When a patient is facing a terminal illness or an end-of-life journey, palliative care nurses become crucial for providing comfort, support, and a better quality of life.  Palliative care is often misunderstood, as it is a specialised, interdisciplinary form of care with a number of definitions. So in this blog, Four Oaks Healthcare is exploring the role of palliative care nurses and sharing what they do to help patients and their families during this challenging time.  Understanding Palliative Care First things first, let’s understand palliative care. This form of care focuses on en ..read more

The last few months have seen plenty of upheavals, confusion and concern over the subject of care staff and homes. Following record staff shortages, Britain made another record with the number of international nurses recruited in the last financial year. The trouble isn’t over, though, unfortunately, as approximately 10% of these new nurses are coming from “red-list” countries where active recruitment is discouraged. With the private care sector floundering in the newly added-to quagmire, private care is becoming increasingly valuable. In this blog, Four Oaks Healthcare is delving into the rec ..read more

As the winter comes to an end and the weather starts to warm up, we’re all eager to get outside a bit more and increase our activity. The days are lengthening, and greenery is spreading through trees, making spring a great time for seniors to get outdoors and engage in various activities that can improve their physical and mental health.  From gardening to spring cleaning, there are plenty of ways for seniors to enjoy the spring season while staying active and social. In this blog, Four Oaks Healthcare will explore some of the best spring activities for seniors that can help them stay hea ..read more

As our loved ones age, they may experience a range of emotional and behavioural changes that can be challenging to understand and manage. One such change may be emotional outbursts, aggressive behaviour and temper tantrums, which can be distressing for both the elderly person and their family members or caregivers.  Angry outbursts can be caused by a variety of factors, from medical conditions such as dementia to physical discomfort. Understanding the underlying causes of these outbursts is crucial for helping an ageing adult deal with their emotions so that they can lead a happier and he ..read more

All healthcare services have faced staffing shortages since the pandemic, which is alarming in itself. But now the situation is worsening, as care homes struggle severely to overcome staffing shortages. With some nursing homes even resorting to closures due to staff shortages, the situation is serious. In this blog, Four Oaks Healthcare explores this crisis and its effect on residents and those who can’t get a place in nursing homes. What are the Causes of the Care Home Staff Shortages? There are a number of causes for this staff shortage, but the main reasons are, unsurprisingly, wages and re ..read more

The care industry in the UK is facing serious staffing shortages and has been for years now. The COVID-19 pandemic caused huge waves worldwide, but the care industry was particularly hard-hit. One of the stand-out options for bridging the staffing gap is hiring international healthcare professionals. However, the issue with hiring outside of the UK is that the UK is no longer part of the EU. As such, foreign healthcare professionals require sponsorship to take up a position in UK care homes or as live-in carers. In this blog, Four Oaks Healthcare explores visa sponsorship as an option for fixi ..read more

It’s not easy to know what to say to someone grieving. You don’t want to say someone hurtful, superfluous or silly. Instead, you simply want to convey the message that you are sorry for their loss without sounding completely cliche and hollow. This is not a simple task, whether you know the person intimately or they are only a work colleague or acquaintance. So Four Oaks Healthcare has put together this guide on how to talk to someone grieving so that you can express your sympathies in a way that the recipient will appreciate. How to talk to someone in grief If someone has recently experienced ..read more

The cost-of-living crisis has been making headlines since 2021, and concerns are rising. With a number of factors affecting the lives and livelihoods of many UK citizens, this crisis’s reach is broad. The most affected, however, are the vulnerable of our society.  In this post, Four Oaks Healthcare explains what this crisis is, what caused it, and the impact it has on vulnerable people. Keep reading to find out how your loved ones might be affected. What is the UK cost-of-living crisis? The UK cost-of-living crisis is an ongoing situation in which the prices for many essential goods are i ..read more

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with a serious illness, there are three main types of care to consider. Supportive care, palliative care and hospice are the best available options for those who require a significant amount of care. In this post, Four Oaks Healthcare will delve into these three types of care and what you can expect from each.  Note: Here is a blog on the common types of senior care if you are more interested in finding care for an elderly loved one. Care types – Supportive, palliative, and hospice In the UK, three types of care are encouraged for those who are liv ..read more

With World Alzheimer’s Month just behind us, we’ve been thinking about the importance of this period of the year for all of those affected by Alzheimer’s Disease. This international event aims to raise awareness and change stigmas surrounding Alzheimer’s and dementia, and we want to help them do just that. In this post, Four Oaks Healthcare looks at the history of World Alzheimer’s Month, current global Alzheimer’s statistics, and some of the best fundraising activities that you can host or get involved in. What is World Alzheimer’s Month? Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI), the organisat ..read more