Tag: #Palliative care services

Home care in England: facts, emerging models & findings

1,751

Home care, commonly known as domiciliary care, is the front line of social responsibility. In 2015, more than 350,000 elderly in England used various home care services. Of these, 257,000 had their care expenses covered by their local authority while 76,300 young adults received publicly funded home care (Wittenberg and Hu, 2015).

Recently, a specific type of home care called, “condition lead care,” has become quite popular. Condition lead carers are carefully trained, with experience in dealing with dementia patients and others with chronic illnesses including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s. They have the respect, understanding and patience required in each case.

The literal context of home care refers to a wide range of activities. Within this, personal care (help with washing, dressing and eating) is the most typical one that people hire others to do. The care, subject to needs, is either long-term or short-term, and sometimes may extend to people receiving crisis intervention to avoid hospital in the first place. Apart from these, the condition lead care may include additional household tasks – such as mopping, and shopping.

Most Interesting Facts Ever

The United Kingdom Homecare Association (UKHCA) estimates that approximately 249 million hours are dedicated to home care in England each year. Home care is a customer-centric service that allows the people, especially the elderly, to stay healthy and independent in place, avoiding hospital when possible.

A critical component of care that responds to the priorities of those using it, home care offers help to people to remain socially engaged and to continue with their routine. This gives meaning to their lives: contributing within their family and their community. This way, patients don’t feel they are not a burden to society and their own families so that home carers can perform their role effectively.

Home care agencies hire 680,000 people (equivalent to the people employed in residential care), of which a large chunk are care workers (Skills for Care, 2018). The numbers today are far higher, yet the care sector struggles to recruit the number of staff it needs, with vacancies of around 110,000.Since 2010, English councils have had a £16 billion reduction in government grant funding, at a time when the population is increasingly ageing and disabled (Local Government Association, 2017).

Emerging Models of Home Care

New models of home care were extracted from a literature review and ten interviews with innovative providers and commissioners (Bennett et al., 2018). The paper laid out alternatives to traditional “time-and task,” models of delivering home care, and highlighted a range of emerging home care models:

  1. Coordinated care planning.
  2. Holistic approaches to recruitment in-home care, as well as values-based recruitment.
  3. Digital technology including assistive technology and in-home monitoring.
  4. Autonomous team working, the Buurtzorg model and wellbeing team.
  5. Alternatives to commissioning outcomes-based models, personalisation, personal budgets and integrated service funds and integrated care approaches.
  6. Community asset or connections models including community circles, family-based support and community living models including shared lives and homeshare.

The above give insights into key trends and challenges to form a narrative concerning the state of the home care market in England.

Findings

Maintaining an adequate workforce is one of the biggest challenges facing domiciliary care. Some interviews suggested the provider’s inability to recruit and retain enough staff in local domiciliary care markets, with a noted national provider reporting staff turnover rate as high as 48 per cent.

Care workers were more comfortable working indoors such as in residential homes or the NHS, due to extended security in contracted hours, less anti-social hours and related benefits. Not surprisingly, care at home is the need of today and tomorrow.

The Role of a Domiciliary Care Worker

2,227

Domiciliary care describes a range of services for an individual in their own home. Domiciliary care services include general household tasks in or outside the home, personal care and other necessary tasks to support the health of an individual. The domiciliary care worker takes charge of their client’s routine chores and helps them maintain their independence as much as possible.

Who needs this care?

Domiciliary care is for individuals who want to receive quality medical assistance while staying in their homes. These people could be at any stage in life with a medical condition such as disability, mental health problems, sensory impairment, etc. Whatever the situation, domiciliary care aims to ensure that a person living on their own receives quality medical care.  The rules apply to anyone eligible for personal care in their home. Each individual has unique needs which require customized care. A young child with a physical disability to an older adult with mobility difficulties – all can turn to domiciliary care services for their needs.

What does a domiciliary care worker do?

A domiciliary care worker also acts as a community care assistant and so both job titles are interchangeable, depending on the position. The work typically comprises of helping the client with routine tasks, and occasionally taking them to their doctors’ appointments. Additionally, a domiciliary care worker works day and night to assist clients who require care for 24 hours.

Domiciliary care services may vary as the worker might be assisting a mobile client, who due to dementia, needs help with cooking and cleaning. However, the right domiciliary care workers provide extensive personal care. They assist in washing and dressing, cleaning and cooking. If you or anyone requires an assistant with a friendly approach and multiple capabilities, a domiciliary care worker is a perfect choice. They work with you to maintain your quality of life and independence regardless of the challenges they face. Looking for domiciliary carers in Birmingham? We are here at Care4U.

Key role of a domiciliary worker

As a domiciliary carer, you don’t need to administer medication or provide direct patient care to a client unless you’re trained to do so. You are only helping with daily individual needs.

Who can become a domiciliary worker?

This isn’t rocket science. To be a domiciliary care worker, you need to have a real interest in helping people, and that’s it. You must be kind, sympathetic, friendly and patient for the range of difficulties you may face while looking after an individual. The role of a domiciliary carer is to make it easier for people to stay independent whenever possible, and promote their wellbeing at the same time.

Even if you don’t have experience at all in social care, you can get a domiciliary care worker’s job. As the ageing population of the UK increases, genuine opportunities abound for people who’ve never worked in social care. People get into domiciliary care roles because of the thought of helping people. Also, home domiciliary care services offer a gratifying career.

How to get started in domiciliary care

Anyone with love for patient care can apply for domiciliary carer’s job. Below are the most imperative qualities of a domiciliary care worker:

  • Genuine compassion and earnest desire to help people
  • Patience in both words and actions
  • Punctual and able to manage workload
  • Excellent communication skills
  • Ability to give high-quality care
  • Ability to advocate for the client you’re providing care for

The motto of domiciliary carer is “Dignity is a critical part of a person’s wellbeing and care must be delivered with respect and a caring attitude at all times.”

5 Benefits of Working in Healthcare Will Shock You

1,646

Maybe you’re not considering a career in healthcare, but if that’s the case, you’re keeping yourself from a career with great benefits. There is a vast array of golden opportunities for people with backgrounds and interest in healthcare. Even people who faint at the sight of blood but want to pursue a career in healthcare can work as an administrative specialist or other positions. Although healthcare and medical jobs can be extremely stressful, they’re far more rewarding than many other occupations.

Even if you’re not ready to have career in this sector, take a look at the benefits it offers, as listed below.

  1. Job stability

As long as a population exists, there is a dire need for qualified doctors and trained healthcare staff. This is one reason why there are numerous job opportunities in every field of healthcare. Whether you’re living in Bradford or Southampton, you will find a healthcare job that matches your interest and qualifications.

  1. No roles are underrated

Contrary to mainstream belief that you need to be well-qualified to get started in healthcare, even a candidate with a less than perfect CV could get employed in the healthcare system. There are healthcare  positions available for individuals with less experience. It’s up to you whether you want to specialize in a medical field or learn first-aid skills to make your way into the healthcare system.

  1. Fastest growing industry

Fields within the healthcare industry ensure phenomenal job growth. The NHS is the fifth largest employer in the world, with nearly 1.7 million workers across the UK, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland – eliminating positions in private health sectors. It is also reported that the UK’s population in the next 25 years might increase by 10 million. Keeping these facts in mind, you can grow throughout in this career.

Note:
 Since the demand for employees is high in the healthcare sector, many employers help staff continue to grow in their specialty by providing extra training and personal development opportunities. This help healthcare employees branch out and increase their knowledge and experience.

  1. Fast-paced environment

Healthcare is one of those environments where there’s never a dull day. It’s often packed with challenges. But a good point is that it offers you the privilege to connect with people from all walks of life. By looking after individual problems, you gain a sense of diversity that other jobs may not provide you. Teamwork is a critical part of the job, and so you’ll be working towards a common goal with your colleagues.

  1. A positive impact every single day

Regardless of your role in this industry, everything ends on one note: helping people. Following a medical path allows you to fulfill your dream of helping the sick and earning a good living at the same time. For instance, if you’d like to provide live-in care in Birmingham, it will require you to stay full-time with the patient, and personalize your services. But, if your primary goal is to help someone cope with anxiety, serving as an Occupational Therapist would be a good idea.

  1. High salary and benefits

The healthcare system offers the best paying jobs, paired with a large number of benefits. If you work for the NHS, the benefits you’ll enjoy include one of the UK’s best pension plans, pay increments to reward overtime working hours, and/or an annual personal development review to support your career objectives. Based on your job title, you can enjoy bonuses like a generous holiday allowance, and flexible working hours.

Important: Doctors employed at hospitals may earn more money than employees at smaller medical clinics. But employees in supervisory, managerial or administrative positions may earn more than other healthcare workers.

What’s next?

Get started with a medical career. If you need specific information related to healthcare, let us know. We’ll try to cover it in our next article.

Learn Everything about Respite Care

1,543

Respite care is a term for a temporary break for primary caregivers. It’s a full-time job to care for someone sick or disabled at home. You don’t get time to take care of your own needs. That’s where respite care comes in. It is provided at:

 

  • Home,
  • Healthcare facility or
  • Specialised centers that offer overnight stays

Depending on how long of a break the caregiver is taking, respite care can last a few hours, a day, several days or several weeks.

Who Qualifies for Respite Care?

Anybody who has an illness or disability may need 24-hour care. Caregivers, when looking after the sick or disabled may need time to rest, relax, shop, work, or go off on vacation.

You may need respite care if you’re in charge of someone suffering from:

  • Alzheimer’s disease or dementia
  • Brain injury or stroke
  • Cancer
  • Blindness

In other words, a caregiver may use respite care services if they have anyone at home with a physical or mental disability or, unfortunately both.

Respite Care Services

Respite care facilitators provide comprehensive medical care to your loved one in your absence. Qualified physicians and trained staff may help your loved one with:

  • Eating, drinking
  • Bathing
  • Dressing
  • Medication management
  • Supervised outings
  • Exercise
  • Getting in and out of bed

 

This is not all. Some respite caregivers can take your loved one to their medical appointments, for bill payment and shopping.

Types of Respite Care

In general, there are three kinds of respite care: live-in, adult day-care centers or programs, and dedicated respite care facilities. Caregivers gain a solution with respite care that ensures the well-being of their loved one. It’s sometimes needed in an emergency to prevent the exacerbation of a situation. It’s when emergencies strike and a primary caregiver cannot provide care for some reason that emergency respite becomes a priceless resource. Take a look at the three types of respite care in detail:

  1. Live-in care

If you want your loved one to be taken care of in your presence, no problem, respite care can come to you. Live-in or in-home respite care providers look after the sick through services such as companionship, personal care including bathing, dressing, eating, and take medications. Some respite care providers also do laundry, make beds, and/or prepare meals; this is rare, however. Caregivers can turn to home-focused respite services through a public health nursing agency, the social service sector, a private nonprofit agency, and/or a private homemaker service.

  1. Adult day-care centers

Adult-based healthcare centres have been providing respite care services for decades. You can bring your loved one to one of these centres for a few hours or the whole day. These centres give caregivers a breathing space while providing their patient health services, therapeutic services, chronic illness treatment, and social activities for people with Alzheimer’s disease. Some adult day centers may offer meditation and music classes or meal supervised by trained staff.

  1. Respite care facilities

This type of respite care offers short-term stays at assisted living facilities. Short stay assisted living gives the caregiver a respite for as long as they want, while looking after their loved one in a safe, comfortable environment. The trained staff ensures day and night care by helping your loved one dress, bathe, take medications or meals on scheduled time. Respite care is called residential respite care when some facilities are community residences including group homes, nursing homes, private apartments and state-owned facilities. Facilities such as these may offer respite care for overnight, weekend or extended stays.

Costs

Typically, respite care providers charge by the hour or by the number of days or weeks for which they are providing services. The cost of respite care is contingent on the type of agency, the service that’s requested, and how long you need it. Most insurance policies do not cover this type of care; however, some long-term insurance plans may cover it. Check with your insurer to determine your out-of-pocket costs or state’s developmental disabilities agency to find out what’s available. 

Where to Find Respite Care?

Care4U makes things easy for primary caregivers who need rest by watching over their loved one. We provide Birmingham respite care and support for people with complex needs in the comfort of their own homes.

Dear Care Warriors: You Need to Care For You Too

2,315

“You have got to take care of yourself because no one else will.”

What does it actually mean? Well, for the majority, the meaning is restricted to simply healthy eating habits, physical fitness, and an overall lifestyle that benefits their health.

But this carries an entirely different meaning for the ones who care for patients of dementia. I refer to them as the “care warriors.” They are perpetually in an “on-go” mode. They don’t take breaks to go to the gym or exercise. They schedule no time for simply relaxing, and there are no days off. Along with the patients, these brave warriors are in a continuous fight with the illness. And this battle of theirs goes on for 7 days a week, 24 hours a day non-stop. Just to try to provide the best care possible to their close ones. However, no one else will take care of these caregivers if they don’t take care of themselves first.

Catch-22, that’s what you usually call this situation. Let’s suppose you do leave your loved one for some time to look after your own wellbeing, both physical and mental, but the question is in whose hands are you going to leave them in? It definitely has to be a person who is understanding of your loved one’s or the patient’s disease and their peculiarities— what do they fear, what do they dislike and like. In the majority of cases, the dropping by of a close relative or a family friend doesn’t necessarily work. Also, dementia can make all your well-structured and well-laid out plans fall apart in a matter of minutes. The person might not be recognisable to the patient they’re providing care for. The patient may become unresponsive and even afraid of this person, and that’s not ideal.

But is there a sure way to know? With a nonverbal patient, how can you know that they don’t mind being left to someone else’s care? For our care warriors and the families afflicted with dementia, this seems to be a never-ending battle.

It is easier said than done when we tell someone “you gotta take care of yourself because no one else is going to”. Providing care to a dementia patient is not similar to caring for any other condition. In the later stages of dementia, this is especially true. The pettiest of stuff can tick them off. The stress arising from this could persist for many hours or days.

So does this dilemma have an answer? Indeed it does, you need to take care of yourself. Maybe you could try to separate yourself from the feelings and emotions that are attached to putting your loved one’s care in someone else’s hands. Try and see how that works for you. If you realise that you have been stressed in the past, try to take a day off from everything and focus on your own wellbeing and not worry about your patient. It’s not going to work.

 

This is the sole reason that the death rate is so high amongst the caretakers of dementia patients. This illness affects not just the patient but also everyone around them. I wish there was a definite answer, and I had it. My family will perhaps deal with this same situation someday. Every member of the family, every caregiver will. Self-care should remain a priority; still, that is the best answer I could come up with. If due to the strain of providing round-the-clock care, the primary caregiver gets sick then the patient is left alone with really no free will to decide or have a say in what is going to happen to them. So it is wise, therefore, to let a professional caregiver relieve you of your care giving duties for a while. Care for you can help you help your loved ones in their daily struggle with dementia.

The reaction of your loved one to a new caretaker is something you will just have adjust to. Perhaps they will be stressed, afraid, or rude to whoever is present with them, but it will affect both of you in the long haul if you go with the alternative of never taking a break from it all. If you neglect yourself for long enough, it is going to affect your concerned patient too. Dementia patients get placed in facilities if their primary caretaker dies. Who will speak for them and be their advocate then? Who then will make sure that they get high-quality care at all times?

Caregiving can be lethal. It happens quite often than you may think because, at the end of the day, warriors are what they are: warriors. Most of them will run themselves dry while they try to meet the needs of their loved ones. This is why caregivers need to take care of themselves too while they still can, no matter the cost or circumstance.

Helping Hands in Birmingham from One stop care solution can help you better care for your loved ones while you give some time to yourself. We will make sure every need of your loved one is taken care of without it taking a toll on your health.

Palliative Care Services and What They Involve

1,566

Palliative care or end of life care is providing support to the people who are at the end of their lives, somewhere between the last months or last years.

 

Palliative care will help you elongate your life for as much as possible and to pass on with grace. The providers of this care should inquire about your preferences and wishes and then work with you to incorporate them into your care plan. They should also be fully supportive of your family members and any previous caregivers or anyone dear to you.

 

Everyone, including you, reserve the right to decide where you die when the time comes and to express your wishes as to where you want to receive your end of life care. There are many options available, and depending on your wishes, you can receive palliative care at home, or care homes, or a hospital as well.

 

No matter where they’re being cared for, people who are approaching the end of their life-cycle are entitled to absolutely high-quality care.

 

What is Palliative Care?

End of life care and palliative care are two sides of the same coin. If you are afflicted with an incurable illness, palliative care ensures you as much comfort as possible by effective pain management and reducing other distressing symptoms. This care also includes psychological, spiritual, and social support for your family and carers. It is sometimes referred to as a holistic approach to care, as it sees and treats you as “whole” and not just your illness or symptoms of your illness.

 

Palliative care services are not only restricted to just the end of life, no. You may also receive palliative care earlier in your disease, along with any other therapies being used for the treatment of your condition.

Who Provides Palliative Care?

Various social care and health professionals can be involved in providing your end of life care, depending on your needs and desires. For instance, community nurses, hospital nurses and doctors, your GP, and counsellors may be involved along with physiotherapists, social workers, clergymen (of all faiths or none), and occupational therapists.

 

However, if you decide to go with live-in care in Birmingham at home, your GP will be bearing the sole responsibility of your care. Apart from this, some community nurses might visit you from time to time, and of course, your close family members and friends will be involved in your care too.

When does Palliative Care Begin?

The end of life care can start whenever you want or need it to and can last from a few days to a few months or even a few years.

 

Different people in different circumstances can gain benefits from palliative care. Some people may be expected to die within some hours of their care while others may have care benefits over a period of many months.

 

Individuals who are likely to die within the next 12 months are considered to be reaching the end of their lives, though these predictions are not always accurate or sometimes even possible to make. This includes people whose death is impending and also people who:

  • have cancer, dementia, motor neuron disease or any other advanced incurable illness of the like
  • are usually fragile or weak and have accompanying illnesses that mean they are likely to pass on within 12 months or so
  • Are at risk of dying from an emergency because they have pre-existing conditions
  • Have a serious life-threatening condition caused by a sudden calamity such as an accident or stroke

Some note-worthy guidelines on the care of dying adults in their last days of life have been published by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. The guidance provides information on managing the common symptoms, and also how to show respect to the dying person, their family, and carers.

How To Find Out About The Palliative Care Services In My Area?

If you’re reaching the end of the line or are the caregiver of someone who is approaching the end of their life and want to know more about the available resources for care and support, then your first move should be to talk to your General practitioner or call your health professionals.It is a part of their jobs to make you aware of the locally available services. You can ask them about all kinds of services and the help you need. For example, they might be able to tell you about some special night-time services. You can also look up and search for particular types of services near you, such as live-in care in Birmingham.

Elderly Home Care and Family Disputes

2,634

When faced with decisions about care for their elderly parents, siblings often argue amongst each other. In this blog, we discuss some of the most typical issues siblings fight about and advise on how to approach them better.

Disagreement about how much care is needed

Siblings, especially adult ones, don’t see eye to eye when it comes to caregiving. For instance, one child may think that their parents are doing completely fine at home, while another child might have the impression that they require extra help. This is more prevalent in a family whose members live geographically far away or spend varying amounts of their time with elderly loved ones.

Solution: Consult an expert

This issue can be easily and quickly resolved with an outsider’s opinion. You can arrange for a geriatric care manager that can come to your loved ones’ house for a safety assessment. Moreover, you should see your parent’s general physician and talk about their recent decline in health and growing physical difficulties.

Arguments between siblings about how much care is needed can be prevented if there is a clarification from a professional health care provider. This can also help in determining the next steps regarding your loved one’s health.

Solution: Do research on personal home care

Whence the care needs are agreed upon and established, the next move is to decide who is going to provide the care. A good choice could be a senior living community, and if you think so, then there are some senior living advisors you can consult. They have due experience in matching elderly needs and preferences with communities across the UK.

If it is decided upon that your parents or loved one will stay at home, then all siblings can pitch in and help ranging from regular visits and financial assistance. If anyone of you considers taking on caregiving full-time, read some blogs on the duties of a caregiver to better grasp the role and its requirements.

Heavy lifting is done by only one child

The child has the most intense emotional relationship with their ageing parents, or happens to live nearby will automatically assume the primary role of the caregiver. At times, the main caregiver can feel alone, overwhelmed, and depressed when other members of the family don’t offer to help.

Solution: Ask for help and communicate your needs

It may not be obvious to members of the family just how challenging the task of caregiving has become for you, if you keep them at a distance. Although your role as a chief caregiver becomes inevitable sometimes, due to certain family dynamics.

 

If you and the siblings have never had an intimate relationship with your parent or all your siblings live far away, they might be unable to provide real-life support. Find ways and suggest how they can help from afar. This can include things like scheduling appointments, taking care of finances, preparing meals, or just being there emotionally.

Exclusion from the decision-making process

Often, one kid hogs all the caregiving responsibilities and leaves others in the dark about their elderly parents. They may even limit access to the ageing loved one.

Solution: Consult with the authorities if need be, talk to your siblings and parents

Communicate to your siblings about your wish to get involved in caregiving via email, hand-written letters, or even a phone call, if possible. However, if you and the caregiving sibling are not on good terms then, try to maintain communication with your loved one through phone, letters, or emails.Nevertheless, if your sibling is acting as a barrier and preventing you from seeing your parents, and you believe that there may be involvement of abuse or exploitation, call the local police or adult protective services so they can intervene.

Siblings refuse to get involved

Siblings, sometimes, may not be able to understand what their parent needs or simply choose to ignore what they need. Other times, however, children can refuse to take care of an ageing parent, due in part to dysfunctional or negative relationships of the past or their current incapacity to do so.

Solution: Understand the difference in point of views and opinions

If you think that your siblings just might not be aware of the efforts you put in and have reason to believe so then try setting up video calls or small visits or get help from a doctor to better explain the gravity of the situation.It could be that your siblings are reluctant to help due to childhood trauma or their current situation, and they are allowed to do so. Look for ways to get them involved differently like see if they are willing to help with finances, or with emotional backup, even if they refuse to interact with elderly parents.Care at home services can help make this transition easier for you and your parents. You can trust their experienced caregivers to provide your loved ones with diligent care for their varying needs.

The Importance of Respite Care in Birmingham

1,416

The word “Respite Care” is one that is frequently misunderstood. Most people associate it with selfishness and frivolity. It is greatly underestimated by those not having a proper understanding of the word, and for the ones who know its meaning and use it, they can’t seem to live without it. You may ask “Why is respite care important?” but to answer this question, we must take a look at its definition first.

How do you describe Respite Care?

Respite care is basically a service that helps family caregivers by giving interim care for an elderly loved one that requires assistance. The family caregiver can be relieved of his or her duties temporarily so that he or she can rest and recharge.

This temporary care can last up to an hour to a number of weeks. Respite care can be administered as a one-time thing for a special occasion or on a day-to-day basis as caregiving support. Commonly, respite care is given for those with terminal diseases, chronic illnesses, disabilities, or an ageing loved one.

Does Respite Care have Importance?

According to research, individuals who act as caregivers for family members are more prone to stress-related health conditions like depression. Another study reveals that family caregivers are twice as likely to suffer a chronic disease than their non-caregiver counterparts and that providing care can take as much as ten years off of the concerned caregivers’ life.

Respite care should be thought of as a necessary component of a caregiver program rather than being considered a luxury. It is recommended that you schedule regular respites and don’t wait till the moment you’re on the edge of burnout. The benefits can be reaped by not just the caregiver but also the patient being cared for.

How Respite Care Benefits the Caregiver:

  • Allows a chance for the caregivers to rest and restore so they can come back to their duties as a caregiver with a refreshed mind and body
  • Alleviates the stress from caregiving responsibilities
  • Strengthens the immune system of the caregiver as it gives their body, mind, and soul of a really needed break
  • Boosts the patience level of the family caregiver
  • Brings back the lost energy of the caregiver
  • Helps the caregiver find balance in their life and focus on attending to their responsibilities unrelated to caregiving
  • Gets rid of the issues of depression and isolation that may settle in for a caregiver
  • Allows for engagement in life aside from the elderly loved one so that the caregiver can provide care to their own family, keep up with their friendships, and pursue their career goals.
  • Grants opportunities for vacations and getaways, etc.
  • It helps the caregiver gain a new perspective by allowing them to view the situation from a distance
  • Provides opportunities for growth and development to both the caregiver and the patient
  • Saves money by preventing expensive out-of-home placements

How Respite Care Benefits the Patient:

  • Introduces more variety and relationships into the patient’s life
  • Averts negative feelings such as isolation and depression
  • Grants opportunities for growth and development
  • Makes sure the patient will not be ignored at times when a caregiver is unable to be there and will instead be getting all their needs adequately met
  • It is a refreshing change in the patient’s life and everyone around them
  • Facilities of at-home care allow the patient to remain in the comfort of their homes even when their family caregiver is not present.

The phenomenon of Caregiver Burnout

Coming back to the question of why is respite care important, a solid answer is that it reduces the chances of caregiver burnout. It is important to keep in mind that if you push yourself too far as a caregiver, you will be setting yourself up for a disease that could eventually leave you helpless in terms of providing care for your loved one, which will make life more complicated for both the patient and yourself. Hence, it is always better to care for yourself and avoid burnout by taking aid from Respite Care Services in Birmingham during the process. In this way, you can maintain your best health possible to continue being the provider of the best care.

A caregiver should never feel guilty about something, such as respite care. In contrast, its meaning should be recognised, which is that you are responsible enough to do what you need to do, in order to become a better caregiver for your loved one.

Prevent Coronavirus with These Simple Steps, Expert Advice

1,482

The rapid outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has brought the world to its knees. Everything seems to be in lockdown – the borders, the businesses, the people – with nearly all global activities suspended. Nothing is certain anymore, especially our lives. The fear stems from the notion that no one is certain about how the virus travels.

Coronavirus is a disease that causes upper respiratory symptoms such as coughs or runny nose, although in some cases, COVID-19 can result in shortage of breath, and even death. Recently, when Care for you (Care4U) experts were tasked with researching the disease, they drew some interesting conclusions.

  1. COVID-19 mainly spreads from person-to-person
  2. The virus is spread through droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes
  3. The virus affects people who are within close distance to each other

Since there’s currently, there’s no vaccine to prevent the coronavirus, our healthcare professionals recommend that you follow the tips to prevent getting infected with the potentially deadly disease.

  1. a) Wash your hands thoroughly

Whether you’re at home or out in public, wash your hands with antibacterial soap and water for at least 20 seconds before eating, touching your face, and after using the loo. It’s especially important to wash your hands if you have been sneezing, or coughing into your hands, or have flu-like symptoms.

Pro Tip: Use a hand sanitizer that includes at least 60% alcohol. Now how should you use it? Rub the sanitizer into the palms of your hands, and then make a fist with one hand and rub it with the other hand such that it covers the fist. Now, make a fist with the other hand, and repeat the process so that it covers the entire surface, including in between the fingers of both hands . Rub your hands in a circular motion until they are dry. Avoid touching parts of your face, such as eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

  1. b) Maintain social distancing

For the time being, it’s essential to avoid close contact with other people. That’s because, according to the latest research, one person could end up affecting three more, on average.  Maintain at least a 6-ft distance from one another to prevent becoming a victim and spreading the virus.

  1. c) If you’re sick, stay indoors

You may feel like a hostage; but unfortunately, there’s no other option at hand. It’s better to stay home for at least 14 days if you’re suffering from COVID-19.

  1. d) Cover your coughs and sneezes

You wouldn’t want to infect your closed ones, so take following measures as needed.

  • Instead of coughing and sneezing into the air about you, cough or sneeze into a tissue .
  • Discard used tissues straightaway
  • Wash your hands every 20 minutes for 20 seconds

  1. e) Wear a mask

To protect yourself and others, wear a facemask. Especially if you’re traveling by car, and there are a couple of people in it, or if you’re sharing a room with several mates. Wear a face mask to be on the safe side.

Note: A face mask is recommended for people who are sick. Healthy people do not require it as such.

  1. f) Disinfect regularly

Clean the mediums or objects with which you’re most likely to come into contact. For example, door knobs, electric switches (when they’re off, please), countertops, door handles, banisters, desks, phones, faucets, keyboards, and more. To make sure you’re not risking your health, clean the surfaces mentioned above, and lather up your hands often.

Let us know if you require more tips for dealing with the COVID-19. Care4U, the helping hands in Birmingham, can educate people well on the COVID-19. If you feel you may have been exposed to COVID-19 and have developed the symptoms, call 0345 113 5000 immediately.

Know the Different Types of Home Health Care Services

1,307

Sometimes when your loved ones, especially elders, are ill, they need care provided by a full-time caregiver. Home healthcare services specialise in the treatment of home-bound patients with physical or mental illnesses. The options that come within home health care services are limitless; however, based on the person’s medical condition, you could select the ones most appropriate for your loved one.

Here we listed some of the common personal care services for the elderly.

  • Nursing care

    – this is the most common service offered by a personal home care In nursing care, a registered nurse is sent to the patient’s residence where they take responsibility for the patient’s medical needs. Their services range from applying wound dressing, administering intravenous therapy, giving medication, helping reduce pain, to monitoring the overall health of the patient.

  • Physical, speech, and/or occupational therapy

    – some patients fail to remember how to use their limbs, as a result of a chronic illness or injury. This is where a physical therapist set up a plan for care. They work with the patient to help them regain their physical abilities to carry out routine activities such as eating, bathing, dressing, etc. Often, a speech therapist is a separate resource hired to work with the patient to restore their power of speech.

  • Doctor care

    -to treat illnesses, a qualified doctor can visit a patient at their home. They may also assess the patient’s home health care needs, and make recommendations accordingly.

  • Medical social service

    – medical social workers are different from general physicians. They are good with counselling, and hiring community resources to help patients, especially for personal care of the elderly.

  • Home-focused health aides

    – home health carers work to help patients with their personal needs, including walking, sitting up, bathing, eating, and dressing.

  • Additional care

    – while home care professionals are normally committed to taking care of personal needs, they may accede to additional work on the patient’s request. Additional duties may include preparing a meal, doing the laundry, going grocery shopping, paying bills, etc.

  • Companionship

    – patients with social isolation disorder seek companionship more than any other treatment. They want a companion to spend time with them, comfort them, as well as supervise their care.

  • Nutritional support

    – dietitians can visit the patient’s home to provide a dietary assessment and guide them into adopting a healthy and nutritious diet.

  • Volunteer care

    – volunteers can make a personal home care plan a success. They can even support a patient’s health by providing companionship, transportation, emotional support, and/or helping them with administrative work.

  • Laboratory and X-ray imaging

    – certain work require you to show up at clinic or hospital no matter how much you’ve been trying to avoid them. Luckily, home care services can help in terms of laboratory testing and x-ray imaging. Modern-day healthcare technicians can use portable X-ray machines, and visit the patient at their home, to get the necessary work done.

  • Pharmaceutical services

    – if necessary, the medical equipment and medication can be delivered to a patient’s home. Additionally, pharmaceutical services can train the caregiver and/or the patient on how to use specific medical equipment.

  • Meal delivery

    – ordering takeout is quite popular these days. A large number of home care facilities offer meal delivery service to patients with mental or physical disabilities. The frequency with which they deliver the meals depends on the patient’s needs.

Looking for home care services in Birmingham? Care4U is the right organisation to contact. At Care4U, we offer personal care for the elderly, disabled, or anyone above 18. Call us and let us know what type of home care you or your loved one require. Contact us at (0121) 356 5032 – we’ll be happy to be of service.