Issue 33 11.11.20
The weekly online newsletter for the care sector
Take care of your staff, urges boss HEALTHCARE organisations and businesses throughout Cumbria and north Lancashire have been urged to look after their staff to ensure they do not burn out during these challenging times. And individuals working in the care sector have been encouraged to make time to look after themselves to avoid becoming over-stressed. The heartfelt plea has come from Dr Chris Moss, a director of Kendal-based Westmorland Homecare, who also does work in Accident and Emergency for the NHS. He said the challenges and uncertainty caused by Covid-19 and its associated restrictions, along with the onset of darker nights and winter on the horizon, mean this is a very challenging time for many in the care sector. “There are staff working around the clock in both the NHS and social care sector who are doing an amazing job,” Chris added. “Caring for the community is a highly-rewarding but stressful job, so it is not surprising that people burn out. “Compassion fatigue is a term, which recognises that even the most emotionally resilient people will have times when the impact of their jobs
has a profound effect on them. “This is particularly true of those in the caring sector, who develop very strong relationships with the people they look after. “If the stress of caring for others is not supported or is left unchecked it can have a huge impact on people’s physical health and their emotional and mental wellbeing and can sometimes prevent them from doing the job they are so passionate about.” Such fatigue could be exacerbated at the moment because of Covid-19 restrictions which could cause isolation and a lack of social interaction outside the workplace, he said. He said it was vital managers made sure rotas were sustainable and that they did not put undue pressure on staff. The message to care for staff and each other was not just aimed at the NHS and care sector, he added. “We must look after staff and think about the emotional support we can give them,” he concluded. “Taking care of yourself is not a luxury, but a necessity. People need to think about exercise, relaxation techniques, eating well and making sure they sleep well.”
Care home completes challenge
Big-hearted well-wishers have been putting a Plymouth care home on the map. The city’s Butterfly Lodge, home to up to 37 residents living with dementia, has been receiving Postcards of Kindness from across the country. The project offers friendly messages to older people, many of whom are no longer able to see their families due to lockdown restrictions. “We’ve put up a map of the UK with ribbons to show where all the different cards have come from,” said Butterfly’s activities co-ordinator Paul Hutt. “They’ve come from far and wide – from Texas in the United States to Great Yarmouth in Norfolk – and are a real pick-me-up for our residents in these difficult times.” n Resident Sheila Rowe is pictured with one of the postcards.
A BIG THANK YOU
FROM ALL OF US TO ALL OF YOU FOR ALL YOU ARE DOING TO KEEP OUR MOST VULNERABLE SAFE AND HAPPY …
WE’RE IN AWE OF YOUR SELFLESS HARD WORK AND DEDICATION.
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A CARE home manager and group of residents have teamed up to complete Diabetes UK’s One Million Step Challenge, successfully taking one million strides together and raising more than £600 for the charity – all while in lockdown. Akua Buabeng, manager at CHD Living’s The Summers care home in West Molesey, took the lead on the challenge, which saw her join forces with residents Rosie and Iris (both 88) and commit to taking one million steps over a threemonth period. Successfully completing the challenge at the end of September, the team managed to raise £600 for Diabetes UK in the process. As a type 2 diabetic herself, it was a particularly meaningful accomplishment for Iris, who commented: “It’s been wonderful to help Akua reach one million steps, and to help raise some money for Diabetes UK at the same time. “As someone who lives with diabetes myself, this is a cause very close to my heart and the challenge has certainly given me extra motivation to keep moving in recent months.” Akua added: “I have a few residents at The Summers who are diabetics, so I’ve seen first hand how it impacts their lives. “Not only has the challenge motivated us to keep moving during lockdown, but the money raised will go to a fantastic cause in supporting people living with diabetes, so we are delighted.”
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