Home Care News
CQC pledges to strengthen regulation of community mental health services
29 Nov 2013
The regulator that inspects specialist services in the community which help vulnerable people has pledged to improve its approach to the recovery of people with mental health conditions. The Care Quality.....
CQC chief promises to keep identity of whistleblowers secret
28 Nov 2013
CQC chief executive, David Behan, has confirmed he will protect the identity of whistleblowers in the NHS. At a keynote address at the Hospital Directions 2013 conference, Care Quality Commission chief.....
Bupa helpline launched to simplify care options for older people
28 Nov 2013
A helpline has been launched by Bupa offering free information to all older people about their care options and advice about other age related issues. Care experts will be available seven days a week to offer guidance for people.....
Dementia song released as charity Christmas single
28 Nov 2013
A song written by pupils in Kent will be released as a charity single to raise awareness about dementia and loneliness in older people. Four pupils from Tunbridge Wells Girls Grammar School wrote the single.....
People aged 75 and over urged to claim their free TV licence
27 Nov 2013
TV Licensing and Independent Age are reminding anyone celebrating their 75th birthday in the next 12 months that they will be entitled to claim a free TV Licence. Anyone aged 75 or over is eligible for a.....
Energy firms criticised following steep rise in winter deaths
27 Nov 2013
The big six energy companies have been criticised in the wake of statistics, showing a 29 per cent rise in the number of deaths last winter, compared to the year before. Figures from the Office of National.....
End of life care improves with more dying at home than hospital
26 Nov 2013
Around 24,000 more people died at home or in care homes in 2012 compared to four years ago, showing a rise in the number of people who are dying in a place of their choice. The proportion of people dying.....
Home care group appeals to public to check on elderly during cold snap
26 Nov 2013
Caring Hands Group is calling on the public to check up on friends, relatives and neighbours during the cold winter months. It has also issued some key tips to the elderly on staying warm this winter. With.....
Free helpline for older people offers support and advice
26 Nov 2013
A free 24-hour dedicated helpline for older people across the UK has been launched by Esther Rantzen. ‘The Silverline’ aims to combat loneliness in the over-65s by providing friendship, information and.....
Pledge to value home care staff launched for National Carers Rights Day
25 Nov 2013
Radfield Home Care launched its Caring for Carers Pledge to mark National Carers Rights Day. The home care company based in the West Midlands provides a wide range of professional care services from palliative.....
A third of home care providers pay less than national minimum wage
25 Nov 2013
A third of home care providers investigated by HMRC have paid one or more of their workers less than the national minimum wage, according to a new report. HMRC’s report ‘National Minimum Wage compliance in.....
Councils set to be inundated with inquiries once £72,000 care cap is introduced
21 Nov 2013
Councils are set to be inundated with people asking to be assessed, once the £72,000 care cap is introduced, warns Partnership, specialist insurer of older people. Currently, just 19 per cent of people contact.....
Over half of British people racked with guilt about how little they visit their older relatives
21 Nov 2013
Over three-quarters of Britons feel that visiting their relative is a high priority, however just under a quarter rarely manage to do it, according to new research. The survey carried out by care provider Anchor found the British.....
CQC report shows all healthcare sectors feeling impact of increasing dementia care problems
21 Nov 2013
Poor dementia care and avoidable hospital admissions are the two key failings raised by the latest CQC ‘State of Care’ report. Results show social care services, hospitals and care homes alike are all affected by an increasing.....
Think tank calls for improvements in approach to immunisation for older people
20 Nov 2013
A new report urges a rethink of how the UK organises and promotes immunisation, advocating among a raft of suggestions, a greater role for pharmacies and a more active part to be played by GPs. Called ‘Immune’ Response, the report.....
Ex-chief of Four Seasons Health Care to become boss of Barchester care homes
20 Nov 2013
Dr Pete Calveley is joining Barchester Healthcare as its new chief executive. Dr Calveley has been chief executive of Four Seasons Health Care, which has 445 care homes, for the last six years. He is joining.....
Lifeline service connects with those who don't know where to turn for care
20 Nov 2013
Council-owned care provider has been successful in reaching out to older people in need of care advice, realising the need for a ‘signposting’ service to give service users and their families all the options. Launched.....
Forthcoming London debate on the impact of older people on society
19 Nov 2013
The contribution of older Londoners to their city will be the subject of a debate at London’s Older People's Assembly on Thursday, 21 November. Around 250 older Londoners are expected to attend the event.....
Hard hitting report calls for earlier diagnosis of dementia and faster 'co-ordinated care'
19 Nov 2013
Obtaining a diagnosis of dementia can bring a whole range of benefits to patients and their carers, according to a new report. The ‘Benefits of Timely Dementia Diagnosis’, due to be published at the annual.....
Health and social care PR agency PLMR scoops Consultancy of the Year award
18 Nov 2013
PLMR has won Consultancy of the Year at the Public Affairs News Awards 2013. PLMR managed to fend off stiff competition from Open Road and Bellenden and was named ‘Consultancy of the Year’, following a successful.....
IT graduates keeping senior Londoners independent
18 Nov 2013
A new business is making technology accessible for the digitally excluded in the UK by employing IT graduates to provide tuition in people’s own homes. Student@home has been created for people who require extra help with computer.....
GPs to become personally accountable for the health of older patients
15 Nov 2013
Jeremy Hunt made the announcement today that GPs will be the named practitioner responsible for older people’s personal care plans and said the change will improve long term pressures on A&E as well as improve.....
Lack of dementia training in intermediate care services failing older people
13 Nov 2013
Increased pressure to fill intermediate care services with people leaving hospital has left less capacity to help people avoid unnecessary hospitalisation, the second national audit of intermediate care has revealed. The audit,.....
Edinburgh researchers claim ageing population fears to be based on a false economy
13 Nov 2013
Caring for an ageing populace has been central to the Government’s Health and Social Care reforms, voted for last year and set to come into effect in 2015. Experts at Edinburgh University, however, now claim to have research that.....
NHS England mandate revamped to recognise dementia as a national priority
13 Nov 2013
The Department of Health has published the NHS Mandate for England for 2014-15 - which has been updated to recognise dementia as a national priority. The first Mandate between the Government and the NHS Commissioning.....
Department of Health publish interactive map of adult social services
13 Nov 2013
A new interactive online map has been released which allows people to compare the quality of adult services in their area to other parts of the country. People can select their local authority on the.....
Nearly half a million older people predicted to spend Christmas alone
12 Nov 2013
The amount of people over the age of 65 spending Christmas alone has reached 450,000, according to Age UK. New research from the charity has also shown nearly half a million older people feel the Christmas period has many sad memories.....
Louis Armstrong hit 'What a Wonderful World' is older people's top feel good song
12 Nov 2013
Louis Armstrong’s hit song ‘What a Wonderful World’ is the song that gives older people the greatest sense of wellbeing, according to a survey by Bupa Care Services. Louis Armstrong’s song came top of a 50-song.....
One-sixth of over 65’s hiding a serious illness or injury from relatives
12 Nov 2013
One in six people over the age 65 may have hidden a serious illness, injury or accident from people close to them in the past five years. Two thirds wanted to prevent loved ones from worrying and 12 per cent feared being seen.....
Pioneering Learning Disability Work Experience Week launched
11 Nov 2013
Learning disability charity Mencap has joined with Inclusive Employers to launch Britain’s first Learning Disability Work Experience Week starting today. Inclusive Employers members pledging to offer work.....
Support growing for a Telemedicine revolution in home care
11 Nov 2013
Imagine seeing your GP looking back at you from this very screen. Well, it turns out, this is no longer a far-fetched scenario, with healthcare providers compelled to find new ways of reducing costs and removing some of the obstacles.....
'We still haven't got it right for people with disabilities,' says Leonard Cheshire chief
11 Nov 2013
Clare Pelham took over the helm of Leonard Cheshire Disability three years ago. This year, she has thrust the disability charity well and truly into the spotlight with a campaign in October to put an end to 15-minute home care visits. She.....
Art therapy provides people with crucial outlet for the frustrations of dementia
11 Nov 2013
The potential of art therapy has been championed by attendees of a research project exploring the benefits of non-medical intervention for people with dementia. One year into the 18 month project,.....
British Geriatric Society welcomes new chief executive
11 Nov 2013
A professional body of specialists promoting the health of older people in the UK has welcomed Colin Nee as their new chief executive. The British Geriatrics Society (BGS) has over 2,750 members worldwide including doctors, nurses,.....
Care UK takes over responsibility of supported living services from Doncaster Council
07 Nov 2013
Care UK has been selected as Doncaster Council’s partner to run a learning disability service which supports adults in more than 40 houses across Doncaster. The service’s current 245 employees have transferred from the Rotherham.....
London home care provider raises carer pay
06 Nov 2013
Following Mayor of London Boris Johnson’s announcement of the new London Living Wage of £8.80/hour as part of Living Wage Week 2013, north London home care provider Penrose Care made this increase effective.....
Profile: 'I can’t think of any other job I would rather have', says CQC’s first chief inspector of adult social care
05 Nov 2013
Andrea Sutcliffe began her new job with a bang last month, hitting the headlines with the controversial announcement, that the Care Quality Commission is to explore the benefits and risks of installing hidden cameras in care homes. As.....
New drug may help prevent psychosis in people with Parkinson’s
04 Nov 2013
Medical researchers have announced a safer new drug for the treatment of disturbing psychological symptoms. A study published in the The Lancet reports that Pimavanserin is a potential new drug for the.....
'Be Safe' campaign warns of unregistered health and care workers
04 Nov 2013
Carers and older people are the target of a new campaign by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), who want to highlight the importance of making sure that a health and care professional is registered. The ‘Be Sure’ campaign.....
Integration Pioneers to lead the way for better joined up care
01 Nov 2013
Care and Support minister Norman Lamb has announced 14 pioneering initiatives which will lead the way in joining up health and social care throughout the country. Picked from 111 applications, the.....