Issue 17 22.07.20 We are committed to supporting customers in these unprecedented times, please do not hesitate to get in touch with me or a member of my team to talk about how we can help Derek Breingan, Head of Health and Social Care 07818 454674
The weekly online newsletter for the care sector
‘Virtual’ cruise trips to banish holiday blues RESIDENTS at Sanctuary Care homes across England and Scotland are embarking on ‘virtual’ cruise trips during a summer-long globetrotting expedition. More than 100 care homes are virtually sailing to eight different holiday hot-spots across Europe including Portugal, France, Spain and Italy, transforming their homes into luxury ships, with residents and staff now playfully known as passengers and cabin crew. The two-month long voyage will bring the unique flavours, traditions and cultures right into the heart of their ships, while remaining safe and happy in the place they call home. Just like any other five-star holiday, passengers are armed with personalised passports, boarding passes and tour guides at every port, so they can submerge themselves into the rich culture from far away destinations. From Italy and Cyprus, to Greece and Turkey, each week the cruiseliner will dock at a new destination, where passengers will enjoy trulyauthentic excursions, including Portuguese port tasting and Azulejos tiles creating. Other highlights include turning their hands to sangria making in Spain, re-creating their own Monet masterpiece while they soak up the art culture in France and hosting their very own Maltese ‘Feast of St Paul Shipwreck’ festival.
And all this will all be washed down with a taste tantalising threecourse traditional menu at every port. Admiral Sheila O’Connor (director of operations) said: “Everyone is excited about our Sanctuary Care Cruise. “As we emerge from the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, this national initiative is a fabulous way to unite our homes even further and showcase the level of commitment and dedication our staff place on creating inspiring and engaging places for our residents to live. “The ‘virtual’ trips will provide a fun and safe environment for residents to connect with each other, evoke memories of holidays to European destinations with loved ones and experience new meaningful moments with our dedicated staff by their side. It really is a perfect example of what our high-quality care stands for – our residents and enriching their lives.” As part of the virtual cruise initiative, cabin crew are provided with weekly staff handbooks, props and supporting literature, so they can deliver traditional festivities with real authenticity. And the travel calendar is literally bursting at the seams, with highlights including dancing, crafting, baking, tasting, drawing, quizzing, learning and celebrating, as well as a range of festivals.
Radio station receives first set of figures
Veterans at Royal Star & Garter in High Wycombe have successfully completed their virtual cycle ride fundraiser from Lands’ End to John O’Groats. The residents finished the 874-mile High Wycombe Tour of Britain challenge on static bikes in the physiotherapy room of the home. Together with staff they have already helped raise £555 for Royal Star & Garter, a charity which provides loving, compassionate care to veterans and their partners living with disability or dementia at homes in Solihull, Surbiton and High Wycombe. The challenge was organised by the home’s activities and physiotherapy teams.
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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NEW internet radio station m4d Radio (www.m4dradio.com) is celebrating its first set of audience listening figures since its launch a month ago. The numbers show more than 30,000 people have listened to the 24-hour, non-commercial station, streaming 383,000 tracks and listening to nearly one million minutes of music, made up of a mix of songs from the 30s through to the 70s, from a song catalogue of thousands of tracks. The music has been accessed by more than 15,000 devices since its launch from within homes and care settings, meaning the online station has already been enjoyed by an estimated one in 20 people living with dementia. m4d Radio aims to provide ‘a lifeline’ for those living with dementia by helping them connect through music and help soothe some of the often distressing symptoms of the disease, including anxiety and agitation. Music for Dementia programme director Grace Meadows said: “Although we knew there was a strong appetite for this vital resource, we’re thrilled with our audience numbers, less than a month into being on air. “We know music is such a wonderful connector and has the ability to bring people together in the here and now. “m4d Radio aims to reduce the feeling of isolation for those living with dementia and their carers, by creating a sense of com The station content is being continually developed.
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CARINGWEEKLY
Volunteers get home’s garden party-ready THE Abbeyfield Society, which operates more than 400 residential homes for older people nationwide, has started a new partnership with Taylor Wimpey. The link will see employees of the residential development firm volunteer their time at the charity’s homes during the coronavirus pandemic. Taylor Wimpey director Charles Waggett, leading by example, was the first to volunteer at Pratt House, a dementia-friendly care home in Amersham. Charles, along with his son Sam, got to work in the garden, mowing the lawn, cleaning the paving slabs and making sure it was ready for the home’s summer events and celebrations. He said: “It was a pleasure for Sam and I to give a hand sorting out the garden at Pratt House. “While we weren’t able to interact personally with the residents, we saw many smiling faces at the windows, so hopefully this cheered everyone up in some way.” The Abbeyfield Society is keen to involve more Taylor Wimpey employees in their work, and further volunteering opportunities are in the process of being created at homes in the Bristol and Solihull areas. Abbeyfield’s interim director of fundraising, marketing and
James Parkin, Richard Shore and Ben Challinor.
Group to create further 30 jobs at luxury home Taylor Wimpey director Charles Waggett with his son Sam. volunteering, Alastair Mulvie, added: “In this difficult time it is more challenging for us and our residents to engage with the wider community in the ways that we normally try to encourage, and to sustain our incredibly important local relationships. “We hope that the employee volunteering partnerships we are forging will help to strengthen our connections with businesses in each home’s neighbourhood, both now and in the future. “I am grateful to Taylor Wimpey for helping us to pioneer this project and I am looking forward to seeing the long-term benefits it will bring across the country.”
A LUXURY care home in Mid Wales has embarked on its second major recruitment drive in the space of a few months. Sandstone Care Group already employs 66 full and part-time workers at The Oaks in Newtown following its opening in January. It now expects to recruit a further 30 people across a range of roles including senior carer, carer, domestic and catering assistant. The new recruitment drive coincides with the opening of the second phase of the purpose-built facility. It will take the total number of people employed at the 73-bed care home to around 100. The business is the brainchild of Sandstone Care Group’s directors Ben Challinor, James Parkin and Richard Shore. All three are experienced care professionals.
James said: “We have been delighted with the response we have had to the opening of The Oaks in January. “We quickly filled the ground floor and most of the first floor of the home and had a great response from local people keen to work with us. “We are now embarking on the recruitment campaign for the second phase of our home and anticipate increasing the number of people we employ to around 100.” The Oaks provides residential, nursing and dementia care tailored to the precise requirements of its residents in a safe, secure and friendly environment. Residents are supported by the very latest care planning and nurse-call technology. The home offers a range of facilities including extensive communal areas, a café bar, hair and nail salon, cinema/activity room and library.
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CARINGWEEKLY
Operator completes top team with two new appointments
Group says thank you to local communities RESIDENTS and colleagues at Exemplar Health Care’s specialist nursing homes in Sheffield gave special thanks to the local community at the recent nation-wide clap for carers, in appreciation for the overwhelming messages of support received during the past few months of lockdown. Since March, residents living at Longley Park View, Willowbeck and The Lodge have been inundated with letters and gifts from the local community – including neighbouring houses, GP surgeries and local community centres – and would therefore like to say thank you for the continued support. Sandra Rhodes, home manager at Willowbeck, said: “Across all of our homes we look to support a number of local initiatives that help
our residents feel part of the local community, and we have therefore been blown away with the generous gifts and messages of kindness that have been received over the last few months. “It really means the world to both our residents and staff alike.” Glitterbakes Cakes, a Rotherham business, baked a cake and cupcakes for residents and colleagues to enjoy, a local lady who had been fundraising to buy some small gifts for key workers dropped off a box of goodies from The Body Shop, while a neighbouring family brought flowers, brownies and a thank you letter. Aston Tara, a local community centre, delivered gift hampers, and Wincobank GP surgery delivered inspirational paintings and goodies.
Drive-through reunites residents and families SUNRISE of Frognal hosted a drivethrough event so residents could safely reunite with their families. As the home has been closed for visitors since the UK lockdown in mid-March, families have relied on technology to see their loved ones. 26 families came to the drivethrough visit, where residents were seated at the entrance of the home. The weather cleared up as families stayed in their cars and slowly paraded past the residents, spending quality time with them. Many families decorated their cars with messages of love, bunting and posters. Residents from all living accommodations at the home took part, including those living with dementia. Tanya Riding, director of community relations at Sunrise of Frognal, added: “The weather pulled through for our fantastic event, after it had been torrential rain and lightning just an hour before. Everyone was so happy, and in many cases happy tears were shed “We had many lovely comments from family about the event, but largely heartfelt thanks to our team for looking after their loved ones so
well during the past three months. “We know this visit meant so much to both residents and their families. We can’t wait to welcome them back properly when it is safe to do so.” One resident’s family had a very emotional reunion, as she called her daughter by name and recognised her even after three months in lockdown. Residents and their families enjoyed Prosecco and strawberries and there were many happy tears and smiles. Families were so grateful to finally see the residents in person.
BIELD has secured its senior management team – and underpinned its future strategy to continue to improve the lives of Scotland’s older people – with the announcement of two new appointments. Diana MacLean has been appointed director of customer experience, where her role will see her engaging with customer relations, as well as looking to modernise the experiences of Bield’s customers. Iain Baxter has been appointed Bield’s digital project lead, and will lead an ongoing programme to place technology at the forefront of the organisation’s future development. The new appointments follow the announcement of finances and resources director Paula Rice earlier this year and are being seen to strongly position Bield as it works towards its strategic objectives, particularly as it comes through the other side of the coronavirus pandemic. Lesley Holdsworth, chair of Bield’s board of management, said: “With the additions of Diana and Iain we feel our SMT is in the strongest possible position to move forward. “Both Diana and Iain bring a wealth of experience and diversity to the team, which are invaluable qualities on a SMT. “Everyone connected with Bield is excited to be working together as we shape the organisation for the future – and, fundamentally, look to bring the best possible services for our customers.” Diana, who has 20 years of experience in the housing sector, was operations director for West Lothianbased Weslo Housing Management for two years before joining Bield.
Diana MacLean
Iain Baxter She previously spent around eight years with Radian Group Ltd as assistant director of housing and customer services. Iain has a wealth of experience in the consumer, tourism and food and drink sector with roles such as global brand manager for whisky specialists Glenmorangie and sales and marketing director for Caledonian Sleeper.
A couple living at HC One’s Victoria Manor care home in Coventry have celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary. Family members sent Beatrice and Michael Stage gifts and cards, while staff set up and decorated a room just for the happy couple complete with banners and balloons. As they dined on their ultimate favourite of fish, chips and mushy peas from the local chippy, music played in the background as they each sipped a glass of cold beer too. A chocolate cake and some personalised cupcakes from the family were presented to the couple afterwards.
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CARINGWEEKLY
Improved infection control linked to immersive tech training, study finds
Residents at Barnes Lodge Care Home in Tonbridge decorated vases to brighten up their day. From rainbows to lady birds, the glass vases certainly cheered up the residents’ rooms. Home manager Nicky Pett said: “It is really important, especially over the past few months, that we are keeping our residents busy and doing lots of different activities. Our social activities facilitators are great at thinking of new, fun ideas for everyone to take part in, and it is such a joy to see our residents smiling and showing off their vases.”
A STUDY carried out as part of the Government funded TechForce19 challenge has shown that when carers receive training via immersive digital technology, including VR, it can improve understanding of infection control measures by 76 per cent and knowledge retention of health and safety guidelines by 230 per cent. As part of a randomised control interventional study, carers were provided with training on hand washing, donning and doffing PPE, and responding to an unresponsive patient (including resuscitation). Half the group received their training via bespoke simulations provided by tech start-up Virti, accessed via their smartphones. The control group was provided with the standard education articles and videos provided in normal training. Dr Alex Young, NHS surgeon and founder of Virti, said: “As a surgeon, it’s critical to me that our technology is evidence-based. “As we roll out a completely new way to train, we want our users and customers to continue to see this platform as effective and reliable. “Ensuring our care workers have the training they need to keep themselves and their patients safe is of critical importance. “Our care homes have taken the brunt of the impact during the pandemic, despite heroic efforts
from staff, so we must ensure they are as prepared as possible to fight a potential second wave. “This study is an important step forward in how we can help that happen safely and at scale. “The impact of digital, immersive training when it comes to knowledge retention and in reducing anxiety is evident from the findings. “We hope it starts a conversation around how we can better prepare the workforce for the future and for the challenges employees in any sector face.” Fifty carers (both professional and volunteer as defined by NHS commissioning guidelines) who had not previously received PPE training were recruited for the study. The content for the simulations was created at Southmead NHS Hospital and Torbay NHS Hospital.
On average, the carers training with the immersive technology (the intervention group) saw an increase in performance from pre to posttraining knowledge test of 230.1 per cent. This was compared to 16.75 per cent for the control group, indicating significantly improved retention and application of training knowledge for those using the immersive technology. Based on test scores, only 16 per cent of the control group were deemed to have adequate understanding of infection control measures, compared to 92 per cent of the intervention group – a difference of 76 per cent. The carers in the intervention group also reported lower levels of anxiety in relation to handling Covid-19 scenarios.
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CARINGWEEKLY
Care home resident George still learning
The new apetiser takes to the road LOOKING to support the care sector during these uncertain times, apetito has looked to innovate in new ways of working. The company has launched the apetiser, an innovative mobile presentation suite which has been specially developed and fitted out to offer care homes the opportunity to enjoy socially distanced presentations and food tastings. The apetiser will be travelling around the country to allow the apetito team to meet with care homes to communicate how the company can support them in delivering food and nutrition to their residents. A key theme for discussion is around how care homes can maintain the quality of their dining experience while reducing waste and labour costs amidst the challenges that they are facing, and which look set to continue in months ahead. Using the apetiser’s built-in kitchen and presentation area, customers can experience and taste products first-hand and discuss their changing needs while maintaining the highest levels of safety in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Neil Hargreaves, apetito’s divisional manager – care homes, said: “The launch of the apetiser is a hugely exciting and innovative move for the business and is part of how we look to forge a new future and find different
ways to support our customers and develop new opportunities. “The apetiser means we can go to care homes who would like to discuss their catering requirements, invite them to join us in a socially distanced environment, and they can experience for themselves the great dining experience that apetito can help them deliver to their residents. “It allows us to present to them without entering the home itself alongside safety concerns and the procedures that are in place”. “Right now we know that every penny counts for care homes and alongside delivering great food and nutrition, we can help care homes through reducing waste, labour and associated cost. “Most importantly we can mobilise new services quickly and safely, which right now is top of mind for many of the care homes that we are talking to.” apetito works closely in partnership with care homes to serve nutritious food while delivering real cost savings, supporting the best dining experience and meeting diverse needs across residents who may be living with different nutritional requirements. Through a dedicated support team, apetito can offer care homes fast and safe mobilisation and a service tailored to individual needs.
Claire Johnsen (pictured left) has been appointed as head of innovation for care home construction company Savista Developments. Claire, who previously worked for St John’s Innovation Centre in Cambridge as a senior innovation advisor, plans to support Savista by overseeing the launch of an innovation challenge run in partnership with its sister company, Hallmark Care Homes. The challenge, now open to all team members, aims to give employees the opportunity to put forward innovative ideas and solutions with the aim of improving Hallmark’s care provision across its current and future businesses. Claire said: “It is exciting to join a company with a strong desire and capability to make a difference. Hallmark Care Homes and Savista Developments have a tremendous can-do mind set and place innovation at the heart of their plans for care of the future.”
A 98-YEAR-OLD resident is so busy that he even has the care home’s activities coordinator catching her breath. George Greig loves nothing better than a session on an exercise bike at Balhousie’s Pitlochry care home When he’s not taking part in the home’s regular activity sessions he’s motivating others to do so. George’s latest new skill is sign language. Activities coordinator Pavlina Pajorova said: “George is our star, he makes everyone smile and he is so helpful to others. He keeps active and loves the exercise regimes I do for residents.” An Army veteran as a member of the Medical Corps, George received a medal from the French Government for his involvement in D-Day more than75 years ago. A former senior manager and board member with British Steel, he has been at the care home since 2018. Pavlina, a part-time yoga and Pilates teacher, decided to teach George to sign after seeing mother-and-baby sign language. He is a little hard of hearing, but the fact that face masks are now compulsory for care home workers means it’s an extra way for him to ‘talk’ to carers. Pavlina added: “He’s incredibly smart and a quick learner and I
always like to do something different with him to keep him occupied. I have to keep him occupied daily. “I turned 30 recently so he is more than three times my age but keeps me on my toes. “I got this idea as I’ve seen a mother and baby signing ‘I love you’ and I thought it was very sweet and a nice way to send families messages.” Since care homes locked down to all but essential visitors in March, staff have been working hard to keep residents active and to find new ways for them to communicate with their loved ones. Balhousie Pitlochry has benefited from extra iPads for residents, as well as donations of laptops from the local community.
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well as the Gratnells Rover, the entire range is flexible and moves with ease. Some uses of the Gratnells Medical range include, but aren’t limited to: n Safely store and move important records and files with reduced risk of cross contamination within care homes or surgeries. n Offers a protected storage solution for essential PPE equipment, as well as a solution for transportation and distribution. n Trays are a suitable alternative for storage of uniforms and can be used by staff to transport clothing and equipment between work and home. n Organise, move and administer medication to patients. n Organise, move and store essential surgical equipment and tools. n Protected home for personal effects including clothing, personal hygiene items and electronic devices. n Add antimicrobial lids for extra protection, particularly when transporting materials. Enquiries: Browse the full Gratnells Medical range at https://www.gratnellsmedical.com/ or call 0800 169 6854.
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