Month: October 2023

Since the post-COVID reopening of the economy, staffing shortages in the care sector in England have been of increasing concern.

In October 2021, British charity Skills for Care warned that at 8.2 per cent adult social care vacancy rates in England were exceeding pre-pandemic levels (which in 2019, stood at eight per cent). That figure has since exceeded 10 per cent, according to Skills for Care’s monthly tracking.

The UK Government has sought to remedy this crisis, in part, with the new health and social care levy, which came into force in April 2022. This levy is currently being implemented as an increase in National Insurance contributions.

Experts have pointed out this is having a disproportionate impact on household budgets for those on lower incomes and those below the age of 50. They have also warned that it won’t fix the problem.

This is because a relatively small portion – £5.4 billion of the £39 billion to be raised in the next three years – is set to go to social care, with the remainder to be spent on the National Health Service (NHS). And half of that £5.4 billion will be used to compensate for the cap on care costs of self-funders. Crucially, only £500 million has been allocated to workforce reform, and this amount is to be spent, not on the pay uplift so desperately needed for recruitment and retention, but on training and qualifications.

Our ongoing research (the results of which are not yet published) looks at the financial impact COVID has had on care homes for older people and their staff. We interviewed managers, care-giving staff and support staff from for-profit and not-for-profit providers of all sizes.

We have found that many people don’t think carers need more training – they are, as some reminded us, among the best trained workforce in the economy. What they do need is improved working conditions and better pay.

Conversely, the shortage of qualified nurses is one of the biggest pressures on both nursing homes and on the NHS. Therefore, rather than offering more training to existing carers, we need to improve pay and conditions of care home staff and to train new nurses to work in the sector.

From senior managers to carers, people employed in the care sector repeatedly emphasised that better pay and working conditions were crucial to filling the care workforce shortages.

Measures already taken towards further professionalisation – such as the carers’ registry established in Scotland in 2001 – have been shown to have done nothing to improve pay and conditions for carers and, by extension, staffing.

Although social care benefited in 2020 from COVID closures in sectors recruiting from the same labour pool, it has been struggling in the past year to compete for talent. Retail and tourism in particular offer higher wages and better working conditions. And people working in these sectors tend to enjoy comparatively higher social esteem for roles that are less mentally and physically demanding.

The media has periodically pointed out the immense strain that the pandemic placed on the care workforce, but the sheer extent of the pressure carers in the UK have endured is staggering.

How did the pandemic affect care workers?

Care home staff continue to experience crushing workloads. Many have worked 14-16 hours a day, for weeks on end without a break, and many months without a holiday.

They have also endured devastating COVID outbreaks at various stages of the pandemic. While these have claimed mostly frail residents’ lives, workers too have been affected. They have lived and worked with the constant fear of catching and bringing COVID into care homes as a result.

The consequent prevention measures, whether mandated by the Government or employers or self-imposed, have led to social isolation. Early on in the pandemic, it was not uncommon for care home staff, including managers, to move into their workplaces or avoid social contact, in order to minimise the risk to their residents and families.

The Government’s rules changed over time, but as our ongoing study and media reports show, care staff have felt keenly that they are living by different rules to the rest of society. When the end of lockdown, on July 19, 2021, was dubbed ‘Freedom Day’, carers and the vulnerable people they care for rightly resented that description.

On an individual level, these workloads, working conditions and emotional pressures have led to to high burnout rates and mental health concerns. Sector-wide, this has resulted in ever higher staff turnover rates and staff shortages.

Managerial thinking usually equates reduced staffing with efficiency and cost-savings. But we are finding that staff shortages in care homes are actually costing the sector dearly.

Providers are struggling to keep services running. Staffing agencies’ fees have reportedly skyrocketed, and due to sponsorship costs and visa fees, overseas recruitment is similarly costly. And there are the usual recruitment costs which accumulate with higher staff turnover.

Care home providers’ spending is increasing elsewhere too, as overheads become more expensive with inflation. Those who have significant amounts of state-funded residents are unable to pass on the additional costs and are thus feeling the squeeze. While large private chains have already announced they will increase fees by up to 10 per cent this year, citing staff shortages as a prominent reason in addition to soaring food and energy prices.

The social care reform which the UK Government has begun to implement comes nowhere near resolving this crisis. It is clear that spending more on staff will benefit everyone – service users, service providers, workers, and, ultimately, the taxpayer.

Source: https://www.wbs.ac.uk/news/why-is-there-a-shortage-of-care-home-workers-in-the-uk/

As the title suggests, the quality of care should be self-evident in every situation, but what makes a good nursing home consists of many things, not just the number of people in the home and the quality and quantity of services. It’s like saying that a carrier bag shouldn’t be good for carrying things around. It gives you a sense of security that you are in a safe, secure and comfortable place with the right level of privacy and security.

It is a place where you live permanently, not just for a short time, but for the rest of your life and for your children and grandchildren.

Many of your physical needs are much easier to meet, such as going to the toilet, keeping warm and eating, but a good nursing home should be far more. Just as important is your mental need: to be happy, content, stimulated, safe and loved, to be treated as an individual and to have a say in your own care needs is the most important thing for a person living in a nursing home. Mental needs, such as being kept warm and cared for, are a physical need. When your mental and emotional needs are met, many of them will be much more difficult, if not impossible, to fulfill.

When a person is happy, stimulated and loved, it is more or less likely that they eat and sleep well, and when they feel safe and respected, they are more likely to be accepted. How do you meet the psychological and emotional needs of a patient and how does a good nursing home respond to these needs?

There are no easy answers, but you learn a lot about a person’s life experience, preferences and memories, as well as their needs. Every person on the planet is different and it is your job to ensure that someone diagnosed with a disease such as dementia does not lose their individuality. Even if their life experiences, preferences, and memories change or are lost, they can still determine how their diagnosis affects them now. They are still what they always were and should never be because of their diagnoses, so there is a simple answer.

People – care is on everyone’s lips at the moment, but what does it really mean and how do you achieve it? Simply put, it means individual care at the centre of a person, and it is the most important aspect of a good care home.

No – one is just like the other, but both are important in their own way, and in a good care home they work together.

A good care home should strive to meet the needs of as many as possible, no matter how detached they may seem. Person-centred care can only be successful if care homes recognise this importance and give their staff enough time to talk to residents, get to know them and listen to them.

Often it means so much to them to know that one resident puts milk and three sugars in his tea, or that another prefers coffee with a splash of cold water. When people think of care homes, they often think of old people sitting in the lounge, eyes open and mouth open, staring at a computer screen.

But the exact opposite should be the case – a good care home will be bright, colourful and full of life. Staff offer a variety of activities and experiences throughout the day, including pampering, games, baking and laughter. When the employees realize that work is so important to them and that they are part of a community, they realize that it is important not only for the residents, but also for themselves.

When relatives and friends visit their loved ones, they should feel like they are entering their own home, not a nursing home. Whatever happens, the best care homes should resemble a home for people of all ages, not just the elderly and disabled.

Most nursing homes today have qualified nursing staff on site 24 hours a day and are therefore technically a nursing home. The word “care” instead of “care” suggests a more holistic approach to care for the elderly and disabled in a nursing home, rather than a one-sided focus on care. A nursing program that involves more than simply taking time off to help residents live engaged, happy and full lives.

Time management sounds like something out of a business plan, but it can also be used in a nursing home. How do you know a good nursing home and how do your staff love their patients and their families?

Take care of your people, take the time to be there for them and show them that they love and care for you. In this way, your home will be a much better place for everyone and you will laugh more with people, be more understanding and take care of the people you care about.

This is what makes our service so exceptional and it is at the heart of everything we do, not only in our work, but also in the lives of our customers and employees.

Our specialized care spans four nursing homes and we serve our residents and customers by creating vibrant, caring communities. As employees, we have set ourselves the goal of making people happier and more rewarding at work.

Our values reflect how we do things and who we want to be in order to have a positive impact, and we believe that we can achieve this by living the values that are closest to us.

Dementia is also a safe environment – friendly, where we focus on what people can and cannot do and put the needs of the individual first. Our residents have the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of being well educated – and being welcomed by like-minded people – highly qualified, with time, to get to know the people we care about with dignity and respect. We plan care and support and use the best practices in designing and planning nursing homes so that our hearts and minds are always with them and we spread a beautiful, homely feeling throughout the house.

We encourage you, as an interested resident or family, to see our cozy home and contact us to learn more about what we have to offer.

There are tens of thousands of families who have difficulty caring for their elderly relatives, but there are also thousands who can no longer live alone. More than 800,000 people suffer from Alzheimer’s disease, a progressive disease that requires specialised care by highly qualified professionals. We specialize in personalized care for people with dementia and rate nursing homes highly.

Each and every one of these people deserves the best possible attention and care, regardless of age, race, gender, disability or physical or mental condition.

We believe that compassionate care and exemplary professional standards go hand in hand. With a fully trained nursing team, we passionately provide personalized care for people who need it and take care of what is important to you. Your loved ones will feel safe and happy in one of our excellent homes.

It is our passion to help people enjoy their later lives and to serve them with life, and we do this by caring for our employees.

This simple, impartial guide will help you find the right care for you, and we adapt a range of care and specialised services to your needs. For many years we have been at the forefront of research and development into new care homes in the UK and abroad.

Maintaining a warm and welcoming environment, preparing tasty and nutritious menus and organising meaningful activities ensure that residents of nursing homes can live a stimulating and fulfilling life.

Celebrate life and make sure that the people you support do so by treating everyone as an individual and always tailoring services and support to their needs. Provide a safe and comfortable environment for people suffering from dementia or seeking assisted living. They also provide support for a range of disabilities, including mental health needs, as well as older people and people with disabilities.

The assistance is consistently high quality and personal, and the people who support it get the best out of their registered care. In East Grinstead, they provide care and support for the elderly, as well as a range of mental health services for people with disabilities and mental illness.

The person-centered approach recognizes the uniqueness of individual care, and exceptional care is provided in an enabling, high-quality environment. With years of experience, we can look back on some long-standing success stories that have been personally developed, as well as approaches that aim to improve the lives of people with dementia.

While this is an unfortunate reality, many state Medicaid programs recognize that a person with dementia may not need full-time care in nursing homes, and state laws have been changed to accommodate these individuals in less restrictive living environments. Some families end up with a loved one on Medicaid who is able to pay for nursing homes and care, but not assisted living. Although there are a wide range of ways to help older people with Alzheimer’s, it is less popular in some states.

If there are fewer caregivers available at any time, it is more difficult to provide 24-hour care, and if there are fewer caregivers available, it can be more than difficult to provide 24-hour care at all times.

As a rule, there are assisted living and nursing homes that look after people who need care for a short period of time. Respect Care can be a helpful option for those recovering from surgery or a serious illness. She is also able to give carers a much-needed break from caring for others.

If you or your loved ones suffer from Alzheimer’s or any other form of dementia, there are a number of options for caregivers at assisted living facilities in New Jersey. Memory care facilities are usually part of nursing homes and are aimed specifically at people suffering from dementia.

New Jersey has nearly 100 hospitals, so chances are you’ll be able to choose an assisted living facility for your loved ones. As the disease progresses, your relative may need Alzheimer’s to meet memory needs.

This is important because if your relative is sick, injured or in need of urgent medical attention, they can be forgotten.

If your residents suffer from advanced dementia or are at risk for themselves or other residents, they must be in the care of an ALF, such as a nursing home or nursing home. If the occupant was kept out of the house by the AL F due to his increased need for care, he can be classified as an unsuitable candidate. So have the opportunity to discuss these questions and problems with your loved ones.

If you or a family member with dementia have suffered an injury in an assisted living facility, read on and our lawyers will be at your side.

Depending on the resources available in the community, the next step for a dementia patient may be moving to a memory care unit, also known as a special care unit. Although the physical environment can vary, the aim of a memory care facility is to provide long-term home care for people with moderate to late dementia. Memory care typically takes place on a continuous nursing campus that offers multiple care levels at one location.

These units, also referred to as special care units, memory care facilities or long-term care centres, provide both private and communal living space. Memory wards are an ideal option for people with dementia who require a high level of qualified care and supervision. Professionals working at all levels of senior life are familiar with dementia care.

Stand-alone residences operate in a variety of locations, including hospitals, nursing homes and nursing homes. Sometimes there is a special nursing ward or memory care facility with private living space and a memory ward.

For example, a person with dementia can start in an assisted living environment and then, as the disease progresses, move to a qualified care facility in the same community. A nursing home may have special accommodation, activities and care services tailored to the needs of people with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Care is provided 24 hours a day by a team of nurses trained to meet the specific needs and requirements of a dementia patient.

To learn more about this type of care for the elderly, visit our Nursing Homes page for more information. To find resources in your region, check out the National Association of Area Agencies on Ageing.

The demand for care for dementia sufferers has also increased with the increasing demand for assisted living for the elderly. The key difference between the two options is that memory care specialises in dementia, not life support. Many assisted living communities offer a wide range of services such as nursing homes, home care and even assisted living in a nursing home.

Assisted living is a long-term form of housing for older adults who do not need qualified care but need help with activities and daily life.

Below is a list of some of the best assisted living providers for older adults with dementia in the United States, as well as some information about their services.

People often confuse assisted living and nursing homes, but the two ways of caring for the elderly are very different. Assisted living communities provide personal care (ADLS) for residents who need help with activities but do not need qualified care, while nursing homes provide qualified care for older adults with Alzheimer’s, dementia and other forms of dementia. One should always consider an assisted living facility for elderly people with dementia when thinking about it.

We pride ourselves on our competence in caring for people with dementia and our team provides in-patient care. Everything we do at East Grinstead Nursing Home is tailored to the needs of patients, their families and loved ones. We receive experience-oriented dementia training that gives us insights into the lives of people with dementia.

Then we put together a care and lifestyle plan that meets your needs and interests so that every day is enjoyable and meaningful. When you move in, you get to know us, our staff, our facilities and the people we care for, as well as our patients.

Our activity coordinators are proud to plan pleasant individual and group activities for you. Schoolchildren and artists come to Mill View to see what we have to do morning and afternoon, afternoon and evening. We also like to go out to explore our beautiful area, and we do many outdoor activities such as picnics, cycling, hiking, cycling and swimming.

There is also a lot to do in the surrounding area and our houses are also open to visitors, so you can always come to your loved ones for meals, activities or excursions. Mill View features a wide range of amenities including a gym, swimming pool, gym, fitness center, dining room, library, garden and viewing area, allowing residents access to a fulfilling lifestyle without leaving the house.

We treat our residents as individuals and work hard to tailor our services and support to their specific needs. We select our team of professional caregivers based on their ability to truly care for their nature. Care is at the heart of who we are and it is not just something we offer, we treat every resident as an individual. Below is a list of the types of care we can offer to our residents, as well as a brief description of each.

Perhaps cooking meals and washing clothes is slowly becoming difficult and you can no longer take care of yourself at home. Home care is ideal for those who have difficulty living independently and do not need 24-hour care. In addition, we take care of you around the clock and can accompany you if you need to travel to work, school or other important events in your life and also need round-the-clock care. In-home care at Baycroft Home provides a little extra support, but not at the expense of the other services we offer.

We provide specialized support for residents with Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and other forms of dementia and Alzheimer’s. We specialize in the care of residents with dementia at all stages of the disease and we specialize in the care of residents in the dementia stage of these diseases as well as residents with other types of dementia.

We train our staff to meet the changing needs of our residents in a safe and caring environment. We are continuously trained to ensure that we always meet and exceed the latest standards and guidelines in the care industry.

Baycroft Home has its own living area, which is specifically tailored to the needs of people with dementia. The high standards of our institution are recognized with the highest accreditation in the care industry.

A consensus on care

In the last ten years, landmark legislation and policy frameworks in all nations have sought to create social care systems which are more person-centred and support individuals to have more choice and control.

In England, the adult social care white paper, People at the heart of care, wants to see more people having ‘choice, control and support to live independent lives’. Meanwhile, in Wales, personalised care is one of ten national design principles to drive improvement in health and care.

In Northern Ireland, a recent consultation on adult social care reforms highlighted the public interest in choice and control being at the heart of any future reforms. Lastly, in Scotland, proposals for a National Care Service are underpinned by a desire to place the person at the heart of decision making.

IMPACT – what happened

IMPACT, the UK-wide centre for implementing evidence in adult social care, set up a series of networks across the UK to help make choice and control a reality. The networks met over six months in 2022, to address the barriers to supporting more people to have choice and control, practical solutions, and national and local actions which could facilitate greater progress.

For example, in East Sussex and Devon, the two networks focused on designing together a user-friendly, flexible and supportive approach to implementing Individual Service Funds. In Swansea, a group of adults with learning disabilities who had set up a formal user-led co-operative to pool their direct payments and collectively decide how to support their care needs wanted to facilitate the creation of other co-ops across Wales, as well as expand their membership.