Home Care News
Social care is at the 'centre of a storm' as winter approaches, warns ADASS
19 Jul 2022
With over half (54 per cent) of adult social care directors saying they have overspent on social care budgets last year and with a predicted inflation rate rise of 11 per cent by the end of the year, a new report warns this will create.....
Nottinghamshire home care provider awarded 'outstanding' rating after first ever inspection
18 Jul 2022
Carefound Home Care (West Bridgford) where staff have “fantastic job satisfaction” and people are at the 'heart of the service' has been awarded an ‘outstanding’ rating by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) after its first inspection. The.....
Sister of autistic Elliot trapped in mental health hospital says 'he is scared and homesick'
15 Jul 2022
As the government pledges to halve the number of people with learning disabilities and autism in mental health hospitals by 2024, Rebecca Davis has revealed how she has been fighting for four years to get her brother released from.....
Elderly 'who refuse to embrace app culture' run risk of being cut off from vital services
14 Jul 2022
Huge numbers of older people run the risk of being cut off from society, as the NHS joins an increasing number of organisations using apps to manage and book vital services. From March 2023, people using.....
Home care worker tells MPs care work is 'not unskilled'
12 Jul 2022
A care worker told MPs in the House of Commons they need to ditch the perception that care work is unskilled, saying “it is simply not true”. Chevonne Baker, who works for Right at Home Basingstoke spoke.....
NHS cancer patients will be first to benefit from chemo drone deliveries
11 Jul 2022
NHS cancer patients will be the first in the world to benefit from chemotherapy delivered by drones as part of a new trial. The drones, which will be making their first flights in the coming weeks, will be.....
Boris Johnson makes Steve Barclay health and social care secretary, after Sajid Javid resigns
06 Jul 2022
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been accused of clinging on to power by his fingernails despite growing calls for him to step down - with the speedy promotion of Steve Barclay to the post of Secretary of State for Health and Social.....
Nurse starts home care business after struggle to get relatives home from hospital
05 Jul 2022
An NHS nurse for almost 27 years has left his job to launch a home care business in Scotland after the pandemic left him struggling to discharge his relatives from hospital. Georg Gottschlich is.....
New NHS and social care system 'has power to completely transform health and care'
01 Jul 2022
From blood pressure checks in betting shops to diabetes and weight management support in local sports clubs - these are just some of the initiatives being delivered by a new integrated care system. Forty-two.....
Care assistant who became deputy manager says 'I didn't think I would ever have such a wonderful job'
29 Jun 2022
In 2014, Melissa Dempster became a care assistant for Caremark. Now eight years later she is a deputy care manager and says: “I really love my job and when I come to work it’s like coming in to see my second family!” Caremark.....
Care Workers' Charity launches its updated Supporters Membership Programme
29 Jun 2022
The Care Workers’ Charity (CWC) has launched its updated Supporter Membership Programme for care workers who may need financial and support with their wellbeing. The CWC's Supporter Membership Programme supports.....
Bowel cancer campaigner Dame Deborah James dies aged 40
29 Jun 2022
Cancer campaigner, blogger, broadcaster and former deputy head teacher, Dame Deborah James, has died of cancer. Dame Deborah, a mother of two, was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2016, aged 35. She became.....
98% of councils in England say there is not enough money for social care
28 Jun 2022
Almost all councils (98 per cent) in England say the funding earmarked for the reforms is insufficient and will only "exacerbate" pre-existing pressures, according to a new survey. Of the £36 billion the.....
'Daredevil' care home resident leads sponsored motorbike ride around Inverclyde
27 Jun 2022
91-year-old Margaret Sneddon, who gained her black belt in Taekwondo at the age of 66, is continuing to live up to her reputation as a ‘daredevil’ by leading a sponsored motorbike ride around her hometown. The.....
Top home care reviews site now lets people receiving care leave reviews via social media
23 Jun 2022
The UK's top home care reviews site, homecare.co.uk, has launched a new service enabling home care companies to ask people receiving care and their family and friends to leave reviews of them via Facebook, Twitter and Whatsapp......
Baroness Greengross, campaigner for older people, dies leaving behind 'enormous legacy'
23 Jun 2022
Sally Greengross, who tirelessly challenged ageism and campaigned to improve attitudes and policies towards older people, has died, leaving behind an “enormous legacy”. Only a few days before she died, Baroness.....
Ethnic minority care staff more likely to be on zero hour contracts and in junior roles
23 Jun 2022
The leader of the Care Workers’ Charity has said poorer outcomes for ethnic minority staff working in social care, revealed by a new report, are "shocking but unfortunately not surprising". Evidence.....
Elderly and sick not offered pill boxes by Boots as pharmacists say they increase 'risk of a dispensing error'
22 Jun 2022
High street pharmacy Boots has told elderly and sick people they can no longer expect to get pill organisers, and many pharmacists back the move arguing the boxes increase the "risk of a dispensing error". Pharmacists.....
Care workers from abroad illegally charged thousands in recruitment fees
21 Jun 2022
Care workers arriving from abroad to work in care homes and in home care services are being charged thousands in illegal fees by recruitment agencies. It is illegal for recruitment agencies to charge job.....
Brit accused of murdering terminally-ill wife of 56 years has 'assisted suicide' charge rejected
16 Jun 2022
The trial of David Hunter, a British man detained in prison in Cyprus on murder charges, began on 16 June but his request to have the charge changed to ‘assisted suicide’ has been rejected. Last December,.....
Elder LGBT+ abuse: 'I'd get hit' and he'd return 'begging me to take him back'
15 Jun 2022
A new film designed to shine a spotlight on domestic abuse among older LGBT+ people has been created to coincide with World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. The six-minute film ‘Do you see me?’ shows two men and.....
Care chief calls for lessons to be learned after Norfolk 'care hotel' 'mismanaged' public funds
15 Jun 2022
Care England has called for lessons to be learned from a care hotel initiative which cost taxpayers £15,555 per care recipient during the Covid-19 pandemic. Norfolk and Waveney CCG pursued a three-month.....
A 229% leap in care assessment queries as people struggle to get help
14 Jun 2022
The number of enquiries about social care needs assessments has risen by 229 per cent in 2021/22 compared to 2019/20, according to a report by a charity which found councils are telling people they do not have to offer routine assessments......
Home care workers collectively spending extra £75m on fuel for work
13 Jun 2022
The UK’s home care sector is spending an extra £75m on petrol and diesel compared to a year ago, according to research by the Homecare Association. The home care sector’s collective spending on fuel is.....
New campaign launched to combat 'devastating' effects of ageism
10 Jun 2022
A new public campaign has been launched to help tackle the scourge of everyday ageism and widespread use of derogatory and harmful stereotypes which can affect everything from older people’s “confidence to their housing and pay.”.....
'Shameful' pandemic response sees £4bn of unusable PPE go up in smoke
10 Jun 2022
The government plans to burn £4bn of unusable PPE to generate power - a move that has been criticised by a spending watchdog as a “shameful” chapter in its 'haphazard' buying strategy. Unusable PPE will be.....
Mum who thought she had post natal depression diagnosed with rare form of dementia
09 Jun 2022
Thirty-four-year-old Holly Braithwaite first started showing symptoms of Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) in 2019 after giving birth to her daughter Alba, but it was initially thought to be post-natal depression or linked to a thyroid.....
Bluebird Care surprises 40 families with flowers for Carers Week
08 Jun 2022
Bluebird Care North Hampshire & West Berkshire, has surprised 40 of their clients’ loved ones with flowers, plants, and wine to recognise the care they deliver as part of Carers Week. For over four years.....
Two home care chiefs recognised in Queen's Birthday Honours list
08 Jun 2022
A managing director of Penrose Care who "fought hard for improving working conditions" in social care and a franchise owner of Home Instead, Durham who struggled to find “quality care” for her own mother have been honoured in the.....
Music for Dementia showcases services to support care workers during Carers Week
07 Jun 2022
To celebrate Carers Week 2022 which runs from 6-12 June, Music for Dementia is showcasing what services, help and support are available to care workers to "improve their own health and wellbeing." Research.....
Anchor's new chief executive Sarah Jones 'takes baton' as Jane Ashcroft steps down
07 Jun 2022
Anchor Hanover Group, the not-for-profit provider of housing and care for older people in England, has appointed Sarah Jones as its chief executive, following Jane Ashcroft’s decision to step down from the role. Anchor’s.....
Nearly half of home care providers warn care workers are leaving 'en masse' for better paid jobs
06 Jun 2022
Nearly 50 per cent of home care providers have reported their care workers are seeking alternative jobs due to loss of pay while isolating due to Covid-19 as well as requesting an increase in mileage rate due to soaring petrol costs,.....
Male care workers say stigma around men working in care 'is changing'
30 May 2022
A group of male home care workers in Mansfield is urging men to consider a career in care, saying the stigma around men working in care is changing. Nationally men make up around just 15 per cent of the frontline.....
Care staff told to ditch 'dehumanising' term 'service user'
30 May 2022
Pensioner Suzanne, aged 78, feels 'trapped' despite receiving care, according to the 360° Social Care debate - a report launched by over 60 care providers, care workers and those receiving care who are calling for the term 'service.....
Thousands to get new treatment on NHS for wet age-related macular degeneration
27 May 2022
Thousands of people in England will be able to get new treatment on the NHS for wet age-related macular degeneration or for diabetic macular oedema. NICE (National Institute of Health and Care Excellence).....
Chancellor announces £300 fuel payment for pensioners and £400 energy discount for all households
26 May 2022
Britons aged 65 and over are to be given an extra £300 winter fuel payment as part of the Chancellor’s cost of living rescue package. The extra £300 combined with the £400 energy bill discount for all households.....
Social care reform could cost more than government estimates, report warns
26 May 2022
The cost of government social care reforms could be £10bn higher than estimated and could create a further workforce crisis, a new report reveals. The report, Preparing for Reform, released by the County.....
Tale of two Johnsons: Care worker Andrea Johnson got on-the-spot lockdown fine while Boris Johnson partied
25 May 2022
A home care worker has revealed how she received an on-the-spot £200 fine for breaching lockdown rules and visiting a beauty spot after her shift, while parties 'that should not have been allowed to happen' held at Downing Street.....
'Extraordinary' older people to be honoured with Home Instead's Jubilee Purple Plaques
24 May 2022
The search is on to find older people who have been living extraordinary lives to award them one of 15 Purple Plaques, as part of home care provider Home Instead's campaign to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee......
Home Instead team to skydive from 10,000 ft in memory of colleague
20 May 2022
Nine members of staff at a home care provider in Oldham are planning to take a leap of faith from 10,000 ft in memory of a colleague who is “greatly” missed. Home Instead (Oldham & Saddleworth) are set to jump out of a plane.....
Dementia Action Week: Government announces 10-year plan to tackle dementia
19 May 2022
The Health Secretary Sajid Javid has announced a 10-year plan which will include a focus on “prevention” of dementia and committing £375 million into research on “neurodegenerative diseases” over the next five years. Speaking.....
Staff at 'outstanding' Bluebird Care are 'strong' and 'caring'
18 May 2022
Bluebird Care Winchester, Eastleigh & Romsey has achieved the “holy grail” of a five-star outstanding rating by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) where the employment of “strong caring nature of staff is clearly evident.” Bluebird Care Winchester, Eastleigh & Romsey.....
EXCLUSIVE: Sajid Javid meets care leaders to hear 'concerns' about social care funding
17 May 2022
The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Sajid Javid has met care leaders representing care homes and home care services for a “constructive discussion” and to “reassure them” in light of their concerns about funding for.....
Dementia killed more women than Covid in 2020 - new research reveals
17 May 2022
In 2020, 46,000 women died from dementia compared to 41,000 women who died in the same year from Covid-19, researchers reveal. According to Alzheimer’s Research UK, dementia became the leading cause of death.....
Freefall's 'one of the best things you can do legally' says skydiving man with cerebral palsy
17 May 2022
Mark Pike’s cerebral palsy diagnosis halted his ambition to join the British Army’s Parachute regiment but he finally got a ride in a parachute thanks to a skydive organised by his home care staff. Mark.....
Half a million people in England waiting for home care and 'situation is getting worse not better'
13 May 2022
Over half a million people in England are waiting for home care, an adult social care assessment, a review of their care or a direct payment to begin and the ‘the situation is getting worse not better’. The.....
Care workers pilot learning disability and autism training in Oliver's McGowan's memory
12 May 2022
Care workers and NHS staff have taken part in early trials of learning disability and autism training to help prevent more deaths like teenager Oliver McGowan, who died in 2016 after being given antipsychotic drugs by hospital staff......
Nearly half of over 65s say they prefer sex to gardening and seeing family
11 May 2022
Nearly half of people aged 65 and over say sex is their favourite activity followed by seeing family and gardening, according to new research by the charity Relate. The charity also found 62 per cent of over.....
Queen's Speech unveils mental health reform to end learning disability detentions
10 May 2022
Prince Charles stood in for his mother to read out the Queen’s Speech and announced a draft mental health reform bill to stop the detention of people solely because they have learning disabilities or autism. Campaigners.....
UK's top home care agencies in 2022 revealed by reviews site
10 May 2022
Nearly a million disabled and older people receive care at home so they can stay living independently in their own homes. This includes help with getting dressed, washed, preparing meals and drinks and administering medication. To.....