August 2009

no.159 • £4.75

In association with

By Dominic Musgrave

AN angry owner who spent £400,000improving his Bradford care home sayshe is taking legal advice after his CQC star rating dropped from two toone.

Crabtree Care Homes owner DavidCrabtree is appealing the gradefollowing the inspection atSunningdale, which saw the facilitydowngraded to an ‘adequate’ despiteonly being given a one star in oneelement of his report.

He says this was down to his deputymanager failing to book somemedication in correctly, and claims thelower grading could cost him up to£500,000 in lost revenue.

David added: “The economic effectthis rating will have on Sunningdalewill be devastating, and the possibleloss of referrals will mean loss of jobsand loss of investment for myresidents.

“If I ever looked at selling it Iwouldn’t get what it is worth becauseany possible buyers would struggle toborrow the required money and wouldtell me that they are only buying aone-star home.

“To me the three-star system doesn’twork. When I speak at conferences I

say that three stars is a bed andbreakfast in Blackpool, so how can I begood in every element except one andonly be one star.”

He is now appealing to other homeowners to call for the inspectionprocess to be transformed.

He added: “I am appealing for allhome owners to get behind thisbecause we don’t have to put up withthis. There is enough of us say we arenot putting up with it, and the systemonly works if we allow it to.

“Only banks seem to look at starratings anyway, but it will affect mebecause if I go to them and ask if I canborrow some money to invest in thehome, they are likely to turn aroundand say they are not sure given that weare only ‘adequate’.

“Social workers don’t look at thewebsite with the reports on, and thelocal council does its own qualityrating anyway.

“And the head of social services atthe council’s father is a resident in myhome because they think it is sogood.”� Do you agree with David that the systemneeds to change? Let Dominic Musgraveknow by ringing 01226 734407 or emaildm@whpl.net

David takinglegal adviceover grade

Care home worker Luke Bolwell-Williams swappedcatheters for the catwalk when he competed in thefinal of Mister Wales 2009. Luke, a carer at Luk RosBungalow in Blackwood, became a Gwent finalistbefore going on to strut his stuff against hunksfrom across the country. He said: “The other staffand relatives have been really supportive but I don’tthink the residents really understood what wasgoing on.”

Home optsfor themewings ...A HAMPSHIREdementia care homehas themed its wingsto help the residentsidentify where theirbedrooms are.

The staff at BirchyHill near Sway havejust completed thefirst wing, giving it abeach themecomplete with thebeach, Punch andJudy, sandcastles andbeach huts.

And activitiesorganiser HeatherFleat, who came upwith the idea, toldCaring UK that workhas begun ondecorating thesecond section of the70-bed home, whichwill have a gardentheme.

She added: “Thewings were originallypainted in theprimary colours, butsome of the residentswere unsure aboutwhere they shouldgo. We decided that itwould help them ifwe redecorated thecorridors withdifferent scenes, stillusing bright colours,and hopefully it willhelp them to identifywhere they arebetter.”

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3CARINGNEWS

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www.caring-uk.co.ukPolicy is threatto care homesclaims ForumBy Dominic Musgrave

THE Government’s policy of keepingelderly people in the community isthreatening the future of a quarter ofcare homes in a seaside town, it hasbeen claimed.

Graham Greenaway, one of thefounders of The Torbay Forum forQuality Care, says the region is facinga 'potential crisis' because the town’sCare Trust is so keen to keep elderlypeople in the community for as longas possible that homes will not beable to attract enough residents tosurvive.

He told Caring UK that people needto understand that there is no wayback once the care homes close theirdoors.

Graham added: “Telling me that weneed to keep people in their ownhome for longer is a bit like tellingme the earth is round. I know it is notsquare or flat.

“Myself and everyone at the forumare as keen as anybody to keep elder-ly people in their own homes for aslong as possible, but what happenswhen they cannot look after them-selves and need to move into care?

“The Trust generally does a verygood job, but there seems to be acomplete lack of understanding thatonce the occupancy of a care homedrops below 85 per cent then somewill go to the wall and won’t survive.Once these homes are gone they aregone.”

Graham, who owns a home in thetown and one in nearby Teignmouth,says the problem will only get worsebecause of the ever increasing ageingpopulation in the region.

He added: “The people coming tous are now a lot frailer, and the aver-age age of people being referred tomy homes has increased by five yearsin the last five years, with people nowcoming to us in their late eighties.

“The number of people withdementia is also set to increase, andif the homes close there will benowhere for them to go when theybecome too ill to be cared for athome, and are a danger not only tothemselves but to the people aroundthem.”� Do you agree with Graham? LetDominic Musgrave know by ringing 01226734407 or email dm@whpl.net

David Cameron held a question and answer sessionwith residents, their families, friends and health professionals at a Norwich care home. TheConservative leader was also presented with a painting by resident Peter Pickard during his visit toThe Warren.

Company founderrecognised at awardsTHE founder of one of the country’s largest independent care home companies hasbeen recognised at a Midlands awards ceremony.

Surjit Singh Rai, who set up Rushcliffe Care, won the Business and Commerce category at the annual Lloyds TSB Jewel Awards, which celebrate the British Asian community.

Judges included business entrepreneur andstar of Dragon’s Den James Caan.

CARINGNEWS4

£6k fine forhome overfrozen foodBy Dominic Musgrave

A CWMBRAN nursing home has beenfined £6,000 for freezing fresh foodand failing to record when it wasfrozen.

Abergavenny Magistrates’ Courtheard Llanyravon Nursing Homekept food in the freezer which hadexceeded its use-by date by up tothree months and failed to recordwhen it needed to be defrosted by.

During a routine inspection onNovember 5 last year Torfaen Councilfood hygiene inspector ChristineSmith found a packet of minced beefwhich had a use-by date ofSeptember 19, two packets of mincedbeef which had use-by dates ofOctober 16, 15 mini cheese andonion rolls with a use-by date ofAugust 7 and a packet of turkeybreast meat with a use-by date ofOctober 12. The foods were in thefreezer and were ready forpreparation for residents’ meals.

The council’s head of tradingstandards Steve Whitehouse said:“This authority takes very seriouslythe supply/sale of food past its ‘use-

by’ date and the effect this can haveparticularly on the most vulnerablein our society.

“The importance of this issue hasbeen further highlighted by the FoodStandards Agency campaignthroughout Food Safety Week.Torfaen Council will work withbusinesses and give advice toconsumers to ensure that theinstances of food poisoning in theregion are kept to a minimum.”

The court heard the inspector askedthe cook in charge what recordsexisted to show when items had beenfrozen and when it was to be defrost-ed and she was told none wereavailable. The staff used the SaferFood and Better Business leaflet as aguideline, which states food shouldnot be used after its use-by date.

The court heard the nursing homehad stopped freezing food which hadbeen bought fresh to prevent theoffences re-occurring.

Guilty pleas were entered on behalfof the home and it was fined £1,000for each of the six offences. It wasalso ordered to pay £1,299 costs anda £15 victim surcharge.

Home opened by oldest resident ElizabethAN INNOVATIVE new care homefor older people in Midlothian hasbeen officially opened by its oldestresident.

Elizabeth Turnbull, 99, cut theribbon at the ceremony forNewbyres Village in Gorebridge,accompanied by Adam Montgom-ery, provost of Midlothian.

The design for the home hastaken inspiration from Midlothian’svillage heritage and includesaccommodation for 60 peoplewithin five ‘streets’ which lead froma central ‘village’ hub area.

The space is designed to give theambience of a street so thatresidents can have a sense of being

outdoors but still remain within asafe environment indoors.

Coun Jack Aitchison, Midlothian'scabinet member for social workand health, said: “MidlothianCouncil wanted to ensure that thisnew home would be a state-of-the-art response to the future careneeds of older people inMidlothian. Therefore throughoutthe process of developingNewbyres, the residents, relativesand staff were kept informed andtheir views sought on the design. Ithas been very rewarding that thecompleted home has been sopositively received as a safe anddesirable home for residents.”

5CARINGNEWS

Recession isblamed fordeal collapseTHE recession has been blamed forthe collapse of the sale of six Leicest-ershire county council care homes.

Last year, the council agreed to sellCatherine Dalley House in Melton,Hadrian House in Thurmaston,Huntingdon Court in Loughborough,Harvey House in Barwell, KirbyHouse in Kirby Muxloe andWoodmarket House in Lutterworth.Existing residents and staff wouldhave been able to remain there.

The sale to a not-for-profit consor-tium, made up of WCS Care GroupLtd and Housing Solutions Limited,was due to be completed last Dece-mber. However, due to the recession,contract discussions have takenlonger than expected and the consor-tium has now withdrawn its bid.

Councillor David Sprason, cabinetmember for adult social care, said:"The consortium that was due to bebuying the homes has had to pull outbecause the banks are refusing tolend them the money, which was anintegral part of the plans.

“We are now going to have toreassess and are back where we were18 months ago. The directors will

now look at the different options andmake recommendations to myselfand the rest of the cabinet in duecourse. Nothing has been ruled out atthis stage, and the main issue is thatwe continue to provide quality careand meet the needs of future resi-dents by developing new schemes.”

The sale was due to save the councilapproximately £650,000, which Davidsaid who be found elsewhere in theshort term, but that action on thehomes would still be needed.

He added: “In the short term we arefine and can fund it through the workthat we have done with the WCS,who were due to be taking over thecare. They have found some efficien-cy issues through working practices,which we will roll out through thecounty’s homes. We will also makesavings through other areas of thebudget, but long term we will have todo something.”

If the council wants to try to sell thehomes again, it must start fromscratch, including a public consulta-tion, which would make it next year,at the earliest, before a sale wasagreed.

RESIDENTS and staff at a Walsall carehome tried their hand at belly dancing after watching a show by anexpert.

Romany, whose real name is Marie Birch, from Cannock, per-formed a dance routine at Waters

Edge care home before helping theresidents and staff to have a go themselves.

Marie is the daughter of KateWingate, receptionist at the home,who asked if she would give the performance as a treat.

Romany with residents Julia Bateman and Ruby Keough

Romany shakes her tassels

CARINGNEWS6

By Dominic Musgrave

WHAT started as grandparentsneeding to move into a care homehas become a business venture forZoe Bates and her family.

The qualified nurse who hasmuch experience in NHSmanagement lives, breathes andsleeps Valerie Manor in Brighton asthe owner and manager who liveson site.

The 17th century former manor,which was once visited by bothWinston Churchill and Charles II,is home to 15 residents, withplanning permission recentlyacquired for an eight-bedextension offering nursing.

She said: “Valerie Manor was thefirst home we looked at. I grew upabout 20 minutes away from here,but was working in London whenwe came up with the idea to buy acare home.

“I did the business plan in July2007 and by the September we hadfound this and that was it really. Itis a beautiful setting and grade IIlisted building.

“It has been a whirlwind of an 18months. Since I have taken it over Ihave redeveloped all the policiesand procedures at the home andthe care plans. We have also had abit of work done on the building,both externally and internally,including replacing all of the

carpets and refurbishing thebedrooms.”

The home has received a series ofaccolades over the past fewmonths, winning a healthyworkplace award from the localcouncil as well as being runners upin both the entrepreneurial andoverall outstanding contributioncategories at the RBS AllcoraExcellence in Care Awards.

She added: “I think part of thereason why we have beensuccessful so far is that we have agreat team, and we involve the

residents and their relatives in allof the decisions.

“They will be part of the projectgroup for the new extension, whichwe hope will start being built inOctober, and will choose the decor.

“We have just set up an arts andcrafts club at the home, and wehope the canvases that theresidents are painting will be usedon the corridors.”

Despite her success, Zoe saysthere are no plans at the momentto purchase any further homes.

She added: “When I first started I

thought it would be nice to havethree or four homes, but I live onthe site here and know exactlywhat is going. We have raised thestandards and have a high classhome, so I am happy here for themoment.

“It has been a huge learningcurve for us all. If you have a hugecompany you have people todevelop things for you, but here Ihave had to call on my previousmanagement experience and havedone it all myself, which I havereally enjoyed.”

Home owner Zoe thrives on being busy

Residents and staff enjoy the vegetable patchZoe Bates

Speakers being lined upfor ECCA conferenceJEFF Jerome, national director forsocial care transformation, willprovide the commissioner’sperspective on personalisation at theannual ECCA conference inNovember.

Other speakers to be confirmedshortly for the event, which this yearhas been given the title ‘Up Close &Personal’ will include representativesfrom politics and a major careprovider.

Time has been set aside in theafternoon for a series of interactiveseminar sessions in which delegates

can debate the issues raised by thespeakers and receive practical adviceon how best to meet the challengesof personalisation. The conferencewill also feature an exhibition ofproducts and services from leadingsector suppliers.

ECCA chief executive Martin Greensaid: “This conference will set out aroad map that shows how providerscan deliver services which are fit forthe aspirations and needs of peoplein the 21st century.”

The event takes place on November12 at the Holiday Inn in Bloomsbury.

CARINGNEWS8

Let residentskeep theirpets – MPBy Dominic Musgrave

ELDERLY residents in care homesshould be allowed to keep their pets,it has been claimed.

Labour MP Nick Palmer told theCommons there was no consistentpolicy on pets in care homes orsheltered accommodation.

He told Caring UK that his CareHomes (Domestic Pets) Bill wouldmean there was a “basicpresumption” that pets werepermitted in all care homes subjectto discussion.

Nick added: “This is something thatI have been thinking about for awhile. I have come across a couple ofcases recently, and when I lookedinto it I found that the problem wasmuch more widespread.

“The transfer of elderly people tocare homes results in 38,000 petsbeing put down every year becausethere is no other option, with afurther 100,000 having to be given upand put in rescue centres.

“The decision to move into a carefacility is a big one which isdistressing enough as it is. Theelderly person feels they are losing

contact with their previous life, andthis is then reaffirmed by themhaving to give up their pet.”

Nick said Britain should follow theleads of countries such as America,Germany, Switzerland, Greece andFrance, where legislation has beenintroduced to give people the rightto keep their animals.

He said: “Rather than a care homejust saying no, I think they shouldhave a checklist where they assessthe practical issues involved withkeeping a pet in the home.

“This should include things such aswho is going to pay the vet’s bills,whether the animal will be runningaround the home or staying in theresident’s room, the behaviour of theanimal and whether it is going toneed exercise and who is going to doit. I don’t have a problem if the homethen says sorry they cannotaccommodate the animal, but thereare a lot of homes who simply have ablanket rules saying no pets.”

His bill has had cross-party supportfrom MPs including Labour formerhome secretary David Blunkett andTory former minister AnnWiddecombe.

TEN residents from a group’s carehome enjoyed a week of canoeing,horse riding and archery when theywent on an extreme sports holiday inSomerset.

Organised by The Orders of St JohnCare Trust for the residents at itsWiltshire sites, it was the group’sthird visit to the centre in Exmoor.

Trip organiser Diane Bowden said:“It’s a great opportunity for some ofour residents not only to have fun,but to challenge disability and

discover what they can do, in a safeand caring environment. A wonderfulweek was had by all, with everyonesupporting and encouraging eachother. Our residents will be talkingabout their adventures for weeks nowback at the homes.”

The holiday finished with acelebration of the residents’achievements, with one beingpresented with the GeoffreyMillington award for greatestpersonal achievement.

Residents go to the extreme ...The visitors went canoeing and horse riding

Home’s delight at accoladeA CARMARTHENSHIRE carehome has a new trophy to add to its awards cabinet havingbeen recognised for itscommitment to the disabledcommunity.

The accolade has been presented by Job Centre Plus to Hallmark Healthcare’sCartref Annwyl Fan care homein Ammanford in recognitionof its employment of disabledstaff.

It is only awarded to employerswho are able to meet five key

objectives, while accreditedemployers must also go on todemonstrate that they arecommitted to not only theemployment of disabled people,but also their personaldevelopment.

Home manager Adele Williamssaid: “We work hard to supportand develop all our members ofstaff – personally andprofessionally and we aredelighted to have been recognisedin this way.”

Mobile farm animals drop intomeet care home residentsA HOST of farmyard friends spread a little animal magic when they visited Balcombe carehome.

Cuddle-me-do Mobile Farmdropped in to Alpha Care Homes’Russettings Care Home with a rangeof animals including goats, lambs,piglets, rabbits, chicks, owls andhedgehogs.

The educational service, which operates throughout southern England, lets elderlyresidents experience the sights, sounds and feel of the farm in

the safety of the care homeenvironment.

The home’s activities coordinatorMandy Mulvaney said: “All theanimals used for the visits areselected for their temperament andtheir welfare is always ourparamount concern.

“The farm was set up in thegrounds of the home and some of theanimals brought into the home tovisit those who are unable to leavetheir rooms so that all the residentswere able to benefit from theexperience.”

CARINGNEWS10

‘Significant concerns’ leadto closure of care homeA CARE home in Northampton hasshut following “significant concerns”about the level of nursing care beingoffered to its elderly residents.

Green Park Residential NursingHome in Abington was closed afterinspectors from the independentCare Quality Commission (CQC)expressed concerns for the well-being of its residents.

The 17 elderly residents have nowbeen placed in other homes in thearea by officers fromNorthamptonshire County Council.

In an inspection by the CQC inApril this year, the home received azero star rating.

It is understood inspectors wereinitially concerned about health andsafety at the premises but, on furtherinspection, they had concerns aboutthe level of care its elderly residentswere receiving and the ability of themanagement to respond to their

concerns.A spokesperson for the commission

said: “Owners of the home, theMsaada Care Limited, informed theCare Quality Commission theywished to de-register its nursingcategory services at Green ParkNursing Home in Northampton.

“We understand they then workedwith the county council and primarycare trust in the relocation of all theservice users in Green Park from thehome. The home's decision followeda key inspection by CQC in April.CQC gave the home a nil star ratingafter the inspection where a numberof concerns were raised in relation tocare practices.”

A spokesperson from the countycouncil said full care assessments foreach person had been carried out toidentify their needs so they could bemoved to an appropriateaccommodation.

He added: “Following significantconcerns about both the level ofnursing care being offered at Green Park Nursing Home and the nursing home's ability to respond to these concerns, thecounty council working alongsidehealth colleagues took the decisionto move residents to alternativeaccommodation.

“All residents have now beenmoved. Although we recognise thatthis has caused some disruption tothe people involved, we believe thisaction was essential to ensure theywere being given the best possiblelevel of nursing care. We have beenworking closely with the residentsand their families wherever possiblewithin the limited time frame to keepthem informed and reassured of thereasons behind this decision.”

Nobody from the Msaada groupwas available for comment.

Award for pioneering end-of-life project in GlasgowA PIONEERING project which hastransformed the end-of-life care forresidents and their families has wonan award from the Scottish SocialServices Council for the bestpartnership working in adult careservices.

Two Bupa facilities in Rutherglenin Glasgow teamed up with Marie

Curie Cancer Care and local GPs toraise greater awareness of palliativecare, and give a greater say to thewishes of the individual at the endof their lives and support to theirfamilies.

There are now plans to roll-out theprogramme further afield, with 12 ofthe group’s homes in Scotland

already in the process ofintroducing the approach known asthe Liverpool Care Pathway 2.

Liz McKeegan, the home managerat Rogerpark and Rowantree, added:“We have always been verypassionate about the end-of-lifecare we provide. But caring forsomeone at this stage of life can be

incredibly challenging for thefamilies and the carers, so we’vealways striven to constantlyimprove our care.

“Through this extra trainingprogramme, all our staff havebenefited from the relationshipwe’ve built with the nurses and localdoctors.”

Life’s Swede forparty residentsPICKLED herrings, flower garlandsand a Maypole are not the usualingredients of a retirement homeparty.

But residents at Priors Mead inReigate enjoyed a Swedish-stylesummer party rather than thetraditional barbecue.

The idea is down to home managerPeter Granstrom, who misses hishome town of Lund in southernSweden so much that he decided totake a taste of it to work.

He said: “There’s more to Swedenthan flat-pack furniture and ABBA.We had pickled herrings and lots ofother fish, traditional Swedishmeatballs and a cross-shapedMaypole.

“The summer solstice is a hugeevent in Sweden – it is bigger thanChristmas. I thought the residentswould be interested in tasting a bit ofculture and getting in touch withtheir Swedish sides.”

CARINGNEWS12

Family speaks out overcare of elderly relativeBy Joanne Wright

THE family of an 86-year-old womanwho died following an accident in aBarnsley residential home where shehad spent just one night haveslammed the care of their elderlyrelative.

Winifred Mitchell died in hospitalon August 25 last year a week afterfalling out of a wheelchair at ValleyPark Care Home from pneumoniaand heart failure brought on by abroken hip, an inquest heard.

Sheffield Coroner’s Court was toldWinifred had only been at the carehome for 24 hours when a seniorcare assistant left her in a wheelchairwithout the brakes on and sheslipped out at around 8.30pm onAugust 16.

The carer, Wendy Alexander, caughther and they fell to the floor together.

The nurse on shift, Jane Bagnell,was called to check Winifred over andfound no signs of injury despite thefact she had suffered a fracture to herright hip.

Giving evidence Wendy said: “Janechecked her for shortening androtation of the legs which are signs ofbroken hips but didn’t find anything.

“We put Winnie into bed, she was a

bit anxious and shook up but when Iasked if she was in pain she said itwas no different to her usual arthriticpain. I didn’t think it was necessaryto call a doctor or an ambulance.

“Looking back I wish I had put thebrakes on; it was a mistake.”

An entry in the patient log followingthe accident said: “Winnie wasconstantly buzzing and screamingout in pain even though she was notbeing touched”.

But senior carer Gillian Haigh, whocared for her through the night, saidshe checked on her hourly and shewas not screaming or in excessivepain.

Winifred was admitted to hospital

at around 11am the followingmorning and medical notes seen bythe pathologist show the shorteningand rotation of her leg was “veryapparent”.

She was considered too ill forsurgery and her conditiondeteriorated after she contractedpneumonia. She died a week later.

Winifred was only going into thehome for respite care for a couple ofweeks while her daughter Paulineand her family went on holiday.

Speaking after the inquest Paulinesaid: “She was such an independentand mobile lady, it was awful to seeher die like that.

“You put your loved one insomeone else’s care and you thinkthey will be safe, but less than 24hours later my mum was in hospital.

“If she was screaming in pain like itsaid in the log why wasn't anambulance called sooner? I hopethey learn something from theirmistakes and that someone elsedoesn't die in this way.

“If she hadn't gone there I'm sureshe would have lived to see her firstgreat-grandson who was born sixweeks ago.”

Deputy coroner Donald CouttsWood recorded a narrative verdict.

‘You put your lovedone in someone else’scare and you thinkthey will be safe, butless than 24 hourslater my mum was inhospital’

40s’ displaybecomes atalking pointA CLEVELAND care home managerhas created a 1940s’ display to stir theresidents’ memories.

Damian Hunt says he has spent£2,000 on a variety of items afterscouring the local charity and secondshops as well as antique rooms, whilemany residents and their relativeshave also donated memorabilia.

The display features everythingfrom German and British helmets,uniforms, medals, posters includingthe famous ‘Careless Talk Costs Lives’message and furniture.

He told Caring UK that the SecondWorld War merchandise has becomea real talking point in the home.

Damian added: “A lot of ourresidents were involved in the war,and I was chatting to one of the oldmen when he brought out his oldbook, and it went from there. A lot ofresidents enjoy sitting in the area andreminiscing while listening to theradio we have which plays Churchill’swartime speeches, or watching thevideos of black and white RAF films.

“It has only taken a few months togather all of the bits and pieces wehave in there, and the room isbringing back both good and badmemories. The uniforms havebrought back a few bad memories ofloved ones, but mainly the residentslike to sit and talk about what theycall the good old days.”

CREATIVE staff at a Durham carehome have transformed a disusedhut in the grounds into a replica trainstation for the residents.

Staff at Redworth House NursingHome in Shildon converted thewooden structure behind the homeinto a place for residents to relive thetown’s railway heritage.

The facility includes a mock cafewhich serves cream teas in goodweather, a waiting area, luggage, andrecordings of steam train sounds.

Traditional posters, timetables andpictures have also been acquiredfrom a local railway museum todecorate the walls, and the home’sday centre supervisor Darren Westonhas even created working signals.

Home manager Lynn Small told

Caring UK the new facility hasproved popular with the residents.

She added: “The wooden gazebohut structure was built by theprevious owners and we nicknamedit the cow shed. Nobody every wentin there and it was really just a wasteof space and money.

“We thought about what we coulddo with it and came up with the ideaof turning it into a mock railwaystation. The area is steeped in railwayhistory and former wagon worksused to run alongside the perimeterof the home.

“It has taken a lot of work but it hasdefinitely been worthwhile. Weinvolved the service users ineverything to do with the project,including choosing and planting the

flowers for the hanging baskets, andthey really love it.”

Lynnn said the home is nowplanning its next projects for thegrounds, which include the creationof an allotment, beach scene andpark area.

She added: “We next want to build abeach area without the sand as partof the reminiscence programme forthe residents. We have asked themwhat they remember from theirholidays to inspire us.

“A lot of residents also hadallotments before they moved in hereso we plan to create one for themcomplete with raised beds so thatthey can get involved with theplanting of the vegetables and fruit.”

Staffcelebratetheopening oftherailwaystation

Staff get railway station plan on track

Three stars forcare centreSANDON House Care Centre inMossley has achieved an ‘excellent’three-star rating following anunannounced day-long inspection.

Manager Veronica Hibbert toldCaring UK that the home’s success isdown to “a wonderful and dedicatedteam”.

She added: “It is not only theamount of training our teamcomplete, it is the positive attitude towork they present.

“We are going to work hard onretaining our excellent rating andensuring that we continue to providea service we can be proud of.”

Home openedRAF Brize Norton stationcommander Jon Ager opened a newcare home in Oxfordshire.

He was joined by mayor ofCarterton Maxine Crossland andMHA Care group chief executiveRoger Davies and chairman BrianColdwell OBE and more than 150guests at the event at TheHomestead.

RAF Brize Norton catering flighthave adopted the home as theircharity of the year and baked aspecial cake to celebrate the opening.

If you’ve got news for us callour healthcare editor DominicMusgrave on 01226 734407 oremail him on dm@whpl.net

CARINGPEOPLE14

THERE were two reasons for Jackyto celebrate at Quantum Care'scelebrations.

Her home, Providence Court, wonthe catering team award, but littledid she know that she would getthe main award of the night tocelebrate her career.

She has been the manager of thehome for the past seven-and-a-halfyears, having previously worked atanother of the group's homes andworking in the care sector for morethan 35 years.

She told Caring UK magazine thatshe was shocked to receive theaward from Shirlie Kemp, formerpop star and wife of actor andSpandau Ballet star Martin.

“I was absolutely delighted andvery honoured to receive theaward, which was a total surpriseas I was there to support the staff I had nominated for anotheraward.

“I have never won anything likethis before, and Shirlie Kemp wascharming. She congratulated meon winning the award and said shewas very happy for me.

“I have always enjoyed my joband love caring for the elderly. Iemployed most of the staff that

work at the home, and we have agreat team who are committed tooffering good care to ourresidents."

Jacky said the biggest change shehas seen in the sector over theyears has been in the conditions ofthe people that are moving into thehome.

She added: “I have always had anopen door policy at the home and Itry and get out as much as possibleto speak to the residents.

"But the residents we now havecoming to the home are now veryfrail, which makes the caring muchharder.

“We have to understand how tocare for people with dementia, andto do it with dignity and respect,whereas in the olden days that wasnot a part of it.”

Other winners: Care newcomer –Tinashe Gurure (Freeman House);Carer of the year (nights) – SherrieGunn (Elmhurst), days – LynnParlour (Tye Green Lodge); Activityworker – Yvonne Wilkinson, Jane(Campbell House); Housekeepingteam – Newhaven; Catering team -Providence Court;

Special recognition – BulwerLytton House, Nevetts; Grand

champion of dementia care –Audrey Wilds (Hyde Valley House);Leadership – Mandy Liles

(Courtland Lodge); Outstandingcontribution in supporting homes– Wendy Millar (Heath House).

A care home manager's work and loyalty was celebrated at a company's annual awardceremony. Dominic Musgrave spoke to Jacky Beaumont about her career.

Jacky recieves her award from Shirlie Kemp

Jacky’s total surprise at award win

CARINGNEWS16

THERE are no plans to change theway care homes are inspected in thenear future, according to the head ofthe regulator.

Baroness Barbara Young, chair ofthe CQC, which came into power atthe beginning of April, told CaringUK that care homes will continue tobe inspected in the same way as theywere by its predecessor CSCI for theforseeable future at least.

She added: “The CQC broughttogether three sets of inspection staffand three different ways ofinspecting, and we will look at whichmodels work and meet the needsbest in due course.

“The CSCI way of inspecting carehomes does seem to bring with it asmuch consistency as is possible, andgives the local inspectors flexibility inthe way they grade care homes.

“The system must be workingbecause very few care homeoperators ask for their ratings to bereviewed, and of those that do, veryfew get their rating changed. If

people genuinely feel that theirinspector has not been consistentand that something is wrong then Iwould urge them to put forward theircase.”

Barbara added that, despite it being

early days, the CQC is already makingchanges, and is going to focus moreon whether a person’s needs arebeing met.

She added: “It is really early daysand we have only just really got ourhands on the staff, so I don’t envisagemuch change in the near future.

“The big thing we are working on atthe moment is the new registrationsystem that we are putting in place,which for the first time will cover allhealth and adult social care servicesin England, whether they are publicor independent.

“We are also going to involve thepeople who use care services andtheir relatives much more in the workthat we do. We will also speak to thefamilies of those people who find itdifficult to communicate, such aspeople with dementia.”� What do you make of the CQC’sfirst four months in charge? LetDominic Musgrave know yourthoughts by ringing 01226 734407 oremail dm@whpl.net

National Care Service options consideredBy Dominic Musgrave

ELDERLY people could be forced topay up to £20,000 underGovernment plans to fund end-of-life care.

The compulsory insurancescheme is one of three options forfunding a new National CareService, designed to end the‘postcode lottery’ of care servicesunder which some elderly peoplehave to sell their homes and use upmost of their savings to pay forcare, while others pay nothing.

Speaking at the launch of thelong-awaited Green Paper, Shapingthe Future of Care Together, health

secretary Andy Burham said hewanted to create a ‘system that’sfair, simple and affordable foreveryone’.

He added: “Everyone will comeinto contact with the care systemat some point – whether it isourselves or our families andfriends.”

Under the National Care Service,everyone would get some care forfree, and Andy announced a ‘BigCare Debate’ consultation whichwill end in the middle of Novemberon three possible solutions to thefunding crisis.

These include:A “partnership” approach, under

which the state would pay arounda quarter to a third of the cost ofbasic social care and support,leaving individuals to find theremainder.

A voluntary insurance scheme,under which the state would paythe same proportion, but wouldalso make it easier for individualsto take out insurance – at anestimated cost of around £20,000to £25,000 at today's prices – tocover the rest.

Compulsory insurance for allwho can afford it, meaningeveryone who needs care willreceive it free. The cost is estimatedat between £17,000 and £20,000.

The National Care Service wouldoffer assistance with needs likedressing, washing and movingaround at home, but individualswho need to go into residentialcare would continue to pay thecost of accommodation and foodthemselves, whether they hadtaken out insurance or not.

However, new nationalarrangements would allow for bedand board costs to be deferred andpaid as a lump sum after theindividual's death.

Under all three options, thosewith little or no savings or assetswould continue to receive freecare.

‘No plans to change wayhomes are inspected’

Baroness Barbara Young

A MATLOCK care home has scoopeda national award for its fun-packedactivities sessions which helpimprove residents’ quality of life.

First Taste arts education charitytrained staff at Tansley House CareHome in how to use games,exercises, arts classes andphotography session to stimulateresidents.

And the successful scheme hashelped the home win the NationalInstitute of Adult ContinuingEducation’s National Group Award.

Manager Beverley Windle toldCaring UK the residents are happier,more alert, sleeping better, lessisolated and more comfortable sincethe new classes were introduced.

She added: “We have been workingwith First Taste for the last couple ofyears, and they come into the homeand do lots of activities with the

residents.

“They include metalwork, arts andcrafts, music and gardening. FirstTaste nominated us for the awardand we were shocked to hear that wehad been shortlisted and had to go toa ceremony in London, which wasattended by Princess Anne.

“We were even more surprise whenwe were told that we had won at theevent. It was a very humblingexperience to sit and watch some ofthe other nominations.”

Beverley says she and her team are always looking for new activities to introduce at the home,and often the residents will alsosuggest ideas.

She added: “There is alwayssomething going on here. Some ofthe 19 residents join in witheverything, while others will pick and choose what they would like todo.”

Fun activities win national award for Matlock home

Dame Verajoins guestsRESIDENTS at Sussexdownresidential and nursing home inStorrington celebrated the 38thOperation Manna with the RoyalAirforce Association (RAFA)Amsterdam branch and the annualcheesedrop.

Dame Vera Lynn and theNetherlands ambassador PimWaldeck, as well as residents at theCare South home, were among 170guests who attended the annualevent to see miniature Edam cheesesfloating down on tiny parachutes intothe home’s gardens.

It celebrates the events of World WarII when aircraft dropped food andprovisions in the Den Haag andRotterdam areas of the Netherlandswhich had been cut off by theGerman invasion.

Director Richard Hawes said: “It willbe a pity to see this event end whichis steeped in history – due to lack offunds and membership of theAmsterdam branch – and we at CareSouth will do all we can to see that itcarries on.”

CARINGNEWS18

I HAVE been the manager of a 37-bed care home for the last tenyears and we first started recruitingand using volunteers in the year2000.

We pursued an active policy ofnever missing an opportunity topersuade a potentially promisingprospect of a volunteer, usingwhatever talent or hobby theypossessed, to join the team.

We still have a few of the originalrecruits but have lost some alongthe way to ill health, advancing ageand changes in circumstances.

Over the years they have provedthemselves to be an invaluable andirreplaceable resource, helping outin times of difficulty, sharingtroubles and being a source ofsupport and strength.

On our team we have a nun fromthe local Franciscan Convent, aretired solicitor, engineer, nurse and

insurance expert and people whojust wish to ‘put something back’into society.

In one case it was useful, topreserve one gentleman’s feelings,for him to be persuaded that he wascoming into the home on extra daysto volunteer with the residents,rather than his increasing frailtyand need for extra day care to behighlighted.

Three times a week we havevolunteers who come to play theorgan in the home and othervolunteers devote visits to talkingand listening to residents.

Clearly volunteers must be vettedand there is a danger that the needyand unhappy are attracted to applyand may not be suitable in thesetting.

It is necessary and can be timeconsuming to always expressappreciation to the volunteers for

their contributions but thesatisfaction is often supplied by theresident themselves by a smile,laugh or embrace.

To have a volunteer policy isessential and for brief health andsafety and fire training to regularlybe offered.

Occasional formal meetingsshould be held so that issues can beexplained and discussed, keepingchannels open is so helpful in themaintenance of good relations andto avoid misunderstandings.

But too much paperwork andformal meetings will prevent thevolunteers doing what they do best– spending time with the residents.

We always remember to invite ourvolunteers to any functions at thehome and ensure each one receivesa thank you Christmas card andbottle of wine. It’s a small gesture todemonstrate a big debt of gratitude.

Recently, Caring UK toldhow getting volunteersinvolved can benefit carehomes. In a special follow-up Claire Smith,manager of BurnworthyHouse in Somerset,explains how they makevolunteering work forthem.

Vital role of helping hands

MP speaksout onsocial careTHE Government should do more toensure that elderly people can getaccess to the social care they need, ithas been claimed.

South West Norfolk MP ChristopherFraser told Caring UK that thesituation would get worse and thatthe care system would not be able tocope effectively in future with theextra demands placed on it.

He said: “At the moment, it is clearthat our care system will not be ableto cope effectively with the extrademands placed on it.

“Research published earlier thismonth shows that almost two-thirdsof local authorities rated as providing‘excellent’ care at home are failing toprovide any care at all to many olderpeople who cannot carry out basicdaily tasks.”

Boost for fundSTAFF from The Hollies care homein Pontypridd climbed the Pen Y FanMountain in the Brecon Beaconsand raised more than £130 for theirresidents’ fund.

Six members of staff and a dognamed Sandy climbed the 2,907 feetmountain in less than an hour toraise the money, which has beenmatched personally by Avnish Goyal,managing director of HallmarkHealthcare, who own the home.

CARINGINFECTION CONTROL/SAFE HANDLING20

SKILLS for Care have created‘knowledge sets’ to help employers, staffand trainers to be clear about whatunderpinning knowledge is necessaryfor care staff.

Working through the medicationknowledge set is part of “continuingprofessional development” and“ensuring that workers have sufficientknowledge and understanding to meetthe needs of people who use services”.

The infection prevention and controlknowledge set is designed to be usedalongside the common inductionstandards to provide specific,standardised knowledge andunderstanding to help care workersundertake their role and evidencecontinuous professional competence.

CIS-Assessment.co.uk has developedan assessment based on its successfulonline system and linked to theprevention and control knowledge set.CIS-Assessment.co.uk is used by manylocal authorities and private / voluntaryorganisations to evidence workers’knowledge, measure the effectiveness oftraining and help ensure that workersare competent, which has a directimpact on the quality of care.

It covers:� Cause and spread of infection.� Preventing and controlling the spreadof infection.� Infection prevention and controllegislation.� Roles, responsibilities andboundaries.

Knowledgeset boostfor employers

BOOTS can provide medicinesmanagement training accredited by the College ofPharmacy Practice.

The course is accredited tonational minimum standards andSkills For Care learningrequirements, and includes face-to-face training delivered by one oftheir pharmacists.

The company also offersaccredited basic and advancedcourses, and also specialisedtraining in diabetes and mentalhealth.

To improve the quality ofpharmaceutical care provided bythe homes, Boots also offer regularadvice visits by a registeredpharmacist or by a registered

technician who has the necessarytraining.

The visit takes between one andtwo hours, and is primarilydesigned to review the medicinesmanagement process within thehome.

The findings are discussed withthe home manager, with any agreednext steps to support the home.

Providing medicines management training

Homes should forge closerlinks with pharmacistsCARE homes should forge closerlinks with proactive pharmacistswho are keen to help them meetstricter safety standards, an industryexpert has warned.

Former Four Seasons chiefexecutive and new Protomedchairman Tony Heywood toldCaring UK that risk management isincreasingly under scrutiny in thecare home sector, and support onmedication is vital.

He added: “Pharmacists have onlyscratched the surface in terms of theservice they can offer to care homes.

“One of the main areas ofpharmacy failure is the dispensingof liquids in care homes, whichoften results in enforcement actionby the CQC, including embargoesand obligatory additional training.

“Pharmacies simply have tochange outdated current regimes.

They do not provide the qualitycontrols we must have to dispenseliquids and tablets accurately,consistently and in a hygienicenvironment.”

Protomed chief executive NormanNiven has developed Biodose, theworld’s first monitored dosagesystem, to allow same-traydispensing of liquids and tablets,which also monitors amd managesexternal preparations.

The tamper-proof seals on the 28-pod trays label each pod with date,patient identity, drug and dosagedetails and perforations in the sealpermit individual doses to be easilyremoved.

The free to the care home systemhas anti-microbial technology thatcombats the transfer of MRSA andother infections, and also producesmedicines management charts,

providing information to carehomes about what is being wasted.

Tony Heywood with Norman Niven

21CARINGINFECTION CONTROL/SAFE HANDLING

HYGICARE SaniGuard has been test-ed to kill Influenza A viruses, ofwhich H1N1 is a subtype.

SaniGuard sanitizing surface sprayis effective against 39 differentgerms, bacteria, fungus and virusesincluding Influenza A/Brazil,Influenza A/PR, E Coli (BacterialMeningitis), Rubella (ViralMeningitis), Salmonella,Streptococcus, Staph, HerpesSimplex and HIV.

Sanitising contaminated surfaceswith SaniGuard Dry on ContactSurface Spray can prevent thespread of Influenza Type A (H1N1). Itcan also be used to sanitise virtuallyany hard surface, especially thosethat are touched by several peoplelike computer keyboards, tele-phones, light switches, door knobsand toilet seats.

The SaniGuard Fogger is also anexcellent way to prevent contamina-tion in large rooms or areas; the 8ozfogger effectively sanitizes up to 625square feet, while a 3oz fogger sani-tizes 125 square feet.

Hygicare also recommends thatyou cover your nose and mouth witha tissue when you cough or sneeze toprevent the spread of Swine Flu.

SaniGuardtested tokill viruses

BOOTS has helped more than 12,000care homes provide reliable, safe andtrusted medication administration totheir service users for the past 20years.

They provide free, easy-to-use med-ication administration systems, withfull staff training and ongoing adviceand audits from their expert pharma-cy team.

The service also includes free pre-scription management from collec-tion to delivery, and customised ser-vice level arrangements to meet theneeds of the users.

Computer-generated medicationrecords also help ensure there is aclear audit trail for the medicationmanagement process, includingreceipt, administration and return.

The Boots Monitored DosageSystem delivers a four-week supply ofeach individual patient’s tablets andcapsules in blister packs, to be takenat the time and date shown.

The pill packs are colour-coded forthe time of day so the carer canquickly tell when the medicationshould be administered.

Enquiries: Telephone 0115 949 4047

Helping homes with medication administration

Carers urged to watchout for swine flu signsBy Dominic Musgrave

THE head of a regional care grouphas urged carers working with elderlyand vulnerable people to be on theirguard against swine flu.

As the World Health Organisationofficially declared swine flu a pandemic, the Independent CareGroup (York and North Yorkshire)urged the care sector to watch out forthe signs.

It has supported calls from NorthYorkshire County Council for those inthe social care sector to be extra vigi-lant over the threat of swine flu, at atime when the number of cases is ris-ing.

Independent Care Group chair MikePadgham told Caring UK it wasimportant for everyone working witholder and vulnerable people to beespecially vigilant.

He added: “While nobody at thisstage should be over-alarmed or panicked in any way, it is only right that we all take the right precau-tions, look out for signs and actaccordingly.

“It is important for everyone work-ing in the care sector to be extra care-ful and look out for signs. Thisincludes those providing home care

in people’s own homes and thoseproviding care in care homes andresidential homes, where illnessescan spread quickly.”

Symptoms to watch for includefever or a temperature of 38 degreesor more, combined with two of the following: cough, sore throat,sneezing, runny nose, headache,limb /joint pain, diarrhoea or vomit-ing.

In older people the flu may not beaccompanied by fever and carers areurged to look out for a general deterioration in physical or mentalability which is not linked to othercauses.

Any possible cases should be inves-tigated and if a GP or NHS Directconsiders swine flu to be a possibili-ty, the local Health Protection Unitshould be informed.

CARINGTECHNOLOGY22

CHICKENS and cutting edgetechnology are helping Dan in hisbattle against the condition, whichit is estimated more than onemillion people will suffer from by2025.

The chief executive of Altrincham-based Melton Health Care Limited,which owns Birch Abbey care homein Southport, says the condition ismuch-misunderstood, and hebrought in the chickens to get themost out of the specialistmonitoring system MyAmego.

The former senior, who workedwith leading brands including BBCand IBM, created the fob which hasa microchip in it. Data about themovements of the individuals iscaptured from the fob by monitorsplaced around the care home, thepatient's own home or near shopsthey might visit.

The system, a world first, wasnamed new product of the year atlast year’s Naidex exhibition.

Dan told Caring UK that thesystem has saved the home aroundeight per cent in staff time.

He added: “It enables the careteam to monitor the movements ofpatients, not just for safety, but also

to assess their activity levels. “The system analyses location,

activity and risk in relation to thatpatient's individual needs orcircumstances – but will page, textor email carers for assistance onlywhen appropriate.

“At Birch Abbey, we are alsocreating a living sensory garden.

The chickens draw patients out intothe garden, they provide a talkingpoint and our patients collect theeggs, make cakes or biscuits andtalk about what they’re doingamongst themselves and to theirfamily members, providing valuablemental stimulus.”

And he is now developing a newcare centre of excellence on the siteof his current home, which will beable to accommodate 60 clientswhen complete.

He added: “Without having toclose our doors, we are completelyrebuilding Birch Abbey so that wewill be able to accommodate 60clients, and rather than simplygearing it to provide basic food,hygiene and life care for clients, wehave designed in – from scratch –technology, accommodation,entertainment, activity, socialinteraction and a broad range ofcare services and features that Ibelieve have never been seentogether under one roof in the careindustry.

“But, crucially, this is not justabout a building – it is about anattitude to dementia care, serviceand support.”

As work begins on his new £3.5m dementia care centre in Southport, DominicMusgrave speaks to Dan Lingard, who plans to revolutionise the way we treatthe condition.

DAN has created a web ‘wall’ forpeople to show their support todelivering a transformation indementia care services.

The free-to-join ‘iPersonally care- do you?’ campaign is for peopleinvolved in dementia care at aprofessional level, as a member ofa family or as an influencer to posttheir name and thoughts on awebsite for all to see.

He said: “I think everybodyinvolved in dementia care, andstriving to deliver transformationin dementia care services, wantsand needs to see the depth ofsupport for change – so I’minviting an online show of hands.

“There seems to be a view inpublic that care home owners andcare providers in general are beingdragged into the 21st century bythe government, the regulator andtheir local authority, but thingscould not be further from thetruth. The vast majority ofproviders are keen and passionateto deliver better, new andinnovative services. Manysupporting organisations – train-ing, publishing and technology –are doing the same. But there islittle or no recognition of this, andwe need a show of hands.”

As part of iPersonally’s contrib-ution to the campaign, everybodywho ‘signs’ will gain access to alibrary of content on a newcommunity eLearning system.

New home, new attitude

Dan Lingard

Online supportfor change

SINCE the company’s inception in1966, Courtney-Thorne hasdeveloped into the leading providerof nurse call systems to the UK careindustry.

From care homes to numeroushospital trusts, its wireless nurse callsystems lead the way in producttechnology.

Now it has produced the ultimatenurse call lead which is uniquelywaterproof.

As with all its call point productsand touch-screen systems, it is madewith antimicrobial additives and canalso withstand immersion in liquidto IP67 standard.

This thorough capability to combatinfection is exclusive to Courtney-Thorne.

A nationwide service team provides24 hours a day, seven days a week,365 days of the year on-site technicalsupport, giving total peace of mindto the customer, and ensures patientsafety is never compromised.

Enquiries: Telephone 0800 068 7419 orvisit www.courtney-thorne.co.uk

Ultimate nurse call leadfrom leading provider

CARINGNEWS24

Scotland’s careservices ‘must bebetter organised’By Dominic Musgrave

THE way care services are organisedin Scotland needs to adapt – not thepeople using them, it has beenclaimed.

Jacquie Roberts, chief executive ofthe Care Commission, argued againsta one-size-fits-all approach andurged that care services must bebetter designed around the needsand rights of those in care ratherthan people having to adapt to theway care services are run.

She was speaking at the CareCommission Forum ‘Dignity in Care’supported by the Scottish HumanRights Commission and the Equalityand Human Rights Commission inScotland, which highlighted thateveryone using care should betreated equally and fairly as anindividual.

She said: “Scotland’s National CareStandards set out, for different typesof care service, exactly what peoplecan and should expect.

“Unusually, they are written fromthe perspective of the person usingthe service and we know that othercountries look to them as a greatexample of clear and helpfulcommunication about care. We wantto get more people in Scotland –

people who use care services plustheir families and unpaid carers – touse the standards to improve theirawareness and expectations. Theyshould read the inspection reportsfor their service, too.”

The forum also heard aboutcomplaints against services. In thelast inspection year 28 per cent ofcare homes for older people hadupheld or partially upheldcomplaints against them, comparedwith 10 per cent of homecareservices.

She added: “We are determined toadopt a rights-based approach toregulation, to promote improvementin care services and protect the rightsof people using those services.

“People’s rights need to berespected regardless of socialbackground; age or ability and thestandards of care must reflect that.

“Care providers must recognise thisand work with us to achieve astandard of care where the individualis at the heart of the service.”

The event was hosted by journalistand broadcaster Fiona Armstrong,with speakers including professorFrank Clark, convener of the CareCommission and Carole Wilkinson,chief executive of the Scottish SocialServices Council.

CARE staff spend upwardsof an hour a day sortingout lost or unidentifiedclothes within carehomes, according toresearch.

These lost items alsoimpact the residents andtheir relatives,subsequently meaningthat more staff becomeinvolved, including thehome manager andowners.

Quantifying the losthours is quite difficult,but a simple calculationof one hour a day perhome at £10 per hourequals £3,650 every year.

Time spent looking forclothes is time lostlooking after residents.

Clothing is oftenunlabelled, name tagsdrop off, write-on tagswear out, therefore moreand more items becomeunidentifiable. Thesemethods are alsoundignified for theresidents.

Retriever Smart Buttonsfrom Expolink provide afoolproof way of discreetlyidentifying garments,while providing aninventory of residents’possessions, and peace ofmind for everyone.

Enquiries: Telephone01249 661661 for more

information.

Lost items equal lost time ...

Moto rider opens two new care homesMOTO GP rider James Toselandopened two new care homes forthe Maria Mallaband Care Groupin Stockport with a live pianoperformance.

The twice World Superbikechampion, who is almost as wellknown for his musical talent ashis achievements on the track

following his performance on the2007 BBC Sports Personality ofthe Year television programme,opened Bowerfield Court andBowerfield House. He then tookto the stage for a solo pianoperformance, before the choirfrom Whaley Bridge PrimarySchool entertained the guests.

Staff successes celebrated at ceremonyJEWISH Care has celebrated thesuccesses of its staff who gainedqualifications over the past year witha ceremony at the MetropolitanPolice Peel Centre in Hendon.

Following a short film showcasingthe achievements of the staff, avariety of awards were handed out by

the company’s chairman StephenZimmerman to recognise the newqualifications.

At the ceremony ten staff members were also individuallyhonoured with long-service awardsfor a combined total of 210 years ofservice.

27

Operator gets go-ahead aftergoing back to drawing board

Caring UK Commercesection brings you all the latest property,business and trainingnews every month.

In this issue:

� Market bouyant for‘quality’ homes- page 28

� Dementia carefacility is county first- page 29

� Roadshow launchfor training programme- page 31

� Awar winners to participate in workshops- page 31

A CARE home operator’s bid to build asecond facility in Exmouth has over-come its first hurdle after being giventhe go-ahead by the town council

Brandon House owners Wendy andDavid Marsh want to knock down anexisting care home on another site andbuild a new 24-bed £1.5m facility, whichthey will call The Avenues.

They were forced to go back to thedrawing board after their original plan tobuild the country’s first pre-fabricated22-room care home was refused lastyear.

Council officials felt that the modernfacility, which would be built inGermany in just two weeks, andbrought to this country on lorries, was‘out of character’ with the area and

would have a detrimental effect onneighbours by blocking out light.

Wendy said: “We hope to get full plan-ning permission in the near future, butthe town council approving it is a goodstart.

“I think the council felt the originalplan was too different. The architect toldus he planners thought that we were try-ing to get around the planning condi-tions and wanted to build shelteredhousing rather than a care homebecause they had never seen one like itbefore.

“It is not a planner’s job to trust us, andI suppose they get it all the time wheresomebody starts to build one thing andthen does something else.”

The newly designed four-storey home

will have 24 bedrooms set around a cen-tral corridor, which will be naturally litby a glass roof. Some of the rooms willhave balconies, which will provide viewsof the sea.

Wendy added: “It is still a good designthat we are pleased with, and hindsightis a wonderful thing because we will nowbe able to use local builders in the con-struction.

“When we started three years ago a lotof local builders were not interested asthey were doing their own projects,whereas now because of the creditcrunch they are wanting to do it.

“We would like to think that if we getthe nod from the district council we canhave the home built and ready by thespring or summer of next year.”

SIR Jimmy Savile opened a £5m newcare facility in the North East.

The former Jim’ll Fix It and Top ofthe Pops presenter planted a tree tocommemorate the opening ofReuben Manor Care Home nearStockton, which has 83 bedrooms.

The Silk Healthcare facility will pro-vide specialist, permanent andrespite care for the elderly and will bethe blueprint for a string of luxurycare home communities across theNorth.

The home is named after AngelaSwift’s late father, and features aninternet café, a beauty salon, music

room and gift shop.Angela said: “Our staff have been

selected to provide unparalleled care.They have been chosen for theirskills, dedication and experience indealing with residents who have awide range of needs.

“Prospective residents will beassessed and care plans will be tai-lored to the individual.”

Angela has secured land for otherhomes in Tees Valley, Burnley andPontefract, and plans to have fivehomes in operation within five years.A 70-bed nursing home in Burnley isexpected to open next year.

Sir Jimmy Savile opens Reuben Manor

Sir Jimmy opens £5mcare facility in Stockton

CARINGCOMMERCE28

THERE would appear to be a numberof shoots of hope in the UK’sproperty market.

But has the often-called‘bulletproof’ care market beenaffected in the similar way?

DC Care’s Anita Allen told CaringUK the market remains buoyant withplenty of interest from potentialpurchasers.

She added: “The emphasis is on‘quality’ care homes as thepurchasers being influenced by theirbankers are looking to invest with alow element of risk and with a mindto the future.

“A recent sale handled by DC Careof a south east care home withprivate only fees completed at anexcellent price, and we are confidentthat the multiples being paid for thequality establishments will remainduring 2009/10.”

She believes that the care sector hasfaired well in these troubled times,

but predicts the market remainingslow for the next year.

“The care sector, while not immuneon these market conditions, hasfaired up well, and the business ingeneral remains a good sector inwhich to invest in these difficulttimes.

“The care home market will remaina little slow over the next 12 months.However, once lending parameters‘loosen’ and banks begin to lend,more activities should increase. Butwe are unlikely to see a return to thebullish lending and care home valuespre the credit crunch.”

Linda Murray, of Linda Murray CareSales, says the recession has broughtan end to the speculative buyerlooking to make a quick buck out of acare home.

She added: “The market is relativelyquiet but what we are seeing are thethree-star standard homes comingup more, mainly due to either death,

divorce or retirement.“I think there will be an increased

number of transactions taking placeover the remainder of the year, but itwon’t return to the heady days of acouple of years ago just yet.

“In general, there are a number ofowners out there who were lookingto retire last year, but decided to holdon and see what the market is doing.Because the industry hasn’t changedmuch they are now deciding toproceed with the sale.”

Linda says the market was never asbad as the media made out and ishopeful that it is over the worst.

She added: “The prices are notfalling any more thankfully, and wehaven’t gone back to what turned outto be a free-or-all of a few years ago. Idefinitely think the problem wasblown out of all proportion bycertain parts of the media.

“We are hoping to make doublefigure transactions this year, and are

well on the way to achieving thatfigure, with several sales in thepipeline and due to be completedover the next few weeks.”

The country may be in the grips of a recession, but many people believe that it has not affected the care sector. Healthcareeditor Dominic Musgrave spoke to several of the country’s leading property agents about the state of the market.

Market buoyant for ‘quality’ homes

Linda Murray

Healthcare editor DominicMusgrave gauges reaction to themarket from other industryexperts.

THE head of a Yorkshire-basedgroup of property advisersbelieves the banks are still keen tosupport operators with proventrack records to run good homes.

Nick Broadbent, managingdirector of GLP Taylors, said:“Combined with low interestrates, this has provided a numberof prospective purchasers withavailable funds already secured,desperately looking foropportunities in which to investtheir capital and expand theirbusinesses.

“So when there are lessproperties available to buy, highquality opportunities thereforebecome ‘prized’ targets, with theobvious potential to exceed priceexpectations. The lack of quantitymeans that prices are beingdriven up on those quality homesavailable.”

He believes that everybody isbecoming tired of hearing aboutthe credit crunch, and that now isan opportune time for sellers.

He added: “It’s like a snowballeffect – once confidence isrestored, more homes will cometo the market, banks will have agreater appetite to do deals onquality assets and the whole cycleshould be invigorated.

“But for that confidence tocome back people need to knowthat now is an opportune time forsellers.”

The current property market isin a period of transition,according to one industry expert.

Ian Wilkie, director of therecently launched HealthcareProperty Consultants Limited,told Caring UK that it is not aquestion of when things will getback to normal, because whatpassed for normality over recentyears was exceptional.

He added: “We will enter a newphase of the market where we willsee increased bank lendingactivity, but we will not see dealsleveraged in the way they wereprior to the credit-crunch.

“Those on both the debt andequity sides of healthcareinvestment will scrutinise closelythe dynamics of everyopportunity, which will be

thoroughly tested against marketdemand, competitor analysis andlongevity of return.”

There is an increased demandfor more specialist care homes,according to the head of aproperty sales company.

Robin Boxall-Hunt, managingdirector of Axis, said it is wrong tothink that the residential care andnursing home market has sloweddown in the current financialclimate.

He added: “The necessity for awide variety of retirement homesis often essential to give anindividual and their families morechoice to place someone in ahome that is comfortable,enjoyable and that meets therequirements of that individual.

“There are a number ofresidential homes currently onthe market for sale of all shapesand sizes and many of theseproperties may take some monthsto sell. However, this is not a newtrend; to find the right purchaserfor your home, it is best to berealistic with your expectation ofan asking price and finding theideal buyer.”

Good opportunities become ‘prized’ targetsTHE care property marketwill remain tricky for theremainder of the year, andcould be bad for longerthan statistics may indicate,it has been claimed

Martin Robb, director atChristie and Co, told CaringUK that a lot depends onthe appetite of the banks tolend to the sector.

He added: “The market is still in thedoldrums with a lack of available debt, alack of quality stock, a lack of any volume todeal levels and generally very cautiouspurchasers. Operationally, some pressuresare being seen with, for example, elderlycare showing generally shorter averagelengths of stay, fee pressure from bothprivate and publicly funded sources andincreasing dependency levels of residents.”

And he said he has heard nothing as yet toindicate that the market will change in thenear future. Martin added: “We don’t seeany obvious trigger for a dramatic turnaround, but there are a small, but significantnumber of key performance indicators thatpoint from our perspective towards apossible improvement, starting in particularwith a marked increase in the number ofviewings of businesses for sale.”

Martin Robb

‘Market is still inthe doldrums’

Expanding care groupacquires two homesCHRISTIE and Co has sold twoDevon-based care homes to a fast-expanding, care group.

Vision UK, which is headed byDennis Griffith, has acquired the freehold interest of the Langford Park Nursing Home inNewton St Cyres, Exeter, for anundisclosed sum off an asking priceof £1.75m.

The home, which is set inapproximately six acres, is registeredfor 34.

Acting on behalf of owner MrsPricilla Blackwell, Christie’s also sold

the freehold interest of SainthillHouse Care Home and adjoiningcottage in the St Thomas area of thecity to Vision UK for an undisclosedsum off an asking price of £890,000.

The home is registered for 12, andthere is scope to incorporate thefour-bedroom cottage into the carebusiness.

The two latest acquisitions areexpected to be part of a number ofother care home purchases VisionUK plans to complete over thecoming months.

29CARINGCOMMERCE

Dementia carefacility is ‘first ofits kind in county’A STATE-OF-THE-ART dementia carefacility will open its doors inGloucestershire early next year.

The 40-bed wing made up of twosuites of 20 bedrooms at ChestnutCourt will be the first of its kind inthe county when it opens in January.

It has been designed in consulta-tion with The Iris Murdoch Centre atStirling University – a research facilityinto the care of people with demen-tia.

The wing is being designed to makeit easy for residents, staff and visitorsto find their way around, with specialdirection and picture signs, as well asvisual and tactile cues inside andoutside.

Manager Tracy Nurding told CaringUK that the home is being builtaround a central courtyard with seat-ing, water features and a terrace gar-den.

She added: “The completed carehome, particularly the dementiawing, will be equipped with the latesttechnology, which will ensure resi-dents can live their lives with dignity

and in privacy, as independently asthey wish, safe in the knowledge thatcare and support is on hand 24 hoursa day. Specialist consultants havealso been involved in designing theexternal areas. The gardens will notonly be accessible and safe but pro-vide year round places of interest andstimuli to all senses, even during theevening thanks to specialised light-ing.

“Planting and paths will give everyvisit a sense of purpose with recog-nisable destinations such as seating,water features, specimen trees orother more unusual memorabiliasuch as an original red post box ortelephone box.”

Features in the new wing include asensory room, hair salon, shop, aswell as a cinema in the central fea-ture lounge.

Chestnut Court is a development bythe Gloucestershire Care Partnership,which is made up of GloucestershireCounty Council, the Orders of St JohnCare Trust (OSJCT), who run thehome, and housing association.

A resident at a Leicester care home hasproved that age is no barrier to learningafter passing a basic food hygiene exam.Charles Hartshorn, 87, was invited to takepart in the staff training day at LangdaleView care home by the manager CindyNicholls, and he passed the examinationat the end of the day.Cindy said: “Charles is a very active

person who enjoys working in thekitchen. He regularly peels the vegetables, washes up, helps put theshopping away and generally keeps theplace tidy, so we felt it was only right thatwe got him involved in the training.”� Charles receives his certificate withcook Sherrie Walker and senior carerLubnah Mir

£750k finance solution for homeBARCLAYS commercial bank inManchester has provided a£750,000 finance solution to ClydeCourt Nursing Home to assist withan extension to the existingpremises.

Based in West Didsbury, ClydeCourt has been owned by theMartin family since 1989 and is

run on a day to day basis by nursemanager Liz Rooney and generalmanager Neil Martin.

Clyde Court is currently registered to care for 33 elderlypeople, but the extension willincrease this to 41 (36 single andfive double).

DC Care has sold Sovereign House inBarnsley on behalf of Dr Salam and MrParish to the Heathcotes group.The home, which was available withvacant possession but with registration inplace, was sold for an undisclosed sum.Its new owners plan an extensive refurbishment programme at the home.

DFE Commercial has completed the saleof Cornelia Gardens Nursing Home inChichester. The property, which datesback to 1913 and has spectacular viewsover the Solent, is registered for 35 andplanning permission is in place to addfive single en-suite rooms.

Group doubles its portfolio on the WirralA NORTH West care group has dou-bled its portfolio with the purchase oftwo care homes on the Wirral.

Phloubateer Ltd, which alreadyoperates the Barrisle and RivingtonPark nursing homes, has purchasedthe freehold interest in MotherRedcaps in Wallasey and Byron Court

in Bootle from the Quercus Group.

The group’s managing directorMaureen Wain said: “Bringing thesetwo care homes into our portfoliohas been an important milestone.”

Barclays Commercial Bank provid-ed £2.8m funding for the purchases.

CARINGADVERTISER’S ANNOUNCEMENT30

The Forget-Me-Not Suite – Early Onset DementiaThe management and staff atGlennfield were proud toannounce the opening on June18th 2009 of The Forget-Me-NotSuite, which offers day care,respite care and long term care forthose with early onset dementia.

The Suite caters for the specificneeds of up to 22 residents. Thededicated staff working in theForget-Me-Not Suite are lookingforward to helping individualsreach their full potential and tohelp families come to terms withthe changes taking place as theirloved ones deal with dementia.

The suite has a wonderfulrelaxation area where people canbe alone or have quiet time withtheir families or key worker. Aninternet café will allow them tocarry on with research or studyingor communicating with familiesand friends.

There is also a music room andarts therapy is available withresidents able to paint or sketch.The facilities allow residents tocontinue to use their life skills andthey will be encouraged to lead anindependent life.

Families can stay overnight whenthey have had to travel distancesor if residents need support or it isa significant time such as abirthday or anniversary whenpeople need to be together.

Activities are available for childrenwho are visiting family members.The suite has both indoor andoutdoor sports facilities and agarden where residents can helplook after an allotment and flowerbeds.

Glennfield is staffed by registerednurses and unit managers whoorganise the day-to-day care forservice users as well as supervisingjunior staff. All staff receive a fulland comprehensive inductionprogramme and ongoing training.Catering is second-to-none,provided by a highly qualified stafffollowing a four week menu whichis reviewed throughout the year toensure that fresh, seasonalproduce is used wheneverpossible.

Alternative dishes are alwaysavailable to cater for individuallikes and dislikes and of coursedietary and cultural requirementswill be taken into account.Activities are wide-ranging with aprogramme of events for allresidents devised followingdiscussions with individuals andtheir relatives. Glennfield and TheForget-Me-Not Suite welcomeenquiries, and visits can bearranged.

Please contact Olga Parry,general manager on 01945 581141or emailolga.parry@excelcareholdings.comfor further information.

Specialising in care for the elderly andpeople with Early Onset Dementia

Glennfield Care Centre is a stunning care home located in Wisbech. Officially opened by The Mayor of Wisbech on November 11th2008, Glennfield is located within stunning grounds and provides first class care for up to 59 elderly residents across threeseparate units. All bedrooms are en suite with a shower, and all rooms have top-of-the-range colour co-ordinated furnishings anddecoration. There are a variety of quiet rooms, lounges and dining areas throughout the building, plus activity areas, sensoryrooms, gardens and a large cinema room for all residents to use.

31CARINGCOMMERCE

AN East Anglian care provider hasrolled out its successful ‘Passport toCare’ staff training programme byholding a series of roadshows.

The Healthcare Homes initiativeoffers a cost-effective way to ensurestaff meet the Common InductionStandards, and has been purchasedby a number of new clients, includ-ing a training company inBedfordshire, private care homes inNorfolk and West Yorkshire, a com-munity homes group and a care soci-ety in the West Midlands.

Covering subjects from the princi-ples of care to health and safety, firstaid to effective communication and

record keeping, ‘Passport to Care’ hasbeen developed specifically for staffin residential homes, as well as forthose working with people in theirown home.

The group’s training director SandieOxborrow, who led the roadshow,said: “We have already successfullyimplemented the Passport to Carescheme internally, but as a result ofhaving had considerable interestfrom care and training companiesacross the industry, we have decidedto roll it out nationally.

“The roadshow has been a greatway of generating a buzz around thenew service.”

Sandie Oxborrow launches the national roadshow to showcase the training scheme

Roadshow launch for stafftraining programme

Award winnersto participatein workshopsEIGHT Wales care organisations wontop awards at the biannual SocialCare Accolades.

The winners received their awardsfrom the deputy minister for socialservices, Gwenda Thomas AM, at agala award ceremony held at CardiffCity Hall.

The winners will work withAccolades organiser the Care Councilfor Wales to demonstrate and sharebest practice within the sector inworkshops to be held in north andsouth Wales in the autumn.

The council’s chair Mutale Merrillsaid: “The Accolades are a wonderfulcelebration of good practice, recog-nising groups for their excellence andimproving services for users by learn-ing from their success.

“We encouraged organisations tosubmit entries that support the aimsof the Welsh Assembly Government’s10-year social care strategy, ‘FulfilledLives, Supportive Communities’,which are to modernise services andprovide more accessible personalisedcare for people.

“We hope the awards will not onlyprovide a public platform to cele-

brate and share best practice, but willalso help attract more skilled peopleinto the growing workforce,” sheadded.

Winners: Learning Together –Rhondda Cynon Taf County BoroughCouncil’s Care and Service UsersInvolvement Team (CSUIT); OfferingOpportunity, Changing Chances –Barnardo’s Cymru’s Seraf Service;Being a Learning Organisation –Caerphilly County Borough Council’sLeaving Care Team project;Community Engagement –Denbighshire County Council’s Ceri’sFamily initiative; Learning aboutCaring, Caring about Learning – jointwinners Golden Heart Awards byNeath Port Talbot County BoroughCouncil and ‘Promoting Social Care’by Pendine Park Teaching CareCentre and St Joseph’s High School;Investing in the Workforce – PendinePark Teaching Care Centre andConwy County Council’s PartnershipWorking programme; LanguageChoice in Dignity and Care –Ceredigion County Council Iaith arWaith project.

CARINGHOME VISITS32

Elvis lookalike Lee Jackson with a resident

AN Elvis Presley lookalike brought rock ‘n’ roll back toLincolnshire with a special performance for more than400 local care home residents and staff.

A 1950’s themed dance was organised by the countyteam of The Orders of St John Care Trust (OSJCT), theUK’s second largest not-for-profit care home provider, atFosse House in Lincoln, for their 16 local homes and daycentres.

Event coordinators Alison Whitlock and Anita Ruddorganised the event. Alison said: “This is the biggestannual event that the Trust organises for our Lincolnshirehomes and it’s a great opportunity for staff, residents andvolunteers from all of the homes and day centres to gettogether, make new friends and really let their hairdown.”

Elvis lookalike entertainsLincolnshire residents

Staff at Meridian’s White Rose House inHolmfirth have scooped both theindividual and team awards in thecompany’s quarterly Employee MeritAward scheme. It runs through all thegroup’s care centres and providescolleagues, residents, their families andany visitors with the chance to nominatemembers of staff in recognition ofoutstanding service and performance.Each quarter the nominations from all thehomes are counted and prizes areawarded to both the individual and teamwith the most nominations.Pictured: Tracey Elvin receives her awardfrom home manager Christine Evans.

A care group has set up its ownorganisation so that former staffcan keep in touch with eachother and the company.The launch of Somerset Care’sRetired Staff Association atSydenham House in Bridgwaterenabled people to meet up withformer colleagues and shareideas about future activities,while enjoying afternoon teawith members of the board,retired home manager MikeVickery and retired groupchairman John Richards. Guestsare pictured at the launch of theassociation.

Residents at a London carehome are demonstrating theircreative skills in a new art andcraft club set up by theiractivities organiser.With Anne Smith’s guidance, theresidents at Fairmount inMottingham have created amural and a collection of modelsas part of their current topic‘Beside the Sea’, which has alsobrought memories of seasidetrips flooding back.Residents are also involved ingardening, painting, knitting andcross-stitch, outings and localcommunity activities.

Residents at Bupa care homes across the country got a taste of the Big Apple as they‘set sail’ for New York on a virtual world cruise. The event has been organised by thecare homes’ staff, offering residents who are unable to go on holiday a chance to take avirtual trip. Many of the care homes have invited entertainers to their parties, the mostpopular being cheerleaders, local jazz bands and Elvis and Frank Sinatra impersonators.

A Cheddar care home has celebrated its 41st anniversary and the long service of fivemembers of staff. Greenhill House’s Val Brook, Pam Bell, Winnie Huish, Janet Matthewsand Heather Crashley have totalled almost 150 years between them, and werepresented with flowers and gifts by members of the Somerset Care Group board.

33CARINGHOME VISITS

TALENTED photographersfrom a care organisationhave staged their first exhi-bition. The images are thework of the photographyclub at Pendine Park inWrexham, and the LifeThrough a Lens event,which featured 30 pho-

tographs capturing the fourseasons, was the brainchildof the organisation’s artist-in-residence SarahEdwards.

She has been running artclasses, both in groups andone-to-one sessions, for 13years, and formed the pho-

tography club a year ago.

Four of the images will bechosen to feature on post-cards and notelets that willbe sold to raise money forthe recent collaborationwith the world-famousHallé orchestra.

Residents Malcolm and Audrey Crosbie look through some of the images for the exhibition

Images snapped up for exhibition

Miss Worcester Leanne Groutage joined Perthshore Mayor Chris Parsonsat a summer garden party to celebrate the opening of a care home’snew dementia unit. The 10-bed facility at Willow Bank House is aimedand designed to provide a safe and secure environment for service users who due to their advancing dementia related conditionmay suffer a lack of appropriate support and services to meet theirchanging and developing needs.

Mayor of Bridgwater, councillor Ken Richards, officially opened astate-of-the-art dementia wing at The Rosary Nursing Home.Guests included staff, Sanctuary Care’s dementia lead MariaParsons, contractors and representatives from local businesses.The 40-bed wing uses contrasting colours and visual images tohelp identify rooms and reduce confusion.The main building at the home is also set to be refurbished overthe next few months.

Burleigh House Residential Care Home inBaldock were runners up in the staff trainingand development category at Federation ofSmall Businesses Hertfordshire SmallBusiness Awards.The home offers day, short and long termelderly care and specialises in usingMontessori based therapies for those withdementia.Mihir Shah, director of the home, which wasthe only care facility to reach the finals, said:“We are very proud to have won this award.

“To firstly be nominated was an honour, butto then get down to the last four, and thenlast two nominations is an incredibleachievement and huge recognition for theexcellence in client service we are striving forat Burleigh.”Picture: Burleigh House director Mihir Shahand manager Julie Curtis receive their awardfrom BBC Look East’s Susie Fowler-Watt andJayne Henderson, development manager ofthe Business Solutions team at Herts RegionalCollege.

A BARNSLEY care home managerhas been invited to the Queen’s gar-den party at Buckingham Palace inrecognition of her services to theelderly.

Sylvia Forster, 64, opened BelleGreen Court Care Home 11 yearsago, but has been in nursing for 41years.

She was nominated to go to thegarden party by her sister Pauline,care home resident Wilfred Mills andGP Dr Selim.

Sylvia said she thought the nomi-nation was originally a wind-up.

She added: “It’s an experience, anachievement, it’s nice to be recog-nised for my work.

“I enjoy every minute of my job, forme it’s a way of life. I always jokethat I’ll never retire and I’ll end upbeing a resident here.”

As well as enjoying the gardenparty, Sylvia plans to order a DVD ofthe event filmed by BuckinghamPalace.

She added: “I want to show the res-idents the DVD when I get back sothey can see what happens, it’s goingto be nice for them as well as me.”

Sylvia’s heading for the palace

Sylvia with her invite

CARINGNEWS34

A CHANCE introduction through amutual contact led to Nick and Davidopting to enter the care sectortogether, rather than separately.

And after buying and subsequentlyredeveloping The Three CornersNursing Home in Brixham, Devon,they have taken on NewgrangeResidential Home in Cheshunt, andhope to make a further acquisition inthe near future.

Nick said: “We both come fromcustomer facing backgrounds all ourworking life, and we were looking tocome into the sector quite separatelyas we felt it was a good sector to bein, particularly looking at thedemographics of the country withpeople living longer. We are both stilllearning, and will continue to do sountil we move into one of our ownhomes ourselves. It is a verychallenging sector to be involved in,and no one day is the same.”

The pair looked at scores of homesacross the country before settling onThree Corners two years ago. Andsince taking over they haverefurbished the home throughout,built two new wings on either side toincrease the number of beds to 46,and created a state-of-the-art dayspace for dining, recreationalactivities and lounge. Indoor facilitiesnow include a family meeting space,fireside area, library and virtualaquarium – an idea Nick discoveredon a visit to Austria – while outsidethe gardens have been landscapedand include a sensory garden. Thetotal cost for the development wasapproximately £400,000.

David said they will be transferringseveral ideas they have learned atThe Three Corners into their newfacility. He added: “We didn’t need tolook at as many homes as we did firsttime round before settling on

Newgrange. We were particularlyattracted to what it offered as it isalready a ‘three star’ home with 21ensuite single bedrooms.

“It is a relatively newly built home,within the last five years, which atfirst glance wasn’t what we wanted.But as soon as we viewed it we fell inlove with it – it is an impressive homewith a great atmosphere, and we nowhave planning permission in place toadd a further nine rooms.

“The two homes are constantlyexchanging ideas from one toanother. We want to learn from thestaff, and have already put intopractice one or two things that wehave learned at Three Corners tohelp us run Newgrange moreeffectively.”

The purchases and redevelopmentof the two homes have been fundedby Natwest’s specialist healthcareteam.

After purchasing their first care home in Devon two years ago, business partners Nick Meyer and DavidHenson have taken on a new project in East Hertfordshire. Dominic Musgrave found out more.

Chance meetingleads to businesspartnership forNick and David Owners Nick Meyer and David Hewson celebrate the completion of the redevelopment at

Three Corners with staff.

Nick and David are offering theirexpertise to other business peoplewishing to invest in the sector.David added: “Particularly in thecurrent climate the banks aresceptical about lending to newoperators, and although there isalways more to learn we now know agreat deal about running a carehome, and are willing to go into ajoint venture or franchise approach tohelp new people enter the sector.“We would be willing to help peopleget to grips with their new home andset it up, and because we are alreadyin the sector we can help to accessfinance.”

Pair ready to helpother investors

WHEN selecting products for a care home setting,safety is of course of utmost concern - particularlywhen it comes to showering or bathing. Couple thiswith simplicity of use and the right bathroomproducts can make all the difference, giving peopleextra independence from carers where possible.

Tackling the issues that count for the sector,leading shower manufacturer, Triton, has developedits Safeguard T100 Care and innovative SafeguardPumped thermostatic electric care showers todeliver a complete care package that can be reliedon for safety and usability.

On the inside, both models have the sought-after‘ultra-safe’ BEAB Care approved temperaturecontrol. On the outside, designed using input fromcarers, occupational therapists and RNIB, bothmodels incorporate a wide range of benefit-ledfeatures that make it the ideal choice for the elderly,visually impaired and those with limited dexterity,even if used when seated.

THERMOSTATIC PEACE OF MIND:Incorporating the advanced technology you’d

expect from Triton, a unique three-stagemechanical thermostatic control process is built-into both Safeguard showers, ensuring there are nodangerous temperature spikes.

Controlled by a specially-designed regulatingvalve, which automatically adjusts the flow of coldwater entering the heater to compensate fortemperature changes, these showers deliver aconsistently comfortable, regulated temperature.

Using proven thermostatic wax capsules, asdeployed with TMV3-type mixer showers, in amechanical design the two showers are markedlydifferent to rival “electronic” products on the market- which rely wholly on PCB technology to maintainthermostatic performance.

SAFETY FOR ALL SYSTEMS:Many care homes may have previously found

themselves precluded from choosing an electriccare shower due to being sited in one of the UK’slow or variable water pressure areas. Now, Triton’sSafeguard range ensures that ‘ultra-safety’ isavailable right across the country.

Safeguard T100 Care mains-fed thermostaticelectric shower:

Ideal for offering exceptional safety andtemperature control for cold mains-fed watersystems. Its advanced technology means it is able tocope with local pressure fluctuations, which canmomentarily drop down to as low as 0.5 barrunning pressure without the unit automaticallyshutting off. It can also manage seasonaltemperature fluctuations with ease.Safeguard Pumped tank-fed thermostatic electricshower:

Providing an optional gravity-fed solution, theSafeguard Pumped is the only thermostatic pumpedelectric care shower currently on the market.Featuring the same safety-led, easy to use features asthe Safeguard T100 Care it is able, for the first time,to provide temperature control to the stringent BEABCare specification, even in areas where cold mainswater pressure is extremely limited or unreliable.

For additional safety on all Safeguard models, amaximum temperature stop is factory-set at 41°C sothat the temperature cannot be accidentally turnedup past this safe level when in use.

Universal connectivity to a wide range of popularsuction waste pumps also tackles the secondarysafety issue of pools of water forming on flat, “wet-room” style showering areas, meaning water can bedrained effectively during each use.

RNIB APPROVED FOR EASE OF USE:With only two user controls to operate and no

unnecessary buttons or gadgets that couldpotentially confuse and exasperate, the Safeguardshowers have been designed using feedback from

caring professionals and OTs and with endorsementfrom RNIB for inclusive design, to incorporate user-friendly details that really count:

• A large start/stop push-button control - makes iteasy to access even when the user is seated • An easy-grip, clearly labelled temperature carelever – provides simple water flow control • A raised number dial and tactile start-stopgraphic symbol can guide blind people • Large text ensures that everything is easy to seefor partially-sighted people • An ergonomic showerhead with three extendedlevers ensures ease of use by those with limitedmanual dexterity • An extended riser rail gives the flexibility to suit arange of needs • Colour-contrasting moving parts help identify thedifferent features • Audible bleeps and neon indicators show whenthe start/stop button has been pushed, when theunit is experiencing low flow and when the unitshuts down

AFFORDABLE:Dispelling the myth that this combination of

stringent safety with user benefits has to beexpensive, the Safeguard thermostatic electricshowers remain the most competitively pricedproducts in their class.

Both carry a two year guarantee and fit neatlywithin Triton’s already wide portfolio of easy toinstall and easy to use range of care and commercialproducts, such as the TMV3 approved brass-bodiedElina mixer shower collection and the Trimix under-basin valve designed to limit tap water temperatures.

Showering safetymade simple

For further information on the Safeguardthermostatic care range visit

www.tritonshowers.co.uk or call 02476 344441

Power – Glows green when on.

Low Flow – Glows red when the water pressure is low.

Shutdown – Glows yellow when thestop button is pushed. This shows

that water will still flow through theunit until all hot water is flushed out.

Tactile start/stop graphic symbol button -helps the blind and partially sighted.

Textured anti-glare surfaces and raisedfeatures around the outside of the care

lever assist with ease of operation.

Unique three stage thermostaticperformance complies with BEAB

CARE. Endorsed by RNIB forinclusive design to ensure it is

simple and easy to use.

Temperature care lever –specially designed to make

it easy for all to use.

Provision for connecting to a levelaccess waste pump makes

installation even easier whencreating a total care solution.

Additional fixing bracket –helps those who shower

while seated.

Ergonomic 5 pattern showerhead – speciallydesigned to be easy to use by carers andpeople with limited dexterity. Includes 3

extended levers and tactile control.Colour contrasting moving parts

– Makes different features easierto see and identify.

Easy to use slider.

Extended riser rail – allows for more flexible showering.

Reinforced 2m hose – high quality doubleinterlocked chrome hose. Prevents kinks

and blockages and lasts longer.

ADVERTISER’S ANNOUNCEMENT

CARINGNEWS36

Melody can bringback memories –music professorA NEW group set up at a New Forestretirement village is using musictherapy to help its residents withdementia.

Andrew Knights, a professionalmusician and professor of music whohas extensive experience in runningmusic sessions for people withdementia, launched the group at TheShelbourne at Sway.

He is teaching the sessions onbehalf of Alzheimer’s Society, whichalready runs a similar and successfulgroup in nearby Hythe.

He told Caring UK that playing abell at one of those sessions broughta smile to the face of one suffererwho had not smiled for two years,and he is hoping for similar successat the new group.

He added: “People with dementiasuffer from short-term memory loss,but what is fantastic about music isthat even if you lose this part of yourbrain you can still enjoy it.

“Rhythm and melody can bringback memories from a long time ago,and there is no need for short-termmemory. Old songs work really wellwith a certain generation and eventhough some may not remember

what they’ve done earlier that day,they are able to sing along withoutneeding to look at the words.”

The musician, who was principaloboist at the BournemouthSinfonietta from 1991 to 1999, hasbeen a music teacher atSouthampton University for the past18 years.

He added: “I find it very rewardingwatching them have a good timewhile I’m there but what’s even morerewarding is hearing stories of howit’s lifted their mood for the wholeday – even long after we’ve finishedsinging and playing music.”

The Shelbourne regularly inviteslocal musicians to perform in its jazz-themed bar, and residents enjoy ahuge variety of genres from pianiststo soloists and choirs.

Managing director Ken Waterhouseadded: “Everyone here is excited thatwe are hosting this new group as it isproving that music really doesbenefit people with dementia.

“Music can reach many differentparts of the brain so even those withsevere short-term memory loss canbenefit as they sing or play along totunes from their youth.”

Andrew Knights

EASTBOURNE MP Nigel Watersonofficially unveiled PentlowNursing Home’s new, topspecification kitchen.

During his visit to the CanfordHealthcare home he alsopresented cook Norma Else withtickets for the ballet at CoventGarden to celebrate her 20 yearsof dedicated service.

The new kitchen boastsintelligent cookers providing theability to cook food to exacttemperatures in a quarter of thetime of ordinary ovens, ensuringmaximum retention of nutrients.

They also indicate whencleaning is required and thequantity of tablets to use.

Nigel with staff at the opening of the new kitchen

MP serves up treat for cookNorma at kitchen unveiling

Hypnotherapy trialled at homesTWO of a group’s care homes aretrialling a new scheme which useshypnotherapy to slow the impacts ofdementia and improve the quality oflife for those living with thecondition.

Southern Cross’ Knowsley Manorand Moss View, both in Liverpool,have taken part in the scheme whichhas shown very positive results.

The residents undergoinghypnotherapy showed positiveimprovement in seven key areasincluding relaxation, concentration,motivation, daily living activities,immediate memory, past memory ofsignificant life events andsocialisation.

The group’s dementia consultant DrDan Nightingale and psychologist DrSimon Duff from the university ofLiverpool have been carrying out

research comparing the positiveeffects of hypnosis therapy withthose of more usual therapies fortreating people with dementia, andgroup discussion therapy in whichresidents are encouraged to discussnews and current affairs.

He said: “Over nine months ofweekly sessions, it was clear thatresidents attending the discussiongroup did not show any marked signsof improvements. The group ofresidents receiving mainstreamtreatments showed an expected smalldecline in their mental function, butthose having regular hypnotherapysessions showed real improvementacross all seven areas.

“The evidence so far does indicatethat we can enhance the quality oflife for people living with dementiathrough the correct use of hypnosis.”

By Dominic Musgrave

NOT-for-profit landlord CoastlineHousing has launched a new domi-ciliary care company called CoastlineCare.

The company will be offering arange of professional, assisted careand support services that willempower people in need of care tochoose, maintain and enjoy an inde-pendent lifestyle in the home envi-ronment they know and love.

Any profits made from the newenterprise will be fed back into theparent company, Coastline Housing,to assist it in its charitable endeav-ours to help the homeless and thosein need of affordable housing in thecounty.

Chairman John Caff said: “Cornwallhas an ageing population and theprovision of care in people’s ownhomes is becoming increasinglyimportant.

“For many, it could be the differ-ence between being able to stay intheir own home, or having to move

into a residential or nursing home.”Coastline Care was formed when

the staff of another local careCompany – Domiciliary CareManagement – decided to join forceswith the housing provider.

Anthea Hedge, who created theDomiciliary Care Management busi-ness and brings over 20 staff toCoastline Care with her, added: “It isso important that people are helpedto live independently and happily foras long as possible.

“As a large local organisation, it cangive us the backing we need to reallyextend our care services for the bene-fit of local people.

“Many people don’t realise that careat home for relatives or friends iseven an option.

“It’s vital that people who are inneed of care are made aware thatthere are choices, which can be com-pletely tailored and flexible, allowingthem to still enjoy a life in their ownhome.”

Coastline director of housing and support Louise Beard, chairman John Caff and clientDebbie George at the launch with Lady Mary Holborow and Robert Nettleton, CEO ofCoastline Housing.

Domiciliary care company launched

‘Government must re-find its focus’THE Government needs to re-find itsfocus and concentrate on big issues likethe future of social care, it has beenclaimed.

UKHCA chair Mike Padgham told theassociation’s conference in Leicester thatissues like MPs’ expenses had divertedthe Government’s attention.

He added: “We have just been througha period of great uncertainty – the MPs’expenses row and of course the state ofthe economy, have combined to throwthe Government into turmoil.

“The net result of this, regrettably, hasbeen a loss of focus on other crucialissues of the day – and of priority to us ofcourse, is social care.

“Whatever the ultimate long-termresult of the MPs’ expenses row, the factremains that how we care for our mostvulnerable members of our society in thecoming decades is still an irresistiblequestion that must be resolved.

“I for one very much hope that it issoon up at the top of the political agen-da, alongside the economy, health andeducation in this country.”

Also speaking at the conference wereCynthia Bower, chief executive of theCare Quality Commission, who outlinedthe role of the new body and DavidBehan, director general for social care atthe Department of Health.

A LEADING domiciliaryprovider is defying the creditcrunch and has reported a 70per cent increase in care work-ers joining from January toMay.

And Caremark national oper-ations manager Sean Craggsays the growth is expected tocontinue for the remainder ofthe year, as the company hasrecently recruited an addition-al five new franchise owners totakes its total to 49.

He added: “As well as anincrease in care staff we havealso seen a steady growth in thenumber of office-based staffacross the network, taking ournumber of employees toapproximately 1,000.

“As our business continues togo from strength to strength weseem to be benefiting from thecurrent climate, as we seem tobe able to recruit a much high-er calibre of staff.”

Provider reports 70%increase in care workers

39CARINGHOMECARE

Roseland Parc retirement village played host to winners of anational competition to win a Cornish holiday.Eileen and John Bailey scooped the first prize of a three night stayat New Lodge, a National Trust property in Trelissick Gardens inCornwall in the competition organised by Retirement Villages,owner of Roseland Parc in Tregony, near Truro.During their Cornish break the couple, who live in Devon, werechauffeured to the village for lunch, hosted by manager DerekPashley. The following day they were taken on a guided tour ofTrelissick by a member of the garden team.� Eileen and John Bailey are pictured enjoying a tour of RoselandParc

Age Concern backscouncil plans for anoverhaul of servicesBy Louise Cordell

A COUNCIL’S plans to over-haul its older people’s ser-vices have been supported bya leading charity.

Age Concern has given itsbacking to SouthGloucestershire Council’schanges, which they hope tobe implemented by 2016, andinclude increased investmentin services to enable old peo-ple to stay at home, servicesfor carers and preventativeservices.

Peter Illes, chief executive ofthe local branch of AgeConcern, told Caring UK thatthe charity’s consultationwith older people revealedthey are strongly in favour ofservices that enable them tocontinue to live at home.

He added: “These proposalsdirectly address what peopletold Age Concern they wouldlike to see in the future and I'm pleased to see they are getting the prioritythey deserve from the coun-cil.

“I'm encouraged by theincreased emphasis on pre-ventative support serviceswhich will be so integral if thecouncil is to achieveimproved and modernisedservices for all older people inSouth Gloucestershire."

The plans include closingthe eight residential homesthe council currently ownsand building two new state-of-the-art homes in the dis-trict.

They also want to provide700 extra care housing units,

where older people canmaintain their privacy andgreater independence.

Councillor Matthew Riddle,executive member for com-munity care and housing,said: "Older people in the dis-trict deserve the very bestcare, and it is one of thecouncil's main priorities toprovide this.

"As part of this we askedAge Concern to carry out aconsultation with older peo-ple in the district on how theywould like to see servicesdeveloped.

"They were emphatic intelling us that where possiblethey want to have the choiceto remain in their own homesand retain as much indepen-dence as possible.”

THE HICA Group has been appointed a strategic partner byLincolnshire County Council as part of its plans to developretirement villages and other extra care facilities.

The company has already developed the Holderness Grangeretirement village at Hedon in East Yorkshire, and also theBuckshaw retirement village at Chorley in Lancashire as partof the Oakbridge joint venture.

Chief executive Andrew Stow said: “The process could takeseveral years to come to fruition because we have to find asite and go through the various planning and consultationprocesses. but we are keen to develop our first village inLincolnshire as soon as we can.”

HICA is one of eight strategic partners appointed by thecouncil. The group consists of housing associations and pri-vate developers who will work with the council to developservices across the county.

County council appointsstategic partner inretirement village plan

CARINGACTIVITIES40

CARE home managers should notuse a lack of transport or staffing asa reason for not getting theirresidents outside, it has beenclaimed.

Sally Knocker, director ofcommunications at the NationalAssociation for Providers ofActivities for Older People (NAPA),told Caring UK that fresh air iscrucial to keeping residents active,and that there are many ways ofensuring they get it.

She added: “It is a statutory rightof prisoners to an hour of fresh airand exercise every day, yet nobodyseems to think about this forresidents in care homes, andsometimes they can go for monthswithout going out.

“Being outside works the brainand gives the residents the chanceto see something else other thanjust the four walls of the home.

“Managers should not use thelack of transport and the staffinglevels as a reason for not gettingtheir residents out. They shouldalso think about how they caninvolve the relatives of theresidents in the activities.”

Sally said that many care homesare now dedicating a morning orafternoon each week to outdooractivities for the residents, and thatthis could be a way of targetingvolunteers to help out.

She added: “Putting the structurein place ensures that it happenseach week rather than relying on

the staff to use their initiative. Theonly problem with this is that theweather may be bad when you planto get the residents out.

“Some homes that have put thisplan in place have also ensuredthat there are two or three extrafloating staff to help with theactivities, so there needs to be afinancial commitment as well.

“A way around this is to advertisefor volunteers to help out during aspecific time. If a home just appealsfor volunteers the chances are thatnobody will respond, but if thehome says what it wants the

volunteers for then there is achance that somebody might readit and think that they could spend afew hours pushing a residentaround the park or a gardencentre.”

Last year NAPA launched anational competition to bring olderpeople in care settings newopportunities to enjoy theoutdoors.

‘Breath of Fresh Air’ week wasopen to care homes and shelteredhousing settings all over thecountry, with the best ideas beingrewarded at a gala awards dinner.

A study by Warwick University researchers has found that spending more timeoutdoors can reduce the risk of the elderly developing heart disease and diabetes,Dominic Musgrave found out what care home managers can do to ensure this.

Activities co-ordinator Stella Charman held a beach party for residents in thegarden at Sanctuary Care’s Ashley House care home in Bordon.

Fresh air a must for residents

Julie planssummer livingA ‘SONGS of Praise’ style service,sensory afternoon and a shoppingtrip were just a few of the activitiesthat helped Berrystead NursingHome near Leicester win last year’sfirst prize at NAPA’s Breath of FreshAir awards.

Activities coordinator Julie Hiltonbelieves it is vital that care homeresidents get as much fresh air asthey possibly can.

And she gears her programme ofevents in the summer to ensuringthat those people that want to go outhave the option of doing so as muchas they can.

She added: “Some people livinghere don’t want to go out, so we run anumber of events where we bring theoutside indoors with variousartefacts. But the majority do want toget outdoors and the change ofscenery brings back so manymemories of their younger days.”

And the residents will have a newgarden to enjoy in a few months’time, which is being paid for with the£3,000 the home received for winningthe competition. Julie added: “Thenew garden area is going to havesensory plants, a new barbecue for alfresco dining and a water feature forthe more frail residents to enjoy. Weare also planting some potatoes,which we will use in a variety of ways.A lot of the residents had connect-ions with the local farms so they willbe used in reminiscence work.”

Julie says she is always coming upwith new ideas to keep the residentsentertained, and the most recentheld at home include a Caribbeanday, strawberries and cream tea tocelebrate Wimbledon, a canal boattrip and well dressing.

A PROGRAMME designed toimprove the lives of people in carehomes across Wales has beenlaunched.

‘My Home Life’ aims to make surethat living, visiting or working in acare home is an enjoyableexperience, and is being run bymerged charity Age Concern Cymruand Help the Aged in Wales.

Programme manager John Mooresaid the scheme is about sharingideas to make life better for peopleliving and working in care homes.

He added: “These can be very

simple and straightforward ideas orcomplex innovations, but the aimwill be the same – improvingpeople’s day-to-day lives in carehomes.

“For example, we’ve heard of onehome that gave its corridors streetnames, so that residents were ableto literally ‘have their own address’ –doesn’t 17 Brynderw Road sound somuch more inviting and homelythan plain old Room 17?”

The campaign, which is beingfunded by the Welsh AssemblyGovernment’s Health Challenge

Wales, was launched at CollegeFields Nursing Home in Barry, SouthWales

The home’s director Mike Kempadded: “When we heard about theprogramme and its aims andobjectives, we realised that weresinging from the same hymn sheet,and we were keen to get involved.

“Entering a care home should notbe considered a choice of last resortbut one of an opportunity to makethe very best of life no matter howlimited one’s ability.”

Resident Edna Sewell is visited by Enoch the donkey as part of the launch of the scheme

New scheme launched in Wales

Outdoorideas ...Five easy activities to getcare home residents outside:

Have a barbecueOrganise outside games Have a paddling pool for residents todip their toes inHave a sunflower competition andaward prizes for the tallestMake bird boxes for the garden

Five more adventurousactivities:Arrange a trip outHave a concert in the gardensArrange a visit from a local aviary,police dog team or Sea Life centreBuild your own mini farm and keepchickens, goats and pigs etc...Hold an exercise bike challenge forresidents and staff

The list comes from the NAPA Breath of Fresh Air guide, which

includes 101 practical ideas.It is available for £1.50 from

www.napa-activities.co.uk or by ringing 020 7078 9375.

41CARINGPRODUCT NEWS

Help to findright systemLOTUS Care Technologyoffers products fordementia care, nursecallsystems, door access,CCTV, fire alarm andintruder systems, infec-tion control and mainte-nance and servicingcontracts to clientsthroughout the whole ofthe UK.

The company has fit-ted monitoring systemsfor many years, and withall of their experience todraw on, can help findthe right system for theenvironment.

Most requirements dif-fer from one to the next,so it is impossible tosuggest that one type ofmonitoring system isbest for all of thosehomes.

Lotus Care is not tiedin to any one manufac-turer, making them per-fectly placed to find thebest fit.

The company’s ethos issimple. They believe inquality and good cus-tomer service, whichmeans they recommendand use the best prod-ucts available and investin the best people toprovide those productsto the customer.

Council wins accolade at homecare awardsHAVERING Council was named winnerof the outstanding achievement throughIT innovation accolade at the CeretasNational Homecare Awards.

By working with software partnersPCCL and CM2000, and using Visa cardsettlement from Royal Bank of Scotland,

Havering have introduced a unique end-to-end solution that will revolutionisehow domiciliary care is provided, man-aged, and paid for.

At the core of the new system isCM2000’s tried and tested schedulingand monitoring solution

CallConfirmLive! Havering are now introducing

CM2000’s RFID based ‘Touch and Go’monitoring system, making the solutionavailable to more service users acrossthe borough.

New signagerange benefitseveryoneA NEW range of signage for carehome residents with dementia andsight loss is now available fromKaizen Signs UK.

Managing director John Wyllie,believes that there is still an exten-sive requirement among careproviders for good, clear signage,especially when supporting peoplewith dementia who are often dis-oriented and confused.

He said: “Our dementia andBraille signs improve the livingenvironment and help residents tomaintain their independence.

“Because this in turn makes thehome more attractive to visitorsand staff, everybody benefits fromwell designed signage.”

The purpose designed signs fromKaizen use primary colours in con-trasting combinations to ensurehigh visibility and help residentsfind their way around the home.

The product range also includesBraille and tactile signs for partially sighted and blind people,as well as landmark products suchas memory boxes and vintage ban-knotes to help residents reconnectwith their past. John Wyllie

Manager takes home to new heightsPENDLEBURY Manor care home in Macclesfield has been taken to new heights by manager BernadetteSumner (centre), seen here with staff members proudly holding the Interface accreditation certificate.

The home has recently been awarded three quality stars and is now proud members of the “Interface”Quality Assurance Programme run by High Peak Care Management Ltd.

Contact: Visit www.highpeakcon.co.uk for further information

Care UK Specifies Girbau laundry equipmentCARE UK, one of the UK’s leadinghealth and social care organisa-tions, has equipped the laundry ofits newly-opened Manor Lodgecare home in Chelmsford, Essexwith the latest energy efficientand high productivity machinesfrom Girbau UK.

The new 120-bed home is thelatest addition to Care UK’snationwide portfolio of 58 nursingand residential care homes, andcaters for a wide range of resi-dents including those with spe-cialist needs such as dementia andAlzheimer’s.

Care UK did not hesitate inspecifying four of the company’s 6Series high-speed washers, fourgas dryers and an ironer, as well asthree HS6017 19kg capacity, high speed washers and a smaller 14kg HS6013 machine

Care UK’s assistant facilities manager Graham Baty said: “Continuity is very important to us and isreflected by the strong relationship that we have with Girbau UK stretching back almost 15 years.”

Contact: Telephone 0844 391 0395 or visit www.girbau.co.uk

Compact mobility from new B400 poweredwheelchair

THE B400 is the latest addition to Otto BockHealthcare’s already wide range of high qualitypower chairs. Compactly designed for ease of insideuse, with a width of only 58cm, means that the usercan negotiate the narrowest of halls. The B400 isalso robustly built and, with the power generated bythe 73Ah Gel Batteries, has a range of 35 kilometresunder normal conditions.

With a top speed of 7.2 kph and a turning circleof 80cm, this is a powerful yet manoeuvrable chair.Despite a surprisingly reasonable and affordableprice, the B400 offers a number of attractive fea-tures fitted as standard that are more often includ-ed in the ‘optional extras’ list in power chairbrochures.

For example the reclining and fully folding back-rest enables users to transport the chair with ease,combined with a tension adjustable backrest forcomfort and positioning.

It also boasts a lap strap, a single battery cover, mud guards to protect against splashing in wet weath-er or when ‘off-roading’ and powerful electric lights fixed under the arm rests.

Enquiries: Visit www.ottobock.co.uk

SINCE 1982, Colne (Lancs)based, Richards ResidentialSupplies have concentratedupon supplying simple solutionsto common nursing home prob-lems.

The new WACMAT® adheresstrongly to this tradition.

With its ultra absorbent cot-ton pile and 100 per cent water-proof backing, the remarkableWACMAT® is an ideal accessorywhere spills may occur.

Used as a commode mat, inbedrooms or bathrooms, theWACMAT® ensures full carpetprotection. Then, after use, sim-ply machine wash and tumbledry! It’s that simple...

The WACMAT® will then beclean and odour-free, ready to perform time and time again. Alternatively the flat-laying WACMAT® can beused as an entrance mat, saving you hundreds of pounds in rental costs alone.

Contact: 0800 074 3749.

Simple solutions

CARINGCLASSIFIED AND NEWS42

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Management goes backto the floor for charityBy Dominic Musgrave

SENIOR management at one ofthe country’s biggest careproviders went back to the floor toraise money for charity.

Southern Cross’ chief operatingofficer Kamma Foulkes became acare assistant at a South Waleshome, chief executive JamieBuchan spent the day as a kitchenassistant, group financial directorRichard Midmer showed off hisgardening skills, group operationsdirector Janette Malham spent theday in the laundry.

The event raised more than£13,000 for the Action on ElderAbuse charity, and Kamma toldCaring UK it was a worthwhileexercise.

She added: “My day was a reallygreat experience for me, and I felt

humbled to work with someexcellent staff and to meet somereally interesting residents.

“I worked as part of the careteam and was involved in assistingpeople to eat both at breakfastand lunch, and helped to get themready for their day.

“I also contributed to the groupexercises and also had longconversations with the residentson a one to one basis.”

Kamma said she plans to makespending a day working in a carehome a regular fixture on hercalendar.

She added: “It made me and therest of the management teamrealise that we should got out andexperience what happens in ourcare homes more often.

“It reminded me how hard thestaff work and we will certainly be

doing the task more often.”The group’s homes across the

country also held fund-raisingevents from car boot sales to fancydress parties and sponsored walksto raise money.

Kamma Foulkes

STAFF at Grays Court Care Home inEssex swapped their uniforms forfancy dress and raised £65 for theresidents’ fund.

The money will be used to buy anew bench and chairs for the garden.

Event raises £65

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