions in England a year relating to the elderly suffering injury after a fall, being alert and aware as soon as a fall happens is critically important in the administration of aid; as well as helping reduce emotional distress. For years, the care industry has used a tremendous range of call alert solutions to help care home staff respond to these falls quickly and easily. The most popular and regularly used of these are systems which plug in to nurse call systems. Nonetheless, these come with their own issues and can often create their own risks in regard to falling; largely in the use of trailing cables that need to be plugged in to make them work. These potential trip hazards can cause the exact issues they are trying to prevent. But with new innovations come new solutions, and we are increasingly seeing a range of wireless solutions that provide a variety of benefits. Below we list things to look out for when selecting these systems:
NO LOOSE WIRES
When looking at a wireless solution, make sure it truly is wireless and that any receivers, or sending features on the items are contained and are not left loose where someone can catch a foot on it, or accidently rip it out.
WIRELESS CALL BUTTONS
Edison Telecom
We here at Edison Telecom Ltd have been providing specialist solutions to your call system requirements tailor-made to each customers needs for over 25 years, says director Bob Johnson. Is your current Nurse Call “legacy”, obsolete, so full of software bugs or commercially not viable for your current supplier/maintainer to maintain? We may have just the part and expertise that you are looking for to give your nurse call a further exten-
Care home staff cannot be chained to their desk and need to be checking on residents and conducting all the duties that are required to create a smooth-running home, filled with happy residents. A wireless alert that can be carried in a pocket allows the user to respond as swiftly as possible to potential falls, helping homes provide the highest level of care. A centralized alert system is an option that also presents many benefits, as homes can ensure that the right person in the right place is alerted in a timely manner. Making sure that a system works both centrally and on the move, giving you the best range of options to help provide a high level of care.
PLUGS
While this might very well be viewed as a smaller issue, nurse call systems come with a huge variety of plug types; and ensuring that your receivers have the correct plugs for your call system is key.
LOOK AND FEEL
Make sure the system you choose is as unobtrusive as possible. Often fall prevention equipment is designed to be as hidden as possible. Should the item be particularly obvious make sure you are happy it fits as well as possible into the decor of the room it sits in and think about choosing a floormat that corresponds with the flooring in the room e.g. wood effect vinyl or carpet. Spearhead are proud to distribute the entire Alerta wireless range that has been launched this year. See the advert on this page for details. sion to life, adds Bob, “Edison will treat your nurse call with the same compassion that you give to those in your care. There will come a time when your equipment is beyond repair but Edison are experts in extending the life of obsolete systems.” www.edisontelecom.co.uk
THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 29 | PAGE 47
NURSE CALL AND FALL PREVENTION A Digital Future of Care in a Post COVID-19 Era After 50 years being at the forefront of advances in Nurse Call solutions, Courtney Thorne continue to develop solutions which now seem more relevant and important than at any time before. The introduction of digital care planning and medication solutions has enabled forward thinking care homeowners to go paperless, giving more accurate, timely and readily available information on those in their care. These same digital devices, tablets and smart mobiles can now be used to view calls and emergencies generated by a Courtney Thorne nurse call system. Both new installations and many existing Courtney Thorne systems can benefit with calls being delivered straight to the carer. Monitoring of resident’s care planning and medications are just two areas that reduces the amount of paperwork and administration, freeing up carers to spend more time actually caring. The monitoring of the caring staff themselves can become arduous and time consuming for management, not with a Courtney Thorne nurse call solution. The introduction of Staff ID tags of fobs is nothing new, there are so called systems on the market which use simple magnets which carers need to remember to press onto a room sensor when they attend, and again when they leave a resident’s room. With Courtney Thorne’s Altra Tag the process of logging who attended, what time they attended and how long they remained in the resident’s room is all logged automatically and seamlessly. No longer are there management and staff disputes about forgetting to “fob in/fob out”. The volume and detail of the data captured automatically by a Courtney Thorne nurse call system is vast. All the data is available to management using the reporting function built into the main touch screen server. However, where visiting the home is difficult due to COVID-19 restrictions or time and distance problems,
TumbleCare from Easylink Medpage Limited T/A Easylink UK was established in 1984 after the invention of an alarm clock to wake deaf people. The “Shake Awake” set a new precedent in quality standards for products designed for sensory care, notoriously at the time – rubbish. The company invented a new device for the detection of nocturnal epileptic seizures in 1994, which also set a new precedent for quality, especially after the company achieved certified medical accreditation. We could boast and say we have supplied more seizure detection monitors than any other company in UK. You could say we are innovators; we are and very proud of it. To constantly adapt to changes in demands for care technologies, remain competitive and continue to develop new care solutions it takes more than intelligence, it takes passion.
owners and managers may find retrieving data difficult, resulting in a lack of monitoring and possible reduction in quality of care delivered. Courtney Thorne’s CT-Cloud service provides ready complied, detailed reports daily, coupled with a “live” view of all data contained in the server from any location with an internet connection. Carrying out regular checks on sleeping residents is time consuming and often counter-productive as residents often wake, have poor sleep and can even fall after attempting to use the toilet once awake. Acoustic monitoring means that only those who actually need assistance get it, those who are sound asleep do not get disturbed and carers can concentrate on more productive tasks. So, in this new COVID-19 and Digital world what other new solutions are on the horizon? Nurse call devices around a care home become intelligent enough to identify a resident in need. Already we can measure changes in levels of noise, but monitoring light, temperature coupled with wearable devices monitoring vital signs, now a deterioration in a resident’s wellbeing can raise an alert or be recorded. A resident ‘connected’ with a wearable device can have their movement, location, heart rate, sleep, blood pressure etc., monitored automatically. Instead of intrusive, often unsocial physical monitoring, at-risk residents have vital signs checked and recorded continuously. If an emergency occurs, the nurse call system will still summon help, only now one of its key functions will be to record, store and make available critical data. Thereby reducing the touch points, minimising transmission of disease, freeing up carers time and providing a safer and healthier life for both residents and staff. For further information visit www.nursecallsystems.co.uk or see the advert on this page.
Lotus Care Technology The NurseAlert pressure mat has been one of the most successful floor pressure mats due to it being non slip and carpeted which makes it feel very natural under a residents foot. Lotus Care Technology Ltd have many other fall saving devices that can give you peace of mind whilst caring for this at risk of falls. Having many years of experience in
fitting and maintaining Nurse Call Systems helps the guys at Lotus Care Technology understand that every home is different and has different needs. They can specify not only the best system for the environmental factors in the home but also take into consideration the best products that will make your carers and nurses jobs that little bit easier. Visit lctuk.com for details.
Despite the COVID-19 lockdown, failing economy, factories closing and international shipping facing the worst crisis ever known, we have battled through. At the start of the lockdown we supplied the NHS and Local Authorities with over 2000 bed occupancy detection alarm systems, many of them used to enable long term patients to be discharged from hospital to free up beds for COVID victims. Independent living support was and is essential during this pandemic. Now we launch our new brand. TumbleCare. The TumbleCare brand is a range of fall detection and prevention products focussing on affordable quality and product performance. The products are tough, easy to set, use and provide carers with reliable advance warning notification of potential falls. Visit our website. Firstly, you’ll be amazed at the variety of care solutions we offer, then blown away by our realistically fair pricing. Visit www.easylinkuk.co.uk or see the advert on page 45 for details.
www.nursecallsystems.co.uk
PAGE 48 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 29
TECHNOLOGY & SOFTWARE CARE VISION Friends of the Elderly Selects Softworks Employee Rostering and Outstanding Care is at the Heart of Everything We Do
At Carevision, outstanding care truly is at the heart of everything they do. They have combined over 40 years of hands on experience running care homes and working with some of the smartest mind in tech, they have created Care Vision - An all-in-one, cloudbased system that incorporates all your care and admin in to one easy to use system. Carers can compile resident notes, health observations and EMAR. Care home managers can manage rotas, accounts, HR and housekeeping tasks and log visitors using the digital visitor book. Residents can use the system to make personal choices on meals and activities and use the app to keep in touch with family and friends. Rishi Jawaheer, director at Care Vision says “The 100+ care homes that use our system have seen its benefits – They are saving 2-4 hours of staff hours per resident, per week and they are achieving outstanding CQC results. Carers love it, residents and relatives love it, and care home managers can’t remember how challenging managing a care home was before it.” Of course, taking on a whole new system can seem daunting, that’s why Care Vision offer minimal investment, all round support and flexible hardware options. They don’t feel the need for long-term contracts, Rishi says “We have total confidence, once you use Care Vision, you will love it as much as we do.” The Care Vision team would love to talk to you about what the system can do for you. Contact at info@carevision.co.uk or call 0208 768 9809. See the advert on page 46 for details.
Time and Attendance Software for its Care Homes
Friends of the Elderly has been supporting and caring for older people since 1905.Their Care Homes provide residential, dementia, nursing and respite care dedicated to providing quality care with dignity. The organisation is passionate about its work and strives to provide quality care while continually evolving. As part of this ethos the organisation went to market looking for a solution to help transform and improve Employee Time, Attendance, Rostering and Skills Management within their network of Care Homes and after an extensive selection process selected Softworks. Commenting on the selection Sharon Nunn, Group Financial Controller of Friends of the Elderly said “Last Summer we identified that implementing a Workforce Management System to manage our employee Time, Attendance, Rostering and Skills would bring significant improvements to the everyday running of our Care Homes. We were using spreadsheets to manage key areas such as hours worked rosters, leave, absences, holiday requests and skills and this was becoming very complex and labour intensive.” “We knew streamlining and automating processes in these areas and removing time consuming paper-based admin would give both Managers and Healthcare Staff better oversight and more time to focus on the provision of excellent care within our Care Homes.”
Care Control Systems Care Control Systems Ltd is proud to create the UK's best Care Management Software designed for use within all standard, niche and complex care settings. Care Control has been in constant development since 2010 and was made commercially available in 2016. Since then we have expanded across hundreds of providers within the UK and are well recognised as leaders in our field. Care Control is used by over 15,000 care professionals daily across the UK in multiple service types ensuring their
“After meeting with a number of solution providers we chose Softworks because they really understood our requirements as a Care Home provider. They had a proven track record and were ready, willing and able to configure their system to our specific requirements rather than us needing to alter our work practices to fit in with their system.” “Aside from this we were impressed by the extensive functionality offered by the Softworks Workforce Management Software such as the complete HR module, Skills, Training and Expense Management modules, Compliance, Employee Self-Service and Payroll Integration.” Commenting on the project, Paresh Vadukul, Healthcare Relationship Manager, Softworks UK said “Friends of the Elderly focus on their residents first and we do the same. Our primary concern is enabling Care Homes to deliver the best level of care they can. Our Software makes sure they have the right person with the right skillset rostered at the right time no matter the circumstances and removes that admin burden from employee management. We were delighted to be selected by such a respected organisation as Friends of the Elderly.” See the advert on the facing page for details,
services have live, up-to-date essential information. Located in Tavistock, Devon our expert team is comprised of numerous industry specialists with many years of direct, hands-on care experience. This is one of our key USP’s. Our Managing Director, Matt Luckham started the creation of the original Care Control Software in 2010 with the aim to provide essential, accurate information for Spring House Care House in Devon. Matt had purchased Spring House in 2010. Matt developed the software and then spent 6 years proving its functionality within Spring House. It soon became apparent the software could add real value to other service providers and after numerous requests we decided to commercialise
the software. In 2016 Care Control Systems Ltd was founded and since then has gone from strength-to-strength with exponential growth. We now have an exceptional team of more than 20 staff who have over 70 years of direct hands-on care experience between them. On top of this our team of Software Developers are experts in their field and are constantly developing our products to ensure they offer everything our customers expect in what is a particularly complex sector. 2020 has been a record year for Care Control with record numbers of customers choosing us, office expansion, overseas sales and an ever growing team to name just a few things. We are so excited for the future! Visit www.carecontrolsystems.co.uk or see the advert below for further details.
Reliable Technology Can Be the Difference Between Your Care Home Getting By or Excelling As a healthcare professional, your goal is to deliver the best care for your residents, but you can’t focus on them if you’re constantly struggling with unreliable, under-performing technology. Here at EC Computers we specialise in technology management for Care Home. We take care of all your IT, preventing technical issues from ever happening, and providing powerful solutions that help you streamline operations and improve staff and resident experiences. Our OnePoint Solutions improve both staff and resident
satisfaction for Care Homes, these include: Managed IT Services Office 365 Communications and Document storage Data Backup Solutions Virtualization for Groups requiring on premise servers VoIP Solutions to provide flexible working and cheaper calls Desktop and Server Support Cybersecurity Solutions to keep you important data safe
Data Cabling and Infrastructure planning Software applications - CRM - Database - Custom apps Would your Care Home benefit from Managed IT Services? We believe every Care Home can achieve more with help from a Managed Services Provider (MSP), but you’ll need information to make your own decision. So please contact us today, or call us direct on 0117 200 1000. See the advert on page 47 fpr details.
THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 29 | PAGE 51
TECHNOLOGY & SOFTWARE Workforce Scheduling Solutions Workforce Scheduling Solutions deliver Electronic Time & Attendance systems worldwide, using the latest Face Recognition technology.
Why should care homes move from paper to electronic time sheets The industry is under considerable financial pressures. An efficient electronic booking on/off system that will schedule, provide budgets, calculate hours worked, overtime and absence such as sickness and holiday entitlement will save Time and Money.
How is time and money saved by doing things electronically?
Collecting payroll information from paper timesheets can be slow, prone to errors, and very labour intensive. Staff rosters can be produced as far in advance as practical and accurate within budgeted hours. Staff book on and off-duty electronically, thus eliminating any time errors. Wage queries are virtually eliminated and immediate checks can be made without wading through reams of paper which invariably are inaccurate, misfiled or even 'lost".
There are many systems on the market - Why facial
recognition is important and how it works Some systems use tokens, which can be lost or left at home, requiring management involvement in the booking on/off procedure. Fingerprint systems can be beaten and Social media is awash with ways to copy fingerprints. Face recognition combined with a staff PIN is simple to use and manage using touch screen technology and web cams. Staff see their image displayed immediately when booking on or off and confirms their identity visually. It provides the best deterrent available as it builds a greater 'image knowledge’ of each employee, a picture is worth a thousand words. Eliminates 'buddy punching' where employees can book colleagues on/off duty using someone’s tokens, swipe card or even fingerprint.
How is data protected? With the correct security setup computer systems provide more data protection than paper-based records which can be easily removed or stolen. GDPR covers all data including paper records and therefore the chances of infringing the rules and incurring fines is greater with paper. Visit www.wfsoftware.co.uk
Alpaka at Askham Village Askham Village Community is a group of specialist homes which provide professional nursing care to young adults and the elderly. Growing organically over the last 30 years, means internal processes have evolved to keep pace with regulatory requirements and the needs of a growing organisation.
Paper-based reporting and recording systems were the norm for rotas, timesheets, annual leave and absence as well as training status and other personnel information. Alpaka software adoption proceeded in four stages, paced to match the staff expectations and available time. 1. Software Champions: An introduction to Staff data & Rotas 2. Management Team: Parallel working with old process and Alpaka 3. Employees: Presence app for clocking in and out with paper timesheets for comparison 4. No more paper, the full digital experience. Askham's 'challenge' is a common scenario in the care sector, mainly where businesses have grown and processes have remained manual and paper-based. It might seem a daunting task, but with the right technology, a digital transformation is possible and profitable. The full case study is available to read on https://alpaka.io/case-studies/care Call Alpaka on 0203 286 6109 or email kate@alpaka.io
PAGE 52 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 29
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
5,000th Care Provider Chooses QCS Barnet Carers have become the 5,000th organisation to join the QCS family. In recognition of the historic milestone, QCS rewarded the Finchley-based charity with a free subscription. In this exclusive case study, CEO Mike Rich, talks about the many complex social care challenges his organisation faces, how it is overcoming them and how a hybrid content system, which provides compliance, guidance and technology is proving transformative. How do unpaid carers keep up with regulation, while providing outstanding care to their loved ones? In the London borough of Barnet many rely on Barnet Carers, an independent charity based in Finchley, which provides information, emotional and practical support to many of the estimated 40,000 informal carers living in the borough. But with Covid creating an extra set of regulatory challenges, it was a question that Mike Rich, the CEO of Barnet Carers, had also been pondering. After conducting many hours of research, Mike found the answer. He has chosen to seek the help of Quality Compliance Systems (QCS), which many charities and care providers in the UK have come to rely on for their regulatory requirements, best practice content, and for their technology needs too.
BEST PRACTICE CONTENT IN GREAT DEMAND IN INFORMAL CARE SECTOR
The charity, which has been delivering care in Finchley for over 30 years, is particularly reliant on best practice content – to supply both the informal and professional carers’ in the borough. In doing so, Barnet Carers provides unpaid carers and those they after with access to activities, counselling, training and outings. Mike, who has worked in the voluntary sector for over 30 years, says his staff “provide guidance, advice and emotional support” to carers as young as five years old. He explains, “Often the challenges are extremely complex and nuanced. From an emotional perspective, for instance, it’s often the children who worry constantly about their sick parents, when for most families it’s usually the mother or father that carries the burden. Depending on the severity of their parent’s illness or condition, the anxiety and stress that young carers experience often impacts on education and friendships. A large proportion of child carers are bullied and, most devastatingly, many, who also have to cook, clean and look after their siblings, miss out on their childhoods. Add a second lockdown to the mix and you have a perfect storm. At Barnet Carers, we’re doing everything in our power to not only help carers in these extremely difficult times, but to provide them with some of the opportunities that children from mainstream families take for granted every day.”
UNDERSTANDING YOUNG CARERS IS THE KEY TO REACHING THEM
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To ensure that his staff can provide the right advice and guidance, Mike has created a specialist team, who are wholly dedicated to working with young carers. The team provides mentoring, activities, support in schools, tutoring and a raft of other services, which also requires an in-depth understanding of compliance. Mike, explains the importance of compliance in an era of Covid, “To really be able to reach child carers, you have to understand the hurdles they face every day. You also need to do so through the prism of regulation. In this respect, QCS provides us with the regulatory building blocks that we need to do our job. How? Well, we know that when we feed in QCS policies, procedures or best practice content to our care plans, it will be up-to-date, meet regulation, and, most crucially, it will make a genuine difference to them.” In addition to providing support to informal carers, Barnet Carers’ also operates a domiciliary care service, which it established 30 years ago. The home care service, is run by fifty professional care workers, who provide care to 100 people across the borough, that is funded either privately, or by the local authority.
BEST PRACTICE CONTENT IS A GAME CHANGER FOR DOMICILIARY CARE
Mike says, “Barnet Carers is well known locally for its home care service. We pride ourselves in providing high quality person-centred care. That means delivering a holistic package of care. Fulfilling service users’ basic care needs – such as ensuring they have the correct medication, preparing meals and helping them to toilet and to shower - is just the tip of the iceberg. Great care is when carers actively engage with service users on a personal level - listening to them, laughing with them and, most importantly, making them feel good about themselves.”
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES SHOULD BE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL
But how is QCS content making a difference to Mike and his team? Mike says that QCS has not only reduced the burden of regulation, but has made content much more accessible to care workers. In the long run, he thinks QCS will probably help to improve efficiency, which will mean that staff can spend more of their working day caring, and less time searching for policies, or updating them. He adds, “In terms of compliance tools, when we asked care staff what they needed most, the response was fairly unanimous. They wanted to be able to find policies and best practice content quickly, and they wanted the content to be easy to read and to understand. QCS ticks all the boxes.” However, as a CEO, it is the vast number of curated policy initiatives – 8,500 pages in all – that Mike feels will add real value to the quality of care that his frontline staff will be able to provide carers and service users in the future. “We’re a relatively small charity and simply don’t have the resources or the expertise to produce this kind of content. QCS’s guidance covers everything from infection, prevention and control and Dementia, to more arcane content such as helping carers care for people with osteoporosis. Now we have access to it, we can provide service users with an even higher standard of care. In the shadow of Covid, that’s both incredibly reassuring and exciting.” For further information on QCS, visit www.qcs.co.uk
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Midlands, Hinson Parry has a wealth of expertise and experience encompassing local market knowledge as well as operating on a national basis. Visit www.hinsonparry.co.uk
Without QCS we wouldn’t have been rated as an ‘outstanding service’ Rupert Stocks Registered Manager, Guyatt House
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