tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48489010599575048032024-03-12T21:42:07.193-07:00Caring about Dementia CareA diary of daily life in a small privately owned residential care home, specialising in the care of those living with dementia.MTBooChophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07363750678398253164noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4848901059957504803.post-7502366198200781202024-01-28T13:30:00.000-08:002024-01-28T13:30:43.984-08:00Every Story Matters - the Covid Enquiry<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDNfYnjjnjeNzSbxOjgaz66yD-NPTC6rD8ZyeOahoWA0P1_C1NDI-uHHNyeYRAfz6NFj9gjIwdlV0ulqJfyLOQlJS-OUirU4PwoFHiNG3ZkA1e9c2GW0WyseSp7beJZ2TRtbeaC5xnJVDq8fDYIfrwDyrLSm7GTc1XZunwhFmu-sgU7kPmwzntBY5O3Y0/s4032/IMG_2245.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDNfYnjjnjeNzSbxOjgaz66yD-NPTC6rD8ZyeOahoWA0P1_C1NDI-uHHNyeYRAfz6NFj9gjIwdlV0ulqJfyLOQlJS-OUirU4PwoFHiNG3ZkA1e9c2GW0WyseSp7beJZ2TRtbeaC5xnJVDq8fDYIfrwDyrLSm7GTc1XZunwhFmu-sgU7kPmwzntBY5O3Y0/s320/IMG_2245.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /> It’s a year since I last updated this blog. I hope that this will be the last blog entry I ever write about Covid. I have just written this for the “Every Story Matters” website which aims to ensure everyone can provide their input into the Covid enquiry. I hope that this is read by those taking part in the enquiry, but I will continue to speak up for all who receive, and work in Adult Social Care.<p></p><p><b><u>EVERY STORY MATTERS…</u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.3); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0cm; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">As an owner and manager of a small family run care home I experienced first hand the impact of the Covid pandemic on Adult Social Care. Although I could tell my story about PPE shortages, I could speak about Local Authorities offering significantly increased weekly fees to take untested residents from hospitals, thus risking whole care homes to outbreaks when they were hugely lacking in the medical support required, I want to focus on the what I believe are the two key issues arising from the pandemic in relation to the support given to care homes and their residents;<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.3); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0cm; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b>The Government, Department of Health and Public Health England demonstrated a woeful lack of understanding about how to support care homes.<span> </span>Guidance was useless and demonstrated a total ignorance about the challenges faced by those working in, living in and supporting care homes.<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.3); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 36pt; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b>The Government used the pandemic as a fact finding exercise demanding information which at many times was unnecessary, unworkable <span> </span>and impacted our ability to support those in need, this information gathering exercise was one sided from care homes to the Government.<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.3); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 36pt; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.3); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0cm; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">My care home specialises in the care of those living with moderate to advanced dementia.<span> </span>We have up to 19 residents and a staff of 25.<span> </span>I took the decision to “lock down” earlier than the official advice.<span> </span>I was able (with enormous amounts of effort and cost) to secure adequate supplies of PPE.<span> </span><span> </span>My focus as a (very hands on) owner of a care home was to keep our residents safe, ensure reassurance and communication to families, adhered to policies and to support the staff as they cared for our residents.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.3); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0cm; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.3); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0cm; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">Throughout the pandemic what became clear for all care homes is that those making the decisions, those putting a “protective ring around care homes” were woefully lacking in understanding about what the sector really required in the most difficult of time in decades.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.3); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0cm; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.3); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0cm; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">We were lucky in that we were outbreak free during 2020.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.3); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0cm; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.3); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0cm; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">Our home being outbreak free changed in 2021, and this one example I believe sums up the lack of support but more importantly the enormous lack of understanding of the sector that Government agencies were supposed to be supporting.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.3); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0cm; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.3); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0cm; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">In January 2021 one member of staff tested positive for Covid after working a night shift.<span> </span>In a matter of days the outbreak took hold.. numbers of residents and numbers of staff testing positive started increasing.<span> </span><span> </span>Very quickly our staff numbers were depleted as staff began testing positive.<span> </span>During that time there were very clear guidelines about how long staff were to be off work, residents were to be “quarantined” to their rooms.<span> </span>We were bombarded with donning and doffing guidelines of PPE – including how to use a flimsy apron that covered one third of your mid section but not your arms because of course if someone sneezes of coughs droplets only land in the tiny areas covered by the flimsy aprons.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.3); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0cm; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.3); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0cm; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">We followed the guidelines regarding how long staff were to be off work.<span> </span>About a week into the outbreak and half the staff were testing positive.<span> </span>Just over half of the residents.<span> </span>I had worked a night shift with a member of staff who had just returned from having Covid, ( truth be told she had probably returned to work too early).<span> </span>It was a tough night with many residents unwell (albeit with mild symptoms but unwell nevertheless).<span> </span>At 7am that Monday morning the phone started ringing, every single carer due in that morning was now testing positive.<span> </span>We were on our knees, but had no option than to keep doing what we were doing.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.3); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0cm; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.3); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0cm; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b>And then we started getting the “support”….. which was as much use as a chocolate teapot<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.3); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0cm; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.3); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0cm; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">The capacity tracker had been updated and I had done all the necessary reporting to the Local Authority and Public Health about the outbreak.<span> </span>Families were all advised.<span> </span>But over that week as the staff had begun calling in advising that they had tested positive the calls increased from the Local Authority “Resilience team” and Public Health England.<span> </span>In terms of support their suggestion was to get “Agency” staff.<span> </span>This is something we have always avoided and we are proud of our long standing dedicated team, agency staff are no golden bullet, it would take at least four days training to get a new member of staff fully inducted and safe to care for our residents.<span> </span>By the skin of our teeth we somehow managed, but it was the phone calls that highlight the lack of understanding, it felt that every single phone call during the outbreak from those that were supposed to be offering support were trying to point the finger about what we were doing wrong.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.3); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0cm; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.3); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0cm; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b>The ignorance of those providing support;<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.3); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0cm; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.3); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0cm; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">This phone call will be etched in my memory forever.<span> </span>That Monday morning after learning that the entire planned care shift was not able to come in Public Health called – the lead for our area as they wanted to understand why our Covid rates for staff and residents were “increasing so quickly”. <span> </span>I had called on Friday evening, but the Local Authority Resilience team and the Public Health team only worked weekdays because clearly Covid outbreaks only happen in the week (something which I was further exasperated.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.3); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0cm; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.3); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0cm; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">PHE “Can I ask if you understand how you and your staff know how to wash your hands”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.3); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0cm; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.3); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0cm; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">Me “Yes we do”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.3); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0cm; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.3); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0cm; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">PHE “Have you taught your residents how to wash their hands”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.3); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0cm; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.3); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0cm; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">Me “Well, we are a home specialising in the care of those living with dementia - <span> </span>a very large proportion of our residents are non verbal, some cared for in bed, most are disorientated to time and place <span> </span>and unable to tell you if they would like a cup of tea and those that have capacity to understand the question not would probably answer that of course they know how to wash their hands”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.3); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0cm; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.3); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0cm; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">PHE “OK, well perhaps put a poster in each of the residents bedrooms about hand washing so that they have visual cues.<span> </span>What about donning and doffing – do all staff know the correct process”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.3); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0cm; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.3); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0cm; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">Me “Yes we do, but can you answer when resident A who is covid positive comes out of their room to have a wander and goes into residents B room, what takes priority? – do I carefully Donn and Doff my PPE or do I stop A going into B”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.3); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0cm; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.3); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0cm; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">PHE “Oh, but residents who have Covid are to be quarantined - that’s what you are doing wrong”.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.3); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0cm; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.3); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0cm; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">Me “How do I quarantine a mobile resident with dementia who is totally disorientated to time and place”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.3); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0cm; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.3); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0cm; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">PHE “Oh,…… well you must don and doff correctly.<span> </span>You should move all the rooms of the residents so that those with Covid are in one area of the building and the ones who are clear of covid are in another area”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.3); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0cm; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.3); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0cm; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">Me “I beg your pardon – with two members of staff you want me to move residents rooms – personal effects, air flow mattresses, hoists etc etc in the middle of an outbreak – what about the residents, aside from the logistics of being able to do this, it is totally unfair and upsetting for the residents”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.3); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0cm; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.3); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0cm; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">PHE “Well this is what the guidelines say, you must quarantine the residents, you must keep them together and you must ensure correct handwashing techniques.<span> </span>We will check in on you tomorrow”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.3); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0cm; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.3); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0cm; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">After that call a resident pulled my mask off to “see my face”.<span> </span>Another resident who at the time was 98 (she is now 101 and still with us) appeared in the corridor from outside her room with her frame I said to her “X, please go back to your room you have a virus which we need to make sure other people don’t get it”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.3); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0cm; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.3); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0cm; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">Her reply?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.3); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0cm; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b>“Don’t talk rubbish, there is nothing wrong with me, I am going to the lounge.<span> </span>I’ve survived a war, I will survive this”<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.3); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0cm; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.3); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0cm; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">Survive she did, and I am delighted to say from that outbreak and the following two outbreaks we lost no residents to Covid.<span> </span>In part that was undoubtedly due to vaccinations, but the other reason was that all of us who work so tirelessly within our care home was that we cared for our residents the way we knew best.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.3); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0cm; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.3); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0cm; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b>Those who supposedly put a ring around care homes were clueless, they sat in their ivory towers working Monday – Friday trying to discharge Covid positive patients to care homes, not providing adequate PPE, and writing guidelines which were unworkable, unrealistic and of no use.<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.3); 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</style></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-align: justify;"><b>I would love to educate those in the Department of Health and willing to offer work experience within our care home whenever they would like, please get in touch.<o:p></o:p></b></p>MTBooChophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07363750678398253164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4848901059957504803.post-29671952167594334462023-01-04T09:29:00.001-08:002023-01-04T09:29:22.593-08:00How Social Care can help with the current NHS crisis<p> The news reports of the current crisis in the NHS are hard to read. There are no easy solutions, but anyone working in health or social care is aware that Social Care is critical to providing support to our NHS.</p><p>The current crisis in part is due to lack of beds and lack of funding in Social Care.</p><p>I want to help. I want to support the NHS to free up beds within our hospitals. I have been in a position to do so.</p><p>I have had two spare beds. It is the right thing to do to focus on those in hospital who are medically fit to discharge.</p><p>BUT.... this is first had experience...</p><p>1. I get daily emails from one of our local hospitals asking for placements for those with moderate - advanced dementia who are medically fit to discharge but who require support with ALL aspects of personal care - washing, eating, drinking, moving. On December 14 I confirmed I could offer a bed to a person who was fit to discharge, they were a perfect fit for our home for a number of reasons and I was looking forward to meeting the lady. The fee the nearby Local Authority was willing to pay ---- £650 per week. They said they may be able to offer more and would get back to me....They never did. This is for a long term residential dementia placement. £650 per week would not cover staffing costs alone. This is also far far less than our Local Authority pays for dementia residents.</p><p>BUT it got worst.....</p><p>2. Five days ago I received an email from "Discharge To Assess" - Hospitals local to us had declared critical incident and urgently needed short term placements to enable longer term placements or support to be found for those medically fit to discharge but unsafe to send home. I emailed on a Friday between Christmas and New Year to confirm I could help. I called the number over the weekend. I have called this week to confirm I have places. It is the right thing to do. No-one has replied to my emails. No-one has answered the phone (this is from the Local Authority on behalf of the Hospital) I was hopeful they would be back to work on Tuesday....I still have not heard</p><p>3. All care homes have to fill in a daily "Capacity Tracker" so that hospitals and Local Authority are aware of spare capacity. I have done this. It clearly does not work, or no-one uses it. I know this is not a cost issue as I know I am one of the cheaper homes within the County and we are a "spot contract" provider.</p><p>I have kept beds empty to allow for hospital discharges. But I can wait no longer and so the rooms will be filled with new residents whom we can provide a loving and secure long term home for. </p><p>It breaks my heart when I hear that "there are no beds available to discharge to". </p><p>Surely this would be easy to fix..... why are the discharge teams not speaking to us, and why is there not realistic funding???</p><p><br /></p>MTBooChophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07363750678398253164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4848901059957504803.post-11401064967039909232022-08-16T12:46:00.001-07:002022-08-16T12:46:58.875-07:00Looking for Residential Care? Where to start…..<p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxCNzj6cVbPu6nd6MD07Dgv7xutV40PxpPUG0dVCj1jacbtoCWtubdCiXSjpswQt3cJ8mOkMaPyMWFTsZoNJZ0ZDbjTOKQ_EfHz8Q79Kb_G2NJxP-3cat_29Y17oV_lTUfEdtlEAF8Oxt-9j15ewh_wzMVoUTVbKAkmAw3ji9tKHTQOWg2r-bk09RT/s4032/3EFCCB23-8156-46AE-868D-F894DE73E74F.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxCNzj6cVbPu6nd6MD07Dgv7xutV40PxpPUG0dVCj1jacbtoCWtubdCiXSjpswQt3cJ8mOkMaPyMWFTsZoNJZ0ZDbjTOKQ_EfHz8Q79Kb_G2NJxP-3cat_29Y17oV_lTUfEdtlEAF8Oxt-9j15ewh_wzMVoUTVbKAkmAw3ji9tKHTQOWg2r-bk09RT/s320/3EFCCB23-8156-46AE-868D-F894DE73E74F.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">For some time I have been thinking about writing this. I receive many calls a week from people looking for care homes. The majority of times these people know very little and ask me to start at the beginning about the care system. With this in mind and based on future social care reforms taking place in October 2023 (at the time of writing this) I thought this would be useful. It is fair to say that rarely do people plan to move into care homes, it is generally not the sort of thing the we discuss with our loved ones, or consider for ourselves. So… if you are looking for residential care / considering it for your loved ones this may help. This is my personal opinion on how to look for a care home. <i>(This focuses on choosing care for older loved ones rather than those with learning disabilities or complex health needs)<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">The decision to consider residential care for a loved one is often filled with apprehension and at times, guilt. It is a difficult decision and if possible see as many homes as possible. Remember to put the person who is moving into residential care at the heart of the decision – choose homes that will suit them rather than what you may like. Without stating the obvious, the care is the most important thing. Fancy wallpapers / gyms / cinema rooms….are unlikely to improve quality of life. The care and the staff who work in the homes are the most important thing to consider. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]--> How to choose then….<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Without stating the obvious, involve your loved one with the decision. If they do not have capacity to make the decision, then a Power of Attorney for Health and Welfare should be in place. If it is not then arranging a placement for someone who does not have capacity is much more tricky and the Local Authority / adult social care team and other healthcare professionals will need to be involved.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Make a list of how the person likes to live or used to like to live;<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->-<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Urban or rural<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->-<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Pets?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->-<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Homely environment or more “hotel” like. I aim to make our home feel like a home, all who live and work together I regard as my family. Not all homes are the same, and home like environment do not necessarily suit everyone.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->-<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Lots of people around or quiet spaces for alone time?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->-<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Brand new fixtures and fittings and matching crockery (yes, people do ask….)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->-<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Dementia Home or not? If people in the home are living with dementia it is important that any residents who do not have dementia are aware that they are living in a home with residents who live with dementia. I strongly recommend that if your loved one lives with dementia you look for a home that specialises in caring for those living with dementia. Some residential homes will cope with dementia symptoms to a certain level, but may not cope with all aspects of how dementia can progress in an individual. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Unless you are going to visit more than once a week please do not rule out homes based on ease of visiting for the occasional visitors. If your loved one moves into residential care, unless you plan to visit very regularly the most important people are going to be those doing the care rather than whether the journey to visit for the grandchildren four times a year takes one hour or three……. The important thing is the home suits your loved one, prioritise that above your travel time.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Some new build homes will often advertise “cinemas” “gyms” “beauty areas”. Ask yourself whether these areas will really be of use to your loved one? An easily accessible garden, a staff member who will do chair based activities and a hairdresser who visits once a week may be more appropriate than purpose built areas which may be used for marketing… and are likely to considerably increase the cost. Choose a home based on what your loved one would like NOT on what is important to you.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Super duper en-suites, Wi-Fi access may be important to you, but if your loved one lives with dementia realistically they may not be using the internet and an en-suite forever.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Make sure you meet the staff. I am the owner of a care home, I think about my residents, staff and the home 24/7, I have access to the realtime care records 24/7,I cover shifts, but I am not there every day, make sure you speak to people who are actually caring, not just the person who is doing the “marketing”. I ensure that anyone who visits our home meets the staff on shift. Ask about staffing levels, speak to the staff, ask about the amount of agency staff. Continuity of staff will be important to ensure your loved one gets to know those who care for them. Make sure you see the residents – if you are shown empty rooms that should raise alarm bells, what is being hidden? <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">But a word of caution, care homes are under immense infection control regulations, depending on Covid rates at the time, visits may not be possible. In this case, ask to see videos or have a zoom video call.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]--> Care Home or Nursing Home?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Residential Care can be provided in either care homes or nursing homes. The CQC (Care Quality Commission) that regulates all healthcare providers will register a residential care provider as a “Care Home” or “Nursing Home”. Nursing homes must have registered nurses on site 24/7. Care Homes do not have registered nurses on site at all times. Nursing homes can therefore provide care for those with complex medical needs.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">However, when it comes to Dementia, care homes or nursing homes may be considered. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Dementia Care is often provided within Care Homes. Previously called “EMI – Elderly Mentally Infirm” this is not a description which is used nowadays (this meant the home specialised in the care of those living with dementia) and as such it is hard to differentiate homes that specialise in the care of those living with dementia. Some care homes will not be able to provide care for those living with moderate / advanced dementia symptoms, some may not be able to care for those with significant mobility issues (requiring hoisting to get out of bed for example).<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Some care homes will have separate “wings” for those living with dementia, other homes will have all residents in the same areas and will not segregate based on level of need. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">When considering a home, remember this is likely to be your / your loved ones last home. Find out what level of need the home would not be able to cope with. Go into specifics about this – you do not want to find out that a home is unable to support your loved one one / two / three years in the future. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Funding!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">If an individual has savings or assets over £23K then, at the current time, they will have to fund their own residential care. If an individual has a home then this is considered within the £23K limit (although not if they have a spouse who is still living in the home. Continuing Healthcare (“CHC”) is sometimes provided for those with very complex needs who require nursing care and this is fully funded by the NHS, However, the thresholds for eligibility for CHC are very very high – advanced Alzheimer’s does not normally meet the thresholds.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><b>However as of October 2023 the rules change! </b>At the time of writing a Local Authority will contribute to part of care costs if someone has assets under £100K AND there will be a lifetime limit on care costs of £83K. But this is just the cost of care – not accommodation / food / utilities. As an example, if an individual is paying for residential care of £1000 per week, probably around £600 of that will be the cost of care, so the £83K lifetime limit would apply to care costs, not the full weekly fee. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><b>BUT… </b>no fees will be paid / costs of care considered unless the Local Authority is aware of your / your loved one’s needs and have essentially confirmed that they require a residential placement.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"> If you are looking for care, or you have a loved one in a residential setting at the current time who is self funded it is essential that you ensure the Local Authority are aware of them.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">In terms of costs, there can be huge variety in costs. I do not believe that cost equals quality of care…..<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->4.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->CQC Ratings / Reviews / Open Days<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">CQC reviews should always be read, they will give an overview of the home. BUT… do not get too hung up on the ratings. I have personally visited homes with “Outstanding” ratings that I would never consider recommending, and I have also visited homes that are “Requires Improvements” that I would recommend. Inspectors have a very difficult job to do, and see a snap shot of a home at a moment in time, some of the big chains of care homes have people who solely focus on how to get brilliant CQC ratings,…<span style="font-size: 11pt;">.</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Read reports in full and decide whether you share the same concerns or whether a report is perhaps “too good to be true”.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Reviews can also be “created” and unlike trip advisor / trust pilot generally negative reviews are not as widely accessed or provided. So take all reviews with a pinch of salt.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">If a home has an open day it means they are desperate to fill beds. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but it should raise some questions, generally there is a shortage of care home spaces, a home with lots of vacancies may not be a good thing. If you go to an open day, make sure you speak to people who actually do the caring, not a marketing / front of house team. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->5.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Respite or short stay?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">I get tens of calls a week about respite stay, particularly in the summer. This is something we rarely offer, respite stays are in high demand and there are not many available, particularly for those living with dementia. It take a few weeks for a home to get to know the resident and for the resident to get to know a home, respite stays can often be unsettling and should be considered carefully.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">BUT… I always say to new residents and their families to view a move as a respite stay – if they don’t like us, then there is no lengthy notice period, ensure that this is in place with any new home.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">For someone living with dementia who may have some awareness of a move, but not their level of need, I suggest that any placement is initially communicated this way to the individual. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->6.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]--> Start Early<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">The amount of times we receive calls when people say “what do you mean you have no rooms”. I have even had one person turn up outside our door because “Well I thought seeing you in person may mean you find us a room”. Understandably people often do not start looking for care homes until they are desperate, and then they may not have many homes to choose from.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Particularly if a loved one has dementia and you think they may need care in the future, please start looking now and start speaking to lots of homes..<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->7.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]--> And finally<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Expect to be “interviewed”. Not only do I want to learn about the resident, I want to learn about the family and visitors. Whenever a new resident moves in there is always a period of adjustment for the resident, but also for their families. We expect lots of calls, and we are on hand to guide you and support you through the transition. However, sadly this can often at times mean that a well meaning loved one can be somewhat demanding, and sadly this can often be directed at more junior members of staff. My residents and staff are my family and as such I want to ensure they are happy, safe, loved and respected. Any good Manager / Owner will also be interviewing you to ensure that you will fit with the home. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Get to understand the structure of the home, ask who is onsite at all times. Is the Owner available at all times, do they know what is happening?. Does the Registered Manager spend most of their time on the floor with the residents – not hidden in an office?. In my opinion I feel that anyone managing and owning a home should be involved and hands on, and you should be able to contact them direct.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">I hope that this helps, remember to put your loved one and their needs at the centre of this decision.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p> </o:p></p><style class="WebKit-mso-list-quirks-style">
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</style>MTBooChophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07363750678398253164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4848901059957504803.post-60303500208485865352022-05-08T13:33:00.001-07:002022-05-08T13:33:53.002-07:00Your family has to wear a facemask at home... at all times.....<p> Two years since the start of the pandemic. </p><p>We know that those that live in care homes are particularly vulnerable to Covid.</p><p>We also know that Covid is airborne, and once Covid is in a care home it spreads.</p><p>We understand about Infection Protection and Control.</p><p>Residents in care homes have received Covid vaccinations and two boosters. </p><p>We have done, and continue to do, all we can to protect our residents, but we now have to focus on making our residents lives as happy and content as possible.</p><p>We strive to make care homes a home. Not a hospital, not an institution, not a regimented routine filled controlled sterile environment.</p><p>Our care home is a home, the residents are part of my family, the staff are part of the family. Our care home is full of love, laughter, friendship, sometimes noisy, sometimes quiet. Full of residents family and friends. It is our residents HOME.</p><p>So.... two years on.... imagine if you were told that in your HOME your family have to wear facemasks at all times, everyone you see has to have a facemask on. This also of course means that you can not enjoy a meal, snack or drink side by side with anyone in your "family".</p><p>Two years post the start of the pandemic life outside care homes in the UK is pretty much back to normal. Those who live in care homes only see masked faces of those who support them, protect them, love them and care for them. </p><p>Guidance is explicit for all of us who work in care homes - we have to keep our masks on at all times. For those who visit, the guideline states it is "encouraged", but if providing personal care full PPE is required. Yet, if our residents leave the care home, no facemasks are required.</p><p>Does this make sense to you??</p>MTBooChophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07363750678398253164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4848901059957504803.post-65965996963333809012022-03-07T11:57:00.003-08:002022-03-07T11:57:45.002-08:00Covid and Care Homes - Four things I believe<p><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhU_jCfxw2PlwcgJ_QL4YaZJjazOM5_zZ9cp2rNx1Z8_5CHCLdTu9gO60ZMF-kgfgrCfkMzuMmwf8GwWWkeJEn_W06E_BSf0o7SivL5797Ois8CpR7QGxpXw9fwrJN5Tnu3nU-zTO7TWX5m2CVe9VenyLyFr1M3z8lTc7kuM1iNpVbp62uetnFCSUgc=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhU_jCfxw2PlwcgJ_QL4YaZJjazOM5_zZ9cp2rNx1Z8_5CHCLdTu9gO60ZMF-kgfgrCfkMzuMmwf8GwWWkeJEn_W06E_BSf0o7SivL5797Ois8CpR7QGxpXw9fwrJN5Tnu3nU-zTO7TWX5m2CVe9VenyLyFr1M3z8lTc7kuM1iNpVbp62uetnFCSUgc=s320" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.666666984558105px;"><br /></span></div><p></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>The restrictions in care homes are now more dangerous than the virus itself<o:p></o:p></b></li></ul><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b> <o:p></o:p></b></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>Life needs to now return to normal, and Covid should be treated as a disease along the same lines as flu.<o:p></o:p></b></li></ul><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b> <o:p></o:p></b></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>The government needs to listen to the care home community – how care homes interact with government officials needs to be streamlined to drive efficiency and not bureaucracy. <o:p></o:p></b></li></ul><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b> <o:p></o:p></b></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>People with and without dementia need to be treated differently and can’t be bucketed into one care home community,<o:p></o:p></b></li></ul><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><b> </b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">I have now seen first hand the devastating impact on residents wellbeing from being isolated in their bedrooms. Testing, isolation, visiting restrictions, definitions of “outbreaks” within care homes. I spend hours and hours each week writing policies, guidelines, filling in forms for the Department of Health, answering questions from Local Authorities. All the time doing this I could spend with my residents, supporting staff, speaking to families. I don’t feel supported by the Government, I feel let down.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">The vast majority of Care Home Owners and Managers want to support and encourage visiting, we want life to return to normal for our residents. In the last few weeks restrictions have lifted for the general population, but for care homes we are under inconsistent stringent rules;<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l3 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US"> Just two positive covid cases warrant an outbreak, and as such this means that we have to close to all but just one visitor per resident. Homes also have to isolate vulnerable residents to their rooms, and due to the risk of this homes are unable to take new admissions, including hospital discharges.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l3 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">We know testing is far from infalible, but if it is required, then the costs of tests should not be paid by visitors.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l3 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">NHS frontline staff (including A&E and district nurses) are required to test twice a week, all social care staff are required to test before every shift – why the inconsistencies? It has to be remembered that all social care staff from 11 November 2020 legally had to be double vaccinated. This was proposed for NHS staff but as we all know, this was then postponed in April due to concerns about loss of staff. All those who worked in Social Care shared the same concern, but our concerns were not listened to....until a sudden U- turn last week (too late, tens of thousands of care staff had already left).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l3 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US">4.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">The Department of Health / Health Protection Agency needs to consult with care home owners, and it needs to listen. There is a woeful lack of understanding about the needs of residents within care homes and the catastrophic impacts of the current guidelines that are in place.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">My experience of an outbreak came a little over six weeks ago when Covid entered our home I have to admit that after two years of remaining outbreak free, I felt proud. I knew that we were doing all we possibly could to avoid the virus entering the home. I was aware of every piece of guidance, we were testing more that was actually required. Our visitors process was stringent. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">We followed every rule, we were rigorous with testing, but Omicron found a way in. Two cases in a 14 day period, either staff or residents are defined as an outbreak as per Health Protection Agency rules. Two staff members tested positive three days after working, despite negative LFT’s at the start of their shift. A day after they tested positive, we tested all residents, three residents were positive. We have no way of knowing whether the residents gave it to the staff, or the staff gave it to the residents (those residents had been having visitors).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">We felt prepared, we had outbreak plans in place. We knew what had to come next. Nothing could have actually prepared me for what happened next. Within a seven day period half of all staff and eleven out of eighteen residents tested positive. Staffing levels were stretched, but as a team we pulled together, the “Business Continuity Plan” was enacted. We maintained safe levels of care and I am proud of what we achieved. But, I have never known physical and emotional exhaustion like it and it is an experience I never ever want to repeat.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">The brilliant news is that, thanks to triple vaccinations, all staff members who tested positive were either asymptomatic or had mild to moderate symptoms. All were back at work within 10 days. Of the 11 residents, all made a full recovery. Some were entirely asymptomatic (in the middle of the pandemic I was frequently told “there is nothing wrong with me, this is ridiculous” by one 99 year old resident who was desperate to come out of her room, she was entirely without symptoms despite testing positive). Some residents were poorly, but all apart from one has fully recovered, one is not back to her previous health, but this would have been no different to her getting a cold / stomach upset. However, I fear that the longer term impact due to the isolation for two weeks in their rooms on some of the residents will be more detrimental than Covid. For those who live with moderate to advanced dementia, being isolated in their bedrooms for even a couple of days has significantly negative impacts.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">I have however had time to reflect and digest the experience. I am left, frustrated, angry and let down by the Government and Department of Health.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">Every single day I need to complete something called a “Capacity Tracker”, this centrally reported database tracks resident occupancy, staffing levels, sickness, testing, sickness pay, how staff travel to work (!). Since having an outbreak as a home I am now under the spotlight. I don’t feel supported, I feel checked up on. What has become crystal clear is that that the Department of Health is woefully lacking with its understanding of care homes. Each week I am called by the Local Authority, I have to answer questions about numbers of staff testing and residents testing – I am told that this is to “check track and trace data”. I am then questioned about staffing levels, testing and infection control training.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">In the midst of our outbreak I had many calls with the Health Protection Agency (previously Public Health Team but in the middle of a pandemic they decided to change their name). I asked questions and required support. Of course these calls and emails could only be answered on working days between 9am and 5pm... . I took a call from a Health Protection Agency member who was concerned about the infection level. This is how the call went;<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">HPA “Can I confirm you are following all PPE guidance and donning and doffing correctly and all staff have been trained ”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">Me “Yes” (I did not have time to take the call I was caring at the time)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">HPA “Can I confirm that this happens at ALL times”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">Me”Well, can I give you an example – D (who has dementia, has tested positive and is mobile) comes out of her room frequently, her movement mat sounds to tell us she has left her room. I am with another resident. I leave the other residents and run to D. She is moving along the corridor going into another residents room. Should I spend 20 seconds putting on a different flimsy apron and new nitrile gloves and visor while she wanders into two or three other resident’s bedrooms, or should I go to her straight away, hold her hand, reassure her and take her back to her bedroom”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">HPA …. Long pause….. “Hmm, yes that is a challenge, but you must keep PPE on and don and doff correctly. Can I ask, have you taught your residents hand hygiene and told them how to clean their hands and also told them to put on a mask”.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">Aside from the fact that as a 90 year old woman, teaching someone how to wash their hands could be construed as entirely patronizing, the lady in question has advanced dementia, and would definitely not be able to follow instructions.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">The list went on…. On another call I was told that I should move residents to different bedrooms to keep those with covid together in one area. Can you imagine moving residents with dementia to different rooms in the middle of an outbreak when staffing levels are stretched in the extreme fai.liming to consider the impact on the resident.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">The Local Authority called me during the outbreak. They had no suggestions, other than “call an agency to get agency staff if you have staffing challenges” but they did have another form for me to fill in…. They will be visiting next week, undoubtedly to check my infection control processes.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">But, the outbreak is over and I hope that immunity levels are now very high as a number of residents and staff have had Covid in addition to triple vaccinations. Several of us, despite being exposed to covid on numerous occasions during the outbreak have remained covid free. Lateral Flow Tests are not infallible – people were positive on PCR’s and negative on LFT’s and people. Some residents we know were infectious prior to LFT’s turning positive.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">On February 9<sup>th</sup> our outbreak was declared officially over and visiting resumed – not just for essential visitors but for everyone. On February 23<sup>rd</sup> the Government released it’s “living with covid” guidelines, outside of care homes life returned to normal. Care Homes are still subjected to testing, visitor restrictions, PPE. Our most vulnerable is society are being “protected” from a virus that may possibly kill them, but so would a cold, stomach virus or other infection, but their mental wellbeing is not being considered. I want my residents to see their loved ones, to hold hands, to cuddle their grandchildren, to see my face. As a carer, I want to care, and I want to enjoy a cup of tea and a piece of cake with my residents…something I have not done in two years as I am now allowed to take my facemask off. 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</style>MTBooChophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07363750678398253164noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4848901059957504803.post-50530452860932333532022-01-17T10:12:00.002-08:002022-01-17T10:12:17.483-08:00A simple example... and a (very) long "EPQ"<p> "Social Care Reform". It is written about a lot. If you are reading this, you probably know a little about it. My daughter is taking her A-Levels this year. She was required to do an "EPQ" (Extended Project Qualification). It's about Social Care Reform, and it was handed in last week. She asked that I share it on my blog. Here it is.... copied and pasted below..... </p><p>But from me......why is Social Care Reform required? ...... A few weeks ago we sadly lost a resident who died peacefully in our care home, with her family and carers, all who loved her, at her side. </p><p>She has lived with us since 2013 - almost 8 years. Her placement was funded by the Local Authority. In 2013 we were paid £2715 per month for her care. In 2022 that had increased to £2897 - a 6.5% increase in eight years.</p><p>In 2013 the minimum wage was £6.20, it is currently £9.50 - a 53% increased in eight years.</p><p>The funding provided by Local Authorities is woefully inadequate and in most cases barely covers the cost of staffing, let alone food, accommodation, heating etc etc.</p><p>Fees have no way increased in line with inflation, wages and cost of living. Care Homes quite simply can not afford to provide care to many people who are funded by Local Authorities as budgets have not kept pace with the cost of care.</p><p>That's my simple, real life example....</p><p>Now, over to my daughter...... </p><p><b><u>SOCIAL CARE REFORM - WHY IT CAN NO LONGER BE IGNORED</u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;">Adult social care covers providing personalised, practical support for people over the age of 18 whilst preserving dignity and helping individuals stay independent. However for the purpose of this paper I will be focussing on social care for older people in a residential care setting, which accounts for 65% <a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">[1]</span></span></span></a>of the yearly adult social care budget. Adult social care reform is a topic that frequently is making English headlines as politicians and citizens try to fix an issue of vast underfunding that has been left on its own for too long. Each year the ideas for reform are discounted due to many reasons or the whole topic is ignored completely because it is seen as too difficult. However this strategy is causing the situation in the sector to worsen every day when nothing is done. People in need of care are not receiving it, carers are turning their backs on a career and care homeowners are having to shut down entire facilities as they are unable to keep their business alive. We hear about this on the news most days, but nothing is being done. That is why, within this essay, I will be exploring why he need for a social care reform is so great and why the decision can no longer be delayed.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;">There have been many reforms and changes which have been proposed but never implemented. This raises many questions as to whether politicians actually care about changing social care or whether their proposals are purely for their own political gain. Or is the question we should be asking whether the public want a reform in a sector crying out for one or have they developed a sense of apathy that it is someone else’s problem? No-one likes to think about death and culturally, our society choses to ignore the ideas of growing old and what will happen in the future. To understand the necessity for a reform in social care, it is necessary to understand the reasons for the problems in social care. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;">To be able to comprehend the necessity of a social care reform it is crucial to understand the history of social care. In 1942, the ‘Beveridge Report’ was published which was one of the first inquiries to begin to address the idea of adult social care. The incoming labour government of 1945 began to built the foundation for the 1948 National assistance act, which led to the monumental creation of the welfare state. This act began the development of an insurance based system for health services, with a focus on unemployment support. Even though, this was a huge step towards the implementation of greater support for adult social care, it wasn’t enough. Towards the beginning of the 1950’s, the general consensus of the English population was that it was necessary to support older people so that they could remain in their homes for as long as possible, promoting the ideas of keeping an older persons independence, which we still see in the core beliefs of adult social care today. 20 years on from on this, in 1970 the nation saw the implementation of the Local Authority (L.A.) and social services act. This established an integrated local authority social services department in England, not dissimilar to the local authority service that is still provided today. Following on from this, in 1978, a paper was published entitled ‘A happier old age’ which began to set an agenda for a wide ranging debate about the care of people as they are in the last stages of their lives. It began to develop a long term strategy to ensure well-being and dignity for all older people; unfortunately, 40 years on, this topic is still being discussed and no conclusion has been made. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;">At the end of the century, in 1997, the Royal Commission was established to explore long term funding options for care for the elderly (once again, a debate that is still being had 20 years on). At the turn of the century, in 2000, the Care Standards act was published to build a commission for social care inspection. This act made sure that by registering different local care services, all providers would be required to meet national standards, similar to the Care Quality Commission (CQC, an organisation which regulates all the health and social care services in England) recently implemented across care providers in England. Finally, in 2001, the National Service Framework for older people was established to improve the quality and support social care providers were able to provide. This framework was centred around 4 themes ; Respecting the individual, Developing intermediate care, Evidence-based specialist care and Promoting healthy active lives. Despite this brief overview, it is clear to see that changes and conversations about the system over 40 years ago are all too similar to the debates being had today about the progression of social care. Surely we are not in the same position we were when the welfare state was first introduced in 1942? <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;">There has been 13 documents on reform in 17 years, 4 independent reviews, 4 consultations, 5 white and green papers and yet it still feels like little to no progress is being made. All over the news and media it is constantly being highlighted that adult social care is in crisis and things need to change, but when and how will this change happen?. Once again, to understand our current system of social care and why it is desperate for a reform, it is vital to understand some reforms or policies that the government had tried to implement in the last 11 years. In 2010, during Labours election campaign, they proposed a consideration of taxing people’s estates to pay for social care. Unfortunately, as will be seen as more of these reforms are outlined, policy ideas become politicised too quickly. The truth is unpalatable for the public as the associated costs are so high and so far no government has been transparent about the implications on taxation. This policy was dubbed the ‘death tax’ by the Tory party, as a warning to the public about the impacts these highly progressive policy ideas would have. Later in this paper, I will explore the main reasons for the failures in social care and one of these is the politics surrounding reform. Progressive ideas become politicised by other parties but doing nothing matches the majority of the public’s apathy.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"> <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;">One of the most influential reforms which was proposed was the Dilnot commission of 2011. This commission was centred around a reform in the means test system and a cap on the lifetime cost of care which a person may face. The Dilnot commission report that 10% or older people will have care costs which would accumulate £100,000 or more<a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">[2]</span></span></span></a>. The commission’s proposal was a life time limit of £35,000 which people should be spending on care and the threshold for the value of limits should be raised to £100,000. Today, that’s £35,000 limit would account for a little more, on average, of 1 year of adult social residential care. Despite these ideas, the implementation of these reforms was initially delayed and then postponed indefinitely. It was argued that there was no hard data that these proposals would offer sustainable support for the future of social care. Throughout history service users have stated that the only way to fix the gaps in adult social care would be to implement a general taxation on the public. Furthermore, it was estimated that these proposals would add £1.75 billion <a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">[3]</span></span></span></a>per year onto the social care budget. Another highly political proposal for change in policy was the Conservative ‘Dementia Tax’ proposed in 2017 which indicated that no matter how large the cost of an individual’s care is, the individual would always retain £100,000 of their savings and assets<a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">[4]</span></span></span></a>. However, this didn’t include a lifetime cap on contributions to social care. This could mean that wealthy individuals could end up spending vast quantities on residential care, for example for those living early onset dementia who may require decades of care. As we saw with the labour policy, this proposal became highly politicised and Theresa May lost her majority in Parliament for her failure to consider the public opinion on what was seen as penalising those living with dementia. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;">The publication of the 2012 white paper<a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftn5" name="_ftnref5" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">[5]</span></span></span></a> was seen as a step in the right direction for adult social care. However the guardian paper titled it ‘a policy disaster but a political victory’. Once again, politicians seemed to be giving adult social care the focus it needed, but when the paper was looked at there seemed to be no understanding of how the ideas proposed would be implemented or a clear idea of the economic costs. This paper focused on a person-centred system with 5 very broad, extremely vague ideas; improved accessibility, high standards of support, providing people with the help they need to stay active, connected and independent, more training and development opportunities and finally, putting people in charge of their care and support opportunities. At a quick, first glance these aims seem reasonable but as mentioned, there was no ideas for how these would be implemented or what real changes would be seen and what the associated costs would amount too. There is little to no significant changes that can be seen from this white paper. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;">In 2013, George Osbourne proposed a financial bill which proposed a life time limit of care costs at £72,000 with a threshold for assets at £128,000. Once again, this idea was never implemented as it was budgeted to cost an extra £1 billion<a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftn6" name="_ftnref6" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">[6]</span></span></span></a> per year which would continue to rise with the changes in economy and population. It is clear that people want to see change in the adult social care system, but most are not prepared to pay for it. Changing the system requires money in the form of taxation. Finally, most recently in March 2021, there was wide spread uproar in the community when in the queens speech there was a single line given to social care; ‘Proposals on reforms to social care will be brought forward’ in the next month, the budget was announced with no reference to Social Care. Despite Boris Johnson’s first speech as Prime Minister in 2019 where he stated that he would ‘fix the crisis in social care once and for all with a clear plan we’ve prepared’<a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftn7" name="_ftnref7" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">[7]</span></span></span></a>. There is still no indication of when this plan will be published. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;">In my opinion there are 5 key issues that need to be addressed: Cultural and demographic issues, Staffing Issues, Funding (in particular that of Local Authority), Disparity and the Politics surrounding social care reform.<span style="background-color: yellow;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;">Firstly, for there to be the necessary steps taken towards the changes in adult social care reform, the demographic changes in England need to be addressed and there needs to be changes in cultural attitudes. There has been a growth in demand for social care reform, primarily due to demographic changes. We are currently in what is known as a “demographic bulge” as the baby boomer generation are reaching retirement in the early decades of the 21<sup>st</sup>century. In 1953 (when the welfare state was taking form) there was only 200,000 people over 85, but in 2016, there were 1.6 million people over he age of 85 and this number is expected to double in the next 23 years<a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftn8" name="_ftnref8" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">[8]</span></span></span></a>. In addition, currently there are around 59,000 people over the age of 100 and in the next 23 years, this number is expected to double<a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftn9" name="_ftnref9" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">[9]</span></span></span></a>. Most worrying of all – in a 2017 study – it was estimated that if rates of people needing care remains consistent, there will be an additional 72,000 residential beds in care homes needed by 2025<a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftn10" name="_ftnref10" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">[10]</span></span></span></a>.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;">In order to address these demographic changes, there needs to be significant change in not only people’s interest in their future, but also their understanding of how the system works. It can be argued that the population has become apathetic towards social care because people don’t want to think about what happens when they reach an old age due to the public’s general fear of death and being incapable to look after and provide for themselves. There is very minimal education and discussion surrounding a system that almost everyone will need support from at some point in their lives. People do not take the time to educate themselves about how the system works and in particular how their care will be funded. Many studies have been proposed to the public where it is extremely clear that the public assume that the current funding system is more generous that it actually is. Due to individuals personal experience, they may have ideas, but these ideas change from person to person. Furthermore, some people assume care will be free at the point when it is needed where as care is only paid for if the assets of an individual fall below the threshold of £23,250 (which many don’t know that this is the number for the threshold) and even then care is only partially paid for. Due to this, every year, at least 30,000 people <a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftn11" name="_ftnref11" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">[11]</span></span></span></a>are having to sell their homes in order to pay for their care. Unfortunately any proposed solutions require public investment, but any solution which requires extra spending on their behalf is perceived negatively by the public. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;">More broadly, people are unaware of how to access care. Some assumed the GP was their entry point and when asked, Local Authorities were rarely acknowledged. People with major experience with the sector appeared to have more knowledge but they were still not confident about how the wider system functions. As it can be seen, for even minute steps to be taken in the direction of an adult social care reform, their needs to be an acceptance of our changing demographics and how the system can cater towards this, but also a drastic improvement in the public understanding and their acknowledgment of how the system works.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;">In my opinion, one of the most prominent cause for the issues in social care is staffing. The issue of staffing in the sector is something that is always reported about, but still, nothing has been done about. This issue covers so many different areas; the way the media portrays care staff, uptake and retention of staff and pay. The future of the care work force is bleak and ageing. The average age of a care worker is between 44.<a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftn12" name="_ftnref12" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">[12]</span></span></span></a> Young people rarely aspire to work in the care industry. In March 2021, Rishi Sunak described social care as a “problem”. At exactly the same time, the Department of Health and Social care was launching a recruitment campaign… who wants to work for an industry that the government openly refers to as a problem? The combination of these different factors is causing detrimental problems for adult social care. This job needs to appear more attractive and stable. One of the two ways of doing this would be too firstly limit the amount of zero hour contracts to giver the work force stability. Secondly, caring needs to no longer be regarded as unskilled which I will go into more detail about later.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"> One shocking statistic showing the difficulties of this job is that as of May 2017, suicide rates among care staff were twice the national average.<a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftn13" name="_ftnref13" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">[13]</span></span></span></a> This in part, is likely to be due to high pressure, emotional fatigue, long hours and low pay. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;">Firstly, there is far too much negative stigma around working in care; media portrayal and public perception is rarely positive. During the changes in legislation following Brexit and the jobs which were open to foreign applicants, the role of a carer was missing. Care is not regarded as a skilled role. From an academic point of view, to work in care grades carry less importance. The qualities of empathy, compassion, kindness, strength, energy, flexibility are required to provide end of life care to a non-verbal, non-mobile person living with end stage dementia. Yet still this role is regarded as unskilled. The majority of media reporting about this job is about abuse, laziness and general unhappiness with the career. It is vital that good quality of work is praised more than bad quality work is portrayed. A care worker can have a job for life because there is always a need for good quality care staff. The relations built and developed within this job are unmatched with many other jobs because as a care worker, you gain very strong relationships with the residents or patients you care for and the people who you work with. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;">However, unfortunately the relationships developed (in particular the relationships with residents) are capitalised upon. You can not put a financial value on care and these relationships cannot be bought. The sector is constantly caught in the crossfire between commercialisation and the understanding of what care is. There is too much focus of the value of money in care. How can you quantify the cost of how long it takes someone to die and to provide person centred care? Care recipients are known as service users, which they are not. Providing care cannot be seen as transactional, which is why it is very difficult to quantify the costs associated with it. Care is not just about practical issues; It is about developing a good quality of life for the individuals who require care. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;">There are 122,000 vacancies<a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftn14" name="_ftnref14" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">[14]</span></span></span></a> currently. In 2020 there was a 6.6% vacancy rate with a turnover rate of 33.8%<a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftn15" name="_ftnref15" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">[15]</span></span></span></a>, in comparison to the 2017 turnover rate of 27.8%<a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftn16" name="_ftnref16" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">[16]</span></span></span></a>. It is estimated that there will need to be 520,000 extra staff by the end of 2035 <a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftn17" name="_ftnref17" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">[17]</span></span></span></a>to keep up with the demand for care. One of the main issues with the uptake and retention of staff is that so much more money is put into the NHS for attracting new workers that working for the NHS becomes a much more attractive career path. As Caroline Abrahams argues “It is high time that the situation changes in which care staff are constantly the poor relations of their equivalent in the NHS”.<a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftn18" name="_ftnref18" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">[18]</span></span></span></a> One issue with the uptake of staff is that many young people will do courses in health and social care, but this is not translated into the amount of young people following a career path into adult social care. 1 in 5 young people are asked to consider a job in the sector but only 1 in 25 people will apply<a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftn19" name="_ftnref19" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">[19]</span></span></span></a>. Most shockingly 1 in 10 young people under the age of 40 will stay in their job as a carer for more than a year<a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftn20" name="_ftnref20" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">[20]</span></span></span></a>. I was lucky enough to have a conversation with a care homeowner who told me that she was trying to hire more staff and had 5 applicants, but none of the applicants showed up to the interview<a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftn21" name="_ftnref21" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">[21]</span></span></span></a>. It is stories like this that highlight the issues in staff uptake in the sector because it is clear that something has to be done to change people’s perception of this job.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;">The final main issue with staffing in the sector is the very low rates of pay that staff receive. Pay has risen as a result of changes to the national living wage but care workers are still paid less on average than shop assistants. More than 25% of all care staff are on zero hour contracts, <a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftn22" name="_ftnref22" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">[22]</span></span></span></a>increasing the instability of their job. For many it feels very different for there to be progression within the job because staff with 5 or more years’ experience are now paid on average only 15 pence more than new entrants<a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftn23" name="_ftnref23" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">[23]</span></span></span></a>. The proportion of staff being paid minimum wage has increased from 10% in 2016 to 30% in 2020<a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftn24" name="_ftnref24" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">[24]</span></span></span></a>. It is easy to put the blame on the care home owners for low pay but after speaking to another care home owner they shared with me the statistic that for local authority funded residents they are paid £695 per week to provide all care. The cost of staffing is £672 per week, per resident. That leaves just £22 per week for accommodation, food, power and everything else. It is therefore easy to understand why care homes on this basis are unable to increase pay rates as local authority funding has not increased, even in line with increases to minimum wage<a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftn25" name="_ftnref25" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">[25]</span></span></span></a>.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;">Adult social care is a system that is chronically underfunded that is caught in a consistent loop of scandals leading to increased regulation and inspection, but rarely leading to an increase in funding. Unfortunately, as I have mentioned, any plan to improve the sector will require a large increase in funding and the constant squeeze placed on the funding is affecting the stability of the market. The care sector has increasingly high demand with an average growth rate of 3.7% per year<a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftn26" name="_ftnref26" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">[26]</span></span></span></a>. However, between 2010 and 2018 there was an 8% cut in social care<a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftn27" name="_ftnref27" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">[27]</span></span></span></a> budgets accompanied with a reduction in beds as so many care homes were closing. There will undoubtedly be a funding gap between care required and care available but it is unclear of how much a funding hap will leave. Some sources state that this increase will leave a funding gap of £6 billion by 2030 and other sources say this gap could be £18 billion by 2030. This uncertainty shows how difficult a system it is to value and fund, but also shows that no matter what changes, the system needs more money pumped into it. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;">Cuts in local authority spending are a main reason for the lack of money in the sector. Between 2010 and 2008 there was a 49.1%<a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftn28" name="_ftnref28" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">[28]</span></span></span></a> decrease in government spending for local authorities, significantly limiting their spending power. In total there as been a £216 million reduction<a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftn29" name="_ftnref29" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">[29]</span></span></span></a> in local authority spending in elderly social care. Local Authorities are not being given enough money to implement the care act to ensure that good quality of care is being provided for service users. Care homes with more than 75% L.A. Funded residents are at the highest risk of failure. This makes up around a quarter of UK care homes<a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftn30" name="_ftnref30" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">[30]</span></span></span></a>. There are many local authorities that are paying care provides the absolute minimum price which is regarded as necessary to comply with minimum employment and care standards. However, as stated earlier, how is it possible to quantify the costs of care on an individual basis.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;">As I will go onto to talk about in greater detail, the disparity in the sector is growing more and more abundant each year. The gap between needs and the funding available is widening and the provider market is facing severe and sustained financial pressure. In 2019, ADASS reported that 75% of Councils (up from 66% last year) reported that providers in their area had closed, ceased trading or handed back contracts in the last six months, with thousands of individuals affected as a consequence<a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftn31" name="_ftnref31" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">[31]</span></span></span></a>. These closures are being felt throughout the country leaving vulnerable people unable to access the care that they need to maintain their health and livelihood. In 2017, commercial analysts estimated that a 1/3 of the UK’s bed capacity in residential care was at risk of closing in the next 5 years<a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftn32" name="_ftnref32" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">[32]</span></span></span></a>. The surviving care homes may be tempted to push prices up. Further disparity is seen between self funders (those who pay for care themselves) and L.A. Funded residents where a self funder has the average fee of £846 per week and a L.A. Funded resident has an average fee £621 per week<a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftn33" name="_ftnref33" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">[33]</span></span></span></a>. In comparison with the NHS, everyone contributes to their care via tax, where as there is no such system in place for social care. If you are diagnosed with cancer you won’t have to pay for your treatment. If you are diagnosed with dementia you will have to pay for your care. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;">As has been seen in previous parts of my essay, the disparity that the adult social care sector faces is abundant and growing fast. Like I mentioned, the disparity between the NHS and adult social care is what the majority of the public fails to understand. However it has had more exposure throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. I have chosen to not make lots of references to the pandemic because it has been something so out of the ordinary that has exacerbated the problems as it was something so unexpected whereas I wanted to delve into the deep-rooted problems in adult social care. I have chosen to make reference to one part of the pandemic as I feel as though it emphasises the disparity between NHS and social care very clearly. From early November 2021 it was mandatory for all care staff to be double vaccinated, many were not and therefore lost their job, further exacerbating the staffing issues. NHS staff have until April 2022 to be vaccinated. In addition, a letter was sent to all care home owners explaining that ambulance drivers do not have to be double vaccinated but they legally have to be allowed into a care home. Family members who are not double vaccinated are not allowed into care homes. So why? The answer is not clear. This highlights the differences between how the public and government views the two sectors. The NHS has time to make the choices where as social care is rushed into mandatory vaccinations which for this sector was a nightmare. The belief of those working in social care that they are the Cinderella of healthcare, was coming through. Social care was an easy target for the government to force upon legislation. However, they would never be seen to do something like this to the NHS as it is thought of so highly by the general public. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;">Furthermore, there is also disparity within the sector among quality in particular. Quality of care is variable and inconsistent. In a survey published before the 2012 white paper, only 43% of people in England that the people using care have access to good quality care where they are treated with dignity and respect<a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftn34" name="_ftnref34" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">[34]</span></span></span></a>. People wanting to access care are also at the pitfall of what is known as ‘the post code lottery’ where dependent on where you live, the price of care in a care home setting changes drastically. In a recent research paper published by the institute of public policy research it has been discovered that 80,000 care home residents could be receiving care in their own homes where they will have an increased independence with more fulfilling lives. The proportion of care provided at home varies considerably across different councils. In Barnsley it is as low as 46% and in Hammersmith and Fulham it is as high as 84%. As Chris Thomas, the leading IPPR senior research fellow argues, ‘Government needs to think ‘how care is delivered to ensure people can lead flourishing lives, regardless of arbitrary factors like where they live’ This difference across the country shows that these disparities are not in an isolated section of the country, the occur nation wide<a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftn35" name="_ftnref35" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">[35]</span></span></span></a>.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;">The final cause that I feel needs to be discussed is the politics surrounding changes in adult social care reform. For years and years, the unwillingness for politicians to make sustainable and substantial change has been seen through approaches and decisions taken. There is the issue surrounding an idea of ‘the politics of doing nothing’ <a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftn36" name="_ftnref36" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">[36]</span></span></span></a>categorised by and absence of government action rather than a failure of any action. Reforming adult social care seems like an issue that can never be solved by politicians because if there is a policy failure this will also lead to a political failure. There never seems to be a true search for an ideal solution, the government is only looking for solutions which will gain them votes in parliament. In a country where political and ideological standings are part of the framework, the potential for shifts in individuals political leanings is detrimental for a parties political image. Especially surrounding a topic such as adult social care where there is the potential for significant damage to the system. The reform of adult social care is seen as a ‘wicked <a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftn37" name="_ftnref37" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">[37]</span></span></span></a>issue’ which is complex and multi-causal because there is no singular root to the problem. The governments approach to welfare reform has always been to try to make people and problems go away by cutting services and support rather than increasing financial investments. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;">As previously stated, adult social care is caught in a vicious policy cycle where no one knows what to do or what to avoid doing. Adult social care can also be seen as a policy chestnut which resurfaces every few years, extensive analysis and reviews are undertaken, various options are considered but any proposals are rejected. This issues are marked as too difficult and the country and government becomes stuck in a continuous cycle. Government is trying to develop a non-partisan, cross party solution but this is nearly impossible because there will never be a solution that every politician and citizen will agree with. As Sally Warren, King’s fund researcher argues ‘The political consequence of fixing social care is incredibly unpopular. It is much more straightforward politically to keep kicking the can down the road’<a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftn38" name="_ftnref38" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">[38]</span></span></span></a>. Adult social care reform is overshadowed with uncertainty, confusion and turmoil. It is the elephant in the cabinet room. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;">These 5 causes: Cultural and demographic issues, Staffing issues, Funding, Disparity and Politics are rooting the problems of adult social care deeper and deeper into the framework of our country. It is becoming an issue that people don’t want to think about because these causes remain unchanged and nothing is being done to ease the pressure. If no action is taken, there will not only be devastating impacts to the adult social care sector, but also detrimental impacts that will spill over into the NHS and wider sectors. People may not be able to go to work as they are having to stay at home to look after an older vulnerable loved one, <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;">As these gaps widen and he sector falls further into disarray, we will continue to see a rise in the fundamental differences in funding between the NHS and the adult social care sector. People needing care will begin to be routinely stuck in hospital waiting for the appropriate care they need, taking up beds (bed blocking) from people who are in desperate need of hospital treatment. In addition to this, the country will see a rise in hospital discharges going to the wrong sort of care too early, meaning that care receivers may need to go back into hospital, continuing this vicious cycle or bed blocking and improper discharge. Imagine that you were an old person with dementia. The detrimental impacts this can have on a care recipient well being are devastating and cases such as these will only increase if no action is taken.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;">Furthermore, due to the L.A. Facing a sustained increase in costs we face the severe risk of the privatisation of care homes because care/service providers will be unable to provide care at a reasonable cost for the neediest in society. There are 2 risks from this. Firstly, this could mean that only the top percentage of self funded recipients will get care at care homes meaning that this who are council funded (typically pay less to the care provider weekly) will be unable to revive the appropriate care they deserve. Care providers/companies have to make a profit, or they face complete bankruptcy. Secondly and most devastatingly, the country will run the risk of the loss of care homes completely because there is not enough money in the sector, meaning that homes are unable to remain open. More widely there is the risk of the already crippled NHS having a complete collapse because if care homes can’t stay open there will be a mass influx of vulnerable older people needing care. This will lead to the people needing medical care not being able to receive it putting the wider country at massive risk. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;">The reason that adult social care needs a reform and extremely urgently is the uncertainty. It is impossible to put a number on how much this reform will cost the economy or how long left we have before the timer runs out. What we do know is this. As of 2019, the government was spending £27,000 per hour for social care discharges <a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftn39" name="_ftnref39" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">[39]</span></span></span></a>and this number will continue to rise and will not stop. 75,000 more beds will be needed by 2030 <a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftn40" name="_ftnref40" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">[40]</span></span></span></a>and this number will continue to rise and will not stop. Adult social care needs to be reformed now and the longer the country and sector carries on without this reform, the worse the impacts will be in the future. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;">All these things which I have explained paint the picture of the harsh reality that adult social care faces today. These ideas and issues are things that have stemmed from the past but will not stop and will continue to carry on to the future, bringing with them a whole new set of issues for the society at the time to deal with. We should not be kicking the can down the road and taking the issue of adult social care reform as someone else’s problem. It is a problem that our society today can solve and needs to solve before we risk future generations having limited or no access to the care that is guaranteed to them. Everyone in society wants to be treated with dignity, respect and care in their old age. The government therefore has to be brave enough to ensure that the public understands why it is so critical that adult social care receives the funding it is gasping for.<o:p></o:p></p><div><br clear="all" /><hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" /><div id="ftn1"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm;"><a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[1]</span></span></span></a> <span lang="EN-US">Kings Fund. <i>Key Facts and Figures about Adult Social Care.</i></span><span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif;">[online] </span><i> </i><span lang="EN-US">Available at </span><a href="http://www.kingsfund.org.uk/audio-video/key-facts-figures-adult-social-care" style="color: #954f72;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">www.kingsfund.org.uk/audio-video/key-facts-figures-adult-social-care</span></a><span lang="EN-US"> </span><span lang="EN-US">[Accessed 29th December 2021]<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p></div><div id="ftn2"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm;"><a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[2]</span></span></span></a> <span lang="EN-US">Peter Lilley (2021). <i>Solving the social care dilemma? A responsible solution</i>. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif;">[online] </span><span lang="EN-US">Available at </span><a href="http://www.civitas.org.uk/content/files/SOCIAL-CARE.pdf" style="color: #954f72;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">www.civitas.org.uk/content/files/SOCIAL-CARE.pdf</span></a><span lang="EN-US"> </span><span lang="EN-US">[Accessed at 26 May 2021]<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="ftn3"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm;"><a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[3]</span></span></span></a> <span lang="EN-US">Peter Lilley (2021). <i>Solving the social care dilemma? A responsible solution</i>.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif;">[online] </span><span lang="EN-US">Available at </span><a href="http://www.civitas.org.uk/content/files/SOCIAL-CARE.pdf" style="color: #954f72;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">www.civitas.org.uk/content/files/SOCIAL-CARE.pdf</span></a><u><span lang="EN-US"> [</span></u><span lang="EN-US">Accessed at 26 May 2021]<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="ftn4"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm;"><a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftnref4" name="_ftn4" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[4]</span></span></span></a> <span lang="EN-US">Alderwick, H, Tallack C, Watt T (2019). <i>What should be done to fix the crisis in social care. </i></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif;">[online] </span><i> </i><span lang="EN-US">Available at </span><a href="http://www.health.org.uk/publications/long-reads/what-should-be-done-to-fix-the-crisis-in-social-care" style="color: #954f72;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">www.health.org.uk/publications/long-reads/what-should-be-done-to-fix-the-crisis-in-social-care</span></a><span lang="EN-US"> [Accessed at 27 September 2021]<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p></div><div id="ftn5"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm;"><a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftnref5" name="_ftn5" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[5]</span></span></span></a> HM Government (2012), caring for our future: reforming care and support. <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif;">[online] </span>Available at assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/136422/White-Paper-Caring-for-our-future-reforming-care-and-support-PDF-1580K.pdf [Accessed at 12 July 2021]<span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="ftn6"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm;"><a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftnref6" name="_ftn6" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[6]</span></span></span></a> <span lang="EN-US">Peter Lilley (2021). <i>Solving the social care dilemma? A responsible solution</i>. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif;">[online] </span><span lang="EN-US">Available at </span><a href="http://www.civitas.org.uk/content/files/SOCIAL-CARE.pdf" style="color: #954f72;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">www.civitas.org.uk/content/files/SOCIAL-CARE.pdf</span></a><span lang="EN-US"> [Accessed at 26 May 2021]<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="ftn7"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm;"><a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftnref7" name="_ftn7" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[7]</span></span></span></a> <span lang="EN-US">The Carer (2021) <i>Care sector backlash at govt’s ‘lip service’ to care in queen’s speech.</i></span><span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif;">[online] </span><span lang="EN-US"> Available at thecareruk.com/care-sector-backlash-at-govts-lip-service-to-care-in-queens-speech/ [Accessed at 7 September 2021]<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="ftn8"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm;"><a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftnref8" name="_ftn8" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[8]</span></span></span></a> <span lang="EN-US">Alderwick, H, Tallack C, Watt T (2019). <i>What should be done to fix the crisis in social care.</i></span><span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif;">[online] </span><i> </i><span lang="EN-US">Available at </span><a href="http://www.health.org.uk/publications/long-reads/what-should-be-done-to-fix-the-crisis-in-social-care" style="color: #954f72;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">www.health.org.uk/publications/long-reads/what-should-be-done-to-fix-the-crisis-in-social-care</span></a><span lang="EN-US"> [</span><span lang="EN-US">Accessed at 27 September 2021]<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="ftn9"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm;"><a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftnref9" name="_ftn9" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[9]</span></span></span></a> HM Government (2012), <i>caring for our future: reforming care and support</i>.<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif;"> [online] </span> Available at assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/136422/White-Paper-Caring-for-our-future-reforming-care-and-support-PDF-1580K.pdf [Accessed at 12 July 2021]<span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="ftn10"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm;"><a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftnref10" name="_ftn10" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[10]</span></span></span></a> <span lang="EN-US">Alderwick, H, Tallack C, Watt T (2019). <i>What should be done to fix the crisis in social care.</i> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif;">[online] </span><i> </i><span lang="EN-US">Available at </span><a href="http://www.health.org.uk/publications/long-reads/what-should-be-done-to-fix-the-crisis-in-social-care" style="color: #954f72;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">www.health.org.uk/publications/long-reads/what-should-be-done-to-fix-the-crisis-in-social-care</span></a><span lang="EN-US"> [Accessed at 27 September 2021]<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="ftn11"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm;"><a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftnref11" name="_ftn11" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[11]</span></span></span></span></a> <span lang="EN-US">Peter Lilley (2021). <i>Solving the social care dilemma? 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Available at </span><a href="http://www.nurses.co.uk/blog/stats-and-facts-uk-nursing-social-care-and-healthcare-2022/" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; text-decoration: none;">www.nurses.co.uk/blog/stats-and-facts-uk-nursing-social-care-and-healthcare-2022/</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif;"> [Accessed 4 July 2021]</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="ftn13"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm;"><a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftnref13" name="_ftn13" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[13]</span></span></span></a> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif;">Bunting, M., (2020) <i>Labours of love</i>. London: Granta Publications.</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="ftn14"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm;"><a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftnref14" name="_ftn14" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[14]</span></span></span></a> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif;">Bottery, S., (2019). <i>What's your problem, social care?</i>. [online] Available at: www.kingsfund.org.uk/publications/whats-your-problem-social-care [Accessed 18 October 2021].</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="ftn15"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm;"><a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftnref15" name="_ftn15" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[15]</span></span></span></a> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif;">Thorlby, R., Starling, A., Broadbent, C. and Watt, T., 2019. <i>What's the problem with social care, and why do we need to do better?</i>. [online] Available at: </span><a href="http://www.health.org.uk/sites/default/files/NHS-70-What-Can-We-Do-About-Social-Care.pdf" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; text-decoration: none;">www.health.org.uk/sites/default/files/NHS-70-What-Can-We-Do-About-Social-Care.pdf</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif;"> [Accessed 6 October 2021].</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="ftn16"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm;"><a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftnref16" name="_ftn16" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[16]</span></span></span></a> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif;">Glasby, J., Zhang, Y., Bennett, M. and Hall, P., 2020. <i>A lost decade? A renewed case for adult social care reform in England</i>. [online] Available at: </span><a href="http://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/6309C490CD09B4009F3369E2E5AEB1D9/S0047279420000288a.pdf/a-lost-decade-a-renewed-case-for-adult-social-care-reform-in-england.pdf" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; text-decoration: none;">www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/6309C490CD09B4009F3369E2E5AEB1D9/S0047279420000288a.pdf/a-lost-decade-a-renewed-case-for-adult-social-care-reform-in-england.pdf</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif;"> [Accessed 4 October 2021].</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="ftn17"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm;"><a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftnref17" name="_ftn17" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[17]</span></span></span></a> Health Org. (<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif;">2021) <i>Workforce projections</i>. [online] Available at: www.health.org.uk/sites/default/files/2021-06/health_foundation_-_supplementary_workforce_projections_summary_note_february_2021_1.pdf [Accessed 16 September 2021].</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="ftn18"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm;"><a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftnref18" name="_ftn18" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[18]</span></span></span></a> <span lang="EN-US">The Carer (2021). <i>Sector backlash at Governments ‘lip service’ to care in queen’s speech. </i>May/June 2021. Page 7<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="ftn19"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm;"><a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftnref19" name="_ftn19" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[19]</span></span></span></a> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif;">Bottery, S., (2019). <i>What's your problem, social care?</i>. [online] Available at: www.kingsfund.org.uk/publications/whats-your-problem-social-care [Accessed 18 October 2021].</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="ftn20"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm;"><a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftnref20" name="_ftn20" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[20]</span></span></span></a> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif;">Bunting, M., (2020) <i>Labours of love</i>. London: Granta Publications</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="ftn21"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm;"><a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftnref21" name="_ftn21" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[21]</span></span></span></a> <span lang="EN-US">Locke. M. (2021) Personal Communication<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="ftn22"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm;"><a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftnref22" name="_ftn22" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[22]</span></span></span></a> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif;">BBC One, (2020). <i>Sir Simon Stevens: Social care reform needed within a year</i>. [video] Available at: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p08jxmb1 [Accessed 20 September 2021].</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="ftn23"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm;"><a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftnref23" name="_ftn23" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[23]</span></span></span></a> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif;">Bottery, S., (2019). <i>What's your problem, social care?</i>. [online] Available at: www.kingsfund.org.uk/publications/whats-your-problem-social-care [Accessed 18 October 2021].</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="ftn24"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm;"><a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftnref24" name="_ftn24" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[24]</span></span></span></a> <span lang="EN-US">Alderwick, H, Tallack C, Watt T (2019). <i>What should be done to fix the crisis in social care.</i></span><span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif;">[online] </span><i> </i><span lang="EN-US">Available at </span><a href="http://www.health.org.uk/publications/long-reads/what-should-be-done-to-fix-the-crisis-in-social-care" style="color: #954f72;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">www.health.org.uk/publications/long-reads/what-should-be-done-to-fix-the-crisis-in-social-care</span></a><span lang="EN-US"> [</span><span lang="EN-US">Accessed at 27 September 2021]<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="ftn25"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm;"><a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftnref25" name="_ftn25" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[25]</span></span></span></a> <span lang="EN-US">Nix. S. (2021) Personal Communication<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="ftn26"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm;"><a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftnref26" name="_ftn26" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[26]</span></span></span></a> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif;">Bottery, S., Varrow, M., Thorlby, R. and Wellings, D., 2022. <i>A fork in the road: Next steps for social care funding reform</i>. 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London: Granta Publications</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="ftn28"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm;"><a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftnref28" name="_ftn28" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[28]</span></span></span></a> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif;">Thorlby, R., Starling, A., Broadbent, C. and Watt, T., (2019). <i>What's the problem with social care, and why do we need to do better?</i>. [online] Available at: www.health.org.uk/sites/default/files/NHS-70-What-Can-We-Do-About-Social-Care.pdf [Accessed 6 October 2021].</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="ftn29"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm;"><a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftnref29" name="_ftn29" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[29]</span></span></span></a> (<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif;">2019). <i>Social care reform and funding</i>. 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[online] Available at: www.health.org.uk/sites/default/files/NHS-70-What-Can-We-Do-About-Social-Care.pdf [Accessed 6 October 2021].</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="ftn31"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm;"><a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftnref31" name="_ftn31" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[31]</span></span></span></a> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif;">Glasby, J., Zhang, Y., Bennett, M. and Hall, P., 2020. <i>A lost decade? A renewed case for adult social care reform in England</i>. [online] Available at: </span><a href="http://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/6309C490CD09B4009F3369E2E5AEB1D9/S0047279420000288a.pdf/a-lost-decade-a-renewed-case-for-adult-social-care-reform-in-england.pdf" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; text-decoration: none;">www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/6309C490CD09B4009F3369E2E5AEB1D9/S0047279420000288a.pdf/a-lost-decade-a-renewed-case-for-adult-social-care-reform-in-england.pdf</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif;"> [Accessed 4 October 2021].</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="ftn32"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm;"><a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftnref32" name="_ftn32" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[32]</span></span></span></a> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif;">Bunting, M., (2020) <i>Labours of love</i>. London: Granta Publications</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="ftn33"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm;"><a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftnref33" name="_ftn33" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[33]</span></span></span></a> <span lang="EN-US">Locke. M. (2021) Personal Communication<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="ftn34"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm;"><a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftnref34" name="_ftn34" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[34]</span></span></span></a> HM Government (2012), caring for our future: reforming care and support. <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif;">[online] </span>Available at assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/136422/White-Paper-Caring-for-our-future-reforming-care-and-support-PDF-1580K.pdf [Accessed at 12 July 2021]<span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="ftn35"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm;"><a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftnref35" name="_ftn35" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[35]</span></span></span></a> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif;">Thomas, C., 2021. <i>Home care postcode lottery: 80,000 care home residents could be receiving social care in their own homes</i>. [online] Available at: www.ippr.org/news-and-media/press-releases/home-care-postcode-lottery-80-000-care-home-residents-could-be-receiving-social-care-in-their-own-homes# [Accessed 11 November 2021].</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="ftn36"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm;"><a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftnref36" name="_ftn36" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[36]</span></span></span></a> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif;">Hudson, B., 2021. <i>'Why don't they do something about it?' The politics of doing nothing | British Politics and Policy at LSE</i>. [online] Available at: blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandpolicy/the-politics-of-doing-nothing/ [Accessed 5 October 2021].</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="ftn37"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm;"><a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftnref37" name="_ftn37" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[37]</span></span></span></a> ibid<span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="ftn38"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm;"><a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftnref38" name="_ftn38" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[38]</span></span></span></a> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif;">Hudson, B., 2021. <i>'Why don't they do something about it?' The politics of doing nothing | British Politics and Policy at LSE</i>. [online] Available at: blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandpolicy/the-politics-of-doing-nothing/ [Accessed 5 October 2021].</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="ftn39"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm;"><a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftnref39" name="_ftn39" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[39]</span></span></span></a> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif;">O'Shea, D., 2019. <i>Lack of social care costs the NHS £27,000 per hour</i>. [online] Available at: </span><a href="http://www.univadis.co.uk/viewarticle/lack-of-social-care-costs-the-nhs-lb27-000-per-hour-705918" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; text-decoration: none;">www.univadis.co.uk/viewarticle/lack-of-social-care-costs-the-nhs-lb27-000-per-hour-705918</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif;"> [Accessed 27 September 2021].</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="ftn40"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm;"><a href="applewebdata://3A6AC93A-30B2-415D-8BBA-CA4C6F0F65D4#_ftnref40" name="_ftn40" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[40]</span></span></span></a> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif;">Bottery, S., 2019. <i>What's your problem, social care?</i>. [online] Available at: www.kingsfund.org.uk/publications/whats-your-problem-social-care [Accessed 18 October 2021].</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div>MTBooChophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07363750678398253164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4848901059957504803.post-45114774396318794772021-11-03T15:20:00.000-07:002021-11-03T15:20:01.086-07:00Does this make sense??The evenings tend to be spent catching up on the innumerable amounts of guidelines / process / requests for information.<div>I received a letter a few days ago which I glossed over. I have just read it, (after reading loads of emails reminding me that I need to ensure no-one enters the care home post November 11 without double vaccination). All staff are double vaccinated. I have written before about inconsistencies, but this one left me open mouthed. </div><div><br /></div><div>It is from South Central Ambulance Service. They remind me that double vaccination is required to enter care homes.... BUT THAT IT DOES NOT APPLY TO AMBULANCE STAFF AND AS SUCH THEY CAN"T GUARANTEE AMBULANCE STAFF ENTERING WILL BE VACCINATED.</div><div><br /></div><div>The only words I have left are dismay, unfair, inconsistent. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEikGzaFzID4w7YbpLAKgY3HjQ5On3PkI5vJd2UhVaFWfYHY22CchoChnyO_S2Jnn-nEY_Fv5gK-bOGYbppqm99w-wqsBGDI2tTVJW9iFe_fFEsCQJ1ybXii-jWVsImmyAUVfxELU1nxWpExsfeS5pZV4nVAOYRbwp70yfCnzuzsGbg4brEjjOCwgQVm=s859" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="665" data-original-width="859" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEikGzaFzID4w7YbpLAKgY3HjQ5On3PkI5vJd2UhVaFWfYHY22CchoChnyO_S2Jnn-nEY_Fv5gK-bOGYbppqm99w-wqsBGDI2tTVJW9iFe_fFEsCQJ1ybXii-jWVsImmyAUVfxELU1nxWpExsfeS5pZV4nVAOYRbwp70yfCnzuzsGbg4brEjjOCwgQVm=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /> </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>MTBooChophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07363750678398253164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4848901059957504803.post-15459764416415363252021-09-13T12:24:00.000-07:002021-09-13T12:24:01.028-07:00Inconsistencies<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOxDGhyphenhyphenl5HAq5ok4kzcyTfS8a50W7J7DrcBnAAoHsx5LDnzT9sd6Ft0Z0aoY_1iDCH_L3XglmESgcu6_zQiOYD69aLTU3_nProJBBhIUBWr2KR9TTT5p2vHwIAAAKlxNg4oeZ3INPMk1Y/s2048/IMG_6393.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1439" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOxDGhyphenhyphenl5HAq5ok4kzcyTfS8a50W7J7DrcBnAAoHsx5LDnzT9sd6Ft0Z0aoY_1iDCH_L3XglmESgcu6_zQiOYD69aLTU3_nProJBBhIUBWr2KR9TTT5p2vHwIAAAKlxNg4oeZ3INPMk1Y/s320/IMG_6393.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Sun was streaming into the home last Wednesday.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">The carers were busy (as always, there is never any down time when working in care).</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">I had been cooking in the morning (and I was rather proud of my cottage pie yesterday).</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Externally I was remaining positive, internally as announcements about social care reform were sinking in, my head was full of questions regarding inconsistencies and yet again it was clear those making decisions were telling half truths and do not understand social care.</span></p><style class="WebKit-mso-list-quirks-style">
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</style><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">In the afternoon a senior carer asked if the team could have coffee with the residents. After a moment of hesitation, I replied “of course”. We spent a lovely 15 minutes in the lounge all enjoying a drink together, staff and residents. One carer showing us the cup song, I found the words online, projected them on the tv. Residents and staff all sung along. One carer had stopped cleaning and was cuddling the daschund with a resident. Two carers sat on the arms of chairs, arms around residents, singing and laughing. I was trying to sing, and I am sure I sounded dreadful. It was how life in a care home should be, filled with love, spontaneity, and laughter. It was the first time that this has happened in a year…. A coffee break together…. The reality is that technically we should not have had a coffee break with the residents….. because we had to remove our masks, however all staff had been tested, all were double vaccinated and at that moment the positives outweighed the risk - at the moment I took the decision that it was the right thing to do. All the residents saw our faces, maskless. I broke all the rules doing this, perhaps it is foolish of me to write this down on the blog, but I will stand by this decision.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">It is however a perfect example of one of the many many inconsistencies we live through every day;<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">On Saturday one of our residents is going out to see her daughter and son in law for lunch, this has been happening for a few months. It is how it should be, residents leaving care homes and spending time with their family. I have to do a risk assessment for every visit outside of the home. You can not eat with a mask on. This is deemed perfectly acceptable – a resident is able to eat with a family (as it should be) and yet at all times, all staff have to keep their masks on when at work… this means never being able to sit and have a drink or anything to eat with our residents. Yesterday was the first time in over eighteen months that we enjoyed a drink with the residents, the first time in over eighteen months that our residents, whom we regard as family, saw our faces without masks. All staff are testing twice a week with LFT and PCR weekly, vaccines are legally mandated, yet we, who work in a care home, have to keep our masks on whereas residents can leave the home and eat, drink, hold hands, hug and kiss with families and friends….<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">From November 11 2021 it will be a legal requirement for all staff and EVERYONE working in a care home to be double vaccinated against covid, even down to an engineer working in the laundry repairing a washing machine (and no interaction with residents or staff). All our staff have been vaccinated. This does NOT apply to families of residents. Another massive inconsistency. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 18pt;"><span lang="EN-US">These are smaller inconsistencies compared to the recent announcements;<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 18pt;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 54.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">Yesterday we were discussing the social care reforms announced in the last 48 hours. I was explaining the changes. One carers response was “So everyone clapped for us last year and said we should be paid more, and yet the government less than a year later takes £5 a week from us”. I believe taxes need to increase to pay for NHS and Social Care reform, I do not agree NI increases were the right way to do this, this will unfairly hit the lowest paid. Staff morale is at an all time low, the NI increases, mandatory vaccines (we have been advised that flu vaccines may be mandated next) which don’t apply to NHS staff and families, lack of staff so existing staff are taking on more, constant testing, changing guidelines, again - inconsistencies at every turn. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 54.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">The cap on care which was announced is hugely misleading…. It is right that there should be a cap on care costs…. But the £83K cap is on CARE (STAFF COSTS) not ACCOMMODATION AND FOOD. How care costs versus costs for accommodation and food would be calculated are unclear I anticipate that for most homes the cost of care would be 50% of the total costs, but this is likely to vary enormously between homes. In our area it would mean that for most residential care home residents would hit the cap after almost 3 years. The Local Authority would then cover the cost of the “care” (staff costs). How will this be calculated, what happens when the LA feel that the care costs are too high in a particular home? With the increased threshold the need for LA funded placements are going to be significantly higher.. Where are these beds? And this even ignores that major question of whether funds will actually get to social care due to the enormous pressures on the NHS.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 54pt;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">So many questions, so many inconsistencies. In the meantime I will keep focusing on our main goal which is keeping our residents and staff, loved, safe and happy. I just wish those writing the policy would listen to those of us who are actually on the frontline, and specifically those working in social care. Perhaps they should come and work in a care home for just a day…… now, that would be an idea…… any MP’s willing to take on the c</span>MTBooChophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07363750678398253164noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4848901059957504803.post-69237795855548947502021-07-15T03:06:00.002-07:002021-07-15T03:06:12.830-07:00An issue which can not be ignored - Social Care Reform<p> <span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: justify;">A few weeks ago I was asked to join a panel discussion on Times Radio about social care reform and why it was needed.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: justify;">Over the last 15 months I have regularly spoken on Times Radio about how our care home was coping with the pandemic.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: justify;">I’ve had time to reflect on first hand experience of managing and running a care home in these unprecedented times.</span></p><style class="WebKit-mso-list-quirks-style">
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</style><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">Everyone has been keen to hear about the truth behind what it really was like during the pandemic in a care home. Were the government to blame with the excessive deaths in care homes? Did we have enough PPE? Did Covid get into our home? These type of questions are easy to answer.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">But in terms of the larger all encompassing subject of social care reform….. I don’t get asked about it. I know it is desperately needed, but I believe the possible solutions and the associated costs may be too difficult for the general public to digest and so perhaps this is why in the Queens Speech last month, despite promises by the current and previous Government, there was just 10 words given to social care reform. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">The subject of social care reform struggles for public attention. Social care has a history of invisibility and complacency. The social care crisis is caught up in a repetitive loop of alarm alternating with apathy. There are well pulbicised care home scandals which lead to more regulation and inspection and rarely to increased funding. The public are used to hearing the bad stories of about life in a care home, these are repeated, but the wonderful stories of care are rarely shared. (Even the interviewer on the Times Radio panel interview even fell into this trap). <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: red;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">So what has the experience of owning a care home led me to my belief that social care reform is needed?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">FEES - At the heart of this issue is the fact that there is a massive disparity between costs of care (and for the purposes of this article I refer to residential care). Local Authority funding is being squeezed to untenable levels, infact before writing this I was completing a spreadsheet to justify why I need an extra one percent increase on fees above the two percent increase granted by the local authority, to justify this extra one percent for two residents who we have not received any fee increase for in three years, I have to explain what I have done to reduce expenditure – they suggest redundancies and fund raising… We have always wanted to continue to charge the same for a self funder as a local authority placement, Sadly this is looking like it will become impossible as the Local Authorities can not pay realistic costs for placements . In the majority of homes that take both Local Authority placements and self funders, this is resulting in self funders (those who earn above the £23,000 threshold to receive local authority funding) “propping up” the industry.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">STAFFING - Social Care staff are underpaid, undervalued and currently massively demoralized. Cost pressures on many homes mean staff are under pressure to perform more tasks leaving less time to actually “care”. I am currently looking for an additional carer to join our team. I had 5 applications, not one turned up for an interview. I am not alone. There is a massive shortage of carers (I believe the situation is the same in nursing). Coming out of a pandemic, those working in social care are tired and feel undervalued. The announcement about vaccinations being mandatory for those working in care homes did nothing to motivate an undervalued workforce. The reason being as follows; Anyone working in a care home must be vaccinated, carers, cleaners, people working in the kitchen, the same goes for all working in a care home even if not directly employed – hairdresser, plumber, electrician. All staff at our home are vaccinated, all agreed, some took a little longer to decide but everyone is vaccinated. However…. A nurse, paramedic, doctor currently does not have to be vaccinated. They can come into any care home with no requirement to (currently) be vaccinated. Double standards perhaps? In the case of any covid outbreak the Department of Health felt care staff did not require the same level of PPE as NHS staff – No full gowns and no enhanced masks. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">PREMISES -Small privately owned homes are closing at a faster rate than other homes due to pressure on them to conform to unrealistic building requirements. Our care home is a home, in places a home which is over four hundred years old. Beams, wonky floors, individual rooms. The requirements for our building are increasing almost monthly and some just can not be met. As an example; we do not have any en-suite bedrooms, the majority of those we care for live with advanced dementia, many are incontinent and many are not mobile. En-suites would not in any way enhance their quality of life. I have been warned this may become a requirement for all care homes. To do this we would have to flatten our home as the drains would need to be entirely rebuilt. I am told that our exisiting quarry tiled hall may no longer be regarded as acceptable for infection control. I worry that the future of care homes may only be purpose built clinical, hotel style of homes which are soulless and in no way offer a “home from home” experience.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">I was asked to speak on the panel interview regarding challenges within in a care home that provides care for “self funders” (those who have finances above the threshold to have care paid for by the local authority) and for those who are funded by the Local Authority. The weekly rate that we charge whether a self funder or a local authority placement is the same. I believe we are in the minority in this regard and the majority of care homes do not charge the same weekly fees for self funders and Local Authority placements<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">I had been asked to join the panel to talk about the issues in terms of funding of placements primarily but I was aware that this discussion could cover other areas of social care reform. So a few days before the interview I did some background research. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">To put this issue into perspective, the following needs to be understood;<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">In 2019/20 1.9 million people requested support from their council, over 100,000 more than in 2015/16<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">Social care budgets have been cut by £8bn since 2010 with 1.4m people living without the care that they require.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">The Lancet reports that It is believed that the number of over 85’s requiring 24 hour care will double between 2020 and 2035.</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">22% fewer older people were able to access care in 2017 compared with 2010<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">In 2010 – 2018 there was an 8% cut in social care budgets, accompanied with a reduction in beds as so many care homes were closing. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">1 in 10 over 65’s are anticipated in having care costs in excess of £100K, often due to dementia.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">Local Authority savings have been made by tightening the criteria for care and holding down costs paid for residential and nursing placements - having the result of bringing down wages in real terms or closing homes.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">There are more than 100,000 vacancies for social care staff.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">Approximately 10% of care jobs are paid under the minimum wage<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">In March 2017 suicide rates amongst social care staff were twice the national average – this was even before the pandemic. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">Public spending on adult social care is less than 1% of GDP in the UK <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">The future of the care workforce is bleak and is aging. The average age of a care worker is 47. Young people rarely aspire to work in care. Chronic low pay has led to high turnover and vacancy rates and every year nearly half of care workers leave their jobs. In March 2021 Rishi Sunak described Social care as a “problem” at the same time the department of Health and Social Care at the same time was launching a recruitment campaign… who wants to work for an industry that the Government openly regards as a “problem”?. Coming out of a pandemic, where care staff have been under enormous amounts of pressure watching ten of thousands die, who is going to want to work in “a problem”?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">Care is not thought of as a highly skilled job. From an academic point of view to work in care, grades don’t matter. Empathy, compassion, kindness, strength (emotional and physical), energy, flexibility, teamwork are essential. There are very very very few people who I met in the last 30 years in my career (prior to working in social care) who I believe could do the job of a carer. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">The fall in beds across care and nursing homes is undoubtly due in part because of lack of staff, as rates are driven down, and the national wage increases it becomes increasingly tough to for small homes to remain open. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">So.. I did some research into the larger care home operators. In Madeline’s Bunting book “Crisis in Care” she explains that </span>The number of care homes are growing significantly with an annual revenue of £16.9 billion. New homes are being built and overseas investors make up 80% of all new homes. The care home market is becoming dominated by large operators owned by private equity companies who are often loaded with large levels of debt which conceals the true costs. It has been widely reported that a number of large home groups have gone into administration over the last three years. The biggest care home company, HC one with 349 homes has and estimated £500 million in borrowing., It is part of a Cayman Islands based group of companies. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The financial times calculated in 2019 that the accounts for the four biggest care home companies running 900 homes between them with 55,000 residents had accumulated debt which required £40,000 per bed annually in interest charges alone. Complex financial instruments underly these operations where property assets are separated from running costs and then used as collateral to borrow money…. The result is deeply unstable. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">In 2017 (before the pandemic) commercial analysts estimated that a third of the UK’s bed capacity in residential care was at risk of closing in the next five years. The surviving care homes may then be tempted to push prices up.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">In terms of our care home, this gives me sleepless nights. We want to continue to offer care to those who need it, regardless of whether they are self-funders or LA funders. But the reality is that in the last four years we have had to fight tooth and nail to get any increase. This year we were awarded a 2% increase in fees, the last two years we had received no increase. Whereas fees had increased for self funders on average 3% per year. Although we have a stable workforce and in the last three years we have had two resignations, we find it increasingly difficult to attract new staff, despite paying competitively. Regulations increase and infection protection controls mean that the small period style home are becoming impossible to operate within the current guidelines. Our care home is a 400 year old building, with that come the inevitable maintenance issues. It’s charm is that it is a home not a purpose built hotel style care setting. I believe it is part of its appeal, but <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I do not believe that the social care system is fit for purpose. Hight levels of care are unmet and there is a history of underfunding which has in turn driven down the wages and impacted the morale of care staff. In the majority of care homes which provide care to local authority funded and self funders there are massive differences in fees and local authority fee increases don’t even cover the wage increase. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">So… what do I believe?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The majority of the general public currently accept that health is a fundamental human right which is state funded via taxation. I believe care is the same, as a society we need to accept this and in this respect Government needs to be open, honest and brave in explaining this. It is wholly unfair that the costs of care for someone living with cancer are met by the NHS but someone living with alzheimers has to fund their own care (apart from in very very extreme cases where continuing Health Care and therefore the NHS may fund the placement). There needs to be a lifetime cap on care costs for those living with dementia. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">There needs to be transparency of funding to care homes, including transparency of financial structures behind care homes. There needs to be a reform of how means testing is conducted at the individual level.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Care workers should be recognised for the vital role which they fulfil and need to be upskilled to make the industry more appealing.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Additional funding needs to be ringfenced for care, funding can not just be used to reduce pressure on the NHS.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">It has taken me many months to attempt to get these thoughts on paper. Social Care is clearly a massive issue for any Government. But the discussions need to start, the public needs to be made aware of this ticking time bomb. Every member of society has a need to understand the issue and take responsibility for, what I believe, is a social duty to fund this system which is on it’s knees.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The first step I believe is that a dialogue has to be begin between those at the grass routes of care and those who are able to shape policy. At the start of the pandemic I had a zoom call with our local MP to explain the challenges we were experiencing…. I did not hear back from him. I would have expected a call….. A few months later another MP was canvassing, he wanted to know what worried me – I asked him what his party would do in relation to Social Care. His answer “Integrate Social Care and Care Homes with the NHS”. “What does that mean?” I asked…. He could not answer, it’s the elephant in the room that no-one wants to address…… he took my details and said he would love to talk to me in more detail……. I am still waiting. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I am not suggesting that either of the MP’s I spoke to didn’t realise that a solution must be found but the continuous largely meaningless platitudes being trotted out by the Government is not addressing the grave problem. I truly believe that unless the matter is addressed urgently there will be needless human tragedy of biblical proportions.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p>MTBooChophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07363750678398253164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4848901059957504803.post-23321198026858783112021-05-11T01:38:00.000-07:002021-05-11T01:38:14.944-07:00A look back over the last 15 months<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP5CUQrztbfDX3R6TlB1hsJRFVuuiy455piKTzD-LyJEPq2_O3c5egkh8v7XiO3g-nj7jZPibPE1erFRxiEHAc9i1x8KekN05m7I6dwGZeJ3J_RGU5hqqxKTzB2AL27grplngx7syMGOw/s2048/IMG_4290.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP5CUQrztbfDX3R6TlB1hsJRFVuuiy455piKTzD-LyJEPq2_O3c5egkh8v7XiO3g-nj7jZPibPE1erFRxiEHAc9i1x8KekN05m7I6dwGZeJ3J_RGU5hqqxKTzB2AL27grplngx7syMGOw/s320/IMG_4290.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Over the last 8 months writing this blog has not been as frequent as I had planned.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">It certainly was not due to the fact that I did not have much to write, I had too much to say!</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">However, I have always lived by the mantra that if a subject evokes an emotional response, it is best to draw breath and reflect before putting anything in writing.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">In this respect I decided not to update this blog for longer periods that I had planned.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;">I live over an hour away from our care home. The hour journey gives me time to reflect, wind down and very frequently cry. Over the last 15 months my journey time has been filled with questions about what is the right thing to do to attempt to remain Covid free. This has been overwhelming task, ultimately the decisions I took could have had catastrophic implications on the residents and staff. Whereas guidelines were provided by the Department of Health / Public Health England and other Government bodies the actual decisions about how to interpret the guidelines rested on our shoulders, it was on my head if I got it wrong.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;">Our home is like a family of 43 - The 18 residents and 25 members of staff, as the pandemic continued we became even closer, we supported each other, we wiped away tears, we shared milestones. We had one aim which was to remain Covid free. S and I would speak many times a day, not always agreeing initially, but making sure we had considered every decision in full. We supported each other from what frequently felt overwhelming in the extreme. I feel immensely proud that we achieved that aim to remain free of a covid outbreak. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;">As restrictions lift I thought now would be an appropriate time to reflect on the lessons learnt (and why I think we may have been successful in keeping Covid out)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><u>Hospital Discharges</u><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;">All care homes were put in a moral dilemma.. Pressure was put on homes to take hospital discharges during the height of the pandemic. I know I was not alone in wanting to do all I could to support the NHS, we felt we had a moral duty to help. During the pandemic, due to Covid deaths, sadly many care homes had vacancies fill. However taking any new residents had to be balanced with the need to do all we could to protect residents and staff. Significant financial incentives were in place to encourage homes to take hospital discharges. In my opinon, hospital discharges of Covid positive patients to care homes was a catastophic mistake. Care Homes were not prepared, PPE was either not in place or inadequate and support was not available. What makes this harder to digest is that the same thing happened again in February 2021, and yet again significant financial incentives were offered, even the promise of underwriting of insurances for care homes. I did not take any hospital discharges during the pandemic as I did not believe I would be able to fulfil my promise to do everything in my power to keep residents safe, on reflection I believe that was the right thing to do.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><u>PPE</u><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;">We managed to source PPE early on in the pandemic. PPE is now provided free of charge to all care homes. Prior to that time I ensured we had plentiful PPE. However, I do not believe that it is right that in a care home outbreak the PPE is not the same as hospital level. I question why this has not been raised and why PPE within a care home experiencing an outbreak is significantly substandard compared to the gowns and facemasks within a hospital setting. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><u>Communication</u><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;">We created an environment for our residents to have as much access to their family as possible. The families of our residents have been involved with life in the home. I have attempted to communicate with all residents, families and staff every step of the way. Families have been provided with regular (weekly for the majority of the year) video montages of what is happening in the home. On the other hand communication from the Government has sadly not always been as transparent, and at times communication felt even dishonest. Announcements have been often made in the press regarding care home regulations (and frequently in relation to visiting) before guidelines are communicated to care homes. We felt frequently on the “back foot” attempting to clarify (mis)reporting in the press. Locking down to visitors earlier than the official guidelines was not a decision I took lightly, but one which I believe, with hindsight, lessened the possibility of an outbreak. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><u>Implementing Change Frequentl</u>y<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;">Visiting policies are reviewed with amended guidelines and change almost weekly, building a visitors pod, which then became a testing pod gave us the additional space we required to ensure visiting and testing could be performed safely. Testing all staff three times a week has been critical, and it was due to this testing that we were able to identify a staff member with Covid who was asymptomatic and ensure we did not experience an outbreak, the staff member isolated immediately and no other staff or resident became covid positive. I also ensured that all staff received full wages if isolating to ensure that there was no negative financial implication to doing the right thing. We have a constant dedicated staff, and have never used agency staff, it is down to this consistency of staff and their unwavering support of every change in internal process that also reduced the possibility of Covid entering.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;">Whilst life inside the home for the residents remained unchanged, apart from the lack of in person visits at the height of the pandemic. Life for all the staff changed significantly, PPE, changing clothes entirely at the start and end of every shift, testing multiple times a week and enhanced infection protection control measures. It is down to the dedication and tenacity of every single staff member that we adhered to these requirements and were able to keep everyone safe. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;">Visitors are back into the home and have been for a couple of months, whereas we were delighted to reunite loved ones, it has to be remembered that despite those living in care homes being the most vulnerable in society during the pandemic, visitors to care homes having close contact visits took place before carers could see their own families. This is one of the many things I am so proud of our staff for, they supported the process to allow our residents to meet up with their families before they were legally allowed to see their own family members.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;">Looking back I think we made the right decisions, as a team we worked tirelessly to keep everyone safe. Through this pandemic I can hand on heart, say we have done everything in our power to keep our home a safe, loving, transparent and caring home. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;">With all residents and staff vaccinated with visitors back in, albeit with testing and PPE, normality is gradually returning. I hope it won’t be long before the home can be full of multi generational visitors hugging and holding hands.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><o:p> </o:p></p>MTBooChophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07363750678398253164noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4848901059957504803.post-48043056271208913222021-01-22T04:12:00.001-08:002021-01-22T04:12:50.641-08:00Vaccinated and Fake News!<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh80Bf_chUfPqqtu-b7YaJMiFxBhuem6oNS1twtY9jv3jtvUZOD89zJfAWH4L0ILAGaefeGOC_2slIGfMD2FYybQNUi4XgOI1kxICTDOOWOA9n2bzyfnWp7IKTRBEGZdeyOz_X39gfjhQM/s2048/IMG_3095.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh80Bf_chUfPqqtu-b7YaJMiFxBhuem6oNS1twtY9jv3jtvUZOD89zJfAWH4L0ILAGaefeGOC_2slIGfMD2FYybQNUi4XgOI1kxICTDOOWOA9n2bzyfnWp7IKTRBEGZdeyOz_X39gfjhQM/s320/IMG_3095.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br />I am delighted to report that all residents and all staff were vaccinated this week. Other than the one staff member who tested positive for Covid19 and remains asymptomatic, we have remained Covid free.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We are testing regularly and all is well and calm. Today every resident had a manicure and we have been enjoying singing along to the Sound of Music. I was able to sit and chat with every single resident today one on one, they are happy, content and as safe as we can possibly keep them all.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">As I type this the ITV news is on in the background in one of the lounge areas in our care home. There is a “ special program “ about the challenges experienced by those living with dementia in care homes. The headlines talk about how the pandemic has had a detrimental impact on residents with dementia due to the lack of visits from family and friends. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Apparently ITV did an exclusive survey of over 100 care homes to ask whether the physical and mental health of residents had been Impacted, nine of ten said yes. We were called, by ITV but asked a different question.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The ITV program will cover claims that the use of anti-psychotic drugs for those living with dementia has increased due the lack of family visits during the pandemic. From our point of view not one of our residents has been put on an antipsychotic drug during the pandemic. A professor is quoted saying that ...”“drugging” has become one of the few tools left to treat serious lockdown anxiety and that the best treatments for agitation are human contact, good nursing care - reassurance, a hug”. The implication is that care homes up and down the country are drugging residents because they are so unhappy and lonely in the pandemic. The implication is that in care homes residents only receive human contact , care, reassurance and a hug from their family members. The reality could not be further from the truth, carers treat residents as their loved ones, their Own family members. The pandemic has brought carer and resident even closer.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The program has not yet been on, but I anticipate that it is going to portray a story of life in care homes during the pandemic in a very unfavorable light. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Life during the pandemic has been tough for everyone, but I don’t believe these claims are true. I believe it is scaremongering and for the vast majority of care home residents living with dementia the love, care and affection shown by the tens of thousands of carers who have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic can not be underestimated.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">To imply that residents have not had human contact, reassurance and a hug during lockdown is simply incorrect. It has been really hard on everyone not seeing their loved ones, whether they live in a care home with dementia or not. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">What makes a carers job so much harder in the pandemic is this sort of reporting. Carers themselves have struggled with not seeing their own families, having the enormous burden of knowing that they are caring for the most vulnerable in society. Knowing that they will really be on the frontline if there is an outbreak in their care home. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">To every carer who works tirelessly, demonstrating, love, empathy, patience, hard work and ultimate dedication... hold you head up high and be proud. You are doing a great job. Ignore the fake news!</span></p><p><br /></p>MTBooChophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07363750678398253164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4848901059957504803.post-4757431265556083732021-01-16T03:33:00.001-08:002021-01-16T03:33:46.771-08:00The result we didn't want....<p><span style="font-family: arial;">On Monday morning a member of staff tested positive when they were tested with the daily Lateral Flow Test. They were immediately sent home with a confirmatory PCR Test, that subsequently confirmed the positive result. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">It was what we had feared for the last 10 months; our first positive test. The staff member is asymptomatic and took no risks, she did everything right. She feels dreadful, when she has done nothing wrong, but being a carer by nature means that her thoughts are of the residents and other staff.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">We had planned for this, the next steps have been ingrained for months. We were ready. Enhanced Infection Protection Control protocols were implemented, residents were quarantined, in their rooms or in the public areas for those who would not understand the restrictions. We started testing daily. All residents were tested. Alongside that we reassured residents and staff and communicated with families. Health Protection team were notified.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">It is now Friday, all of the test results are back, all of the residents are negative, but we remain in a quarantine situation. All staff results have been negative. But we are clear the risk remains, but there were no PPE breaches, so we are hoping that the one positive result was an isolated case. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">All week I have heard of care home after care home suffering outbreaks. The situation is bleak across the care home community. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">On Wednesday I received the call I had been waiting for - vaccines should be coming at the weekend for residents and staff. I did not tell the staff, I knew they desperately wanted the news, but I could not risk them being disappointed. I was right to be cautious, I was then phoned yesterday afternoon after spending all day trying to speak to someone who could confirm we would indeed be vaccinated, to be told that actually we would not be vaccinated this weekend, but hopefully at the end of next week.</span></p><div class=""><span style="font-family: arial;">In recent months we have been lead to believe by the Government that Care Homes would be the at the forefront of the vaccine program.</span></div><div class=""><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class=""><span style="font-family: arial;">In the last month we have seen exponential growth in the virus spreading through the community and we are now constantly hearing of more and more cases in the Care Home community, infact I currently do not know of any local care home which does not have an outbreak. </span></div><div class=""><span style="font-family: arial;"><br class="" /></span></div><div class=""><span style="font-family: arial;">There seems to be no consistency in the roll out of the vaccines across care homes, some care homes received vaccinations in December, we are still waiting.</span></div><div class=""><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class=""><span style="font-family: arial;">I applaud everyone who receives a vaccine in these terrible times, but was under the impression they would receive their vaccine after the Care Home community. </span></div><div class=""><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class=""><span style="font-family: arial;">As each day passes we are bombarded of images of individuals in the community receiving vaccinations, but the care home roll out of vaccinations has been inconsistent and communication has been too generic regarding timelines. This situation is a ticking time bomb and yet again I fear that care homes will be let down. Only last night Boris Johnson announced, proudly, that 40% of care homes have been vaccinated with 45% of over 80's. I was surprised that this was not higher.</span></div><div class=""><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class=""><span style="font-family: arial;">Earlier today I received a letter from our Council and NHS Trust requesting urgently placements for hospital discharges at hugely inflated rates (more than £300 per week than we currently charge a week). It feels rather like March again, when covid positive discharges were made to care homes. </span></div><div class=""><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class=""><span style="font-family: arial;">This time we totally appreciate the immense pressure that the NHS are under and will do all we can to support the NHS, but it is clear we can not assist in anyway until we have clear direction on when vaccinations for all staff and residents will be in place as promised. </span></div><div class=""><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class=""><span style="font-family: arial;">Sadly I fear that some homes may not have the luxury of being able to turn down these placements, they have wages to pay, businesses to keep a float. </span></div><div class=""><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class=""><span style="font-family: arial;">I made a commitment to all staff, residents and their families I will do all I can to keep them safe. This I will continue to do. I do not know what the solution is to discharging people from hospital, but I do not believe that care homes should have pressure put on them to take unsafe discharges.</span></div><div class=""><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class=""><span style="font-family: arial;">In the meantime, we will keep our residents safe, happy and loved. A few days ago I was with a resident in her bedroom, I asked her if she was bored and struggling with being in her room "To be honest she replied, its rather nice to be not quite sooo busy, I'm perfectly content"</span></div><div class=""><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class=""><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="" style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>MTBooChophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07363750678398253164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4848901059957504803.post-59937980567665001292021-01-02T03:58:00.000-08:002021-01-02T03:58:00.749-08:00Testing, Testing and more testing<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPT4bgukzJ0j5s-SFesxoDVMRv5h2NEZ1oDCwTrw8Iz1QBBbirkqesSzdLTWMFA0K1x3JM0FEGzIS9Tb25-UPqjP26B6TLwDxDFiwpVb5qREEJUnHX3gDtCUpS6K2MhdNEC8LbtlBJz-Y/s2048/63093489532__5CDBF13B-95C2-4B34-A52D-1F98D71C0675.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1539" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPT4bgukzJ0j5s-SFesxoDVMRv5h2NEZ1oDCwTrw8Iz1QBBbirkqesSzdLTWMFA0K1x3JM0FEGzIS9Tb25-UPqjP26B6TLwDxDFiwpVb5qREEJUnHX3gDtCUpS6K2MhdNEC8LbtlBJz-Y/s320/63093489532__5CDBF13B-95C2-4B34-A52D-1F98D71C0675.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> Our residents had a wonderful Christmas. We would have loved the home to be full of visitors but sadly that was not to be.<p></p><p>On 22nd December I received a call to put all staff on standby for vaccinations to take place on either 23rd or 24th December. Sadly these did not transpire, but with the news about the Oxford vaccine I am hopeful that our residents and staff will be first in line from next week.</p><p>However, we did get a Christmas message from the Department of Health to advise that Lateral Flow Tests should be performed on all staff twice a week in addition to the weekly PCR tests. This email was received late on 23rd December. </p><p>This is an enormous logistical challenge, but of course we support anything that can be done to minimise the risk of an outbreak coming into the home. Testing is key to this, however, the administration that is required alongside this in terms of recording results has not been thought out. To explain I have made this video. </p><p>Yesterday the Department of Health announced that for two weeks care homes do not have to log in all results - only positive results, but in less than two weeks we are expected to log in all Lateral Flow Tests, for all staff (twice a week) and all visitors.</p><p>This video explains the challenges we face...<br /></p><p><a href="https://youtu.be/hKeISGBxu_0">Lateral Flow Tests ....</a></p>MTBooChophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07363750678398253164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4848901059957504803.post-74681235886253190372020-12-20T07:18:00.002-08:002020-12-20T07:19:38.813-08:00What will Christmas be like in Care Homes?<p>I've talked to Times Radio a few times over the last six months. This is an interview on December 18th.</p><p>From 1hr 41mins</p><p>Happy Christmas to everyone. x </p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/radio/show/20201218-3331/2020-12-18">Times Radio Interview</a></p>MTBooChophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07363750678398253164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4848901059957504803.post-77431650431618926362020-12-17T07:33:00.000-08:002020-12-17T07:33:43.955-08:00So much to say.... <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq85AFFp83QblBCU3YCx8CcZ1uW7mRSm_zxhaduhl18-e-Gw2VZNKEAou7J_6TnJiHqxz6J_k-ZakXXAUnzytrh8YfzUZB16MjS0Wam4ESRAl2JPFlxm_4T8RJTSs83mxLT_f8JMNIE0c/s2048/36502575-FD67-4FA7-9E01-C623EAADAD7C.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq85AFFp83QblBCU3YCx8CcZ1uW7mRSm_zxhaduhl18-e-Gw2VZNKEAou7J_6TnJiHqxz6J_k-ZakXXAUnzytrh8YfzUZB16MjS0Wam4ESRAl2JPFlxm_4T8RJTSs83mxLT_f8JMNIE0c/s320/36502575-FD67-4FA7-9E01-C623EAADAD7C.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>It has been a while since I have updated this blog, I have been trying to work out what to write, where to start, what to share. </p><p>Everyone is safe, we have remained Covid free. Our home is full of laughter, fun, dancing, singing, and pets. What has been a great success since September is our three times a week zoom calls with a handful of teenagers who are volunteering to speak with our residents and it shows how great it is for young and old to connect with each other. Some lovely relationships have been built and the residents really look forward to the calls (and so do the teenagers too). They have also sent some of the most beautiful letters and delicious cakes, which we have all enjoyed reading and eating. On the quiz front, so far, our residents are winning in the general knowledge stakes, however, the teenagers seem to have the edge on the maths based questions. Our home is full of Christmas cheers, with fairy lights twinkling everywhere.</p><p>Behind the scenes, the analogy of a duck could not be more apt. On the surface I am definitely not serene like a swan, more busy like a duck, but beneath the surface I am paddling as if my life depends on it... and it really could be life and death for our residents. But this time I have pond weed pulling me down. I know that I speak for thousands of people like me working in a care home.</p><p>I have written in the past about communication and this continues to be imperative. No decision that I take is black and white, there is no right or wrong answer, decisions have to be balanced, often taking into account the balance between physical health and mental health. The balance between trying to avoid Covid-19 at all costs but ensuring our residents are happy and visits from loved ones are possible.</p><p>Almost a year ago to the day was our 2019 Christmas Party, <u>then</u> our home was full of visitors, all ages, the home was full of laughter, singing, and the corridors were bursting at the seams. I long for that to happen again.</p><p>We have built a conservatory in the last few months so we now have a visiting pod to enable safe visits to take place. We then had to put in floor to ceiling doors to segregate the areas. Next week we being lateral flow testing, quick acting tests for all visitors. Consent forms for the vaccinations are in place. It all sounds so positive, and it really is, I have high hopes for 2021.</p><p>However, behind every good bit of news, every step forward, the pond weed continues to pulls us down. Earlier in the summer staff testing was announced, aside from the initial massive delays in getting results, behind the scenes we have to enter every single staff members details every single time we test - name, dob, ethnicity, role, where they work, where they live, mobile number, address. Every single time. Upload functionality doesn't work. We test staff on two different days each week. This takes in excess of three hours every week, time not spent with the residents or staff.</p><p>The Government announced that "visiting is permitted" not explaining that every care home had been sent pages and pages and pages of guidelines to allow safe visiting, things like, one way systems in care homes, separate entrances for visitors, windows open at all times (in winter I know!) (!), again the paperwork is enormous, again it took hours to justify why certain things could not be done - windows open when someone is in their 90's is not possible. One way systems in a care home for those living with dementia is not feasible etc etc. </p><p>Lateral Flow Testing is being rolled out from next week, this is hailed as an additional defence against an outbreak, I have spent in excess of 12 hours working out the process. The guidance notes are more than 60 pages long. Tests have to be "logged online" by the visitor "using an iPhone" - clearly not everyone has an iPhone, and there is no mobile reception where our home is located. This has not been considered in the guidance. What is not announced is that the Lateral Flow Tests identify less than 50% of positive cases compared to the PCR tests (this is shared in the Department of Health webinars). We will of course continue to do everything we can to ensure the safety of our residents but the administration around these tests is enormous.</p><p>Vaccinations are clearly going to be the game changer. Care Home residents and staff are first in line. We have not received any details about when. I totally appreciate the massive issues in working out how the vaccinations will be delivered, but some honest communication would be appreciated, and also before the fanfare message is delivered to the general public, some of the underlying processes have been considered. </p><p>I have written before about communication and I continue to be hugely grateful for the support I receive from our residents families. I have been honest every step of the way, I have admitted I do not have the answers, I am trying my absolute best, I will continue to over communicate with our families and admit that processes are changing daily, sometimes hourly, based on changes to official guidelines.</p><p>Infection Control Fund payments have been made to support care homes to enable safe visiting / cohorting of residents, and whilst this is hugely appreciated, we need honesty and we need our opinions to be sought before announcements are made and before unworkable guidance is rolled out.</p><p>So the pond weed continues. This week I am away from the home, S and I decided that I would use this week away to focus on our processes, our controls, filling in the mountain of paperwork that is now required. I feel like my arm has been removed not being to be with the residents, but I know that the amazing staff are doing everything possible to keep all the residents happy, content and ready for Christmas.</p><p>So, apologies for the delay in writing this blog entry. I will keep on paddling hard and getting through the pond weed..... and then I will go and finish wrapping 18 stockings with individual presents for our residents.</p><p>We are committed to ensuring that our residents will have the best Christmas possible.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>MTBooChophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07363750678398253164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4848901059957504803.post-73014782151651308152020-10-16T05:59:00.001-07:002020-10-16T05:59:55.135-07:00Care Home Visitors<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>As anyone who works in a care home will testify, it has been a challenging seven months. As the pandemic developed care homes became at the forefront of news reports.<p></p><p>Within LTC the families of our residents have been wonderfully supportive. I have tried to communicate honestly and regularly. They understand the rationale for the decisions we take, and I am grateful for the support they have given us all. We have tried to involve the families of our residents with life in the home. They may not be physically with us, but we make sure that they are aware of everything that is going on, not just with phone calls and emails, but with weekly videos of all that has happened . </p><p>Over the last few weeks however one of the most challenging things to deal with from a staff morale point of view has been the news reports about visiting restrictions in care homes. Dementia charities and mental health campaigners have been pushing for loved ones of residents in care homes to allow more frequent access to care homes by treating them as care workers. A pilot in England is being planned which would mean visitors would be tested weekly and given training in PPE.</p><p>The Alzheimers Society report that "People's loved ones with dementia have felt bewildered, abandoned, and in many tragic cases, faded away from the lack of personalised care, understanding and love that only family members can bring". To read that as a carer feels like a kick in the teeth, as a carer our prime focus is care, and to read reports that our most vulnerable feel bewildered, abandoned and are fading away is hard to stomach. Over the past year it seems that the media continues to focus on the negatives.</p><p>I can not speak for all care homes, but the quote above could not be further from the truth. Personalised care is central to everything that carers do. It is the bread and butter of what care is all about. I can hand on heart say that I believe that none of our residents feel bewildered, or abandoned. As a team we can never replace the closest family members, but the love, support, laughter and care shown to all our residents is a constant.</p><p>Personalised care is all about treating each resident as an individual. In this respect how can there be a one sized fits all approach to visiting? The residents must be central to that decision, and then the circumstances of the care home, staff and risk profile of the visitors have to be considered.</p><p>Any decision about visitors not only impacts one resident, but possibly all the residents. The decision also impacts the staff and other family members who feel safer if no visitors are allowed.</p><p>The proposed "pilot" is to treat visitors in the same way as key workers. That would include weekly testing and full PPE and training. I wonder if that will also include the many personal sacrifices that carers made over the last eight months and continue to make, many carers are effectively self isolating apart from when working to ensure that they minimise any risk to our vulnerable residents. Carers are not able to work in multiple locations, so does that mean that if visitors are treated as key workers will they also make those personal sacrifices?</p><p>I know I speak for everyone who works in social care when I say that the policy regarding visitors is far from clear, it is upsetting for us all. We hate the fact that due to Covid19 we can no longer have a home full of our residents loved ones. We do not want to stop family members seeing their loved ones, but equally we must do all we can to keep them safe. </p><p>And with regard to the news reports about residents being "lonely" "fading away" "abandoned" "bored" nothing could be further from the truth. In the last seven days our residents have enjoyed a pub afternoon with traditional pub food and games, twice a week zoom calls with quizzes with teenagers taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme, reading "100 steps" by Captain Tom, playing with the pets, gardening, flower arranging, planning the next months menus, loads of singing, loads of dancing, and lots and lots of laughter.</p><p>Our residents tell me they do not feel abandoned, they told me they feel loved, supported and safe.</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieUOTzJwhCmOHOj3hyDGaW85Z73emqrsneqyYcfxm8OWz0LLPXjoXvd7SKCW6S2MqpbOgHMbYGNFCvhPejknEMy8Mqgk_N0NVda4WU1fLQHXrpqTTbRPIjdWZqt7dd36oVQT_wRYspnYA/s2048/46CD462F-8F30-44F4-9074-44AC08AA89A0.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieUOTzJwhCmOHOj3hyDGaW85Z73emqrsneqyYcfxm8OWz0LLPXjoXvd7SKCW6S2MqpbOgHMbYGNFCvhPejknEMy8Mqgk_N0NVda4WU1fLQHXrpqTTbRPIjdWZqt7dd36oVQT_wRYspnYA/s320/46CD462F-8F30-44F4-9074-44AC08AA89A0.jpeg" /></a></div><br />MTBooChophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07363750678398253164noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4848901059957504803.post-86084623149284966552020-09-17T13:18:00.000-07:002020-09-17T13:18:06.091-07:00Written by one of our carers....<p><br /></p><header class="region section is-paddingless-vertical" id="region-header" style="border: 0px; 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display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%; width: 161.5px;" width="500" /></div></div></a></div></div><div class="header--right column" style="-webkit-box-direction: normal; -webkit-box-flex: 1; -webkit-box-orient: vertical; box-sizing: inherit; flex-flow: column wrap; flex: 1 1 0px; padding: 0.75rem;"><div class="header--top" style="-webkit-box-pack: end; box-sizing: inherit; display: inline-flex; justify-content: flex-end;"><div class="pattern--block entity-type--paragraph bundle--block view-mode--default" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><nav aria-label="Top navigation" id="system-menu-block-top-navigation" role="navigation" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><ul class="menu--level--first" id="menu--top-navigation" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><li class="menu-item" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: inline-flex; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></li></ul></nav></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></header><main class="section" role="main" style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(65, 64, 66); color: #414042; font-family: asletteratextweb, BlinkMacSystemFont, -apple-system, "segoe ui", roboto, oxygen, ubuntu, cantarell, "fira sans", "droid sans", "helvetica neue", helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 19px; padding: 0px 1.5rem 3rem;"><div class="container" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 1280px; position: relative; width: 1280px;"><div class="columns is-centered" style="-webkit-box-pack: center; box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; justify-content: center; margin: -0.75rem;"><div class="column is-8" style="-webkit-box-flex: 0; box-sizing: inherit; flex: 0 0 auto; padding: 0.75rem; width: 872.328125px;"><a id="main-content" style="background-image: linear-gradient(to right, currentcolor 0%, currentcolor 100%); background-position: center bottom 0.105263158em; background-repeat: repeat no-repeat; background-size: 100% 1px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #0073ff; cursor: pointer; transition: color 150ms ease-out;" tabindex="-1"></a><div class="region" id="region-content" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><div class="spacer is-6" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1rem;"><div class="block" id="system-main-block" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><div class="pattern--article node node-article view-mode-full" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><div id="content-start" style="box-sizing: inherit;"></div><div class="pattern--article--top" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><div class="pattern--hero is-fullwidth-extended is-paddingless pattern--hero--variant--default pattern--hero--no-image" style="box-sizing: inherit; left: 421.9140625px; margin-bottom: 2.5rem !important; margin-left: -50vw !important; margin-right: 50vw !important; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 1.5rem; padding-right: 1.5rem; padding-top: 0px !important; position: relative; right: 421.9140625px; width: 100vw !important;"><div class="pattern--hero--image-text-wrapper" style="box-sizing: inherit; position: relative;"></div><div class="pattern--hero--text-box" style="bottom: -4rem; box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; position: relative; top: auto; width: 1705px; z-index: 2;"><div class="columns is-centered is-mobile" style="-webkit-box-pack: center; box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; justify-content: center; margin: 0px;"><div class="column is-8-tablet is-10-mobile" style="-webkit-box-flex: 0; box-sizing: inherit; flex: 0 0 auto; padding: 0px; width: 1136.65625px;"><div class="has-text-centered hero-variant--default box has-background-white is-box-hero has-padding--medium" style="border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; padding: 2.5rem 2.5rem 3.5rem; position: relative; text-align: center !important;"><div class="box-body" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><div class="pattern--hero--text-box-title" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><h1 class="page-title title is-2 is-marginless" data-content-type="title" style="-webkit-box-align: center; -webkit-box-pack: center; align-items: center; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1b1464; font-size: 2.5rem; justify-content: center; line-height: 1.125; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><div class="field--field-content-label field field-name-field-content-label" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: white; left: 0px; line-height: 0; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; min-height: 35px; position: relative; right: 0px; top: 0px;"><a href="https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/taxonomy/term/836" hreflang="en" style="background-color: #ff1c26; background-image: none !important; background-position: center bottom 0.105263158em; background-repeat: repeat no-repeat; background-size: 100% 1px; box-sizing: inherit; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-size: 1.1875rem; letter-spacing: 0.4px; line-height: 35px; min-height: 35px; padding-left: 20px; padding-right: 20px; text-decoration: none; transition: color 150ms ease-out;">Real stories</a></div>Working in a care home during coronavirus: ‘We’re keeping our residents safe and busy’<div class="field--field-content-source field--content-source-label-color-green field field-name-field-content-source" style="bottom: auto; box-sizing: inherit; left: 0px; line-height: 0; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 15px; min-height: 35px; position: relative; right: 0px;"><a href="https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/blog" hreflang="en" style="background-color: #38a64a; background-image: none !important; background-position: center bottom 0.105263158em; background-repeat: repeat no-repeat; background-size: 100% 1px; box-sizing: inherit; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-size: 1.1875rem; letter-spacing: 0.4px; line-height: 35px; min-height: 35px; padding-left: 20px; padding-right: 20px; text-decoration: none; transition: color 150ms ease-out;">Blog</a></div></h1></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="summary has-text-centered is-size-5" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1.25rem !important; text-align: center !important;"><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Ellie is a care home worker and has been providing crucial support for their residents, including people living with dementia. Ellie hopes that sharing her experience will reassure people who are unable to visit their loved ones in care while there are visiting restrictions in place.</p></div></div><div class="spacer is-4" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.5rem;"></div><div class="pattern--article--sidebar-left" style="box-sizing: inherit; position: relative;"><div class="pattern--inline-widget pattern--inline-widget--position--left pattern-fullwidth is-fullwidth-extended" style="box-sizing: inherit; left: 421.9140625px; margin-left: -50vw !important; margin-right: 50vw !important; padding-left: 1.5rem; padding-right: 1.5rem; position: relative; right: 421.9140625px; width: 100vw !important;"><div class="container" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 1280px; position: relative; width: 1280px;"><div class="columns" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; margin: -0.75rem;"><div class="has-text-centered-mobile column is-3 is-offset-0-mobile" style="-webkit-box-flex: 0; box-sizing: inherit; flex: 0 0 auto; padding: 0.75rem; width: 327.125px;"><div class="pattern--inline-widget--widget-wrapper " style="box-sizing: inherit; position: relative; width: 298.625px; z-index: 1;"><div class="pattern--inline-widget--widget-group" style="box-sizing: inherit; left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 298.625px; z-index: 1;"><div class="pattern--widget" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px;"><div class="box has-background-gray is-box-metadata has-padding--medium is-box-article" style="background-color: #e6e6e6; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; padding: 1.25rem; position: absolute; width: 298.625px;"><div class="box-body" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><div class="field--node-post-date-optional field field-name-node-post-date-optional" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1b1464; display: inline-block; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0.25rem;">17 September 2020</div><div class="field--field-read-time" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1b1464; display: inline-block; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0.25rem;">long read</div><div class="field--node-comment-count has-text-blue" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(0, 115, 255) !important; margin-top: 1.25rem;"><a class="pattern--button button button--colour--white-blue has-icon button--style--pill" href="https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/blog/care-home-worker-during-coronavirus#comments" style="-webkit-appearance: none; -webkit-box-align: center; -webkit-box-pack: center; -webkit-user-select: none; align-items: center; background-color: white; border-bottom-left-radius: 1.5rem !important; border-bottom-right-radius: 1.5rem !important; border-top-left-radius: 1.5rem !important; border-top-right-radius: 1.5rem !important; border: none rgb(50, 71, 179); box-shadow: none; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0073ff; cursor: pointer; display: inline-flex; font-size: 1rem; font-weight: 700; height: 2.5rem; justify-content: center; line-height: 1.5; min-height: 0px; padding: 0.75rem 1.5rem; position: relative; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; transition: all 75ms ease-out; vertical-align: top; width: auto;"><span class="pattern--icon icon" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: inline-block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1; margin-left: calc(-0.375em - 1px); margin-right: 0.1875em; padding: 0px 0.375rem 0px 0px; width: auto;"><i class="icon-comment" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: block;"></i></span><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1;">1 comment</span></a></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="block" id="alzheimers-share-block" style="box-sizing: inherit; position: absolute; top: 212.25px; z-index: 1;"><div class="pattern--inline-links align-center" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><ul style="box-sizing: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><li style="box-sizing: inherit; display: inline-block; margin: 0px 0.2rem 0px 0px; padding: 0px;">Share this story</li> <li style="box-sizing: inherit; display: inline-block; margin: 0px 0.2rem 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><a alt="Share this page on Facebook" class="pattern--icon-link has-tooltip" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/blog/care-home-worker-during-coronavirus" style="background-color: #0073ff; background-image: none; background-position: center center; background-repeat: repeat no-repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-left-radius: 50%; border-bottom-right-radius: 50%; border-top-left-radius: 50%; border-top-right-radius: 50%; box-sizing: inherit; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; position: relative; text-decoration: none; transform: scale(1); transition: all 250ms ease-out;" target="_blank"><span class="pattern--icon icon is-medium" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: inline-block; font-style: inherit; padding: 0.4rem;"><i class="icon-facebook" style="box-sizing: inherit; 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display: inline-block; font-style: inherit; padding: 0.4rem;"><i class="icon-mail-alt" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: block; font-size: 21px;"></i></span></a></li></ul></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="is-mobile spacer is-4" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px;"></div></div><div class="node--article--content" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><div class="spacer is-2" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 2.5rem;"><div class="content is-fullwidth-extended has-padding-horizontal" style="box-sizing: inherit; left: 421.9140625px; margin-left: -50vw !important; margin-right: 50vw !important; padding: 0px 1.5rem; position: relative; right: 421.9140625px; width: 100vw !important;"><div class="container" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 1280px; position: relative; width: 1280px;"><div class="columns is-centered" style="-webkit-box-pack: center; box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; justify-content: center; margin: 0px -0.75rem;"><div class="column is-6" style="-webkit-box-flex: 0; box-sizing: inherit; flex: 0 0 auto; min-height: 172px; padding: 0px 0.75rem; width: 654.25px;"><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">Coronavirus has made some things difficult when working as a carer. However, it has also pulled us all together and has shown us, even more, that loving and caring for other people can also give yourself a sense of joy.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">The carers I work with agree that the most enjoyable thing about working in a care home is seeing the smiles on the resident’s faces. </p><blockquote style="background-color: white; border-left-color: rgb(0, 115, 255); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 4px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 3.94737rem 0px 0px 1.31579rem; position: relative;"><h3 style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1b1464; font-size: 1.25rem; line-height: 1.125; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">‘To see happiness and laughter in those you care for is the most rewarding thing about being a carer.’ </h3></blockquote><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">As carers, our main goal is to make the residents lives happy and keep them safe. Care home life can be not only pleasant, but a real joyous and cheerful place. We are like one happy family. </p></div></div></div></div></div><div class="spacer is-2" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 2.5rem;"><figure class="captioned-image is-fullwidth-extended has-padding-horizontal" style="box-sizing: inherit; left: 421.9140625px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: -50vw !important; margin-right: 50vw !important; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 1.5rem; position: relative; right: 421.9140625px; width: 100vw !important;"><div class="container" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 1280px; position: relative; width: 1280px;"><div class="columns" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; margin: 0px -0.75rem;"><div class="column is-8 is-offset-2 image-wrapper" style="-webkit-box-flex: 0; box-sizing: inherit; flex: 0 0 auto; margin-left: 218.078125px; padding: 0px 0.75rem; width: 872.328125px;"><div class="image" style="box-sizing: inherit; position: relative;"><img alt="Ellie enjoying activities with care home residents" height="504" src="https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/sites/default/files/styles/image_auto_height_default/public/media/images/image/2020-09/IMG-20200913-WA0009%20860x504.jpg?itok=eHSSNuyz" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%; width: 843.828125px;" width="860" /></div></div><div class="column is-2 caption-wrapper" style="-webkit-box-flex: 0; box-sizing: inherit; flex: 0 0 auto; padding: 0px 0.75rem; width: 218.078125px;"><figcaption class="caption" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1b1464; font-size: 0.84211rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.15789rem;"><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Ellie enjoying activities with residents in the care home before the coronavirus pandemic</p></figcaption></div></div></div></figure></div><div class="spacer is-2" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 2.5rem;"><div class="content is-fullwidth-extended has-padding-horizontal" style="box-sizing: inherit; left: 421.9140625px; margin-left: -50vw !important; margin-right: 50vw !important; padding: 0px 1.5rem; position: relative; right: 421.9140625px; width: 100vw !important;"><div class="container" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 1280px; position: relative; width: 1280px;"><div class="columns is-centered" style="-webkit-box-pack: center; box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; justify-content: center; margin: 0px -0.75rem;"><div class="column is-6" style="-webkit-box-flex: 0; box-sizing: inherit; flex: 0 0 auto; min-height: 172px; padding: 0px 0.75rem; width: 654.25px;"><h2 style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1b1464; font-size: 1.875rem; line-height: 1.125; margin: 0px 0px 0.5714em; padding: 0px;">Contacting loved ones with video calls</h2><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">Life in a care home during the pandemic is different than before, in a few ways.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The main difference being that for a long while we have had no visitors. This was not an easy decision for us to make, but keeping our residents safe was the most important thing. They have found the restrictions of visitors challenging.</p></div></div></div></div></div><div class="pattern--inline-widget pattern--inline-widget--position--right pattern-fullwidth is-fullwidth-extended" style="box-sizing: inherit; left: 421.9140625px; margin-left: -50vw !important; margin-right: 50vw !important; padding-left: 1.5rem; padding-right: 1.5rem; position: relative; right: 421.9140625px; width: 100vw !important;"><div class="container" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 1280px; position: relative; width: 1280px;"><div class="columns" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; margin: -0.75rem;"><div class="column is-3 is-offset-9 is-offset-0-mobile" style="-webkit-box-flex: 0; box-sizing: inherit; flex: 0 0 auto; margin-left: 981.375px; padding: 0.75rem; width: 327.125px;"><div class="pattern--inline-widget--widget-wrapper " style="box-sizing: inherit; position: relative; width: 298.625px; z-index: 1;"><div class="pattern--inline-widget--widget-group" style="box-sizing: inherit; left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 298.625px; z-index: 1;"><div class="pattern--widget has-shadow--default" style="box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3) 0px 0px 2.10526rem 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px;"><article class="pattern--teaser advice view-mode--widget" data-content-type="article" style="background-color: white; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; margin: auto; max-width: 20rem;"><a href="https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-support/coronavirus/dementia-care-home-support" style="-webkit-box-flex: 1; background-image: none; background-position: center center; background-repeat: repeat no-repeat; background-size: auto; box-sizing: inherit; color: #0073ff; cursor: pointer; flex: 1 1 0%; text-decoration: none; transition: none;"><div class="pattern--teaser--content-type-label" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span class="" data-content-type="content-label" style="background-color: #1b1464; box-sizing: inherit; color: white; display: inline-block; font-style: inherit; height: auto; margin-left: 1.25rem; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0.375rem 0.625rem; position: relative;">Advice</span></div><div class="pattern--teaser--content box has-background-white has-padding--medium" style="border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #414042; padding: 1.25rem;"><div class="box-header" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.75rem;"><h5 class="title is-5 is-marginless" data-content-type="title" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1b1464; font-size: 1.25rem; line-height: 1.125; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">Keeping in touch with a person with dementia in a care home through coronavirus</h5></div><div class="box-body" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><section class="pattern--teaser--summary" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-top: 0.75rem;"><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Staying in touch with someone in a care home is made much harder by the pandemic. Visits have been severely restricted. This advice for friends and family should help you stay connected.</p></section></div></div></a></article></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="spacer is-2" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 2.5rem;"><div class="content is-fullwidth-extended has-padding-horizontal" style="box-sizing: inherit; left: 421.9140625px; margin-left: -50vw !important; margin-right: 50vw !important; padding: 0px 1.5rem; position: relative; right: 421.9140625px; width: 100vw !important;"><div class="container" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 1280px; position: relative; width: 1280px;"><div class="columns is-centered" style="-webkit-box-pack: center; box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; justify-content: center; margin: 0px -0.75rem;"><div class="column is-6" style="-webkit-box-flex: 0; box-sizing: inherit; flex: 0 0 auto; min-height: 172px; padding: 0px 0.75rem; width: 654.25px;"><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">Nonetheless, we have overcome this obstacle in creative ways, which means that our residents have still been in regular contact with their families and friends. <br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />The families of our residents have received weekly video montages including pictures and videos of what we have all been up to. These videos really show how happy and contented everyone is at our care home.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">One evening I sat with a resident while she had a video call with her daughter. </p><blockquote style="background-color: white; border-left-color: rgb(0, 115, 255); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 4px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 3.94737rem 0px 0px 1.31579rem; position: relative;"><h3 style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1b1464; font-size: 1.25rem; line-height: 1.125; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">‘Although this lady is unable to speak due to her dementia, you could see the look of delight in her eyes as her daughter’s smiling face appeared on the screen.’</h3></blockquote><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">Dementia has taken away her ability to communicate, and she is unaware of what is going on outside, so she remains perfectly happy, content and calm.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">Another gentleman watched a video on the TV that had been sent by his family, he gets these every week. As his children, grandchildren and friends each left messages of love and affection, his face lit up with an endearing smile that brought tears to everyone watching.</p><h2 style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1b1464; font-size: 1.875rem; line-height: 1.125; margin: 1.1428em 0px 0px; padding: 0px;">Activities in the care home during coronavirus</h2></div></div></div></div></div><div class="pattern--inline-widget pattern--inline-widget--position--left pattern-fullwidth is-fullwidth-extended" style="box-sizing: inherit; left: 421.9140625px; margin-left: -50vw !important; margin-right: 50vw !important; padding-left: 1.5rem; padding-right: 1.5rem; position: relative; right: 421.9140625px; width: 100vw !important;"><div class="container" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 1280px; position: relative; width: 1280px;"><div class="columns" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; margin: -0.75rem;"><div class="column is-3 is-offset-0-mobile" style="-webkit-box-flex: 0; box-sizing: inherit; flex: 0 0 auto; padding: 0.75rem; width: 327.125px;"><div class="pattern--inline-widget--widget-wrapper " style="box-sizing: inherit; position: relative; width: 298.625px; z-index: 1;"><div class="pattern--inline-widget--widget-group" style="box-sizing: inherit; left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 298.625px; z-index: 1;"><div class="pattern--widget has-shadow--default" style="box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3) 0px 0px 2.10526rem 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px;"><article class="pattern--teaser advice view-mode--widget" data-content-type="article" style="background-color: white; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; margin: auto; max-width: 20rem;"><a href="https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-support/coronavirus/activity-ideas-dementia" style="-webkit-box-flex: 1; background-image: none; background-position: center center; background-repeat: repeat no-repeat; background-size: auto; box-sizing: inherit; color: #0073ff; cursor: pointer; flex: 1 1 0%; text-decoration: none; transition: none;"><div class="pattern--teaser--content-type-label" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span class="" data-content-type="content-label" style="background-color: #1b1464; box-sizing: inherit; color: white; display: inline-block; font-style: inherit; height: auto; margin-left: 1.25rem; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0.375rem 0.625rem; position: relative;">Advice</span></div><div class="pattern--teaser--content box has-background-white has-padding--medium" style="border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #414042; padding: 1.25rem;"><div class="box-header" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.75rem;"><h5 class="title is-5 is-marginless" data-content-type="title" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1b1464; font-size: 1.25rem; line-height: 1.125; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">Activity ideas during coronavirus for people with dementia</h5></div><div class="box-body" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><section class="pattern--teaser--summary" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-top: 0.75rem;"><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Keeping active and purposeful when staying at home will help fight off boredom and frustration. Here are some activities you can try at home during the coronavirus pandemic.</p></section></div></div></a></article></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="spacer is-2" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 2.5rem;"><div class="content is-fullwidth-extended has-padding-horizontal" style="box-sizing: inherit; left: 421.9140625px; margin-left: -50vw !important; margin-right: 50vw !important; padding: 0px 1.5rem; position: relative; right: 421.9140625px; width: 100vw !important;"><div class="container" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 1280px; position: relative; width: 1280px;"><div class="columns is-centered" style="-webkit-box-pack: center; box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; justify-content: center; margin: 0px -0.75rem;"><div class="column is-6" style="-webkit-box-flex: 0; box-sizing: inherit; flex: 0 0 auto; min-height: 172px; padding: 0px 0.75rem; width: 654.25px;"><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">As well as keeping the residents safe, we have been keeping them busy. They love nothing more than spending the afternoon doing chair-based exercises, playing games, and singing along to their favourite music.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">One of their favourite pastimes is bingo, they even enjoyed an exciting game of it through video calls with their families - not just traditional bingo, but musical bingo too! </p><blockquote style="background-color: white; border-left-color: rgb(0, 115, 255); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 4px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 3.94737rem 0px 0px 1.31579rem; position: relative;"><h3 style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1b1464; font-size: 1.25rem; line-height: 1.125; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">‘The owner of our care home spent time with the residents making desert island discs.’ </h3></blockquote><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">The residents really enjoyed taking a virtual trip back in time, spending the afternoon listening to wartime music. They chose their favourite songs, the staff compiled the track list and sent it to the families. </p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">One of the residents has found delight in tending to the garden. She quite happily potters around, watering the plants and weeding the flower beds. She really enjoys this, and as well as fresh air. It gives her a responsibility. <br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /> </p></div></div></div></div></div><div class="spacer is-2" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 2.5rem;"><figure class="captioned-image is-fullwidth-extended has-padding-horizontal" style="box-sizing: inherit; left: 421.9140625px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: -50vw !important; margin-right: 50vw !important; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 1.5rem; position: relative; right: 421.9140625px; width: 100vw !important;"><div class="container" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 1280px; position: relative; width: 1280px;"><div class="columns" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; margin: 0px -0.75rem;"><div class="column is-8 is-offset-2 image-wrapper" style="-webkit-box-flex: 0; box-sizing: inherit; flex: 0 0 auto; margin-left: 218.078125px; padding: 0px 0.75rem; width: 872.328125px;"><div class="image" style="box-sizing: inherit; position: relative;"><img alt="Ellie, a care home worker, wearing a mask and standing beside a resident" height="500" src="https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/sites/default/files/styles/image_auto_height_default/public/media/images/image/2020-09/Ellie_wide-shot_860x500.jpg?itok=xehOikru" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%; width: 843.828125px;" width="860" /></div></div><div class="column is-2 caption-wrapper" style="-webkit-box-flex: 0; box-sizing: inherit; flex: 0 0 auto; padding: 0px 0.75rem; width: 218.078125px;"><figcaption class="caption" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1b1464; font-size: 0.84211rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.15789rem;"><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Ellie enjoys working at the care home</p></figcaption></div></div></div></figure></div><div class="spacer is-2" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 2.5rem;"><div class="content is-fullwidth-extended has-padding-horizontal" style="box-sizing: inherit; left: 421.9140625px; margin-left: -50vw !important; margin-right: 50vw !important; padding: 0px 1.5rem; position: relative; right: 421.9140625px; width: 100vw !important;"><div class="container" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 1280px; position: relative; width: 1280px;"><div class="columns is-centered" style="-webkit-box-pack: center; box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; justify-content: center; margin: 0px -0.75rem;"><div class="column is-6" style="-webkit-box-flex: 0; box-sizing: inherit; flex: 0 0 auto; min-height: 172px; padding: 0px 0.75rem; width: 654.25px;"><h2 style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1b1464; font-size: 1.875rem; line-height: 1.125; margin: 0px 0px 0.5714em; padding: 0px;">Support from the local community</h2><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">Activities have become even more important in part due to the lack of visitors – both family, and the normal community visits from the church and local school children.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">The local village community have been incredibly kind and generous to our care home. </p><blockquote style="background-color: white; border-left-color: rgb(0, 115, 255); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 4px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 3.94737rem 0px 0px 1.31579rem; position: relative;"><h3 style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1b1464; font-size: 1.25rem; line-height: 1.125; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">‘We have received all kinds of messages of love and appreciation.’ </h3></blockquote><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">We had a very special visit from a horse, and a carer brought in her chicks. We have also received lavish donations including hand creams for staff, lots of sweets and chocolate, and homemade laundry bags.</p></div></div></div></div></div><div class="spacer is-2" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 2.5rem;"><div class="content is-fullwidth-extended has-padding-horizontal" style="box-sizing: inherit; left: 421.9140625px; margin-left: -50vw !important; margin-right: 50vw !important; padding: 0px 1.5rem; position: relative; right: 421.9140625px; width: 100vw !important;"><div class="container" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 1280px; position: relative; width: 1280px;"><div class="columns is-centered" style="-webkit-box-pack: center; box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; justify-content: center; margin: 0px -0.75rem;"><div class="column is-6" style="-webkit-box-flex: 0; box-sizing: inherit; flex: 0 0 auto; min-height: 172px; padding: 0px 0.75rem; width: 654.25px;"><h2 style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1b1464; font-size: 1.875rem; line-height: 1.125; margin: 0px 0px 0.5714em; padding: 0px;">Difficulties as a care home worker during the pandemic</h2><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">One of the difficult things being a carer during the pandemic is trying to work out how much the residents should know. We don’t want to lie to them, but also don’t want to frighten them and cause concern. The TV channel had been switched over when the news story talked of lots of residents dying in care homes, and this just was not helpful for them to hear. </p></div></div></div></div></div><div class="pattern--inline-widget pattern--inline-widget--position--right pattern-fullwidth is-fullwidth-extended" style="box-sizing: inherit; left: 421.9140625px; margin-left: -50vw !important; margin-right: 50vw !important; padding-left: 1.5rem; padding-right: 1.5rem; position: relative; right: 421.9140625px; width: 100vw !important;"><div class="container" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 1280px; position: relative; width: 1280px;"><div class="columns" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; margin: -0.75rem;"><div class="column is-3 is-offset-9 is-offset-0-mobile" style="-webkit-box-flex: 0; box-sizing: inherit; flex: 0 0 auto; margin-left: 981.375px; padding: 0.75rem; width: 327.125px;"><div class="pattern--inline-widget--widget-wrapper " style="box-sizing: inherit; position: relative; width: 298.625px; z-index: 1;"><div class="pattern--inline-widget--widget-group" style="box-sizing: inherit; left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 298.625px; z-index: 1;"><div class="pattern--widget has-shadow--default" style="box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3) 0px 0px 2.10526rem 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px;"><div class="block" id="alzheimers-helpline" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><div class="pattern--cta-box pattern--cta-box--box-type--widget" style="-webkit-box-flex: 1; box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; flex-grow: 1;"><div class="has-text-centered-tablet box has-background-navy has-padding--small" style="-webkit-box-align: center; -webkit-box-flex: 1; -webkit-box-pack: center; align-items: center; background-color: #1b1464; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; padding: 0.75rem; text-align: center !important;"><div class="box-body" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: white;"><div class="pattern--cta-box--icon" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.75rem;"><span class="pattern--icon icon is-large" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: inline-block; font-style: inherit; padding: 0px;"><i class="icon-phone" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; font-size: 42px;"></i></span></div><div class="pattern--cta-box--description" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.75rem; margin-top: 0px;">Our dementia advisers are here for you.</div><div class="pattern--cta-box--link" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1.5rem; font-weight: 900;"><a href="tel:0333 150 3456" style="background-image: none; background-position: center center; background-repeat: repeat no-repeat; background-size: auto; box-sizing: inherit; color: white; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; transition: none;" target="_self">0333 150 3456</a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="spacer is-2" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 2.5rem;"><div class="content is-fullwidth-extended has-padding-horizontal" style="box-sizing: inherit; left: 421.9140625px; margin-left: -50vw !important; margin-right: 50vw !important; padding: 0px 1.5rem; position: relative; right: 421.9140625px; width: 100vw !important;"><div class="container" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 1280px; position: relative; width: 1280px;"><div class="columns is-centered" style="-webkit-box-pack: center; box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; justify-content: center; margin: 0px -0.75rem;"><div class="column is-6" style="-webkit-box-flex: 0; box-sizing: inherit; flex: 0 0 auto; min-height: 172px; padding: 0px 0.75rem; width: 654.25px;"><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">One morning, the newspaper was delivered. On the front in large font it read ’EVERYONE IS GOING TO DIE IN CARE HOMES’ (or something like that). Initially, the owner thought it best to tell the residents that the paper hadn’t come, but then decided that she had to be honest. </p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">She handed it to them and said, ‘I am giving you the paper, but please don’t believe everything you read, and I give you my word, I will do everything in my power to keep you and the staff safe.’ </p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">The residents replied with a ‘Thank you for being honest, we know you will!’</p><h2 style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1b1464; font-size: 1.875rem; line-height: 1.125; margin: 1.1428em 0px 0.5714em; padding: 0px;">How better government support could help our care home</h2><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">As carers, to protect ourselves and the residents, we have to wear masks at all times. Although we know this is necessary, it has been somewhat unsettling for some of the residents. A few of the residents who have dementia rely on the carers’ facial expressions for their peace of mind, so we have been even more reassuring and compassionate. </p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">Other ways we have been keeping our care home coronavirus-free includes often and thorough hand-washing, taking our temperatures at the start of every shift and not wearing our uniforms to work or home. </p><blockquote style="background-color: white; border-left-color: rgb(0, 115, 255); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 4px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 3.94737rem 0px 0px 1.31579rem; position: relative;"><h3 style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1b1464; font-size: 1.25rem; line-height: 1.125; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">‘They may seem like small things, but they could be the reason we have no coronavirus symptoms in either staff nor residents, and that is no small thing.’</h3></blockquote><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">I had a chat with the owner and the manager of the care home, and they both agreed that they think there is more that the government could do to support care homes. </p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">They said that it would be helpful if the MPs asked owners and managers of care homes what support they need, instead of just telling them, without understanding what actually goes on in a care home. All care homes are not the same, there should be no ‘one size fits all’ approach. </p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">The government had suggested keeping a 2-metre distance between residents. If MPs visited care homes, they would see that it just wouldn’t work and could be detrimental to the resident’s wellbeing. </p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Care homes could also benefit from visits from MPs so they can see firsthand the struggles, what extra support is needed, and what it takes to run a care home successfully. </p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></main>MTBooChophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07363750678398253164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4848901059957504803.post-40788289989050611852020-09-14T13:07:00.001-07:002020-09-14T13:07:14.265-07:00Communication is key<p> It’s over six weeks since I updated this blog. I have thought about what to write many times.... so much to say, but where to start. </p><p>It has been an exceptionally busy week. Our “visitors pod” in the form of a conservatory attached to the outside office has been built, just the floor to go down and then we can welcome visitors inside, just in time for the colder weather (despite a short heatwave being forecast for the next few days). The last few days have been warm and calm, residents have been in the garden and it has been wonderful to see family visiting their loved ones - albeit socially distanced and wearing PPE. </p><p>Activities in the home continue and a highlight of my week is sharing the special moments from the week before with our residents families. It is always a job I look forward to. I sit with a cup of tea, going through all the images and videos from the previous 7 days, putting them into a video and what’s app'ing all of our residents loved ones. I relive those special moments once again.</p><p>I have been incredibly thankful of the support we have received from the families of our residents. I have attempted to explain every decision we have taken, I ensure that they are regularly updated at all times, guidelines changed a lot, particularly in the early stage of the pandemic. The entire team and the families of residents have been appreciative of the updates and supportive of all of our decisions.</p><p>A few hours ago I took the difficult decision to temporarily suspend all non essential visits. With Covid-19 cases rising, I felt that it was the prudent thing to do. Safety of all of our residents is paramount, and every additional visitor represents an additional risk.</p><p>We are doing everything in our power to keep our residents safe. Over the last few months, like other care homes, we have put in place detailed new infection control processes. Staff have been trained, risk assessments put in place. We follow all infection control protocols. Staff temperature checks, changing into uniform and out of uniform at the start and end of every shift. PPE being worn at all time. We have all made many personal sacrifices over the last few months to ensure that we are minimising our risk exposure. W<b>e looked to the Government to fulfil their promise of weekly testing of all staff, so critical to ensure that we can control the risk of asymptomatic transmission.</b> Sadly the Government have yet again failed on this promise.</p><p>We all hear constantly that test and trace is critical to controlling infections. Testing was rolled out to all care homes in July (the fact that the Randox kits all got recalled and then there was a four week delay to get the new kits is not mentioned). Time and time again I hear about the “ring of steel” around care homes. </p><p>Over the summer care homes planned for what may happen over the winter. Testing of all staff and residents was rolled out, and yet as I sit here and type this blog I am waiting for test results.... <b>Results from tests that were collected on Sunday - seven days ago. </b> We have had just three results (all negative).. we are supposed to get results within 72 hours. Other care homes are experiencing the same delays. </p><p>We expected a difficult winter, but I felt certain the mistakes that happened earlier in the year when our most vulnerable in society were so badly let down would not happen again... surely not...</p><p><b>And yet, the testing that we were promised clearly is not working. </b></p><p>I feel I have support from our residents families, from the team of carers and from the residents. I believe a lot of that is down to open and honest communication. </p><p>I fear we have a difficult winter ahead. I promise I will keep communicating, I will keep being honest.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8W3CHc-s780jlOeMYwBhmaQotc09ZoUSXi8TbLhVtm2EH3RrbJZPBFykDNlnI1fYdtm_pQ3bc4Kmt8014ezwliHFTl91M-h0O1H5lvTvgj9qTGPc_8VPxsTqHGoKyw2rLlTxBJiFggbM/s2048/ixt4Nl4wQcCJtkXyzW%252Bbmg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8W3CHc-s780jlOeMYwBhmaQotc09ZoUSXi8TbLhVtm2EH3RrbJZPBFykDNlnI1fYdtm_pQ3bc4Kmt8014ezwliHFTl91M-h0O1H5lvTvgj9qTGPc_8VPxsTqHGoKyw2rLlTxBJiFggbM/s320/ixt4Nl4wQcCJtkXyzW%252Bbmg.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>MTBooChophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07363750678398253164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4848901059957504803.post-61836753551034694842020-07-23T02:44:00.002-07:002020-07-23T02:44:38.989-07:00Behind the Scenes<div style="text-align: justify;">
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On Monday this week we had our fire alarm service, this had been delayed a few months, but I felt it was critical it took place. It was planned with military precision, the engineer had a precise time he had to arrive, I was with him at all times cleaning behind him (he was in full PPE), the residents were shielded away from him. The residents were moved into the garden for his arrival. When he had left I went into the garden, to find a calm oasis of smiling faces, which turned into an impromptu dancing event. Clapping, cheering, laughing. The birds were singing, the flowers were in bloom. Later on we had a story telling game, all the residents adding bits to the story. In the other lounge the residents were watching family videos of great grandchildren racing around and singing. The residents are fine, happy and safely cocooned, we continue to keep smiling behind the masks and do everything in our power to keep everyone safe.</div>
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Last week I had a week away from LTC. Anyone who knows me knows that switching off is not something I am very good at. During the pandemic I have been encouraging all staff to take time off, there is a tendency to just keep on working. All of our staff have cancelled holidays and would prefer to carry forward holiday, but not only would this cause issues later in the year or early next year with everyone wanting time off at the same time, but it is important for staff to have time away from the home and the residents.</div>
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For social care staff and healthcare workers we have not had the lockdown time to tidy cupboards / do Joe wicks workout / homeschool. It has been been a stressful time, pressured, confusing, scary, but equally we have all had a purpose, a goal, and LTC has been our safe little bubble, keeping our residents and each other safe.</div>
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So actually switching off is hard for everyone. I used the time to just hang out with my family and be there if my teenage children did need me.... rather than be at the care home, taking an urgent call from the home / families, PHE, Dept of Health etc etc. But I used that time away from the care home to also speak to other care homes, chat about best practice and share ideas.</div>
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On Tuesday last week I had a very distressing call. It was with a care home that had lost more than 30% of their residents to Covid 19. It is not my story to tell but suffice to say it was a heartbreaking story. The manager of the home was so open and keen to share her experience. She had decades of nursing experience and it was very clear that this was an impressive nursing home, they had done everything right but very early on in the pandemic, Covid 19 entered the building. She directed me to this programme which was aired on newsnight in June. I urge everyone to watch it.</div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bS-6_phuWFQ" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bS-6_phuWFQ</a></div>
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I reflected on that conversation and it made it crystal clear to me that despite pushback that I may receive, minimising the risk of transmission of Covid 19 into the home must continue to be my main focus. At times decisions I take may not be popular. Anyone who has read my previous blog entries knows that I have expressed concerns about some of our residents wellbeing due to staff wearing facemasks all day long, for a few residents this negative impact continues, but the use of facemasks is a critical step to reduce the risk of asymptomatic transmission and ensuring our residents safety is paramount. Guidelines changed yesterday to say that facemarks must be worn by all and this includes everyone in the care home at all times - whether cleaning or cooking, or just servicing a boiler. </div>
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Guidelines also changed about visitors yesterday, recommending that visitors should be limited to a single constant visitor (socially distanced wearing PPE). In recent weeks there has been much in the news and on social media about residents in care homes (particularly those with dementia) suffering without visitors. Quotes are made about residents wellbeing being so negatively impacted without visitors. I am certain that in the majority of care homes residents wellbeing is being focused on at all times, and residents are happy, loved and settled, even without visitors. Whereas it is awful having to limit family visits, these visits continue to represent an additional real risk to our residents. I have individual risk assessments in place for all residents to understand the risk of external visitors - because for every single resident their circumstances are different. I am hugely grateful to the families or our residents who have been so supportive of my decisions regarding visiting their loved ones.</div>
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I will continue to hold firm and do everything that I believe is the right way to minimise the risk with the best interests of the residents and staff, even if those decisions are not always popular.</div>
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Regular Testing of staff and residents will begin shortly. We did receive the test kits, but these were recalled earlier this week due to safety issues and we have been advised that there will be a few weeks delay until we received the new test kits. Staff are tired, PPE is uncomfortable, guidelines change often weekly, sometimes more often. But I know that together, as a team, we continue to do everything we possibly can to protect our residents and each other. </div>
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<br />MTBooChophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07363750678398253164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4848901059957504803.post-87154643663169317432020-07-03T09:23:00.000-07:002020-07-03T09:23:41.234-07:00What I am most proud ofIt is Friday evening, and I am reflecting on what has been a challenging week. <br />
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Challenging in terms of guidance, PPE issues, testing. But after a longish walk I have reflected on what is really important and what I am proud of about our home.<br />
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Anyone who has read my blog up until now will, I hope, understand my frustrations about inconsistent guidelines which have been produced for care homes with a lack of understanding of the challenges. I will continue to try to educate and ensure that care home residents, staff, and their families have a voice.<br />
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But this entry is all about what I am proud of in our care home.<br />
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1. I am obviously proud that we have kept our residents and staff safe and that we have remained Covid free.<br />
2. I am proud that every day I go to the home it is filled with smiles and laughter -both residents and staff.<br />
3. I am proud that our residents have been protected from every challenge that the "outside world" has experienced in the last three months - they have eaten like kings and queens, never wanted for anything and their life have continued unchanged (apart from visitors).<br />
4. Our activities have kept everyone busy and energised, from flower arranging to visits to the farm to see robotic feeders, from VE zoom to Tik-Tok routines, from horses to chicks visiting, from online singing lessons to zoom bingo.<br />
5. I am proud to be part of the most wonderful community who have shown masses of support and love, from parcels from Tesco staff to free visors, letters and messages from school children, fancy dress visits twice a week.<br />
6. I am proud of the wonderful team who smile, laugh and have kept going and adapting to the ever changing process.<br />
7. I am proud of our amazing 700 year old home and beautiful garden... even when bits keep falling off.<br />
8. I am proud of my DIY skills - particularly with a power drill due to a lack of maintenance visitors<br />
9. I am proud that I have a job that I love and that my family extends to 17 residents and 25 staff.<br />
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And finally, a picture tells a thousand words, so this is just a taster of what the last 13 weeks have looked like.<br />
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<br />MTBooChophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07363750678398253164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4848901059957504803.post-72021232280802848752020-07-01T09:37:00.002-07:002020-07-01T09:37:28.694-07:00OUTRAGEOUS - Facemasks - Now recalled....I have written a lot about facemasks and particularly the impact of them on those living with Dementia. <br />
<br />
Today I have different concerns, I don't know my next steps in this regard. But I need to write this down somewhere.<br />
<br />
At the start of the pandemic everyone is aware that there were issues with PPE supply chains. The "National Supply Disruption Resolution team" which, I believe, came under the NHS dispatched 300 Type 11R fluid repellant facemasks. We were encouraged to buy future supplies from Government approved suppliers. I bought over 1800 additional masks from Countrywide Health - an approved supplier.<br />
<br />
At the end of April we noticed that the nasal strip on the facemasks was failing and particles were getting up our nose and in our mouth. On close inspection, ALL of the boxes had a sticker over the best before date extended the 2016 expiry date to 2021.<br />
<br />
On 3rd May I called the CCG and NHS PPE team, expressing concern about the extended expiry dates and the masks failing. I also emailed them. They called me back and said to keep using them as they were better than nothing.<br />
<br />
PHE also referred me to the HSE following my email to them.<br />
<br />
On 4th May I called the National Supply Disruption Resolution Team - they told me to call NHS England as they "didn't deal with issues of expiry dates" They told me they "thought" they were re-evaluated. I asked for the certification of this. They told me to call the "CPC" but could not tell me who the CPC were or what the telephone number was. I called Countrywide, they told me the Department of Health told them they were ok to sell and that the Department of Health had the certification relating to the extended expiry dates.<br />
<br />
On 7th May I emailed the HSE with details about my concerns about the masks failing and the extended best before dates.<br />
<br />
On 20th May HSE sent my email to MHRA - regulator of medical devices. They asked for more details which I sent that day.<br />
<br />
On 2 June MHRA replied and said that they were looking into this.<br />
<br />
TODAY an email was sent from the Local Authority Resilience Team that reads as follows;<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">
<span style="background-color: yellow; font-size: 12pt;">We understand that the following masks have been recalled from the NHS supply chain. We believe these have only been issued through the NHS supply chain and therefore it is unlikely that you will have any in your setting. However, as a precaution please review the attached document which provides further details and check that have not been supplied with any of these masks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><b>What does this mean?</b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><b>1. We have been using facemasks which have not been fit for purpose.</b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><b>2. It has taken eight weeks for my concerns to be dealt with - is this an acceptable timeframe, in relation to PPE?</b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">I literally have my head in my hands. I had to write this down to share this. How on earth has this been allowed to </span>happen?<br />
<br />
Luckily I have some other facemasks which we are using (as of 30 minutes ago).<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><b><br /></b></span>
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</style>MTBooChophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07363750678398253164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4848901059957504803.post-42665747289958445722020-06-23T13:40:00.000-07:002020-06-23T13:40:48.996-07:00To Visit or not to Visit.... that is the question..First things first, the virtual tour with our MP two weeks ago went well. I am delighted to report that he was able to spend over 1.5 hours with me (via video call), meeting staff and residents and seeing around our home. I think I can say with certainty that he understood more of the challenges after the meeting than he did before the meeting. We discussed;<div>
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<li>The admission of untested residents from hospitals at the start of the pandemic (although we took in no admissions we were asked to do so).</li>
<li>The challenges of PPE and social distancing and how "one size" does not fit all when it comes to guidelines for care homes.</li>
<li>The challenges specific to those living with dementia through the pandemic.</li>
<li>PPE issues - some PPE which is not fit for purpose.</li>
<li>End of Life visits</li>
<li>The future of small privately run care homes</li>
</ul>
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Many of the issues we discussed do not have easy solutions, there is no magic wand but I really wanted to give him an understanding that a one size fits all approach can not work.</div>
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It was not all gloom and despondency. He said at one point he was surprised just how "homely" our home was. Music to my ears! We told him about the activities, how we have communicated with families... I even sent him a link to this blog. I hope that going forward he will be able to fight the corner for the residents of care homes...</div>
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Over the past few weeks the subject of family visits has been one that plays on my mind. As lockdown restrictions are lifted I know many family and residents themselves look forward to the time they can see their loved ones.</div>
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Today further lockdown restrictions were lifted. Two hours after Boris made his announcement we were sent guidelines which state "Family and Friends should not visit care homes apart from next of kin in exceptional circumstances". But that ultimately it was for the care home to make the decision on whether it is safe to visit or not.</div>
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When we allow visits they will be in the garden (although I am hoping to build a visitor pod in the not too distant future), socially distanced and limited to one visitor. Every single resident, every single family member has their own set of circumstances. </div>
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Will the resident benefit from the visit?</div>
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Will the resident and family member be able to socially distance - imagine you visit your Mum, she dissolves in tears at the sight of you after 14 weeks, how hard will it be not to hug, not to hold hands.... even more so if your Mum has dementia?</div>
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Is the resident part of the very vulnerable shielding group?</div>
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Has the visitor been socially distancing / do they work in a higher risk environment?</div>
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Do I temperature check on arrival? what PPE to provide? How to we clean the seats between visitors?</div>
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And then the most serious of all..... if we make the wrong decision and a visitor is asymptomatic and passes Covid-19 to their loved one, who pass it on to the other residents...... and staff......It keeps me up at night.</div>
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At the moment I feel that garden visits will be right thing to do for some residents. Those residents who we know will benefit from a visit. I know how hard this is for families having to wait to see their loved ones in person. </div>
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In the meantime I will ensure we keep our wonderful residents, safe, loved, busy and happy. I will send images, I will send videos, I will over communicate to all our residents families.... and my dogs.... they will also keep watch on them.</div>
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MTBooChophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07363750678398253164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4848901059957504803.post-15087880952901313302020-06-10T23:23:00.001-07:002020-06-10T23:23:39.647-07:00How to communicate?I have not updated this blog for a little over a week, it feels longer!<br />
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All our residents are fit, well, happy, loved and well cared for. We remain in lock-down and our residents have not seen their family and loved ones for more than three months,<br />
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I know that I speak for all carers, all over the country and probably world, when I say that although bonds between residents and carers were strong before the Covid-19 pandemic, but since lockdown our bonds have become even stronger, we have been cocooned with our residents, seeing them rather than our own parents and other family members and our residents have become part of our family. I think of them before I got to sleep, when I wake in the night, and first thing in the morning (whilst also thinking about my husband and children).<br />
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We continue to keep our residents busy with a variety of different activities. I am honest with them all, telling them everything I am doing to keep them safe<br />
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and keeping them updated as guidelines continue to change. <br />
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Communication is critical, and with our facemasks being worn at all times, this is tricky, particularly for those living with dementia who are unable to verbally communicate (and read). I have raised these concerns to every single regulatory body and advisory group. The feedback remains that the risk of asymptomatic transmission trumps the need to communicate. <br />
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These "expert" advisory bodies recognise the challenges and suggests;<br />
- Put a mask on the residents so they don't get scared and feel the same as you (this does not even warrant a response from me).<br />
- Give them a teddy or doll with a mask on (our residents are not children).<br />
- Use an iPad to wipe board to communicate (many of our residents are not able to read or communicate in anyway, and for those who can, imagine if every single conversation you had with your loved one was on a wipe board)<br />
- Wear stickers with your face and name on your tabard so residents know who is behind the mask (I got these made up, with the help of a company in Dubai..... and then we were advised that PPE changes meant they are no longer able to be worn).<br />
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PPE guidelines change weekly - now we are allowed no lanyards, no bright badges, no "Hello my name is..." badges, hair has to be in a bun (not plaited), headbands must be worn at all times.<br />
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So our residents now see us in masks, plain uniforms, no name badges, no smiley pin on watches. I continue to advise the staff of these changes, and every time my heart sinks as I know we are ever so slightly chipping away at our ability to communicate.<br />
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I have done my own risk assessments, with family members and staff and for one resident who cried everytime we were with her, some staff do remove their facemasks, she instantly brightens and relaxes. I believe the negative impact on their wellbeing can not be under-estimated. When I am doing activities with our residents and can ensure I am a good distance from them I do remove my mask. When we go outside I take my mask off and keep as far as possible from them. As the picture shows, some of our residents find other ways to communicate safely with those they meet on a walk.<br />
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I am not saying we should not wear masks, but the whole issue needs to be understood and the impact on quality of life considered with consultation with residents, and their families.<br />
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Which brings me onto this.... Tomorrow I am meeting (virtually) our MP to give him a video tour of our home, introduce him to some residents and carers and talk to him about the reality of life in a care home.<br />
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Today I am planning how to structure the conversation....<br />
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What would you want your MP to know if you were me???MTBooChophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07363750678398253164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4848901059957504803.post-86671618681728638632020-05-29T09:35:00.001-07:002020-05-29T09:35:30.705-07:00Track and Trace, Testing and NHS. SupportJust a quick update. BBC News is on, it is all about care homes. Here is my perspective in relation to the three items on everyone’s lips, but in relation to our care home;<br />
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1. Track and Trace - this has HUGE impacts for us. Currently, if a staff member becomes symptomatic they self isolate, and are tested. With track and trace, ALL staff who have worked with that person would need to sel-isolate, and presumably residents would go into quarantine? That is hugely problematic with a small workforce, and would essentially mean we would not have enough staff for the business. Many other Care Homes are in the same position, we have been asking these questions for a few days, I keep getting the same answers “Oh, that is a good question”. I presume that my risk assessments, because we wear PPE at all times, mean we would not all have to self isolate with no symptoms - remember all staff and residents have temperature checks daily. This is yet another example of policy being put in place with no understanding of care homes.<br />
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2. Testing - we have tests for staff and residents, but again, no thought about those with dementia. To test the majority of our residents will be very difficult and very distressing and will require some form of restraint. Of course, if we have a symptomatic resident they and all residents will be tested but testing only works at one point in time, to test with no symptomatic residents or staff, and have to put residents through a very distressing process is not clear cut - again, guidelines talk about a rolling programme of testing in care homes, with no understanding or thought about the impact of those living with dementia.<br />
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3. NHS / Medical support - the BBC have run a distressing news item about a care home that did not receive the medical support it required. We have GP FaceTime calls, the district nursing team visit when required. We have received paramedics visits and we have had two residents admitted to hospital during the Covid pandemic - not for Covid related issues. Both were tested on admission (negative) and in theory were tested on discharge (although we were unable to get that in writing on both occasions). Both residents were quarantined and strict infection control protocols were followed for 14 days. Both residents are now out of quarantine and healthy and well.<br />
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Hope that may help - it’s from the horses mouth so to speak!<br />
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Tomorrow I am putting up new PPE dispensers on the walls - power drill is charged and screws purchased. Wish me luck.... MTBooChophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07363750678398253164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4848901059957504803.post-45354391169210149082020-05-27T12:39:00.001-07:002020-05-27T12:39:53.073-07:00Our Garden...The garden has always been a tranquil, calm oasis. But this spring it has become even more important to our residents and staff.<br />
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Like all gardens in the UK, right now, it is at it's peak. Nearly all the residents have been in the garden most days. Some of the residents have helped the carers and our amazing T, who is in charge of the garden. T is also S's Dad - you see our home really is a family affair! One resident in particular waits for T to arrive and rushes outside to be his assistant (at 91 years old she is incredibly sprightly). Another resident enjoys sitting with an iPad watching messages from his family. We even had a visit of peking bantam chicks this week in the garden which all the residents loved - families you will see the pictures later this week.<br />
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We have chosen the plants, the bronze ducks on the lawn, the metal owl on the post. T has put in place some incredible hanging baskets and the memorial bed with the rare Sorbus is surrounded by colour. We even have a rare "Rockhampton Red" - Carpinus Betulus (which is a special tree for me as it was discovered over 20 years ago by my Father<br />
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). We think we have Blue Tits nesting in the bird box too.<br />
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L has been plating seedlings and starting a veg patch with the residents, and earlier this week I built another set of tables and chairs, with the residents directing me and holding the tools.<br />
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Last July we had our summer party. Families and friends filled the garden, we decorated pebbles, we sang around the piano when the son of one resident played for us, children rang amongst the residents and played with garden games. It was a day filled with happiness and love.<br />
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This summer, I would dearly love for residents to be able to sit with their visitors in the garden. Realistically the likelihood of family visitors within the home is low, but visits outside in the garden, socially distanced may be something we can consider later this summer.<br />
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It is not an easy decision to take. I know that many families are desperate to see their loved ones, and what better place than in the garden. But this is a decision that could impact all of our residents, and one that weighs heavily on me.<br />
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For the next three weeks I want to wait to see whether there is a second peak. I need to consider the impact on every single resident individually. Although family members are desperate to see their loved ones, the impact on the resident may actually be more unsettling. Some residents may not be able to understand the rules of social distancing, and are likely to want to hold hands, to touch, to hug.<br />
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PPE will need to be worn, temperatures need to be taken and any decision I take impacts all the residents and so I will consult with all the families, Public Health England, and our other advisors.<br />
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I can not write now what I will decide, I can not predict the future, but know that I speak for all the residents when I say we would love more than anything to have you with us enjoying the garden, but for now we will just dream of you and send you all our love.MTBooChophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07363750678398253164noreply@blogger.com0