Hedging with Options vs. Futures: HowDo They Compare
Hedging with Options vs. Futures: How Do They Compare When it comes to finance in general, it’s no secret that uncertainty is always present, and if you want to survive the cruel consequences of the constant changes that follow it, you need to have an investment strategy as complex as the financial markets themselves. It …
What to Look for When Choosing a Funeral Director
Best Entertainment Apps For The Elderly
Best Entertainment Apps For The Elderly One of the great things about entertainment apps is that there is something for everyone and every demographic. They’re not limited to millennials, for example. There are actually some excellent apps for the elderly, and they’re sure to provide hours of fun while remaining accessible in equal measures. Wordle …
4 Reasons Why Health Testing For Pensioners Is Essential
4 Reasons Why Health Testing For Pensioners Is Essential If the last few years have taught us anything, it’s that regular health screening is an essential part of daily life. Companies like Cignpost Diagnostics played a vital role in keeping the population prepared so that when the vaccines began rolling out, the first eligible groups …
Online shopping is fun
Online shopping is fun All of us, regardless of age, adore precious accessories and carefully collect our own, albeit small, but very special jewellery collection. And we all sometimes want to diversify it with something new and unusual. But it’s often very tiring to wander from one shopping centre to another in search of worthy …
postural support
Postural Support We all, regardless of health, know that feeling, when you’ve been in one position for a while and you start to feel uncomfortable: the cushion needs plumping, you feel pressure on parts of your body. Being comfortable yet appropriately supported can really impact on our general feeling of wellbeing. It has a wider …
Change in health circumstances? We look at how to raise your spirits and quality of life.
Change in health circumstances? We look at how to raise your spirits and quality of life. The Government’s Hospital Discharge Service: Policy & Operating Model maintains that 45% of patient require up to six weeks’ recovery support from health & social services. It also states that provision of equipment should be without charge for six …
Toilet troubles and how to avoid them
Struggling to use the toilet? Top ‘tech’ to help you keep your dignity
Struggling to use the toilet? Top ‘tech’ to help you keep your dignity None of us like to admit we are struggling to cope with daily life. We think it means we lose our independence, our choice, that our home will be “over-run” with equipment that looks institutional. It’s particularly a worry regarding the …
Keep a caring eye on your loved one’s finances through text messages
Keep a caring eye on your loved one’s finances through text messages Many of us care for loved ones who need a bit of extra support when it comes to managing their finances. Whether that’s because of dementia, a learning difficulty, mental health problems or any other impairment, managing money can be a challenge for …
How to get four times more from your care budget
ADAPTING TO SUIT EVERYONE
ADDRESSING THE BIG ISSUE IN INTIMATE CARE
A Day in the Life of a Nurse in a Care Home
How Ergonomic Chairs Can Help The Elderly With Back Pain
A Day in the Life of a Care Assistant
Playing Video Games Could Stave Off Alzheimer’s
You can stave off the effects of Alzheimer’s disease by enjoying some of the active video games so popular with the youngsters. So says new research into this activity and the disease. According to scientists, games that involve you getting physical exercise, like those available for Xbox Kinect and the Wii boost your brain as …
What does the Court of Protection do and how can it help you or your family?
5 Things You Should Know About Dementia
5 Things You Should Know About Dementia Dementia is very often associated with Alzheimer’s disease. They are not the same, though. Dementia is a term that describes a set of symptoms out of which memory loss is the most common one. It is not a disease, but rather a condition that affects the way people …
Spotlight on mental health
Spotlight on mental health The term mental health, like physical health, encompasses a multitude of illnesses and conditions. When first facing mental health challenges, whether you yourself or a friend or relative are affected, it can feel overwhelming; both understanding the conditions and what support is available. This article provides a brief introduction to mental …
What to expect as a first-time family caregiver
8 low cost activities for the elderly
8 low-cost activities for the elderly. Looking for fun, engaging activities for seniors that won’t break the bank? The cost of aging isn’t cheap, but that doesn’t mean your fun can’t be! Check out these 8 inexpensive activities for seniors: 1 – Digital games: Free apps that let seniors play their favorite games like Scrabble, …
Employing your own care and support
Employing your own care and support Employing your own care and support gives you choice and control about how you’re supported. It also means that you become an ‘individual employer’ and are responsible for recruiting, managing and training your personal assistants (PAs). This might seem daunting at first but there’s lots of help out there. …
A day in the life of an Activity Co-ordinator
RIGHT PILLS AT THE RIGHT TIME
RIGHT PILLS AT THE RIGHT TIME Pivotell automatic pill dispensers and reminders are highly effective in helping vulnerable adults remember to take their medication. Their use often results in improved health, more independence and a better quality of life. Although the dispensers are used mainly by people with poor memory such as those with Alzheimer’s …
COUNTING THE COST OF CARE
Disabled Living Foundation’s volunteer programme making an impact
Disabled Living Foundation’s volunteer programme making an impact Many of us know what it is to be older, or to have a disability, because it has happened to us or to someone close to us. But not everyone knows about the huge range of daily living aids available that help people live independently in their …
How Live-In Carers Make Your Life More Comfortable
How Live-In Carers Make Your Life More Comfortable Like everyone, you want to stay at home for as long as possible. This is becoming more and more possible thanks to a combination in the rise of live-in care programs in the UK and improvements in mobility technology. Only a generation ago the only options for …
DESIGNS FOR LIFE
DESIGNS FOR LIFE Few of us accept our ageing and deterioration gracefully. We resist as long and hard as we can. Subconsciously, the reason is often because we don’t want fixtures and fittings that look institutional or clinical: their appearance alone reminds us of our frailty. But fear not. Help is at hand. Living aids, …
ADAPTING TO THE INEVITABLE
ADAPTING TO THE INEVITABLE There are certain things in life that are inevitable, particularly that we all change with time. But how do you cope with that? The five core areas of ‘activities of daily living’ (ADL s)are: – Personal hygiene – Dressing – Eating – Maintaining continence – Transferring/mobility Therefore, the majority centre round …
The importance of honouring a loved ones funeral wishes
SUPPORT WHEN (AND WHERE!) YOU MOST NEED IT
SUPPORT WHEN (AND WHERE!) YOU MOST NEED IT Did you know using the bathroom is one of the most potentially dangerous activities we do in daily life? Figures indicate that more accidents and falls ‘on the level’ happen in the bathroom- getting in, out of the bath, shower, and on and off the toilet- than …
Driving as an older adult
Driving as an older adult Driving over the age of 70 can be crucial for maintaining independence, social links and attending medical appointments. In terms of a driving licence, once you reach 70, you are required to renew your licence every 3 years. It’s free to do this and if you fail to renew, you …
Spending Power – Does accessibility to a toilet determine where you go out?
Spending Power – Does accessibility to a toilet determine where you go out? How much is your ability to find suitable toilets away from home an influencing factor on when, and where, you go? A new survey has highlighted that, if you or someone you care for has a limitation, the answer to that question is …
15 things to do with the elderly in London if you are a live in carer
Home Care Agencies in Leeds
Live in Care Agencies in Reading
Live-in Care in Reading Live in care is becoming a popular alternative to moving into a care home for those living in Reading, Wokingham, Slough and the wider Berkshire area. There are a number of reasons why it is a more attractive option, though it may not be for everyone. In this guide, we will …
‘GO’ AND TAKE CONTROL
‘GO’ AND TAKE CONTROL Blog by Robin Tuffley, marketing manager at Closomat, looks at the more intimate issues of continence. Do you or someone you care for have bladder and/or bowel problems? The NHS estimates that between 3 and 6 million people in the UK have some degree of urinary incontinence. Studies suggest that in the UK “major faecal incontinence” affects …
Considering A Career in Care?
5 Ways 21st Century Phone and WiFi Systems Help Care Homes Succeed
‘FUTURE-PROOF’ INTIMATE CARE
‘FUTURE-PROOF’ INTIMATE CARE You’re probably reading this because either you, or someone you love, now need additional support. You’re not alone- far and away the majority of people who need it have either gradually or suddenly reached that point. It’s life-changing, so it’s important to take steps to ‘future proof’ as far as possible, to …
TAKE A STAND!
The Care Quality Commissions ‘Care Aware’ campaign
The Care Quality Commissions ‘Care Aware’ campaign Andrea Sutcliffe, Chief Inspector for Adult Social Care, from Care Quality Commission comments on the difficult decision of choosing social care services for an elderly friend or relative. More and more of us are picking our way through the complex world of social care either for ourselves or …
GET OUT!
Too often, we read about, and ourselves receive anecdotal evidence, that people with any degree of limitation stay at home, sometimes to the extent they say they feel trapped in their own home. And too often, the reason for the reluctance to venture out is worry about being able to find- and use- a suitable …
What is NHS Continuing Healthcare Funding?
NHS Continuing Healthcare Funding is a term that is often spoken about when it comes to paying for care fees, but many people are unaware as to how it actually works, due to the complex criteria required for eligibility. With this in mind, Compass CHC Director Tim Davies has outlined a “back to basics” summary …
WOULD YOU TAKE THE RISK?
Personal Alarms: How a Lifeline can help Older People
Interview with Duncan Berry – Chief Operating Officer for Bluebird Care
As part of our interview series, we are speaking to some of the most important influencer’s in the home care industry, who give their reflections on the past twelve months and thoughts on what 2018 and beyond has for the industry. In this interview we speak to Duncan Berry, who is the Chief Operating Officer for …
Interview with Ken Deary – Managing Director of Right at Home
Interview with Ken Deary – Managing Director of Right at Home As part of our interview series, we are speaking to some of the most important influencers in the homecare industry, who give their reflections on the past twelve months and thoughts on what 2018 and beyond has for the industry. In this interview we …
Easy ways for the elderly to play your favourite games online
The internet is revolutionising elderly care
The internet is revolutionising elderly care The world wide web has been at our fingertips for over two decades now, and it has come an incredibly long way. From noisy dial up connections and impossibly slow download times, to streaming events in real time and speaking face to face with friends across the world, the …
Arthritis and intimate hygiene
Arthritis is now the biggest cause of disability in Britain. More than 9.25million people are affected. The figure reinforces how few people with limitations are born with their affliction- it could be you! Arthritis Research UK has published guidance on dealing with daily life, particularly the bathroom. After all, its one of the most often …
Nothing ventured, nothing gained! Undertaking positive risks to maintain independence.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained! Undertaking positive risks to maintain independence. Restrictions in social care and health funding now mean that older people and adults with long term conditions or disabilities are being actively encouraged to increase their independence, for example by managing their own support, travelling independently, and being fully involved in mainstream society through …
Person centred care
PERSON-CENTRED CARE Person-centred care is becoming an increasing driver in health & social care provision. Authorities adopt it because in theory it can “improve outcomes”, to use their terminology. To you or I (the client/patient), it means we are more in control of how our care is delivered: it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to …
“Disregards”, Deferred Payment Agreements and the “Dementia Tax”
“Disregards”, Deferred Payment Agreements and the “Dementia Tax” In a recently published academic paper, I unwittingly considered the background to what was to become the “Dementia Tax” debate. There were many frustrating elements to that debate. For a start, the Conservatives’ proposal was not a tax in the true sense, but a liability to fund …
Toilet Talk
Toilet Talk More people in Britain suffer from incontinence than suffer from asthma or diabetes! The Bladder & Bowel Foundation statistic demonstrates that maybe it’s time we ‘talked toilet’ more openly. The organisation claims up to 14million people have bladder control problems, and at least 6.5million bowel issues. As a nation, the British have …
Carers can take telecare into the digital age
Carers can take telecare into the digital age In our first blog we covered a broad definition and three key principles of delivering Safer Independence; Mobility, Safety and Being Connected. In this second blog we explain how telecare has evolved and how Oysta is supporting care organisations and vulnerable individuals in a health and social …
What do our older generation make of the social care crisis?
The discussion around social care has been growing in recent months as opposing parties have put forward their proposals on how to tackle the crisis. With the UK now in an even more unstable position politically, the future of social care has become more uncertain. The anticipation for the government’s green paper is now higher …
Medicine Management for the Elderly: Tips & Advice
Medicine Management for the Elderly: Tips & Advice Being responsible for an elderly person’s wellbeing can be very difficult, especially when they’re taking lots of different types of medication. If you make a mistake, it can be a matter of life and death. But don’t worry: there are lots of different things you can try …
Adapt & take control
ADAPT AND TAKE CONTROL What do you think is the UK’s biggest single cause of disability? Believe it or not, it is arthritis. It affects at least nine million people, and reinforces the point that most people become limited, rather than being born with a disability. It also proves it could be you, especially …
Dealing with the impact of bowel issues
The pitfalls of DIY probate and why you should use a professional
The pitfalls of DIY probate and why you should use a professional With the huge increase in internet use and the wealth of information that can be found on it, more and more people are being tempted to deal with the administration of an estate themselves. This blog sets the factors you should consider. Probate, …
6 Tiny Steps to a Happier You Right Now
Size matters when it comes to toileting
Safeguarding of vulnerable adults
Safeguarding of vulnerable adults Some adults are less able to protect themselves and have difficulty making their wishes and feelings known, making them vulnerable to abuse. Anyone can be a victim of financial abuse, broadly speaking a violation of an individual’s rights relating to their finances or other assets. But what can be done to …
NHS continuing healthcare – 5 things you need to know about eligibility
Continuing Healthcare Information and Advice Thousands of people across the UK need to receive ongoing care due to disability, accident or illness. For those that are assessed as eligible, the NHS funds the full cost of this care for people in England under the policy called NHS continuing healthcare (CHC). Sound simple? It’s not. The …
7 Reasons why it is so important to talk to kids about dementia
Top tips to manage hearing loss at Christmas
Christmas is a time for family and friends to come and spend some quality time together, but the festive period can be a very challenging time for someone suffering from some form of hearing loss. The overplayed Christmas music, chat with your boss at the office party, the punchline to the bad cracker joke and …
Where there’s a Will there’s a way: the importance of making a Will
It is estimated that approximately 60% of the UK adult population has not made a Will. This is remarkable in a world of ever more complex families and an increasingly litigious population. So if you are one of the 60%, don’t put off the important and relatively easy step of making a Will any longer. …
Toileting
Toileting Hygiene By Robin Tuffley, marketing manager at Clos-o-Mat, Britain’s brand-leader in accessible toileting Would you like someone to have to help you on the loo? To wipe your bum? Having difficulty using the toilet is not something as a nation we willingly admit to, yet it affects millions of us, whether we are still …
How does telecare support Safer Independence?
How does telecare support Safer Independence? It is widely believed that telecare solutions can ease the burden on society by enabling more efficient delivery of care and allowing people to live safely and independently in their homes for longer. We have been thinking a lot about supporting ‘Safer Independence’ so we’d like to pose this …
Hospice patients become overnight internet sensation
Hospice patients become overnight internet sensation Terminally ill patients in Luton have become an overnight internet sensation and gained celebrity backing as they bust the myth that hospice’s are just where you got to die. The hard-hitting film by six patients from Keech Hospice Care shows the individual support each receives as they battle cancer, …
Home care in Newcastle
Home care in Newcastle – A spotlight There have been many conversations in recent months about home care services, and the expected impact the rise in the minimum wage will have. We also know that a squeeze on council funding has led to challenging times for care providers. How providers and commissioners will deal with …
31 Ways to Make Home Care More Comfortable
31 Ways to Make Home Care More Comfortable In today’s world, home care is an incredibly popular alternative to residential care, with more and more people choosing to remain in their own houses rather than move into assisted living. Your job role may require you to care for someone in later life or someone with …
10 reasons why a Lasting Power of Attorney is important for people of all ages
10 reasons why a Lasting Power of Attorney is important for people of all ages 1. As we live longer lives, incapacity issues will continue to increase. Due to advancements in medicine, the average life expectancy in the UK is on the increase. However, with increasing life expectancy comes an increase in the number of …
8 things to think about when you’ve had a dementia diagnosis
A dementia diagnosis – 8 important things to think about A dementia diagnosis can lead to a range of thoughts and feelings going through your mind, from shock and sadness to practical concerns about money or work. Here are 8 things you should consider…….. 1. Who have you got to talk to? It’s vital that you …
Toilet aids and caring for your child’s toilet needs
10 qualities of a good care worker
Choosing a HomeCare Services Agency – 8 important questions to ask
Choosing a Home Care Services Agency – 8 important questions to ask Choosing a home care services agency can be an incredibly daunting task. Home care is also known as domiciliary care, so you should ensure you look at both terms. Whilst it’s often a preferable alternative compared with residential care, it’s still difficult to …
‘Away from home’ toileting
OPENING THE DOOR ON ‘AWAY FROM HOME’ TOILETING For up to 5million people, going out for more than a couple of hours is not a spur of the moment decision. It’s a decision that takes considerable planning and finite timing. Why? Because they have special needs that mean they cannot use a conventional wheelchair-accessible toilet. …
Dementia care in hospitals
Dementia care at meal times in acute hospitals Almost a year on from my last post here on dementia care in hospitals, and I’ve done a lot of work on my developing my research proposal – reading, learning, literature reviewing – but sadly not a lot has changed for people with dementia in acute hospitals! …
Health and social care research
Have your health and social care services been replaced or removed? The University of Birmingham are undertaking some research and your support in this would be appreciated. Decisions are often made to change the health and social care services that are available to patients and service users. Sometimes this involves setting up new services and new …
Social Care – Why Society Must Understand and Value it Before it is too late!
The value of social care to society To ensure that social care continues to support vulnerable people, society as a whole must understand how social care works, recognise its value, understand the challenges it faces, and share the responsibility for driving the sector forward. People who understand how social care works essentially fall into two …
Toilet assistive devices – Thinking ahead
Toilet assistive devices for toileting – Keep independent with toilet aids One topic that generally isn’t openly discussed is the ability to use the bathroom- and toilet and the use of toilet assistive devices. We might admit, for example, that a riser/recliner chair would be helpful, or that we struggle to grip and manipulate as …
A round up of dementia blogs
Dementia Blogs We have researched the net and linked below a number of dementia blogs from a number of different sources around the internet. Dementia is clearly an important issue and one that more and more people, both from an individual and family perspective. We recognise that at this time people come to the internet …
Dementia helpline 24/7
Using technology to aide deafness
Deafness and Technology – Making Communication Easier There are over 10 million people in the UK affected by hearing loss – one in every six! Hearing loss has a severe impact on quality of life, isolating people from friends and family, often causing depression. Even with hearing aids, some situations may still be difficult. However …
Toilet adaptations – helping you stay in your own home
Why home care could be the ideal choice for your aging parents
Living with Dementia – A positive personal experience
Carers – The UK’s unsung heroes – What can we give back?
Carers – The UK’s unsung heroes The UK’s 7m unpaid carers are amongst the most giving people we know. They are all around us, caring for mums, husbands, daughters, sons, brothers, grans, friends….the list is endless, and they do this free of charge and unconditionally because they have an emotional connection with the person they …
How should dementia care be provided in the home?
How should dementia care be provided in the home? The Personal Social Services Research Unit (PSSRU), at The University of Manchester, has been funded to research ways to improve dementia home care and really need your help. Please do read on. The PSSRU received this funding from the National Institute for Health Research. As part …
Dementia and the importance of memories
Dementia inspired children’s author Mike Revell to write, and now he hopes that his book will help other people deal with the “light-fingered dementor” of a disease The dementia statistics are scary. According to the Alzheimer’s Society, 850,000 people suffer with the disease in the UK. It’s responsible for 60,000 deaths every year and costs …
Paying for your care costs – Be cautious about giving away your property
Dementia care on hospital wards – A blog by Naomi Gallant
Dementia care in hospitals My personal experience of dementia care in hospitals I am passionate about the quality of care for people with dementia in acute hospitals. From the moment I stepped into an older persons medical ward I could tell it was not the right environment for somebody with dementia. As an Occupational Therapist my previous …
