THREE care home operators have come together to announce their commitment to creating more sustainable businesses on World Environment Day (June 5). Solehawk, Popular Care and Intobeige, which operate nine care homes in total, aim to minimise their environmental footprint while enhancing the well-being of residents, employees and local communities. They will achieve this by taking proactive steps including: Reduction in energy usage. Implementation of voltage optimisation programmes. LED lighting across all homes. Renewable and sustainable product adoption. Eco-certified electrical product in ..read more

AN OPEN day to celebrate the transformation of a Whitby nursing home has been hailed as a great success. Jubilee House threw open its doors to show off the results of a quarter of a million-pound investment programme. And its owners were thrilled at the response as visitors gathered at the home. They were able to see the changes that have taken place since the home was taken over by Saint Cecilia’s Care Group last year. Registered manager Tara Batra said: “The open day was a success beyond our wildest hopes. From 10am there was a constant stream of visitors. “During the open day we met some pe ..read more

STAFF at Craigielea care home in Gateshead marked Dementia Action Week with a series of activities, including a session that immersed them in the world of living with dementia. They were joined by family members for a Virtual Dementia Tour, provided by Training2Care.  It is a scientifically and medically proven method of giving a person with a healthy brain an experience of what dementia might be like, allowing them to enter the world of the person and understand what simple changes need to be made to really improve lives of people with dementia. The Tour helps people to have a far greate ..read more

CARE providers have welcomed new Labour promises on social care but urged the party to pledge “bold and total reform” before the next election. The Labour Party promised, amongst other measures, to work towards a national care service and to set up fair pay agreements for social care staff. It also said it would require all care providers to show financial sustainability, responsible tax practices and that they value their staff and deliver high quality care before they are allowed to register with the Care Quality Commission. Care provider organisation The Independent Care Group has given a c ..read more

WITH National Biscuit Day (May 29) approaching, care home operator New Care conducted a survey within its 14 homes asking residents all about biscuits.   The clear favourite with over 49 per cent of the vote was shortbread.  Second and third were a digestive and custard cream respectively. The least favourites included ginger nut and fig. Of those questioned, 51 per cent said two biscuits in one sitting was the perfect number, with one biscuit and three biscuits joint second.  Two thirds of those questioned did not like to dunk their biscuits, while 70 per cent enjoyed eati ..read more

RESIDENTS at RMBI Care Co. Home The Tithebarn, in Great Crosby have enjoyed a friendly visit from a wide range of exotic creatures, including a bearded dragon, an African spurred tortoise, a skunk and a fluffy rabbit to celebrate Mental Health Awareness Week. The residents were astonished and delighted to meet the animals, who were brought in by a specialist from Home Safari Animal Assisted Therapy, an organisation that promotes animal education and animal therapy. Residents had the opportunity to learn interesting facts about the animals’ habitats, diets and welfare.    Amber Chisle ..read more

RMBI Care Co. Home Queen Elizabeth Court in Llandudno residents Ken Bream and Norman Roberts enjoyed a  trip to see the North Wales mountains and the world’s famous Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Centre to mark Mental Health Awareness Week. Ken was a founding member of The Llandudno Mountain Rescue Team. It was set up to help people in distress on the Great Orme.  Unfortunately it no longer exists today, but Ken remembers vividly some of the mountain rescues that he and his team assisted in. Norman has visited and hiked many miles across the North Wales mountains including Yr Wy ..read more

MARIA Mallaband Care Group has paid tribute to the incredible work of its 750 qualified nurses – all of whom play an integral role in the care and wellbeing of those living in its homes across the UK.  May 12th marked the 49th annual International Nurses Day when nurses around the globe are celebrated for the incredible work they do in every nursing field. At MMCG every nurse was presented with a gift from the group, and each home was also invited to create special events and tributes for their own team of nurses.  There was an outpouring of appreciation, with homes organising presen ..read more

CARE home residents and team members have marked its nurses’ tireless work to support their wellbeing throughout the year at a presentation ceremony held in their honour.  Signature at Hendon Hall presented gifts and posted messages of support to mark the incredible work its nurses perform throughout the year, and the difference they make to its 39 residents as part of International Nurses’ Day.  Seven nurses working at Hendon Hall were presented with cupcakes, cards and gifts by colleagues and residents, who additionally signed a commemorative whiteboard as a token of their gra ..read more

A PODCAST and video exploring the skills of storytelling and listening, and how it can be used to connect with older people who have memory loss or are living with dementia, has been published by Royal Star & Garter. The charity teamed up with Narativ London to produce the learning tools, which were made following workshops and one-to-ones with staff and relatives. The podcast and video have been published as part of Dementia Action Week, which runs until Sunday. In the workshops, relatives were given innovative tips and skills on how to reconnect with their loved ones, and learned inventi ..read more