Abicare

IT’S A MATCH!

A new platform piloted in West Sussex could revolutionise the way that home care is delivered. Hanna Prince finds out more about CareMatch

When you find yourself in need of home care, it can often happen suddenly. That’s why CareMatch, an innovative new platform that connects clients directly with local carers, is such an effective idea. CareMatch is the

brainchild of Anne Marie Perry, the owner-manager of home care services agency Abicare. It’s based on a deep understanding of the problems facing more traditional care models – not just the lack of guidance and signposting for those who find themselves urgently in need of home care, but also the difficulty of coordinating teams of carers, pay rates that fail to reflect responsibility levels, and high staff turnover within the industry.

“With CareMatch, we want to change the world of care,” explains Anne Marie Perry. “My aim was to create teams of hyper-local carers so you’ll always be able to find a carer if you need one. I also wanted to pay carers more without increasing rates for customers and move away from the ‘time and task’ model to offer a personcentred service that can really deliver outcomes.”

The platform assigns ‘care hubs’ to individual clients. Each hub includes carers engaged to work for that client, as well as family members and others with an interest in their care. There are some significant advantages to this approach – not only can flexible rotas be negotiated without going through an intermediary, but families are kept closely informed and the community-based concept means that carers will have local knowledge that can benefit their clients. Cutting out coordinating costs also results in carers being paid more – although each community has a clinical lead to offer support and help

Underlying Care Match is a strong appreciation of both clients’ and carers’ needs

with any issues.

Underlying CareMatch is a strong appreciation of both clients’ and carers’ needs - insights drawn from Abicare’s long experience of domiciliary care provision. Abicare has been offering home care services for more than 30 years. The company expanded its community support offering during the coronavirus crisis, easing the pressure on hospitals by delivering five ‘care hotels’.

“We understand that if you’re a care provider then you need to engage and we’re constantly thinking about what we can be doing to make it a better care world,” says Anne Marie.

CareMatch is a continuation of that pioneering philosophy. The platform has been piloted successfully in West Sussex since late 2019 and launched nationwide in April. While local authorities can’t currently contract through CareMatch, it’s possible to use a personal budget granted by your local authority to fund care through the service. l

CareMatch Limited

Visit www.carematch.ltd to find out more and sign up. info@carematch.ltd 07562 601622

Had enough of being overweight?

No matter how hard you have tried in the past, The Metabolic Weight Loss Programme could be the answer to losing your weight and keeping it off once and for all.

Rachel Ricketts, Weight Loss Consultant

It can be extremely frustrating when you just can’t seem to lose excess weight, no matter what you do. If you have reached the stage where putting on any more weight is simply not an option for you, then read on!

Feeling and looking better

Improving your health and welbeing

Being overweight is no laughing matter when the physical strain on your body is starting to take its toll on your health. Your GP or your family may have expressed their concern and urged you to slim down – all very well if only you knew how to!

Help is at hand to resolve your weight problem. Rachel and her team have helped over 8,000 clients of all ages and from all walks of life to slim down successfully. Many come to see her as a last resort and are delighted to have achieved, and successfully maintained, the weight they want to be.

A workable programme that’s easy to follow

As the weight falls off, time after time clients remark how well they feel, how much fitter they are and how their energy levels have increased. Typical health improvements include blood pressure, cholesterol, fitness, blood sugar levels, mental alertness, skin conditions and even fertility. With an expected Clients often comment on just how impressed their doctors or consultants average weight loss are with their weight loss and health improvements. “My doctor is very of 7-14lb a month for happy - I’ve been able to come off blood pressure and cholesterol clients and hundreds medication.” Another client’s doctor said, ‘All my lady patients on thyroid of hand written medication are struggling to lose weight, but you’ve lost 2 ½ stone testimonials, Rachel’s despite being on thyroxin –well done!’ results speak for One-to-one support themselves. Consultations are available every 7-10 days with email support as needed. Clients welcome the very personalised support provided. Time and again, clients comment that they couldn’t have lost the weight without the support and encouragement of Rachel and her team. For those who are not able to visit, a very successful remote support The Metabolic Weight Loss Programme is a straight forward and workable four-stage eating plan: the first two stages deal with weight service is provided throughout the UK and overseas. Distance is no object! loss, while the last two stages deal with weight maintenance. This Call now for a free consultation highly successful tried and tested programme is easy to stick to and more importantly, it works. absolutely no obligation. The expected average weight loss of clients is 7-14lb a month. As you can imagine, clients are more than happy with this motivating weight loss, especially for those who have struggled with their weight for so long.

Full speed ahead for Woods Travel as popular travel firm celebrates 50th Anniversary

The award-winning West Sussex travel firm has proved its resilience to emerge from the pandemic in excellent shape and with a renewed determination to satisfy the demand from clients keen to embrace new freedoms afforded by the easing of lockdown restrictions. And Tina, who runs the company with joint managing director Kristy Elsmere and sales director Alison Waterfield-Jones, say it’s brilliant to be back in business after the enforced shutdown.

The relaunch of the coach holidays programme comes as Woods Travel commemorates half a century on the road. Founder Roger Elsmere, along with late friend Bill Wood, set the wheels in motion back in 1971. From those humble beginnings, the company has grown year on year and is now known for complete travel solutions including a travel agency as well as the coach holidays with their pioneering door-to-door service.

Over the years Woods Travel has become known and loved for arranging relaxing trips to see sites throughout the UK and the continent. Now, with the popularity of staycations due to the continued restrictions on foreign travel, phones are already busy at the Bognor Regis-based company’s Park Road HQ.

Tina explains: “It has definitely been a challenging year or so because of coronavirus but we have always had a robust business model in place and that has helped us navigate through these trying times. We have certainly proved the business is resilient and now we are delighted to be able to get back to what we do best. Our fantastic staff have been complete stars, working tirelessly to process refunds and move customers’ money to new dates. The drivers have also been fantastic, doing whatever was required of them at the drop of a hat”.

“We have been meticulous in following government guidelines regarding safety measures and we’re constantly monitoring developments and this means we can ensure our customers’ welfare is always at the forefront”.

“Customers should be assured that we have been awarded the ‘Good to Go’ status by Visit England for having a Covid-19 Risk Assessment in place as well as processes to maintain cleanliness and support social distancing measures.

“Celebrating our 50th birthday gives us a chance to reflect on many years of

Tina Shaw-Morton and the team at Woods Travel are busy putting the finishing touches to a double celebration as the business prepares to mark its 50th anniversary AND looks to re-start its everpopular coach holidays

putting smiles on faces and it goes without saying that in this respect we owe so much to Roger, now retired, for his years of devotion to the business.”

Now the focus is fixed firmly on the future. Tina added: “From what we are being told, people are so, so eager to get away and enjoy a break after the confining nature of the lockdowns and, of course, we can help with that with some amazing trips available.

“There is a boom in staycations and later in the summer we hope to be able to once again be full throttle ahead regards continental bookings but this will obviously be determined by how we continue to cope with coming out of the pandemic”.

“With all this in mind, we have produced a stunning brochure – available now – detailing exactly what’s on offer. Our coach holidays will recommence from Monday 17th May 2021, in line with Government guidance. We very much look forward to hearing from everyone.”

To request a brochure, call

01243 871666

Information and bookings:

01243 868080

For more details or to view our brochures online visit

woodstravel.co.uk/brochures

GREAT THINGS

ARE HAPPENING JUST AROUND THE CORNER.

Visit Bolney Wine Estate for a great day out. Guided by nature, we produce award-winning still and sparkling wines which are made on our welcoming estate. Enjoy a truly unique vineyard experience with tours, trails, sampling opportunities and scrumptious locally sourced food in one of the most beautiful spots in Sussex. Buy a bottle or two to share at home to continue the experience.