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Community Care Magazine No20 for Elderly and DisabledCare at Home The choice to be cared for at home was a fundamental part of "Care in the Community" and its related legislation. However, it soon became apparent that if a high level of care was required then your choice was limited especially if you or your Local Authority did not have sufficient funding to pay for it. Consequently many people were denied the option to stay in their own home. In the last few months further legislation has either been passed or is in the pipeline that again will have a negative effect on the number of people who can actually receive care at home. The new National Care Standards, whilst containing many good ideas do not fit easily with all the practical aspects of live-in care. They appear prescriptive in that "this is what you will have" rather than allowing clients the opportunity to make their own decisions. This is not to say that we do not agree with the protection of vulnerable people, or improved Heath and Safety standards but we do feel that the majority of clients should be allowed to decide what care they wish to purchase. Then, if one company does not provide the required standard the purchaser can take their business elsewhere. This alongside other legislation relating to carers (regardless of status, e.g. self employed, employed, temporary, short term contract workers), which is also being introduced will have the effect of raising the cost of care considerably. The conclusion can only be that fewer people will be able to buy in care, Local Authorities will also find themselves being able to help fewer people and some care companies may go out of business. As we have reported in earlier editions, the care home sector is seeing scores of homes closing every month as they struggle to pay their bills and carry out major improvements to comply with their prescriptive recent care standards. On a totally non political basis we do have to ask the question "Does this really make sense to you?" If you have a view and would like to contact your MP please do. If you would like further information, please give us a call. Winter Chill Every year we write about this but as it is important we do so again. Older people in particular need to keep warm in the cold weather. As we age our circulation system becomes less effective and as a result coldness can kill. Simple hints such as:
Did you know that old folk are worth a fortune? We have silver in our hair, gold in our teeth, stones in our kidneys, lead in our feet and gas in our stomachs. I have become older since I saw you last, and a few changes have come into my life. Frankly, I have become a frivolous, old woman. I am seeing six gentlemen every day. As soon as I wake up Will Power helps me out of bed, then I go to see Jimmy Riddle. Then it is time for breakfast with Mr Kellogg followed closely by the company of Mr Tetley or my other friend whom I only know by his initials PG. Then comes someone I don’t like at all Arthur Itis. He knows he is not welcome but insists on being here and what is more he stays for the rest of the day. Even then he does not like to stay in one place so he takes me from joint to joint. After such a hectic day I am glad to get to bed (and with Johnny Walker too). What a hectic life! Oh yes, I am now flirting with Al Zheimer. The vicar came to call the other day and said that at my age I should be thinking of the hereafter. I told him I did all the time. For no matter where I am the bedroom, the kitchen, the sitting room or the garden, I ask myself "Now what am I here after?" Well I will close now and I hope that Will Power is your constant companion too but do watch out for that crazy one Gerry Atric! Safe Travelling Problems with travel in the warm weather are not usually as serious as when you have a travel problem in cold, icy, conditions. In order to keep you safe and happy here are some precautions you could take to ensure you have as few problems as possible.
Approximately two million deaf people have to rely on hearing aids, which were designed in the seventies. They operate on an analogue basis. Today there are state-of-the-art digital hearing aids, which are a much improved product. The Health Department announced in December 2001 that £20 million of investment is to be provided to enable more people to obtain a better product. If you are aware of any person who may benefit from this new aid, it may be a good idea to make enquiries as soon as possible. These will be supplied under the NHS and should be available from next year. The cost of buying a digital aid last year was in the region of £2000.00 each. Sleeplessness Most people find that they need less sleep as they grow older. Some then feel well on less than 6 hours sleep each night, whilst others supplement this with a day-time nap. However, almost 1 in 4 elderly people complain about their sleep. About three quarters of these had sleep problems when they were younger and unfortunately they cannot expect their sleep pattern to improve with age. If you detect a change in your sleep pattern you should deal with it straight away. 6 ways to encourage sleep:
(Information provided by the British Geriatrics Society.) Jelly Babies In 1918 Basset’s launched a new sweet product - Peace Babies. They were made in Sheffield to celebrate the end of the First World War. During the Second World War production ceased, as Basset’s could not obtain the raw materials needed to make them. In 1953 they were re-launched but with a new name - Jelly Babies. Jelly Babies "grew" and prospered and in 1989 the six "babies" were all given a name and new identity colour: The pink one is Bonny, Boofuls is the blue one followed by Bumper (green), Bubbles (yellow), Big Heart (grey) and Brilliant (red and green.) They also now have different shapes due to the clothes they are wearing. Each week three million Jelly Babies are eaten and their sales are worth £14 million per year. Help & Advice We have leaflets, videos and access to a whole range of information (disabilities, benefits, general advice, etc.) Please contact us if you need information about a particular issue. We may be able to help. Basic First Aid Kits In previous editions we have mentioned the need to have a First Aid Kit in your home and have given ideas of what should be in the kit. However, it is a good idea, especially when you are travelling to have a small personal First Aid Kit with you. These can be purchased inexpensively from many chemists, e.g. Superdrug. Training We have become a society where, in many situations, paper qualifications, (i.e. certificates) are valued more than experience. The care field is no exception. Therefore we urge all Carers who have not accessed Manual Handling, First Aid or Food Hygiene training to contact us to make arrangements. Deaths It is with regret that we advise you of the deaths of the following clients. Thank you to all who cared for them. Mrs Green, Mrs Mason, Mrs Martin, Mr Godfrey, Mrs Hinkley and Paul Curtis. Interviews Interviews have taken place for carers in Colchester, Goole, Bournemouth and Plymouth. Special Thanks Our extra thanks are sent to Christine Heaps-Campbell and Josephine Hinchcliff for their help in difficult situations. Christmas Cover Once again we managed to provide 100% coverage over the Festive Season and our thanks go to all carers who worked during this period. Award We are pleased to announce that we have won an award. In recognition of the services we provide, the East Anglian Journal have presented us with their "Special Needs Care Award 2001." Personal Accident Insurance Through our membership of UKHCA, carers working with Able Community Care are able to take out an excellent Personal Accident Insurance. If you are not covered for Personal Accident or you would like further details, please telephone Michael Gill on 01603 281920. Next of Kin If we do not have a next of kin name and contact details, or you wish to change the details of the person you have nominated, please give us a call. This applies to all carers and clients where appropriate. And finally... "Money can’t buy you happiness but it does bring you a more pleasant form of misery" Spike Milligan. We would like to wish all our readers a Happy, Healthy, Peaceful and Prosperous New Year.
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