Home Care News
Mediterranean diet could reduce memory problems later on in life
30 Apr 2013
A study has claimed that following a ‘Mediterranean diet’ can be linked with preserving cognitive function. Academics at the University of Alabama and University of Athens tested 17,478 people to see how closely they followed.....
Needs of elderly patients must not be forgotten, says dentists' leader
30 Apr 2013
The needs of elderly patients must not be forgotten as the development of a new dental contract in England continues, the leader of England’s high street dentists has warned. Speaking at the 2013 British.....
Secretary of State's controversial comments on wealthy pensioners' benefits criticised by Age UK
30 Apr 2013
UK charity Age UK has criticised the Secretary of State’s recent remarks about wealthier pensioners and their benefits, saying it fears less well-off pensioners will also feel obliged to hand them back. Iain Duncan Smith said.....
Director of research stands down from Alzheimer's Society
29 Apr 2013
Professor Clive Ballard is leaving his role as part-time director of research at Alzheimer’s Society. During his time as part of the charity’s management, the world leading dementia researcher played a key role in the successful.....
Secretary of State warns 'primary care system has become reactive when it needs to be proactive'
26 Apr 2013
Jeremy Hunt has called for the UK to have a proactive approach to care in his speech addressing the challenges facing the emergency care system in the UK. The British Medical Association has responded.....
carehome.co.uk and homecare.co.uk director raises thousands of pounds for care charity by running London Marathon
25 Apr 2013
A director of carehome.co.uk and homecare.co.uk put on his running shoes and completed the London Marathon in aid of the Care Professionals Benevolent Fund. Oli Blackwell raised £2,200 for the charity when.....
Mickey Payne Memorial Foundation aims to improve hospital experience of dementia patients with ‘Buddie’ scheme
25 Apr 2013
An initiative designed to improve the hospital experience of dementia patients, their families and carers is to be piloted in an Essex hospital. The Mickey Payne Memorial Foundation and South Essex Partnership.....
Best and worst UK cities for older people named
25 Apr 2013
Charity Friends of the Elderly have named Belfast as the UK’s top friendly city for older people, based on a survey of the qualities most important to adults over 60. Edinburgh came in at second place in the results, with Southampton.....
Ninety per cent of people are not saving adequately for their retirement funds
24 Apr 2013
Ninety per cent of people are not saving adequately for their retirement funds, according to an independent financial advisory firm. A report by deVere Group has shown that nine out of 10 of the working.....
Eastenders actor raises awareness of dementia by completing the London Marathon
24 Apr 2013
Eastenders bad boy Aykut Hilmi raised awareness of dementia when he ran the Virgin London Marathon in aid of the Alzheimer's Society on Sunday. It was the fifth marathon for the actor, who has also appeared.....
Spring Online campaign is set to give thousands their first taste of technology
23 Apr 2013
This week marks the start of one of the UK’s biggest digital inclusion campaigns of the year. More than seven million people have never been online in the UK, with 6.3 million of these over the age of.....
Tommy Whitelaw and his mission to collect life stories of dementia carers
23 Apr 2013
“I think everybody in this country should be allowed to live their life as close to a love story and as far away from a tragedy as possible.” Those were the words of Tommy Whitelaw when he spoke at the Alzheimer’s Show on 19 April.....
Care worker praised for saving elderly woman from gas-filled home
23 Apr 2013
A care worker has been awarded for potentially saving her client’s life during her routine morning calls. Heather Durham, who works for Bluebird Care, rescued Elizabeth Wright from her East Horsley home when.....
Ed Miliband to announce care homes should be run by NHS
22 Apr 2013
Labour leader Ed Miliband is poised to speak in Lancashire this afternoon on his party’s new vision on integrating health and social care services. Expanding upon the party’s Whole Person Care approach,.....
Labour launch NHS battle ahead of local elections
22 Apr 2013
Opposition leader Ed Miliband is looking to the NHS and the care sector as a platform for engaging with voters, in the run up to the local elections of May 2. Joined by shadow health minister Andy Burnham.....
GPs need the proper tools to test for dementia
19 Apr 2013
The computerised neuropsychological tests specialist, Cambridge Cognition, has claimed that in order for GPs to be able to meet NHS recommendations to test people more frequently for signs of dementia, GPs need to be given proper.....
Not a single council has signed up to Unison’s charter to improve standards of home care
18 Apr 2013
Unison launched its Ethical Home Care Charter to improve standards of home care in November and six months on, not a single local authority has signed up to it. Unison, the UK’s largest union, launched the.....
Health professionals to get more training on end of life care in Wales
18 Apr 2013
The Welsh Government has launched its ‘Delivering End of Life Care’ plan ensuring families and professionals work together to plan for the end of life and that people are well-supported, wherever they choose to die. The.....
The CQC announces its plan for the next three years will be 'focused on people'
18 Apr 2013
The Care Quality Commission has launched its three-year plan to improve the way it inspects and regulates care in the United Kingdom. Throughout the plans, the CQC has emphasised its commitment to patients.....
ADASS president promises adult social services will 'give people better lives than they have now'
17 Apr 2013
Sandie Keene, incoming president for the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services has spoken to audiences at the Association’s spring seminar. During her speech she urged social care departments to embrace the future,.....
New website launched to bring people with disabilities together
17 Apr 2013
A new website called Disability Book has been launched offering disability advice ranging from holidays for disabled people to disabled dating, plus a disability forum where people can share stories and experiences. Paul.....
Springfield Homecare Services acquires Positive Life Choices
17 Apr 2013
Homecare Services, part of Springfield Healthcare Group, has completed the acquisition of Positive Life Choices, a home care business based in Newcastle upon Tyne. Springfield Homecare, is one of the largest.....
Campaigning award for over 60s opens nominations
16 Apr 2013
A campaigning charity is looking to recognise the efforts of a passionate campaigner over the age of 60 through their 2013 Take Action award. The charity are looking for someone aged 60 or over who has campaigned to improve society.....
Mencap launches e-campaign calling on the Government to end care crisis
16 Apr 2013
The charity Royal Mencap Society has launched an e-campaign asking people to email the Government and urge them to find the money needed to end the care crisis. Recent welfare reforms have particularly affected.....
Scottish ministers appoint new Care Inspectorate chair
16 Apr 2013
Earlier today Scottish ministers appointed Paul Edie as chair of the Care Inspectorate. Mr Edie succeeds Professor Frank Clark CBE as chair of the body, which regulates and inspects care services and social.....
Three-quarters of care workers want to be regulated and renamed as 'nursing assistants'
16 Apr 2013
Over three-quarters of health care support workers want to be regulated and renamed as 'nursing assistants', according to a new survey. The survey carried out by the British Journal of Health Care Assistants.....
The Association of Directors of Adult Social Services appoints new president
15 Apr 2013
A new president has been appointed for the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services. Changes to senior positions at ADASS will be taking effect on 17 April 2013, at the association's annual general meeting held at Warwick.....
Annual report outlines performance of Luton Borough Council’s adult social care team
15 Apr 2013
Luton Borough Council has published a report outlining how its adult social care team performed over the past 12 months. The annual Adult Social Care ‘Local Account’ identifies where services are performing.....
Alzheimer’s Society hopes Thatcher’s death will help tackle stigma of dementia
15 Apr 2013
The Alzheimer’s Society is hoping the death of Margaret Thatcher will help raise the profile of dementia and help to tackle some of the stigma that surrounds it. Margaret Thatcher died last week at the age.....
Disabled tenants to fight bedroom tax in the High Court
15 Apr 2013
Disabled tenants have been granted a judicial review of the Government’s controversial decision to cut housing benefits to people with so called ‘surplus rooms’. The controversial bedroom tax, which came.....
Report calls for joined-up approach to assessing and treating dementia and hearing loss
15 Apr 2013
People with dementia and hearing problems are being failed by a lack of joined-up health and social care services, according to Action on Hearing Loss and University College London’s Deafness Cognition and.....
Behind the wheel with dementia, new clinical pathway to outline guidance
11 Apr 2013
A pair of Newcastle University scientists are looking to address the issue of adults in the early stages of dementia who still wish to drive, unveiling effective advice and guidelines for health professionals. Dr John-Paul Taylor.....
Shakespeare proved right after rosemary oil was found to boost memory
11 Apr 2013
It seems William Shakespeare was right all along, after a study revealed memory can be improved by the aroma of rosemary essential oil. Shakespeare, way back in the sixteenth century was aware of this.....
Gloucestershire conference addresses stigma of adults with learning disabilities as lazy and unemployable
10 Apr 2013
A recent conference on employment opportunities for adults with learning disabilities saw a warm response from local Gloucestershire businesses, with more than 120 turning up to support the event. Organised by Gloucestershire County.....
Alzheimer’s Society report reveals thousands of people living alone with dementia feel isolated
10 Apr 2013
The Alzheimer’s Society is urging commissioners to ensure support services are easy to access after research found that the majority of people living alone with dementia feel lonely. The charity’s ‘Dementia.....
Government strategy celebrates the difference nurses make to people with dementia
10 Apr 2013
The Department of Health has introduced a new nursing strategy which celebrates the unique contribution nurses make to the lives of people with dementia. ‘Making a Difference in Dementia’, which was launched.....
Care Quality Commission chief executive to speak about dementia care at the Alzheimer's Show
10 Apr 2013
The chief executive of Care Quality Commission will be one of the key speakers the Alzheimer’s Show next week. The event, which will be held at the Royal Horticultural Halls in London on 19 and 20 April,.....
Profile: founder of Carefound 'positive' about the future of the home care sector
09 Apr 2013
After developing an interest in the elderly care sector while working for a London-based company that invests in specialist businesses and noticing a gap in the market, Oliver Stirk decided to move back to North Yorkshire and establish.....
Innovative scheme enables tenants with learning disabilities to pay their own rent
09 Apr 2013
Dimensions, which supports people with learning disabilities and autism, has forged a partnership with United Welsh Housing Association in Wales enabling tenants with learning disabilities to be more independent and pay their own.....
Kent County Council initiative wants people to open their homes to those with dementia
08 Apr 2013
Kent County Council looking for people who are willing to open up their homes and care for people with dementia. The council wants paid carers to sign up to the initiative, which is an extension of its.....
Wales care regulatory body targets more effective data collection
08 Apr 2013
Older women living in their own homes are the most common victims of abuse in Wales, according to the latest research into adult protection monitoring. The ‘Adult Protection Monitoring Report 2010-12’ confirmed previous research.....
Adult abuse charity criticises Government's “very weak” proposals on the protection of vulnerable adults
08 Apr 2013
The chief executive of Action on Elder Abuse has written to the Government expressing his concern about “very weak” proposals on the protection of vulnerable adults. Gary FitzGerald wrote to health minister.....
Disability charity Scope pours scorn on Personal Independent Payments (PIP)
08 Apr 2013
As of today the Disability Living Allowance begins its exit from public life, giving way to the Coalition’s Personal Independence Payment (PIP) scheme based on face-to-face assessments to assess each individual’s route to an independent.....
Controversial reform of disability services in Glasgow includes plan to shut three day centres
05 Apr 2013
Glasgow Council’s executive committee has approved plans to reform services for disabled people, which have been described as having the potential to rapidly change services. The Public Social Partnership is one of the main aspects.....
Potential breakthrough in epilepsy research
05 Apr 2013
The Epilepsy Society has given a ‘cautious welcome’ to claims of a breakthrough in the development of drugs for treating epilepsy. University of Sheffield scientists believe that the discovery of 46 compounds with anticonvulsant.....
Over a thousand people with a learning disability die prematurely in NHS care every year
05 Apr 2013
Charity Mencap has launched a charter aimed at eliminating inequalities for disabled people, after research revealed 1,200 people with a learning disability die prematurely in NHS care every year. The charter.....
Care for the Family announces the UK's first Super Grandparent awards
04 Apr 2013
A UK charity has launched the first ever Super Grandparent Awards, and is calling on children and adults to send in their nominations for loved family members. The aim of the award is to highlight the importance that grandparents.....
Profile: Summercare has played a huge role in breaking down barriers to people with learning disabilities, says its founder
04 Apr 2013
Asif Raja founded SummerCare Ltd 15 years ago. In this short space of time, he has become an influential voice in the care sector and stacked up a host of awards recognising him as best employer and for care innovation. Dr.....
Charities call for all disabled adults to be exempt from the bedroom tax
04 Apr 2013
Leading charities are demanding that the Government consider exemptions for disabled adults in the bedroom tax that has been introduced this month. The controversial bedroom tax came into effect at the start.....
Qualifications and skills training play 'valuable role' in driving up standards of care
03 Apr 2013
When a support worker starts their new role, there are various backgrounds they might have come from to access this career. Whether through a Government apprenticeship scheme, voluntary work, NVQ qualifications,.....