Community Care Magazine: Magazine for Elderly and Disabled: Issue 39

In 1980 the seed of Able Community Care was sown. The "flower" was called Able Domestic Employment Agency and slowly and surely it grew until 1990 when it became Able Community Care. Angela Gifford, the "gardener," still owns and manages the company, which from its offices near Norwich, provides care throughout England, Scotland, Wales and the Channel Islands. In 2005, we expect to provide in excess of two million hours of care.

The company has also diversified into other areas within the care industry. Able Personal Litigation Services are used by solicitors and Expert Witnesses as they cost for care in Personal Injury cases.

Cutlers Household Companions offers a live-in companionship only service and Relative Care Solutions is a company which provides information on care for people (e.g. sons, daughters, nieces and nephews) who live a long way (either in the UK or elsewhere in the world) from their elderly relatives.

The actual, practical, domestic and social care required has changed very little.

However, government legislation, local government specifications, regulations, EU legislation and directives have all added to the mountain of paperwork we have to read, understand and comply with.

This, in turn, leads us to produce more paperwork. Updates follow and the process starts all over again.

Regulations affecting the recruitment processes of care agencies (and other employers) are ongoing and an example of one document received, in November, from the Home Office gives guidance to help our recruitment staff. It is A4 size and 60 pages in length. This was described as a "summary" of the law.

The number of people wanting to be carers has decreased alarmingly in the last few years. Regulations affecting their right to work as carers has meant that many older people, who would make excellent carers, do not want the "hassle" attached and consequently, look for other work rather than apply to enter the care industry.

There have been some regulations, which have been beneficial to the care industry.

Enhanced Police Disclosures and inspection of care agencies by the Commission for Social Care Inspection, to name but two, have raised the standards of care provided.

The number of elderly people requiring care is continuing to rise. However, the number of care home beds and the numbers of carers are decreasing. Consequently, choice on how you are cared for has decreased accordingly.

In 1980 we may not have had everything "correct" but today, even with all the changes, it seems that we still have a long way to go. Unless some common sense decisions are taken, there will not be enough carers and agencies to care for the increasing number of people who will need care in the future.

We make no apology for mentioning con-men and bogus callers again, as in the past month one of our care staff has had first hand experience.

The client's doorbell was rung and a request was made to clear, for cash, the bluebell plants in the garden. (Presumably the ploy is that you would be paying cash for something you can't even see you are losing - bluebell plants in Autumn?) This scam did not work but the warning is - to beware.

Firstly, make sure, before you answer the door, that your safety chain is on and secondly just say "no" to anyone buying or selling anything at your door.

If you are advised that your roof needs tiles replacing, say "no." But if you are concerned ask a reputable, local builder to come and look.

Anything offered for sale at the door can be bought from alternative sources, so don't put yourself at risk. If you do come into contact with such people and can get a description or a car number, you can either tell the police or call Crime Stoppers (free phone number of 0800 555 111.)

This may prevent someone who is vulnerable, but not as safety conscious being caught by such people.

This is a new company we have come across which has a website and a phone helpline specifically for people suffering from pain.

They are not a clinic but a business that aims to sell products for pain relief. They offer customers advice on what appropriate products to buy thereby helping them not to waste their time and money ordering products that are not suitable.

Coincidently, the company is based in Norwich and is a partnership between a doctor and a nurse who have extensive experience in pain management. To contact telephone 01603 622511 or http://www.painexchange.co.uk

Children in Need

In November last year the office staff of Able Community Care supported The Children in Need Appeal. We ran a tombola, baked cakes, dressed down for the day and had a "guess the baby's name."

A generous delivery driver bought two sausage rolls and at the end of the afternoon we had raised a total of £110.00.

Have you received a telephone call advising you that you have won a holiday or another prize? If so you know that the caller then requests that you press 9 to hear further details.

If you press 9 you will be connected to a premium rate line that will cost approximately £20.00 per minute.

Putting the phone down immediately after pressing 9 will not cut you off and you will stay connected for approx. another five minutes with a bill of about £100.00.

Have nothing to do with these calls which are originating outside the UK. Under no circumstances give out information such as your post code, name or house number.

As the above calls come from outside of the UK, BT and other telephone companies are relatively powerless to act.

Another scam operating on mobile phones is the missed call. If the missed call number begins with 0709 do not phone back. If you do you will be charged at £50.00 per minute. Apparently, this operation is not an illegal act.

Eating too much salt significantly increases the risk of developing high blood pressure. This can lead to a stroke or heart disease.

The Food Standards Agency is running a campaign to discourage us from using too much salt in our food and from buying food with too high a salt content.

You can tell if a bought food product is high in salt by looking at the nutritional information on the packet. More than 1.25g per 100g is not healthy, whereas 0.25g or less is O.K.

Processed food contains salt, and accounts for 3/4 of the salt we eat. Processed foods include cereals, soups, biscuits and ready made meals. This does not mean that you cannot eat them, but do so in moderation.

The other way to cut down on salt is to reduce the amount you put on your food or into your food when cooking.

That in Europe, the French consume the highest amount of cheese per head, closely followed by the Greeks.

The UK is near the bottom of the list just above Spain and Portugal. In the UK we consume 9.8 kegs per head. (2000 figures - British Cheese Council)

Workers Playtime was a radio programme, which began in 1941. The show was broadcast from a factory canteen "somewhere in Britain."

The Government supported the programme because it felt that it was a much needed boost to the war effort at home. In fact, the Ministry of Labour chose which factory canteens the show would visit.

Ernest Bevan, the Minister of Labour, would appear on the show at times congratulating the workers and urging them on to make even greater efforts.

After the war finished the Government decided to continue the show to raise the morale of workers as the struggle to rebuild Britain and the economy began.

Many famous names appeared including Morecombe and Wise, Elsie and Doris Waters, Tony Hancock, Bob Monkhouse, Ann Shelton and Ken Dodd.

Many of our readers may remember listening to Workers Playtime whilst they had lunch as it was broadcast to the nation at 12.30p.m. three times a week.

The show ran for 23 years and always finished with the same four words "Good Luck all Workers."

Every British Citizen born on or before 2nd September 1929 is entitled to receive a free passport. This was announced by the then Home Secretary, David Blunkett, in recognition of the sacrifices made by World War Two veterans and civilians.

There are 4.5 million British Citizens who can now claim a free passport for life, so where do you want to go?

Cans are a fact of life and the majority of them are made of aluminium. The following facts are worth considering when you next put your can in a dustbin:

Many people, especially older people still use paraffin heaters. But unless they are used properly and sensibly they carry a high accident risk.

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Able Community Care
The Old Parish Rooms, Whitlingham Lane, Trowse,
Norwich, Norfolk NR14 8TZ, United Kingdom

Opening Hours: 9:00am - 4:00pm GMT, Monday to Friday
(excepting UK Bank Holidays)

Tel: +44 (0)1603 764567 | Fax: +44 (0)1603 761655 | Email: ablemg@aol.com

Community Care Magazine for Elderly and Disabled: GAZETTE No.39