2019 - Page 2 of 3 - Altogether Care

How Would You Know if Your Elderly Relative Needed Care Support?

Posted on 24 June 2019 by dukadmin

Deciding when is the right time to have a conversation about care with an elderly relative can be a sensitive issue. For all of us, our ability levels will decline over time – that’s completely natural. What’s also natural is that many of us will resist any idea that we’re struggling to cope and that we need a bit of help. All of which means that we might miss the signs that our relative has a care need.

Here are a few signs that might indicate that it’s time for a serious talk and possibly a care needs assessment.

Declining Mobility

Mobility levels often drop off slowly so we don’t notice the change. Take a good look at how easy your relative finds it to do routine things like cleaning, shopping and walking. Are they struggling more than they need to?

Hygiene

If somebody takes less care over their appearance than they used to, it might mean that arthritis or some other physical condition makes tasks like laundry or washing themselves difficult or painful. It might also mean that they are getting forgetful, perhaps due to the early stages of dementia.

Missing Meals

Weight loss could be a sign that your relative isn’t able to prepare meals or may be forgetting to have them. Care at home support will help make sure that they maintain a good level of nutrition, which is essential for physical and mental wellbeing.

Changing Behaviour

Warning signs are when people become withdrawn, uncommunicative, angry, forgetful, confused or paranoid. These could indicate deteriorating mental health.

Medication Management

Confusion over what medication is a strong signal that care support may be necessary. Clearly, it’s important that prescribed medications are taken according to the instructions.

Financial Management

Financial problems and unpaid bills can be highly stressful in themselves. They can also be signs of failing memory and indicators of underlying mental health issues.

Injuries

Bruises, burns and other injuries can be some of the clearest signs that there are care issues that need to be looked at. It might be problems with balance, difficulty with cooking, memory loss or declining physical ability.

If you notice any of these signs, it’s important to remember that care isn’t about taking away independence. It’s about providing targeted support to help people stay safe and enjoy life as fully as possible.

Websites such as Age UK have plenty of useful information about different care options, costs and financial support. You can also contact the team at Altogether Care who will be happy to talk through the options available.

What Could the Care Home of the Future Look Like?

Posted on 19 June 2019 by dukadmin

As the population continues to age there’s little doubt that, in future, more people will need or opt for residential care. Meanwhile, the amount of public funding available to pay for care seems unlikely to grow in real terms. Alongside all of this we have the continued development of new technologies designed to save effort and improve productivity.

Many have speculated on what these trends mean for the care home of the future. The only thing we can say for certain is that whatever is being predicted, the reality will probably prove to be rather different.

Will care home residents really be patting robotic pets while robotic helpers clean their rooms, serve their meals and dispense their medication? Surely the value of technology and innovation is in supporting, rather than replacing the human elements of care.

Here are a few of the technological advances that we see playing a role in the care home of the future.

Assistive Technology

Various types of assistive technology are being developed that could improve safety, wellbeing and quality of life for people who need care. Ambient monitoring systems have the capacity to monitor movement, temperature, falls and spills and other data that indicate health and activity levels. This can all provide useful data to complement observations by care staff to ensure that everyone gets the most appropriate care and can live as independently as possible.

What is unquestionable is that people are becoming more focused on the quality of care and the opportunities offered to live fuller and more active lives.

Robotics

It also seems likely that robotic aids of various kinds could help people enjoy greater freedom of movement and maintain more of their physical capabilities. Similarly, augmented reality is proving its worth in providing immersive reminiscence experiences for people with dementia. And robotic pets can indeed help dementia sufferers cope with the stress their condition can cause. We have recently introduced an electronic interactive cat at Sherborne House. The cat demands attention, but this is in no short supply, the interaction and care from residents has been surprising for us and beneficial for residents.

Mobile Technology

Where technology is already helping is in the organisation, delivery and monitoring of care tasks. Within our care homes and or care at home service we are already using mobile technology that is helping to eliminate paperwork and manual effort from many aspects of what we do. Everything from patient care, to medication, incident reporting and food safety can be streamlined and better organised through technology.

A good care home of the future may look different from a care home of today. It will use different technologies. But what won’t change is the personal relationships and interactions that good care has always and will always depend on. To arrange a visit to one of our care homes to find out more information, contact us today on 01305 300161.

West Moors Care at Home Host a Cake Sale for Alzheimer’s

Posted on 18 June 2019 by dukadmin

Last week, the team at West Moors Care at Home hosted a cake sale in the office to raise money and show support for Alzheimer’s Society.

The team were so pleased to see carers, local shop owners, and members of the public getting involved too.

Care Home Open Day 2019 at Altogether Care

Posted on 12 June 2019 by dukadmin

Altogether Care will be taking part in National Care Home Open Day on 28th June.

The nationwide open day event is a chance to celebrate all the different people, cultures and relationships in local areas, and show the community that care homes are friendly, happy and exciting places to be.

All of our care homes – Sherborne House in Yeovil, Steepleton Manor near Dorchester, and Weymouth Care Home will open their doors on Friday 28th June with an array of activities, information and events available.

See below the itineraries for each of our care homes.

Weymouth Care Home

Live music will start at 12pm, followed by high tea in the garden from 1pm.
We will also have an Art Gallery which will showcase all of our residents work.
There will be garden games for all ages, from hook a duck to ring toss.
Refreshments will be available, we will have fresh candy floss and a small sweet selection.
Find out more here.

Sherborne House

Coffee morning & cake tasting with the Yeovil Ukulele ladies in attendance will start at 11am.
Elvis will be in the building from 2pm to 3pm! Which will raise the heart beat and the spirits and have staff dancing along.
Visiting birds of prey with afternoon tea from 3pm to 4pm. Everyone will be able to handle and stroke the gorgeous array of birds.
Find out more here.

Steepleton Manor

Join us for Gardening Club from 10:30am to 12pm.
Alpaca’s will visit Steepleton from 2pm to 3pm.
Alan Knott providing Dorset Folk music entertainment from 3pm to 4pm.
Art Club exhibition will be on throughout the day in the main hall.
Find out more here.

And much more – so, what are you waiting for? Come along and meet our residents and staff and to find out why we have been supporting the local community for over 30 years.

Care Staff Need Some TLC Too

Posted on 10 June 2019 by dukadmin

National Carers Week 2019 runs this week, from 10^th-16^th June. The week quite rightly draws attention to the valuable work carried out by unpaid carers day in, day out, right across the country. The week also encourages carers to become better connected and mutually supportive.

The week brings the value of all types of care work into focus. In our field of elderly care, our teams help people continue to live independently in their own homes and enjoy safe and fulfilling retirement living. They are also there for the more challenging times such as delivering nursing care for people with complex health issues, helping people with dementia and ultimately helping them to experience a dignified and caring end to their life.

It’s not an easy job. And the rewards are definitely not financial ones. But it’s rewarding, nonetheless.

Care at home staff have the additional pressures of spending days travelling from one care user’s home to another. It can be busy but rewarding which is why we extend a warm welcome to any of our staff who need to call in at one of our centres for a refresh and refuel.

There’s a growing awareness of the importance of good mental health for all of us. The role played by the workplace and good employer support in promoting mental wellbeing is vital. It’s essential that in focusing on delivering the best possible care to our clients we never overlook the need to take care of our people.

Their work is all about caring for other people. To do this effectively they also have to take care of themselves. We work hard to create a supportive environment where people feel safe to speak up if they’re experiencing stress or anxiety, whether in their work or home life.

We believe that to deliver the best standards of care you need care staff who are happy, well-motivated and well looked after, which is the environment we always strive to maintain.

Employee of the Month – May 2019

Posted on 3 June 2019 by dukadmin

Each month, care home and Care at Home managers hand-pick team members who demonstrate a passion for their role and go above and beyond to provide an excellent standard of care and support to residents.

We would like to congratulate our Employees of the Month for May…

Adriana Banceanu – Steepleton Manor

Adriana is an extremely capable nurse who proves time and time again that she is an asset to Steepleton Manor. She is able to leave her personal life at the door and concentrate on her residents and team, providing superlative care with a smile on her face.

Respite Care – Time to Rest, Recharge and Rethink

Posted on 21 May 2019 by dukadmin

June 10-16, 2019 is National Carers Week. Organised by Carers UK, it recognises the contribution made by the 6.8m unpaid carers in the UK. Carers Week encourages them to become better connected and to take better care of their own health.

72% of unpaid carers reported that their mental health suffered as a result of stress, lack of sleep and financial concerns. 63% also said that their physical health had suffered as a consequence of their responsibilities. Many of these carers are delivering elderly care, sometimes alongside a regular job.

Being a carer takes its toll. It is frequently demanding, and it can be lonely. Many carers become socially isolated because they lack the time or energy to go out and meet people or because they worry about leaving the person they are caring for.

If this sounds like a familiar story, then respite care is worth considering.

Respite Care Gives Everyone a Break

A short spell of respite care in a care home can allow carers to get a break while being confident that their loved one is receiving round the clock personal or nursing care. They might take a short holiday or just enjoy a bit of space and time to recharge their energy. Relief from the anxiety of constantly looking out for the welfare of another person can reduce the mental strain and offer a chance to get some proper rest.

Respite care is also a valued service for people recovering from illness or perhaps adjusting to having reduced mobility or physical capabilities. Some use it for a few days while their home is being adapted to make it easier for them to live in, and some use it as an opportunity to sample life in a care home while they are assessing their options.

There are many reasons for using replacement or temporary care (as respite care is sometimes called). It might simply provide a bit of space to reassess care needs and make decisions about the future without being overwhelmed by day-to-day concerns.

Beautiful surroundings at Steepleton Manor provide a lovely environment for the period of respite care. Alternatively, our home in Weymouth provides a peaceful environment for residents, ideal for a few days or a week or two’s stay.

To find out more about how Altogether Care can help you and your loved one, contact us directly on 01305 300 161.

Why We Love to Hear Music in Our Care Homes

Posted on 10 May 2019 by dukadmin

Whatever our personal tastes might be it seems that music is good for all of us. Studies show that music can help reduce stress, improve cognitive performance and memory, and may even help reduce the experience of pain.

Because there appears to be a strong link between music and well-being, music should be an important feature of life in every care home. This means more than just leaving the radio or a CD on all day. There are many ways that music can be integrated imaginatively to enhance the experience of care home residents.

Music and Dementia

Taking part in musically-themed activities has been shown to be particularly beneficial for people with dementia. As well as improving mood and emotional wellbeing musical activities can reduce feelings of isolation and improve self-esteem.

Music can stimulate and energise people so they become more interested in activities happening around them. It can alleviate anxiety, agitation and depression by helping people to work through and process feelings.

Carefully chosen music can also help people to reminisce. This provides a comforting sense of familiarity and can evoke feelings from fond memories.

Recognising the benefits that music brings, Music for Dementia 2020 is a new campaign that aims to make live music available for all people with dementia by 2020.

Live Music in Care Homes

Live music is particularly beneficial. A recent research study (Live Music in Care) led by the University of Winchester and Live Music Now concluded, ‘live music should be essential in all UK care homes.’ The simple reasoning being that residents are encouraged to be more active and engaged and that live music sessions lift the mood of residents and also care staff.

Live music has always been a feature of the varied activity programmes in all of our care homes. We’ve seen for ourselves, the enjoyment and benefits it brings to our residents and we fully support the aims of Music for Dementia and Live Music in Care Homes.

Weymouth – A Care Home Near the Sea is a Wonderful Place to Be

Posted on 2 May 2019 by dukadmin

Thirty years ago, Weymouth became our first care home. As a family-run business, this will always make it a special place for us, once our family home, today it is where our Head Office is still based so we all still have a daily connection with the home, residents and staff. It’s also a special place for the many residents who have stayed with us over that time, and for their families who’ve had the peace of mind of seeing their loved ones well cared for.

We know there are many considerations when people choose a care home. The first of these is to make sure that the home offers the range of care and services you are likely to need. Weymouth care home offers nursing care, holiday or respite care and assisted living.

Above all, a care home has to be inviting, both for potential residents looking for a suitable home and for families and friends when they come to visit. The first impression should always make you feel welcome and at home. Friendly staff and a good standard of both living and communal accommodation are important factors when you make your decision.

Family values still shape our care and the home from home atmosphere we cherish. Each resident has the opportunity to have favourite photos and keep-sakes as a reminder that they are an important part of their own family as well as ours.

Staying Active and Engaged

Our welcoming communal spaces and garden are all about encouraging residents to be as active and engaged as possible. And our location, not far from one of Dorset’s finest beaches and seafronts, is another incentive for people to get out in the fresh air.

Dorset also has a wealth of local places of interest for days out and visits, either on one of our organised trips or with your visitors. Because of our location our residents are never stuck for something to do or somewhere to go.

Weymouth has proved to be an excellent location for a care home. It’s a pleasant place to live with plenty to do. It’s also easy for visitors to get to. We work hard to make sure our home lives up to the rest of the experience. If you would like to find out more about Weymouth Care Home or even spend the day with us, please contact us.

Employee of the Month – April 2019

Posted on 1 May 2019 by dukadmin

We would like to congratulate our Employees of the Month for April…

Samantha Cambeiro – Steepleton Manor

Sam is a very enthusiastic health care assistant who is always ready to help everyone. Sam has a great sense of humour and is a pleasure to work with. Well done Sam!

Milena Antoska – Yeovil Care at Home

Milena is a kind and caring individual. She has built up such strong relationships with her clients since working with us. Congratulations Milena!

How to Spot the Early Signs & Symptoms of Dementia

Posted on 23 April 2019 by dukadmin

By 2025, it is estimated that there will be more than 1m people in the UK with dementia. The quality of life of these people will depend to a large extent on how early they are diagnosed. Yet, very few of us are clear about what to look for.

According to the NHS website, possible early signs of dementia include:

memory loss
difficulty concentrating
difficulty with familiar daily tasks, such as confusion over the correct change when shopping
struggling to follow a conversation or find the right word
being confused about time and place
mood changes

Where one or more of these symptoms occur at a level that doesn’t significantly affect everyday life it is called minor cognitive impairment. Sometimes the symptoms don’t get significantly worse for a long time, but sometimes they are an early indicator of dementia.

Cognitive impairment isn’t (as many people believe) ‘all part of getting old.’ If symptoms are observed, it’s essential to get a proper diagnosis as quickly as possible.

Alzheimer’s

The largest cause of dementia is Alzheimer’s Disease. People in the early stages of Alzheimer’s may ask the same question repetitively, become confused in unfamiliar environments or become withdrawn or anxious.

In the longer term it’s possible that there will be a blood test that can quickly diagnose common causes of dementia. Early test results are encouraging and further research is underway.

As a family member or close friend, you are likely to be the first people to notice any signs for concern. It’s important to encourage the person to get a proper diagnosis as soon as possible.

While the facts can be hard to face, the reality may be less scary than the uncertainty. And it’s always better to know so that appropriate steps can be planned.

In the early stages, dementia symptoms can often be managed. But eventually it may be necessary to receive residential care at a home equipped to deliver dementia care such as Sherborne House in Yeovil.

How to Talk About Care Needs with Someone You Love

Posted on 10 April 2019 by dukadmin

Put yourself in the position of an older person who is starting to struggle with everyday tasks, or perhaps even experiencing the early stages of dementia. Facing up to the situation isn’t always easy. They may have spent their whole life being the person who gives advice and support to their family, they may always have been independent and proud.

Accepting the passage of time and that you need care is a difficult step and needs to be handled carefully. For family members, starting the conversation about care needs can be daunting. It can involve a sensitive role-reversal where you are suddenly expected to be the one giving the advice. There’s an understandable anxiety about how your loved one will react and, quite likely, questions about the cost of care.

Putting it off never helps

In 2016, the charity Independent Age commissioned research to investigate attitudes to conversations about care in later life. The study revealed a stark contrast between what we believe and what we do. 82% of the people in the survey said it was fairly or very important to talk to older relatives about ‘where they would like to live if they could no longer live at home’, but just 23% said they had done so.

Perhaps this was just a question of timing in some cases. But, for whatever reason, starting the conversation about care seems to be the hardest part.

Ultimately, your concern will be to ensure that your family member receives the care they need. You’re much more likely to achieve this without a major upset if you are prepared and well-informed.

How to have the conversation

Being an unpaid carer can sometimes leave you feeling exasperated because of a particular event. This is the worst possible time to start the conversation. You also don’t want to produce care home brochures ‘out of the blue,’ with no preparation.

First, you have to change your relative’s perceptions about their need for care and what care might mean. If they don’t accept that they need care or don’t think that their opinions are being respected it’s going to be a struggle to get them to consider anything.

Here are a few suggestions that may help:

Choose the time and the place carefully. Make sure that it’s not a time when either of you is likely to be tired or stressed and that the conversation can take as long as you need. Choose somewhere calm where you won’t be disturbed.
Be well informed. There are many care options including care at home, assisted living and care homes. Make sure you know what all of these entail, including costs.
Find out about possible financial support that might be available and what you need to do to access this.
Consider involving a friend or person that your relative respects so that there is an independent voice in the conversation.

Debbie Achieves 10 Year Service Award

Posted on 5 April 2019 by dukadmin

We would like to congratulate Debbie at Steepleton Manor for 10 years of working with Altogether Care.

She was presented flowers and £100 gift voucher to spend as a big thank you for her fantastic service over the years.

Thank you and congratulations Debbie!

Employee of the Month – March 2019

Posted on 1 April 2019 by dukadmin

Each month, care home and Care at Home office managers hand-pick team members who demonstrate a passion for their role and go above and beyond to provide an excellent standard of care and support to residents.

We would like to congratulate our Employees of the Month for March…

Adam Everett at Steepleton Manor!

Adam is a cheerful reliable and thoughtful person that residents can always rely on. He demonstrates great leadership skills when the senior staff are unavailable to work a shift. Adam is a valued member of staff who gives a great quality of care and understanding to all residents at Steepleton Manor.

Care at Home Carers: Come into a Branch for a Refuel

Posted on 27 March 2019 by dukadmin

All of our carers are always welcome to pop into any of our Care at Home offices for a refuel.

Take a break from a busy day at work and help yourself to complimentary refreshments in any of our branches.

We always have a range of hot and cold drinks and snacks available for you to enjoy!

Here are a few of our carers enjoying refreshments at our Wareham branch.

Employee Awards – March 2019

Posted on 20 March 2019 by dukadmin

We are delighted to reveal the latest Employee Awards that have been presented to some of our Care at Home carers to celebrate their long service and impressive work at Altogether Care.

We would like to congratulate…

Caitlin Hughes

Congratulations to Caitlin at our Care at Home office in Yeovil for achieving a Long Term Service Award for being with us for five years.

She is an outstanding manager who covers the Somerset area from our Yeovil Branch. She has also recently received an ‘outstanding in care’ from CQC.

Kellie Gumbrill

Congratulations to Kellie at our Care at Home branch in Beaminster for achieving a Long Term Service Award to celebrate five years of working with us.

Kellie co-ordinates over 600 hours weekly, covering Beaminster, Bridport and Lyme Regis areas.

Slawek Barylak

Congratulations to Slawek for being awarded Carer of the Month from our Wareham Care at Home office.

Slawek has worked with the company for over nine years, covering the Swanage areas. He has been awarded this due to consistent feedback from clients regarding his kindness and caring approach that he shows to them.

Once again, well done to all our award winners and thank you for your amazing work!

A Time for Looking Forward, as Well as Back

Posted on 20 March 2019 by dukadmin

Older people living in care homes need a number of things to maintain their physical and mental well-being. The opportunity to take part in meaningful activities and to have family and friends still actively involved in their lives are crucial.

Wherever possible, a positive and forward-looking approach is particularly beneficial. Later life is a good time to try out new experiences and learn new skills. You have the time to try out activities you maybe always wanted to have a go at but were perhaps too busy to do in the past. It’s an important role for care homes to ensure that later years are as active and fulfilling as possible.

The Wishing Tree

One of the new features we’ve introduced into our care homes is the Wishing Tree. Our activity coordinators ask each of our residents what they would like to achieve over the next twelve months. Each ambition is written on a label and hung on the tree. We then work with our residents to help make their wishes become a reality.

The intention is for the tree to become a focus for residents and that their families will encourage them to come up with ideas that could help them reconnect with their past and recall significant memories and emotions.

Creative Minds

Our extensive activity programmes also include Creative Minds art classes. These are tailored for care residents and involve visits from tutors each month to take classes in a range of art forms.

As well as being fun, these classes boost self-confidence and esteem. Learning new skills helps to keep the mind healthy through cognitive stimulation and maintains and improves motor skills.

We aim to help all our residents to remain physically and mentally active, and to get the greatest number of positive experiences possible from their later years by continuing to look forward, not just back.

Red Nose Day at Steepleton Manor

Posted on 18 March 2019 by dukadmin

Staff at Steepleton Manor enjoyed dressing up for Red Nose Day on Friday 15th March to show their support for Comic Relief.

A New Home, Not a Care Home

Posted on 12 March 2019 by dukadmin

People have different ideas of what life in a care home is like. Some fear a loss of independence and having their individuality hidden in a corporate style institution. But is this what care home residents really experience?

Concerns possibly arise because of the way that many care homes are owned and operated. As The Guardian recently reported many care homes are in the hands of large companies that operate tens or hundreds of homes. These corporations are often owned by financial institutions that took on substantial levels of debt to buy into the market.

However, alongside the large corporate players, there are still many smaller care home businesses. These are often run as family businesses or charities. Altogether Care is a good example. We are family-owned and operate three care homes alongside our home care services.

Luxury Residential Care

Steepleton Manor is one of our homes and could be described as a luxury residential home. It’s as far removed as you could get from any image of a faceless corporate institution. The setting is idyllic – a former country house nestling in beautifully landscaped grounds. And while the home is large enough to have all the care and social facilities you could ever want, it’s also small enough for everyone to know everyone else and for each resident to feel like an individual.

Independence is encouraged and supported. Residents can grow their own food in our kitchen garden and some even choose to cook for themselves in the Manor.

When residents come to Steepleton Manor we like to think of it as moving to a new home, rather than moving into residential care. The care you need is available, but the focus is on continuing a fulfilling and enjoyable life. Being smaller means that we know all of our residents as individuals and they know us too. This means we can work together so that everyone enjoys the best standards of care alongside the best possible quality of life. If you’d like to see what this looks like in reality we’d be happy to show you around Steepleton Manor and our other care homes.

Employee of the Month – February 2019

Posted on 6 March 2019 by dukadmin

Each month, care home managers hand pick team members who demonstrate a passion for their role and go above and beyond to provide an excellent standard of care and support to residents.

Congratulations to Hannah at Steepleton Manor for winning February’s Employee of the Month!

Hannah is a very cheerful & kind-hearted activity coordinator, she can always put a smile on the residents faces with the exciting activity’s which include bus trips to the sea, Greek dancing, gardening club and much more.

Year: 2019