The Carer Digital - Issue #250

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Issue 250

Unified National Dementia Strategy Urgently Needed…

Report Reveals

A Care England report has emphasized the urgent need for a unified national dementia strategy, enhanced dementia-specific workforce training and sufficient sustainable funding to improve outcomes for those affected, support their relatives and carers.

The report entitled “The Current State of Dementia Diagnosis & Care in England”, a comprehensive review of how dementia is diagnosed and managed across the nation reveals ongoing gaps in diagnosis, significant regional dispari-

ties, and serious challenges in coordination of care.

The report identifies that the average waiting time from referral to dementia diagnosis has increased to 17.7 weeks, up from 13 weeks in 2019, with current waiting times ranging anywhere from 0 to 104 weeks across the country. In comparison, the range in 2019 was between 3 and 34 weeks.

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PAGE 2 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 250

EDITOR'S VIEWPOINT

Welcome to the latest edition of The Carer Digital!

A DEVASTATING DIAGNOSIS OF OUR DEMENTIA CARE SYSTEM

concerning backwards step. As Care England notes, while the target alone did not directly improve dementia care, it provided accountability and kept focus on dementia diagnosis, forming working groups among Health and Social Care Teams.

The report highlights critical failures within adult social care that demand immediate Care England's comprehensive report (front page story), attention. Only 28% of respondents found post-diagnosis support helpful, while care "The Current State of Dementia Diagnosis & Care in England," delivers a sobering assessment of our nation's response to one staff—who represent the backbone of dementia support—face significant barriers.

Remarkably, 82% of residential care workers have supported diagnostic processes, yet of its greatest health challenges.

70% face barriers accessing professional help for residents.

The report compels us to confront an uncomfortable truth: This disparity reveals a fundamental disconnect between those delivering care and the our dementia care system is not just failing—it is in crisis, which I suspect will come as no surprise to anyone in particular those systems that should support them. Our care workforce possesses the expertise and dedication to make a difference, but they are hampered by fragmented services, inadequate working in adult social care.

Editor The statistics paint a devastating picture. Nearly one in three training resources, and poor integration between health and social care.

Care England's recommendations offer a roadmap for reform, calling for standardised people wait over a year for a formal dementia diagnosis, while diagnostic pathways, reintroduction of accountability frameworks, and comprehensive 72% of individuals receive no signposting to support while workforce education. Their "Waiting Well" support scheme model demonstrates that waiting for memory clinic appointments. practical solutions exist—we simply lack the political will to implement them systematiThis is not merely bureaucratic inefficiency; it represents, as the report says, a procally. found failure of our duty of care to society's most vulnerable members.

The report's emphasis on early intervention is particularly crucial. Early treatment can The report's findings are particularly damning when we consider that dementia is the delay care home admission by up to 21 months, while the annual per-person cost for leading cause of death in England, responsible for 66,876 deaths in 2023, with the nummild dementia is £28,700 compared to £80,500 for severe dementia. The economic arguber of people living with the condition projected to rise to 1.4 million by 2040. The economic implications are equally staggering, with costs expected to more than double from ment for early intervention is compelling, but the moral imperative is even stronger.

As we face this escalating crisis, we must demand better from our political leaders. Ms £42 billion in 2024 to £90 billion by 2040.

MP Caroline Voaden's poignant words in her recent parliamentary debate on dementia Voaden's campaign calling for urgent reform to social care and, in particular, dementia care diagnosis, support, funding, and training deserves our full support. care resonate deeply: "Dementia is undoubtedly one of the most urgent health and care The removal of diagnosis targets and the absence of a national dementia strategy repchallenges facing our society... Watching people we love become confused by the world resent not just policy oversights but moral failings. around them, unable to communicate and fading away from us while so physically preWe commend Care England's hard-hitting report for its unflinching examination of our sent is heart-wrenching. Dementia has to be one of the cruellest conditions for those failures and its practical recommendations for reform. The voices captured within its afflicted and for those supporting them." pages are clear: we must act earlier, train better, and integrate smarter. Most importantly, I think we can all relate to that sentiment. I often recall my own mother's battle and we must listen to those who live with dementia and the care professionals who support subsequent death back in the late 1980s when the condition was relatively unknown—it them daily. certainly was to me—and was considered to be "part and parcel of growing old."

The time for half-measures and political rhetoric has passed. Our dementia care sysThankfully, we are all more aware of its devastating impact and cost to society today. tem requires urgent, comprehensive reform, backed by substantial investment and This week, a dear relative of mine in the Northwest died in a care home after a battling unwavering political commitment. The lives and dignity of nearly one million people with dementia for several years, while her younger brother is in a dementia specialist care dementia—and their families—depend on it. home battling the disease and his wife is in a separate care home, also with dementia.

On a lighter note, what are you planning for Afternoon Tea Week? We'd love to see Utterly devastating! your photographs of celebrations, and a £50 Marks & Spencer voucher awaits a lucky This is not, as we all know just a UK problem. Dementia represents a worldwide crisis, winner from our prize draw! Send us your photos and help us celebrate the small with the number of people living with dementia projected to triple by 2050, straining moments of joy that matter so much in our care communities. (See page 9). healthcare systems and families globally. However, our response to this challenge has I would encourage our readers to sign up for our bi-weekly digital newsletter at been woefully inadequate.

The removal of NHS dementia diagnosis rate targets in 2025 represents a particularly www.thecareruk.com and follow us on social media for all the latest news.

Peter Adams

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THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 250 | PAGE 3

Unified National Dementia Strategy Urgently Needed (CONTINUED FROM FRONT COVER) GOVERNMENT FAILURE This worsening trajectory, compounded by an ageing population and the projected rise in those needing care and support, points toward a government failure to deliver timely and effective strategies to address the growing demand for dementia services, the report says. As a result, inequities in access to diagnosis and care are deepening across regions, something unlikely to be resolved unless the necessary funding and support is provided by the government.

In May 2024 a report by the Alzheimer’s Society warned that dementia could cost the UK almost £91bn a year by 2040, as the number of people affected rises inexorably The “colossal” costs of the disease are likely to more than double from an already “staggering” current cost of £42.5bn to £90.6bn.

That projected rise will happen in line with an expected increase in the number of diagnosed cases from 981,575 to 1,402,010, related to an ageing and growing population.

EARLIER DIAGNOSIS Commenting on the Care England report launch, Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive of Care England commented: “People living with dementia, and the professionals who care for them, are navigating a system that is too often reactive, underfunded, and disjointed. This report is a call to redesign that system from the ground up, which needs national leadership, long-term investment, and a commitment to treating dementia care as a priority, not an afterthought” “Behind every statistic is a person whose journey with dementia could have been better if there were earlier diagnosis and more coordinated care.

“We need leadership, investment, and urgency – as a society, we owe it to the nearly one million people living with dementia to build a system that acts before crisis, supports every stage of the journey, and delivers dignity, not disparity.”

Developed with leaders across the sector, this report calls for: • A national standardised diagnostic pathway with streamlined processes.

• The reintroduction of a national dementia diagnosis benchmark as part of a Dementia Accountability Framework.

• A nationally mandated standard of care must be established across every stage of the dementia care pathway.

• Provision and funding for national education as a minimum, for care providers to choose tailored workforce education specific to their needs.

UNIFORMED APPROACH Jill Quinn MBE, CEO of Dementia Forward commented: “Without a national dementia strategy and a uniformed approach, not only do we create dangerous gaps in the support and care, but we also fail to share good practice and ultimately improve lives. Our hope is that we can work together to create a system that holds people, avoids crisis and improves lives.”

Thessa Verwolf, Relationship Centred Care Coordinator at Nightingale Hammerson commented: “Early and accurate diagnosis of dementia is a necessity, but it is also the foundation for dignity, planning, and compassionate care. At Nightingale Hammerson, we see the profound difference it makes when individuals and families understand what they’re facing from the start. To truly deliver the best support for people living with dementia, we need a strong, growing evidence base that informs both policy and practice”

OVERDUE REFORM In June MP for South Devon Caroline Voaden secured a debate on dementia care, drawing on personal experience she said: “Dementia is undoubtedly one of the most urgent health and care challenges facing our society, and I know that most of us in this Chamber will know someone affected by it. My family is currently battling it on two fronts.”

“Watching people we love become confused by the world around them, unable to communicate and fading away from us while so physically present is heart-wrenching. Dementia has to be one of the cruellest conditions for those afflicted and for those supporting them.”

“A timely diagnosis is not just about putting a name to a condition; it is also the essential first step towards accessing care, planning for the future and, increasingly, receiving treatment.”

“Clinical care must go hand in hand with long overdue social care reform. The Liberal Democrats are calling for a comprehensive social care workforce plan, the creation of a royal college of care workers, and a higher carer’s minimum wage to reflect the value of this essential work. Unpaid carers also need support, with paid leave, respite breaks, and proper recognition.”

Finally, we must expand dementia training across the sector, backed by a national care agency to uphold standards and register care work-

ers. The Care Quality Commission has just published a report that underlines the importance of reform. Its findings were alarming, confirming that health and social care staff frequently lack understanding about the specific needs of dementia patients. The Alzheimer’s Society estimates that only 29% of paid carers have training in dementia.”

UNDER STRAIN She added: “Dementia is a growing issue and the system is already under strain. Right now, approximately 30% of general hospital beds in Devon are occupied by people with dementia, many of whom are there because of preventable conditions. A sustainable strategy for dementia care must focus on community-based support, early diagnosis, carer support and workforce training. That is not only the right thing to do; it will save money in the long run. It is time that we treated dementia care not as a burden, but as a vital part of building a compassionate and sustainable future for everyone affected.”

GOVERNMENT COMMITMENT In Response, Care Minister Stephen Kinnock said: “On behalf of the Government, I thank everyone working to support people with dementia, as well as their friends, families and carers. This Government will back them every step of the way. We are also backing our scientists to deliver new treatments and ways to care for people living with dementia”.

“A timely diagnosis is vital to ensure that everyone can access the advice, information and support that can help them to live well with dementia and remain independent for as long as possible.”

“This Government remains committed to the national ambition for two thirds of people living with dementia to receive a formal diagnosis.

We are funding evidence-based improvement projects to pilot the diagnosing advanced dementia mandate in 14 trusts. I am delighted that best practice is currently being shared and promoted with regional and local partners, following an impact assessment of the pilots.”

DIGNITY NOT DISPARITY Professor Martin Green OBE concluded: “Behind every statistic is a person whose journey with dementia could have been better if there were earlier diagnosis and more coordinated care. We need leadership, investment, and urgency – as a society, we owe it to the nearly one million people living with dementia to build a system that acts before crisis, supports every stage of the journey, and delivers dignity, not disparity.”

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Employment Rights Bill – The Impact on the Care Sector

By Liz Stevens, Professional Support Lawyer in Birketts’ employment team (www.birketts.co.uk)

The Employment Rights Bill introduces sweeping reforms to workplace rights, many of which will directly affect employers in the care sector. With implementation expected to begin from late 2025, now is the time to prepare for the changes ahead.

sector explains, although the total number of claims is likely to increase, employers may face fewer complex claims - for example those involving whistleblowing or discrimination, which do not require any minimum period of service. It is possible that we will see more ‘straightforward’ claims for unfair dismissal in the future, which are likely to be listed more quickly and are less costly to defend.

Employers will need to review their own policies and procedures to ensure they limit the risks of future unfair dismissal claims in advance of this important change taking effect, although it is not expected until 2027.

WHAT STAGE HAS THE BILL REACHED? The Employment Rights Bill is nearing the end of its passage through the House of Lords. Following its third (and final) reading it will return to the House of Commons to consider the amendments made by the Lords. As both Houses are now in summer recess, the final stages of the Bill will take place after their return to Parliament in September.

It is currently anticipated that Royal Assent will take place towards the end of October. In July, the Government published its ‘implementation roadmap’ for the Bill, which confirms that the majority of the reforms will take effect during 2026 – with some key changes not expected until 2027.

PAID CARER’S LEAVE? The Lords debated the Bill in detail and introduced a wide range of amendments, but only those that are supported by the Government are likely to make it into the final version of the Bill. During the debate, Lord Palmer (a Liberal Democrat peer) raised a proposed amendment, supported by Carer’s UK, to introduce a right for employees to receive statutory pay for taking carer’s leave. The existing right to take up to a week of statutory carer’s leave, which came in force on 6 April 2024, is currently unpaid. As Lord Palmer emphasised, this acts as a disincentive for many employees (particularly those on low pay) to take a period of carer’s leave.

This proposed amendment to the Bill was not taken forward, but the Government has committed to reviewing the implementation of statutory carer’s leave – to include a consideration of options for paid leave.

A public consultation on employment support for carers will be conducted in 2026.

In the meantime, employers in the care sector will need to prepare for the major changes due to be introduced under the Employment Rights Bill. Central to the Bill is the introduction of various ‘day one’ rights, meaning that employees do not require any minimum period of service to qualify for these rights.

DAY 1 RIGHT TO CLAIM UNFAIR DISMISSAL Of concern to many employers, particularly those with a high turnover of staff such as the care sector, is the introduction of a day one right to claim unfair dismissal. This will be subject to an ‘initial period of employment’ – a form of statutory probationary period – during which employers would be expected to follow a modified dismissal procedure, described as a “lighter-touch” process. This period is anticipated to be for nine months at the start of an individual’s period of employment, to be confirmed in separate regulations and subject to further consultation.

The removal of the two-year qualifying period for claiming unfair dismissal, along with the extended time limit for bringing a claim (to six months, up from the current three) is likely to increase the number of claims brought against employers. As the recent Birketts report on the impact of employment tribunals in the care

STATUTORY SICK PAY Another ‘day 1’ right being introduced under the Bill is the right to receive statutory sick pay (SSP) for the first day of sickness absence, with the current three-day waiting period being removed. The Bill also removes the requirement for employees to be earning above the Lower Earnings Limit (currently £125 per week) to be eligible to receive SSP. SSP will be payable at the lower of the prescribed weekly rate (currently £118.75 per week) or 80% of the employee’s normal weekly earnings.

These changes, due to take effect in April 2026, will mean that more employees will become eligible to receive SSP. This might result in higher levels of short-term sickness absence for the care sector, particularly among lower-paid staff and those without an entitlement to contractual sick pay. Employers will need to consider whether changes to their current capability procedures are necessary in order to minimise the impact of absences on their business.

FAIR PAY AGREEMENT FOR SOCIAL CARE The Bill will establish an Adult Social Care Negotiating Body (ASCNB) and give the Secretary of State the power to introduce a Fair Pay Agreement (FPA) process for the adult social care sector. According to the Government’s factsheet, this is in recognition of the historically low bargaining power in the sector, partly due to low unionisation rates. The expectation is that an FPA will help in addressing the recruitment and retention crisis in the sector and drive up standards of care.

The new ASCNB will be established by separate regulations, likely to take effect in October 2026. A consultation on the proposed FPA for the adult social care sector is expected in ‘summer/autumn 2026’, according to the Government’s roadmap for implementation.

These are just a selection of the changes being introduced by the Bill that are likely to have a significant impact on care sector employers. The Government has promised to conduct thorough consultations with all stakeholders on the most effective way to introduce these changes, with appropriate guidance for employers and support from Acas in place.

These reforms will undoubtedly add to the financial pressures already facing the sector, particularly in light of recent increases to the national minimum wage and employer National Insurance contributions. Early planning and proactive policy reviews will be essential.

Rachel Hill Appointed As Chief Executive Of Friends Of The Elderly Friends of the Elderly has announced the appointment of Rachel Hill as its new Chief Executive; Rachel joins the charity from The Whiteley Homes Trust where she has served as CEO since 2020.

Rachel previously held senior roles across both the NHS and the voluntary sector. Prior to joining The Whiteley Homes Trust, she was Head of Nursing at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and also held leadership positions at Woking and Sam Beare Hospices.

Rachel takes the helm as the charity celebrates its 120th anniversary and marks the opening of a brand-new care home in Reading, Berkshire. With a proud history of providing care, support, and a grants programme for older people living in financial hardship, the charity is focused on the future, expanding its reach and adapting its services to meet

growing demand.

Commenting on her new role, Rachel said: “It is a real privilege to be joining Friends of the Elderly at such a significant point in its history. The charity’s long-standing commitment to older people is something that is close to my heart, and it is a real honour to now be part of that story. I’m looking forward to working with the team, volunteers and partners to build on Friends of the Elderly’s legacy and ensure we continue to make a real difference in the years ahead.”

Chair of Trustees, Chris Maidment, said: “Rachel is an inspiring leader with the values, vision and experience to take Friends of the Elderly forward. Her understanding of the care landscape and her focus on dignity, choice and community make her ideally placed to lead the charity as we open a new care home and mark 120 years of supporting older people.”

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How pobroll Is Transforming Bed Bathing for Dementia Patients: Insights from 10 Care Homes

Written by Pat O’Brien of pobroll

In April 2025, the Supporting the Provider Market (STPM) team in County Durham published a new report evaluating the use of pobroll® — a waterproof bed-bathing wrap designed to improve dignity, comfort, and ease during personal care.

This evaluation was carried out across 10 care homes with high numbers of residents living with dementia. Each setting was given one or more pobroll® units and invited to share feedback through a structured survey. The findings reveal how even simple tools can make a significant difference in everyday care.

How was pobroll® used?

Most care homes used pobroll® daily or several times per week, showing it quickly became part of regular practice. Staff noted that one of the biggest challenges was not having enough units — all homes requested additional stock after the trial, highlighting a clear appetite for wider adoption.

What did care teams think?

Feedback from the care homes showed strong support for the tool: • Ease of use was rated highly, with an average score of 4.4 out of 5. Staff found pobroll® straightforward to incorporate into care routines.

• Training was rated slightly lower, at 3.8 out of 5, suggesting that while the wrap is easy to use, additional training resources could improve onboarding for new users.

• Resident response was positive. Three in ten care homes reported improved mood or behaviour during bed

bathing for dementia patients.

• Key benefits included greater warmth, coverage, and dignity for residents, especially those who might find conventional methods distressing. Some teams also found it particularly useful for end-of-life care

Would they recommend pobroll® for bed bathing for dementia patients?

Absolutely. Homes rated their likelihood to recommend pobroll® at 4.3 out of 5, with half of respondents giving it a full 5 out of 5. The overall feedback was clear: this is a valued, meaningful addition to personal care.

Would they recommend pobroll® for bed bathing for dementia patients?

The results of this trial reinforce what many professionals already believe — that small, thoughtful design changes can significantly improve care. For residents who are bedbound or living with dementia, personal care can often be a distressing experience. But with the right tools, it doesn’t have to be.

The pobroll® isn’t a complex device. It’s a simple, dual-layered cotton towelling wrap. But its thoughtful design — offering full coverage, comfort, and support — makes a real difference where it matters most.

If you’re part of a care home, hospice, or hospital and would like to explore how pobroll® could benefit your residents or service users, get in touch. We’re here to support compassionate, dignified care — one small change at a time.

See the advert on the facing page for details, or visit www.pobroll.co.uk

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 250 | PAGE 5

Complaints Processes Must Meet Basic Standards Ombudsman Says Care providers across England are being urged to ensure their complaints processes meet basic standards, after the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman found a medium-sized provider had no procedure when investigating a family’s complaint.

The resident’s son complained that the provider had applied a 30 per cent increase in fees without notice in April 2023.

Despite the son chasing multiple times, it took the provider – which has care homes across England and Scotland – until August to acknowledge his contact.

The resident died in October 2023, but by March 2024 the provider still had not refunded the fees and so the family could not settle the estate. The family complained to the Ombudsman the same month.

By November the same year, the provider agreed to refund the resident’s account, but this was not paid till the end of January 2025.

The Ombudsman’s investigation was hampered by similar prolonged delays from the provider, and it was

not until February 2025 that it sent a substantive response to the Ombudsman’s enquiries.

Ms Amerdeep Somal, Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, said: “This family experienced poor service at a difficult time, with the loss of their loved one. Our investigation suggests that the provider does not have a proper complaints procedure. I am shocked that a provider of this size does not have something so fundamental as a formal process for managing and responding to people’s concerns.

“Not only is this a potential breach of the Health and Social Care Act regulations, but it demonstrates a lack of desire to listen to residents and their families and take on board the invaluable feedback and learning concerns and complaints can provide.”

“This provider needs to take a serious look at the way it manages its complaints process to ensure it complies with the regulations, and with good practice and put in place a proper complaints procedure to respond to people’s concerns.”

Care Home’s ‘Fete On The Beach’ Raises £1,300 For Charity A New Forest care home has raised more than £1,300 for two local charities by staging a seaside-themed community fete.

Residents and team members at Colten Care’s Kingfishers in New Milton, located just a mile or so from the seafront at Barton on Sea, welcomed families and friends for a day of music and merriment.

Guests enjoyed time in the home’s garden, adorned with seaside-style props and featuring a tombola, ‘barrow of booze’ and plant and cake stalls.

A grand raffle, with a mountain bike as the top prize, was the main contributor to the funds raised in support of bereavement charity Elsie’s Rose and Hampshire Search and Rescue.

There were also opportunities to sing along to live music from Bournemouthbased vocalist Jenny Oag. Kingfishers resident Averil Meek said: “What a fantastic day we had, lots of fun, good music and meeting people from our local community.”

Companionship Team Leader Rose Arcellana said: “It was a lovely fun afternoon with smiles all round. We will definitely bring the beach to Kingfishers again. We thank everyone who helped to make the day so special.

PAGE 6 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 250

What’s The Value Of Your Business

By Kevin Paget, Director, Head of Deal Advisory at Mercer & Hole (www.mercerhole.co.uk)

It’s not easy knowing when’s the best time is to sell a business or its value.

In the care sector, as well as factoring in the value of the property and the trading profits, a potential buyer will be looking at occupancy rates, how quickly unoccupied beds can be filled, staff turnover levels and other factors which can affect occupancy such as the general facilities, the condition of the property, the location and the local competition.

Future capital expenditure could be a significant cost to the business if major refurbishment is needed and this also needs to be taken into consideration.

For example, if the Earnings (profits) after Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortisation (EBITDA) are £500k, using a multiple of 5x EBITDA, plus a property with a market value of £3m, would value the business at £5.5m minus any costs for immediate refurbishment of the property if it is needed to bring it up to standard.

The multiple used will vary dependent on a multitude of factors such as the CQC (Care Quality Commission) rating, whether it’s a single home, small group, or large group of homes and whether the properties are owned or leased. The trading history, forecast growth of the business, local market and macroeconomic environment will also be taken into account when assessing the valuation.

Despite all the various aspects that can influence the value of a business, timing and market conditions are paramount and could have a huge influence on valuation. Recent changes to National Insurance and the minimum wage have impacted profits for many businesses. There also remains a lot of uncertainty about

visa rules for overseas staff.

In the current climate, the buyer should be able to raise 65% of the property value as a commercial mortgage and a term loan of 2-2.5 times the maintainable profit. If the buyer owns other care homes, then leveraging against any unencumbered properties will make the funding easier. The lender would also be looking at risks to trading, level of maintainable profits, track record of the company directors and other measures to give them confidence. Ultimately, the lender is backing the management, considering the company’s ability to repay the debt as repayments fall due and the headroom of profitability over the debt repayments, with the property asset underwriting some of the risk.

Whilst high street banks will lend on these types of deals, there are many alternative funders, such as asset-based lenders and challenger banks who are very keen on funding in this sector. These alternative funders tend to be more flexible on their lending and can often make faster decisions.

True mergers in this sector are rare as they tend to be a full acquisition of one over another. If a merger was a possibility, then the owners would need to consider the purpose of merging, how close the merging businesses will be and the synergies between them.

Growing a business through redevelopment of an existing site to increase the number and quality of beds will help to spread fixed costs over more units in the longer term. The key is occupancy rates and how quickly unoccupied beds can be filled.

Understanding and exceeding minimum occupancy rates and the break-even point whilst building an outstanding reputation for patient care, is key to the long-term success of these care home businesses and the ancillary businesses that support them.

Finally, never leave an exit until you must sell. Selling a business from a position of strength and not needing to sell, is a far better position to be in when negotiating with a potential buyer. You may have a target exit date in mind but prepare the business so that if the right opportunity/offer presented itself, in the right market conditions, at the right time, you’re ready to step away even if it’s a bit earlier than expected. No one knows what the future may bring and timing is everything.

Boston Care Home Brings Garden to Life for HC-One’s Gardens in Bloom Competition Residents and colleagues at Elmwood House Care Home in Boston, Lincolnshire, part of the HC-One family, have united to transform their garden into an accessible, colourful space filled with joy and connection.

The transformation comes as the home takes on the challenge of taking part in this year’s HC-One Gardens in Bloom competition, a celebration of gardening, community spirit, and wellbeing across HC-One homes nationwide.

The team at Elmwood House has worked with dedication and care to transform their outdoor space into a peaceful and colourful haven for residents, families, and colleagues. What was once a simple astro turfed square with railings has blossomed into a vibrant space full of life and joy.

Accessibility and inclusion have been central to the design. A variety of potted plants, including cosmos, sunflowers, dahlias, geraniums, strawberries, tomatoes, fuchsias, hydrangeas, and clematis, have been arranged around the perimeter of the garden to ensure the space remains welcoming and usable for all, including residents who use wheelchairs or walking frames.

The project has brought together residents, many of whom have a lifelong love of gardening or experi-

ence working on the land.

Through Elmwood House’s Wellbeing Programme Gardening Club, residents gather to garden, socialise, and share stories, often while enjoying refreshments and music, under a gazebo or even indoors on rainy days.

These moments have been incredibly special for building connections and friendships among the community.

Colleagues at Elmwood House regularly support residents in the garden, helping with tools and materials and joining in the fun, strengthening the close-knit bonds between residents and the care team.

Family members also play a key role, with some helping with watering and others donating plants and materials.

The team also proudly focuses on sustainability, using bamboo canes instead of plastic, reusing pots, and responsibly mixing and replenishing soil.

Jean Matthews, Wellbeing Coordinator at HC-One’s Elmwood House Care Home said: “This garden is a labour of love. It may not be overflowing with perfect blooms, but it is rich in meaning, shared effort, and beauty. It’s a space for everyone to enjoy and feel part of.”

Biggest Isn’t Always Best – Especially in Continence Care In retail, bigger is often equated with better. But in continence care, size alone does not equal performance. What matters is fit, appropriateness, and clinical suitability.

At Ontex, we believe continence care should be clinically sound, cost-conscious, and centred on the individual. We support care providers through practical training, formulary-aligned product design, and assessment-led solutions that preserve dignity and comfort.

Addressing Common Misconceptions in Care Settings Here are some frequently encountered misconceptions about absorbent continence solutions:

1. "The bigger the resident, the bigger the pad."

This is a frequent misunderstanding. Correct sizing depends on accurate waist, hip, and thigh measurements. In many cases, a smaller, well-fitted solution provides better containment. Selection should also be based on the individual’s continence profile and type- not just physical stature.

2. "Belted products fit anyone if tightened enough."

Tightening at the waist does not guarantee security around the legs.

A proper fit should allow a one-finger gap at the leg and a two-finger gap at the waist. Belted options are often higher-cost items and should be used only when clinically appropriate.

3. "Double padding keeps residents drier."

Layering pads undermines containment. Once fluid reaches the

waterproof backing of the upper pad, it is diverted laterally often leading to leaks, moisture-related skin compromise, and reactive containment changes that increase staff burden. A single, well-matched product is always the safer choice.

4. "Pull-ups are the best option for everyone."

Pull-on formats suit some profiles but may hinder others. They are not ideal for individuals with reduced dexterity or limited mobility. Two-piece systems offer greater flexibility and allow for the use of personal underwear—supporting comfort, autonomy, and dignity.

Why Assessment Is Essential

A thorough continence assessment rather than assumption-based product selection is key to improving outcomes, optimising cost, and protecting resident wellbeing.

Key Assessment Components:

- Measurements: Capture accurate waist, hip, and thigh data. Always refer to product-specific sizing guidance.

- Bladder Diaries: Maintain a 3-day fluid intake and output record to determine actual absorbency needs. This often reveals a lighter option may suffice.

Clinical and Operational Benefits: - Prevents unnecessary product usage - Reduces reactive containment changes - Minimises moisture-related skin issues and infection risk

- Improves comfort, dignity, and independence for residents Our guidance aligns with NHS England policy on absorbent containment: assessment-led provision, a maximum of four pads per 24 hours unless clinically justified, and prioritisation of adaptable two-piece systems wherever appropriate.

Broader Considerations - Infection Risk: Continuous use of containment products without regular reassessment can increase the likelihood of urinary tract infections. A structured, assessment-led approach helps mitigate this risk.

- Skin Health: Selecting the right containment format supports skin preservation. Regular skin checks should accompany each pad change.

- Cost and Resource Efficiency: Product selection tailored to individual need reduces waste, optimises staff time, and supports broader NHS resource stewardship. NHS formularies consistently prioritise flexible, fit-for-purpose solutions.

Final Thought In continence care, assumptions cost more than time they impact dignity, safety, and outcomes. Assessment-led, evidence-based selection reflects best practice and ensures the right solution, for the right person, at the right time.

Want to support your team with continence product fit checks or product training delivered by our Nurse Advisors? Ontex provides practical resources and training, tailored to your care setting. Contact your local nurse advisor to arrange a session.

For further information visit www.ontex.com, email shopuk@ontexglobal.com or call 01536 269744

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 250 | PAGE 7

LGA Annual Reports Highlights Ongoing Positive Impact Of Sector Support The LGA’s latest Sector Support annual report has showcased the positive difference support has made across local government through its range of improvement activity.

The LGA has also released its peer challenge annual report which identifies key themes from across the 121 Corporate Peer Challenges, Governance Peer Challenges, Finance Peer Challenges and progress reviews delivered through the 2024/25 programme.

100 per cent of councils said they felt their CPC had a positive impact and feel more confident about their council delivering its priorities. The reports also highlight that 95 per cent of councillor and officer peers say that their involvement in delivering a peer challenge has had a positive impact on their own skills, knowledge and development.

The wider Sector Support Annual Report underlines the LGA’s strong track record of delivering high impact, low-cost programmes, that are highly valued by the sector.

This includes through the LGA’s sector support programme, funded by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and wider improvement programmes, including children’s services,Partners in Care and Health,cyber, digital and technology,One Public Estate (OPE),planning (PAS and Pathways to Planning), our Joint Inspection Team,procurement, and sustainability—also funded by UK Government department; and through the culture and sport support offer, which is funded by Sport England and Arts Council England.

In 2024/25, 100 per cent of English councils engaged with at least one type of LGA support.

The sector support programme alone saves the sector tens of millions of pounds annually, including through delivering significant economies of scale and through using a peer-based approach.

The LGA has continued to strengthen focus on assurance across programme areas, to help support councils to deliver good governance and Best Value. New offers in 2024/25 included a new improvement and assurance self assessment framework, guidance for leaders and a new governance and assurance hub available on the LGA’s website.

Officers and members have continued to access a wide range of learning and development opportunities, across areas including governance, finance and specialised programmes for statutory officers. 1,139 councillorsfrom258 councilsattended our leadership programmes delivered as part of the sector support programme, with further opportunities delivered across areas including children’s, adults social care and planning.

The 2024/25 offer provided wide ranging support to respond to demand pressures, including dedicated workforce and transformation support, and support spanning a broad spectrum of service delivery.

More than two thirds of all councils accessed our national recruitment campaign for local government, ‘Make a Difference, Work for Your Local Council’, delivered in partnership with Solace and the sector.

Evaluations from this show this campaign has made real difference in supporting recruitment efforts at a local level.

Critically, the offer included intensive and dedicated support to councils to those councils who needed support most, including bespoke support to help address and mitigate governance and finance challenges.

Cllr Abi Brown, Chairman of the LGA’s Improvement and Innovation Board, said: “The LGA’s Sector support programme is vital in supporting councils to respond to the toughest challenges facing local government, delivering highly-impactful programmes at low cost for both central and local government.”

“Our offer directly addresses council needs from dealing with workforce challenges, implementing digital and AI tools and changes of leadership or political transitions.”

“This report demonstrates what a council-led approach can achieve by making best use of knowledge and skills from within local government. LGA peers provide local authorities with unmatched experience and a trusted source of support, sharing learning, and strengthening the knowledge base across the sector.”

“We continue to learn and improve, enhancing our offer based on council insight, to enable them to respond to new challenges and harness opportunities, now and in the years ahead.”

WE NOW SUPPLY A WIDE RANGE OF FURNITURE

PAGE 8 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 250

Care Sector Security: Building Resilience Against Increasing Cyber Threats

By Kevin Modiri, Partner & Solicitor at Nelsons (www.nelsonslaw.co.uk) Cyber security breaches and attacks continue to pose significant threats to organisations across the UK, and the care sector is increasingly finding itself in the crosshairs. While headlines often feature large corporations like M&S or Co-Op, the sensitive nature of data held by care providers, combined with their critical role in patient wellbeing, makes them a particularly attractive target for cyber criminals. Kevin Modiri, partner and solicitor specialising in data breach claims at Nelsons, sheds light on the evolving landscape and how care businesses must respond.

The UK remains one of the most targeted countries globally for cyber-attacks, a reality underscored by both the National Cyber Strategy 2022 and the Government Cyber Security Strategy 20222030. These strategies explicitly recognise cyber threats to UK Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) as a major concern, a category that profoundly includes healthcare and care services given their indispensable role in national well-being.

While industries like finance, legal and retail are often highlighted as high-risk, the care sector, with its growing digital technology adoption for patient records and scheduling systems, faces unique vulnerabilities. Attacks on care providers can have devastating consequences, impacting patient safety, service delivery and the integrity of highly sensitive personal data. No care organisation, regardless of size, is immune; it's simply that many incidents go unreported in mainstream media.

Developing a robust and resilient cyber security strategy is essential for care organisations to ensure they can swiftly recover from an attack, to adequately safeguard staff, business continuity and most crucially, vulnerable residents and patients.

Equally vital are diligent internal policies and procedures. With tightening data protection legislation (such as GDPR) and reduced tolerance for error in safeguarding patient information, care providers must ensure their internal practices protect both data integrity and the organisation's future.

UNDERSTANDING RISK

With a wealth of sensitive personal data, cyber criminals could be looking for ways to target this – particularly organisations where there may be fewer dedicated IT resources. However, even with the strongest cyber security, it is well understood that many breaches come from mere human error, which underscores the importance and value of regular training.

The UK government’s latest Cyber Security Breaches Survey (April 2025) reinforces that cyber threats remain a significant risk for all organisations, including those in health and social care. This survey revealed that 43% of UK businesses, and specifically 41% of health or care organisations, reported cyber security breaches or attacks. The increasing prevalence of disruptive cyber-attacks underscores the need for care providers to strengthen their cybersecurity defenses and regularly assess risks.

A key finding was a rise in breaches that disrupt operations, such as the loss of access to files or systems.

Phishing remains the most common threat, affecting 85% of businesses, with associated costs averaging between £3,500 and £8,000. This typically involves cybercriminals tricking an employee into divulging sensitive data, thereby gaining unauthorised access to a company’s computer systems.

Another common threat is Malware - a broad term encompassing any malicious software designed to incapacitate IT systems. It is usually unwittingly introduced into a system, often by clicking a link within a

seemingly legitimate email. Ransomware, a specific type of malware, involves a hacker gaining remote control of IT systems and only restoring access upon payment of a ransom. Notably, the Adult Social Care sector is demonstrating leadership in incident response, with 66% having an incident response plan, significantly higher than the 23% observed across businesses overall.

CONSEQUENCES OF CYBER ATTACKS

The ramifications of cyber-attacks on care organisations are severe and multifaceted. Legal implications include significant financial penalties under GDPR fines for non-compliance and reputational damage along with operational disruption from ICO investigations. The financial impact can be substantial, encompassing the costs of investigation and remediation, loss of revenue, increased insurance premiums and legal costs from affected individuals. Reputational damage is also a major concern, leading to a loss of trust from residents, their families and commissioners, negative publicity, an impact on referrals and difficulties in recruiting and retaining staff. Most critically, there is a direct impact on residents and staff, involving the risk to personal data (both financial and medical), disruption to care delivery and psychological stress for those affected.

BUILDING A RESILIENT SHIELD

Care organisations should take a multi-layered approach when it comes to building a robust cyber shield, beginning with solid cyber security foundations. This includes conducting regular risk assessments to identify vulnerabilities, implementing strong password policies and providing software updates to close known security gaps.

Beyond technical measures, the most crucial defense is comprehensive staff training, enabling employees to recognise phishing attempts, adhere to proper data handling protocols and ensure device security. This is reinforced by clear policies and procedures covering data handling, incident response and acceptable use.

There are also specific considerations for the care sector, given its distributed nature. This involves using secure VPNs for remote access, deploying Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions to secure devices used outside of the main premises, providing guidance on using secure Wi-Fi networks in clients' homes and establishing strict protocols for data stored on personal devices. Finally, a comprehensive Business Continuity Planning document is essential to determine what steps will be taken if systems are compromised, ensuring continued operation and minimising disruption to care.

A PROACTIVE APPROACH FOR A SECURE FUTURE

The care sector's increasing reliance on digital tools necessitates a non-negotiable and robust cybersecurity strategy. It is essential for care providers to view cybersecurity not as a one-off task but as an ongoing investment, adapting to evolving threats and continuously strengthening their defences. Utilising trusted advisors and experts can help to assist care organisations in navigating these complex legal and technical landscapes.

The East Midlands Cyber Resilience Centre is a free-to-access, police-associated organisation, that can assess the effectiveness of a company’s cyber resilience. They can also signpost businesses to appropriate individuals in their area to then act and plug the gaps in their processes, equipment and software.

The EMCRC team can help organisations ensure they are fully legally compliant, as well as provide training to management and employees for further understanding. Nelsons is a community ambassador for EMCRC and the firm also advises and provides support to organisations in the aftermath of a cyber security incident in terms of reducing impact.

Ultimately, protecting digital assets is synonymous with safeguarding the wellbeing and trust of those in care, making a strong cybersecurity posture fundamental to quality care delivery.

For more information on legal support regarding data protection, please visit https://www.nelsonslaw.co.uk/business-agreements-contracts/data-protection-solicitor/

Eilean Dubh Goes The Distance For Highland Hospice Staff at Eilean Dubh care home in Fortrose have successfully completed their ambitious Highland HeArt 500 challenge.

The care team originally set out to cover 500 miles over the course of July but exceeded their goal, clocking up a collective 560 miles by walking, cycling and swimming – all in their own time – in support of charity partner Highland Hospice.

The fundraising campaign brought in £2,148.94 through online donations and sponsorship. The funds will support the home’s bid for its Highland HeArt sculpture when it goes to auction in September, with every penny ultimately going to Highland Hospice.

The sculpture, designed in partnership with Highland artist Liz Peck, is one of 23 featured in the Hospice’s Highland HeArt Trail. It reflects con-

tributions from residents and staff and features local landmarks, alongside a unique ‘Colours of Care’ tartan inspired by the colours of staff uniforms.

Eilean Dubh Wellbeing coordinator Fiona Stoddart said: “We are absolutely overwhelmed by the generosity and support we’ve received.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to everyone who donated, encouraged us, and shared our journey. Your support has meant the world to us and made every step of this challenge worthwhile.

“I’d also like to thank our amazing staff team, who took on this challenge in their own time with such commitment and energy. Balancing their daily responsibilities with this extra effort shows just how much they care.”

Bournemouth Care Home Residents Bring Creativity To Life Through Knitting And Sewing Residents at RMBI Care Co. Home Zetland Court, in Bournemouth, have been getting creative with wool and fabric in a series of hands-on craft sessions.

Led by Activities Coordinator Tatiana, the Home recently held its first patchwork quilting session, which saw residents enthusiastically working together to create beautiful textile pieces. The lounge was buzzing with conversation, laughter and creativity as residents proudly shared their handiwork.

Tatiana says: “Our first patchwork session was very productive! The residents really enjoyed working together and are happy to present their work. It’s lovely to see their faces beaming with pride and joy in what they’ve achieved.”

The activities didn’t stop there. As part of Zetland Court’s “aged craft” pro-

gramme, residents were also treated to a live demonstration of traditional wool spinning, showing how fibres are transformed into yarn. For many, it brought back fond memories of earlier days and provided a fascinating insight into a time-honoured skill.

Residents Theresa, Enid and Jim were among those captivated by the demonstration. “It’s amazing to see how wool was made by hand,” said Enid.

“You forget how much care went into things before machines took over.”

These craft activities are part of Zetland Court’s commitment to providing meaningful and stimulating experiences for the residents. They offer not only an opportunity for self-expression and learning, but also help maintain dexterity, spark memories and bring people together in a relaxed, social setting.

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 250 | PAGE 9

Celebrating Afternoon Tea Week: A Cherished Tradition in Care Homes 11-17 August 2025

As the summer months unfold, care homes across the UK are preparing for one of the most beloved celebrations of the year – Afternoon Tea Week, taking place from 11-17 August. This quintessentially British tradition, which has graced our culture since the 1840s, holds particular significance within residential and nursing care settings, offering far more than just a delightful culinary experience.

ularly important for residents who may struggle with regular meal times. The finger-food format makes eating more manageable for those with dexterity issues, while the social aspect can encourage reluctant eaters to participate.

A TRADITION STEEPED IN HISTORY

CREATING LASTING MEMORIES

The story of afternoon tea begins with Anna Maria Russell, the seventh Duchess of Bedford, who in the 1840s found herself feeling rather peckish between the light luncheon and the fashionably late dinner served at nine o'clock. Her solution – a spot of tea accompanied by delicate sandwiches and sweet treats – quickly became a social phenomenon that spread throughout English society, particularly after Queen Victoria herself embraced the custom.

Today, this time-honoured tradition resonates deeply with many of our care home residents, evoking precious memories of family gatherings, special occasions, and simpler times. For those who lived through the post-war era, afternoon tea represents comfort, community, and the gentle pleasures of life – values that remain as important today as they were decades ago.

The beauty of Afternoon Tea Week lies in its ability to create new memories while honouring old ones. The sight of properly set tables, the clink of china cups, and the gentle hum of conversation can transport residents back to cherished moments while simultaneously creating new experiences to treasure.

For families visiting during this week, afternoon tea provides a perfect opportunity to share quality time in a structured yet relaxed environment.

Children and grandchildren often delight in the formality and tradition, creating intergenerational bonds that enrich everyone involved.

ACTIVITIES THAT BRING JOY Afternoon Tea Week opens the door to a wealth of engaging activities that can involve residents at various ability levels!

WIN A £50 MARKS & SPENCER VOUCHER! At THE CARER, we want to help make your Afternoon Tea Week celebration that bit more special. We're offering one lucky care home the chance to win a £50 Marks & Spencer voucher – perfect for treating your residents to some extra special afternoon tea goodies!

To enter, simply: • Host your Afternoon Tea Week celebration • Take photos of your residents enjoying the festivities • Write a brief description of your event (100-200 words) • Send your entry to us at nominate@thecareruk.com

MORE THAN JUST TEA AND CAKE Within the care home environment, Afternoon Tea Week serves multiple vital purposes that extend well beyond the obvious pleasure of fine food and drink. This celebration creates a natural opportunity for residents and staff to come together in a relaxed, social atmosphere where conversation flows as freely as the tea itself.

The informal setting encourages residents to share stories, connect with peers, and engage with care staff on a more personal level. These interactions are invaluable for maintaining social connections and supporting mental wellbeing, particularly for residents who may otherwise spend much of their time in their rooms.

Whether you've organised a grand affair with professional entertainment or a simple gathering with homemade treats, we want to hear about it! We're looking for creativity, resident engagement, and that special something that made your celebration memorable.

So dust off the finest China, press the tablecloths, and prepare for a week of quintessentially British celebration. Your residents – and your staff – deserve nothing less than the very best that this cherished tradition has to offer!

SUPPORTING HEALTH THROUGH TRADITION From a health perspective, afternoon tea sessions provide excellent opportunities to support proper hydration – a crucial concern in care settings. The gentle ritual of sharing tea encourages fluid intake in a pleasant, unhurried manner, making it easier for staff to ensure residents are adequately hydrated.

The variety of foods traditionally served – from finger sandwiches to scones with jam and clotted cream – can also help stimulate appetite, partic-

Previous Afternoon Tea Week entrants

Submission deadline: 25th August 2025 Terms and conditions: One entry per care home. Winner will be announced in our September issue. The judge's decision is final.

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PAGE 10 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 250

Study Reveals That Where You Live Can Affect How You Age A Welsh study, funded by Health and Care Research Wales, found that where older people live can significantly influence their likelihood of falling or moving into a care home.

The study, led by Professor Richard Fry, Health and Care Research Wales Senior Research Leader and Professor at Swansea University, revealed that thoughtful urban planning may help people remain healthier and independent for longer.

The researchers analysed the health records of over 860,000 people aged 60 and over, living in Wales between 2010 and 2017, using the Secure Anonymised Information Linkage (SAIL) databank, which is also funded by Health and Care Research Wales. The team tracked individuals over time, building a dynamic cohort to examine their health outcomes alongside specific environmental characteristics.

Professor Fry explained: “It was a powerful way to look at population health in a real-world context. We wanted to understand whether the physical environment in and around someone’s home could support healthy ageing.

“Things like being able to access green space or walk to your local shop without obstacles may seem small, but they could make a big difference as people age.”

ENVIRONMENT MATTERS

The study found that the environment could both reduce and increase the risk of falls. Neighbourhoods with accessible services, good walkability and nearby green spaces were associated with better outcomes, including fewer hospital admissions for falls and a lower likelihood of moving into residential care.

Professor Fry said: “Living in an environment that encourages physical activity, like having services not too far away and access to usable green space, may help people stay fitter and more independent longer.”

“But it is a complex picture where greenery may also introduced trip hazards such as wet leaves or

uneven paths. So in some cases, what looked like a benefit may actually pose a risk.”

Although the environment played a role, the study confirmed that individual characteristics, such as age, frailty, gender and whether someone lived alone, remained the strongest predictors of both falls and care home admissions.

Professor Fry added: “Our data confirmed what other research has shown: frailty and age were still the most significant risk factors. But the environment could either support or undermine a person’s ability to live independently with those conditions.”

IMPACT ON PEOPLE WITH DEMENTIA

The study also examined outcomes for people living with dementia and found they were at a higher risk of both falling and moving into care. This group appeared particularly sensitive to environmental factors.

Planning for an ageing population and supporting social care Professor Fry pointed out that the implications of the study were widereaching. The findings offered clear guidance on how neighbourhoods might be designed or improved to support older adults in staying at home longer.

He said: “This wasn’t just about health. It was also about policy, housing, local government and social care.

There were major financial implications. Keeping people out of care homes longer helped the NHS, social services and families.

“Our research shows that where people live is an important part of healthy ageing —making it easier and safer to move around, access green space and reach essential services—could be part of the solution.”

A VISION FOR THE FUTURE

Professor Fry concluded: “People want to stay in their homes, in familiar surroundings, for as long as possible. If we design our communities with that in mind, we can help people with healthy, independent ageing.

That benefits everyone, not just older people, but society as a whole.”

VJ Day 80: Navy Wife ‘Never Doubted’ Far East and D-Day Veteran Husband Would Survive WWII A 101-year-old has recalled how she married her husband after he returned from service in the Far East during WWII. Mary Holley was speaking ahead of the 80th anniversary of Victory over Japan (VJ) Day on 15 August, which marked the end of the war in the Pacific, and the end of WWII. She had met Roy in 1939 and they started courting before he was called up to the Navy in 1941. The couple were apart for three years, during which time Roy was serving on an escort ship to convoys in the Indian Ocean. The only communication available to them during this time were hand-written letters, which were heavily censored by officers in the Ministry of Information.

The couple married in 1944, days after Roy had returned back to England on leave, and shortly before he left again to prepare for the D-Day landings.

Roy survived D-Day and the couple enjoyed a happy life together, celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary before Roy sadly died in 2014.

Mary now lives at Royal Star & Garter in Surbiton. The Home provides loving, compassionate care to veterans and their families, living with disability or dementia.

Remembering Roy’s call-up to the Navy, Mary said: “I felt very proud. Everybody was called up, so you were no different to everyone else. I knew there was a war going on and I would not see him

again for a long time. But you weren’t on your own, everybody was in the same boat. All I focussed on was that he was coming home and we were getting married.”

Throughout the war, Mary’s belief that Roy would safely return never wavered. She said: “We didn’t fear the worst, we expected the best.”

During his posting to the Far East, the couple would write to each other but letters would arrive four or five months after being posted.

They were also heavily edited by censors to prevent key strategic

information being leaked. Mary continued: “I remember there was one censor that used scissors. We used to write to each other on very thin paper, and they looked like Christmas decorations by the time they arrived!”

In 1944, Roy came back for one week’s leave following his three years away. The couple reunited at a railway station. Mary said: “The train came in and I ran down the station and we hugged. It was the happiest day of my life.”

The couple wed two days later, and honeymooned in Westonsuper-Mare. Within days, they were parted again, with Roy sent to prepare for the D-Day landings. Despite his ship being torpedoed, and Roy receiving instructions to abandon ship, he survived the offensive.

Looking back at WWII, the great grandmother said: “I always knew Roy would come home, there was never a shred of doubt in my mind.

We enjoyed a wonderfully happy life together and produced a beautiful family.”

Royal Star & Garter is a charity which also has Homes in Solihull, High Wycombe, and now in Worthing, having recently merged with the military charity Care for Veterans.

Each of its Homes will be hosting events and activities to mark and celebrate the 80th anniversary of VJ Day, which saw the Japanese surrender to Allied Forces on 15 August 1945.

Residents At Ilkley Home Can Go On Tour Of The UK From The Comfort Of A Seat Thanks To New Train Experience Residents at an Ilkley home can visit places such as Scotland and the North York Moors without leaving their home thanks to a new train experience.

MHA Glen Rosa have installed the Jolly Journey Train Experience, a new initiative by Little Islands, who specialise in creating unique interactive environments.

The train experience showcases journeys across the UK from the viewpoint of a passenger looking out of the window.

The team from Little Islands installed and decorated a part of the home’s dementia unit and converted it into a train carriage with props such as suitcases, train times and journey information displays.

MHA Glen Rosa provides residential and residential dementia care for 47 residents.

Adam Carling, home manager said: “The Jolly Journey Train experience is a new initiative and one that is proving to be very popular here.

“We have received some great feedback since the experience has been installed.

“Our residents love it, you will often see a number of them sat in the carriage and watching a journey.

“The idea came to me from my area who forwarded it to me, and I decided to look into it.

“I then contacted the team at Little Islands and the whole process took a couple of months from start to finish.

“We are quite privileged here at MHA Glen Rosa, where thanks to the generosity of the local community we are able to provide services such as this for our residents.

“We received a very generous donation via our Legacy Fund which enabled us to go for this experience.

“The location of the experience is really good as it’s in a high footfall area, where both residents and their relatives can sit and enjoy it.

“Alongside the Train Experience, we have also prepared a sensory garden thanks to funds we received.

“I do think this is something other MHA homes can look into having, it’s something quite unique and I do feel other homes will see the benefits just like we have.”

For more information on the Jolly Journey Train Experience, see the advert on the facing page.

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 250 | PAGE 11

Welsh Charity Providing Essential Services” Is In Desperate Fight For Survival Support for 140 disabled people and the jobs of more than 400 staff in Wales are under threat because of a social care funding crisis.

Anheddau, a charity that has provided a lifeline for clients in Gwynedd, Conwy, Anglesey, Denbighshire and Wrexham for three decades, is in a desperate fight for survival.

According to the organisation, the funding provided by the county councils which commission Anheddau’s services does not come close to covering the costs of supporting its clients who have extensive support needs.

Chief Executive Claire Higgins said that, for too long, Anheddau had subsidised these services and now an additional £400,000 has been added to the annual wage bill.

She explained: “From April this year, Chancellor Rachel Reeves raised the rate of National Insurance Contributions (NICs) which employers have to pay for employees from 13.8% to 15%.

“In addition, the Chancellor reduced the level at which employers have to start paying NICs from £9,000 to £5,100 per year.

“This financial burden coincided with the Welsh Government raising the Real Living Wage rate – the minimum which employers are expected to pay employees – to £12.60 an hour. It is a double whammy.

“We anticipated and planned for staff pay rises but the National Insurance contributions were a devastating blow.

“Finding £400.000 with little warning would be challenging for any business. For a small charity like Anheddau it is catastrophic.

The problems facing Anheddau, which has its main office in Bangor, mirror the plight of another charity organisation, Cymryd Rhan, which was forced to fold in March this year.

That organisation, based in Llanidloes provided support for about 2,000 people in Flintshire, Wrexham, Ceredigion, Merthyr and Powys. The Cymryd Rhan board concluded that closure was its only option because the sums didn’t add up.

Claire Higgins added: “We have been supporting people with autism, learning disabilities, mental health and other needs for more than 35 years.

“Anheddau has an established reputation for excellence in enabling people to live more independently and confidently in their communities.

“In the past it has been asked to take over the contracts of providers not meeting quality standards.

“However, if we cannot find a way through this financial crisis then it could spell disaster for the people we support and their families who depend on us on a daily basis.

“The fact is that if we were not providing this service then the local authority would have to do it themselves in-house or commission private providers.

Health And Social Care Training Provider Backs Residency Rules Relaxation A relaxation of rules to allow overseas health and social care professionals now residing in the UK earlier access to funded training will be a boost to the struggling sector, according to an industry expert.

The Government’s Department for Education recently announced simplification of the residency rules for Adult Skills funding.

It means health and social care workers with Ordinarily Resident status in non-devolved areas will no longer have to wait three years to be able to claim funding for training as they had to before.

A number of devolved areas have already followed suit, including Tees Valley, Liverpool City Region, West Midlands and West Yorkshire.

Angela Kaine, Director of Health & Social Care at leading training provider Realise, said a relaxation of long-standing residency rules is one step closer to creating greater equality of opportunity and would allow care homes to develop their people.

Angela said: “This is a valuable improvement and extremely welcome news for both health and social care workers from overseas and care providers.

“This will help ensure that individuals who have come to the UK to perform vital roles in health and social care can access the same training opportunities as others and potentially remain longer in their roles once they have secured Ordinarily Resident status.

“Previously, people in the UK with Ordinarily Resident status were expected to fund the training

themselves for the first three years - or secure employer backing which was clearly a barrier for many.

“Care managers have huge concerns over deficits in staffing. This offers a short-term solution that eases the problem. It’s a relief for the sector, which relies heavily on large numbers of committed and skilled workers from overseas, and the increasing number of people who are being granted residency status.”

Realise can deliver funded staff training in the West Midlands, West Yorkshire, Tees Valley, Liverpool City Region, as well as all non-devolved areas.

The most recent figures showed there are around 300,000 non-EU nationals working within health and social care.

Angela said many people who come to the UK to work within health and social care already have years of valuable experience in the sector.

“Many have worked in care in their country of origin,” said Angela. “Legislation and practices might differ, but they have a fantastic basis of knowledge and they are keen to forge a career with the right values and compassion.”

Realise is one of the largest and most respected providers of health and social care training providers in the UK and holds the new Quality Assurance Care Learning Services (QACLS) endorsement for many of its programmes, including the Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate.

For more information, visit www.realisetraining.com

“I see no benefit in either option since the cost of re-provision will increase and costs will be passed on to the wider population. The whole situation is hugely disappointing.

“There are no consequences for local authorities which do not honour the Welsh Government’s code of practice for funding the third sector which recognises the full cost of recovery is vital and must create a funding environment that promotes trust, transparency and mutual respect.

“Any increases in funding levels, due to the cost of living or inflation, should be applied fairly, equitably and as soon as possible. It is vital that the funding relationship allows an open and safe space for both funders and service providers to regularly review how the funded service is working.

“Anheddau’s reserve funds exist for emergencies. With hindsight, we should not have subsidised inadequately funded care packages. Although we have introduced efficiency measures over the last 12 months, we are still struggling to make ends meet.

Without further financial support from the local authorities I fear Anheddau’s future.

“It is a misconception that not for profit services like Anheddau have huge reserves. The reality is that surplus money is reinvested back into service delivery. We hold sufficient reserves to meet our statutory requirements concerning redundancies.

“If the local authorities agreed to pay for the extra National Insurance Contributions, this would require each to increase Anheddau’s funding to 8% since our costs have risen by 11%.

“We have made a compelling case to them to do so but, so far, most of them have offered less than half of this.

“Denbighshire is reconsidering its original rise of only 4.3% and Ynys Môn has revised its offer from 4.2% to 5.8%, which is still too low.

“It is regrettable that local authorities are not working collaboratively with providers to promote the miracle of “ordinary lives” or even considering how well the outcomes for the people Anheddau supports are being achieved.”

Care Forum Wales (CFW) represents 450+ care homes, nursing homes and other independent health and social care providers across Wales, says that Anheddau’s plight is symptomatic of the problems facing the whole of the social care sector.

Chair Mario Kreft MBE warned: “Given what happened to Cymryd Rhan, this could be a case of history repeating itself unless councils can provide funding for a rescue package to save Anheddau.

“Council leaders appear to not understand the difficulties in social care.”

CFW Policy Advisor Thea Brain added: “Anheddau is a key player in terms of Welsh service provision, but it still needs local authorities to cover the National Insurance hike.”

PAGE 12 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 250

Behind The Scenes at Horsell Lodge with Wellbeing Lead, Rachel Saunders Wellbeing plays a big part in the person-centred approach to care at Horsell Lodge Care Home in Woking and no two days are ever the same for the Wellbeing team. We join Wellbeing Lead, Rachel Saunders to see what a typically eventful day looks like.

WELLBEING AT THE HEART OF PERSON-CENTRED CARE

Horsell Lodge is home to over 70 residents with a combination of nursing, dementia and residential needs. The home’s wellbeing programme incorporates each resident’s likes and wishes, so there is something for everyone and residents can participate in the things they enjoy. It’s also important that residents come together whenever possible through activities that are accessible to all, which is why the work of Rachel and the Wellbeing team (Olivia, Leila, Victoria and Anna) is so important. Planning and communication are key!

REGULAR CATCH UPS AND A VERY MUSICAL MORNING

9.30am: Rachel’s day always starts with coffee and a catch up with her team. It’s a chance to share any relevant resident updates, plan 1-1 sessions with particular residents, and allocate a Wellbeing team member to each of the day’s scheduled activities, which often take place simultaneously on more than one floor.

11.00am: While Rachel attends the daily meeting with the Home Manager, Julie, and the heads of department, Olivia and Leila are busy leading two separate Music and Movement sessions, one tailored especially for residents living with dementia. It’s an activity that residents love – and insist upon - that’s accessible to all and designed around a combination of armchair-based exercises, breathing and meditation.

11.30am: Residents gather to be thoroughly entertained by a wonderful performance from a section of Gordon's School Pipes and Drums, a special visit that Rachel has organised as as part of the local school’s Make a Difference Day. Student Han Mansek explains the history and detail behind the band's uniform and tartan, and the group chats to the residents, showing them the bagpipes and drums. Han then accompanies Rachel and a teacher to see two residents who were unable to watch the performance, so they can see his uniform. They are both Scottish and for one in particular, the sight of the bagpipes and traditional dress brings back many happy memories of Scotland.

FURRY FRIENDS AND A TEATIME TREAT

2.00pm: After lunch, Debby from Browells Wood Pet Therapy arrives with two six-week-old kittens, a

handful of puppies, some rabbits, Guinea pigs and a chicken! Residents stroke and pet the impeccably behaved animals, completely entranced. Providing animal therapy is a labour of love for Debby who Rachel regularly invites to Horsell Lodge. Debby understands how much this interaction means to those who may have lived on farms or owned much-loved pets and always makes sure that the furry visitors are taken to see animal-loving residents who are unable to leave their rooms.

3.00pm: Everything stops for tea! After so much excitement, the tinkle of a bell announcing the arrival of the high tea trolley, laden with delicious cakes and sweet treats, is a welcome sound. It’s a weekly ritual and Rachel and her team support high tea service from the trolley which tours the home, visiting lounges on every floor, residents in their rooms, and friends and relatives who have dropped in.

Evening: By popular demand, an evening activity is usually held four nights a week after dinner and can range from mindful meditation to arts and crafts sessions or the Tuesday night pub quiz. After such a fulfilling day residents are happy to relax, chat and reflect on what they’ve enjoyed the most, with the Wellbeing team keen to hear their feedback.

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE RESIDENTS

Resident collaboration is what makes Horsell Lodge tick and there is a monthly Residents’ Meeting where the whole home is represented and ideas are put forward and discussed. Alongside Rachel’s regular contact with residents’ family members and a strong relationship with the local community, this is an invaluable source of ideas and feedback and ensures that the programme of events and activities remains varied and completely resident led.

Every Friday, Rachel focuses on forward planning, working on daily activities at least a month in advance and producing a printed schedule for each week, which is hand-delivered to every resident’s room, emailed to their family members and posted on communal noticeboards for all to see. And so, the cycle of wellbeing and activity continues at Horsell Lodge!

Reflecting on her work, Rachel said: “My role is very hands on and every day is different. It’s challenging but rewarding and I have a great team who help deliver a wide range of activities which contribute to the lively and happy atmosphere in the home. Bringing smiles to our residents' faces is an absolute pleasure”.

Lianne Says Yes To The Dress Designed By Care Home Residents Elderly residents of a Birmingham care home have rolled back the years to become fashion designers – creating a unique dress that reflects their lives, memories and personalities.

The stunning creation, based on a second-hand wedding dress, is the work of the people living and working at The Oaks in Rubery. It got rave reviews when home manager Lianne Sturmey wore the eye-catching dress to a glittering awards ceremony in London.

The Oaks is part of the EQ Care Group and has become an integral part of the local community in Rubery, offering residents a wide range of activities and opportunities for local people to get involved. Among the activities enjoyed by residents is a ladies swimming club, with participants aged 90 and over, art clubs and cocktail evenings.

Holly Brookes, customer experience lead at The Oaks, explained how the idea of designing a dress for Lianne was embraced by residents.

“People are the heart of everything we do. Lianne has a passion for delivering exceptional care, so it was no surprise to us when she was nominated for ‘Inspirational Care Home Manager of the Year’ at The Stars of Social Care Awards 2025.

“Lianne saw that there was an award for best dressed and she immediately got to thinking about what to wear; how to stand out from the crowd and how to represent The Oaks and the people living here.”

The next morning, she arrived at work and announced that she wanted to wear a dress that featured something special that represented residents and their lives.

“As I have a background in textile design, and access to the relevant facilities, we realised that we could really make something unique and special. Lianne found a gorgeous second-hand wedding dress and it was a perfect fit!”

The next day, the team got to work. They asked residents to all draw or paint something that was important to them. They held multiple painting sessions throughout the next few weeks, as well as assisting people with 1:1 activity.

Holly added: “For people who didn’t want to draw, or struggled with it, we asked their families to get involved. We had someone’s wife give us her cross-stitch so that we could print this on to the dress. We had some families draw emblems and write messages that had special meanings to them and their families. We asked the team to get involved, and to draw things that were special to them.

“The next step was choosing the placement of the motifs. We sat together with people at The Oaks and chose where we wanted to place each motif. I then took it to Birmingham City University where I had access to the relevant facilities needed.

Here, I printed the images onto the dress.

“The dress came out beautifully, but we needed some finishing touches. We printed an image of Ted – The Oaks’ beloved pet dog – on to the dress. We then wrote ‘The Oaks’ in rhinestones across the back. We bedazzled Lianne’s shoes with rhinestones, our homemaker team bought Lianne a bag and our head chef made her a beautiful necklace. This is where the excitement truly sank in. Seeing the whole team’s contributions demonstrated the community that we have at The Oaks and made us all so delighted to be part of such a wonderful family.”

Once the dress was completed, it was shown to each individual living and working in the home.

“The reactions were so heartwarming. People were besotted. They were amazed to see something that they had created, something important to them, printed on to something as valuable as a wedding dress. Some people teared up, others had smiles from ear to ear. One thing that was for certain, everyone felt part of something truly unique and special,” added Holly.

Lianne said: “Wearing the dress was something I’ll never forget. At first, it felt like a fun and unique way to celebrate the nomination but as the artwork started coming in, it became so much more. Each painting told a story. It reflected the lives, memories, and personalities of the people who make The Oaks what it is. Seeing it all come together on the dress had a profound impact on me. It reminded me why I do this job, and how lucky I am to be part of such a special community. I didn’t feel like I was just wearing a dress, I felt like I was carrying the heart of our home with me.”

Holly added: “To me, I love that some of the people have drawn or written things that don’t mean anything to us, things that we might not be able to read. However, to them it’s something important and special, and carries great meaning. My favourite part is Jackie’s drawing. Jackie drew/ wrote lines and letters.

This didn’t make much sense to us, so I delved deeper. I learnt that she was a medical secretary and used to spend her days writing notes. I love that, after learning this, you can see how her past career has influenced her drawing – the drawing carries a hidden message about Jackie, her personality and her career.”

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See the advert on the facing page for more information.

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 250 | PAGE 13

Age UK Warns 2.4 Million Digitally Excluded Older People Are At Risk Of Being Left Behind New analysis for Age UK has found that 2.4 million (19%, nearly one in five) older people have limited use of the internet – using it less than once a month or not at all.

On the day Age UK delivered its 173,949 strong petition to No 10 Downing Street, the Charity calls on the Government to ensure there is an enforceable, ‘clear guarantee’ to offline alternatives to all public services, including NHS and council services, which can include in person options and assisted digital access.

Findings for Age UK found that limited internet use is more common among older people in some groups, rising to 32% for older Black and 26% for older Asian people, 30% for older people who live alone and 22% for older women and those struggling financially.

In the past 12 months it was revealed that 920,000 (7%) older people reduced the amount they used the internet reinforcing the fact found in previous Age UK research that older people who go online do not always stay there as they age, for a wide range of reasons. In addition, the latest data available also shows that 12% of older people – equivalent to 1.6 million, – don’t use a mobile phone at all, and 33% (4.3 million) of older people don’t use a smartphone.

Thirty-one per cent of older people (equivalent to 4 million) said that poor IT skills prevented them from going online and 22% – equivalent to 2.9 million – of older people said that lack of trust in the internet was a reason for them not going online.

The Charity is concerned that a ‘digital first’ approach, with insufficient offline alternatives available and a lack of opportunities to sup-

port those who want to go online to do so, will see older people struggling to manage their own finances and healthcare as they age.

Last year, Age UK launched a nationwide petition following feedback from older people across the Age UK network about the daily struggles they face to do basic things like paying for parking, applying for Blue Badges and accessing GP appointments – all because they do not use digital technology.

Caroline Abrahams CBE, Charity Director at Age UK said: “It’s clear that technology is set to transform many aspects of our lives for the better over the next decade, including the delivery of healthcare and how we interact with the NHS. “The potential of the NHS App for example, is truly exciting, but we must also ensure that no one is left behind, including the many millions of older people who are not online and who often want and need to use more traditional means of communication, such as telephone and face to face.

“Through our petition, older people who aren’t able or choose not to be online told us they were deeply worried about being locked out of the essential services they depend on. Some said that they felt belittled and unfairly bullied into going online and that this, plus a frequent failure on the part of organisations of all kinds to offer them easily accessible alternatives, was positively ageist. Whether you agree with that or not, there’s no doubt in our minds at Age UK that a poorly planned and delivered transition to digital by default would pose very real risks to the health, wellbeing, finances and inclusion of millions of

older people: for their sake above all we have to get it right.

“The Government’s commitment to a digitally inclusive approach is really important for this reason, to build public trust. It is also essential if the NHS’s promise of being equally accessible to all to is to continue to hold true in our increasingly digital world.

“Over time, it’s true that more people are going online and feeling comfortable using tech in later life, but some people will always be offline or only very basic users, for all kinds of different reasons.

However inconvenient this reality may be, we have to factor it into how we design services; in some cases, for example, it may be possible to develop tech-based approaches that do not depend on an individual older person having to manipulate them themselves. Nonetheless, for the foreseeable future there will be a need for good offline alternatives and the Government must ensure they are put in place in every essential service on which older people rely.

“There’s also a need for a complete step-change in our efforts to encourage and support more people of all ages to go online, if they wish to do so. If funding is available, the voluntary sector can certainly help with online training and support and at Age UK we look forward to doing so.”

Although many older people fully embrace the digital world, digital exclusion is more common at older ages. Age UK believes that people should be supported and encouraged to get online, but those who cannot, or do not want to do so should be able to access services offline and receive support in a way that suits them.

Community Spirit On Show At Dorset Care Home’s Big Lunch A Dorset care home has raised more than £600 for a learning disability charity by hosting its first ‘Big Lunch’ community event.

Colten Care’s Amberwood House in Ferndown was the venue for a colourful get-together involving residents, team members, family, friends and community contacts.

The day kicked off with visiting vocal duo Jewel Harmonies, who performed classic tunes from the 50s and 60s in the garden.

They were followed by soloist Bee Chumley, in signature cherry attire, for a singalong of more favourites.

Residents and guests sampled tasty treats including beef brisket chilli and vegetable tagine and there were stalls selling handmade crafts plus a tombola, children’s face painting and afternoon tea and cake.

The event raised £638.70 for the Stable Family Home Trust which is Amberwood House residents’ main charity for this year.

Established in Ringwood in 1980, the Trust currently provides support to more than 100 people through a range of services and opportunities for those with learning disabilities.

Amberwood House resident Ron Ellis, who attended the whole event, said: “We had lots of fun with great music, great food and great weather. And it was a joy to meet new people from our local community and raise money for such a worthy cause.”

Home Manager Diane Nicholls said: “It was a fabulous day with the chance to come together with others and have fun. We welcomed lots of new faces as well as old friends in what was a great example of community spirit.

PAGE 16 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 250

Up To 885,000 People Deprived Of Accessible Home Opportunity Due To Government Delay As many as 885,000 more people could now be living in accessible and adaptable properties if legislation requiring higher minimum standards in new build homes had been delivered as promised, new analysis from the Centre for Ageing Better and Habinteg reveals.

29 July mareds the three-year anniversary of a government announcement confirming plans to require all new homes to have entrance level stepfree access and other accessibility features as a minimum requirement.

The government’s decision came after a large-scale consultation and reflects the need for the country’s homes to be accessible and adaptable to support population ageing and growing numbers of older and Disabled people to live safely and independently at home.

A second round of consultation that was planned to finalise the transition to the new regulations has never materialised.

In the three years since the announcement, Habinteg and Ageing Better analysis indicates that we have just 112,000 new accessible and adaptable homes – based on an industry average that only one in four new build homes have been built to this standard.

This means that the vast majority of homes built in this time, totalling more than 375,000, are not built to meet the needs of Disabled people or the changing needs of people throughout their lifetime.

Our new polling indicates high levels of public concern around how people would cope living in their own home if they developed a serious health issue or injury.

Two in three people (66%) think they would have problems moving around their current home and carrying out everyday tasks without major adaptations to their property if they developed a health issue or serious injury.

The previous government commented in their consultation response on the positive impact that raising the accessibility standards of new homes would have on housing health and welfare. They noted that it would ‘future proof’ new homes for successive generations, saving costs associated with moving or adapting homes.

More than three in four people (77%) think all new homes should be built to a standard that allows people to live independently as they age or if they become disabled.

As co-chairs of the Housing Made for Everyone (HoME) coalition, Habinteg Housing Association and the Centre for Ageing Better are calling on the government to use the opportunity provided by the Planning and Infrastructure Bill to raise the default standard to the M4(2) standard of accessibility and adaptation.

Millie Brown, Deputy Director for Homes at Centre for Ageing Better, said “We welcome the government’s commitment to building 1.5 million new homes; however, it is paramount that they are built to be accessible and adaptable.”

“The government must seize this opportunity to address the crisis of inaccessible housing and bridge the ever-widening gap between the number of Disabled people and accessible homes.”

“The proportions of older and Disabled people among our population are growing significantly, and yet there are not enough provisions to support this change in our country’s demographics – we are falling

abysmally short of meeting people’s needs.

“We know that the impact of raising minimum accessibility standards could have been life-changing to so many people had it been implemented over the past three years; from performing basic tasks like being able to shower without risking injury, to having the ability to enter the front door and move around easily. People living in homes which do not meet their accessibility needs cannot just wait for years and years clinging to the hope this change might happen at some point in the future, their need is desperate and urgent.”

“Everyone deserves to live in a home that affords them safety and independence. Now is the time to make the change and raise the level of what we should expect from our housing.”

Previous analysis has highlighted how little progress has been made on improving the accessibility of the nation’s homes in the last decade.

Recently our published figures show the proportion of homes with accessibility features has flatlined, while there is a growing demand as the proportion of Disabled people increases steadily in the UK. In the absence of new regulations, the accessibility gap of unmet demand has grown by more than 2 million people in just over a decade – meaning 12 million people who have accessibility needs do not have the accessible home they need. Increasing the building standard to the M4(2) standard could potentially eradicate a significant proportion of the unmet demand for accessible homes in this country.

Christina McGill, Director of Social Impact & External Affairs at Habinteg Housing Association, said: The Government’s plans for housing are central to so much of what it wants to achieve. Accessible and adaptable homes in particular hold huge potential to reduce health and social care costs whilst supporting disabled and older people to work and maintain independence.

“Yet twelve months into the new Government’s term we’ve heard very little of its intentions with regard to the minimum standards of accessibility and adaptability. Meanwhile homes are being built, and plans are being made for new developments which will not be accessible and adaptable and will therefor fail to deliver these critical outcomes.

“Far too many disabled and older people are making do in homes that limit their lives and independence.

That’s why Habinteg and the HoME coalition are asking government to act now on accessible homes rules.

With a rapidly aging population and increasing rates of disability the government needs to ensure the country’s new homes will all be fit for the nation’s need both now and into the future.”

EVIDENCE SHOWS THAT BUILDING MORE ACCESSIBLE HOMES CAN HAVE POSITIVE IMPACTS BOTH SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY, INCLUDING: • Increased independence and less reliance on health and social care services • Savings to the NHS from fewer falls and other injuries around the home • Improved mental health and wellbeing for Disabled people • Reductions in costs of retrofitting homes to suit needs, which is more costly than making them part of the original design

Stevenage Care Home Launches “Food Around the World” Initiative to Celebrate Equality and Diversity HC-One’s Woodlands View Care Home have embraced equality and celebrated the rich cultural diversity of its residents after launching “Food Around the World”, a monthly cooking initiative designed to honour the global traditions and tastes of the community in Stevenage, Hertfordshire.

Beginning this month, on the second Thursday of every month, Woodlands View residents will be treated to a specially curated menu inspired by a different country’s cuisine. This initiative aims to provide a delightful and varied dining experience that caters to a broad range of preferences while recognising the unique cultural heritage of its residents.

Kicking off this journey is the vibrant and flavoursome cuisine of China.

This month’s menu includes: • Chicken Chow Mein

• Egg Fried Rice • Sweet & Sour Chicken Shawn Heppenstall, HC-One’s Woodlands View Head Chef, and the dedicated kitchen team have worked closely to create authentic and delicious dishes that truly capture the spirit of Chinese cooking.

Barbara Isted, HC-One’s Woodlands View Care Home resident, shared her enthusiasm: "I loved the Chinese food - it tasted amazing. Having these themed meals makes life so much better."

The success of the “Food Around the World” initiative is part of Woodlands View’s ongoing commitment to promoting wellbeing and happiness among its residents through engaging activities that celebrate life’s joyful moments.

“Joined Up” Social Care Recycling Collaboration Expediates “Life Saver” In Safe Home Access Social care collaboration and use of an “outside the box” approach to recycling of community equipment means daily life is now safe for teenager Rhianna Maness.

The 17 year-old has complex disabilities, including seizures and being non-verbal. Her parents Melissa and Darren themselves have health issues.

Getting Rhianna up and down stairs was becoming a risk, but the conventional solutionsa stairlift or through-floor lift- were not viable.

Rhianna’s Occupational Therapist at Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Trust found out about AAT’s Sella stairclimber, and reached out for assessment support. It worked!

A Sella was available at Medequip’s stores for Kirklees’ Council, as were some of the accessories needed to ensure Rhianna was sat secure and properly supported as she needed. As a result, using the re-issue capability of the stairclimber, Rhianna’s carers can now transfer her up and down the stairs without risk to her or themselves. Should Rhianna have a seizure en route, the stairclimbing process can be safely paused for as long as required.

“It’s been a real life saver,” says Melissa. “Rhianna’s face shows that she enjoys it, and it’s

made the world of difference to us all.

“It was a bit scarey to start with at the top of the stairs, but AAT trained us fully in how to use the stairclimber safely. If Rhianna has a seizure, we just stop until it’s passed and we can resume.”

Adds Gareth Brown of AAT, “Rhianna requires significant support to sit. We had most of the accessories she needed in stores @ Kirklees, so there was only need to purchase a couple of small additions. Her access to all levels of the family home has been made safe, including assessment, equipment and training, for around £1000- a fraction of the cost of other solutions, had they been viable.”

AAT’s re-issue facility for stairclimbers is unique within the sector. It means that- where appropriate- necessary, reasonable and practical changes can be made to make stairs safe for someone with reduced mobility, for <£1000/ £650 pa(1). There are no structural alterations nor permanent restriction of the stairs for other members of the household.

Full details can be found here: www.aatgb.com/taking-steps-to-reduce-adaptation-delay-for-650-recycle/

PAGE 18 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 250

NHS Protected Thousands More Appointments During Doctors Strike Over 10,000 additional patients received treatment during last week’s BMA strike action compared to the previous industrial dispute, as the NHS adopted a significantly more robust approach to maintaining services throughout the five-day period from 25-30 July 2025. With staff from across the health service working around the clock, the NHS successfully maintained 93% of planned care during the action, ensuring that operations, tests and procedures continued alongside urgent and emergency cases despite the disruption.

Early data reveals that fewer than one in three resident doctors participated in the strike, representing a 7.5% decrease (1,243 fewer strikers) compared to the June 2024 industrial action, with the majority of junior doctors choosing instead to support the NHS-wide effort to keep services running for patients.

Sir James Mackey, NHS chief executive, said: “The NHS has come together like never before to minimise the impact of strikes on patients, and I want to thank the hundreds of thousands of staff, including many resident doctors, who worked hard to manage the disruption, protect patients, and ensure the NHS remained open for those who needed.

“While this is really good news for the vast majority of patients whose treatment went ahead, we should still acknowledge that there were thousands whose care was disrupted.”

“NHS staff will continue to work hard to ensure patients can get their rescheduled care as soon as possible, but for those patients – and for all our staff who had to work extra shifts or with different responsibilities

– a repeat of this action will be unacceptable.

“So, I would urge the Resident Doctors Committee to get back to the negotiating table and work with us and the Government on the meaningful improvements we can make to resident doctors working lives.”

Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting, said: “I want to again thank staff from across the NHS who have put in an incredible shift to make sure that the NHS was open to as many patients as possible over the five days of unnecessary strike action.

“Due to the dedication of NHS staff and a different operational approach from previous strikes, we have managed to significantly reduce disruption to patients, with early indications showing that 10,000 extra patients receiving care compared to previous strike action.”

“Despite the huge effort made to keep as much planned care as possible going, let’s be clear – these damaging strikes still come at a cost to patients, other staff and the NHS. “A majority of resident doctors didn’t vote for strike action and data shows that less than a third of residents took part. I want to thank those resident doctors who went to work for their commitment to their patients and to our shared mission to rebuild the NHS.” “I want to end this unnecessary dispute and I will be urging the BMA to work with the government in good faith in our shared endeavour to improve the working lives of resident doctors, rather than pursuing more reckless strike action. It’s time to move past this cycle of disruption and focus on our shared mission to build

Raising A Glass To Community: International Beer Day At Elm Bank Care Home Elm Bank care home in Kettering recently celebrated International Beer Day in Style, the day itself is celebrated on the 1st of August each year. The communal lounge was transformed in to a lively pub for a day of fun, community and fantastic beverages. Residents and staff came together to enjoy a traditional pub quiz and carefully selected assortment of beers, proving that a good time knows no age.

The atmosphere was electric as residents eagerly participated in the traditional pub quiz, their faces lighting up with each correct answer. The real star of the show was the beer itself, from classic ales to refreshing lagers, there was a drink to suit every taste. The home created a lovely tipple trolley that was taken around the homes community allow-

ing for all in their rooms to enjoy a lovely beverage to celebrate the day itself so that no one missed out. The event was a testament to the homes commitment in enriching the lives of its residents by bringing the vibrant, social atmosphere of a pub indoors.

Tina, Activities Co-ordinator said, “It is really important that the home celebrates these unique themed events as it highlights the importance of such events in a care setting.

Residents are able to get a break from normal routine and a chance to socialise, it is a reminder that life is full of small wonderful pleasures. Our residents had a great afternoon it was a resounding success, not just were empty glasses left behind, but also hearts also full of lasting memories, Cheers to that!.”

“Excellent” Devon Care Home Achieves ‘Butterfly Approach’ Dementia Model After 18-Month Transformation A family-run West Devon care home has joined the elite few UK social care settings to have adopted of the acclaimed ‘Butterfly Approach’ – establishing an exemplary dementia care culture where people can thrive.

West View Care Home, in Bere Alston, recently completed the significant 18-month transformation to provide a more personcentred care model and elevate its “excellent” offering even further.

Following rigorous monthly support with the team at the 28-bed home, along with those who live there, West View received accreditation in the prestigious Butterfly Approach from Meaningful Care Matters. The care and culture consultancy group specialise in focusing on the development of resilient, relationship-centred cultures of care shaped by the people living and working within them.

The Butterfly Approach has a meticulous focus on creating a culture where people are ‘free to be me’. It values emotional intelligence and the core belief that everyone has a unique story that has meaning and matters. It also encourages care providers to put the focus back on the people they care for and their emotions, by engaging in the reality of people’s lived experience in the ‘here and now’.

The transformation at West View included splitting the home into two separate living areas – Wren and Robin – where people with earlyonset dementia or without dementia live together and people who experience more complex needs or later stage dementia live together.

This fundamental change to a small household approach has enabled holistic care to flourish, where emotions-based care is balanced with clinical care best practice.

The home has also been decorated with vibrant colours and murals to bring warmth, with items of interest all around representing each individual and their life story – what Meaningful Care Matters calls the

‘stuff of life’, creating a family atmosphere.

Diane Kehoe, Manager at West View Care Home, said: “As a secondgeneration family-run business, we always aspire to create a stimulating, engaging and enjoyable environment – and the Butterfly Approach has provided us with the platform to offer that around the clock. I was already familiar with the approach and saw the potential West View had in achieving it. The transformation was not easy, and we had a few challenges along the way, but the rewards upon completion have made it so worthwhile.

“We believed in the whole process from the outset and the staff embraced it – showing so much patience and kindness. They treat the residents like family, enjoying life together with lots of laughter and fun. When you step into the home now you can really sense the buzz of the place, and the level of care is both phenomenal and heartwarm-

ing.”

The overall findings from Meaningful Care Matters during a final audit last month identified the home as “excellent”, offering a highly engaged service that prioritises meaningful moments and where emotion-focused care is consistently seen, felt and heard in interactions with people. It also reported that individuality and self-expression are encouraged within the home, allowing people to freely be themselves.

Peter Bewert, Managing Director of Meaningful Care Matters, said: “West View has transformed into a truly wonderful home. The team have clearly embraced the desire to change and have achieved amazing results, being guided and supported by Diane. They have also lifted their CQC rating from ‘Requires Improvement’ to ‘Good’ and are aiming over the course of the year to reach ‘Outstanding’. They have also been supported by the local service improvements team, who were so impressed at the transformation that they plan to use West View as a role model for other homes.”

Peter continued: “The journey has been incredible. From what we would call a ‘traditional’ care home, West View has come alive and now has a genuine feeling of family, togetherness, love and purpose for the people living there.”

The home aims to continue elevating its high standard of care, with ambitious plans to be acknowledged and approved by the National Dementia Care Accreditation Scheme. It also plans to achieve the ‘gold standard’ for end-of-life care by the Gold Standards Framework.

For more information on West View Care Home, please visit https://westviewcarehome.co.uk/.

For more information on Meaningful Care Matters and its cultural transformation models, visit https://meaningfulcarematters.com/.

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 250 | PAGE 19

Lords Committee Launches Inquiry Into Medicine Supply Issues In England Medicine shortages across England are increasing, which in turn impacts the health of patients, and puts significant pressure on the NHS, Pharmacies and GPs. In order to examine this issue in more detail, the cross-party House of Lords Public Services Committee has launched an inquiry into the UK’s ability to predict and prevent medicine supply issues.

The inquiry will focus on the effectiveness of current strategies to tackle medicine supply issues in England and their resilience in the face of challenges in the procurement, supply and distribution of medicine. The Committee will also be considering innovative solutions to deal with the identified issues.

THE COMMITTEE IS INVITING WRITTEN EVIDENCE ON QUESTIONS INCLUDING;

• What are the causes of medicine supply chain issues in the UK? • How do Government and primary and secondary care providers monitor stock levels across different parts of the supply chain and how effective is this monitoring?

• To what extent is the Government able to predict supply chain issues before they occur?

• What impact do procurement policies within primary and secondary care have on supply chain resilience and how could these be improved?

• To what extent is the UK an attractive market for investment at all stages of the pharmaceutical supply chain, including research, manufacturing, and supply?

The Committee has invited written evidence to be submitted by 23 September 2025 and expects to report

on its findings in early 2026.

Baroness Morris of Yardley, Chair of the Public Services Committee said; “The medical supply chain has become increasingly complex encompassing sourcing, manufacturing, distribution and delivery of medicines on a global scale. For this reason, the supply chain has become more vulnerable to events including natural disasters, international conflict and disease outbreaks. Such global issues have the potential to seriously affect the resilience of our medical supply in England and most importantly, potentially damage the health of patients.

“As a result, we are interested in understanding how effective the current strategies in England are for predicting and preventing supply chain issues across both primary and secondary care, and their future resilience in the face of different challenges and threats. We’ll also be looking to hear evidence on any innovative solutions there might be to the issues identified during the course of our inquiry, and how to better predict and prevent any future medicine supply problems. Doing this should alleviate pressure on pharmacies, the NHS and also provide better medical care to patients.

“We are seeking evidence from a wide range of areas, including organisations and people who work across the medical supply chain and also people who have been directly affected by medical supply issues.

We will also be holding a number of oral evidence sessions before producing a report where we will aim to make practical recommendations that will improve all aspects of the supply of medicine in England.”

PASS Accelerates Team Growth Following Successful Rollout of PASSgenius™ PASS by everyLIFE, the leading care management software provider, has announced a major recruitment drive following the successful launch of PASSgenius™ - its new suite of AI, data, and automation tools designed to help care providers make smarter decisions and improve service performance.

The company is expanding its team across the board, targeting overall annual headcount growth of 25% by the end of 2025. This includes more than doubling its Customer Growth & Engagement functions, enabling the business to meet growing demand while continuing to prioritise customer support and success.

"PASSgenius™ has opened up a new chapter for PASS," said Robin Batchelor, CEO of everyLIFE Technologies, the company behind PASS. "We’re not only seeing increased demand from care providers, but also growing interest from talent who want to build technology that genuinely makes a difference

in people’s lives. This is about scaling responsibly and investing in the people who will take us forward."

The recruitment drive spans multiple departments, including Engineering, Customer Success, and Growth, with roles offered on a hybrid or remote-first basis across the UK. This expansion comes as digital transformation in the care sector continues to accelerate, with providers under pressure to deliver more with fewer resources.

PASS’s latest innovations - including real-time performance dashboards and AIpowered care insights - have positioned it as a trusted partner to providers navigating operational and regulatory challenges.

For more information about current vacancies, visit www.everylifetechnologies.com/careers

PAGE 20 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 250

NHS Needs To Act To Prevent Ethnic Minority Communications Staff Talent Drain, New Report Shows NHS leaders need to act now to avoid a talent drain that could lead to a mass loss of ethnic minority communications staff within three years due to poor experiences, discrimination and a lack of trust in management, a new report has warned.

The report from the Taskforce for Diversity in NHS Communications, published by the NHS Confederation, NHS Providers and the Centre for Health Communication Research (CHCR), sets out a series of recommendations to address the substantial gaps between BME communicators’ career aspirations and their NHS experience and outcomes.

The Taskforce has developed a Charter with achievable and measurable actions to support the development of a diverse communications and engagement profession for the NHS, supported by strong allyship and advocacy.

Its headline ambition is that at least 15 per cent of the most senior NHS communications professionals should be from an ethnic minority background by 2030, up from 5 per cent in the most recent assessment.

In signing the charter, NHS leaders ranging from chairs, chief executives and chief people officers to communications directors and their senior managers will be encouraged to take personal responsibility for challenging racism and championing diversity.

The report sets out a series of recommendations aimed at addressing the lack of diversity in NHS communications roles and creating an environment where communications professionals and those from diverse backgrounds can thrive, contribute their unique perspectives and skills, and significantly enhance the NHS’s capacity to serve its diverse workforce and communities effectively.

THESE INCLUDE:

• Committing to shortlisting and interviewing every BME candidate who meets the minimum criteria alongside end-to-end blind recruitment processes to reduce bias, remove information about which establishments candidates studied at, and all other protected characteristics.

• The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England to support a structured national mentoring programme and ensure all NHS communicators are included in the mentorship and support programmes.

• Collaborate with educational institutions to create placements and mentorship programmes that target diverse students, nurturing future talent while simultaneously expanding the pipeline of skilled profes-

sionals ready to join the workforce.

• Develop a comprehensive competency framework for NHS communications roles that clearly articulates what ethnic minority and other communications professionals need to do to climb to the most senior roles in the profession.

• Support staff to undertake the post-graduate course in health care communications and engagement, with a particular focus on identifying communications professionals from BME and other diverse backgrounds.

A survey of over 300 communications professionals, conducted as evidence for the recommendations of the Taskforce, found that 26 per cent of BME staff said they expect to leave the NHS within three years.

This finding was reinforced in focus groups held by the Taskforce.

Many reported experiencing racism, discrimination, microaggressions, biases and a lack of cultural understanding within their workplaces, which is having a negative impact on ethnic minority communications staff’s sense of belonging, job satisfaction and overall wellbeing.

BME communications professionals, reflecting on their experiences in the NHS, told the Taskforce that because of this they felt they would be happier and more satisfied in other sectors – citing better financial rewards, fairer treatment, improved workplace culture and better career progression opportunities as the driving force.

Edna Boampong, chair of the Taskforce for Diversity in NHS

Communications, said: “We cannot afford to lose the limited talent we have from ethnic minority backgrounds. Doing so risks undoing progress on diversity and inclusion.”

“Representation matters – especially in communications. A team that reflects the local population is better positioned to build trust, understand cultural nuances and engage communities meaningfully, supporting the NHS’s aim to reduce inequality.”

“Equally, having diverse voices at senior levels ensures a range of lived experiences and cultural perspectives shape decisions. This isn’t just about fairness – it’s about making better, more inclusive decisions.”

“While our report is focused on comms professionals in the NHS, we know that there is a lack of diversity at a senior level, across all sectors and that staff from ethnic minority backgrounds are more likely to face bullying and harassment.”

“To deliver on the ambitions of the NHS Ten-Year Health Plan, we must create an environment that supports ethnic minority staff to thrive and progress. Without that, we risk losing the very people who can help us connect with the diverse communities we serve.”

The report from the Taskforce also warns this talent drain could be exacerbated by the impending wave of NHS cuts and restructuring that will see integrated care boards having to reduce their running costs by 50%, and NHS trusts having to also make cuts to their corporate services.

With studies indicating a troubling trend that BME staff are often disproportionately affected by job cuts and restructurings, health leaders are concerned that ethnic minority communications staff could be significantly reduced, further impacting the NHS’s ability to build trust with the diverse population it serves.

The report based on a body of research including an extensive survey, engagement workshops with communications leads and one-toone interviews with senior leaders across the NHS and third sector, also found that ethnic minority communicators consistently identify institutional racism and structural disadvantage as part of their working lives within the NHS. Nearly two-thirds of BME communicators (63 per cent) said are dissatisfied with the culture within the NHS and view current diversity initiatives as superficial or “tick-box exercises” that fail to address underlying issues.

Superhero Pensioner Trustee Takes on 24-Hour Endurance Race to Support Cornwall Homeless Charity Harbour Housing is proud to announce that trustee Tim Styles will yet again be undertaking a remarkable physical challenge to raise funds for the charity’s vital work, supporting people experiencing homelessness in Cornwall.

On Friday 15th August at 7pm, Tim will begin the Bring Out Your Dead (BOYD) endurance race; a 24-hour solo run along the rugged and scenic coast path between Porthpean and Black Head. The route, approximately 2.5 miles each way, will be repeated 15 times, totaling 75 miles of continuous running.

The race is designed to test physical and mental limits. Participants are not allowed outside assistance, except for hot water provided at the designated ‘Sanctuary’ at Porthpean, where rest is limited to just 10 minutes per loop. Tim will wear an electronic tag to ensure compliance, with any overstay resulting in disqualification. What makes the challenge even more remarkable is that Tim is 65 years of age and one of our dedicated trustees.

Pulling on his experience both from the police force & military, last year Tim completed the Le Joggle challenge – cycling from Land’s End to John O’Groats and came straight back again! That journey received national coverage due to Tim’s decision to sleep in fields and bus shelters to raise awareness of what it’s like to be homeless.

“This is a truly grueling challenge, and we’re incredibly proud of Tim for taking it on in support of Harbour Housing,” said Mark Steer Chairperson of the Board of Trustees at Harbour Housing. “His commitment reflects the spirit of our organisation – pushing boundaries to make a difference”. Tim is expected to cover 120,000 metres, burning a mighty 20,000 calories! Supporters can follow Tim’s journey and contribute to his fundraising campaign via the link below. Every donation, no matter how small, helps Harbour Housing continue its mission to rebuild lives and strengthen communities. www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/tim-styles-2

New Inspection Service Launches To Counter Rising Costs Facing the Care Sector Care Inspections UK (CIUK), the UK’s only accredited inspection body for care homes, has launched a pay-as-you-go inspection service aimed at helping care homes improve quality, performance, risk management, and regulatory ratings in the face of the increasing costs affecting the social care sector.

To ease cash flow during rising National Insurance and wage pressures, the subscription service offers care homes structured, evidence-based support to navigate compliance challenges effectively. To add to this support, CIUK is offering up to £100 per month off all new subscriptions for twelve months for sign-ups in May 2025.

Designed to accommodate a range of operational needs and budgets, the three-tiered subscription model, Silver, Gold, and Platinum, offers varying levels of inspection frequency, expert guidance, and action plans tailored to each home’s requirements.

Under the Silver plan, care homes receive an annual comprehensive inspection carried out by experienced, accredited professionals. The resulting detailed report includes a full breakdown of every aspect of the care home, along with easy click-through access to relevant standards, regulations, and best practices. An action plan is provided to cover any non-conformances, with ongoing review and support to

ensure continuous progress. Homes that meet the required thresholds will be awarded a certification, signifying excellence in care provision. Additional benefits include advisory support before and after inspections, access to exclusive online events and forums for networking and best practice sharing, and participation in CIUK-led publicity initiatives designed to highlight high standards of care.

CIUK also guarantees that, by fully implementing all aspects of the action plan, homes will see improvements in their regulatory ratings (CQC, CI, CIW, RQIA), giving providers added assurance that their investment in quality improvement will yield tangible results.

The Gold tier builds upon the Silver plan by offering additional regulatory and commissioning pre-inspection tools. This deeper level of service helps care providers prepare more effectively for formal inspections, giving them an edge in demonstrating compliance with industry standards. Gold members benefit from an in-depth assessment of their readiness for external regulatory visits, with tailored support that helps anticipate potential concerns and address them proactively. In addition to all the features of the Silver package, Gold subscribers receive a more comprehensive level of preparatory guidance, ensuring that homes meet and exceed industry expectations.

The Platinum package is the most comprehensive offering, providing

two inspections per year to ensure that care homes maintain consistently high standards throughout the year. Alongside the core benefits found in the Gold and Silver plans, Platinum members gain access to detailed analysis of inspection trends, helping care homes identify recurring issues and implement long-term solutions for sustained compliance and excellence. Additional advisory support is extended to Platinum members, ensuring they have ongoing expert guidance in regulatory matters, risk management, and quality improvement. This elite tier is particularly beneficial for larger care providers or those undergoing transitions, such as ownership changes or expansion, who require higher scrutiny and support.

Kevin Groombridge, chief executive at Care Inspections UK, said: “Our mission is to raise standards in the care sector by providing accessible, evidence-based support. This subscription model equips care homes with the tools to enhance compliance and deliver the highestquality care.

With rising costs placing additional pressure on the sector, for only a couple hundred pounds a month, our service offers expert guidance and regular inspections to help providers navigate these challenges. By following our structured action plan, care homes can guarantee an improvement in their regulatory ratings, ensuring better outcomes for both residents and staff.”

Visit www.careinspections.co.uk or see the advert on the facing page for details.

PAGE 22 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 250

John’s Journey: From Brain Injury to the Eiffel Tower - A Milestone Birthday Made Possible by CHD Living Turning 25 is a milestone for anyone - but for John Lawas, it marked something even more profound: his first trip abroad since a devastating road traffic accident ten years ago left him with a complex brain injury.

With determination, optimism and the support of CHD Living’s Care at Home Complex Care team, John has made extraordinary progress. From once being PEGfed and unable to walk, he has steadily rebuilt his independence, regaining strength, communication skills and confidence. Thanks to structured therapy, consistency in care, and his own motivation, he has progressed from being nil by mouth to enjoying level six meals - almost back to a full diet.

Recently, CHD Living helped turn one of John’s biggest dreams into reality: celebrating his 25th birthday in front of the Eiffel Tower.

John and his dedicated 24-hour care team set off via the Eurotunnel for a weeklong adventure, staying in a specially adapted farmhouse in Normandy. The itinerary was packed with meaning – visits to Omaha Beach and Mont Saint-Michel, a day of magic at Disneyland Paris, and, on 24 June, a milestone moment as John was photographed beaming in front of the Eiffel Tower, balloon in hand, radiating pure joy.

“On Tuesday 24 June I celebrated my 25th birthday in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris - a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” said John. “Watching the city lights from up there, surrounded by a completely new environment and atmosphere, felt absolutely surreal. It truly was a once-in-a-lifetime moment.”

Reflecting on the trip, John shared: “I explored the historic region of Normandy, where I visited the deeply moving Musee Memorial – it gave me a powerful perspective on history. I also wandered through the medieval remains of La Barbacane et Porte des Champs, enjoyed the peaceful Clecy Bridge and treated myself at La Pommeraye. Disneyland was magical - I relived my childhood seeing Mickey Mouse, Princess Elsa, and all the characters from Frozen. The fireworks made me feel alive.”

John’s story reflects the very heart of CHD Living’s approach to complex care: going beyond clinical needs to help people lead full, meaningful lives. Every element of the trip - from accessible accommodation and travel logistics to tailored medical support - was carefully planned and delivered by the care team who know John best.

This wasn’t a one-off. Over the past few years, John has enjoyed several supported holidays across the UK with his team, including trips to Cornwall, Wales and Butlins each one building his confidence, independence and readiness for something bigger.

Paris was the next step in that journey.

“I travelled via the Eurotunnel, which was a unique experience in itself,” said John.

“Paris gave me memories I’ll cherish forever, and I feel so lucky to have experienced it all.”

His care package, delivered through CHD Living’s specialist Complex Care branch of their Care at Home service, includes two carers with him at all times - providing round-the-clock support that is entirely person-centred. For John and his team, care is not just about stability, it is about living well, and creating space for joy, travel and new experiences.

Nicole Fitzsimons, Group Branch Manager at CHD Living Care at Home, said: “Supporting someone to live their life in full - to travel, to explore, to feel joy - is what great care is all about. For John, this trip wasn’t just a holiday. It was a celebration of how far he has come and the life he is building, on his terms. I couldn’t be prouder of the team who supported him, and of John for continuing to inspire us every day.”

John’s journey is also a reflection of CHD Living’s wider expertise in complex and specialist care. As an NHS-preferred provider for acquired brain injury and neurological rehabilitation, the organisation supports clients across Surrey and beyond with advanced, nurse-led home care and residential rehabilitation - tailored to both clinical outcomes and quality of life.

Royal Yeomanry Make Waves For Royal Star & Garter At Kingston Dragon Boat Race A military association has made a splash and helped raise money for an Armed Forces charity.

The Royal Yeomanry Regimental Association put forward a team to represent Royal Star & Garter at the Kingston Dragon Boat Race and raised more than £800.

The team, consisting of 12 rowers and one drummer, reached the finals after plain sailing their way through three heats.

The event took place on the River Thames near Canbury Gardens on Sunday 20 July.

The Royal Yeomanry Regimental Association team was led by Sargent Chris Smith. He said: “We were all happy to support Royal Star & Garter. We had an amazing time, and we all discovered the joy of Dragon Boat racing. We’re looking forward to representing the charity again next year!”

Halani Foulsham, Partnerships Manager at Royal Star & Garter, said: “We’re incredibly grateful to the Royal Yeomanry for their fantastic effort and team spirit at this year’s Dragon Boat race. Their energy and commitment made it a truly special day. Thank you to everyone who supported, donated, and helped make the event such a success.”

Residents at Huyton Care Home Enjoy Magical Wizard of Oz Performance by Talespin Theatre Residents at HC-One’s Roby House Care Home in Huyton, Liverpool, were swept away to the Land of Oz this summer as they enjoyed a heartwarming live performance of The Wizard of Oz, brought to life by the talented Talespin Theatre Company.

The visit was part of a season of uplifting entertainment and activities being held at Roby House to celebrate the summer months. Dressed in dazzling costumes and full of energy, the Talespin Theatre cast delighted residents with their joyful take on the timeless classic, featuring all the beloved characters and songs.

Residents clapped, laughed, and sang along as Dorothy and her companions journeyed down the Yellow Brick Road in search of the Wizard.

The care home lounge was transformed into a theatre space for the day, and staff made sure everyone had a front-row seat to the fun.

Ruth Baggs, Home Manager at HC-One’s Roby House Care Home,

said: “It was absolutely wonderful. Our residents really love live performances, and this one was especially magical. These kinds of experiences are not only entertaining but also a fantastic way to promote social interaction and wellbeing.”

The performance is just one of many events Roby House is hosting this summer, a season the care home team believes is the perfect time for new residents to join their warm and welcoming community.

Ruth Baggs, Home Manager at HC-One’s Roby House Care Home, added: “Summer is a wonderful time to move into a care home. With the warmer weather, vibrant gardens, and more opportunities for outdoor events and social activities, it’s a fantastic time to settle into a new environment and meet new friends.”

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 250 | PAGE 23

Avery Healthcare Expands Its Portfolio With Artisan Care Group Acquisition Avery Healthcare has strengthened its position in the UK care home sector with the acquisition of Artisan Care Group, adding 774 beds to its portfolio.

This acquisition includes ten care homes across the East Midlands, East of England, and the South West, all previously managed by Avery under existing agreements.

With this move, Avery Healthcare transitions the homes into full ownership, marking a key step in the company’s ongoing growth strategy. The acquisition is seen as part of a wider effort to consolidate its portfolio of national care homes and continue expanding its footprint in the social care market.

The deal, which further aligns with Avery’s long-term commitment to quality care, reflects the company’s strategic focus on expanding its operational reach within the UK care sector.

Avery Healthcare, which employs nearly 10,000 staff, continues to be a leading player in the healthcare market, supported by major investors including the

Reuben Brothers and Welltower Inc. Prior to the acquisition, the Artisan homes were operated by the Avery team under management arrangements. The deal transitions these properties into full ownership, marking a significant step in the consolidation and expansion of its national care home portfolio. Following the transaction, Avery now owns and operates 106 homes comprising 8,614 beds across its UK-wide network.

Commenting on the acquisition, Jeremy Richardson, Avery’s Chief Executive said: “We are delighted to welcome the Artisan homes into the Avery Group.

Through our previous management relationship, these are homes we know well and there is very clear fit with wider Group’.

The Group’s majority shareholder David Jr Reuben of Reuben Brothers added: “Acquiring the Artisan Group was an obvious strategic step given the strength of the relationship and further solidifies our long term commitment to Avery and the social care sector”.

Flying the Flag for Inclusion: Nicolas Supports Brighton Pride with The Outstanding Society Frank Foster House Care Home, part of Runwood Homes Group, is celebrating one of its own this week, as Home Manager Nicolas proudly volunteered with The Outstanding Society during Brighton Pride on 2nd August 2025; a vibrant and vital event dedicated to championing equality, diversity, and LGBTQ+ rights.

As part of the Outstanding Society’s presence at Pride, Nicolas helped raise awareness around inclusion in the care sector, connecting with members of the public and fellow care professionals to spotlight the importance of creating welcoming, affirming environments for all especially within care homes.

The Outstanding Society made up of care professionals from ‘Outstanding’-rated homes exists to share best practices and promote continuous improvement across social care. One of its key values is equality, and events like Pride provide a meaningful opportunity to put

that value into action.

“We’re incredibly proud of Nicolas for representing us with such passion and purpose,” said a team member for Frank Foster House.

“By supporting Pride, we stand alongside our LGBTQ+ residents, staff, and communities affirming that everyone deserves dignity, safety, and the freedom to be their authentic selves.”

This year’s event was filled with colour, celebration, and connection and everyone who took part agreed: it was a truly uplifting and empowering experience.

As the Outstanding Society says, “Inclusion is everyone’s business.”

Frank Foster House, that means providing person-centred care that embraces every resident’s full identity, past, present, and future.

Well done, Nicolas, you’ve made your home proud.”

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PAGE 24 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 250

30 Under 30: Meet Michelle Makaya, Care Assistant at MHA Brookfield Michelle Makaya had never worked in social care prior to joining MHA Brookfield last year but says the experience has been “life changing”.

The 27-year-old works as a care assistant at the Oxford home and enjoys spending time getting to know the residents by engaging in regular conversation with them.

This is something she believes is key for her to fulfil her role effectively and enable residents to live later life well.

MHA Brookfield provides nursing and nursing dementia care for 66 residents.

We spoke to her as part of MHA’s 30 under 30 initiative, which aims to celebrate and highlight at least 30 staff members across the organisation in a bid to promote the social care industry as a place of work for people aged 30 and below She said: "Working in a care home is very different to what I have done in the past, but it is something I am really enjoying.

“I found the job via the MHA website, the onboarding process was very

smooth and the support system when I started right through to now is very good.

“It has been a life changing experience and has taught me a lot.

“A key attribute to working in care is to be patient, sometimes you will have days where residents will not be themselves, but you have to work with them patiently and be very understanding.

“I love interacting with residents, by spending time with them and talking to them it allows me to build a personal connection with them.

“This works really well for me, it helps me to familiarise myself with the residents and vice versa.

“For now, I am very happy with the role I am doing, but the route of progression is something that may attract me later on.

“The next step up would be to progress into a senior carer and it may be something I do.

“Working in care is very rewarding, the skills you pick up are very transferable and my advice to anyone thinking of joining is to just go for it.”

Labour MP Polly Billington Visits Chartwell House Chartwell House by Boutique Care Homes welcomed Labour MP Polly Billington in celebration of two significant achievements: winning the Dementia Friendly Community Project Award 2025 and becoming officially recognised as a veteran-friendly care home.

Earlier this year, Boutique Care Homes was named a finalist in the prestigious Dementia Care Awards 2025, which recognise excellence in dementia care across the UK. Chartwell House was subsequently announced as the winner of the Dementia Friendly Community Project Award, an honour that celebrates its outstanding commitment to inclusive, meaningful support for those living with dementia.

In recognition of this achievement, MP Polly Billington personally congratulated the team with a letter of commendation, highlighting the positive impact Chartwell House continues to make in the Broadstairs community. To further show her support, she visited the home to meet residents and team members and to unveil a commemorative plaque, officially marking Chartwell House’s status as both veteran-accredited and veteran-friendly.

Speaking after the visit, MP Billington shared her admiration, “I had a great time visiting the team and residents at Chartwell House. It was impressive to see the work they do to embrace community, including their award-winning dementia work with Broadstairs Folk Week, and how much emphasis they place on supporting the wellbeing of residents throughout their golden years.”

The plaque, now proudly displayed at the entrance to the home, reflects the team’s dedication to supporting veterans in a compassionate, personalised setting. Team members have undertaken specialist training to better understand the needs of those who served, particularly individuals affected by memory-related conditions.

Jude Coveney, Admissions Manager at Chartwell House, reflected on the visit; “Meeting Polly was a real pleasure. It was an opportunity to showcase not only our approach to care, but also our community partnerships and intergenerational work. She brought with her thoughtful insights and new ideas that we look forward to exploring.”

New Garden Space Transforms Daily Life at Beacon House Care Home In Dartmouth Beacon House Care Home, part of Centrum Care Homes Group, has unveiled a newly developed garden space that is already having a powerful impact on the lives of its residents. Designed to encourage fresh air, movement and meaningful connection with nature, the garden has become a peaceful and joyful extension of the home.

The project was brought to life through the dedication of the team and the craftsmanship of Wayne Vincent - who leads on all the maintenance at Centrum Care Homes - who built the planting containers, laid the lawn, installed secure fencing and added decorative touches to make the space inviting and accessible. With the support of Centrum Care Group’s leadership, the home has turned an underused area into a vibrant outdoor space where residents can relax, socialise and take part in therapeutic activities.

Residents recently took part in the first session in the garden, where they planted flowers and vegetables, enjoyed gentle exercise and spent time together in the sun. The atmosphere was filled with smiles, laughter and reflection. Mr T said it was great to get mud under his nails again and that it brought back memories of working at the naval college as a groundsman. Gill Cox, 89, described the space as beautiful, and Claire Hindom, 90, said how lovely it was to sit in the sun with a cup of

tea. Mike simply said it was lovely before dozing off peacefully in the sunshine.

Angela was full of enthusiasm, saying the space was amazing and should be used all the time, while Sonia called it the best thing she had seen in ages.

The garden is also being used for outdoor exercise sessions. The instructor shared how beneficial it was to do the class outside while breathing in fresh air and maintaining movement. Visiting professionals echoed these views. A local social worker praised the space, saying it was so important for mind, body and spirit. A visiting GP commented on how lovely it was to see residents enjoying the outdoors and absorbing vital vitamin D. A physiotherapist remarked on how impressive the space looked and commended the home for its efforts to improve residents' lives. The intermediate care team also described the garden as inviting and thoughtfully designed.

Sarah Tremlett, Registered Manager at Beacon House, said: “Creating this space has been about more than just improving our environment it has reminded us of the power of small changes to make a big impact. It has brought renewed energy to the home and opened up new possibilities for how we support wellbeing. I’m grateful to the team for their hard work and to our Founders, Tushar and Mehul, whose belief in what we do made this possible.”

New Manager For Colchester Care Services Salutem Care and Education has appointed a new manager to oversee two of its Colchester services.

Joshua Klotia-Clottey, the new manager of Newlands and Stanway, has worked for Salutem for five years after moving away from the hospitality industry.

His parents were foster carers so he was always aware of the care sector and the difference it can make to the lives of individuals. Joshua began working nights as a support worker, before being promoted to senior support worker, then deputy manager.

His aim is to help individuals live life to the fullest and make sure their disabilities are never seen as setbacks. He said “It’s always been my aim to help the individuals we support as much as possible. I’m really thank-

ful to the wonderful teams at Newlands and Stanway who I know give all individuals we support the best possible chance of living as independently as possible.

“Salutem has supported my career progression by funding my Level 5 Diploma in Adult Care. At Salutem progression isn’t just promised, it’s demonstrated through real opportunities and investment in aspiring leaders.”

Regional director of Salutem Care and Education, Lucy Bithell said: “Big congratulations to Josh and I wish him every success in his new role.

I know he will do an amazing job for the individuals we support and for his teams. He is a testament to the incredible career opportunities in the social care sector here at Salutem.”

PAGE 26 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 250

Sport England – Carers Active Three-Year Boost Carers UK is re-launching its successful Carers Active project following a new funding contract from Sport England of £362,184 for three years.

There are 4.7 million unpaid carers in England looking after someone who is ill, elderly or disabled, and many struggle to prioritise their own health and wellbeing. Whilst physical activity can have important health benefits three quarters (76%) of carers aged 55+ do not feel that they are able to do as much physical activity as they’d like to do.

The Carers Active project aims to tackle health inequalities for carers by increasing their activity levels. This is particularly timely given the publication of the Government’s NHS 10-year plan which will focus on early intervention, predicting and preventing ill health rather than simply diagnosing and treating it.

Previous funding for the project enabled Carers UK among other things to create the Carers Active Hub, a dedicated resource with exercise videos, activity ideas and carer stories used by over 8,000 carers per year. A further 461 carers attended online activity sessions.

Carers taking part said it gave them the confidence to be active in a way that suited their needs. It also increased their feelings of self-worth and happiness by fostering social connections and reducing loneliness.

With the re-launch of the project, the charity plans to build on its connections made with professionals in the sport, leisure, health and care sectors. It will facilitate local partnerships to grow understanding about the importance of physical activity for carers and increase the number of opportunities for carers to join in-

person place based activities.

Carers UK will also run its own mini campaigns and challenge events, promoting activities that are accessible, low-cost and can be embedded into the everyday lives of carers to inspire increased participation.

Emily Holzhausen CBE, Director of Policy and Public Affairs, said: “If you’re caring for someone, you’re more likely to be in poor health. 43% of current or former carers have had a mental or physical health condition develop or become worse since taking on caring responsibilities.”

“Getting active can be a powerful antidote to this. In our State of Caring survey more than half (52%) of carers taking part in a physical activity told us that this reduces stress and anxiety, but often, time constraints, tiredness and affordability can get in the way.”

“We’re delighted to have secured funding from Sport England for another three years because we want to see an increase in accessible activities designed with carers in mind. We’re excited to see the re-launch of this important project giving carers much-needed opportunities to improve their health and meet others in their communities.”

Aedan Wolton, Strategic Lead, Equality at Sport England said: “With the help of National Lottery funding, we are driven to help carers – who so often put the needs and wellbeing of others first- get active and benefit from the physical and mental health benefits of movement for themselves, in low and no-cost ways.”

“Our partnership has already helped thousands of carers find ways to get physically active and we’re delighted to continue our work with Carers UK on this front.”

Sue And Anita Celebrate A Total 50 Years Of Caring For Others At Friends Of The Elderly Malvern At Friends of the Elderly’s Malvern-based Davenham, Perrins House and Bradbury Court, the residential, nursing and dementia care homes which are collectively known as Friends of the Elderly Malvern, run by charity, Friends of the Elderly, two Health Care Assistants – Anita Kendrick and Sue Stocker – have been celebrating and reminiscing about their working careers at Perrins House.

Anita and Sue have both worked for Friends of the Elderly at Perrins House for 25 years. “Sue and I have worked together and at the Charity for many years,” said Anita. “If you add our years of service together, we’re celebrating our Golden Anniversary this year, which is quite an achievement.”

Anita has worked in the Care Sector for 37 years, after being part of the Youth Training Scheme, a former UK Government program which provided vocational training for young people. “I’d always wanted to work in care as it has always been important to me to support others to help them live a more fulfilled life. It’s such a worthwhile and rewarding role,” added Anita.

“I wanted to be a Nurse when I was at school, but became a Hairdresser instead,” continued Sue. “Years later, I took a job working in healthcare, as I still had an inbuilt desire to help and look after others.”

Although they did not know each other at the time, Sue and Anita both attended The Chase High School in Malvern. “I really enjoyed Science,” said Anita. “I liked practical subjects but hated sport lessons. I joined in the Staff Sports Day recently, which was great fun, but luckily with my sporting prowess, I don’t mind coming last.”

As Health Care Assistants, both Sue and Anita play an important role in the daily lives of the residents, providing support, encouragement and high quality, bespoke care.

“Both Anita and Sue are totally devoted to the residents,” said Jo Bennett, the General Manager at Friends of the Elderly Malvern. “Their duties encompass a wide range of tasks including assisting with personal care and daily living activities to observing and monitoring the residents' health. They are both wonderful listeners and are always on hand to spend time with the residents, chatting, reminiscing and, when needed, providing emotional support.”

“The best thing about what I do every day is caring for the residents,” continued Sue. “Making the sure the residents are happy and comfortable is everything. I love coming to work, and being with the residents is like having a wonderful, caring and extended family. No two days are the same, but each day is so fulfilling as I know, no matter how small, I have made a positive impact on the residents’ days.”

“There is always something to do, and like Sue said, every day is different,” added Anita. “Over the years, I have grown and nurtured great bonds with the residents and making sure that all their individual needs are met, every day, gives me a wonderful sense of purpose.

“We do have a lot of laughs and there are plenty of funny stories too. A while ago, I was playing a word game with the residents, and the question was ‘What H can you put in your handbag?’ and one resident shouted out ‘Your Husband’. It had everyone in fits of giggles; the residents can be so hilarious and cheeky.

“Once a resident asked me to pass him a glass of juice, which of course I did. He then thought it would be a rib-tickling joke to pour the glass of juice over my colleague’s head whilst she was doing up her shoe, which he did. It was a naughty prank, but everyone laughed, even my juice covered colleague.”

“The other day, the residents asked me a really interesting question,” continued Sue. “If I was the Eight Dwarf, what would my name be. It stumped me for a bit, but as Happy is already taken, I think I’d have to be Smiley, as I hope I make the residents smile and keep them happy, healthy and motivated.”

“The residents asked me which three people – apart from my family – would I invite round to mine for dinner,” added Anita. “That was easy – first, Claudia Winkleman as I think she’d be so funny and easy to talk to. Second would be Mary Berry as I’d hope she’d help me with the cooking and last, but by no means least in third place would be Jason Statham – as if all else fails, he’s so handsome to look at, and would have lots of Hollywood stories to tell. My choices got the thumbs up from the residents as well.”

The residents, their care and well-being are at the heart of Anita and Sue’s day – every da. “If Anita and I are ever asked why we do what we do? It’s our three, simple little words reply – Because We Care,” concluded Sue.

South East Care Home Group Introduces A New Dining Experience Role To Enhance Resident Well-Being And Nutrition A South East Care Home group is championing positive dining experiences for residents across all 13 of its Homes in Kent, Surrey and Essex – enhancing nutrition and overall well-being through a brand-new role, Residents Dining Experience Lead.

Adelina Abraham, first joined Nellsar in December 2013 as a Health Care Assistant, has been promoted to Residents Dining Experience Lead – a role that will see her support the mealtime experience for residents throughout the family-run care group.

Her new role will focus on best practice around food presentation, sensory stimulation and customised support while holding a focus on choice, culture and respect. She will also mentor team members in understanding the power of compassionate dining and how something as simple as having a meal together can improve well-being.

Adelina began her journey with Nellsar through an agency placement, then joined the team permanently in June 2014.

She has embraced many roles in supporting person-centred

care, including Senior Health Care Assistant, Dining Assistant and as a Nutrition Champion. No matter what role Adelina is playing – her commitment to enhancing resident well-being has been unwavering.

Speaking about her new position, Adelina said: "My biggest hope is to create a warm and inviting atmosphere where residents feel at home at every meal. I want each meal experience to bring joy and comfort, whether it's the smell of a favourite childhood dish or simply the presentation of the table. Food goes beyond nutrition – it is connection, identity and celebration."

In her next chapter she will be collaborating with care catering and hospitality teams to ensure that mealtimes are nutritionally balanced, but also dignified, inclusive and joyful for all residents – particularly, for those living with dementia.

Adelina added: “I want to lead by example – by listening to residents, supporting our incredible teams and making dining one of the most enjoyable parts of each day. It’s a role with heart, purpose and real joy.”

Her dedication for person-centred care has already made a lasting impression across the Nellsar community. Now, in this new capacity, Adelina is set to inspire even more positive change — one mealtime at a time.

Martin Barrett, Managing Director at Nellsar, commented: “Adelina truly represents the values we hold dear at Nellsar – compassion, dignity and a commitment to ongoing improvement. This new position recognises not only Adelina’s abilities but also her desire to see residents prosper with well-being in the homes we provide. We are proud to see her leading this important work.”

PAGE 28 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 250

Patients To Receive Medicines 3 To 6 Months Faster Under 10-Year Health Plan Under a joint information sharing agreement, pharmaceutical companies will be invited to register early with both agencies to allow parallel decision making over licencing and value. It will mean more medicines receive approval for use on the NHS in England at the same time as they are licensed for use in the UK. It’s anticipated that patients in England will receive the newest medicines 3-6 months earlier as a result.

Part of the 10-Year Health Plan and industrial strategy, the new joint service reflects the government’s commitment to smarter regulation, with a target to cut administrative costs for businesses by 25%.

The enhanced coordinated approach offers medicine developers an integrated advice service and an aligned pathway to help them streamline both regulatory and Health Technology Assessment (HTA) requirements and provides a clearer route to help get their treatments to patients.

To benefit from this service, companies should register their products on UK PharmaScan, the national horizon scanning database, at least three years before their expected marketing authorisation.

Health and Social Care secretary, Wes Streeting said: “This government is slashing red tape and turbocharging economic growth of the life sciences sector so patients can get the innovative treatments they need, faster.

This government is slashing red tape and turbocharging economic growth of the life sciences sector so patients can get the innovative treatments they need, faster.”

Mr Streeting continued: “To save our NHS and make it fit for the future we have to do things differently. By having two of our most important regulators join forces we’ll rapidly remove barriers, get patients access to vital medicines, and grow the economy. With a technological and life sciences revolution taking place, Britain should be at the forefront of it. Our 10 Year Health Plan and Life Sciences Sector Plan will help us drive the breakthroughs we need to be best in class and boost growth across the country.”

Lawrence Tallon, chief executive of the MHRA said: “We are completely focused on making sure patients can benefit from safe, effective and affordable medicines and treatments as soon as possible.”

Lawrence continued: “We are working in closer partnership with NICE to build a faster and more efficient regulatory system, designed to accelerate UK market entry and deliver innovative, life-changing treatments to NHS patients faster.

“This marks an important step in delivering smarter regulation – strengthening UK’s global life sciences offer and reinforcing our position as an attractive destination for innovation and international investment.”

Friendship And Fun As Care Homes Promote Peace Care homes in Dorset and Hampshire have done their bit to promote friendship, peace and unity among people of different cultures.

Residents and staff at five Colten Care homes in Poole, Ferndown, Sherborne and the New Forest staged a series of International Friendship Day-themed garden parties, several with a charity focus.

At The Aldbury, a dedicated dementia care home in Poole, residents had fun making Friendship Day bunting and painting flags of different countries which they used to decorate their garden summerhouse.

They also made and wore colourful tie-dye T-shirts bearing messages such as ‘Love & Friendship’, ‘Harmony’ and ‘Together’.

Residents and guests sang along as visiting entertainer Kelly Lorraine performed songs on the message of friendship while a raffle raised more than £100 for The Aldbury’s main charity for this year, Prama Life.

Resident Valerie Sharp said: “It was a great party, very well thought-out and very friendly.”

On minibus trips to Sandbanks and Poole Park from their Poole home Bourne View, four residents – Wendy Barnes, Margaret Taylor, Mary Cadby and Christine Lorimar – handed out Friendship Day postcards and posies of flowers as free gifts to members of the public.

Postcards were also exchanged between Bourne View staff and residents. Some recipients gathered in the dining room to read the messages out to each other, prompting much discussion about friendship.

There was similar fun at Colten Care’s Amberwood House in Ferndown where residents and staff sang songs from different countries, wore national dress and sampled an international array of foods including German sausages, French cheeses and Welsh cakes.

Meanwhile, residents and staff at Abbey View in Sherborne held a celebratory ‘friendship breakfast’.

Guests included Karen Howell from Canine Concern and her dog Bramble, both of whom are weekly visitors.

As a surprise, Karen was presented with a portrait of Bramble created at Abbey View and a poem, written by resident Jen Newcombe.

Karen said: “The portrait and poem are beautiful gifts and I was very touched. We love coming to Abbey View.”

Abbey View’s hairdresser Penny Flint sat with a former neighbour, Alec Savidge, to catch up on all the Bradford Abbas village gossip.

Penny said: “It was great to have the opportunity to really chat with the residents without the noise of the hair dryers!”

Also at the Abbey View party was Yvonne Bright from regular visiting toddler group, Truth Be Told.

Yvonne said: “I miss the residents during the school holidays when we have a break, so I was so pleased to be able to come along.”

Derbyshire Home Hosts Summer Fair And Raises £500 A Derbyshire home opened its doors to the community for their summer fair and managed to raise £500.

MHA Maple Leaf House arranged a summer fair which was attended by family members of residents past and present.

More than 35 people visited the home and supported them in ensuring £500 was raised for the home's amenities fund.

The fair included a raffle, tombola, and various stalls including a cake and handcraft stall.

MHA Maple Leaf House provides nursing dementia care for 48 residents.

Sheila Fowkes, activity coordinator said: “We had a really good turnout for the fair and it was enjoyed by all.

“It was nice to see so many families, including some of the residents that had lived here in the past.

“It was nice to see they still have a connection with the home.

“We were hoping for the weather to be just a little bit better so we could go outside, but it was still very good.

“There were plenty of stalls for visitors to look around and contribute to.

“We are very happy with the mount we raised and received some great feedback from visitors on how well planned the fair was.

“The funds raised will go into our amenities fund, from which activities such as entertainers will be booked.

“On behalf of the home, I want to thank everyone for their support and generosity, it really will go a long way.”

Forbes Professional’s Complete Care for Laundry Equipment In care homes, where hygiene, safety, and reliability are paramount, it’s essential that laundry operations run seamlessly. Forbes Professional’s Complete Care solution is tailored to meet the specific demands of this environment, offering fully supported and cost-effective laundry systems.

With Complete Care, care homes benefit from access to premium commercial laundry appliances without upfront capital expenditure. The allinclusive rental plan covers installation, routine servicing, maintenance, and repairs; enabling staff to focus on resident care rather than laundry appliance logistics. Unexpected breakdowns can severely disrupt operations, which is why Forbes provides nationwide, award-winning support with a same or next-day engineer response to minimise downtime.

Preventative servicing is central to Forbes’ approach. Their offering includes routine maintenance, full certification, annual gas safety checks, and professional dryer duct cleaning - ensuring systems meet all legal and regulatory standards. Whether supporting existing machines or those rented through Forbes, this proactive strategy improves operational efficiency and reduces risk.

Under Regulation 35 of the Gas Safety Regulations 1998, annual gas inspections are mandatory. Forbes’ Gas Safe-registered engineers conduct these checks to ensure safe, legally compliant environments. Additionally, regular duct cleaning - often overlooked - is vital not only for performance but also for fire prevention. Forbes’ nationwide service mitigates these risks while optimising dryer efficiency.

Whether you need new rental equipment, service and maintenance for existing appliances, or a full purchase, Forbes offers flexible procurement routes to suit different operational models and budgets. Their expert consultants work closely with care providers to design tailored solutions for each setting.

With decades of experience in the care sector, Forbes Professional is a trusted partner to care homes across the UK; delivering dependable, fully supported laundry solutions that prioritise safety, compliance, and peace of mind. forbespro.co.uk | info@forbes-professional.co.uk | 0345 070 2335 See the advert on the facing page for more information.

PAGE 30 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 250

SNAP Benefits Linked to Slower Cognitive Decline People who participated in the U.S. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) had slower cognitive decline over 10 years than those who didn’t participate, according to new research being reported today at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference® 2025 (AAIC®), in Toronto and online.

The findings highlight the potential of food assistance programs to support cognitive health in the aging population and point to the need for additional efforts to reduce disparities in cognitive aging across different racial and ethnic groups, the researchers said.

They also underscore the need for public health policies that ensure equitable access to programs like SNAP, which helps low-income individuals and families buy food, particularly for populations that may face additional barriers to enrolment.

Using the nationally representative Health and Retirement Study (HRS), researchers compared participants in SNAP to those who were eligible for the program but didn’t participate. They determined that SNAP participants had a 0.10% slower decline in overall cognitive function, or two to three additional years of cognitive health over the 10year period.

“Research has shown that food insecurity can negatively impact cognitive function, and this is one of the first long-term studies to show

that food assistance programs can positively impact cognition,” said María C. Carrillo, Ph.D., Alzheimer’s Association chief science officer and medical affairs lead. “Simple, everyday actions can make a difference in brain health and may even lower the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. The Alzheimer’s Association is committed to helping all people build these habits into their daily lives, including eating right, one of our 10 Healthy Habits for Your Brain.”

Researchers analysed a racially and ethnically representative group of people age 50 and older comparing 1,131 (average age ~63 years) who were enrolled in SNAP in 2010 to 1,216 who were eligible for SNAP but did not participate (average age ~66 years). Memory and executive function — the ability to plan and carry out tasks — were assessed every two years between 2010 and 2020 via telephone or web-based interviews. People with an initial cognition summary score indicating cognitive impairment or dementia (11 or less out of 27 points) were excluded from the analysis.

While a 0.10-point difference in annual cognitive decline may seem small, the researchers note that its long-term impact is significant. “For someone starting at a healthy cognitive score, this slower decline could delay reaching the threshold for mild cognitive impairment by nearly a decade,” said Linlin Da, MPH, lead author of the study and a Ph.D. can-

didate in health services research at the University of Georgia, Athens.

“This suggests SNAP participation, or another similar nutrition support program, could significantly delay the onset of cognitive impairment or dementia, allowing people to preserve their ability to manage medications, finances and daily tasks longer,” said Da. “This ultimately supports greater independence and higher quality of life in older adulthood.”

“At the same time, we discovered that this protective effect is not the same for everyone: non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic older adults did not benefit as much in cognitive functions compared to non-Hispanic white participants,” Da added.

Comparing the cognitive findings for White, Black and Hispanic SNAP participants in the study to their peers who didn’t participate in SNAP, the researchers found all three groups benefitted, but observed much stronger benefits and slower decline for the White SNAP participants.

“We hope health care providers will see that potentially delaying cognitive impairment is another reason to help their patients-in-need secure access to food assistance,” said Suhang Song, Ph.D., corresponding author of the study and assistant professor in the department of health policy and management at the University of Georgia College of Public Health.

Waterfield House Celebrates Suffolk Day with Renowned Dialect Coach Charlie Haylock Waterfield House Care Home, part of the Runwood Homes Group, proudly celebrated Suffolk Day 2025 with a truly special guest, author, dialect coach and English spoken language historian, Charlie Haylock. The event, held on Saturday 21st June, marked an unforgettable afternoon of laughter, learning, and local pride for residents, staff, families, and members of the community.

Charlie Haylock is well known for his expertise in dialects and for his work coaching Ralph Fiennes on the Suffolk accent for the Netflix film The Dig. He delivered an engaging talk about his time on set, the intricacies of British and global accents, and shared a rich insight into the history and beauty of Suffolk’s spoken traditions.

Lifestyle Coordinator Vicki, who worked tirelessly for three years to secure Charlie’s visit, said, "Having Charlie Haylock at Waterfield House has been three years in the making. He has been busy touring and we had to prebook him years ago. Thankfully Charlie was able to come and visit our wonderful home in the year he is due to

retire. His amazing stories and funny tales had our residents gripped to their seats and rolling around belly laughing. And a huge thank you to his lovely wife, Ruth, for her support. You really have made our year."

The atmosphere during the event was filled with joy and enthusiasm, with guests captivated by Charlie’s storytelling and his effortless ability to switch between accents. One particularly memorable moment came when a resident arrived late, prompting Charlie to humorously quip, “Hello. Are you Michael? Michael ****?” To the surprise of the resident’s wife who asked how he knew, Charlie replied with a wink, “No, I saw his name on his wheelchair.” The room erupted with laughter, typical of the warmth and wit Charlie brought to the day.

For Vicki, booking Charlie was more than just organising a speaker, it was about giving residents an unforgettable experience rooted in local culture.

Waterfield House is honoured to have hosted one of Charlie Haylock’s final talks before his retirement and wishes both Charlie and Ruth a joyful and well-earned rest from touring.

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES C&S Seating Ltd C&S Seating Ltd have provided postural control equipment to residential homes, hospices, medical equipment services and NHS trust hospitals nationwide since 1991.

With 9 different sizes of TRolls 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 Ltd is the sole manufacturer of the

Alternative Positioning Support – also available in two sizes, which has removable side cushions and middle pommel for when more control of the abducted lower limb is required.

Our popular and vibrant range of Soft Knit covers in a choice of 5 colours, provide a softer alternative, ideal for the colder seasons and are designed to fit snug over our waterproof rolls for maximum protection and comfort.

See the advert on page 13, contact us on 01424 853331 or visit 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.

Serve in Style with Euroservice

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Euroservice trolleys can also be used as a vending trolley or to sell personal care products to residents. How about a delicious snack/pastry trolley or even a drinks trolley for that afternoon tipple?

Your lovely trolley could do so much for you and your residents!

Visit the website at www.euroservice-uk.com to see the full range.

Or see the advert on page 23.

Activities to Share HipSaver Soft Hip Protectors HipSaver Soft Hip Protectors protect the elderly and disabled people from fall-related hip fractures.

Designed to protect elderly people from fall related hip fractures, HipSavers are a leading brand of soft hip protectors. Used in the NHS since 2002, HipSaver Soft Hip Protectors are user friendly, affordable and cost-effective personal protective garments.

Soft, comfortable, effective and compatible with incontinence protection, HipSaver Soft Hip Protectors are perfect for use in care homes and by elderly people living independently.

HipSavers should be worn day and night for 24 hour protection and especially during physical and recreational activities, when accidental falls, slips and trips can lead to hip fractures.

Available as comfortable underwear or long casual pants in several sizes for men and women, HipSavers feature soft protective airPads permanently sewn into the garments over the hip areas prone to injuries and fractures. HipSaver TailBone models have an additional protective airPad over the coccyx on lower back for protection during swaying, accidental knocks, bumps and backward falling.

Machine washable at high temperature and tumble drier friendly, HipSavers are practical, hygienic and durable.

HipSaver Soft Hip Protectors - affordable protective garments for the elderly and disabled people!

For more information, contact Win Health Medical Ltd - 01835 864866 - www.win-health.com See the advert on page 3 for further products.

Since our founding in 2010, Activities to Share has been dedicated to enhancing the lives of those in care by providing thoughtfully designed activity products. Our mission is to support activity coordinators in delivering uplifting, engaging experiences that foster connection, joy, and well-being.

We achieve this by listening closely to your feedback and evolving with your needs.

Whether over the phone, via email, WhatsApp, or Live Chat on our website, our team is always ready to offer advice and help you find just the right products to bring your ideas to life.

While we embrace the convenience of technology to expand our resources and share knowledge, we remain firm believers in the irreplaceable power of sensory engagement. That’s why we continue to

make our Reminiscence Kits and Sensory Bags with real, tactile items that stimulate the senses. Some experiences— like popping bubbles for the splash, breathing in a familiar scent, or piecing together a puzzle with others—simply can’t be replicated on a screen.

These sensory moments are invaluable in encouraging storytelling, sparking memories, and fostering conversation.

Our values remain rooted in this commitment to meaningful connection. We’re here to partner with you—the professionals on the front lines of care—to create a sense of structure, well-being, and fun for those who need it most.

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THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 250 | PAGE 31

Hallmark Targets Ambitious Growth Of 15 Care Homes By 2030 Following a momentous year with record results, two home openings, and a care home acquisition in Wales, newly promoted CEO Nye Brown is determined to take Hallmark to Hallmark Luxury Care Homes is seeking to grow through a mix of acquisition and new care home developments.

The group is targeting growth of 15 care homes by 2030, of which 10 will be through acquisition.

Under Brown’s leadership, the group has plans to acquire an additional 10 care homes and is actively in the market, seeking opportunities to lease or purchase existing trading homes. This is a marked change in strategy with Hallmark renowned in the sector for designing and building their own award-winning care homes.

Last year, Hallmark proudly opened two new build homes in Eastbourne and Bath, and acquired Penylan House in Cardiff, all of which

contributed to ongoing financial success.

Brown’s growth plan will build on an existing pipeline of developments in Essex, Kent, Greater London and East Sussex with the next Hallmark Luxury Care Home scheduled to break ground in South Wales this year.

Hallmark Luxury Care Homes CEO Nye Brown said: “I’m delighted to announce that we’re planting seeds for future growth.”

“We have the resources and infrastructure in place to acquire homes alongside the commissioning of our own. With continuous investment in our team’s development, we retain and nurture talent to consistently deliver the award-winning care we’re famous for. We take pride in exceeding regulatory requirements and for our ability to keep our homes full.”

“We would be a trustworthy and reliable partner for any care home group or care homeowner to sell or lease their home to.”

Manager At Nottinghamshire Home Skydiving To Raise Funds For New Outdoor Space The manager of a Nottinghamshire home is putting her fears to one side as she is planning to do a skydive to raise funds for the home to spruce up their outdoor space.

Loren Rosebery is the manager of MHA The Herons in Toton and will be doing a skydive on the 13th of September at the Langar Airfield.

The home is hoping to renovate its outdoor space and is aiming to grow their own fruit and vegetables and arrange some visits with residents to garden centres.

A JustGiving page has been set up, where more than £1,000 has been raised.

MHA The Herons provides residential care for 39 residents.

Loren has never done anything like this before but wanted to challenge herself and says she can’t think of anything better for the home to be able to do what they have set out to do.

She added: “I am terrified of heights but want to challenge myself, so I have decided to do a sky dive.

“I have never done anything like this before, but it’s for everyone at MHA The Herons, a place which is very close to my heart.

“I joined the home around a year ago and I was always keen to put the views of residents and family members at the forefront of everything I do “The idea came off the back of some feedback that was collated from residents and their family members.

“The need for good outdoor space featured quite heavily and I am very keen to get that arranged.

“The garden is so important to the residents and will offer them a space to sit, reminisce, and share moments with others “I have a lot of support around me from friends and family, and we have already received some really generous donations.

“In regards to the sky dive, I am not thinking about it too much and will just see what happens on the day!”

Decades Of Dedication At Tipton Care Home As 12 Staff Clock Up 20+ Years Of Service Devoted colleagues at a Tipton Care Home have been honoured at a special garden party celebration after twelve of the team reached an incredible 20-year+ service milestone.

Ryland View Care Home on Arnhem Way hosted a special staff appreciation event – complete with live music, gifts and refreshments – for the care professionals, who’ve collectively done 240 years of service.

The care industry is well-known for high staff turnover, making Ryland View’s incredible team record exceptionally impressive.

Residents joined in the fun as Home Manager Rico Cruz and Ian Brown from the home’s operator Advinia’s HR Team paid tribute to the contributions made and presented trophies.

Rico said: “The people are the heart of our wonderful care home, and I cannot thank our wonderful colleagues enough for the many years they’ve dedicated to caring for residents here.

It speaks volumes that you’ve chosen to work at Ryland View for over two decades – those years are not just a number but a testament to your commitment and genuine care.”

Longest-serving staff Thelma Porter and Sarah Ward marked their 28year milestones, while Debbie Wilson and Lesley Cameron reached 27 years. Maureen Cole and Noreen Akhtar reached 25 and 24 years respectively, while Lorna McPherson marked 23 years.

Finally, Ranjit Sandhu celebrated 22 years, Shanti Kurian and Ranjit Heer reached 21 years, and Gemma Fear and Hamida Begum got to 20 years of service.

Ian said: “It is with great pleasure and pride that we recognise the individuals who have committed themselves to Ryland View for many years.

These individuals have played an instrumental role in the growth and success of this care home.”

Toe-Tapping Tunes and Timeless Classics: Steve Carmel Delights at Boston Care Home Residents, families, and members of the local community were treated to an afternoon of unforgettable live music at HC-One’s Elmwood House Care Home in Boston, Lincolnshire, as the talented Steve Carmel, known as “The Singer of Many Voices”, took to the stage.

Performing a lively set of well-loved hits from the 1950s and 1960s, along with some favourite Country classics, Steve had the audience singing along, clapping in rhythm, and reminiscing about days gone by. His wide vocal range and entertaining style brought smiles to faces across the room, with many residents saying the performance was a true highlight of their summer.

For many residents, the songs sparked joyful memories of youth, dancing, and family celebrations, while others simply enjoyed the opportunity to come togeth-

er and share in the music.

Home Manager at HC-One’s Elmwood House Care Home, Liliana Barbu, said: "Steve’s performance was absolutely fantastic, he brought such energy and joy to the home. Seeing our residents light up, singing along to their favourite tunes, is exactly why we hold events like this. It was a truly heartwarming afternoon."

The event was part of Elmwood House’s ongoing commitment to providing meaningful activities that support residents’ wellbeing, encourage reminiscence, and create opportunities for connection and celebration. The home frequently hosts live entertainers and themed days, and plans are already in motion to welcome Steve Carmel back in the near future.

PAGE 32 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 250

HYDRATION AND NUTRITION Dehydration in Care Homes: A Hidden But Preventable Threat How one simple training game is helping care homes improve outcomes for residents—and staff In care homes dehydration remains a quietly persistent danger. While often invisible on the surface, its effects can be devastating—both for older adults and for the staff who care for them.

Despite being entirely preventable, dehydration continues to cause avoidable harm, hospital admissions, and even deaths among vulnerable care home residents. It can also impact staff wellbeing, concentration, and performance—making it a risk that affects the entire care environment.

So why does dehydration still slip under the radar? And what practical steps can care homes take to tackle it head-on?

A QUIET EPIDEMIC IN CARE SETTINGS

Older adults are particularly vulnerable to dehydration for a range of reasons. As we age, our sense of thirst diminishes, and many residents have underlying conditions—such as dementia, stroke, or mobility impairments—that make it harder to ask for, reach, or consume drinks.

Medications like diuretics or laxatives increase fluid loss, while difficulties swallowing (dysphagia) make drinking unpleasant or risky.

A study published in Age and Ageing (El-Sharkawy et al., 2015) found that over a third of older adults admitted to hospital were already dehydrated on arrival, and two-thirds remained so 48 hours later. More recent studies confirm that this remains a pressing issue. For example, care home residents are still five times more likely than community-dwelling older adults to arrive at hospital with dehydration, particularly with dangerously elevated sodium levels—known as hypernatremia—which significantly increases the risk of in-hospital death.

Despite public health campaigns and growing awareness, more recent reviews suggest the problem has not improved. As recently as 2022, a UKwide review of hydration practices in residential care estimated that around 20% of older adults remain clinically dehydrated at any given time.

Some studies, depending on the criteria used, report prevalence rates as high as 34%.

Put simply, dehydration in care homes hasn’t gone away. It remains a widespread, under-addressed issue that continues to harm some of the most vulnerable people in our society.

IT’S NOT JUST THE RESIDENTS

While most dehydration efforts focus (rightly) on residents, it's important to recognise that care home staff are also at risk.

Working long shifts in hot, fast-paced environments, care staff often delay drinking water or miss breaks altogether. Some worry about not having time for toilet breaks. Others are simply too focused on their residents’ needs to think about their own.

The effects of even mild dehydration on staff can include fatigue, headaches, poor concentration, irritability, and slower decision-making— none of which is ideal in a safety-critical setting. Dehydrated staff may not perform at their best, and over time this can impact both care quality and wellbeing.

Supporting hydration in care homes, then, means supporting everyone—residents and staff alike.

A SIMPLE GAME, A BIG IMPACT

So how can care homes raise awareness of hydration risks, improve practice, and make learning more engaging?

One increasingly popular approach is The Hydration Game, developed

by Focus Games. Designed specifically for health and social care staff, the game takes the form of a fun, team-based learning session that helps players explore the causes, risks, and solutions related to dehydration in care settings.

The Hydration Game prompts discussion, sparks reflection, and encourages staff to share their experiences and insights in a relaxed, collaborative way.

Players take turns answering questions, tackling realistic scenarios, and discussing how they might handle various hydration-related situations— from supporting a resident who refuses drinks, to spotting early signs of dehydration, to thinking about their own hydration habits during shifts.

The game typically lasts 45–60 minutes and is suitable for 2–12 players.

It works well across all roles—care assistants, nurses, kitchen staff, cleaners, and even admin or maintenance teams—because everyone in a care home can play a part in hydration care.

There’s also an online version (ZeST) for teams who work remotely or across multiple sites.

rounds, flavour and temperature choices, staff reminders, visual prompts, and team training.

The Hydration Game fits perfectly into this approach, helping staff explore and embed hydration-friendly practices in a way that’s memorable and motivating.

IDEAS FOR USING THE HYDRATION GAME IN YOUR HOME

Care homes that adopt The Hydration Game often find that it quickly becomes a flexible, well-used tool across their organisation. Here are some creative and effective ways it can be used: As part of induction or refresher training, the game helps new staff understand hydration risks from day one—and makes mandatory learning more enjoyable. Many homes use it during Care Certificate sessions.

During staff meetings or team huddles, a few game cards can be used to prompt a five-minute discussion. These quick conversations often uncover issues or ideas that otherwise go unspoken.

To promote staff wellbeing, the game can also prompt teams to think about their own hydration habits. “When did you last drink water?” or “How do you remind yourself to hydrate?” are simple but important questions that encourage better self-care.

Some care homes even use the game to identify “hydration champions”—staff members who demonstrate a real interest in promoting better hydration, and who can lead initiatives, monitor intake, or coach colleagues.

SHIFTING THE CULTURE

REAL-WORLD RESULTS

Ultimately, hydration in care homes is not just about checking drink charts or offering fluids at mealtimes. It’s about embedding a culture of attentiveness—where hydration is seen as an essential act of care, not an afterthought.

Games like The Hydration Game make this easier by turning serious issues into opportunities for learning, connection, and shared responsibility. They give staff the space to speak, reflect, and come up with practical ideas that make sense in their setting.

And when residents are better hydrated, they are safer, happier, more comfortable, and more independent. Staff are sharper, more resilient, and more engaged. Everyone benefits.

Beyond awareness and engagement, hydration-focused training can produce measurable results. A notable example comes from Torbay and South Devon NHS Trust, which in 2021–2022 supported a hydration project across 33 care homes. The results were striking: a 63% reduction in falls requiring hospitalisation, an 18.5% decrease in urinary tract infections (UTIs), and zero UTI-related hospital admissions during the project period.

What made the difference? A blend of simple changes: structured drink

By making learning enjoyable and practical, The Hydration Game is helping care homes across the UK improve hydration outcomes and build stronger, more confident teams.

Want to learn more or get started? See the advert on the front cover and use the code for a 20% discount.

Visit www.hydrationgame.com for details and ordering options.

Simply Food Solutions At Simply Food Solutions, we believe that everyone deserves access to delicious meals tailored to their specific dietary requirements. Founded over 20 years ago, the company began with a vision to provide high-quality halal meals to hospital patients. Today, as part of the Bidfood family, Simply Food Solutions offers an extensive range of food solutions designed to meet the diverse needs of healthcare providers, care homes and individuals across the UK. Our Product Ranges

SIMPLY PUREE

Designed for individuals with swallowing difficulties (dysphagia), the Simply Puree range offers texture-modified meals compliant with IDDSI guidelines. From Level 3 (Liquidised) to Level 7 (Regular), our meals ensure safety without compromising on taste. Options include soups, main courses, desserts and snacks, all crafted to the highest safety standards. Additionally, the Simply Puree Junior line caters to paediatric needs, providing

FINAL THOUGHTS

meals that are both safe and appealing for children.

SIMPLY HEALTHCARE

Meeting the needs of patients with allergies, intolerances, or specific dietary requirements, the Simply Healthcare range includes gluten-free, allergen-aware and renal-suitable meals. Each dish is pre-plated and ready to serve, ensuring convenience and consistency in meal preparation. The range encompasses a variety of meat, fish and vegetarian options, all designed to support patient health and satisfaction.

SIMPLY WORLDFOODS

Reflecting the UK's rich cultural diversity, Simply Worldfoods offers a selection of cultural meals, including halal, kosher and AfroCaribbean meals. This range allows healthcare providers to offer patients a taste of home, enhancing mealtime experiences and promoting cultural inclusivity.The range also provide multiportion dishes that are ideal for staff or visitor feeding cafes.

Explore our full range of products and discover how Simply Food Solutions can enhance your mealtime offerings, please visit https://simplyfoodsolutions.co.uk

Feeding Rune: How Real Food Helped Our Son Thrive - and Sparked a Movement Our son Rune is nearly six. He lives with a rare neuromuscular condition called Nemaline Myopathy, which affects his movement and strength. He needs round-theclock care, someone awake even through the night to manage his ventilator, medication, and medical equipment.

But the biggest threat to Rune’s health hasn’t been his condition. It’s been what he was being fed.

calories are made of, how they digest, and how they make you feel.

Think about how you eat. Smelling, tasting, chewing, it all signals your body to start digesting. Tube-fed individuals miss out on that entirely, which means their bodies have to work harder. And if all they’re being given is sweetened shakes or oil-heavy blends, it’s no wonder they struggle to thrive.

TRIAL, ERROR, AND TRANSFORMATION

FORMULA NEARLY BROKE HIM For the first few years of his life, Rune was in and out of hospital. He suffered from constant vomiting, painful tummy issues, repeated chest infections, and dangerous aspiration (when food or liquid enters the lungs). These episodes were terrifying, and they were all made worse by the “nutritionally complete” formula feeds he was given through his feeding tube.

These formulas, the kind given to most tube-fed children and adults in the UK, are ultra-processed and heavy in dairy. For Rune, they made everything worse. He was deeply unwell, and we were told this was just part of his condition. But what if it wasn’t?

Let’s be clear formula isn’t the enemy. For many people, it’s an absolute lifeline. It saves lives. It provides critical nutrition in a manageable, measurable, and medically supported way. This isn’t about demonising formula, it’s about recognising that one size doesn’t fit all. And for too long, that fact has been overlooked.

THE REAL FOOD REVELATION After one particularly rough hospital stay, we started researching alternatives, and that’s when we discovered the blended diet. In simple terms, it means blending real, cooked food so it can go through a feeding tube.

It’s more common in places like the US, but at the time it was almost unheard of in the UK due to old guidelines and fears around safety.

That’s changed in recent years. New evidence and updated NICE guidance now support the use of real food blends in medical care. Why? Because people do better. It's not just about calories, it’s about what those

We had a lot to learn. Creating tubefriendly meals isn’t just about chucking leftovers in a blender. It takes careful attention to texture, nutrition, timing, and safety. But with help from open-minded professionals and a lot of research, we began to build blends tailored for Rune’s needs.

And the change was incredible.

The vomiting stopped. The chest infections slowed. His bowels started to work more normally. He had more energy for therapy. And for the first time in a long while, Rune felt more like himself.

This wasn’t just a lucky break. Study after study shows that real food can offer major benefits for tube-fed people, especially children, where most of the research has focused so far. But the logic applies to adults too. Imagine being used to eating normal food your whole life, only to be switched to synthetic-tasting formula with no smell, no flavour, no connection to the food you once loved. What does that do to your appetite?

Your wellbeing? Your sense of self?

FOOD IS CONNECTION In our home, food isn’t just fuel. It’s comfort. It’s an experience. It’s care.

When Rune first started tube feeding, his feeds were done in private, away from the dinner table. That’s what his school and carers had been taught, to keep it discreet, hidden. But we didn’t want Rune to feel ashamed about how he eats. He deserves variety, flavour, and choice just like everyone else.

So we brought him into the heart of mealtimes.

Now, Rune shops with us. He picks out vegetables by smell and colour. He helps decide what goes into his blends. And incredibly, he’s even started tasting small amounts of purée by mouth, something we never imagined would be possible.

He’ll always use his feeding button, but now he calls it his “powerup button.” He’s proud of it. And so are we.

FROM PERSONAL JOURNEY TO SHARED PURPOSE Rune’s journey changed how we think about food, not just as nutrition, but as comfort, culture, and connection. We began to see how many tube-fed people, like him, are offered only one option: formula. For many, it’s essential. But it shouldn’t be the only choice.

Plenty of tube-fed people can still taste, smell, and even enjoy small amounts of food by mouth. So why shouldn’t they have access to real ingredients, varied flavours, and meals that reflect the same dignity as those who eat by mouth?

Together with a close family friend, we’ve started a small company Food Untethered, not just to create meals, but to rethink what it means to eat when you're tube-fed. Our aim is to support those on liquid diets to live fully, with options that nourish both body and spirit.

This all started with Rune, but it’s something so many others deserve too.

Sophia Johnston Co-founder of Food Untethered Parent carer for Rune Johnston www.fooduntethered.com contact@fooduntethered.com 07846690988

PAGE 34 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 250

HYDRATION AND NUTRITION Eat Less, Eat Differently – Still Deserve the Best Just because you eat less, or eat differently, it doesn't mean you should settle for less.

At Food Untethered, we believe that everyone – regardless of how they eat – deserves access to real, organic, and nourishing food.

Whether you are tube-fed, or simply need liquid nutrition on the go, our meals are made with care, using nothing artificial and held to the highest of safety standards.

We’ve launched our first three meals: a Coconut & Banana Smoothie, a Carrot & Coriander Soup, and a Mexican Bean Stew. Each is packed with whole ingredients, made for both taste and tolerance, and suitable for use orally or via a feeding tube.

But this is just the beginning. Over the next year, we’re releasing a full range of meals that can be consumed hot or cold, snacks, smoothies, and drinks –

designed with real people, real needs, and real lives in mind.

Our food is safe, shelf-stable, recyclable, and above all, human. It's not synthetic formula. It's not baby food. It’s real food, reimagined for different appetites.

If you or someone you care for lives with dysphagia, is tube-fed, or simply needs an easier way to stay nourished, we’re here to help.

Call us today – we’re a small team, and we love to talk. Whether you’re new to this or a seasoned pro, we’ll help you find something that works.

You don’t need to compromise.

You just need food that works for you.

Food Untethered Real food. For every way of eating. www.fooduntethered.com

Temporary Catering Facilities from MK

PLEASE MENTION THE CARER WHEN RESPONDING TO ADVERTISERS

Mobile Kitchens Ltd specialises in the hire or sale of temporary catering facilities and foodservice equipment.

Ideal for events or to provide temporary catering facilities during your kitchen refurbishment, our versatile units and equipment offer an efficient and economic solution to the caterers’ needs.

Production Kitchens, Preparation Kitchens, Warewashing Units, Dry Store Units, Cold Rooms and Restaurant Units are available as individual units in their own right or they can be linked together on site to form a complete complex.

Alternatively, we can offer modular, open-plan facilities, usually for larger, longer-term hires.

We offer a free design service, and project management from concept through to delivery and installation on site, plus full technical support throughout the hire period.

For enteral and oral diets Sweet & Savoury options Calorie Dense – 1.2Kcal-1.7Kcal Tube-Friendly – 12Fr + Dysphagia - Assorted IDDSI levels Chef designed, Dietitian approved

ORGANIC BLENDED MEALS WWW.FOODUNTETHERED.COM

The standard specification of our smallest Production Kitchen unit includes a six burner oven range, salamander grill, twin basket fryer, upright fridge, hot cupboard, single bowl sink unit with integral hand wash basin, plus ample power points to plug in Microwaves, Food Processors, Toasters etc. Internal equipment can be interchanged and clients can effectively specify their preferred layout.

We have many tried and tested design layouts and would be pleased to put forward our recommendations for your project.

So if you’re planning a refurbishment or need to cater for an event then why not give us a call and we’ll be happy to provide advice and put forward a competitive proposal.

For further information or to arrange a site visit, email: sales@mk-hire.co.uk or call us on 0345 812 0800, or visit our website: www.mk-hire.co.uk

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 250 | PAGE 35

HYGIENE & ODOUR CONTROL Hygiene and Odour Control: Preserving Dignity Through Excellence in Care Effective hygiene and odour management forms the cornerstone of quality care in residential and nursing home settings. Beyond mere cleanliness, these practices directly impact resident dignity, health outcomes, and the overall therapeutic environment that supports recovery and wellbeing.

THE FOUNDATION OF DIGNIFIED CARE Personal hygiene represents far more than basic cleanliness—it embodies respect for the individual and recognition of their inherent worth. When residents feel clean and comfortable, their self-esteem improves, social interactions flourish, and psychological wellbeing strengthens. Conversely, poor hygiene practices can lead to social isolation, depression, and a profound loss of personal dignity.

HEALTH AND SAFETY IMPERATIVES Proper hygiene protocols serve as the first line of defence against healthcare-associated infections. In residential settings where vulnerable populations live in close proximity, maintaining rigorous standards becomes critical for preventing cross-contamination and protecting community health.

Poor odour control often signals underlying health issues requiring immediate attention. Persistent odours may indicate skin breakdown, urinary tract infections, or inadequate wound care management. Staff trained to recognise these warning signs can intervene early, preventing minor concerns from escalating into serious medical complications.

Regular hygiene assessments should form part of comprehensive care planning, with individualised approaches reflecting each resident's preferences, cultural background, and physical capabilities.

BEST PRACTICE FRAMEWORK Person-Centred Approach: Every hygiene intervention should begin with respectful communication. Explain procedures clearly, seek consent where possible, and honour personal preferences regarding timing, prod-

ucts, and assistance levels. This collaborative approach maintains autonomy whilst ensuring necessary care delivery.

Environmental Management: Maintain optimal room ventilation, use appropriate air fresheners sparingly, and address sources of odour promptly rather than masking them. Regular deep cleaning schedules, combined with immediate response to accidents, create pleasant living environments for all residents.

Product Selection: Choose gentle, pH-balanced cleansing products suitable for sensitive or compromised skin. Avoid harsh chemicals that may cause irritation or allergic reactions. Consider fragrance-free options for residents with respiratory sensitivities or cognitive conditions that may cause distress with strong scents.

Staff Training and Support: Comprehensive training programmes should cover infection control principles, dignity preservation techniques, and proper use of personal protective equipment. Regular refresher sessions ensure consistent standards across all care teams.

DIGNITY-PRESERVING PROCEDURES Maintaining privacy during personal care represents a fundamental aspect of dignified treatment. Use privacy screens, ensure doors remain closed, and limit the number of staff present to those directly involved in care delivery. Explain each step of the process and pause if residents express discomfort or distress.

Timing considerations prove equally important. Schedule hygiene activities around residents' natural rhythms and preferences where possible.

Some individuals prefer morning care, whilst others feel more comfortable with evening routines. Flexibility demonstrates respect for individual choices and promotes cooperation.

Cultural sensitivity requires ongoing attention. Some residents may have specific religious or cultural requirements regarding personal care practices. Understanding and accommodating these needs shows respect

for diversity and supports emotional wellbeing.

MANAGING CHALLENGING SITUATIONS When residents resist hygiene care, often due to cognitive impairment or past traumatic experiences, staff require specialised approaches.

Gentle persistence, distraction techniques, and breaking tasks into smaller steps can reduce anxiety and promote acceptance.

For residents with dementia, maintaining familiar routines and using consistent caregivers helps reduce confusion and resistance. Simple, clear instructions and positive reinforcement encourage participation and preserve remaining independence.

BUILDING SUSTAINABLE SYSTEMS Effective hygiene programmes require robust documentation, regular auditing, and continuous quality improvement processes. Track infection rates, resident satisfaction scores, and family feedback to identify areas for enhancement.

Invest in appropriate equipment and supplies to support best practice implementation. This includes adequate changing facilities, proper lifting equipment, and sufficient staffing levels to avoid rushing through personal care tasks.

CONCLUSION Excellence in hygiene and odour control represents a fundamental expression of caring that extends far beyond basic cleanliness. When implemented thoughtfully, these practices preserve dignity, protect health, and create environments where residents can thrive with confidence and comfort.

The investment in comprehensive hygiene programmes yields dividends in improved health outcomes, enhanced resident satisfaction, and strengthened family relationships. Most importantly, it affirms the value and worth of every individual in our care, supporting their right to live with dignity and respect throughout their residential care journey.

®

Smell Away Launches Dual-Action HEPA Filter to Improve Air Quality in Residential Care Homes Smell Away Ltd. has unveiled its latest innovation: a dual-action HEPA air purifier designed homes and residential care homes across the UK and Ireland. Combining advanced allergen filtration with trusted odour control, this new solution promotes cleaner, fresher indoor air – crucial for the health and comfort of vulnerable residents and staff alike As hay fever season intensifies and indoor air quality becomes a growing concern, the Smell Away® purifier addresses both allergen exposure and persistent odours in care environments. Its High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter captures 99.97% of airborne particles as small as 3 microns, effectively removing pollen, dust and mould spores. For elderly residents, especially those with respiratory conditions, this protection can ease symptoms and enhance wellbeing.

Long praised for its odour-neutralising technology, Smell Away® now integrates its premium RC412 Australian activated carbon with a proprietary additive to tackle common

care home smells – from food and cleaning agents to incontinence and smoke – discreetly and efficiently.

Designed for ease of use, the compact, quiet unit fits seamlessly into bedrooms, treatment rooms, and communal areas. It requires no installation, operates with low energy consumption, and offers a long filter life of up to two years. Free delivery is available across the UK and Ireland, with special rates for care homes purchasing multiple units.

"Air quality has a direct impact on wellbeing," says Gareth Williams of Smell Away Ltd. "This filter isn’t just about cleaner air – it’s about creating a more dignified, comfortable environment for residents and staff."

With growing attention on indoor air standards, Smell Away® provides a practical, cost-effective tool for care homes committed to delivering safer, more pleasant living spaces – one breath at a time.

For further information see the advert below or visit www.smellaway.com/carer

PAGE 36 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 250

HYGIENE & ODOUR CONTROL Oxy-Gen Powered® Air-Care Range Part of Velair Group Limited, established 2012.

Enviro-Save supplies costeffective and environmentally friendly washroom solutions, as well as being the Master Distributor for the Oxy-Gen Powered® air-care range in the UK and Republic of Ireland.

Oxy-Gen Powered® is the only technology that harnesses the power of pure oxygen to guarantee the delivery of fragrance into the air continuously, consistently and accurately for the entire duration of the cartridge life.

This innovative system is based on fuel cell technology that is used in the pharmaceutical industry to deliver drugs to human beings and animals.

Oxy-Gen Powered® technology is simple, reliable and cost-effective.

All Oxy-Gen Powered® fragrance cartridges contain Neutra-Lox, our proprietary odour eliminating ingredient that is extremely effective against the smell of urine, faeces, body odour, tobacco, pet malodour, kitchen odour, mould, mildew and more.

Unlike other systems that only mask odours, Oxy-Gen Powered® cartridges eliminate odours and release fragrance effectively and continuously.

Carbon footprint approved, and 100% recyclable cartridges; choose Oxy-Gen Powered® for cleaner air and a cleaner earth.

With no added solvents, alcohols, CFCs, VOCs or propellants, our Oxy-Gen Powered® cartridges contain 100% pure fragrance oil and are a safe choice for any facility.

See the advert on this page for further information.

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 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 at www.angloplas.co.uk

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 250 | PAGE 37

NURSE CALL AND FALLS MONITORING Alarm Radio Monitoring - Wireless Nurse Call & Staff Alarm Systems Alarm Radio Monitoring is the market leader in the design, manufacture and installation of bespoke, endto-end, wireless alarm systems and solutions for the healthcare, leisure, custodial and education industries.

We have been providing wireless alarm and nurse call systems for over 30 years. Supplying care homes and hospitals with an essential lifeline that supports the delivery of outstanding care.

We believe in excellence which translates into: Advanced Technology Industry-leading wireless alarm technologies and software

Bespoke Solutions We design systems to your needs rather than your team having to work around the system Innovative Design Pushing boundaries with the reliability that comes from decades in the industry Flexible Finance Options Ensuring organisations of any size can provide safety for their staff and clients 24 Hours a Day, 365 Days a Year Service Your ARM service team is on hand, on the phone, on-site or return to base, whether you have a service contract or not For further information, see the advert below or visit www.arm.uk.com

Innovative Fall Prevention Solutions by Medpage Modern nurse call monitoring systems represent a transformative advancement in residential care, bridging the gap between resident independence and professional oversight. These sophisticated platforms extend far beyond traditional emergency buttons, offering comprehensive monitoring solutions that support dignity whilst ensuring safety and prompt response to care needs.

The fundamental purpose of nurse call systems lies in empowering residents to maintain control over their care environment. When individuals can easily summon assistance, anxiety decreases and confidence increases, directly supporting psychological wellbeing and independence. This empowerment proves particularly vital for residents with mobility limitations or cognitive concerns who may otherwise feel vulnerable or isolated.

Recent Care Quality Commission reports consistently highlight response times to resident calls as key indicators of care quality. Effective monitoring

systems provide objective data demonstrating compliance with regulatory requirements whilst supporting continuous quality improvement initiatives.

Medpage’s commitment to innovation and quality is evident in their product range. Each solution is designed with the user’s safety and convenience in mind, making them a trusted choice for caregivers and healthcare providers alike.

By investing in these advanced fall prevention tools, families and facilities can create safer environments for those at risk. Medpage continues to lead the way in providing practical, reliable solutions that make a real difference.

For more information, visit Medpage’s official website or contact their team to explore these products further. Safety starts with the right tools, and Medpage delivers just that. www.easylinkuk.co.uk T: 01536 264 869 For more information, see later in this feature.

PLEASE MENTION THE CARER WHEN RESPONDING TO ADVERTISERS

Wireless Nurse Call & Staff Alarm Systems Data Analysis software provides a full audit trail of events The all-new call logging software from ARM enhances the functionality of your care call system dramatically.

• It can help you track the quality of your service to your residents.

• It can help you demonstrate compliance with your aims and best practices, both to relatives and to authorities.

• It can help you find bottlenecks in service provision, track staffing requirements, and allow you to ensure staff are meeting expectations.

• Most importantly, it provides assurance that you know and can demonstrate what is happening in your care home.

The wireless ARM Nurse Call system has been developed over 30 years with both the client and user in mind.

It enables staff to efficiently answer calls, making the

management of resources more flexible and provides the functionality you would expect of any nurse call system.

Call messages can be sent direct to staff to speed up response times and can also be integrated to work with smart phones & messaging.

The system is quick and easy to install and works wirelessly, using radio communication between both the call points and the system infrastructure.

Phone: 01568 610016 | Email: sales@arm.uk.com | Website: www.arm.uk.com

PAGE 38 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 250

NURSE CALL AND FALLS MONITORING

Fall Savers - Affordable Fall Monitoring Solutions Fall Savers®, are an experienced market leading healthcare provider of resident safety solutions for over 15 years.

Floor sensor mat Wireless door/window exit alerts

FALL SAVERS ® WIRELESS MONITOR

TREADNOUGHT ®FLOOR SENSOR PAD

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

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 or visit www.fallsavers.co.uk.

Blaucomm Ltd - Telecommunications & Networks Blaucomm’s Nurse Call Messaging Service (NMS) is the market leading solution to remove the dependency on noisy nurse call panels and pagers, through its intelligent software, which delivers the alerts straight to the care staff who need them.

Care homes are rapidly introducing smartphones for digital care planning and eMar - now, the same devices can be used to receive the nurse call alerts they need for the residents under their care.

Furthermore, Blaucomm NMS is deeply linked into Person Centred Software MCM, so call bell data is linked straight to care plans. This unlocks a huge benefit to care homes to enhance the staff performance with how they accept and respond to residents, which ultimately promotes better response times and visibility for management to audit their performance.

The best part is that Blaucomm NMS links into your existing nurse call system - we work with all major

brands such as Aidcall, ARM, Courtney Thorne, C-TEC, ENS, Intercall, Medicare, SAS and TeleAlarm.

Care operators are constantly recognising Blaucomm NMS for its reliability and dependability to their care operations, which is why we’ve been chosen time and time again over other solutions.

Head of IT Trudi Harrow at WCS Care had this to say about Blaucomm NMS: “We find Blaucomm is a genuinely fantastic company with a reliable product.

"We would highly recommend this to anybody who wants to replace expensive pagers and silence those annoyingly loud nurse call screens!”

To find out more about Blaucomm NMS, visit www.blaucomm.co.uk/healthcare See the advert on the front cover for more details.

PLEASE MENTION THE CARER WHEN RESPONDING TO ADVERTISERS

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 250 | PAGE 39

NURSE CALL AND FALLS MONITORING Innovative Fall Prevention Solutions by Medpage: A Comprehensive Look Falls are a significant concern for vulnerable individuals, especially seniors and patients at risk. Medpage, a leader in assistive technology, offers a range of cuttingedge products designed to enhance safety and provide peace of mind for caregivers and families. Here’s an in-depth look at some of their standout solutions: MPRCG1 (2023) BED LEAVING DETECTION ALARM WITH CAREGIVER RADIO PAGER The MPRCG1 is a comprehensive system tailored for fall prevention in domestic, commercial, and NHS care settings. This all-inclusive kit includes a bed pressure mat sensor, a BTX21-MP alarm sensor transmitter, and an MP-PAG31 radio pager. The system is designed to alert caregivers when a patient leaves their bed, reducing the risk of falls. Key features include: • Wireless Alerts: Notifications are sent to the caregiver’s pager via tone or vibration.

• Customizable Alarm Delays: Options for instant, 15-minute, or 30-minute delays.

• Durable Design: Antimicrobial and disinfectant-resistant materials ensure longevity.

• Ease of Use: Minimal installation required, making it user-friendly and portable.

HDKMB2 HOSPITAL DISCHARGE KIT FOR FALLS RISK PATIENTS The HDKMB2 is a thoughtfully curated kit aimed at supporting patients transitioning from hospital to home care. It includes essential tools to mitigate fall risks and promote recovery. This kit is ideal for caregivers seeking a comprehensive solution to enhance patient safety during the critical post-discharge period.

CMEX-21 MULTI-PORT WIRELESS SENSOR INPUT EXPANDER FOR NURSE CALL CONNECTION The CMEX-21 is Medpage’s latest innovation, designed to integrate seamlessly with existing nurse call systems. This multi-port expander allows for the connection of multiple wireless sensors, enhancing the

monitoring capabilities of healthcare facilities. Its versatility makes it a valuable addition to any care environment, ensuring timely responses to patient needs.

RON-WC2 WATERPROOF DISABLED PULL CORD ALARM TRANSMITTER WITH WIRELESS ALARM RECEIVER The RON-WC2 is a robust solution for disabled individuals requiring immediate assistance. This waterproof pull cord alarm is ideal for use in bathrooms and other high-risk areas. Paired with a wireless alarm receiver, it ensures that help is just a pull away. Features include: • Waterproof Design: Suitable for wet environments.

• Wireless Connectivity: Reliable transmission to the alarm receiver.

• Ease of Installation: Simple setup for quick deployment.

WHY CHOOSE MEDPAGE? Medpage’s commitment to innovation and quality is evident in their product range. Each solution is designed with the user’s safety and convenience in mind, making them a trusted choice for caregivers and healthcare providers alike.

By investing in these advanced fall prevention tools, families and facilities can create safer environments for those at risk. Medpage continues to lead the way in providing practical, reliable solutions that make a real difference.

For more information, visit Medpage’s official website or contact their team to explore these products further. Safety starts with the right tools, and Medpage delivers just that. www.easylinkuk.co.uk T: 01536 264 869

Courtney Thorne Leads the Way in Wireless Nurse Call Technology for UK Care Homes Courtney Thorne, a long-standing innovator in healthcare communication systems, is setting new standards in the care home sector with its advanced wireless nurse call technology—designed to improve resident safety, enhance staff efficiency, and support a more responsive care environment.

With over 30 years of experience serving the UK healthcare market, Courtney Thorne’s systems are now trusted by thousands of care homes nationwide. Unlike traditional hardwired solutions, their wireless nurse call systems offer non-invasive installation, scalability, and smart analytics—making them ideal for both new builds and retrofit projects.

“At the heart of our technology is the belief that better communication leads to better care,” says Graham Vickrage, Managing Director at Courtney Thorne.

“Our wireless systems not only reduce response times but also empower staff

with the tools they need to deliver safe, person-centred care.”

Care providers are increasingly choosing wireless systems for their flexibility, reliability, and cost-effectiveness. With a full suite of accessories—including neck pendants, door monitors, fall detection, and bed sensors—Courtney Thorne systems can be tailored to meet the specific needs of each home and resident.

In an industry where compliance, safety, and staff pressures are always front of mind, Courtney Thorne provides more than just products—they offer ongoing support, training, and a commitment to innovation that helps care homes futureproof their operations.

For more information or to book a free demo, visit www.c-t.co.uk or contact info@c-t.co.uk.

PAGE 40 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 250

TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE Primera Healthcare’s Digital Leap with PASS by everyLIFE Adult social care is changing fast. Across England, providers are swapping paper and patched-together systems for complete digital records, in step with the government’s Digitising Social Care programme.

Primera Healthcare, which supports people at home in Birmingham and London, has moved early and decisively.

The team started 2025 by upgrading their older care system to Allin-one PASS, adding digital care planning, rostering and finance tools so that every part of the service now sits under a single platform.

The switch felt less like a software update and more like turning on the lights. Travel times, staff skills and visit continuity now feed automatically into the rota, so late or missed calls are spotted and fixed before they become problems.

Medication notes flow straight into electronic MAR charts, and live GPS data shows managers exactly where carers are, cutting the need

for frantic phone calls on busy shifts.

Most striking of all is GP Connect. With one tap, authorised staff can see up-to-date diagnoses and prescriptions, saving time and keeping visits focused on the person rather than the paperwork.

“The transition was seamless,” says Shaelene Dewar, Quality Assurance Auditor. “The journal view gives us a live window on the whole business, and the Data Creation Team at PASS built our new

The Benefits of AI in Social Care The social care sector has come a long way when it comes to digital transformation, and artificial intelligence (AI) is a big part of its future. While AI is still finding its place in many care settings, the impact it can have is huge.

Here’s a closer look at why AI is set to make waves in social care:

1. BOOSTING EFFICIENCY AI can help handle those resource-draining tasks in seconds.

Whether it’s crunching a mountain of data, summarising care notes, or suggesting next steps, it frees up your team to do what they do best.

It can also improve communication, such as helping new team members quickly access policies or answer routine questions without waiting for assistance. By handling these background tasks, AI allows organisations to redirect resources to other core priorities.

2. ENSURING PERSON-CENTRED CARE AI can support your teams when providing persona-centred care by analysing data over time, so they can build tailored plans that align with each individual’s goals, preferences, and abilities. It can even predict future needs, flagging issues before they arise so your team can act proactively.

3. ENHANCED MONITORING Care organisations often operate round-the-clock, and AI can offer real-time monitoring to support this. For example, AI can highlight subtle behavioural changes, like someone sleeping poorly or becoming more withdrawn. These insights can alert your teams to potential concerns early, which means better, faster decisions can be made to support your clients.

For organisations, this level of tracking ensures care quality stays high, without adding to the workload. It’s like having an extra layer of support that’s always on duty.

4. EMPOWERING TEAMS AI is here to help empower your care teams, not replace them. AI tools can provide instant recommendations or resources, which could help your newer employees confidently manage unexpected situations. Similarly, AI can assist with summarising care notes or giving quick access to up-to-date best practices, helping your teams provide the high-quality care they work so hard to deliver.

5. OPTIMISING COSTS One of the big wins of AI is its ability to do more with less. By automating tasks and making resource allocation more efficient, it

Celebrating 10 years of Innovation, Trust, and Quality everylifetechnologies.com/pass

EveryLIFE_Technologies_Print Ad_10 Years_The Carer_274x170mm.indd 1

AI in social care isn’t about replacing people with tech. It’s about giving your teams the time, insights, and tools they need to focus on the people they care for. That’s why OneAdvanced AI, the first UK hosted fully secure, private AI tool for businesses, was created.

OneAdvanced AI can help care providers improve efficiency, deliver person-centred care, and empower teams, all while safeguarding your data. This marks a significant step towards a more innovative and sustainable future in social care.

Find out more at: www.oneadvanced.com/ai See the advert on the back cover of this issue for further info.

I

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THE FUTURE OF AI IN CARE

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can help organisations manage tight budgets without compromising on care.

AI can even help reduce staff turnover by easing workload pressures, which means savings on recruitment and training costs too. Plus, because AI solutions are scalable, it can adapt to your organisation's needs.

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forms in record time. GP Connect is brilliant. Reliable information in seconds, and the new charts help us spot patterns we never saw before.”

Those changes have delivered quick, concrete gains. Oversight is tighter, risk is lower, and staff spend more minutes each day with the people they support.

Everything is logged, time-stamped and ready for inspection, which reassures families and pleases regulators.

As everyLIFE Technologies marks ten years of PASS, Primera’s experience shows what the next decade can look like when digital tools are placed at the heart of care.

Good care can always get better, and better starts with digital.

Ready to explore your own next step? Visit www.everylifetechnologies.com or call the everyLIFE team to see how PASS can help your service.

R 10 Y E A R S

hello@everylifetechnologies.com

Join us for the next 10 years!

Let’s succeed together 14/10/2024 10:27

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 250 | PAGE 41

TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE Online But Unsupported: How Care Providers Can Help People Stay Safe Online A new report from the Digital Care Hub, Online But Unsupported, high• 69% said their training was annual but not tailored to real-life situations lights the vital role care homes and other care providers play in supporting • Around 30% said they didn’t know how to set up two-factor authentication people with learning disabilities to stay safe online. or update device security Digital access is now a routine part of life. People use the internet to keep “There’s a gap between people’s confidence in using the internet and in touch with family and friends, follow hobbies, do their shopping, and their ability to spot risks and stay safe,” said Michelle Corrigan, increase their independence. But alongside the many benefits come real Programme Director at Better Security, Better Care. “This can lead to peorisks—and people need the right support to manage them. ple with learning disabilities being targeted online or unintentionally The research, commissioned by Better Security, Better Care and delivputting themselves in danger. Care providers have a real opportunity to ered by Cyber Champions, found that while many people with learning dishelp close this gap.” abilities feel confident using the internet, fewer feel confident about The report calls for care providers to invest in regular, scenario-based keeping themselves safe. training for staff—moving beyond tick-box approaches. It recommends Key challenges identified include: using role-play and real-life stories to help people with learning disabili• Only 31% of people knew how to spot a fake email or scam ties understand online safety in simple, everyday terms.

• Nearly 30% didn’t know how to change privacy settings on social media “We need to make online safety part of everyday conversations in • Almost a quarter weren’t sure how to update device security care,” said Samantha Leonard, Co-Director of Cyber Champions. “Staff Photo by Alexander Grey on Unsplash • Some people had been tricked into sharing inappropriate images, not realdon’t need to be tech experts, but they do need to feel confident talking ising the risks or consequences about online risks, noticing red flags, and knowing where to go for trusted • Others struggled to tell the difference between online and real-life friends support.”

Carers also raised concerns about online grooming, sexting, bullying via messaging apps, and people The report also encourages care organisations to build a culture where oversharing personal information. staff can share new threats, ask questions, and learn together. By doing so, Care home staff, volunteers and family members are central to helping people manage these risks. But care providers can help people with learning disabilities enjoy the digital the report found that carers often don’t get the practical training or support they need. world safely and confidently.

• 89% of staff support people online at least once a month Free resources and guidance are available at: • 25% had received little or no training in digital safety www.digitalcarehub.co.uk/OnlineButUnsupported

CQC Compliance: The Importance of Up-to-Date Policies and Procedures In today’s regulated care environment, having clear, current, and wellcommunicated health and social care policies is essential for delivering safe, compliant services. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) now places increasing emphasis on how policies are implemented and understood—especially during registration and inspections.

Outdated or poorly communicated policies can significantly impact your CQC rating. Even if documentation is comprehensive, failure to ensure staff understand and follow procedures may lead to a “Requires Improvement” or even “Inadequate” rating under the ‘Effective’ domain.

Well-maintained policies promote consistent standards across care teams and help safeguard services when incidents arise. In regulatory investigations, the first request is often to review relevant policies—making accuracy and accessibility key to reducing legal and compliance risks.

However, keeping policies up to date is challenging. Constant changes in legislation, best practice guid-

ance, and case law mean that policies can quickly become obsolete.

W&P has been a trusted provider of CQC-ready care policies and procedures for over 20 years. Our expert team monitors industry developments to ensure your policies remain fully compliant.

Our Online Policy Portal simplifies policy management. With just a few clicks, providers can update content, distribute documents to staff, track confirmations, and monitor compliance via a real-time dashboard. You can even provide temporary read-only access to inspectors—demonstrating transparency and accountability instantly.

Ensure your care service meets CQC expectations with fully up-to-date, easily accessible, and well-communicated policies.

Email: info@wandptraining.co.uk Call: 01305 767104 See the advert on page 2 for details.

PAGE 42 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 250

TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE

Lost Time and Costs Start with Your Rotas

By Becky Mundie, RotaCloud (https://rotacloud.com)

How much time do you spend on admin?

How long are you locked away in your office to make the rota, only having to go back again and again for amends? How often have you realised you’re understaffed, resulting in overspending on agency staff? How frequently do payroll errors, messy audit trails, and chasing staff who missed a shift update occur?

It’s constant, the stress of it all. It’s enough to carry the care of your service users on your shoulders without being overwhelmed every day by repetitive admin and errors. You never thought you’d be spending more time amending schedules, chasing for cover, and correcting issues than your actual job.

But those inefficiencies — staff shortages, payroll errors, missed shift updates, and multiple spreadsheets you juggle — cost you money, time, staff retention, and, in some cases, compliance.

It’s easy to suggest investing in budgeting tools or certain tech to help you understand spending before it happens and to automate certain processes. Budgets are tight in care, after all. But there are simple fixes to cut your operating costs without cutting back on care if you can’t yet turn to digital systems.

Cutting costs doesn’t just mean spending less. It’s about making smarter decisions – reacting to and fixing

the cause of the problem, not the effect. And it all starts with your rota.

There are ways to take better care of your rota, which will, in turn, improve efficiency and staff morale.

One main way: putting your staff first.

First, give your team more say in when they work by allowing them to submit their availability. Try making a rolling rota with a mix of most and least preferred shifts so everyone gets a fair share of them. It means far less admin for you when the rota repeats, far fewer last-minute amends, a more accurate payroll, an easier audit trail, and no more miscommunications on when everyone’s working.

Second. Share rotas at least two weeks in advance. Doing so allows enough time to make amends and for everyone affected to be updated. Sticking to this process is more efficient, which means less admin – which means more time to focus on service users.

Third. Put in a more seamless process for holiday requests. Whether a submitted form or limiting to one means of messaging, sticking to one process means fewer lost or forgotten requests and much less paperwork. Plus, allow staff to arrange shift swaps themselves, leaving managers to simply approve or deny.

Again, less time on admin means more time for service users.

All in all, your saviour is flexibility. Flexibility in rotas means less admin for managers, more efficient teams and safe staffing levels, happier staff (and higher retention rates), and, in return, happier service users – all saving costs in the process. After all, when you aren’t making last-minute changes or relying on agency staff to cover no-shows, you stick to the staffing levels and labour budgets you’ve forecast. So long, overspending, lost time, and inefficient processes.

Care Audit Tool the Next Generation of Audit Software Technology is a key part of the CQC’s improvement agenda; especially when it comes to how care services record performance during inspections.

THE PROBLEM Many care providers want to move away from pen and paper-based audits and spreadsheets, but most software lacks the capability and flexibility to handle the complexity of the CQC requirements and ratings structure – leading to gaps in oversight and accountability.

THE SOLUTION Drawing on our experience providing CQC improvement support, we developed an easy-to-use care audit platform designed to help care providers stay on top of their compliance obligations with the user in mind and the CQC framework at its core.

Our Enterprise Care Audit Tool enables care providers to improve oversight and respond to CQC requirements with confidence — delivering greater visibility, accountability, and control.

Now, we’ve made that same expertise and capability more accessible.

Our new cloud-based version is built on the same trusted foundation, giving providers of all sizes a faster, more flexible way to manage compliance with ease.

KEY FEATURES

• CQC-Aligned Dashboard - View audit outcomes and actions against CQC rating thresholds, with drill-down visibility for full organisational oversight.

• 100+ Ready-to-Use Audits - Covering all core operational areas including Care, Health & Safety, Estates, Catering, HR, and more.

• 2,000+ Question Library - Choose from a comprehensive library of questions, each aligned to statutory regulations and the CQC inspection framework.

• Automated Action Management - Audit outcomes that require follow-up are automatically fed into the dashboard and actions portal for clear accountability and tracking.

• Reporting - Access a suite of structured reports to support internal reviews and inspection readiness.

• Engagement Surveys - Collect feedback from staff, service users, and relatives

STRESS LESS. TRACK MORE. BE READY. If you’re spending hours chasing paperwork or stressed about being prepared for any inspection any day - Care Audit Tool can help.

Website: careaudittool.co.uk Email: info@careaudittool.co.uk Phone: 0333 577 0807

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 250 | PAGE 43

TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE

Vision for Smarter, Stronger Care Learn with Purpose. Care with Confidence. Build for the Future QCS x Carebeans, the UK’s leading digital provider of compliance, care management and workforce solutions for the adult social care and support sector, announces the launch of QCS Learning Centre - a powerful new addition to their growing ecosystem of connected tools built to help providers deliver safer, smarter care.

Developed in partnership with CareTutor, a trusted training expert with over 20 years’ experience in the care sector, QCS Learning Centre offers accessible, accredited and engaging video-based training designed specifically for frontline care teams.

“We’re building the future of digital care,” says Nikki Walker, CEO at QCS. “The QCS platform is about more than just ticking boxes. We’re creating an intelligent, joined-up system where compliance, care management and training all work together – backed by rich data that powers our AI integrations, all driven by realworld care and support challenges, designed to give time back to providers when they need it most.”

people you care and support for.

Luke Bond, Managing Director at CareTutor, adds “QCS Learning Centre is more than just another training tool. It’s the next step in supporting a stronger, more confident workforce - providing engaging and interactive, video-led courses designed and created by CareTutor specifically for the adult social care sector”.

What QCS Learning Centre Delivers: • Accredited, video-led training developed by sector experts • Smart tracking and reporting to keep training up to date and inspection-ready • Designed for real-world care and support - simple to use and quick to deploy • Supports staff development, retention and quality improvement • Future integration roadmap with the full QCS x Carebeans system planned

BUILT FOR THE SECTOR. BACKED BY AI.

With AI-powered features running across QCS x Carebeans platforms – the rich data within the system enables intelligent audit tools to real-time alerts and automated policy updates - QCS Learning Centre is part of a long-term vision to reduce admin, raise care quality and give providers back the time they need to provide and evidence quality care and support.

A CONNECTED ECOSYSTEM – SMARTER TOGETHER

QCS Learning Centre is fully integrated into the wider QCS x Carebeans platform, which brings together care planning, rostering, audits, mock inspections, policies and training into one seamless digital experience. This connected approach means that care and support teams can respond faster, train smarter and make better decisions - all in one place.

Whether you’re running a care home, a domiciliary service or supported living provision. Every part of the system works together to reduce admin, keep you inspection-ready and support better outcomes for the

READY TO SEE IT IN ACTION?

Explore the QCS Learning Centre today and see how it can support your service so you can be assured your team is skilled, confident, and able to provide higher-quality care and support. 👉 https://www.qcs.co.uk/qcs-learning-centre/

PROFESSIONAL AND FINANCE

Is Your Care Home Struggling Financially?

Here Are The Options Available To You

By Eleanor Stephens, Senior Solicitor – Insolvency at law firm Harper James (www.harperjames.co.uk)

The UK care sector is under significant financial pressure with rising costs, workforce shortages, and longterm underfunding pushing many care providers towards breaking point.

These challenges have only intensified following recent Budget announcements, with increases in the National Living Wage and National Insurance placing further pressure on already resource-stretched organisations.

Recent findings from the Care Provider Alliance paint a stark picture.

A survey of over 1,100 care providers revealed that 73% expect to refuse new care packages, 77% are drawing on reserves, 64% anticipate redundancies, and 22% are considering closing altogether. These figures represent more than just operational strain; they signal a threat to vulnerable adults who rely on essential care, families who depend on support, and dedicated staff who risk losing their livelihoods.

Despite the severity of these challenges, care providers are not powerless. There are practical steps and strategies that can help navigate financial distress and build resilience for the future. In this article, Insolvency Solicitor Eleanor Stephens discusses how you can identify if there are cash flow issues in your business and the steps you can take as a care home provider.

HOW CAN CARE HOME OPERATORS RECOGNISE THE EARLY WARNING SIGNS OF FINANCIAL DISTRESS? Financial distress rarely arrives without warning, recognising the signs early allows care providers to take action before problems escalate. Common warning signs include difficulties managing cashflow, increasing reliance on short-term borrowing or reserves, and delays in paying suppliers, landlords or HMRC. Indirect indicators, such as rising staff turnover, difficulties recruiting, or pressures around meeting regulatory standards, can also point to underlying financial stress.

Directors, no matter the sector, have a legal duty to act in the best interests of creditors once a business faces potential insolvency.

Ignoring warning signs not only reduces the chance of recovery but also increases the risk of wrongful trading, which can lead to personal liability.

What steps can care home providers take?

Start with a detailed financial health check, this includes reviewing cashflow forecasts, profit margins, and liabilities. Identify immediate pressures and longer-term risks. This step is not just for the finance team, senior leadership, including operations and HR, should understand the business’s financial position to work together on solutions. Its imperative to ensure you maintain an accurate and up to date financial picture so all directors are aware of the realistic financial situation and

can make decisions based on up to date information.

Engaging with key stakeholders early is an important step. Open conversations with lenders, landlords, suppliers, and local authority commissioners can create opportunities to renegotiate terms, extend payment deadlines, or secure additional support. Many stakeholders would rather help a business recover than see it fail.

Cost structures should be reviewed carefully. Are there areas of spend that can be reduced without affecting care quality? Are contracts still fit for purpose, or could they be renegotiated? Are there opportunities to refinance or access new funding?

UNDERSTANDING YOUR BUSINESS’ RESTRUCTURING AND INSOLVENCY OPTIONS In the care sector, financial pressure can build gradually, rising operating costs, staffing shortages, and delayed local authority payments can impact cash flow. For many business owners, the word ‘insolvency’ can feel like a last resort, or something to be avoided at all costs. But in reality, insolvency and restructuring processes are there to help businesses, not punish them.

If your care home is facing financial difficulties, understanding your options early can make all the difference. A legal process such as administration is designed to give viable businesses the breathing space they need to stabilise, restructure, and recover.

Here are the most common routes and options:

COMPANY VOLUNTARY ARRANGEMENT (CVA) A CVA is a legally binding agreement between a company and its unsecured creditors, typically to repay debts over a fixed period, often at reduced amounts.

The key advantage is that the business can continue trading while the CVA is in place. Directors stay in control, and staff, residents, and suppliers can experience minimal disruption.

How it works: • The company proposes a repayment plan, usually spread over 3–5 years • Creditors vote on the proposal at least 75% (by value) must agree for it to proceed • Once approved, all unsecured creditors are bound by the terms • The business continues to operate under the supervision of an insolvency practitioner Why it works well in the care sector: • Preserves continuity of care and minimises disruption for residents • Retains jobs and protects staff morale • Can prevent reputational damage by avoiding formal insolvency proceedings like liquidation • Shows creditors that you’re taking proactive steps to meet obligations

ADMINISTRATION Administration is a formal insolvency process where control of the business passes to a licensed insolvency practitioner (the administrator). Their role is to act in the best interest of creditors and try to rescue

the business where possible.

During administration, the company is protected by a legal “moratorium”, meaning creditors can’t take enforcement action without the administrator’s consent or court approval.

What administration can achieve: • Restructure the business to cut costs or exit loss-making contracts • Sell the business as a going concern, preserving value and jobs • Deliver a better return to creditors than an immediate liquidation Why this matters for care homes: • Resident care can continue while the administrator explores rescue or sale • It creates space to secure investment, agree a pre-pack sale, or restructure leases and liabilities • Essential suppliers (e.g. food, utilities, medical services) are more likely to continue supply during a managed process

LIQUIDATION Liquidation is the process of closing down a company in a structured and lawful way. Assets are sold, creditors are repaid in order of priority, and the business is removed from the Companies House register.

There are two main types: • Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidation (CVL): initiated by directors when the business is insolvent and can’t continue trading • Compulsory Liquidation: initiated by a creditor via court proceedings What happens in liquidation: • All trading ceases • A liquidator is appointed to sell assets, settle debts, and distribute any remaining funds • Employees are made redundant (with access to redundancy pay and other statutory entitlements) • Directors’ duties continue during the process and are reviewed by the liquidator When liquidation is appropriate: • The business has no realistic prospect of recovery • There are more liabilities than assets • Continuing to trade would risk further losses or wrongful trading by directors For care businesses, liquidation should be a last resort, but if recovery isn’t possible, it can allow directors to close the company in a way that meets legal obligations and limits personal risk.

SUMMARY Many care homes in the UK are under real financial pressure. Rising costs and cash flow issues are making it harder to keep things running smoothly. Acting early is key: review your finances, talk to lenders and suppliers, and seek professional advice. Options like CVAs and administration can help restructure and protect your business, while liquidation should only be a last resort. Throughout the process, maintain clear communication with residents, families, and staff prioritising their wellbeing.

PAGE 44 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 250

PROFESSIONAL AND FINANCE New Immigration Rules A Huge Setback For The Social Care Sector As Overseas Care Worker Route Closes The Home Office has announced major reform of the Immigration Rules and the changes came into effect on 22 July 2025.

New rules were laid in Parliament on the 1st July 2025, which see skills and salary thresholds rise to the previously set RQF level 6, overseas recruitment for care workers to end, and between 100 and 180 occupations no longer eligible under the skilled worker visa route.

The new Immigration Rules came into force on 22 July 2025.

There is no doubt that the UK’s social care system will suffer from the UK government tightened immigration rules.

One of the major changes which will directly affect the social care sector is the Skilled Worker entry clearance applications for care workers (SOC code 6135) and senior care workers (SOC code 6136) being closed on 22 July 2025.

The government’s position is that care providers can recruit from the regional care partnerships which have a significant pool of displaced care workers. Furthermore, the government believe that resident workers can be trained to carry out these roles.

However, both of these approaches are flawed.

The displaced workers pool will eventually diminish and there is no real plan to identify where the social scare sector will recruit for the carer and senior carer roles.

Key Takeaways: What Steps Should Care Providers Take Now Providers holding a sponsor licence should carry out a full audit of their HR processes and the five areas of compliance under the sponsor guidance. Take advantage of the Aston Brooke Solicitors UKVI mock audit service. Please contact Mr Kashif Majeed and email km@astonbrooke.co.uk to book an appointment.

In addition to the above, the following action must be undertaken as a matter of urgency:

Care Home Finance from Global Business Finance Global assists clients throughout the U.K. who specialise in the healthcare sector to achieve their objectives of purchase, development and refinance.

We have organised over £1.8bn for clients in the past 30 years, providing clients with competitively priced funding to refinance existing debt, ease cashflow and develop businesses further.

From helping clients make their first purchase through to allowing groups to grow significantly in size we assist at every stage of your business expansion.

Every proposal is individual and deserves to be treated that way, so we hope you will allow us to be of assistance to you and call us to chat through your plans and requirements, I am sure we will be able to tailor a facility to your requirements.

Call us on 01242 227172 or e-mail us at enquiries@globalbusinessfinance.net

1.Sponsored Migrants Salary Audit As there are no transitional arrangements for the new salary thresholds, employers must review the salaries of all sponsored workers. If you are assigning CoSs on or after the 22 July 2025, you must meet the new salary thresholds to ensure compliance of the rules.

2.Compliance of the Skill Level Threshold Please ensure compliance of any roles filled which fall below RQF level 6 and that they also appear on the Temporary Shortage List and the Immigration Salary List.

Please ensure that any roles sponsored under SOC code 6135 and 6136 are for existing staff who have been employed in the business for at least three months.

There are more changes to come later this year which include: 1. Increasing the immigration skills charge 2.Increasing the English language requirements across the immigration system.

For clear and comprehensive advice on the new rules, its implementation and how it affects your business, please contact Mr Kashif Majeed, Director at Aston Brooke Solicitors. Email: km@astonbrooke.co.uk

Eden Alternative - It’s Time to Change the Way We Care "23 years, operating 4 Devon Nursing homes, has been pretty tough, as anyone in social care, knows, only too well. And if it was hard already, after 2024 budget, it's just got harder.

Anyway, at heart, I am just customer of Eden Alternative, and it was a stroke of luck to come across this whilst on holiday in New Zealand in 2009. It started in USA in 1994 and now runs in 22 countries.

The fact that I am now involved with this not-forprofit organisation (in the UK area) came about when one of the 2 main UK directors died suddenly just before Covid. But it's something I have run with for 11 years to help make 'vision' a reality, not a struggle. So, being both a customer and helping the admin seems quite natural.

It is a modern philosophy of care, but moreover,

it's a programme that is straight forward, tried and tested for 30 years and really works.

Its member care organisations generally become trainers for their own teams, and run it themselves.

The programme is run in person over 2-3 days or online 1 hr a wk for 7 weeks. You choose.

It addresses loneliness, helplessness and boredom and operates through 10 principles to underpin 7 critical domains of wellbeing.

Moreover, it's effective, transformational and really works. As residents, and team members wellbeing, matter so much , it's a must, in my opinion.

Geoffrey Cox Southernhealthcare.co.uk eden-alternative.co.uk"