Flexible, personalised care plans are designed to always ensure you receive the right level of care and are adapted as your needs change. Take a look at the level of live-in care options with Altogether Care in our infographic below:
For many people, live-in care offers the best of everything. There are so many benefits of people remaining in their own home, where they are surrounded by a familiar environment, their own possessions and staying in a community where they feel they belong. Choosing Live-in care ensures there’s somebody on hand for companionship and to help out with those tasks they find challenging.
When people opt for live-in care they often tell us they wish they’d done it sooner. What held them back was a concern about loss of their privacy or independence. They also assumed that their normal routine of life would be upended and their social life would suffer.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
As with all care services offered by Altogether Care – you’re in charge. The service adapts to you, and not the other way round.
First, there will be a conversation between you and your live-in carer about how you want the service to work. You’ll have a personal care plan designed to meet your choices, needs, and wishes.
Your preferences for activities, eating times, meals and hobbies, care routines and your medication needs all go into the plan. There shouldn’t be any disruption to your established routines and way of life. It’s just that somebody is on hand to make it all easier for you.
As your needs change your care plan will be updated. Your live-in carer will offer help when you need it but won’t interfere with any aspect of your life that you don’t want them to.
Our Good CQC rating offers reassurance of the quality of care provided. Here’s what a couple of our live-in care clients had to say:
“Clearly experienced and well trained in all aspects of care. She immediately and competently took on the new tasks as my mother’s health deteriorated, this included: using the hoist, using tools to help move my mother in bed, administering drugs etc.”
“We just wanted to say in passing that Mariana is the best carer our loved one has had from Altogether Care- so caring and sensitive to her changing needs. The duty doctor, who visited last week, said likewise. We hope that Mariana will be able to stay for her lifetime, subject to holidays.”
You can choose from three basic levels of care and each will be fine-tuned to suit your needs:
There’s also the option of night cover; sleeping or waking night care.
If you’ve considered live-in care, but not yet done anything about it, give Altogether Care a call, visit our website, or email contact@altogethercare.co.uk. We’ll be happy to answer any questions.
Dementia is increasingly something more people are having to learn how to live with, affecting individuals and caregivers alike. The theme of Alzheimer’s Month 2023 attempts to underline the notion that dementia doesn’t necessarily have to be an inevitable consequence of ageing.
The ‘Never too early, never too late‘ campaign aims to make us all more aware of factors that increase our risk so we can take steps to delay the onset of dementia. By being aware of these factors, individuals can take proactive measures to postpone the onset of dementia and potentially mitigate its occurrence.
Risk reduction strategies apply to us all, including people who’ve already received a diagnosis.
Common factors that increase the risk of dementia include: a sedentary lifestyle, lack of exercise, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, lack of social interactions, obesity and high blood pressure. It’s evident that many of these factors are interlinked. Click here to find out more about the research behind dementia risk factors and prevention methods.
An active social life, physical exercise and a good diet are the building blocks of good mental and physical well-being. Altogether Care puts a lot of emphasis on these factors in all of our care homes, and not just for people receiving specialist dementia care.
Find out more about Dementia Care in our Care Homes.
There have been two new drugs in the last year that appear to slow down memory and thinking decline in people living with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease. Results released in July 2023 for one of the drugs, Donanemab, showed that it works better the earlier it is given.
One major point behind the campaign is that whatever lifestyle you’ve lived up till now, you can still make a change to a healthier way of living. It could make a significant difference to your risk of developing severe Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia.
And if you or a loved one have been diagnosed with dementia, there’s plenty you can do, whether you opt for residential care or care in your own home.
At Altogether Care, we view residential dementia care as a way of providing people with an environment where they are supported to be more active, engaged and healthy. It’s about delaying the onset of symptoms, not solely managing them.
If you’d like to talk to someone about Alzheimer’s or dementia care, give Altogether Care a call, visit our website, or email contact@altogethercare.co.uk.
Amid the clearing rain, a new chapter began with the grand opening of Altogether Care’s Salisbury branch on August 18, 2023. This milestone marked a significant step in delivering high-quality domiciliary care with a focus on compassion, showcasing our dedication to supporting individuals and families in need.
Seasoned professional Debbie Sheldon assumed the role of Registered Manager for the Salisbury branch, relocating from our previous Salisbury location. This transition signifies more than just a new address; it’s a strategic move to a larger, revitalized office space. Our central location at 62 St Edmunds Church Street, SP1 1EF, enhances accessibility for the community.
The road to our newly renovated office space was a journey guided by Karla Jordan, our regional Support Manager, who oversaw the transformation from near dilapidation to a shining example of refurbished excellence in Salisbury. The new branch embraces the family values upheld by Altogether Care, signifying a comprehensive approach to care. Living accommodations for international employees foster inclusivity and camaraderie, while a dedicated training room reflects our commitment to continuous growth and learning for our care staff.
Dignitaries including: The Right Worshipful the Mayor of the City of Salisbury, Mr Atiqul Hoque, and The Lord-Lieutenant of Wiltshire, Dame Elizabeth Neville, graced the grand opening. A symbolic ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the occasion, followed by refreshments that celebrated unity and shared purpose.
Debbie Sheldon, the driving force behind the Salisbury branch, expressed her delight in the community’s response. Neighbours and staff joined in the celebration, underlining the strong bonds nurtured by Altogether Care over our 35-year legacy as local care providers. CEO Stephen Knell, along with co-founders Brian and Margaret Westlake, joined Debbie to mark this significant moment.
Altogether Care’s legacy of excellence shines through our consistently ‘Good’ rating from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) for our Salisbury care at home services. This accolade underscores our commitment to providing exceptional care and support, tailored to the diverse needs of our community, including domiciliary care, live-in arrangements, and waking nights.
Choosing professionals for your care needs offers more than quality support; it gives you the freedom to cherish moments with loved ones. With a focus on expertise, Altogether Care ensures that you and your family can find peace in the knowledge that your well-being is in expert hands.
For those seeking guidance, our compassionate team is just a call away at 01722 442525. As local care providers, our dedication to personalised care is unwavering. A free home care assessment is available, designed to cater to your unique circumstances, strengths, needs, and wishes.
The grand opening of Altogether Care’s Salisbury branch isn’t just an event; it’s a pledge to provide compassionate care within the local community. With Debbie Sheldon’s leadership and a dedicated team by her side, Altogether Care Salisbury embodies a future where care is both personal and comprehensive. Step into a world where compassion meets expertise – step into Altogether Care Salisbury!
Our care at home team want to make life as easy as possible for you in the comfort of your own home. Altogether Care’s care at home services include a range of specialist options to offer you more choice such as: Personal Care, Practical Support, Learning Disability Care, Respite Care and plenty more.
Take a look at our infographic below to find out more on our care at home options:
For questions about our care at home services contact us today on contact@altogethercare.co.uk call 01305 300 161 or visit altogethercare.co.uk/care-at-home for more information.
Being a carer is an immense privilege and an opportunity to show genuine care and support to someone dear to you. However, it’s important to acknowledge that juggling multiple responsibilities can sometimes feel overwhelming. Thankfully, there are ways to alleviate the strain and ensure your own well-being.
Respite care offers a valuable solution without the need for prolonged separation or residential arrangements. Opting for a care at home service allows you to enjoy occasional breaks, whether it’s a day off or an evening of relaxation. It gives you time to take a break to recharge the batteries while ensuring your loved one receives the care they need.
Respite care doesn’t have to be residential and doesn’t have to be for an extended period. Day centres and local activity groups might also allow you to take a bit of time off from caring.
Summer is the time when most of us look forward to getting away for a holiday. There’s no reason why carers can’t enjoy a week or two in the sun. You probably deserve it.
Perhaps you could consider the possibility of a brief duration of respite care within a care home as an alternative option. This arrangement can prove beneficial for all involved. It provides your loved one with a chance to experience a different environment and take advantage of the companionship and social engagements available in our care homes.
Taking time for yourself and returning refreshed helps reenergise you as a carer, making the responsibilities of caregiving feel lighter and less burdensome. It is a crucial investment in your own well-being and the well-being of those you care for.
In some cases you might get financial help from the council towards the cost of respite care. This depends on the care needs assessment and means testing.
If you receive carer’s allowance, you can normally take a break of up to four weeks in any six month period without it affecting your entitlement.
The most important thing is to remember to take care of yourself. Your health and wellbeing are also important and you deserve a break as much as anyone else.
If you’d like to discuss your respite care options, give Altogether Care a call, visit our website, or email contact@altogethercare.co.uk.
Residents from Steepleton Manor Care Home had a wonderful day out. They went on a special adventure with the help and support of an amazing local charity – Cycling Without Age in Weymouth. They rode together in a trishaw bike to enjoy the beautiful weather we’re having and the fresh air.
Lisa Mathews, our activities coordinator, joined the residents on their exciting 14-mile journey. Volunteers from Cycling Without Age made sure that each resident had a chance to enjoy this invigorating experience as they felt the wind in their hair and a sense of freedom during the ride.
The experience started by the beautiful seafront in Weymouth, passing along the seafront and the busy harbour then following the Rodwell trail to Ferrybridge. The residents had the chance to see the beauty of nature and enjoy the peaceful sights and sounds around us.
We cycled through Radipole Park and eventually returned to where we started at Lodmoor. The residents’ smiles showed how much they had connected with the world around them and experienced the simple joys that we often overlook, like the sounds of nature and the sight of flowers. It was clear that getting out in the fresh air had a profound impact on them. They slept well that night.
This inspiring story reminds us that everyone deserves the chance to enjoy the outdoors, regardless of their age or circumstances. Exercise and fresh air are beneficial for everyone, enriching lives and creating a stronger sense of community.
Getting together really supported individuals to feel part of a group, and combat the feelings of loneliness and isolation.
So, let’s ask someone to step outside with us, take a deep breath, and embrace the many benefits that nature offers and feel more fulfilled and less lonely.
Loneliness is definitely something that many people experience in later life. Perhaps a partner has passed away and other family members live too far away to visit often. Reduced mobility can also make it harder to get out and meet people and socialise.
One of the hardest things about loneliness can be talking about it. Loneliness Awareness Week aims to change that. In 2023 the week will run between June 12-18 and is being organised by the wonderful Marmalade Trust.
The Marmalade Trust defines loneliness as a mismatch between the level of social contact we have and the level we’d like to have. There’s a strong personal element as some people need company more than others.
Acknowledging that you feel lonely is the first step towards doing something about it. This is actually true for a whole range of care and support needs. Removing the stigma is essential if we want people to open up about their feelings. Being lonely is often down to circumstances – and circumstances can be changed.
Loneliness isn’t inevitable in later life.
There are many options that would allow you or someone you know to lead a more active social life.
When we talk about care needs it’s easy to assume that we mean someone who is struggling to look after themselves or has a medical condition. We define a care need as anything that stops you enjoying the most fulfilling life possible. Loneliness and lack of social contact definitely fall into this definition.
In the case of loneliness, a care at home service can offer daily conversation and companionship. Care at home can also help get you to social activities and identify groups you can join.
A simple conversation can lead to a big change and a more engaged life. Give Altogether Care a call on 01305 300 161, visit our website, or email contact@altogethercare.co.uk.
Altogether Care Bridport branch is making waves with their proactive team and trained Mental Health First Aider (MHFA). Their recent initiative aimed to recognise and support Mental Health and Dementia national Awareness Week, and the results were nothing short of inspiring.
To demonstrate their unwavering support and raise funds for these important causes, the team organised an enjoyable bake sale. Perfectly coinciding with the national bake day, this event was a testament to their dedication and compassion. Leading the charge was Sheelagh, whose role as a Mental Health First Aider and social butterfly made her the ideal candidate to spearhead this event. Registered manager Kellie Gumbrill eagerly enlisted Sheelagh’s expertise, and she embraced the responsibility with enthusiasm.
To ensure the bake sale’s success, the team sought guidance from the Dementia Awareness website, utilising their fundraising pack to decorate the exterior of their Bridport office. The decision to hold the event on a Wednesday, coinciding with Bridport’s bustling market day, ensured maximum participation. Bridport’s market is renowned for its lively atmosphere, attracting a multitude of local market traders and a supportive community. Carers from Altogether Care enthusiastically contributed by making, buying, and donating baked goods. Some even involved their families in the baking process, creating a truly enjoyable experience. The resulting cakes were not only visually appealing but also incredibly delicious.
Kellie has strong connections with her team and nurtures an inclusive culture, recognised the isolation that can be faced by international carers. Angelo is a carer who has come over from Sri Lanka and who has recently moved his wife Sharmila to Bridport, and Sheelagh went above and beyond to show kindness and compassion to her. Understanding her limited social interactions, Sheelagh extended a warm invitation to Sharmila, providing her with an opportunity to engage with others and lend a helping hand at the bake sale.
The pictures captured during the event tell the tale of an overwhelming success. Sheelagh, as an MHFA, interacted with numerous local individuals who were captivated by their stall and the treats on offer. This fostered open communication, with many feeling comfortable enough to share personal stories about their experiences with dementia and mental health. Such genuine interactions perfectly align with Altogether Care’s main objective of encouraging open conversations, showing kindness and care, and raising much-needed funds.
In the end, the team accomplished a remarkable £110.38 for these worthy causes. Equally important, they significantly raised Altogether Care’s profile and showcased its family-based values within the community. Congratulations to everyone involved in this remarkable achievement!
By championing Mental Health and Dementia national Awareness Week, Altogether Care Bridport branch has left an indelible mark on the community, offering hope, support, and a delicious way to make a difference. If you’re ever in need of someone to talk to, please don’t hesitate to drop by for a cup of coffee and a chat – we’re always here and happy to help.
Food is one of the things that unite us all, no matter where we come from or what we do. It is a universal language that speaks to our senses and our souls. That’s why, at Altogether Care, we celebrate our diverse workforce through food.
Recently, we had the pleasure of sharing a meal with Jinson Jose, one of our mental health first aiders based in Sherbourne House, Yeovil. Jinson comes from South India and has made his home in Yeovil, where he enjoys cooking dishes that remind him of home.
Jinson’s favourite dish is Fish Molly, a creamy curry that’s packed with protein and bursting with flavour. It’s a classic South Indian dish that’s not as well-known in the UK, where North Indian cuisine is more popular.
During our meal, Jinson shared his passion for cooking and how he loves to cook with his family back in India. He’s brought that tradition to Yeovil and shares his love of cooking with his colleagues at Altogether Care.
The smell of fresh ginger, garlic, peppercorns and turmeric filled the air as Jibin, our resident chef at Yeovil care home, prepared the Fish Molly in the kitchen. Colleagues from the care home couldn’t resist the aroma and came to join us for a taste.
Jinson shared that many of the ingredients used are grown locally in his home town in South India and food and spices such as peppercorns are picked fresh and dried outside in the sunshine.
It was heart-warming to see how food can bring people together, even in the workplace. We captured some photos to share our experience with you.
If you’d like to try making Fish Molly at home, we’ve included the recipe and instructions below. It’s a tasty, nutritious, and easy-to-prepare dish that’s sure to become a new favourite in your household.
We believe that celebrating our diverse workforce through food is a great way to promote inclusivity and respect for different cultures. We encourage everyone to embrace the richness of our differences and come together over a shared love of food.
Ingredients:
For tempering (optional):
Instructions:
1. Clean the fish fillets and cut them into medium-sized pieces. Marinate the fish pieces with a pinch of turmeric powder and salt. Keep them aside for 10-15 minutes.
2. Heat oil in a deep pan or kadai over medium heat. Add fennel seeds and curry leaves. Sauté for a few seconds until fragrant.
3. Add the sliced onions and green chilies. Cook until the onions turn golden brown.
4. Add ginger-garlic paste and sauté for a minute until the raw smell disappears.
5. Lower the heat and add turmeric powder, red chili powder, coriander powder, and black pepper powder. Mix well and cook for a minute.
6. Pour in the thin coconut milk (optional) and bring it to a gentle boil. Add salt to taste.
7. Carefully add the marinated fish pieces to the pan. Gently stir to coat the fish with the spice mixture. Be careful not to break the fish pieces.
8. Cover the pan and simmer for about 10-15 minutes or until the fish is cooked through. Be sure not to overcook the fish.
9. Once the fish is cooked, pour in the thick coconut milk and give it a gentle stir. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes on low heat.
10. In a separate small pan, heat coconut oil for tempering (optional). Add mustard seeds and let them splutter. Add dry red chilies and curry leaves. Fry for a few seconds until the leaves turn crispy. Pour this tempering over the fish curry.
11. Remove from heat and garnish with some fresh curry leaves.
Your Fish Molly is ready to be served! Serve it hot with steamed rice, appam (rice pancakes) or bread. Enjoy your meal!
We are delighted to report that our Salisbury domiciliary care branch recently held a wonderful coronation celebration at Archers Court, the home of some of our private clients.
The attendees included Joyce Skinner, Sharon Fletcher, June Watts and Pamela Light, and our own FCS Sarah Davies and Registered manager Debbie Sheldon were there to help celebrate the occasion.
We all donned our finest red, white and blue Union flag hats in honour of the occasion and decorated the room with royal bunting, adding to the celebratory atmosphere. We also prepared cupcakes decorated with coronation flags and made coffee and tea for our clients. Sharon and June were especially proud of us, expressing their delight at how amazing and caring we all are.
The residents were so impressed, they have asked us to come back for another coffee morning!
It was a truly heart-warming experience to witness such a celebration of the coronation of King Charles, and it was a pleasure to make our clients feel special. We feel privileged to have been a part of this special event and look forward to more events like this in the future!
As we get older it’s not unusual to become a little less sharp mentally or even a bit forgetful.
At what point should you become concerned that a loved one is developing dementia and might need specialist care? And if care is needed, what should you look for?
Every individual is different. We all have our own views and attitudes about residential care. And in every case there are different levels of support available from family members and friends. This makes it more or less impossible to set a universal benchmark for when somebody will need specialist residential dementia care.
Concerns usually arise when dementia starts affecting everyday life. For example, a relative finds it difficult to complete familiar tasks like cooking or washing, gets confused about time and place or persistently misplaces items by leaving them in illogical places.
None of these automatically mean it’s time for specialist residential care. But it does mean there are care needs that need to be properly assessed. This will give you and your relative a clearer picture of the care options available.
Each case is different and everyone should, as far as is possible, make their own decisions about the care they need. The situation is more acute and sensitive if somebody can no longer care for themselves or live safely in their own home.
If residential dementia care is the best option, your local council will give you a list of suitable homes. Checking
online reviews and CQC inspection reports is a helpful place to start but won’t necessarily tell you what will be the best choice for a particular person.
We could give you a list of objective criteria to help you choose a home, but sometimes it comes down to the home that ‘feels right’. This could be about the standard of the accommodation and the range of activities on offer.
Or, it might just be about the staff and how interested they seem in learning about your relative (their personal history, likes and dislikes, for example) and meeting their individual needs.
Visit the homes on the shortlist, take as long as you need to make the right decision, and involve your relative as much as possible.
Sherborne House in Yeovil specialises in dementia care. The care we offer is professional and compassionate and very much centred around the needs of each individual. Our team aims to balance care and personal safety with wellbeing, independence and quality of life.
If you’d like to discuss dementia care needs in general or take a look around Sherborne House please get in touch.
Many people worry about the potential cost of personal care as they get older. Some are concerned that paying for the care they need will eat away their savings and assets and leave nothing to pass on to their children. Others worry whether they’ll be able to afford care costs at all.
While there are very real issues around the cost of care, sometimes the future isn’t as bleak as people assume. This quick summary of care cost funding will make sure you have accurate, up-to-date information for your financial planning.
Before diving into the details we should look at the care cost cap that is scheduled to come into force in October 2023. The cap aims to ensure that no individual will pay more than £86,000 for personal care (either residential or care at home) during their lifetime.
A couple of points to note. Care costs incurred before the cap is introduced won’t count towards the total. Also, the cap doesn’t apply to the accommodation element of care home fees.
The process starts with a care needs assessment carried out by your local council. This is a formal statement of the personal care you need. Care not included in your assessment probably won’t be included in the care cost cap.
The financial support you get will be affected by your income, savings and other financial assets. Your property is included in the calculation only if you are going into residential care, and only then if you don’t have a spouse or dependent relative still living in your home. It may be possible to enter into an agreement with your local authority so that they recover your care costs from your estate after you die.
If you have capital worth more than £23,250 you will be expected to pay for all of your care costs (the upper capital limit). If your capital adds up to less than £14,250 the council will pay for your care costs. Between these two figures there’s a sliding scale for your contribution.
It’s planned for the upper capital limit to increase to £100,000 in 2025.
Hopefully this has helped to clarify the situation. If you have any questions about funding or any other aspect of care, please call Altogether Care on 01305 300 161, email contact@altogethercare.co.uk, visit our website or use our care calculator.
Steepleton Manor’s 2023 Valentine’s Day was absolutely full of love and fun was had by all in attendance.
The residents and staff spent some time working on arts and crafts to create some things for display and to gift to one another. They decorated the activity room with hearts made out of red tissue papers and pink card and wrapping paper that had all been laminated to last.
One of our residents made a card for her husband who has dementia, who was delighted to receive a homemade card from his wife as he hadn’t received one in a long time. It was a special moment as he recognised what the card his wife had made was and what it was for on such a special day. Another resident also made a card for his partner who came to visit that day. She was also very happy receiving a Valentine’s Day card from someone so special.
The residents enjoyed a chocolate fountain with plenty of skewers of fruit, marshmallows, biscuits, and small pieces of cake. The residents particularly enjoyed getting hands on with the task by helping staff to break up all the chocolate. Plenty of mess was made and fun was had by all.
The day ended with everyone in high spirits and delighted to have had such an action packed day of love and chocolate.
Depression and loneliness are common among the elderly and have only been worsened by the pandemic and following lockdowns.
Almost half a million people live in care homes in the UK and approximately 70% of all care
home residents have dementia or severe memory problems.
Here are the ways we support the mental wellbeing of residents in our care homes:
People will always want human contact and no computer or automation will ever be able to fully replace this. People will always need care and people will likely always need carers to provide this service when they aren’t able to do it on their own any more. A career in care can be a satisfying, varied job that you will want to stay in.
The number of care worker vacancies has increased in the sector, this is due to having better healthcare and an increased aging population. In a report from June 2022 on the health and social care workforce, the House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee reported that an extra 475,000 jobs would be needed in health and 490,000 jobs would be needed in social care by the early part of the 2030s. This gives people choosing a career in care now lots of options and opportunities.
Social care is an absolute priority for the UK government, backed by £5.4 billion in spending. The white paper People at the Heart of Care plan to reform social care sets out a 10-year vision for adult social care and funding proposals. There has never been a better time to join the sector.
Many of the people who gravitate towards care work do so because of the benefits it offers around a good work/life balance and emotional job satisfaction. Carers can choose to work hours around their own responsibilities, it offers flexibly in hours that work around their own family needs.
When looking at care work; it’s not ‘just a job’, there are many wonderful opportunities for career progression. The on-the-job training and qualifications you’ll receive – as well as the many transferable skills you will undoubtedly pick up – will set you up for progressing within the industry.
And perhaps most importantly, there are few things more fundamentally rewarding than helping and caring for others. Whether this is helping an older person to enjoy their day and supporting them with their short or long-term health needs, caring for others is a huge privilege. Not many jobs can boast that.
Care workers qualify for the highly regarded Blue Light Card, which offers a broad range of official discounts from large national retailers to local businesses in a wide range of categories including holidays, cars, days out, fashion, gifts, insurance, phones and more.
If you enjoy caring for others, a job as a care worker is a fantastic opportunity to gain many skills that embrace your natural empathy. There are many care homes throughout the UK in need of kind, compassionate people who help residents have a better quality of life and feel more comfortable.
So, if you’re thinking about retraining and would love making a positive difference in people’s lives, this could be the start of a wonderful career for you.
If you want to explore a rewarding career with Altogether Care, please send your CV by email for the attention of the Recruitment Manager at careers@altogethercare.co.uk or call Altogether Care on 01305 230488.
Care at home is a great option when you’re able to stay at home but need support
with everyday tasks. If you have a disability, are recuperating from an illness,
recovering from an accident, or just need help with everyday tasks, our wide range
of home care services could be for you.
Download our infographic here
Unpaid carers are the hidden face of social care in Britain. The organisation Carers UK estimated that there are 11.5 million people across the UK who give unpaid support to someone who is elderly, seriously ill or disabled. It went on to estimate that, by doing so, unpaid carers are saving the government £193 billion a year.
Of the 900,000 unpaid carers nationally who provide this service full-time – most of whom are women – many rely on Carer’s Allowance, which is the lowest benefit of its kind at just only £67.25 a week. Understandably, life can be really tough for carers.
Unpaid carers also face a number of extra stressors that can have a negative impact on their wellbeing such as: higher levels of stress, which can eventually lead to burnout, as well as feelings of helplessness and exhaustion.
Unpaid carers have been hit harder by recent inflation rising costs than many: financial support for the person cared for has an impact, as does taking unpaid leave to cope with care needs.
What support is available if you’re an unpaid carer, to ease the pressure of looking after a loved one?
As noted above, there is a government-paid Carers Allowance which can help. You can also use a benefits calculator to see if you can claim for help with your council tax or with fuel costs.
Your local council are obliged to provide you with a care assessment which could allow you to claim for additional support, such as any equipment you might need to help you care for your loved one.
It is also important to talk to close friends and family about how you’re feeling. Being lonely and isolated will only add to feelings of despair and exhaustion. Opening up about your worries can be a huge help – as they say, ‘A problem shared is a problem halved.’
When you’re caring for someone, it is often easy to ignore your own needs. At Altogether Care, our experienced and highly-trained carers are on hand to help if you need to work or look after your own health and wellbeing. We can also offer permanent care for your loved one if you’re no longer able to do so.
We can help your loved one live an independent, active and healthy life by assisting with jobs like household cleaning, washing and ironing, shopping, cooking and collecting pensions. We can also provide a transport and escort service for medical appointments, day care attendance, and general outings.
If you would like to know more about how we could help you with caring for a loved one, don’t hesitate to get in touch and discuss your options. Call us on 01305 300 161 or email contact@altogethercare.co.uk
Following the distressing and turbulent times that Covid-19 brought to the UK, with its associated lockdowns and the trauma that it brought with it, this country now seems to be returning to something approaching normality.
Care homes are operating more or less normally, and the options for care for your loved ones have increased exponentially. Is now the right time to consider residential care for your older relatives?
Your relative might be having increasing difficulty with everyday tasks like washing, cooking or dressing themselves and taking their medication. They might be worried about falling, with no one around to help them. And they can get increasingly stressed by the little things in life.
Moving into a care home can give the elderly a new approach to life – they can meet new people with shared life experiences, and they can make new friends. Because there are highly-trained staff on hand at all times, the worries about being on their own melt away. They are fed and washed and entertained and properly looked after.
Depending on the level of care needed, their every need will be taken into account, and if they need extra nursing or dementia care, that can be arranged.
It may be that it’s too soon for you to start thinking about full-time residential care. In which case, respite care might be a more suitable option.
Respite care can be for a short time, such as only a few hours every week, or can be overnight, or a weekend.
Even though many people take a great deal of pleasure in providing care to their loved ones so that they can remain at home, the financial, physical and emotional consequences can be overwhelming without some support, such as respite.
To be most effective, you should consider respite services much earlier than you might think you will need them. Respite is best if you use it before you become exhausted, and isolated by your responsibilities.
Altogether Care is committed to providing your loved ones with the highest possible standards of care, and is vigilant about the possible return of variants of the Covid-19 virus, se we take every possible precaution to keep residents and staff as safe as possible.
If you’d like to explore care options available for yourself or an elderly relative, give Altogether Care a call, visit our website, or email contact@altogethercare.co.uk.
The pandemic changed the way a lot of people work, perhaps permanently. Many found working from home preferable to commuting to and from a fixed place of work.
But was it just the change of setting that made people happier in their work? Research by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) suggests that some aspects of homeworking are actually less attractive. In particular, people found it harder to collaborate with colleagues. And there’s no doubt that some people miss the social aspects of the workplace.
The biggest positive according to the ONS data was unquestionably an improved work-life balance. Being home based gave people opportunities to take or collect kids from school and generally enjoy more family time, rather than arrive home late each day after a tiring commute.
The future of home working is unclear. Some organisations are already calling staff back into the office full or part time. And in other occupations such as retail there’s no option other than to be present in the workplace for a fixed number of hours.
When people say they’re looking for jobs that allow them to work from home is it that they really want to turn part of their home into a place of work? Or is it just that they want to balance work and life a little more in their favour?
If the most important goal is to have a better work-life balance there are alternatives. A new job that offers flexibility to blend work and family life more harmoniously might be all you need.
In which case the care sector is an excellent place to start looking. People don’t just need care within normal office hours. So working for Altogether Care usually allows people to choose work patterns that fit best with their home life and commitments. This can take a lot of stress and pressure out of everyday life as it’s easier to fit your work around the things you need and want to do.
If you’d like to find out more about how working in the care sector can improve your work-life balance, contact Altogether Care on 01305 230488 or email careers@altogethercare.co.uk, or check out our current vacancies.
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