by Geraldine Davies | May 7, 2020 | Uncategorized
Having to have that difficult conversation around ‘memory loss’ and confusion with your parent(s) or family member may feel uncomfortable and alien to you. Perhaps you’ve noticed some warning signs of memory loss or strange behaviours that have got you thinking there is something not quite right. We have listed just a few warning signs below that may help you in distinguishing between old age forgetfulness and early onset memory loss. Keeping a watchful eye out for signs may be enough to avoid a ‘Crisis’ and allow you some time to look into what is needed to keep your loved one safe. Changes in eating habits, loss of weight or skipped mealsThe home not being kept as clean and tidy as you rememberFood in the fridge past the ‘sell by’ datePoor personal hygiene, with odour and dirty clothesWearing clothes on top of clothes or a mismatch of clothingPersonality changes, especially at certain times of the day or nightIrrational thoughts and behavioursForgetfulness, agitation, aggression, hallucinating or confusion Are you recognized, or described as a different person?Have there been any incidents such as wandering, falling, regular urinary infections, bruising or other unexplained injuries?Are you being called up on a more than regular basis and at unsociable times during the night?Have neighbours or friends suggested that it is time to look at more support? Experienced in the field of care of the elderly, my role here at Senior Care Support Services is to lift some of that worry off of your shoulders, to explain clearly how the care system may work for you and your family member and to explore what should happen...
by Geraldine Davies | May 5, 2020 | Uncategorized
Care England has welcomed a 9% uplift in the NHS Funded Nursing Care (FNC) rate for 2019/20. Following a review, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said the NHS FNC weekly rate for 2019-20 would rise from £165.56 currently to £180.31 for the 2019/20 financial year and be backdated to 1 April 2019. Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive of Care England, said: “This has been a long time coming, but we must be grateful to the DHSC for launching a review of the 2019/20 FNC rate as a result of Care England representations. The outcome of the review moves us close to the rate Care England campaigned for and we put, as part of the review process, very detailed arguments and evidence to support it. “The 2019/20 FNC did not reflect nurse costs in nursing homes and this was the reason behind the decision of Care England to push for a review. In addition, coronavirus has put a significant strain on care homes as they are responsible for the provision of care to some of the most vulnerable members of our society again demonstrating the absolute need for properly funded nursing care.” The higher rate of NHS-funded nursing care will also increase by 9% from the current rate of £227.77 to £248.06 per week for 2019/20, however, this is only relevant for people already on the higher rate. Martin added: “Managing the continued safe provision of nursing care to all residents at this time is particularly challenging given the staff shortages that are resulting from self-isolation/illness and the high demand within the NHS for additional nurses....
by Geraldine Davies | Apr 24, 2020 | Uncategorized
1. Try to stay calm and learn distraction techniques when periods of anxiety or frustration arise, i.e. ‘Sun Downing’, Personal Care, Outings.2. Watch out for triggers when periods of anxiety arise, i.e. time of day, personal care routine, key people and words.3. Encourage independence as much as safely possible, i.e. getting dressed, eating, toileting, food preparation, reading, singing and watching certain tv programs that trigger happy memories, or that do not require lengthy concentration periods. https://www.seniorcaresupport.co.uk/10-tips-supporting-someone-living-dementia/ 4. Create a scrap book of old photographs, memories, people and holidays. Anything from the past that may bring back happy memories. 5. Go through the scrapbook, or an old picture book/magazine, as often as possible. This may be a distraction technique to help with periods of unrest and anxiety.6. Remember the hobbies that were enjoyed and talk around them. Even get out old evidence of the hobby, i.e. a piece of knitwear that they knitted, woodwork that was created, garden herbs to smell that they enjoyed growing or music they used to singalong too. 7. Talk about family or friends and remind with photographs if available. 8. Talk about events or places that were of interest and enjoyment.9. Encourage participation in certain roles, i.e. laying the table, cooking, peeling potatoes, washing up, potting plants and gardening.10. Remember the person inside and try, when times are difficult, to bring that person out. They are still there, you may just have to dig a little to find them.For further tips on #Living with Dementia, please do email us here at #info@seniorcaresupport.co.uk BE KIND, BE GENTLE AND PLEASE TREAT ME WITH...
by Geraldine Davies | Aug 8, 2016 | Uncategorized
Recently read this article from the Care Industry New on Dementia care and thought it worthy of sharing ……….. It is difficult to maintain a positive demeanour when considering the heartless inevitability of dementia in Britain today, and the limited options available for giving those living with it a reasonable quality of life. One in six people over the age of 80 has dementia, most commonly Alzheimer’s disease. It comes like a thief in the night and triggers loss of brain function, creating conditions such as memory loss, confusion and speech problems that are usually progressive and severe. There are 850,000 people with dementia in the UK, with numbers set to rise to over a million by 2025. This will soar to two million by 2051. 225,000 will develop dementia this year – that’s one every three minutes. And one in every three children born this year will live to 100. It has the makings of a perfect storm for the care sector, for charities, for government agencies and local authorities who are trying to source funding for care – and, not least, for families who will see their loved ones effectively disappear before their eyes. Families, particularly, are woefully unprepared for the implications – practical, financial and emotional – of dementia and what it will mean for those who have to look after an elderly relative in the years of steep decline. Perhaps understandably, few people prepare for such circumstances financially, since dementia is unforeseeable and often manifests itself in small increments which are increasingly tolerated until the point of crisis. Even care professionals can underestimate the enormous...
by Geraldine Davies | Aug 5, 2016 | Uncategorized
Life can be confusing enough, but throw In the Brexit result and ………. Interesting article on what the future may hold for our elderly and frail following our exit from the EU....
by admin | Mar 26, 2015 | Uncategorized
I saw this article on BBC news and thought it relevant How does the system work currently? Social care is means-tested, which means only the poorest get state help towards their costs. Currently anyone with assets of over £23,250 has to pay the full cost of their care. If you are being cared for in your own home, that figure only takes into account any savings, stocks or shares you have. If you are moving into a care home the value of your home may be taken into account, depending on your circumstances. The costs people face, therefore, can run into thousands of pounds. One in 10 who enter the care system end up paying over £100,000 in fees. About 4m older people – nearly half the over 65 population – have care needs. But only 850,000 qualify for state help. Some 370,000 of these are getting help in their home and nearly 240,000 in care homes or nursing homes. The rest get help from other services, such as day care, meals on wheels, or via home adaptations and equipments. Once those who fund themselves are taken into account, the numbers getting help in their own home rises to about 850,000 and in care and nursing homes to about 450,000. Another 1.5m are reported to be relying on family and friends to provide support. So how will the cap work? From April 2016 the amount you pay for care if you are over 65 is being capped at £72,000. To be eligible, you first need to be assessed by your council as having very high needs. Whether care...
