Tag: care homes

Random Acts of Nature: Buck & Birch donates hundreds of bottles of Elderberry Elixir to those in need this week

Recipients include care homes and Scottish charity, FareShare Glasgow and the West of Scotland 

Supporting the vulnerable, endorsing natural ingredients and championing the Scottish community, Buck & Birch launched the Wild Elderberry Elixir to boost immunity amidst the global pandemic.  

Now, to mark Random Acts of Kindness Week (14th – 20th February), Buck & Birch will be teaming up with FareShare Glasgow and the West of Scotland and also working with local care homes, charities and more, to donate hundreds of bottles of the Elixir, ensuring it reaches those who will benefit most from its sustainably harvested herbs and spices. 

FareShare Glasgow and the West of Scotland, which is run by the charity Move On, will receive 500 bottles of the Elixir, worth £7,500, to aid in supplying members of the community who are particularly susceptible at this time.  

On top of that, Buck & Birch will continue its permanent initiative to offer a little health help to those in need, with each bottle of Wild Elderberry Elixir sold from any Buck & Birch retailer, seeing an additional one donated to frontline workers; following on from those already provided to care homes and charities for the elderly, last year.  

Tom Chisholm, director of Buck & Birch, explains they are just a Scottish business who want to give something back: “For millennia elderberries have been used to minimise the risk of catching cold and flu as well as alleviating the symptoms.

“So, in response to the COVID outbreak we teamed up with Monica Wilde of Napiers the Herbalists to make our Elderberry Elixir, suitable for the whole family and the perfect, tasty way of getting your daily dose of this beneficial fruit. 

“The whole point of us launching the Elixir was to help boost physical health and wellbeing, so surely the point is that it reaches those that are in need of it most?” 

Jim Burns, Director of Operations of Move On explains why donations such as these are so important: “Here at FareShare Glasgow and the West of Scotland we take surplus product from across the food and drink industry and redistribute it to organisations that support the most vulnerable, including children, the homeless, refugees and elderly people.

“When we receive donations from the likes of Buck & Birch, it means we can provide more varied deliveries to our charity partners, who can then in turn offer a wider range of food and drink to the people they support.

“This is exceptionally important when we are in the midst of a global lockdown, when life for many, is already harder than before.” 

Buck & Birch Wild Elderberry Elixir is also available to purchase (£14.99): https://www.aelderelixir.com/aelder-shop/elderberry-elixir

Wild Elderberry Elixir – family food supplement — Aelder ElixirA concentrated elderberry, bramble and rosehip syrup providing a good source of Vitamin C, enhanced with sustainably harvested herbs and spices. Each 5 ml serving contains 100mg of vitamin C. Vitamin C contributes to the normal function of the immune system. Family food supplement www.aelderelixir.com

A tale of two care homes

Lothians MSP Miles Briggs has expressed concern over infection control measures at an Edinburgh nursing home.

The Care Inspectorate carried out an unannounced virtual inspection of Lorimer House Nursing Home, Lanark Road, on 27 January and followed this up with a visit with Healthcare Improvement Scotland on 5 – 8 February.

They reported ‘significant concerns relating to infection protection.’

Cleaning agents did not meet current best practice guidance and there was inadequate staff access to both PPE stations and clinical waste disposal bins.

Several soiled mattresses and mattress covers were found during the inspection and some dining room furniture was contaminated by food waste.

Edinburgh Health & Social Care Partnership has been informed of the findings and a follow up inspection to monitor progress will take place.

Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, said: “The majority of care home residents have received their first vaccination for Covid-19, but it is still vital that infection prevention control measures are strictly followed.

“Care homes have had months to fully implement proper protocols and there is no excuse for not following guidance to the full.

“These concern from the Care Inspectorate must be immediately addressed to ensure the safety of care home residents at Lorimer House Nursing Home.”

Management at Lorimer House say the report does not tell the full story, however, and they fully expect to be exhonerated on appeal.

Sean Black of Lindemann Healthcare, who operate Lorimer House, responded: “The safety and wellbeing of our residents is our highest priority, and Lorimer House has always received the highest standards during inspections.

“We are appealing against the recent rating from the Care Inspectorate, as we were graded at this level because we were using a different cleaning solution to the one specified.

“Lorimer House has a robust cleaning regime which was previously inspected at the NHS Covid assurance visit, and the detergents used in the home are a suitable alternative to bleach-based solutions, which are registered to British safety standards.

“It is unfortunate and disappointing that this information was released before the appeal process was complete. We strongly believe that our appeal will be successful and hope that the corrected rating will be reflective of our consistent high standards.”

No such issues at Northcare Suites Care Home on Telford Road, however; the care home received a glowing report.

Northcare was inspected between 13 -19 January using virtual technology.

Feedback from residents, families and visiting health professionals was very positive, and essential visits at end of life were both encouraged and supported.

Northcare ranked ‘very good’ across the board: in people’s health and wellbeing, infection prevention and control practices and staffing arrangements.

MD appointed at ‘Scotland’s finest care home’

A LEADING figure in the development of care homes and hospitals in Scotland is to take the reins as a dedicated Managing Director of Edinburgh’s finest care home.

Graeme Kelly, who is currently a Director at Walker Healthcare, will move across to the newly created role at its newest development, Cramond Residence, as it looks to build on growing demand as consumer confidence recovers within aspects of the sector that can demonstrate a positive track record over the past 12 months.

The home, which enjoys a leafy location, was purpose-built in 2018 by Walker Healthcare as a boundary-pushing advancement in both comprehensive luxury and clinical care for older people.

The latest technology and awareness of the importance of infection-control were factored into the design and specification from the outset, with small-group living in nine self-contained living pods as a cornerstone of the design alongside awareness of the benefits of the latest technology in everything from laundry systems to ventilation.

Graeme, 62, from Fife, has been astonished at the lengths that the care home’s teams have gone to provide rich and stimulating care, while managing to keep Covid-19 at bay, with very few cases recorded at the home to date.

Graeme said: “From day one we set out to create a new upper tier in the care home sector. Infection control was of utmost priority at this development long before the pandemic – and you can see how the design of the home is shaped around it.

“The Cramond Residence team, like so many key workers, have been truly inspirational throughout the last year. They’ve given the residents here the best possible care, hospitality and experiences and have provided families with reassurance

“We’re starting to see confidence returning and new enquiries are increasing month on month. Those that have put off a relative’s stay in a home are now ready to commit, if they can be reassured by the track record of the home, over the past year.

“All of our staff and residents have now had the vaccine too – and while we can’t for one second become complacent – we are grateful for our record so far in the pandemic.”

Graeme’s move over from Walker Healthcare, where he has worked since 1989 and which built and owns the home, coincides with the phased retirement of Eileen Gray.

The home offers nurse-led care, as well as offering a varied lifestyle programme. During this pandemic this has seen residents embark on a “Grand Tour of Scotland”, with distilleries, museums and attraction providing virtual tours and experiences.  

Cramond Residence is a purpose-built care combining unparalleled luxury; true five-star accommodation with outstanding clinical standards – with places available from £1850 per week.

The home offers high quality person centred care for up to 74 residents offering a small-group living concept in nine houses, with all residents enjoying an exceptional range of amenities and activities, delicious food and bespoke care from our highly-trained team.

The nine small bubble group living facilities have up to eight bedrooms, a private lounge, dining and snug facilities.

To find out more, call 0131 341 4037 or visit https://cramondresidence.co.uk/

Care provider completes vaccine roll out at Edinburgh care homes

A care provider which operates care homes across the country has completed its Covid-19 inoculation programme – with residents already talking about how their lives are set to be transformed.

Mansfield Care has successfully offered the vaccine to all of its frontline staff and residents, and have carried out the procedure to all those who have requested the vaccine.

Edinburgh homes Haugh House, Craighall House, Eildon House, and Belleville Lodge are among 11 care homes operated by Mansfield Care to have completed the vaccination programme.

Resident and journalist at Haugh House, Michael Fry, found the vaccine to have no physical impairment on him.

Michael said: “The vaccine had no physical effect on me, but made me happy in thinking I’ll be able to get out and about all the sooner. I have been in lockdown since March 2020, so I’m hoping the vaccine will let me get out again so I can see my family.”

85-year-old Craighall House resident, Jean McMillan, opted to take the vaccine to keep the infection rates down.

Jean said: “I received my first dose of vaccine on January 20. I didn’t feel a thing and felt fine afterwards. I decided to have the vaccine to help keep the rates down and because I have missed being able to see my daughter, Caroline and my great grandson Murray.”

Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Hume said: “It’s been a difficult year for everyone, so to have the vaccination programme fully completed with the full support of our staff and residents has been an incredible lift.

“Our philosophy that ‘small is key’ has been integral to keeping our residents and staff safe, while maintaining an optimal level of care throughout the pandemic.

“At this stage we cannot predict how the virus will mutate, and what impact that will have on our community, but we are determined to cover all bases and maintain the safety of everyone in our care homes.

“Again we would like to thank our incredible staff who have worked tirelessly over this turbulent period, and our residents for their continued diligence and patience.”

Mansfield Care has also implemented a regimented and rapid lateral flow testing process which swab tests staff two to three times per week and provides test results within 30 minutes, to ensure the safety of residents and staff alike.

In addition to its rigorous testing, the provider has also focused on creating new activities to combat the boredom and loneliness caused by social distancing and restrictions, including personalised activity boxes for residents and a creative conversation ball game designed specifically for residents with dementia.

Mansfield Care specialises in small, friendly, residential care homes across Edinburgh, Borders and West of Scotland, providing individualised care in state of the art facilities.

The Mansfield Care ethos is inspired by the kind of care many would wish for later in life – positive, empathetic, respectful and homely.

To find out more about Mansfield Care visit, https://www.mansfieldcare.co.uk/

Staff embrace tech to stage virtual Burns Night at Cramond Residence

PENSIONERS at a local care home are set to celebrate Scotland’s most famous poet virtually with food and song thanks to dedicated care staff and the latest technology.

Staff at Cramond Residence have pulled out all the stops to create a virtual Burns Night to ensure residents did not miss out on celebrating the occasion with fellow friends at the home.

Lockdown restrictions and the current strain of Covid-19 led to Cramond Residence utilising its self-contained, small-group living units, which were built into the architectural designs, to help with infection control.

It means that while the residents at the 74-room care home remain separated by the 9 houses, they’ll be able to celebrate as one through video conferencing set up in each house. Every house has a comfy lounge with a private television for use by the small group of residents in it.

James McDiarmid, Lifestyle Coordinator at the 74-room care home in Edinburgh will pre-record an address to the haggis which will be shared and watched via a virtual link, before residents get a chance to raise a dram to the bard and catch up with their friends shielding at other parts of the home.

James said: “We are looking to make the best out of this situation and our home is really lucky to be able to continue facilitating the Burns Night celebration, as every resident has access to a tablet or television.

“The virtual Burns Night will offer something different for our residents and it is a wonderful safe way to bring everyone together.

“Staff at the home have had to think outside the box to make sure resident continue to have rich, stimulating group experiences and everyone has worked really hard to adapt the activities to a virtual setting.

“The staff are looking forward to the celebration just as much as the residents, I’m sure it will be a good laugh – especially since I’m kicking off the night with the address.”

Residents will celebrate the day with a poetry group discussion and a presentation of the history of Burns Night.

Every year Scots across the world celebrate the life and poetry of Robert Burns, with Haggis, Irn Bru and Whisky normally consumed.

Cramond Residence’s catering team will serve the classic Burns Night menu with residents tucking into a starter of cook a leekie soup, followed by a main of haggis, neeps and tatties and for dessert it is cranachan or even a “wee dram”.

James added: “Events like these give the residents the chance to do something outside of their normal routine and everyone usually enjoys celebrating the patriotic event, albeit this year might be a bit different.

“We can’t wait to welcome family and friends back into the home to enjoy these events with our residents when it is safe to do so”.

Throughout lockdown the care home staff have been working with residents to help them become more comfortable with technology. Residents were encouraged to chat with loved ones over Skype and other video platforms, this has branched into individuals learning how to use an app called Pl@ntNet to identify what flowers are in the garden.

Cramond Residence is a purpose-built care combining luxury, five-star accommodation with outstanding clinical standards – with places available from £1850 per week.

The home offers high quality care for up to 74 residents offering a small-group living concept in nine houses, with all residents enjoying an exceptional range of amenities and activities, delicious food and bespoke care from our highly-trained team.

To find out more, call 0131 341 4037 or visit https://cramondresidence.co.uk/

Vaccinations in Care Homes to start tomorrow

Residents of homes for older people in Scotland will begin to receive the Pfizer vaccine against the Covid-19 virus from tomorrow (Monday).

After more than 5,000 key NHS workers and vaccinators received the Pfizer vaccine in the first few days of the programme, it is now being extended to include care home staff and residents.

The move has been made possible following confirmation that the Pfizer vaccine can be ‘packed down’ into smaller pack sizes. The vaccine, is received in packs of 195 five dose vials which must be diluted before use,  but these can also be  transported in an unfrozen state for up to 12 hours, and can be stored undiluted for up to five days.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has given the go ahead for health boards to do this, making it possible to take the vaccine direct to care home residents or to vaccination centres nearby, with minimal wastage.

Cabinet Secretary for Health, Jeane Freeman said that care home residents would be prioritised for receipt of the vaccine from current supplies but warned that pace of the vaccine delivery programme remains dependent on the supply of doses.

Ms Freeman said: “This is another important moment in our journey through the coronavirus pandemic and I am delighted that we have received the authorisation we need to enable us to vaccinate the most vulnerable people in our care homes.

“Officials in the government and our health boards, along with Pfizer, and the MHRA, have worked really hard to allow this to happen and it is another step on the road to our collective recovery and a return to a more normal way of life.

“We are providing the vaccine to people in care homes according to the order of priority set out by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) and we will work through that order of priority as quickly as vaccine supply allows.

“We are hopeful that subject to further stringent approvals, other vaccines may meet MHRA approval for supply – for example, AstraZeneca and Moderna – enabling more vaccinations to take place at a faster rate.”

“In the meantime it remains vital that we all stick to the published restrictions and follow public advice to keep suppressing the virus to as low a level as possible.”

Hospital and care home visiting update

Keeping residents and patients safe over Christmas and New Year period.

Visiting arrangements for hospitals and care homes in Scotland will remain in place over the Christmas and New Year period, it has been confirmed.

For the general public, there will be UK-wide easing of restrictions on travel and gathering between 23 – 27 December.

However, in a joint-letter to NHS Boards, the interim Chief Medical Officer, Chief Nursing Officer and National Clinical Director clarified this would not apply to hospitals over the Christmas period, given the increased vulnerability of hospital patients compared to the general population.

Christmas and New Year guidance has also been published for the adult care home sector, recommending that indoor visiting should continue to be supported where it is safe to do so, as well as setting out specific safeguards that care homes can put in place to safely support festive activities.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “While most people will see a limited relaxation of existing restrictions over the holiday period, hospital and care home visiting guidance will remain in place to protect patients and residents.

“However, we are encouraging Boards and care homes to continue to apply this guidance with flexibility and compassion, given how important the Christmas and New Year period is for many families, to ensure no-one is unnecessarily isolated over the Christmas period. Essential visits should also continue regardless of local restrictions, as they have throughout the pandemic.

“In care homes this will be facilitated by testing of designated visitors, which will be rolled out to all care homes from Monday onwards. Testing is not required for visiting but it does add an additional layer of protection, and we will make PCR testing available for any care homes unable to make use of lateral flow tests before Christmas.

Coronavirus (COVID-19): hospital visiting guidance

Coronavirus (COVID-19): adult care homes guidance

Visiting in care homes is subject to care homes being free of any COVID-19 symptoms for 14 days, actively participating in the care home testing programme and having visiting risk assessments approved by the local Director of Public Health.

Letter to NHS Boards: see below:

LETTER-Christmas-Preparation-and-Visiting-GuidanceDownload

Testing for care home visitors gets underway this week

Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing for designated visitors of care home residents will start this week with a trial across five local authority areas.

From tomorrow (Monday 7 December), lateral flow testing of designated visitors will be trialled in 14 early adopter care homes in North Ayrshire, Fife, Argyll and Bute, Inverclyde, and Aberdeenshire.

Testing kits will then be sent out to all care homes from Monday 14 December, as announced by the First Minister on Wednesday, once guidance and training materials have been finalised following the trial.

For any care homes unable to make use of lateral flow tests before Christmas, PCR testing of visitors will be available when necessary to facilitate visiting over the festive period.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “This is a positive step for care homes, residents and their families and friends, that will provide another important layer of protection against COVID, alongside the essential PPE and infection prevention and control measures already in place.

“I’m very pleased to say we will be able to significantly accelerate the delivery of testing kits to all cares homes from 14 December, following the necessary trial phase to ensure we have the right guidance and training in place.

“This will require a significant amount of work from care homes, and we will continue to work closely with Health and Social Care Partnerships, Scottish Care, CCPS and COSLA as test kits are rolled out to ensure they have the support they need to deliver testing for designated visitors.

“However, it’s important to remember that testing does not replace the other vital layers of protection we have against COVID, and all of these – reducing contacts, keeping our distance, wearing face coverings, and vaccines when they come – work most effectively to stop the virus when they are used together.”   

Care home visiting guidance

Visiting arrangements will be different for each home but it is anticipated that testing will take place in a designated area in the care home.  Visitors will self-swab and the test will be conducted by care home staff. 

Where the test is negative visitor will continue to the visit using full PPE and infection prevention and control measures measures as outlined in current visiting guidance, where there is a positive result the visitor will be advised to leave the home, self-isolate and book a PCR test either online at NHSInform.scot, or by calling 0800 028 2816.

LUMINATE: Art and creativity in Care Homes

Booking is now live for our next creative ageing event Bringing art and creativity back to care homes. Book your place here.

This event, on 30th September at 11am, will bring together community artists with colleagues in health and social care to explore how we might bring art and creativity back into care homes over the coming months.

It will be some time before artist visits to care homes can resume, but what is possible? A small number of activities led or supported by artists are now happening at a distance using online and offline approaches, and usually building on relationships between artists and care homes that existed before lockdown. What can we learn from these experiences? 

This online event is part of a series of Creative Ageing events from Luminate, focusing on how we can continue to support opportunities for older people to engage with the arts. 

Health and well-being visits to care homes to resume

Safe and phased return of visitors who improve quality of life.

Professional health and social care services which improve and enrich the wellbeing of care home residents will be able to resume visits under new guidelines.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare services have continued to operate in care homes for pressing clinical reasons, however non-essential visits have been paused.

New guidance outlines how from 7 September care homes can resume face-to-face care from a wide range of health and social care professionals, including podiatrists, physiotherapists, optometrists, dentists, social workers and mental health and disability specialists. 

The guidance also makes recommendations for the safe resumption of activity in indoor communal areas – for example lounges and dining areas – as long as strict health and safety measures are in place.

The guidance recommends that enhanced visiting is only resumed in care homes where there are no active cases, have been free of COVID-19 for 28 days, and are actively participating in the care home worker testing programme. 

Care homes should update their visiting risk assessments to fully consider the safe resumption of visits by health and social care professionals, which will then be approved by the local Director of Public Health.

In addition, the guidance recommends these visits only for care homes which have sufficient PPE and hand hygiene facilities, infection prevention and control protocols, a visitor protocol and visitor log, and resident consent.

Care homes have been supporting residents to receive three outdoor visitors from no more than two households, provided their home meets strict criteria, since 10 August. 

Since 24 August providers can also safely allow one designated indoor visitor for residents within their homes, once their plans have been signed off by the relevant health board’s Director of Public Health.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said:

“This has been, and continues to be, a very challenging time for care home residents, their families and staff – but we are always aware that care homes are first and foremost people’s homes.

“The safe and phased resumption of visits will not only allow the residents of care homes to have access to a wide range of additional health services, but also experience more personal contact, face to face meetings and interactions which will enrich their daily lives.

“The importance of involving a wide range of professional and people in the life of the care home and the impact this has on the wellbeing of residents is well known – and many clinical health and care professionals who visit care homes have already provided support and care to residents in different ways during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are committed to reintroducing measures that allow residents to connect with not only with the full range of health and social care professionals, but also those who enhance and enrich the quality of life for those who live there.”