Nurses are not in all care homes – it depends on the type of care provided. However, if your loved one needs higher level care, provided by nurses in care homes, then it’s important that you understand which type of homes are appropriate. Furthermore, it’s important to identify how you can be sure the nurses in the care homes you look at are suitably qualified and a good fit for your loved one. Here we look in more detail at nurses in care homes and include a list of questions that you can ask about nursing care when visiting a home. Which types of care homes use nurses? Residential care for older people is split into some broad categories: Residential care In residential care you won’t find nurses in care homes, rather trained care staff. The care provided here supports personal care, as well as providing things such as meals and social activity. Nursing care In nursing care, this is where you will find nurses in care homes. There are care staff, as with residential care, but there are also nurses providing a higher level of care which we detail below. Dementia care Dementia care is a specialist form of […]

Both delirium and dementia can be confusing to onlookers, yet in some ways the two conditions can mirror or mimic each other. Furthermore, it’s very common for those with dementia to develop delirium if they become unwell, confusing the matter further. This is difficult for many reasons and can prevent the sufferer from getting the right support and help. Here we look at dementia vs delirium and explain the main differences so that you can understand and interpret the symptoms. Dementia vs delirium: causes of cognitive impairment Both dementia and delirium are types of cognitive impairment – the most common ones you are likely to see in older people. This means that they affect thought processes and the way a person understands and interacts with the world around them. When considering dementia vs delirium, it’s important to remember that both cause disordered cognition and this can make them difficult to tell apart. What is dementia? Dementia is a general term for a group of conditions which impair cognition, mainly in terms of memory. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia. Dementia is considered to be progressive and will ultimately significantly impair someone’s ability to manage daily activities. Unfortunately, […]

The Eastleigh Alpha’s (Sarah, Lou, Holly, Felicity & Helen) took part in Mission: Unbreakable this past weekend. All in an aid to raise funds for North Devon Hospice.

The next Dementia Action Week will run from 15-21 May 2023. We thought we’d get ahead of the game with the campaign, and also share some ways that you can help all of the time, as well as during Dementia Action Week itself. Read on to discover 8 ways you can help during Dementia Action Week and throughout the year. What is Dementia Action Week? Dementia Action Week is an awareness week run by the Alzheimer’s Society. Indeed, Dementia Action Week is the Alzheimer’s Society’s longest running and biggest campaign, where people are encouraged to act on dementia. The awareness week is important to raise awareness of dementia and what can be done to support those living with it, as well as those caring for them. Dementia Awareness Week has a huge impact. In fact, the Alzheimer’s Society reports a 43% increase in calls to their support line during the week. But we’d argue that its importance goes beyond the single week alone. Diagnosis was a focus for the 2022 campaign and we’re yet to learn of the focus for the 2023 week, but here are 8 things you can always do to help. Learn more We need more people […]

When you’re considering residential, nursing or dementia care for your loved one, it can be difficult to know which home is right and best. We always recommend visiting shortlisted homes to see for yourself which are most suitable, and to chat with the staff to get a good feel of how it will suit your loved one. However, it’s also useful to get an outside professional view. That’s where CQC reports for care homes come in. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) carries out inspections of care homes in England and then gives them an overall rating of Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement or Inadequate. The snapshot rating gives you a quick overview of a care home’s suitability, but CQC reports for care homes go into much more detail and so they are worth reading in full for your shortlisted choice of homes. Why are CQC reports for care homes important? The Care Quality Commission is England’s independent regulator for all care providers in England. This includes residential care homes but they also inspect places like hospitals and even GP surgeries. Their role is to check that providers are delivering high standards of care, specifically in terms of effectiveness, safety and compassion. […]

Dementia is a progressive condition. As such, there will come a point where it is no longer possible, safe or reliable for an individual to make a range of decisions concerning things such as their healthcare, care provision and finances. A lasting power of attorney enables someone else, usually a close family member, to make the decisions on the individual’s behalf and in their best interests. Let’s first explain a few important things about it, before we move onto how to get power of attorney for an elderly parent with dementia. What is a power of attorney? A lasting power of attorney (LPA) is the name of the legal document in England and Wales which appoints one (or sometimes more) people to be an individual’s ‘attorney’. The attorney can then make decisions on their behalf. These decisions should always be made in the person’s best interests. Two types of LPA exist: Health and welfare LPA This enables the attorney to make decisions around healthcare, care needs and treatment. Property and financial affairs LPA This enables the attorney to make decisions around financial accounts, buying and selling property, benefits and pensions. An individual can have both drawn up or just one. […]

When someone no longer has the mental capacity to make their own decisions about their health, care and financial affairs someone else needs to make them on their behalf. The best way for this to happen is via legal power of attorney (LPA). This is because the individual, while they still have mental capacity, can decide who they want to make the decisions and express their wishes in advance. Unfortunately, LPA isn’t always put in place in time. In this instance, someone can apply for deputyship to make decisions on behalf of the individual. Types of deputyship There are two broad types of deputyship: Personal welfare deputyship This enables the deputy to make decisions about healthcare, care and support etc. Financial and affairs deputyship This allows the deputy to do things like pay bills and make some financial decisions. Additionally, an emergency deputyship can be granted if there is immediate risk to the individual lacking mental capacity. Furthermore, interim orders can be granted to make decisions possible if an individual has already applied for deputyship and is awaiting it. Deputyship isn’t simply granted and evidence needs to be given, for example that there is family dispute over what is in […]

Yesterday (07/09) saw the coveted Eastleigh Care Homes Cup return!!!???? Following Raleigh Meads dominant display at the rounders last year, tensions were high with all the homes wanting to take the trophy home.

There are several types of dementia, the most common being Alzheimer’s disease. Another type of dementia is vascular dementia. It affects around 150,000 people in the UK and happens when blood flow to the brain is reduced, usually due to strokes or mini strokes. It occurs most commonly after age 65. Vascular dementia and mobility difficulties often go hand in hand. Vascular dementia is degenerative meaning it gets worse over time although it may be possible to slow progression and to better manage symptoms. Vascular dementia and mobility are often considered together because it’s believed that good mobility can help prevent and slow the disease, but also because the dementia itself can cause mobility problems. Here we explain more about vascular dementia and mobility including the types of physical symptoms that may occur, why they happen, and how to encourage greater mobility in those with vascular dementia. Vascular dementia and mobility symptoms There are multiple symptoms of vascular dementia, including better known concerns such as memory difficulties, problems with concentration and planning, and confusion. However, vascular dementia and mobility symptoms also often go hand in hand. Vascular dementia and mobility symptoms vary from person to person, because it depends what […]

What is deputyship? When someone is living with dementia, it becomes harder for them to make important decisions in later stages of the disease. As such, deputyship exists to allow someone else to make decisions on behalf of the person with dementia. It’s the approach used when the person with dementia has not previously appointed someone to have power of attorney. There are different forms of deputyship including personal welfare deputyship and financial and affairs deputyship. It is possible to apply for deputyship in an emergency, for example if there is immediate risk to the person with dementia and a decision needs to be made about medical care. It is also possible to apply for urgent ‘interim’ orders, for example if there are outstanding care home fees that need to be paid. For an interim order, you must already have begun applying for deputyship. Evidence of the need will be required. How to apply for deputyship Becoming a deputy on behalf of someone with dementia is a huge decision. There’s an application process which should be followed which involves applying to the Court of Protection and submitting detailed information about the individual living with dementia covering aspects such as finances, […]

A question loaded with concern that we often hear from loved ones and family carers is when should someone be offered palliative care? Here we answer that question and many related ones. What is palliative care? Often ‘when should someone be offered palliative care?’ is a question that comes on the back of misunderstandings. The biggest misunderstanding is what palliative care actually is. Palliative care isn’t just care for those who are dying. It is the support and care needed, both practically and emotionally, by those with terminal illness or a life-limiting condition. Palliative care isn’t time bound, it doesn’t ‘run out’, and can last for days, weeks, months or even years. When should someone be offered palliative care? Given that palliative care is the type of care needed by someone living with a life-limiting or terminal illness, it is often considered to be an intensive form of care. This should be offered to help manage pain and enable daily living as much as possible. As such, palliative care can start at any point that the individual or those caring for the individual determine it to be necessary. Where is palliative care provided? Again, many misconceptions surround how and where […]

If you care for another adult, such as an elderly or disabled parent, then you probably qualify for a carers’ assessment. This is to determine what support you may need from your local council in order to continue with the caregiving role. A carers’ assessment gives you a chance to record the impact of the caring role on your wellbeing – physically, mentally and emotionally. This can determine if you can continue caring with help or if another solution is needed, such as moving your loved one into a residential care home. Are you eligible? Any carer who feels they need support is entitled to a carers’ assessment from their local council. This is irrespective of how much care you give, or the type of care. It’s also not related to your financial means, and applies whether you are working or not. You may live with the person being cared for, or you may not. You can get a carers’ assessment even if your loved one hasn’t had a care needs assessment or if the local council has decided that they aren’t eligible for support. How do I get a carers’ assessment? You may be offered a carers’ assessment by […]