Category Archives: Care

Care, Elderly Care, News

Tech firm breaks ‘taboo’ on elderly care with new campaign

Leading telecare firm TakingCare is raising awareness of the UK social care crisis following findings that 1 in 2 adults haven’t made future plans for their care – despite millions having unmet care needs in the UK.

The firm has launched the #HaveTheTalk campaign to help Brits have more open, honest conversations about elderly care options – before it’s too late.

Findings from TakingCare Alarm Pendants revealed that nearly two thirds of people (64%) are unwilling to talk to their elderly parents about future care plans, saying the conversation makes them feel “uncomfortable”, “anxious” or even “scared”.

More than half of families are “too anxious or uncomfortable” to open up to their ageing parents about their future care needs, despite rising care costs and an increasingly ageing population, with one in ten “afraid” to talk to their parents about getting older.

Data also finds that 1 in 3 adults plan to give up work to care for their elderly parents when the time comes, with the main reason being “there is no one else who can help.” Often, these women fall into the ‘sandwich generation’, caring for both their own children alongside ageing parents or relatives.

The aim of the campaign is to get Britain talking about elderly care plans with their loved ones and stop hiding away from the topic because it is difficult to talk about. With the survey data showing that one in three respondents “don’t want to think about their parents getting older”.

Former Olympian Michelle Griffiths-Robinson has already lent her voice to the campaign, following her own personal experiences of caring for her elderly mother, as well as influencer Lavina Mehta MBE (video here).

TakingCare has released a series of resources as part of the campaign to help ‘break the taboo’ on elderly care, including video interviews of families having ‘the talk’ themselves about the challenges of aging (view here) and the pressures around caring for someone else (view here), tips from a leading psychologist on how to have difficult conversations (view here) and personalised guides based on an individual’s own circumstances (view here).

The campaign features striking visuals, billboard designs and video content, and has been activated through social media advertising.

Speaking about the campaign, Steve Gates, Managing Director at TakingCare Alarm Pendants , said: 

“The findings of this survey are exactly why we launched our Have the Talk campaign – we want to get Britain talking more openly about the future – however uncomfortable that might be.”

“The fear of talking about elderly care is an issue impacting thousands of households across the country, with a huge number of people admitting that the prospect of talking to ageing parents about their future care needs isn’t appealing, but it’s so important for families to tackle this issue head on.  Preventative measures that are put into place before an accident happens are so much more effective and can head off potential issues before they happen”

Steve added:

“It goes to show we have a lot of work to do to remove the stigma around planning and discussing elderly care. Our campaign is about removing the stigma from these conversations and encouraging families to be open and honest with each other when it comes to planning for the future – the sooner, the better.  By having a preventative approach and forward-planning view of elderly care options, families can limit the need to introduce reactive solutions, which can often be stressful, emotionally draining and expensive for both the elderly individual and their families.

“Elderly care simply shouldn’t be a taboo topic in UK households. It’s no different to funeral planning, Wills and inheritance discussions or end-of-life wishes and with an increasingly ageing population, eldercare is a topic we simply cannot hide from.”

To find out more about Taking Care and how you can #HaveTheTalk with your parents, visit : https://taking.care/blogs/resources-advice/elderly-care-have-the-talk

Care, Healthcare Tech, Lone Workers, News, Technology

Inizio Targets Health and Safety Improvement for Lone Workers with Applied Driving Partnership

Inizio Engage, the global healthcare partner, has teamed up with Applied Driving to support its clinical team and other lone workers using the Companion+ Mobile Safety App. The company has initially adopted the safer driving and personal safety solution across 65 mobile employees with a wider rollout planned for a further 115 users within its UK and US operations.

“The wellbeing of our team is of utmost importance to the business, so we are committed to identifying and using the latest health and safety innovations,” explains Kate Kelly, Managing Director UK & Ireland of Inizio Engage. “With the adoption of the Companion+ Mobile Safety and it’s personal safety features, we can elevate the welfare of those driving and operating alone by providing the highest levels of assistance, engagement and support.”

Inizio Engage has previously used a lone worker safety device, but it lacked the functionality, usability and affordability of Companion+. The mobile app’s SOS function allows an alarm to be raised with a swipe of the phone, while Triple Tap is a three-tap process – even when a device is in a pocket or bag – to call for help and the check-in timer schedules a check call to confirm safety. In addition, crash detection uses mobile phone sensors, proprietary algorithms and AI to detect when a collision has occurred.

Caroline McGlynn at Inizio Engage commented: “Companion+ will offer our mobile clinical team discreet safety and security, anytime. We have used a pendant alarm before, but these required the user to physically hold the device to activate, which made them difficult to use. The Companion+ app possesses advanced functionality that makes it simple to alert the 24/7 call centre when someone is feeling at-risk or in an emergency.”

 

Companion+ is designed to improve driver behaviour while protecting users in a sphere of safety. The app automatically assesses at-risk driving events and sends Triggered TrainingTM in the form of a safety message, video or e-learning module, tailored specifically to the user’s individual needs. With the introduction of the personal safety features, it now provides added security and peace of mind anytime in any situation.

 

“It is important to enable growth and transformation through our people, our culture, and employee experience.  Safeguarding our people is paramount when implementing services,” adds Kate Kelly.

Care, News, North of England

Hales Home Care to Create Exciting Care Careers Under New Sheffield Contract

Regional care provider Hales Home Care has been awarded a new contract to provide domiciliary care in Sheffield and the surrounding areas, creating 130 new jobs.

Hales will be supporting existing service users to transition into its care and creating new job opportunities across the local area, in various positions including supervisory, quality assurance and care delivery teams.

Part of the Hales Group, the technology-enabled care provider delivers c35,000 hours of care and support a week across the UK from 28 locations, including 5 Extra Care schemes supporting older adults, people with disabilities, people with long term illnesses and people at the end of their lives. Services include state of the art digital care tools to support and help monitor and manage care delivery, increasing independence and reducing risk.

Nicola Mewse, Managing Director of Hales Group, comments: “We are delighted to have been awarded the contract to provide domiciliary care in Sheffield. We have been working very closely with the local authority on detailed plans to successfully develop our joint approach to innovative care delivery for the area.”

Hales Group offers an extensive list of benefits including excellent rates of pay, FREE Blue Light Card, a cycle to work scheme, an early pay scheme, over £300 referral bonus, and even the opportunity to win £1,000 every month in the Hales Heroes Draw!

To find out more about working for Hales Home Care, please call the Recruitment Hotline on 0800 124 4765 or visit www.halescare.co.uk/jobs

Care, Hair and Beauty, Health & Care, News, Sustainability, Swansea

Welsh innovation leads sustainable revolution in healthcare: Waterless launches world’s first biodegradable shampoo cap

Reducing plastic waste and cutting costs in healthcare, Swansea-based Waterless unveils a revolutionary, eco-friendly shampoo cap.

Waterless, a pioneer in sustainable healthcare solutions, has launched the world’s first 100% biodegradable shampoo cap. Developed in Swansea, this innovative product is poised to transform hygiene practices in the healthcare sector by providing an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional non-recyclable shampoo caps.

Shampoo caps, commonly used in healthcare settings for bed-bound or mobility-impaired people, offer a convenient, rinse-free solution for hair washing. However, the widespread use of conventional plastic-based caps poses a significant environmental challenge, contributing substantially to single-use plastic waste.

In response, Waterless has developed the Nilaqua Shampoo Wrap, a product entirely crafted from biodegradable materials. This sustainable alternative retains the convenience and effectiveness of traditional shampoo caps while addressing environmental concerns.

With the NHS estimated to use 300,000 traditional shampoo caps every year, the Nilaqua Shampoo Wrap could substantially reduce the millions of tonnes of single-use plastic waste generated annually.

 

The application of the Nilaqua Shampoo Wrap is simple and efficient. Users or caregivers wrap around the hair, massage it to activate the shampoo, and then towel off the solution to remove any residue, leaving the hair soft and clean. This process eliminates the need for additional water or rinsing, offering a practical solution in patient care. Unlike traditional plastic-based caps, which add to landfill waste, the Nilaqua Shampoo Wrap presents a pioneering eco-friendly option for a competitive retail price of £1.89 per wrap.

 

Established in 2009 as a family business, Waterless has rapidly evolved into a leader in alternative eco-wash solutions for health and personal care. Operating from a purpose-built facility in Swansea, the company’s skilled team devise and manufactures innovative products like the new Nilaqua Shampoo Wrap, ‘towel off’ cleansing foams, alcohol-free sanitisers, and even a pet range for cleaning fox mess.

Waterless is committed to UK manufacturing and serves a diverse clientele, including the NHS, care industry, commercial businesses, and the pharmaceutical and retail sectors.

 

Jess Efford, CEO of Waterless, shared her enthusiasm for the new product:

“In the UK alone, an estimated 700,000 shampoo caps go in the bin annually. When you consider the usage across Europe and the rest of the world, it’s clear to see what a blight these products are on our environment.

“Our biodegradable alternative, the Nilaqua Shampoo Wrap, presents an opportunity for healthcare providers to prevent millions of tonnes of single-use plastic waste from polluting our planet. This launch is more than a milestone for Waterless; it’s a step towards realising our vision of a sustainable future in healthcare.

“We are committed to leading this change, providing quality products that are eco-friendly and cost-effective. The overwhelming interest from customers reinforces our belief that the market is ready to embrace more sustainable practices.”

 

Developed after a year of dedicated research, the Nilaqua Shampoo Wrap is made from specially woven biodegradable bamboo viscose. It features a biodegradable heat-compatible formula encased in 100% recyclable packaging.

 

Victor Efford, Operations Director at Waterless, highlighted the challenges and triumphs in developing the shampoo wrap:

“Developing the Nilaqua Shampoo Wrap was a journey marked by numerous challenges, particularly in creating a fully biodegradable, effective, and affordable product. We faced hurdles in material selection, preserving biodegradability, and ensuring product efficacy. Yet, our determination and commitment to sustainable innovation drove us forward.

“Overcoming these obstacles has been incredibly rewarding, and we’re excited about the potential for widespread adoption in hospitals, care homes, and domiciliary care. The Nilaqua Shampoo Wrap is a testament to what is possible when innovation meets environmental consciousness.”

 

Waterless has been supported by the Business Wales Accelerated Growth Programme (AGP), which provided crucial assistance in business strategy and branding.

 

“The support from the Business Wales Accelerated Growth Programme has been instrumental in our journey, helping us bring our vision to life,” said Jess Efford.

“As we proudly introduce the Nilaqua Shampoo Wrap to the healthcare market, we’re doing more than just launching a new product; we’re championing a significant shift towards more sustainable healthcare practices.

“Our dedication to eco-friendly innovation is not just a part of our business model; it’s a call to action for the entire industry. We invite healthcare providers, partners, and customers to join us in this journey. Together, we can set a new standard in healthcare – one that prioritises the well-being of our planet and future generations.”

 

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About Waterless:

Waterless specialises in creating eco-friendly hygiene products for the healthcare and personal care sectors. Based in Swansea, Wales, the company is dedicated to reducing environmental impact through innovative solutions like the Nilaqua Shampoo Wrap, the world’s first 100% biodegradable and recyclable shampoo cap.

Awards, Care, News

Alternative Futures Group Celebrated with Great British Care Award

Local health and social care charity Alternative Futures Group has been recognised for its excellence in care provision winning The Three R’s Great British Care Award at its North West Regional Finals.

The Great British Care Awards are a series of regional events throughout the UK that celebrate excellence across the care sector.  The purpose of the awards are to pay tribute to those individuals who have demonstrated outstanding excellence within their field of work. As well as winning the Three ‘R’s’ Award, Alternative Futures Group was shortlisted in the following categories;, The Co-Production Award, The Palliative Care/End of Life Award, The ‘Putting People First’/ Personalisation Award and The Supported Living Team Award.

This award focuses on three vital areas for organisations in health and social care; recruitment, retention and recognition. To actively tackle their recruitment needs AFG partnered with a local agency to develop a targeted, multi-channel recruitment marketing campaign and transformed their internal processes. This resulted in a 67% reduction in agency spend which in turn meant that AFG could increase pay for its Support Workers by 11.1% and we were able to improve the consistency and quality of the support provided to vulnerable adults.

AFG also needed to create engaging learning programmes to support their ambitious recruitment plans, retain new and existing talent and address delays in training new starters.

The Learning and Development team designed and delivered role-specific induction pathways for the first six months for all new starters in the organisation, directing new employees to tools and mandatory training required to build skills and knowledge.

“To be shortlisted for six awards already acknowledges the outstanding personalised support provided by our front line colleagues across AFG, but we are thrilled to be able to take home an award further shining a spotlight on the fantastic work and dedication of our people. Our focus this year on attracting the right people, and retaining those individuals has meant we’ve been able to re-invest into our workforce through pay and recognition schemes that we know make our people feel like valued members of Alternative Futures Group. This transformation has been a whole organisation response and this award recognises the efforts of everyone at AFG” Kirsty Murphy, Chief People Officer, Alternative Futures Group.

Care, Childcare, Employee Benefits, News

Vivup launches multi-generational benefit to support working families as childcare costs and absence levels soar

  • Vivup’s new FamilyCare employee benefit helps address these challenges by providing employees with a mechanism to search for care provision for the whole family, anywhere in the UK
  • All Vivup employees have access to the FamilyCare platform

Growing levels of absenteeism and soaring childcare costs has prompted leading wellbeing and employee benefits provider Vivup to launch a new family benefit to help support employees struggling with caring responsibilities.

New CIPD research found that sick days are at their highest level for over a decade, and while the top causes of short-term absence relate to minor illnesses, musculoskeletal injuries and mental ill health, Vivup says another cause of short-term workplace absence is due to unexpected childcare or senior care difficulties such as an ill parent or a teachers’ strike.

In addition, increasing childcare costs are making it difficult for some working parents to remain in the workplace, leaving employers at risk of a talent drain.

Vivup’s new FamilyCare employee benefit helps address these challenges by providing employees with a mechanism to search for care provision for the whole family, anywhere in the UK. All Vivup employees have access to the FamilyCare platform.

The database comprises over 14,000 childcare providers, 4,000 tutors, 15,000 eldercare providers and 3000 petcare providers. An advisory line provides advice for employees with questions or concerns.

Simon Moyle, CEO of Vivup, said: “We know approximately 1.3 million people in the UK make up ‘sandwich carers’ but family dynamics are different in every household. So when unexpected or sudden caring challenges arise, it often creates an absenteeism problem. Indeed, many ‘first day’ absences are parents stating they have a cold or other health issue, when in fact they needed flexibility to support a family member”.

Lindsey Doe, MD of Vivup’s FamilyCare, added: “Our new FamilyCare multi-generational benefit helps employers support their people by giving them autonomy to choose the care they want and need by providing access to our geo-targeted search engine and resource library.

“The reimbursement model means care is only paid for when it is expensed back, allowing employees to draw down against their employer-allocated budget as required. Employees have meaningful financial support and employers have assurance that their people are present and engaged at work.”

FamilyCare gives employers the flexibility to set a budget and limits on cost per care session, as well as which services to support, including specialised childcare, eldercare and petcare. Employers can track ROI by measuring how usage supports attendance, productivity, performance, and engagement.

 

 

Care, Healthcare Tech, News, Software

Nourish Care expands into person-centred community care with CarePlanner acquisition. 

Nourish Care, the leading Digital Social Care records system signals expansion with acquisition of home care planning software CarePlanner

Nourish Care has announced its expansion into improving outcomes for person-centred care anywhere with the acquisition of CarePlanner, the software used by more than 2,000 domiciliary care agencies.

Nourish currently serves more than 3500 residential care providers with its flexible digital care management software and aims to adopt a more holistic approach by widening its net and delivering care management and support in the community. Funding for the acquisition  was facilitated by NatWest.

“A person’s pathway into care is very often far from straightforward and many people want to stay at home for as long as they can. The community is the place where the magic needs to happen, so that people can be at home, supported by a digital provider that can bring everyone in the circle of care together  – family, care teams, regulators, NHS care staff, etc. People who are being discharged into the community from hospital need to be supported on a platform that is used by both care workers and hospital care teams, ” says Nourish CEO and founder Nuno Almeida.

“When it is done well, social care helps to weave a web of relationships in local communities that add meaning, connection and purpose to our lives. A powerful digital tool keeps everyone informed and coordinated. It also gives the person being cared for a voice. CarePlanner is an ideal partner for us because it enables us to deliver the best possible person-centred care experience in the community.”

 

Agencies who currently use CarePlanner will continue to have access to all the functions and integrations that have made it so popular. Going forwards, Nourish will offer clients the choice of using a combination of the products that suits their needs.

Nuno says: “We will do more than simply maintain those integrations, we’ll evolve them so that partners integrated with CarePlanner can deliver even more value in the future.”

 

Nourish’s chief product officer Jeremy Baldwin, adds: “CarePlanner has more than a decade of experience delivering software that covers all aspects of care worker management including availability, visit requests, rates, rosters, monitoring of visits, payroll, etc and will become the backbone of our range of functionality enabling us to deliver services through home care providers into the wider community.”

 

Careplanner CEO and founder Matthew Sharp says: “We welcome this partnership at  CarePlanner. Nourish and CarePlanner are market leaders and this partnership will revolutionise adult social care and drive improvement across the sector.”

 

Kit Maclaren, Head of Venture & Growth Finance, NatWest comments: “We are delighted to have structured this expanded debt facility for Nourish, supporting the management team and Livingbridge as they continue to champion digital solutions that are at the heart of modern care provision. This financing was delivered through Venture & Growth Finance team, which reflects our firm’s wide dedication to support scale-up companies at each stage of their innovation lifecycle. We look forward to supporting Nourish as they continue to grow their presence in the care market.”

Awards, Care, News

Woodstock Well Being Coordinator Wins Great British Care Award

Naomi Daglish, from Woodstock Care Home has been named the Activity Coordinator of the Year at The Great British Care Awards. This prestigious Award recognises unwavering commitment, passion and drive towards providing exceptional care to the elderly.

Naomi wowed the judges with her amazing passion and forward thinking towards her residents and the home – she has outstanding commitment, drive and passion and is a worthy winner of this award.

Naomi joined Woodstock Care Home eight years ago and has been in the Activities role for five years. As a Wellbeing Coordinator, she has made it her personal mission to challenge the stigma surrounding dementia and care homes and to improve the lives of as many individuals as possible.

Naomi’s passion and forward-thinking ideas impressed the judges at the regional Great British Care Awards, where she was a finalist every year since 2019. In 2022, she won the award for Outstanding Wellbeing Coordinator in the region, and now in 2023, she has been crowned the National Winner.

 

“I am in a state of shock and overwhelmed with pride to have been judged the best in the UK,” said Naomi. “I wouldn’t be where I am today without the support, I have received from the management team and especially The Head of Dementia, who is a source of unwavering support, motivation and inspiration.”

 

The Judges at the National Final were impressed by Naomi’s exceptional commitment, drive, and passion towards her residents and the care home. The Judges said “Naomi wowed the judges with her amazing passion and forward thinking towards her residents and the home – she has outstanding commitment, drive and passion and is a worthy winner of this award.”

 

George Dewis, Head of Dementia and Wellbeing at Advinia said: “At Woodstock Care Home, we are extremely proud of Naomi’s achievement, and we would like to congratulate her on this well-deserved award. Her dedication to our residents is an inspiration to all of us and we are honoured to have her on our team.”

Care, Care Home News, News, North of England

Alcedo Care Group opens new office in Liverpool

Alcedo Care Group, one of the North of England’s largest independently owned and family run home care providers, continues to expand rapidly, opening a second office in Liverpool, located on De Havilland Drive in Speke.

Creating approximately 25 new jobs, the new office will deliver Alcedo Care’s exceptional portfolio of award-winning home care services including personal care, nursing, nurse-led complex care and support and companionship to those wishing to remain independent in their own homes. The company will also offer live-in care; a service which has seen a huge increase in demand.

Representing a £225,000 investment for the fast-growing home care provider, the new office in Speke will allow Alcedo Care to support an additional 100 clients in the region offering a further 3000 hours of care per week.

Managing director of Alcedo Care Group, Andy Boardman, says: “We opened our first office in Kirkdale and since its launch, it has gone from strength to strength with the team continually caring for more and more people. As a result, we decided to invest further in the region and strategically selected Speke for the second office, enabling the new team to focus on the south of Liverpool.

“Our outstanding home care services continue to prove popular with people wanting to remain in their own homes, a trend that heightened during the pandemic, and with two offices in Liverpool, we are well placed to deliver the highest quality of home care across Merseyside.”

The opening of the second office in Liverpool South brings the total number of Alcedo Care offices in the North West to 16 and complements the company’s existing bases in Blackburn & Darwen, Blackpool & Fylde, Bury, Chester, Fulwood, Holywell, Kendal, Lancaster & Wyre, Liverpool (Kirkdale), Preston, Southport, Speke, St Helens, Wigan and Wirral.

Recently rated one of the Top 20 home care groups for the third year running by leading reviews website homecare.co.uk, Alcedo Care offers Domiciliary Care Services, Live-in Care, Nurse-Led Complex Care Services, Supported Living and Children’s Services and has fast gained an enviable reputation as the home care provider of choice in the North West thanks to its superb 1,000-strong team of highly skilled and compassionate carers who make a tangible difference to the quality of life of the company’s home care clients.

Run by passionate husband and wife team, Andy and Jo Boardman, and with the support of their fantastic management team, the company is expanding at pace and aims to double in size over the next 12 months with the recruitment of more than 1,000 new carers.

Appointments, Care, News

New Care expands team at Wilmslow Manor

Sarah Wild, who lives in Wilmslow, has been appointed by New Care as the wellbeing co-ordinator at Wilmslow Manor Care Centre on Handforth Road.

In her new role, Sarah is responsible for creating a weekly person-centred activity programme for residents at Wilmslow Manor, to include both one-to-one and group sessions. She is also tasked with developing community links and organising enjoyable events with family participation.

Sarah’s key objective the for next 12 months is to ensure Wilmslow Manor is very much integrated into the local community and that the care home is recognised for its varied and fulfilling activities programme.

Sarah says: “I was attracted to New Care as I wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to work in a brand new care home setting, allowing me the chance to showcase my skills and abilities. Wilmslow Manor is a beautiful care home with stunning gardens so it is a pleasure to work in such an environment and I am very much committed to ensuring a wellbeing activities plan is in place for each and every resident, appealing to their interests and hobbies.

“I hope to develop my team, not only providing supervision but coaching also, so that together we create a truly community-focused, exciting wellbeing and activities calendar for the residents.”

Having worked in care homes previously, Sarah has vast experience. She is also a qualified mental health nurse and has gained a qualification in Namaste Care; a structured programme of sensory activities that aims to improve end-of-life care for people who have advanced dementia by giving them pleasure and helping them to connect with loved ones.

Passionate about care, Sarah adds: “I put my nursing career on hold to raise a family and found it difficult to find the right balance to return to nursing, but care has always been my passion, so I navigated a way back to the sector.

“I am delighted to have joined New Care and have made an immediate start at Wilmslow Manor with a busy events schedule planned for the next few months, several trips out with residents to Quarry Bank Mill and the Whitworth Art Gallery, plus an array of daily activities within the home.”

Chris McGoff, CEO at New Care concludes: “It is great to welcome Sarah to the team. Her past experience and local knowledge of Wilmslow and the surrounding areas will no doubt ensure she excels as wellbeing co-ordinator at Wilmslow Manor.”

Away from work, Sarah is a keen wild swimmer and mountain climber. She loves festivals and art galleries and enjoys spending time with family and friends.

Wilmslow Manor is a stunning state-of-the-art 63 bed purpose-built care facility offering outstanding residential, dementia, 24 hour nursing and respite care services. It features fully furnished bedrooms, each with a private en suite wet room, plus a selection of communal lounges and dining rooms. It also has a nail bar, hairdresser, landscaped gardens and outdoor terraces to the first floor.

Part of the McGoff Group, New Care is one of the UK’s leading care home providers. Its portfolio of purpose-built ‘new generation’ care centres is fast gaining an enviable reputation for outstanding care that is second to none.