The Elder - February Edition (Home Instead Newsletter)

Home Instead

York & Ryedale newsletter

elder THE

February 2020

What a Year for Home Instead Senior Care 2019 has been quite a year at Home Instead Senior Care both nationally and locally! We have received prestigious awards, passed care milestones and personal goals, achieved OUTSTANDING reports, and crowned a CAREGiver of the Year. There have been some exciting milestones such as reaching 200 offices in the

network and launching our very first TV advert. But ultimately it comes down to supporting our clients to live independently in their own homes and we’re proud that our offices UK wide have delivered more than seven million hours of relationship led care this year alone!

Make a date for the Companionship Café The Companionship Café has been running since September 2019 and is held at the Bothy Restaurant at Dean’s Garden Centre. It is a lovely environment and a perfect place to come to combat loneliness, socialise and make new friends. People turn up who don’t know each other and within minutes lively conversation and laughter fill the room. It is amazing to have a common interest to share life’s challenges and to be supportive to one another.

It can be very daunting turning up alone but everyone who attends is made to feel welcome. It is informal, in a relaxed environment, and there is no cost apart from the refreshments you would like to purchase. You can come along on your own or bring along a friend or a carer and get involved with activities or simply have a chat over a cuppa. Everyone who attends will be given a raffle ticket for their chance to win a drink and a cake at the next meeting.

The next meeting dates are: • Monday 10th February 2020 • Monday 9th March 2020 There will be no meeting Monday 13th April 2020 due to it being Easter Bank Holiday The meeting time is 10.00am to 11.30am in the Bothy Restaurant at Dean’s Garden Centre Both myself and Daphne are delighted to be involved with the Companionship Café and to work alongside the team at Dean’s Garden Centre. We both feel very privileged to have met such lovely people who have now become friends.

If you are interested in being part of something wonderful, please give me a call at Home Instead York & Ryedale on 01904 690884 and ask for Zoe or simply come along to the next meeting.

Cancer Champion Programme (York) Would you be able to spot the possible early signs of cancer in a friend or relative?

Become a Cancer Champion and learn about the early signs and symptoms of cancer, how to approach the subject and about National Cancer Screening Programmes.

No skills, qualifications or any specialised knowledge of cancer is required to take part in the session. Anyone and everyone can be a Cancer Champion, it’s about real people talking to real people and making every contact count.

Cancer Champions raise awareness about cancer in their community by engaging with people in conversation. They share their knowledge to reduce the risk of a person getting cancer and help prevent avoidable cancer deaths by encouraging people to take up cancer screening invitations or go to their GP if they have symptoms they are worried about.

Sarah Patten, Project Officer with Humber, Coast & Vale Cancer Alliance is delivering the below FREE sessions in January & February 2020.

Tuesday 21st January 2020, 9.30am–12.30pm Discussion Room, Post Graduate Centre, Scarborough Hospital.

Monday 27th January 2020, 10.00am–12.30pm Ophthalmology Seminar Room, York Hospital, Wigginton Road, York.

Thursday 6th February 2020, 10.00am–12.30pm Community Room, Costa Coffee, The Village, Haxby, York.

TO RESERVE A PLACE: Contact Sarah on 07851 248080 or Email eryccg.cancerchampion@nhs.net

Home Instead Senior Care York welcomes four new CAREGivers We’ve had a great start to the New Year welcoming four new CAREGivers onto our 3 day Monthly Introduction Programme. The course covers everything required to prepare our CAREGivers for

supporting our elderly clients in their own homes.

Interested in joining us for our next CAREGiver Introduction Programme? Give us a call on 01904 690884 to find out more information.

Dementia Helpcards Helpcards are for people with dementia to use and carry with them, to make it easier to get help or assistance when they’re out in the community.

Helpcards are a great tool to help a person with dementia maintain their independence.

They are the size of a credit card and free to order.

Two types of Helpcards Double sided  I have memory problems (1564) Includes a box on the front for people to record what they might need help with and space on the back for details of someone who can be contacted in an emergency.

Fold-out These cards are for anyone who wishes to include extra information, such as details about particular medical conditions.

 I have memory problems (1561)  I have dementia (1562)  I have Alzheimer’s disease (1563).

You can order a copy free from the Alzheimer’s Society at www.alzheimers.org.uk, by telephoning 0300 124 0900 or email alzheimers@mosaic-fs.co.uk

Finding the right support when looking for care Home Instead are teaming-up with the University of York to look at how people who pay privately for their care are helped to find the right support for them, and what more could be done to help. Dr Mark Wilberforce tells us more…

People who receive social care at home or in the community have to pay for this themselves if they have a certain level of savings. This is known as “self-funding”.

Importantly, self-funders (and their families) should still get help to find, choose and arrange the right care for them. Help might be available through local authorities, voluntary organisations, consumer groups, financial advisers, amongst others.

However, previous research has found that older selffunders and their families often face problems:  the process of finding and choosing care is often stressful and time-consuming;  information is too general and doesn’t help in making choices;  the many different types of social care that might be available are not made clear;  the financial consequences of paying and planning for social care is difficult to digest;  it is not a one-size-fits-all; some can manage without much assistance, whilst others want more advice.

Lots of self-funders are left to ‘go it alone’, making some very important decisions they have not considered before, and often at quite a troubling time of life. What can we do to make things better?

A new research project The University of York is now looking at what selffunders most value when seeking, choosing and arranging their social care, and how different groups of self-funders make their decisions. In the first part of the study, we will ask people about what is important when looking to make social care choices. What information is helpful? What sort of advice or guidance do you need?

Who would you want this from? How would you want this provided to you?

In the second part of the study, we will see if there are any distinct groups of self-funders who need different

types of help. This might be people with (or without) close family members, people looking for care at very short notice, or those with quite severe health needs. We will particularly look at their experience of making choices, and try to understand in as much detail as we can how they arrive at decisions. The interviews would also talk about whether a service that helped them to find and choose care would be something they would use and what might make that an option.

This research involves speaking with many older people who pay privately for care. We are delighted to be partnering with Home Instead at York. Luke Norbury, Daphne Ellis and their team have a long-standing interest in using research to improve quality, and to give local people greater voice and influence through partnerships such as these.

How will the research make a difference?

The University of York is committed to using their research to influence social care, so that people needing social care in the future are better supported in finding and funding their care. It is talking to lots of national stakeholders as well as local councils and care providers to ensure that the study will be able to make as much impact as it can.

Getting involved…

The research project is still in its early stages at the moment. However, we do a lot of research about selffunders and you might like to register your interest in our work, either perhaps to be involved at a later date, attend some of our events, or to hear more about our findings. You can contact Daphne Ellis at Home Instead York telephone 01904 690884. You can also contact the researchers direct at mark.wilberforce@york.ac.uk, or telephone 01904 321297.

Home Instead Senior Care 10 Clifton Moor Business Village • James Nicolson Link, Clifton Moor • York YO30 4XG Telephone: 01904 690884 Email: info@hiscyork.co.uk • Web: www.homeinstead.co.uk/york

Safe ■ Effective ■ Caring ■ Responsive ■ Well-Led Live well, your way with care at home “Each Home Instead Senior Care® franchise office is independently owned and operated.”