The Essential Care Giver
Amanda Hendy • May 26, 2021
The Essential Care Giver - A Case Study Our Manager of Belvedere Lodge explains how this has worked for Brian & his sister, Liz ......
As we progress on the England roadmap out of lockdown, we are so pleased to be able to welcome 5 named visitors to come into our homes. The guidance allows us to make arrangements for our residents to have more input from someone who is classed as an Essential Care Giver. If you would like to find out more about this please have a chat to our Home Managers who will be happy to explain in more detail.
As we progress on the England roadmap out of lockdown, we are so pleased to be able to welcome 5 named visitors to come into our homes. The guidance allows us to make arrangements for our residents to have more input from someone who is classed as an Essential Care Giver. If you would like to find out more about this please have a chat to our Home Managers who will be happy to explain in more detail.
An essential carer is a close friend or family member who can positively support a person living in a care home, who lacks the understanding of ‘isolation’ and the last years lockdown restrictions.
Liz, Brian’s sister, is now able to see Brian to support and provide Brian with essential care and wellbeing in addition to our 24 hour care. This role has been recognised by the Government, following guidance from the UK’s leading dementia organisations.
Liz can support Brian acting as his voice and memory when he cannot articulate or express himself due to his learning disability and dementia.
Since March 2020 when Brian first came to live with us, he has had to accept the lock down restrictions, including the sudden loss of his family, who have always been very much part of his life. We cannot be sure how this has affected Brian, but we must consider he has experienced loss, confusion and other emotions he cannot explain or share with us. Without the positive input from his family there is a risk of declining cognition.
Liz will be expected to be supported by care staff during her visits in a positive way - she will willingly follow our guidance, carry out LFD and / or PCR testing, wear PPE and abide by the IPC guidance. We will support Liz in watching the PHE PPE and IPC videos. We will also protect Liz as we do each other from risks of Covid including informing her if we should have an outbreak, or any other health risks. There will be a Risk Assessment in place for Liz, kept in Brian’s care plan.
Liz is in addition to Brian’s other named regular visitors who will be his other sisters. She will be able to access his room, provide care as he wishes alongside pleasure activities as well as an area in the home or the garden such as the dining room. Liz will follow our guidance and supervision in the event of a fire test or evacuation process, we will keep her safe and will inform her of our Covid status to maintain her safety.
Liz will not intentionally engage with other residents, however residents may wish to engage with Liz, care staff to support with safe management of any situation.
We see this as a great opportunity for improving Brian’s health and wellbeing and we welcome Liz’s visits to Belvedere Lodge. Care staff are to document Brian’s activities with Liz including his emotions.
Thank you everyone for supporting Liz in her new role which she is so pleased to be part of Brian’s life again, it has been challenging times for all his family.
Amanda Hendy, Registered Manager, Belvedere Lodge
Abbie Nichols – Patron House
AbleCare Homes Trust is our linked charity set up to raise funds for extra entertainment for residents in the homes. In celebration of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, the Trustees have been busy securing funds to run our first inclusive garden parties since the covid-19 pandemic
The benefits of life in a residential care home
Sarah Dagger from Crossley House in Winterbourne, Karin Brownlie who manages Crossley House and Frenchay House in Frenchay Village and their colleagues who make up the Care Team at Rosewood House in Henleaze all celebrated success at the regional finals of The Great British Care Awards at Ashton Gate in July. Their dedication in supporting their residents, many of whom live with dementia, was recognised when they received glittering trophies for their devotion; being named some of the best social care workers in the whole of the South West. The team went on to the National Finals in September where over 1,000 of the most respected social care workers gathered to celebrated at a gala event in Birmingham.
Kay Best, Registered Manager at Belvedere Lodge tells us about her experience in social care.
Although the face of residential care has changed dramatically over the last four decades, the values and principles of the family have remained at the foremost in working with the great staff teams they employ. Sam says ‘We have modernised with the times and now offer care for older people with higher levels of need; there is a much greater demand for dementia care too. We have maintained our ability to provide this care in beautiful, homely settings where individual needs, choices and preferences are our first priority.’
|The AbleCare Homes Great British Care Awards Winners
With live music performances interrupted by the pandemic, Live Music Now musicians pitched up in the gardens of care homes to continue involving residents with live music. As a result of the Musical Care Homes project, funded by Quartet Community Foundation, residents enjoyed singing (within Covid-safe guidelines), moving to music and using percussion instruments. This creative solution enabled Live Music Now to host three concert tours comprising a total of 18 performances for all residents and staff of six AbleCare care homes in Bristol. Musical genres ranged from jazz (by the Hopkins Oliver Duo) to folk (Bowreed) and classical (performed by Taff Duo). The importance of this work cannot be overstated. Even pre-pandemic, those in care homes often encountered loneliness and isolation. Taking part in music is so beneficial to those living with dementia, as it improves communication, memory, enjoyment of life and creative thinking. In fact, all homes reported increased engagement during the musical performance, with participants being interested, chatty, enthusiastic and appreciative.
An informal chat with Care Assistant, Kelly, who works at Frenchay House.
Top tips to make your visit a success
