The Role of Companionship in Domiciliary Care: Beyond Basic Assistance

Funding social care

In the realm of domiciliary care, where the focus often revolves around providing practical assistance with daily tasks, the significance of companionship cannot be overlooked. Beyond merely fulfilling physical needs, fostering meaningful companionship holds the power to profoundly enrich the lives of those receiving care. In this article, we delve into the multifaceted role of companionship in domiciliary care, highlighting its transformative impact beyond basic assistance.

Understanding the Essence of Companionship:

Companionship in domiciliary care extends far beyond mere presence; it embodies empathy, understanding, and genuine connection. It entails forming meaningful relationships built on trust, respect, and compassion, thereby fostering a sense of belonging and emotional well-being.

The Importance of Human Connection:

Amidst the routine of daily tasks, human connection serves as a beacon of light, dispelling feelings of loneliness and isolation. For many individuals receiving domiciliary care, companionship becomes a lifeline, offering solace, laughter, and moments of shared joy amidst life’s challenges.

Companionship as Emotional Support:

In the journey of aging or coping with health challenges, emotional support plays a pivotal role. Companionship in domiciliary care provides a listening ear, a shoulder to lean on, and a source of encouragement during difficult times. It validates emotions, offers reassurance, and cultivates a sense of emotional resilience.

Promoting Mental Stimulation and Engagement:

Beyond addressing physical needs, companionship fosters mental stimulation and engagement. Meaningful conversations, reminiscing about cherished memories, or engaging in stimulating activities contribute to cognitive well-being and overall mental acuity.

Enhancing Quality of Life:

The presence of a companion in domiciliary care elevates the quality of life for individuals receiving care. It injects moments of joy, spontaneity, and laughter into daily routines, fostering a sense of fulfillment and purpose.

Empowering Independence and Autonomy:

Companionship in domiciliary care is not about imposing assistance but empowering independence. It involves respecting individual autonomy, preferences, and choices, while providing support in a manner that promotes self-confidence and self-reliance.

A Holistic Approach to Care:

In embracing the role of companionship, domiciliary care transcends its functional aspect to embrace a holistic approach to care. It recognizes that true well-being encompasses not only physical health but also emotional fulfillment, social connection, and a sense of belonging.

The Ripple Effect of Companionship:

The impact of companionship extends beyond the individual receiving care to encompass caregivers as well. Meaningful connections forged through companionship enrich the lives of caregivers, instilling a sense of fulfillment and purpose in their vocation.

Conclusion: Embracing the Power of Companionship

In the tapestry of domiciliary care, companionship emerges as a thread that binds hearts, nurtures souls, and illuminates the human experience. Beyond the realm of basic assistance, companionship fosters a profound sense of connection, belonging, and emotional well-being. It embodies the essence of care in its purest form – a testament to the transformative power of human connection in enriching lives and nurturing the spirit.

About Deckchair Care

Deckchair Care are an independent, privately-owned care agency. We look after the elderly in Cheshire and South Manchester.

Read more about our care service

Thanks to ChatGPT for help creating and editing this article.

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Creating a Safe and Comfortable Home Environment for Seniors: A Guide to Home Modifications and Design Tips

As our loved ones age, ensuring that their living spaces are safe, comfortable, and conducive to their well-being becomes paramount. A carefully crafted home environment can make a significant difference in the quality of life for seniors. In this article, we will explore various home modifications and design tips aimed at enhancing safety and comfort for elderly residents.

Entrance and Exits:

  • Install handrails on both sides of staircases to provide additional support.
  • Ensure that entryways are well-lit to prevent trips and falls.
  • Consider the installation of ramps for homes with steps.

Bathroom Safety:

  • Install grab bars near the toilet and in the shower or bathtub area.
  • Use non-slip mats or adhesive strips to prevent slips in the shower.
  • Consider a raised toilet seat for easier use.

Kitchen Modifications:

  • Opt for easy-to-reach storage solutions to eliminate the need for excessive bending or stretching.
  • Install lever-style faucets to make turning water on and off simpler.
  • Ensure that appliances have easily readable and accessible controls.

Bedroom Comfort:

  • Choose a comfortable and easily accessible bed with a firm mattress.
  • Install bedrails to assist with getting in and out of bed safely.
  • Ensure that there is adequate lighting for nighttime navigation.

Flooring Considerations:

  • Replace carpets with non-slip flooring to reduce the risk of tripping.
  • Secure loose rugs with non-slip backing or remove them altogether.
  • Keep pathways clear of obstacles and clutter.

Lighting Enhancements:

  • Increase overall lighting throughout the house, especially in hallways and staircases.
  • Use motion-activated lights to ensure visibility at night.
  • Consider adjustable lighting levels to accommodate varying preferences.

Technology Integration:

  • Explore smart home technologies, such as voice-activated assistants, to facilitate easier control of lights, thermostats, and security systems.
  • Install emergency alert systems that can be activated in case of falls or emergencies.

Comfortable Seating:

  • Invest in supportive and comfortable furniture, including chairs with proper back support.
  • Ensure that seating is at an appropriate height to facilitate easy sitting and standing.

Temperature Control:

  • Maintain a comfortable and consistent temperature throughout the home.
  • Consider programmable thermostats for easy temperature adjustments.

Regular Home Assessments:

  • Schedule regular assessments of the home environment to identify and address potential safety concerns.
  • Stay proactive in making adjustments as the needs of the resident evolve.

Creating a safe and comfortable home environment for seniors requires a thoughtful and holistic approach. By implementing these home modifications and design tips, you can contribute to a living space that not only prioritises safety but also enhances the overall quality of life for your elderly loved ones. Remember, each home is unique, and customization based on individual needs is key to creating the perfect safe haven for our seniors.

About Deckchair Care

Deckchair Care are an independent, privately-owned care agency. We look after the elderly in Cheshire and South Manchester.

Read more about our care service

Thanks to ChatGPT for help creating and editing this article.

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Covid Vaccinations Start in Gatley and Cheadle

Deckchair care covid vaccination image

All of the Deckchair Carers have now had their first Covid vaccination at Stepping Hill Hospital.

We have also helped many of our clients attend their first appointments to get the jab!

Hopefully we’ll be back to normal soon, but for now we are still using PPE and keeping everyone safe.

The jab is painless – although some have reported a little tenderness for a day or two afterwards. No-one has reported any side affects and we very much look forward to getting our second Pfizer inoculation.

About Deckchair Care

Deckchair Care are an independent, privately-owned care agency. We look after the elderly in Cheshire and South Manchester.

Read more about our care service

Thanks to ChatGPT for help creating and editing this article.

elderly care

Deckchair Care are an independent, privately-owned care agency. We look after the elderly in Cheshire and South Manchester.

Read more about our care service

Thanks to ChatGPT for help creating and editing this article.

elderly care
elderly care

Benefits for the Elderly

Care agency service

The Which? website has a great page outlining the benefits available to the elderly and/or disabled:

Benefits for the elderly

The list includes:

  • Attendance Allowance
  • Benefits for carers
  • Constant Attendance Allowance (CAA)
  • Council tax reduction
  • Council tax and dementia
  • Housing Benefit
  • Pension Credit
  • Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
  • Travel perks: free bus pass, Blue Badge and more
  • TV licence
  • War Widow(er) Pension
  • Winter Fuel Payment
  • Benefits for couples
  • Benefit cap

It also has a link to a Benefits calculator that could be useful.

About Deckchair Care

Deckchair Care are an independent, privately-owned care agency. We look after the elderly in Cheshire and South Manchester.

Read more about our care service

Thanks to ChatGPT for help creating and editing this article.

elderly care

Deckchair Care are an independent, privately-owned care agency. We look after the elderly in Cheshire and South Manchester.

Read more about our care service

Thanks to ChatGPT for help creating and editing this article.

elderly care
elderly care

NHS Trusts trialing video conferencing

Care agency service

The chief information officer for West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, is championing the use of technology to improve the patient journey and enrich the experience of their staff.

An IT strategy runs from 2018 to 2021, that is largely around the programme of work agreed with NHS Digital.

One pilot scheme is being tested with a care home in the region.

The reason for the pilot is that the hospital sees 180 patients a year that didn’t actually need to attend the hospital – with many of them coming from a care home setting.

The pilot means we providing a small plastic suitcase with a tablet computer and a small number of Bluetooth devices that allow the care home staff, under the guidance of clinical staff at the hospital, to check the patient’s temperature and blood pressure and feed that into a virtual triage of the patient.

They can then add other clinical parties to the conversation – including an on-call GP, mental health and social care staff, or other clinicians, in order to reach a decision about what the best course of action is for a particular patient.

Apart from offering a fast, more efficient service, it eliminates the need for some patients to go to hospital and generate a saving in excess of £150,000.

NHS Foundation Trusts should continue to innovate so they can generate a return on investment through better patient care, diagnoses, staff experience and an increase in efficiency.

Read more about the work being done here.

About Deckchair Care

Deckchair Care are an independent, privately-owned care agency. We look after the elderly in Cheshire and South Manchester.

Read more about our care service

Thanks to ChatGPT for help creating and editing this article.

elderly care

Deckchair Care are an independent, privately-owned care agency. We look after the elderly in Cheshire and South Manchester.

Read more about our care service

Thanks to ChatGPT for help creating and editing this article.

elderly care
Home Care Agency
Care Agency in Gatley, Cheadle

Saving for Care Bills

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Recent research by AIG Life has found that 69% of people think they will need care at some point in their lives with 76 being the most likely age that this will need to take place.

The survey of 3000 people in the UK asked about views on funding care. 48% said they were in favour of saving into a dedicated care fund so long as it was passed to their estate if it wasn’t fully used.

The government – in it’s current state of paralysis – has been unable to bring forward any solution to the social care funding problem. Not least because almost all of the solutions will need cross party support.

National Care Funding Options

Amongst the options being suggested are: Saving into a fund. Paying more income tax. Paying a social care tax. Paying more on assets or property. Increasing the retirement age and selling property.

The current funding care system requires the person needing help – or relatives on their behalf – to use up their savings, and sell their property if they end up having to move into a care home, down to a floor of £23,250.

9 out of 10 people have no plans to cover their care needs at present, but incentives could encourage more people to prepare to contribute to the cost.

About Deckchair Care

Deckchair Care are an independent, privately-owned care agency. We look after the elderly in Cheshire and South Manchester.

Read more about our care service

Thanks to ChatGPT for help creating and editing this article.

elderly care

Deckchair Care are an independent, privately-owned care agency. We look after the elderly in Cheshire and South Manchester.

Read more about our care service

Thanks to ChatGPT for help creating and editing this article.

elderly care
elderly care

Rise in Fraudsters Making Fake HMRC Calls

Home much does home care cost

Victims of phone scams can often be older or more vulnerable.

An increasing number of scammers are using landline phone calls to con people out of money.

HM Revenue and Customs said it received 60,000 reports of phone scams in the six months to January 2019 – up 360% compared with the previous six months.

The best advice is always be suspicious of cold calls. End the call and contact the company or government department separately using a phone number taken from a piece of official correspondence or their website.

Helping the Elderly Avoid Hoax Calls

HMRC said criminals were turning to more traditional scams such as cold calling publicly available phone numbers such as landlines.

It said it had worked with Ofcom to shut down nearly 450 lines being used by scammers in the past year.

Very often fraudsters threatens legal action, to put people in jail, or ask for payment using vouchers.

Simply hang-up and report it to HMRC who can work to take them off the network.

HMRC said it would only ever call and ask for a payment if that person was already aware of. Simply hang up and call back using a number from a correspondence.

In summary, don’t assume people are who they say they are.

About Deckchair Care

Deckchair Care are an independent, privately-owned care agency. We look after the elderly in Cheshire and South Manchester.

Read more about our care service

Thanks to ChatGPT for help creating and editing this article.

elderly care

Deckchair Care are an independent, privately-owned care agency. We look after the elderly in Cheshire and South Manchester.

Read more about our care service

Thanks to ChatGPT for help creating and editing this article.

elderly care
elderly care

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Age UK Warns Government Over Brexit

Care agency service

Age UK are urging the Government to act to keep EU care staff coming to work in the UK.

The government has already agreed exemptions for the agriculture sector to allow the continued supply of farm labourers into the UK from the continent – Age UK is insisting similar measures are introduced to the care industry.

EU nationals currently make up 104,000 of those working in care in the UK, and that number is rising.

Caroline Abrahams, the charity’s director, said: “The government has granted a partial exemption from the new rules for fruit pickers and Age UK believes it should remove care workers from this proposed post-Brexit regime altogether.

Under a new rule recommended by the Government’s Migration Advisory Committee, carers would be considered ‘low skilled EU workers’ and would not get preferential access to the UK labour market after we leave the EU.

Age UK has written to home secretary Sajid Javid saying EU carers must be exempt from proposed new rules that say low-skilled EU workers should no longer have preferential access to the UK.

Read more about Age Uks campaign here

About Deckchair Care

Deckchair Care are an independent, privately-owned care agency. We look after the elderly in Cheshire and South Manchester.

Read more about our care service

Thanks to ChatGPT for help creating and editing this article.

elderly care

Deckchair Care are an independent, privately-owned care agency. We look after the elderly in Cheshire and South Manchester.

Read more about our care service

Thanks to ChatGPT for help creating and editing this article.

elderly care
elderly care

Healthcare Provider Transfers Care Contracts

Home much does home care cost

A major UK home care provider – is seeking to transfer or sell all its contracts to other providers.

Allied Healthcare was warned this month by the CQC about its financial sustainability. Some local authorities had already taken steps to find new providers.

Home care agencies provide services such as preparing meals, washing and giving medication.

The company said it had to re-evaluate its long-term business plan and was exploring the sale or transition of services to alternative providers, including the transfer of staff.

Allied Healthcare, councils, the regulator and the government are focused on making sure vital care will continue as normal for the more than 13,000 people, who get visits from the company’s staff.

Read more here

About Deckchair Care

Deckchair Care are an independent, privately-owned and financed care agency. We help to look after the elderly in Cheshire and South Manchester.

Currently, we do not work with councils on a contractual basis because the fees that are available are well below what is needed to provide a sustainable level of care.

We pay our staff well above the minimum wage. The level of service we offer would not be possible  based on council funding alone.

However, we do work with private clients that receive council contributions to their care that they top up. We work closely with our colleagues in the council, social care and NHS departments to support clients that are referred to us.

Read more about our care service on our website here.

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75% off Taxis for the Blind or Disabled

Care agency service

If you can’t use ordinary buses because you’re blind or have serious walking disabilities you could get vouchers for taxis or accessible travel like Ring & Ride.

You can’t use vouchers if you already have a National Concessionary Travel Pass, or a Concessionary Plus Pass. 

This scheme is specific to Greater Manchester, but it is possible that authorities in different parts of the country operate a similar scheme.

Find out more about the transport for Greater Manchester scheme here

https://www.tfgm.com/public-transport/travel-vouchers

About Deckchair Care

Deckchair Care are an independent, privately-owned care agency. We look after the elderly in Cheshire and South Manchester.

Read more about our care service on our website here.

elderly care