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Digital Technology in Care is Here to Stay

Across the UK economy, organisations changed how they do things because of COVID-19. Digital tools were often the only way to keep working. What the experience also revealed is that digital tools often offer better ways of working that will be retained after the pandemic.

This is certainly the case with care services. Altogether Care had already made significant investments in technology to improve the way that we plan and deliver care. With COVID-19 restrictions in place we had to take this up a notch.

Our residents have obviously missed having visits from family and friends. Thankfully, these days we have digital technology such as Skype and Facetime, which help people stay in touch. And now that people are used to using them, contact isn’t governed by specified visiting times, durations and distances. There are more opportunities for meaningful ‘face-to-face’ contact between physical visits.

Training and Communication

No care provider can ever afford to stop training its staff, pandemic or no pandemic. In our case this meant switching to more online training because face-to-face training courses couldn’t run. And guess what – the training is generally just as effective and far easier to arrange around busy staff schedules.

In some ways, communication with suppliers, staff, residents and visitors has improved. Digital has certainly made it more efficient and convenient. Across the country there must be countless organisations questioning just how much valuable time we used to waste by travelling around to have conversations that we could have had online with little or no loss of interaction.

Zoom has been a revelation when it comes to communicating with staff spread across multiple care homes and offices. It’s now a firmly established feature of how we do things.

Person-centered Care

As a care provider, what counts most of all is how well we look after people and meet their needs. There’s no doubt that digital technology helps here too. It makes care planning more efficient and it’s easier to involve our clients and their families in the process. Digital tools also simplify how we share care plans and other information and make sure that everyone gets the care they need.

COVID-19 accelerated a digital journey Altogether Care was already on. Having seen the benefits, we’re not planning to turn back. Our business is caring for people and digital tools help us to do that more effectively.

To find out more about our care services, contact us on 01305 206 140 or email contact@altogethercare.co.uk.

What Can You Expect From Live-In Care?

Live-in care is probably the least well understood aspect of care. It’s certainly less common than residential or nursing care, or care at home. But there are many people for whom it could be the right choice.

It’s particularly suited to individuals with age-related support needs, physical disabilities, sensory loss (including dual sensory impairment), mental health problems, and learning disabilities. Live-in care also provides support for personal or family carers.

The important difference between live-in care and other types of care is that your carer lives with you in your own home. They are there to help with personal or medical care as well as tasks such as shopping and outings. They are also there to offer companionship.

What to Expect

As will all of the services we deliver at Altogether Care, everything is based on our core values. These are:

  • People focus
  • Delivering care excellence
  • Personal welfare
  • Flexible care
  • Quality services
  • Quality people

The care received is based on a personalised care plan. Care needs are broadly categorized as Standard, Premium, Diamond, and Night Cover. In every case, the precise care plan is driven by your individual needs.

Level 1 would apply if your main requirement is for companionship and general support to live independently.

Level 2 offers greater assistance with daily living such as bathing, dressing, or help with mild physical disability or dementia.

Level 3 provides support for people suffering from a significant physical disability, dementia or other medical conditions that require sensitive and more intensive life care.

Night Cover provides sleeping and waking care or night cover care depending on your needs.

Your personalised plan is based on your care assessment set out by your local council. It will also include any other services you wish to have to help you live as independently as possible in your own home.

If you think that you or a relative could benefit from live-in care, get in touch on 01202 894 925 and we’ll be happy to answer any questions.

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