Home Care News

PLMR media relations agency is in the top 25 healthcare consultancies

26 Jul 2012

PLMR, public affairs and media relations agency, has appeared in PR Week’s ‘Top 25 Healthcare Consultancies’ table for the second year running. PLMR (Political Lobbying and Media Relations) achieved the second highest percentage.....

Give your views on minimum qualifications for care workers

26 Jul 2012

Skills for Care and Skills for Health are developing a code of conduct and minimum training standards for care workers and adult social workers and they are asking for people’s views. Skills for Care and Skills for Health have.....

Sevacare buys up Welsh home care provider Prompt Care

26 Jul 2012

Home care provider Sevacare has bought Prompt Care Ltd, which provides domiciliary care in Newport, Cardiff, Torfaen and Rhondda Cynon Taf. The acquisition takes Sevacare up to 40 branches and means the company will now be delivering.....

Chevin Housing Association strikes £23m deal with Willmott Dixon to build 200 extra care apartments

25 Jul 2012

Chevin Housing Association has struck a £23m deal with builders to build nearly 200 extra care apartments in Derbyshire. Chevin Housing Association is part of The Together Housing Group, which is Derbyshire County.....

Zurich Community Trust chooses Alzheimer's Society to be new national charity partner

24 Jul 2012

Zurich Community Trust, the charitable arm of Zurich, has chosen Alzheimer’s Society to be a national charity partner. The new three year partnership will start in September. Over 1,700 Zurich employees across the UK took part.....

North Yorkshire County Council appoints dementia champions to help improve quality of care

20 Jul 2012

North Yorkshire County Council has appointed dementia champions to help improve the quality of care and support for people living with the condition. Dementia Champions are trained to lead by example, model good practice and challenge.....

Mencap produces resource to ensure family carers are involved in important decision-making

20 Jul 2012

Learning disability charity, Mencap, has produced a practical resource to ensure parents and carers of people with profound and multiple learning disabilities are involved in all important decisions with their health. The Mental.....

Older People in the Media Awards 2012 open for nominations

19 Jul 2012

Care provider Barchester Healthcare and advice charity Independent Age have come together to create the Older People in the Media Awards, looking to recognise positive reporting of older people’s issues in the media, the best portrayals.....

New learning centre opens for care practitioners and nurses in the private care sector

19 Jul 2012

A new learning centre has opened at Pendine Park Care Organisation Ltd in Wrexham, Wales. The new learning centre for care workers and nurses in the private care sector was officially opened by Wrexham Assembly Member, Lesley Griffiths, who is also the.....

House of Lords committee to look at how ageing population will affect public services

19 Jul 2012

A new House of Lords committee is to look at how the ageing population will affect public services and examine the relationship between people and the state. The House of Lords Committee on the Impact of Demographic Change on Public.....

Towergate Patrick appointed as preferred insurance provider for leading homecare body

19 Jul 2012

Towergate Patrick has been appointed as the preferred insurance provider for the United Kingdom Homecare Association Ltd. Towergate has replaced Bluefin as United Kingdom Homecare Association Ltd (UKHCA’s) preferred insurance provider. Sue.....

Care providers embrace the goals of Safety in Care Awards 2012

18 Jul 2012

Although being conscious of negative media reporting on the care sector, national chair of NASHiCS (the National Association for Safety and Health in Care Services), Chris Jackson, insists that standards of health and safety across.....

Department of Health welcoming comment on draft Care and Support Bill

18 Jul 2012

The care sector has until 19 October to comment on the Coalition’s draft Care and Support Bill, published alongside the Care and Support White Paper last week, after the Department of Health yesterday launched a new website tool for.....

Carefound sees rising demand for home and dementia care provision

18 Jul 2012

Home care provider to the Harrogate, Ripon and Wetherby communities, Carefound, has completed a move into larger offices as a result of increasing demand for its services. The relocation into new offices, located at the Oakwood.....

Number of people with dementia prescribed antipsychotics drugs falls by a half

17 Jul 2012

The number of people with dementia being prescribed antipsychotics drugs has fallen by over a half, in the last three years. An audit carried out by the NHS Information Centre found antipsychotic prescriptions for people with dementia.....

Director of dementia care for Bupa to become honorary professor at Bradford University

17 Jul 2012

The director for dementia care for Bupa Care Services is to be made honorary professor in person-centred dementia care at Bradford University. Dr Graham Stokes, has been working in partnership with Bradford.....

Funeral Payment scheme proves it has become "too expensive for poor people to die"

16 Jul 2012

A joint report from Sun Life Direct and the University of Bath has found ‘Funeral Poverty’ in the UK to be at record levels, while claiming that the welfare state’s Funeral Payment scheme is failing to cope with the growing demand.....

Skills for Care and National Skills Academy for Social Care set to merge

13 Jul 2012

Skills for Care and National Skills Academy for Social Care are set to merge so they can “maximise the impact” of their “combined resources and expertise”. Skills for Care is a charity working with social care employers on workforce.....

Government proposes new adult safeguarding power

13 Jul 2012

The Government has proposed a new legal and policy framework to protect adults at risk of abuse and neglect. The new draft Care and Support Bill out this week includes a proposed duty on local authorities.....

Prize fund launched to reduce isolation and loneliness amongst older people

12 Jul 2012

A £50,000 prize fund has been made available to tackle the increasing problem of isolation amongst older people. Groups and organisations are being encouraged to put forward their ideas for the Ageing Well challenge which has been.....

Timeline of brain's descent into Alzheimer's, established in US study

12 Jul 2012

Scientists have evaluated a variety of pre-symptomatic markers of Alzheimer's disease in 128 subjects from families genetically predisposed to develop the disorder. Individuals in the study have a 50 per cent chance of inheriting.....

Online toolkit to help councils address loneliness in older age launched

12 Jul 2012

An online toolkit for local health organisations and councils to address loneliness in older age, has been launched by Minister for Care Services, Paul Burstow at an international research conference on loneliness. The conference.....

Pensioners forced to take out loans to pay for care, under plans in the White Paper

12 Jul 2012

The Government plans to offer pensioners state loans to pay for their care, according to a proposal in the White Paper. People who cannot afford to pay for their care, will be able to borrow money from their local authority under.....

Online dementia clinic supported by leading dementia charities

12 Jul 2012

An online dementia clinic is taking place from Wednesday 18th July to Wednesday 24th July, giving the opportunity for anyone worried about dementia to have their personal medical questions answered by a team of expert clinicians......

Anticipation of today's care White Paper

11 Jul 2012

The Government is due to release a White Paper today, (Wednesday 11th July) with its proposals to reform the social care system and also a report on options for the future of funding for social care. Anticipation.....

Draft Care and Support Bill puts "people at the centre of their own care"

11 Jul 2012

The Draft Care and Support Bill consolidates many different laws, replacing more than a dozen pieces of legislation to create a single modern statute for adult care and support. It aims to reform adult social care, to try and prevent.....

Keep up with the voices of the care sector as its leading figures react to today's Care and Support White Paper publication

11 Jul 2012

Today’s Care and Support White Paper was always going to be the subject of keen debate amongst care professionals, charities and organisations. Can the publication lead to major Government legislation and fulfil its objectives of.....

Less than half of over 55s exercise regularly, says Age UK on free gym open day

10 Jul 2012

Less than half of over 55s are doing the recommended 2.5 hours of exercise a week, with one in eight not doing any exercise at all, Age UK revealed today. However, three in ten would like to take part in more exercise which.....

Wales "already ahead of England" in assessing people's needs for care

10 Jul 2012

The Welsh Government is calling for a “system of paying for social care that is fair, affordable and sustainable” and says it is “already ahead of England” in terms of assessing need. With the Care and Support White Paper expected.....

Government's reluctance to address social care funding is a "bitter blow", says Anchor

10 Jul 2012

Care home provider, Anchor, has called the Government’s reluctance to act a “bitter blow”, after it revealed it will back a cap on people’s lifetime care costs but will not say how much or when. Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today.....

Government makes supported housing pledge ahead of White Paper publication

09 Jul 2012

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley has announced £200m of fresh funding, as part of a five-year plan to construct 6,000 supported living homes for older people, marking the week’s first major care-related announcement in the build-up.....

"Our care system is in crisis", says Shadow Minister for Care and Older People

09 Jul 2012

Labour’s Shadow Minister for Care and Older People, Liz Kendall MP, has responded to the UK Home Care Association’s report “Care is not a commodity”. The report stressed concerns on how home care services will maintain standards.....

89 per cent of public reject current social care system finds Care and Support Alliance

09 Jul 2012

Eighty-nine per cent of English adults believe that older and disabled people shouldn’t have to bear all the costs for support with everyday tasks such as eating, washing and dressing, even if they have a small amount of savings,.....

Home care improvement project launched in Staffordshire

09 Jul 2012

People who use home care services in Staffordshire are being encouraged to give their views and make recommendations for improving services. A free 24-hour hotline has been set up so residents receiving care in their own homes,.....

£5 million groundbreaking dementia service opens in Blackley

09 Jul 2012

A groundbreaking Manchester based dementia service opened in Blackley on 28th June. Professor Alistair Burns, the Department of Health’s national clinical director for dementia, officially opened ‘EachStep Blackley’, by declaring.....

Urgent action needed to protect the UK's home care capabilities

06 Jul 2012

The United Kingdom Home Care Association (UKHCA) has published a report containing the first conclusions of research on how local councils and trusts are currently commissioning home care services, which the organisation describes.....

Warwickshire County Council supports new company formed to help adults with a disability

05 Jul 2012

Adults with learning disabilities, in the Nuneaton and Bedworth areas, can now benefit from a new Community Hub designed specifically to suit their needs, while also being able to access the services of new company, Individual Support.....

Man with Alzheimer's handcuffed in ambulance - Alzheimer's Society comment

05 Jul 2012

has commented on a man with Alzheimer’s disease being handcuffed in an ambulance. The society says that an 84-year-old man with Alzheimer’s disease was handcuffed as he was taken to hospital in an ambulance,.....

Care Employer Award presented to domiciliary provider Sevacare

04 Jul 2012

Home care provider Sevacare’s healthy programme of expansion has been bolstered by the scoop of a prestigious national care award; having been presented with the Care Employer Award at the Great British Home Care Awards. Thought.....

National campaign for care workers strengthened by new sponsor

04 Jul 2012

UK charity the Care Professionals Benevolent Fund, dedicated to supporting the lives of care workers experiencing difficult times, has secured a new sponsor to assist with its new ‘Corporate Membership Campaign’. Purchasing solutions.....

First national survey on end of life care

04 Jul 2012

The quality of care received by people in the last three months of their life has been explored in a government survey for the first time. Hospice care is rated most positive in ground breaking survey published by the Office.....

Care Services minister supports APPG report on early dementia diagnosis

04 Jul 2012

Speaking at the launch of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Dementia’s report, Care Services minister Paul Burstow agrees that regional variation is a crucial issue to overcome in order to achieve more effective diagnosis of dementia.....

Council revamp announced for Maidenhead day services

04 Jul 2012

A cabinet meeting of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead local authority has resulted in a decision to make day services more accessible, with the council believing the current system can be improved to include free entry.....

Pensioner "Ping Pong" film set to tour care homes

03 Jul 2012

An inspirational documentary film is released this week following a group of pensioners as they compete in the over 80s category of the World Table Tennis Championships in Inner Mongolia. The film, “Ping Pong” will tour care.....

Telecare technology a social care priority in Hampshire

03 Jul 2012

Hampshire County Council has announced plans to expand on its current telecare capabilities once an innovative new business partner capable of maximising market potential has been secured. Not only does the council recognise that.....

Nursery chain MD speaks at Employers for Carers event

03 Jul 2012

Research from Carers UK has found that one in seven employees in any workplace is juggling paid work with care, and one in six carers gives up or reduces work to care. This has a considerable impact on business and employers.....

Big variations revealed in time taken to receive dementia diagnosis

03 Jul 2012

Big variations in the amount of time it takes to get diagnosed with dementia have been revealed today by an influential group of MPs and peers. A report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Dementia (APPG), found waiting.....

Birth of children is UK's happiest memory, Alzheimer's Society and care home group find

02 Jul 2012

The UK’s happiest memory is the birth of children or grandchildren, according to a new poll by Alzheimer’s Society and Bupa Care Homes. In second place came a came a holiday with 17 per cent, which was followed closely by.....

New research conducted into links with chronic stress and Alzheimer's

02 Jul 2012

Chronic stress and whether it is linked to Alzheimer’s is being investigated in a new Alzheimer’s Society funded research project. It is part of a £1.5 million package of six grants being given by fighting.....

Devon Carers helpline proving successful in reaching unpaid carers

02 Jul 2012

A 1.3m investment by Devon County Council into a helpline for carers in Devon has proven successful in supporting individuals in maintaining a healthy and normal life. More than 8,000 calls have been recorded over a period of eight.....