The Elder May Edition (Home Instead Newsletter)

Home Instead

York & Ryedale newsletter

elder THE

May 2019

Out and about with our clients We are absolutely loving all the images we have been sent in recently showing us what our CAREGivers have been up to with their clients. It really is fantastic to see all the different places they are visiting and all the great ways they think of to encourage clients to get out and about for a bit of fresh air.

This month we have seen lovely Elizabeth sitting out eating her dinner in the garden to make the most of the Spring sunshine, James’s trip to the Holgate Windmill, Catherine’s visit to Castle Howard Garden Centre, Helen and Maz’s Beetle Bank Farm feed and Patricia enjoying a chippy tea!

Interested in organising a trip out with one of our CAREGivers? Give us a call on 01904 690884, to find out some more information.

Making the home dementia friendly and safe Dementia can have a significant impact on a person’s daily life, including how well they function within their home. Memory problems and the ability to co-ordinate, recognise and interpret the home environment can cause safety issues and frustration. The person’s difficulties can also be exacerbated by other health conditions which may be affecting their sight and mobility.

To help the person with dementia maintain their independence and support a good quality of life, it’s important to make the home as easy to manage as possible. Try to involve the person with dementia in decisions about any changes that are made. If this is not possible, make sure decisions are taken in the person’s best interests.

Not all changes have to be expensive. With some simple adjustments, a home can become safer and more dementia friendly.

Light and noise Light is exceptionally important for someone with dementia as it helps with orientation, well-being and reduces the risk of falls. To increase the amount of light in your house you could try:

▲ c reating more natural light by pushing back curtains and taking down unnecessary net curtains or blinds ▲h aving light-coloured curtains, if possible, to help reflect daylight ▲ i nstalling lightbulbs with a high wattage ▲p lacing the person’s favourite chair by a window so they get more natural daylight and can look outside to see what is going on ▲u sing portable low-level lights or a plug-in night light in hallways to aid orientation at night.

At night time you might like to use heavy curtains in the bedroom to aid sleep.

Overstimulation can cause agitation and distress in people affected by dementia, as it can be difficult to concentrate on more than one thing at a time. Try to reduce unnecessary background noise from TV and radio, unless you are using them. If the person lives in a busy environment with other people, it’s important that they have a quiet space to retreat to if necessary.

Give yourself a better grip Having the strength to grip can impact the everyday lives of the elderly. A great way to improve on grip is to do this squeezing exercise with a tennis ball while watching TV: ● Hold a tennis ball or other small rubber or foam ball in one hand. ● Slowly squeeze the ball as hard as you can and hold it for 3-5 seconds. ● Relax the squeeze slowly. ● Repeat 10 – 15 times. ● Repeat 10 – 15 times with the other hand. ● Repeat 10 – 15 times more with each hand.

‘Wildlife sites around York’ – a new guide to York’s best wild places York residents are fortunate to have a wealth of publicly accessible wild spaces on their doorstep. Almost ten percent of the UK’s flower-rich flood meadows are found in York. Otters and Water Voles can be seen along the Rivers Ouse and Foss.

York is also the site of the country’s most northerly example of extensive lowland heath at Strensall Common as well as hosting internationally important populations of wetland birds in the Lower Derwent Valley. Many of these places are easily accessible by bus, cycle route and footpath.

The City of York Council has produced a guide to a selection of wildlife sites to be found across the city area.

The guide ‘Wildlife sites around York’ can be found on the iTravel York website at www.itravelyork.info/walking/ walking-for-leisure/wildlife-walks/ We hope you will enjoy seeing some of the amazing wildlife to be found in York. Please respect these precious places, follow ‘The Countryside Code’ and obey any local regulations.

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Andy Boast

Carol Hirst

Care Manager

Daphne

Ellis

Garrett Charlene r Staff Co-ordinato

Karen Skouras

Recruiter

Jack Fisher Administrator HR Finance &

2014

2013

2011

2009

York franchise opens

New offices open in Clifton Moor

2012

HSBC BSA Franchise Finalist

C E L E B R AT I N G

SARY 2019 NIVER 2009 AN

York & Ryedale

British Care Awards – Regional Finalist Winner  City & Guilds Dementia Training for CAREGivers & Local Community

Daphne Ellis Appointed General Manager  Fraud protection workshops launched 2015

Luke Norbury Director Managing Childs nt Officer Roisheen Developme Community

2015

York Press Small Business of the Year  Annette Dowson wins CAREGiver of the Year

2017

Minster FM Listener Award ‘The Elder’ Finalist and  ‘The Top Ten Companion’ Homecare are launched Award  winner Queens Award for Enterprise 2017

2016

Timeline

York & Ryedale’s

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 “Each Home Instead Senior Care® franchise office is independently owned and operated.”

2018

Top Twenty Homecare Award winner  CQC Outstanding