Care Home Magazine December 2023

December 2023 carehomemagazine.co.uk

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Chief Editor

Jade Evans jade.evans@cimltd.co.uk

Editorial Assistant Brooke Tremain bt@cimltd.co.uk

Publication Manager James Davies jamesd@cimltd.co.uk Tel: 01795 509 112

Account Manager Hannah Moody hannah@cimltd.co.uk Tel: 01795 509 112

Administration Manager Natalie Murray admin@cimltd.co.uk Tel: 01795 509 103

Credit Facilities Manager

Gwen Lee creditcontrol@cimltd.co.uk Tel: 01795 509 103

Design and Production James Taylor james@cimltd.co.uk Grant Waters grant@cimltd.co.uk

Marketing Manager Lucas Payne lucas@cimltd.co.uk

Sales Director Tom Woollin tom@cimltd.co.uk

Chief Executive John Denning

Editor’s Letter December 2023

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he winter months are notorious for posing significant difficulties for the older generation, and therefore, care homes and their residents. By that I mean the likelihood of living with one or more long term health conditions rises directly in line with age, and some conditions can become harder to manage as the weather gets colder. Through this and of course the nature of a care home, grieving can become a regular occurrence. As care staff work tirelessly day in, day out with residents, they of course become exceptionally attached to individuals and their relationships, meaning loss and dealing with it can be particularly difficult to navigate. This month we delve in to staff wellbeing, looking at how you can lend support in helping staff deal with grief and what kind of processes should be implemented.

With a huge focus also on activities this month, we speak with industry experts who reveal how to ensure your in-home activities are meaningful and share an Essential 5 on five ways to understand the effects your activities are having on the home. It’s scrapbooking which features as our Activity of the Month in December, where we delve into the benefits it can offer to residents, both physically and mentally.

We ensure you’re kept up to speed with the latest happenings in the industry through our update pages and we also share a hearty recipe for meal inspiration this winter in an instalment of Dishing Up. As ever, I hope you enjoy the read and now all that’s left to do is wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Jade Evans, Chief Editor © 2023 TGM Publishing Limited, 1st Floor, Saphir House, 5 Jubilee Way, Faversham, Kent, ME13 8GD. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form – electronic, mechanical or physical – without express prior permission and written consent of the publisher. Contributions are invited and when not accepted will be returned only if accompanied by a fully stamped and addressed envelope. Manuscripts should be type written. No responsibility can be taken for drawings, photographs or literary contributions during transmission or in the editor’s hands. In the absence of an agreement the copyright of all contributions, literary, photographic or artistic, belongs to TGM Publishing Limited. The publisher accepts no responsibility in respect of advertisements appearing in the magazine and the opinions expressed do not necessarily represent the views of the Publisher. The Publisher cannot accept liability for any loss arising from the late appearance or non publication of any advertisement.

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Table of

Contents 12

9 Staff Wellbeing

As a member of care staff, grief is unfortunately a prevalent challenge of the role. In our December edition, we look into how you can lend support in helping your team deal with grief.

16 Activity of the Month Introducing scrapbooking as this issue’s Activity of the Month, we explore the numerous benefits it can have in care homes, including sparking memories to boost moods.

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18 Activities

With activities acting as an integral part of life in many care homes, we look at how to ensure your in-home activities are meaningful.

24 Dishing Up

Providing yet another instalment of delicious inspiration, we share our Dishing Up feature with a recipe which comes from Vfl.

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26 Sustainable Laundry

A piece from experts in professional laundry services, Girbau, explores how their Genius smart washers work in line with efficient laundry operations in your care home.

30 First-Class Care

We work with Southern Contracts to understand how they are caring for the care sector after being noticed as Electrolux Professional’s top performing UK distributor in the last year.

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Industry update Care UK’s Hear Well project wins Nursing Times Social Care Award

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are UK’s Hear Well Project, which evaluates the impact of identifying and treating reversible hearing loss, was the winner of the ‘Nursing in Social Care’ category at this year’s Nursing Times Awards.

This nurse-led project was developed with the support of the Queen’s Nursing Institute’s (QNI) Community Nursing Innovation Programme, which provides nurses with expert support in developing innovative projects that improve care for individuals and communities. The two project leads from Care UK – Natalia Stan, Deputy Manager at Milner House and Suzanne Mumford, Care UK’s Head of Nursing, Care & Dementia – undertook the QNI innovation programme in November 2022.

In December 2022, there were over 1,700 people living in Care UK care homes identified as wearing hearing aids or deaf. The majority

of these had not had access to physical ear or hearing checks since before March 2020, due to the coronavirus pandemic. 63.6% of people living in Care UK care homes live with dementia, and of all residents, 20.4% are deaf or wear hearing aids.

The Hear Well project aimed to identify if training nurses in otoscopy and ear wax removal could alleviate challenges faced by residents with hearing problems and provide an easy to replicate model across a large, multisite organisation. The challenge was to establish simple and effective

treatments without the need to visit a clinic.

The project led to an improvement in communication, socialisation, mobilisation, and general wellbeing for residents who had ear wax removal with micro suction. Of residents receiving wax removal, there has been an improvement in hearing and understanding.

The Nursing Times judges were impressed by the project’s approach to identifying unmet needs, promoting wellbeing, reducing social isolation, improving relationships, and increasing social engagement.

Hull resident celebrates her 100th birthday

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resident at a care home in Hull has marked a milestone birthday in style.

Daisy Battle, who lives at residential care home The Hollies in Hessle, turned 100 recently. To mark the occasion, staff at The Hollies organised and hosted a party with around 40 of Daisy’s family members in attendance.

Born a century ago, Daisy grew up in Skirlaugh near Hull and has lived through some of the world’s most significant events.

The eldest of four siblings, Daisy’s early years were spent in Hull, where she developed a passion for dressmaking. This passion turned

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into a lifelong career as she worked for the renowned Edwin Davis Company, a local department store that traded until approximately 1978.

Daisy married her husband Ted in 1942 and has two daughters, Sandra and Kate, four grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren and seven great, great grandchildren.

Talking about the celebrations, Daisy said: “I am so thankful for everyone who came to celebrate this special day with me.

“To see my family and friends, and to receive so much love and warmth, it’s more than I could have ever asked for.”

As well as the celebrations, Daisy received lots of birthday wishes and gifts, including a heartfelt card from the King and a photo frame filled with cherished memories from her life.

Lauren Knight, Manager at The Hollies which is owned and managed by HICA Group, said: “It’s not every day we get to celebrate such a significant milestone.”

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Staff Wellbeing carehomemagazine.co.uk

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STAFF WELLBEING

Essential 5 With care staff acting as the beating heart of a home, we outline five wellbeing activities you could introduce for your team to ensure they’re looked after and therefore working efficiently.

1

Mindfulness Sessions

Conducting regular mindfulness or meditation sessions for staff can be great in helping to reduce stress, improve focus, and promote overall mental wellbeing. Seeking an external expert and getting them in once or twice a month for guided meditation, deep breathing exercises, or simple mindfulness practices can be effective, both short and long-term.

2

Wellness Workshops

Look to organise workshops or seminars focusing on various aspects of wellness. Specific topics could include stress management, nutrition and healthy eating habits, effective communication, time management, or even financial wellness – all aspects which have knock-on effect to an individual’s health and wellbeing. Once again, bringing in experts to lead these sessions can be highly beneficial for your care staff.

3

Physical Activities

Exercise has profound effects on mental wellbeing. It releases endorphins, which act as natural mood lifters, reducing stress, anxiety, and symptoms of depression. Regular exercise can also improve sleep quality, increase energy levels, and boost self-esteem. Encourage physical exercise amongst staff by organising fitness classes, such as yoga, Pilates, or simple stretching exercises at the home. You can also organise walking groups or set up a small gym area with basic equipment where the residents can get involved too.

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Creative or Artistic Outlets

Creative activities have been linked to reduced anxiety and depression symptoms. They offer an outlet for processing emotions and can serve as a therapeutic tool in therapy or self-care routines.

Offering creative activities can work as a form of relaxation and expression. This might involve art therapy sessions, craft workshops, or even music therapy. Providing an outlet for creative expression can be incredibly therapeutic and stress-relieving for staff members.

5

Peer Support Groups or Counselling

As the saying goes, a problem shared is a problem halved. Establish support groups or counselling services where staff can discuss challenges, share experiences, let off steam and receive guidance or feedback is essential in adopting a comfortable work environment. By introducing these groups, you can provide a safe space for team members to address work-related stress and non-work problems, build camaraderie, and seek advice from colleagues or professional counsellors. If staff members are surrounded my other individuals who are in the same situation, they are more likely to open up emotively.

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STAFF WELLBEING

Coping with Grief

With help from industry experts, we look into how to lend support in helping care staff deal with grief.

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are workers play a vital role in supporting people from many walks of life, both emotionally and practically. They are incredibly skilful in helping friends and family navigate their new normal, from the need to adapt when a loved one moves into a care home to coping when they sadly pass away.

However, things can look a little different when it is the care worker themselves that is grieving, so what can be done to support them?

Ana Ciobotaru, Home Manager at Austenwood Care Home, recognises how it’s important for care staff to take care of themselves as well as others, and believes you should try and encourage them to: “Acknowledge their own grief - give them time and space to process their emotions, talk to people they trust - whether a friend, family member

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or therapist, talking about their feelings can help them to cope and take care of themselves physically and emotionally - eating healthy foods, getting enough sleep and exercising regularly as well as engaging in hobbies can help them feel like themselves again.”

Perhaps one of the worst parts about grieving after the passing of a resident as a caregiver, is the fact it can be a struggle to maintain a professional demeanour when dealing with grief.

Ana highlighted the importance of if you are feeling able to work, it’s important to: “Take some time for yourself, be mindful of your body language and tone of voice and avoid expressing your own personal opinions or beliefs about death and grief.”

There are some common signs and symptoms of grief that could indicate that someone might need

support. If you notice someone withdrawing socially, having difficulty concentrating, or finding it difficult to complete tasks that they usually have no issue finishing, this could be a sign of them struggling with their grief. There may also be physical signs, such as feeling fatigued, stomach aches or headaches, or illness from a weakened immune system.

Ana commented: “It’s important to note that these signs and symptoms are not a ‘one size fits all’, the severity of the symptoms may change from person to person, and other symptoms may be present instead. If you notice that someone is not themselves, it may be worth checking in on them and seeing if they need some extra support.”

Grief is not linear, but creating a culture of openness and support, free from judgement, can give staff

STAFF WELLBEING members the space to process how they feel and deal with it in their own way.

Hannah Karim, Senior Care Expert Manager at Lottie, sees that as a manager, co-worker or team leader, in order to effectively support individuals who are grieving, it’s important to create a safe space to enable them to share their feelings.

“They can offer emotional support by allowing those grieving to share memories and feelings about the person or resident who’s passed, as well as signposting them to resources for grief counselling or support groups that can be helpful in providing practical support for anyone grieving.

“Grief affects everyone differently, so it is important to educate care staff on grief and how they can support anyone grieving.”

Coping with grief while providing care requires a proactive approach.

It’s important to acknowledge and express your and your team’s feelings and take the time needed away from the usual daily routine to take care of yourself.

Anyone grieving can benefit from seeking support through peer counselling, supervision, or external resources like grief support groups.

Hannah spoke about the importance of establishing healthy boundaries and said: “This is essential to prevent emotional burnout, ensuring you adopt self-care practices such as regular breaks and time off.

“Employers can support anyone experiencing grief through ongoing education about grief and bereavement, which can empower care staff to manage their emotions while providing compassionate care to others effectively.”

Unfortunately, due to the nature of the job, care staff are subject to facing grief more frequently than the average individual. Strategies for maintaining a professional demeanour whilst facing loss and grief at work are important to be introduced and Hannah suggests the following: “While empathy is important, it’s crucial to establish emotional boundaries. Create a balance

between connecting with others’ emotions and maintaining a level of professionalism to fulfil your job responsibilities.

“Encourage your staff to schedule regular catch-ups with you as a manager; this can offer a safe space to share any challenges you’re facing and help them to offer the best support tools to help you through a difficult time.”

So, how can care facilities promote a supportive environment for both staff and residents dealing with grief and loss?

Hannah sees that the focus for care providers is to offer a high level of compassionate care, including care and support for families who may have lost a loved one, as well as for any staff members experiencing grief or loss.

“The key to creating a supportive environment for anyone experiencing loss is to offer a listening ear and space to share

how they’re feeling, reminisce on fond memories of the person they have lost, and offer emotional and practical support.

“Through grief and bereavement training, care facilities can educate their staff on how to support anyone experiencing the loss of a loved one. Care workers will be well equipped with support tools to create a supportive environment, offer a listening ear, and signpost useful support services and resources for anyone who may be struggling,” Hannah finished.

Supporting care staff through the grief of losing a resident is crucial as they often form strong connections with those they care for. Remember, grief is a personal experience, and different individuals may cope in various ways. Providing a range of supportive measures ensures that staff can choose what works best for them during this difficult time.

What are some common signs that a staff member is experiencing grief?

• Difficulty concentrating • Mood swings • Changes in work performance - you may find they are less motivated in their role • Physical symptoms such as

fatigue and exhaustion • Personality changes - for example, if a staff member is usually very chatty, you may find they have become quieter and more introverted

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STAFF WELLBEING

Nurturing Wellbeing

Anoushka Farouk, Rapid Transformational Therapist and Spiritual Life Coach at Aventurine Therapies outlines details on the impact of empathy on care workers’ emotional health.

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he cultivation of emotional wellbeing for care workers demands a paradigm shift. Embracing empathy without neglecting selfcare becomes the cornerstone of sustainable caregiving. It’s not about detaching oneself from the profound emotional connections made but about acknowledging the need for self-preservation amidst the compassionate journey.

In conclusion, the emotional toll of empathy on care workers is a poignant reality that demands attention. Balancing empathy with self-preservation becomes pivotal in sustaining the emotional health of those dedicated to nurturing others’ wellbeing. Moreover, prioritizing mindfulness and holistic approaches within care teams amplifies the effectiveness of selfcare practices.

By fostering a team culture that not only embraces empathy but also integrates mindfulness techniques, holistic healing practices, and tailored support systems, care teams can truly shine. This combined approach empowers care workers to channel their empathetic strengths while

The emotional toll of empathy on care workers is a poignant reality that demands attention. fortifying their emotional resilience, ensuring a sustainable and supportive environment within the organisation.

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For more info on Care for Carers workshops visit. www.aventurinetherapies.com/ careforcarers/

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ACTIVITY OF THE MONTH

Re-Living Memories

Scrapbooking can be a beneficial activity for care home residents for several reasons and in this month’s Activity of the Month we share how.

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he hobbies many seniors participate in have the potential to boost physical, mental, and emotional health. Something as simple as creating a scrapbook filled with fond memories can cover all of these bases which is why scrapbooking is a great and meaningful activity to introduce in care homes for the elderly, and it offers numerous benefits for residents.

Cognitive stimulation is just one of the pros the activity can initiate.

Scrapbooking involves various cognitive skills, such as memory recall, creativity, and problemsolving and therefore engaging in these activities can help residents

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maintain or improve their cognitive function.

Scrapbooking is versatile in the sense that it can be introduced as both a solo or group activity. When residents choose to scrapbook on their own it can be great for mindfulness and to offer a sense of purpose, whilst introducing scrapbooking as a group can provide fantastic social interaction within the home. When engaging as part of a group, the activity can encourage residents to converse, share stories, and work together on projects. This social engagement can help combat feelings of loneliness and isolation.

Scrapbooking is also great for emotional expression as it allows

residents to express their feelings and memories through pictures, words, and artwork. It can be a therapeutic outlet for processing feelings and reminiscing about the past, something which some residents may struggle with.

When moving into a care home, it’s common for residents to become disoriented and feel as though they have lost a sense of purpose. Activities in general can really help to reinvigorate this purpose but those which are creative, such as the task of creating a scrapbook personal to them can offer that sense of purpose and accomplishment.

Completing a scrapbook can also boost self-esteem and provide a

ACTIVITY OF THE MONTH

tangible result of their efforts.

In curating the scrapbook itself it can act as reminiscence therapy for residents as it often involves going through old photographs and mementos, which can trigger memories and spark conversations about the past. This reminiscence therapy can be particularly beneficial for individuals with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.

Along with the mental benefits this activity can offer, there are physical ones too, such as the improvement of fine motor skills.

The act of cutting, pasting, and decorating pages in a scrapbook can help maintain those skills, which is important for overall physical health and independence of residents.

Introducing scrapbooking to your home also means that residents can create personalised keepsakes for themselves, their families, or friends. These scrapbooks can then be cherished by loved ones and serve as a lasting legacy.

Creating a scrapbook also offers multi-sensory engagement as it appeals to multiple senses, including sight, touch, and even smell (from using scented markers

or stickers). This multi-sensory engagement can enhance the overall experience for residents.

Many residents may have hidden or underutilised creative talents, and scrapbooking provides an opportunity to discover and nurture these abilities. By sharing their life stories and experiences through scrapbooking, residents can strengthen their sense of belonging in the care home community. It can

help build connections with fellow residents and staff.

To make scrapbooking more effective in care homes, staff and volunteers should provide the necessary supplies, guidance, and support. Additionally, it’s essential to adapt the activity to the residents’ abilities and preferences, ensuring that it remains an enjoyable and enriching experience for everyone involved.

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ACTIVITIES

Creating Engaging Lifestyles

With help from industry experts, we look at how to ensure your in-home activities are meaningful.

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ngaging in activities that hold personal significance can bring joy, fulfillment, and a sense of purpose, fostering a positive environment, which is why it is essential to ensure your activities are meaningful.

Participating in these tasks stimulate residents mentally and emotionally, which can help in maintaining cognitive functions, reducing feelings of isolation, depression, and anxiety, and improving overall mental health.

Speak Like A Native, the UK’s specialist in delivering small group language learning for all ages, has recently brought its expertise to care homes. It is now running French and Spanish sessions in several care homes and receiving positive feedback from residents, activity co-ordinators and management.

Holly Taylor-Hall, Speak Like A Native’s Operations Manager, has been central to devising and developing this innovative programme and frequently attends the free taster sessions the company offers, as well as visiting partner care homes where the courses are up and running.

“The best way to know that what we’re doing makes sense for the participants is to observe sessions and seek comments from those involved,” she said.

“It’s all about maintaining a close relationship with the activities co-ordinator,” Holly added, “and we do this by monthly check-ins, a quarterly observation and ongoing dialogue with the care home. It’s

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The involvement of family members and friends in the activity planning process enhances the personalisation of activities. essential that we listen as each setting may be different and each group of residents will have their own specific needs.”

She explained how session includes an opportunity for residents to share with the teacher what they’ve enjoyed and what they’d like to do. This is then implemented in the following session so that the learning is always meaningful and tailored to

the needs of the group. As Holly explained, this can only happen with flexible and experienced teachers and a programme that is built to move at the pace of those taking part.

“Our courses,” she said, “focus on topics, such as family, food, holidays, interests and are designed to give residents the opportunity to relate personally to them and talk about their own lives. Recounting

ACTIVITIES

memories and habits is strongly encouraged and it’s often easier for them to find comfort in these memories under the guise of a language lesson.”

“We also encourage visitors, family and friends to join the sessions and find that our residents are very proud to let others know that they are still learning something new.”

Speak Like A Native’s language programmes in care homes focus on both mind and body and take into account all abilities – not just language level – such as movement, memory and confidence. The role of the teacher is to get to know each resident so that within a group conversation will always be personal and meaningful.

“We have some participants who already speak French or Spanish, and this may be their only opportunity to practise something that means a lot to them. And then there are our groups where everyone is a beginner and they feel such pride learning something new. With language learning, progress is often a feeling of growing self-esteem by being able to do something you couldn’t do

an hour before. Of course, there are lots of laughs along the way too,” added Holly.

Ana Ciobotaru, Home Manager at Austenwood Care Home explained how creating a fulfilling and engaging lifestyle for residents requires creating an activity programme that is personalised and stimulating by design: “Getting to know residents so that activities are tailored to their needs can help keep them entertaining and meaningful for all who take part.

“The involvement of family members and friends in the activity planning process enhances the personalisation of activities and strengthens the connection between residents and their loved ones, helping to improve wellbeing.”

Ana advises facilitating regular meetings with family members to ensure that residents will enjoy the activities planned for them. This also has the added benefit of giving family members and friends more opportunities to participate and provide ideas.

“Establishing open communication channels will keep family members informed about upcoming activities and allow staff

to seek their feedback.”

It’s good to consistently ensure you’re aware of the effects your activities are having on residents, Ana commented: “It’s important that your lifestyle programme is regularly reviewed to ensure activities continue to be appropriate, and arguably more importantly, enjoyable for those taking part.

“Again, simply observing and speaking to residents is the best way to gauge whether activities are fulfilling and stimulating for them.”

Taking on board this feedback, in addition to themed events and/or seasonal changes to activities can help keep programming fresh for residents.

Ana sees that observing residents’ behaviours and moods after enrichment sessions can also be a great metric when reviewing programming.

Meaningful care home activities should also go beyond mere entertainment and strive to foster personal growth and learning opportunities for residents, empowering them to explore new passions, enhance existing skills and maintain cognitive function.

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ACTIVITIES

“Activities tailored to specific needs, such as reminiscence therapy for dementia patients, can help preserve memories, promote self-expression, and enhance overall wellbeing. By incorporating personal growth and learning into care home activities, we can transform these spaces into vibrant hubs of self-discovery and lifelong learning,” finished Ana. Sarah Clarke-Kuehn, Chief Operating Officer for Sanctuary Care, revealed how at Sanctuary Care, they go above and beyond the standard expectations of providing good quality care and support to ensure their residents live enriched and fulfilled lives.

“Our care is shaped around a defined framework. We call this Enriching Lives, a framework which is based on academic research that found that our residents and their families need to have ‘six senses’ met to feel fulfilled and content.

These include a sense of security, purpose, belonging, significance, achievement, and continuity.

“We use this framework to tailor our activities programme and

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deliver truly person-centred care to each and every individual who lives with us.

“We have designed a questionnaire for residents, which enables our care home teams to get to know each of our residents closely as an individual. This questionnaire looks at what makes every resident unique, the people close to their hearts, their passions and dreams, and the continuity of living they need to feel content.

“This questionnaire forms an important part of the on boarding process for residents when moving into our homes and is continuously updated during review sessions with our residents and their family members.”

To ensure your home’s activity schedule is kept fresh and engaging for residents it is important that it is frequently reviewed and updated.

Sarah told us how Sanctuary Care’s activity schedule is continually reviewed to ensure it is kept appealing for residents and their needs are part of the ‘Resident of the Day’ process: “Our activity

coordinators regularly evaluate how activities in the home are performing, assessing residents’ participation and exploring ways for activities to be tailored or improved.”

At Sanctuary Care they take a co-production approach to activity planning, with residents playing a central role in shaping what it is they want to see in the care homes.

Sarah believes that this approach enhances residents’ wellbeing by creating a sense of continuity and enabling residents to feel engaged with who they were before moving into the homes.

“For example, one of our residents, Rita Chapman is a retired music teacher who lives in Ravenhurst Residential Care Home in Worcester. Rita is passionate about music and with the help of our team, was encouraged to set up a choir – The Ravenhurst Angels - with other residents who have gone on to perform shows in the town hall.

“Organising the choir has given Rita a confidence boost, and as a result, she now often leads on

ACTIVITIES

activities within the home and has even volunteered at a local primary school,” Sarah added.

Gaining feedback and gauging how well-received activities have been is important to Sanctuary Care, so they offer a range of opportunities for residents to act as an ambassador for their home, representing the views of other residents by attending team meetings and offering feedback on a variety of matters, including activity programmes.

“For example, one of our residents, Edith Walker, is a resident ambassador at Hastings Residential Care Home. Edith takes great pride in visiting other residents in the home to check in on how things are going and to see if there is anything they would like or need from the team. This role also gives Edith a great sense of purpose, which we know is fundamental for an enriched life.

“Of course, feedback isn’t just limited to our resident ambassadors; all residents are encouraged to share regular feedback on activities and speak

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to the team about any ideas they have. This is done in formal chats and in review settings, as well on an ongoing basis and during informal conversations around the home,” finished Sarah.

Hannah Karim, Senior Care Expert Manager at Lottie understands that activities in a care home should focus on enhancing the lives of residents. To ensure a care home is offering meaningful activities, Hannah believes that activity coordinators should take the likes, dislikes and interests included in the care plan into account when planning activities.

At Lottie, they work with care homes across the UK to organise intergenerational activities that involve residents, their friends and family and the local community.

A most recent example of this is an intergenerational day hosted at Brookwater House Care Home in Enfield. Residents came together with their families, friends, and local beauty students to share their secrets to self-confidence with younger generations.

Hannah believes care homes

should rotate their activities regularly, offering new and fun activities each day whilst also including residents’ favourite activities.

“At Lottie, we’re always looking for new and collaborative activities we can bring to care homes, working with residents, friends and family members and the local community.

“To ensure activities encourage personal growth, learning, and skill development, we prioritise individuality. Whether this is residents expressing themselves through art, sharing their own life experiences with younger generations, or trying something new - there are plenty of ways to offer meaningful activities,” Hannah said.

Ensuring that activities in a care home are meaningful for residents is vital for their overall wellbeing, mental health, social interaction, and preserving their dignity and individuality. It is an integral part of providing high-quality care that considers the holistic needs of each resident.

FOOD AND NUTRITION

Dishing Up

In line with the festivities, this month, V for Life (VfL) shares a recipe guide this delicious Christmas Clementine Cake, bound to be loved by all!

V

for Life (VfL) was launched to ensure that people can maintain their veganism or vegetarianism (veg*nism) throughout their whole lives. The organisation support those living independently as well as those in care and their loved ones by providing services such as diet and healthy living advice, through to grants and a pen and phone-pal scheme.

People rarely envision themselves needing care when they get older.

Yet 410,000 people – about the population of Bristol – live in care homes in the UK today. Currently, veg*ns make up only a very small amount of these care homes’

Ingredients

• 500g/18oz unwaxed clementines* • 165ml/1/3 pint aquafaba • 170g/6oz sugar • 250g/8¾oz ground almonds • 1 tsp baking powder • 2 tsp vanilla extract • Pinch fine salt *If you can’t find unwaxed clementines you can place them in a bowl and pour boiling water over them until they are completely submerged. Leave for 5 minutes before washing in cold water.

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/160°C fan/gas mark 4. Lightly grease a 20cm round baking tin and line with a large single sheet of parchment paper on the base.

2. Peel half the clementines and discard the peel. Leave the remaining clementines with the peel intact. Cut all the clementines into quarters. Place all peeled and unpeeled clementines in a food

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residents, but the number is rising.

VfL is working across the UK to make sure that care establishments can cater well and ethically for older veg*ns. They seek to do this through our UK List, which details every organisation and care home that makes a special effort to cater for older vegans and vegetarians.

The Christmas Clementine Cake makes an excellent alternative Christmas dessert, it’s very moist, more like a pudding and delicious with custard. You can use the topping idea detailed below or your own favourite festive topping.

Stored in a sealed container, this moist cake will keep for three to four days. vforlife.org.uk

processor, and process for 30 seconds, or until smooth.

3. Place the aquafaba and sugar in a large mixing bowl and using an electric beater, beat them for 3–5 minutes. Once the mixture starts to turn white, add the puréed clementines and beat it for another half minute or so.

4. Add the ground almond, baking powder, vanilla, and salt and beat the mixture until it’s well combined and a smooth batter forms.

5. Pour the batter into the prepared tin and spread evenly.

Bake for 50–60 minutes, or until the cake feels firm to the touch.

Allow to cool then transfer to a wire rack and let it cool completely.

For the topping: Ingredients

• Two unwaxed clementines • Half an unwaxed lemon • 50g/1¾oz granulated sugar

• A couple of sprigs of rosemary • Icing sugar to dust 1. Peel one of the clementines and cut the peel into thin 0.5cm strips.

2. Juice the other clementine and the half lemon and pour the juice into a small saucepan with the strips of clementine skin, sugar, and the leaves from the rosemary sprigs.

3. Place the saucepan on a high heat, bring it to a boil, and then turn the heat down to the lowest setting and simmer it for about five minutes, until all of the sugar is dissolved.

4. Using a toothpick, prick holes in the top of the cooled cake and then gently pour the topping over the cake. Dust with icing sugar.

Preparation time: 15 minutes Cooking time: 1 hour, 10 minutes Serves: 8

LAUNDRY

Improving Laundry Sustainability

Exploring Girbau’s Genius smart washers in line with efficient laundry operations in your care home.

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n efficient and effective laundry operation is essential for the hygienic operation of every care home. It remains nonetheless a considerable and unavoidable user of water and energy. Reducing energy and water consumption offer the potential to reduce environmental impacts and improve the long-term sustainability of the home. Realistically though, how much room is there for improvement? Some of the latest laundry tech offers a lot.

Girbau’s next generation Genius smart washers are designed to lower water, detergent and energy consumption while boosting productivity. These innovative high spin washers can achieve up to 450G extract force for astounding levels of water extraction, faster drying and lower energy use. Tests on the Genius GS7018 found that it used 2.5 kWh for a full 18kg load cycle, compared to 3.5kWh for a comparable washer from a leading competitor. For a typical machine completing eight cycles per day, that’s a saving of over £900 a year, based on an electricity price of 31p per kWh. An optional integral weighing system measures every load and automatically adjusts programs to further optimise cycle time, lower water and chemical usage and improve productivity. The new unique Care Plus Drum extends linen life and decreases tangling.

The drum perforations also provide faster dispersion of water.

Genius washers offer unmatched

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durability and a high degree of programmability with high-speed spinning and automatic chemical dosing. The impact-resistant, full colour 10.5-inch waterproof screen is the industry’s largest. It features user-friendly icons that can be used while wearing gloves.

Girbau’s Sapphire remotecontrol software that is standard on Genius washers gives easy, flexible and versatile control. You can manage the laundry, compile production reports and analyse data remotely in real time from any device. Sapphire can also be used to configure washers to operate and record the use of thermal disinfection programs, essential in every care home.

For energy efficient drying, Girbau’s premium ED series dryers ensure all items are dried safely, uniformly, efficiently and costeffectively. Their unique Transflow technology combines radial and axial airflow for maximum efficiency, reduced cycle times and lower energy costs. Cabinet insulation and a double-glazed door also prevent heat escaping.

Girbau is also currently working with care providers looking to entirely decarbonise their laundry operations by switching from gas to electric dryers and sourcing 100% renewable electricity.

Tel: 01462 427780 Email: sales.uk@girbau.com Website: www.girbau.com

MARKETING

Helplessness,

Guilt and Tears

Andy Groves, co-founder of CareHug explains the driving force behind his desire to create a platform to benefit both care seekers and the care industry.

“I

spent three years helping to care for my terminally ill father. I was only in my twenties when he was diagnosed. Two years later I went through it all again – this time caring for my mother.”

Andy says he found arranging care ‘fraught with stress and angst’ brought on by a lack of experience. “Needing to find care for someone isn’t something that’s taught at school. You have to learn through experience, and typically that is only gained afterwards.

When my parents were trying to arrange residential care for my grandparents I remember vividly the helplessness, arguments borne out of guilt, and tears.

“However, I also remember a sense of calmness and relief once the right care was found. I’m determined to help narrow the gap between the stress, pressure, and guilt at having to find care, and the peace finding the right care can bring – and that’s what CareHug is all about.”

Andy Groves, co-founder of CareHug

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CareHug.co.uk is a free to use care home finder service featuring every care home in the UK

As well as passing on his personal experiences to care seekers, Andy is keen to highlight some of the outstanding care providers, along with the incredible work of those working throughout the sector.

“For me, all carers are amazing people. The carers who helped look after my father went above and beyond. They even attended my mother’s funeral a couple of years later and I genuinely don’t know how I would have coped without them. I still speak to them, and count them as good friends.

“So, through CareHug I want to champion all that’s good in the care industry, and help make things easier, better for everyone – providers, suppliers, care team staff, and of course care seekers.”

That desire extends to making CareHug accessible for care seekers, and of value for care providers and businesses within the care sector.

“Our service will forever remain free of charge for care seekers.

We also want to ensure value for our partners. For example, we offer a range of packages for care providers which include different membership extras such as additional marketing services or sponsorship opportunities. This allows flexibility – so care providers know they can benefit from additional services at a time when they need it – perhaps when room availability changes.

“There’s also huge value for other businesses within the care sector to partner with CareHug. For example, if you specialise in interior design for care homes, or your business arranges alpaca visits, our aim is to ensure your service or products are in front of your target audience when they’re needed.

“And that’s the core of what CareHug is – whether you’re a care seeker, care provider, or business working in the sector we want to help you find what you’re looking for – when you need it most.” www.carehug.co.uk

EQUIPMENT

First-Class Care

We explore how Southern Contracts are caring for the care sector after being noticed as Electrolux Professional’s top performing UK distributor in the last year.

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outhern Contracts, based in Bournemouth, is Electrolux Professional’s top performing UK distributor across last year.

This accolade is awarded to the company with the highest national sales of their professional laundry products.

Founded in 1964, Southern Contracts has good relationships with all the main manufacturers and has grown to be one of the UK’s leading suppliers of industrial laundry, catering and commercial cleaning equipment for offshore, marine and onshore businesses. It boasts clients in the Care, Nursing and Residential sector as well as Hotel and Leisure sectors, Local Authorities, NHS, MoD, The Royal Navy, Marinas, most of the cruise lines and several holiday parks, to name but a few.

Family run and now in its third generation, the company was originally formed to supply and maintain commercial special voltage floor care and commercial laundry equipment required by the shipping industry but has now grown to become a global supplier of commercial washing machines, cleaning, galley and kitchen equipment to a wide range of industries.

Adam Elphinstone, MD of Southern Contracts, said: “We’re proud to work with the big brands and especially delighted with this year’s award as it’s the 25th year we’ve won it from Electrolux Professional. With their Clarus Vibe range we know we are providing our client with something reliable and super-efficient, while keeping their costs down too.”

Mark Rogers, Regional Business Manager for Electrolux

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Professional, added: “We’ve had a special relationship with Southern Contracts for over 30 years, and during that time they have regularly confirmed themselves as our highest performing partner for laundry in the UK. We count them as a first-class partner.

“I personally have worked with them over seven years and can always trust them to select the best solution and provide exemplary after-care for all our customers, whatever their sector.

“With their in depth understanding of our products, gleaned over the decades of our

relationship, they continue to preserve the first-class friendly care of a family run business for both their remote and local customers.”

For more information about products and services on offer, contact Southern Contracts’ expert team of technical staff to provide guidance and advice through every aspect of your purchase, from selection through to commitment to our outstanding customer service. Telephone 03301 222888 or visit www.southerncontracts.co.uk and mention this advert. They can also be followed on Facebook, X, Linkedin and Instagram

Already enjoyed in 2,700 + care settings

BUSINESS

Fees Explained

In this informative piece in collaboration with Bounce Forward, we look at pricing in care homes, along with its importance and the legal requirements of the CMA.

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hen a prospect walks through the door of your care home, top of their list will be:

How much will this cost me and I am getting good value for money?

We know good care isn’t cheap and it is so important that you demonstrate the quality and benefits of your service in proportion to the price your prospective resident will pay to live in your care home – giving them a ‘value for money’ explanation.

Your team may be fantastic at building rapport with your enquiries, encouraging them to visit your home and carrying out super showrounds. They may have just the right empathy when meeting families and potential residents, and have a beautiful home they are really proud to show - but what happens next?

Sarah Loveday, Founding Partner at Bounce Forward* told us, “We have found so often when carrying out our mystery shops that a home stumbles at this next stage - telling the customer exactly what fees they will be paying, should a loved one move into their home”.

This can be understandable; many people feel uncomfortable discussing money. However, unless you have detailed pricing information to give to your new enquiries, you may well be in breach of consumer law.

In 2018, the Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) published the first of its advice for care homes, stating that there is a legal obligation for care homes to be transparent with their fees and that this should be in the form of a ‘key facts’ sheet in an information pack

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or inserted in your brochure. This information should also be clearly available on your website.

“If we visit a care home where there is no fee information set out on a professional, detailed sheet, that home begins to lose our interest,” Sarah continues. “Many homes have a ‘sales manager’ and the information is in the pack we are given, but often we are shown around by the Home Manager or administrator, and discussing money does not come as easily to them.

If so, it is even more important to have this information written down.

In many homes we have to ask for prices at the end of our visit; we are not automatically given them.

We have visited homes where the Home Manager has hastily scribbled a ‘from’ price on the back of the brochure and homes where we are promised an email with pricing after our visit, but we never receive it.

Unless your care home gives your visiting families full, detailed

fee information, you could easily lose their interest and trust. If there is very little to choose from between your home and your local competitor who has all the information professionally printed to give you, the chances are you will lose your enquiry to that competitor.”

Families expect to be told the weekly price, so why not use this to your advantage? Take time to understand their needs and show them the relevant features and benefits of your home. Take time to fully explain to them exactly what you can offer your loved-one – not just in terms of care, but meals, activities, lovely events where families are welcomed… all the enhancements that make your care home stand out. *Bounce Forward offer mystery shopping services and enquiry handling training specifically to the senior care sector.

www.bounce-forward.co.uk info@bounce-forward.co.uk

GET IN TOUCH We’d love to hear from you on how your business is progressing in 2023. Specifically, any new ideas you’ve implemented, any ways you are making additional revenue, your sustainability initiatives and your plans for the rest of the year – we know that a lot of you are doing inspiring things every day in your businesses and we want to give you the opportunity to shout about it.

Please reach out to jamesd@cimltd.co.uk for the opportunity to be featured in Care Home Magazine.

www.carehomemagazine.co.uk

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Care Insurance Aldium Insurance

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Coffee Solutions JDE Professional UK 0808 100 1030 www.jacobsdouweegberts professional.co.uk

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Laundry Girbau

01462 427780 sales.uk@girbau.com www.girbau.com Girbau girbau-uk

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