More Praise for Care Teams

Angela McDine, Care at Home Manager for the Whitley Bay area recently received a letter of thanks from another grateful family whose Mum had been supported at home by the EveryDay Care team. Jill said about her letter when we asked her permission to share it –

“It’s nice that it doesn’t just get filed away and that others might benefit from it and I will be forever grateful for the help and support you and the carers gave over the years, it bought Mum the maximum time possible to spend at home as she wished”.

Letter of Appreciation

Dear Angie,

I wonder if you would kindly accept this letter of thanks for all you have done for Mum and in support for me over the last few years.  Please would you pass on the following to all the members of the team involved in mum’s care:

As you all know I recently had to make a difficult decision to move Mum into residential care after many years of trying to support her living at home as her dementia tightened its grip.

In the end it was quick; a phone call from Tara (Care at Home Team Leader) saying she felt that Mum needed more care than even the four visits a day, the enabling and day centre trips could achieve . An assessment from the psychiatric social worker overseeing her physical and mental states and finally, a call from Mum’s neighbour at just before midnight last Monday to say she had been out wandering again – she made it down to Broadway somehow, in the dark – amazing.

Respecting Her Wishes

Still, it was a hard decision and I kept wondering if there was more I could or should be doing to respect what I knew were her wishes, because she had said to me so very many times that she wanted to stay in her own home.  Mind you she also wants to live to be 100, and receive her telegram from the Queen; that’s out of my hands too.

I want to record my depthless thanks to you, also Tara, office staff whose names I don’t know but who kindly passed on messages and of course, the carers, these are some of the names but I know there are others: Trish, Joan, Claire, Clare (now left), Phil, Jordan (Claire and Jordan thank you for the notes you left on the kitchen table on mum’s last day at home, I managed not to cry, but only just).

Your care, compassion, humanity and professionalism have blown me away and I am almost lost for words to describe my feelings.

Here’s how it is, as best I can describe it:

There is so much fear, hatred and ignorance around – or so it seems if you pay attention to the news and not enough to what is going on closer to home.  There is also sorrow at the cruelty and pain that Alzheimer’s is inflicting on us.  However, I sit, grounded, with Mum in the lounge at Solway Avenue, the home of my birth, peaceful other than the TV, and my memories echoing quietly around; hers are falling silent.

The doorbell rings and in breezes a purple-uniformed smiling person.  “Hiya, how’re you doing Joyce?”  Cheerful chatting and Mum’s face lightens and brightens, her tinkly laughter sprinkles round the room.  “A cup of tea, something to eat perhaps?”  Mum always appreciative – “Oh go on then, just a small piece, I have to look after my figure you know…”

More laughter, more brightness.  Some quiet bustling, tablets appear and are washed down with more tea, or a glass of water.  Clinking from the kitchen, the dishwasher or perhaps washing machine, clothes airing fragrantly in the dining room.  The Hoover whirrs away.  The rustle of shopping bags, the hum of the microwave.

More chatting – mum – “I don’t know, I can’t remember, I’m getting a bit [she taps her forehead] you know”  More laughter, “Oh we’re all getting like that!”  Then “OK Joyce, I’ll be back later, see you soon” and off goes the purple tunic to lighten another life somewhere nearby, and another, and then another.

You do an amazing job.  It’s not just a job though, you are amazing people.

I’m just about to finish  a PhD in compassion in healthcare, so I feel as though I can say that I know what I’m talking about.  This is far more than being a carer; it’s caring through and through, from the heart – it runs through you like a stick of rock and I send you all my love and profound gratitude as well as my heartfelt good wishes to you, your families and loved ones.

Jill, and Mum xxxxx

Rowan Croft Wellbeing & Social Activity Centre was recently singled out for praise from local healthcare professionals.

Our three wellbeing centres have undergone a whole programme refresh in 2019. We’ve added in new activities to ensure that our customer’s varied needs are catered for.

Our centres in Wallsend, Killingworth and North Shields provide exercise snacking twice daily to maintain muscle mass, increase mobility and reduce the risk of falls. In addition customers can take advantage of mini wellbeing checks which have previously highlighted potential health issues and allowed early intervention from the GP.

On top of a range of social activities to ensure our customer’s remain stimulated and maintain their life long skills the greastest benefit is social inclusion so often missing in later life.

We regularly receive praise for the service and the delivery teams. This recent example was received from a local Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust occupational therapist.

I would like to provide you with some positive feedback from my visit this morning.

My patient had a taster session with you this morning as she was referred to me as being socially isolated, lacking motivation, low mood and basically my role was to engage her in meaningful activities.

I have looked into agencies and charities but due to her partial sight, early symptoms of dementia, low mood and poor mobility it has been very difficult to find a suitable place.

I would like to say that I have never seen her so happy as today, she developed relationships, she ate and drank well, she interacted with others, she sang!

All service users who attended today were happy and reactive – no one was asleep.

Wendy and Helen are amazing at their jobs. They are respectful, sympathetic, honest, warm, kind and happy. They obviously love their jobs and are excellent at it.

I think your staff are going to change my patient’s quality of life and I’d like you to thank them from me.

It was a delight to see her happy and smiling. I’ve informed her Daughter and she is absolutely thrilled.

I’m so pleased that she is going to be a regular at the wellbeing centre.

To book a taster session at one of our three centres why not give our Customer Service Team a call on

Tel: 0191 2877028

Employee of the Quarter

Congratulations go to one our favourite EveryDay Care characters Wendy Dack on being awarded Employee of the Quarter by her colleagues and customers .

Wendy has worked with EveryDay Care for eleven years and now supports  her Team Leader and Wellbeing Manager at Linskill Park in North Shields.

She spends her day supporting our customers who are all living with dementia and their carers and family members. A very popular character at EveryDay Wendy said “Im absolutely delighted to be nominated let alone to win this award. It means a huge amount to me”

Wendy was nominated because of her passion and tenacity in the face of stepping up into a new role with very short notice. Wendy had demonstrated a real passion and desire to provide the very best service to her customers and their carers and is a fantastic ambassador for the organisation as a result.

She has worked specifically on marketing and promoting the Linskill Wellbeing Centre offer and with only a small amount of guidance she really embraced the challenge and the technology and did a wonderful job.

Wendy enjoyed the idea of being empowered to do more and lead as opposed to taking direction and saw an opportunity to demonstrate her value in the absence of her line manager and she seized it.

She has energy and drive as well as a genuine love and care she demonstrates (and not just on camera) for her customers. She makes Linskill Park a fun place to work and spend time in.

Recently whilst on holiday in Greece with her family she even took time out to visit a local care home supporting customers living with dementia to better understand other types of care provision . She said that with her £100 prize she’ll start saving for her next trip.

We’d like to take the opportunity on behalf of everyone at Age UK North Tyneside and EveryDay to congratulate her on her achievement. 

How Are We Helping to Maintain the Nutrition of Older People?

The struggles that arise with maintaining a healthy diet in older age are well-documented, and can be especially difficult for those living with dementia. But with our wellbeing and social activity centres, and EveryDay Living service, customers can look forward to hearty, healthy, and home-made meals.

The Research

In a recent article, Elizabeth Eckstrom, chief of geriatrics at Oregon Health & Science University, noted that;

“A wide variety of factors can impact an older adult’s ability to eat healthfully, [including] conditions such as depression and dementia”.

The Caroline Walker trust produce reports establishing nutritional guidelines for vulnerable groups. They suggest a whole host of reasons that older people, including those living with dementia, might be at nutritional risk;

• Mobility struggles can drastically decrease an individual’s ability to shop for, and cook, food for themselves. This can lead to diets of less variety that are low in essential vitamins, and fewer fresh foods being eaten overall.
• There is some evidence to suggest that people living with Alzheimer’s and dementia are more susceptible to developing various infections. Such people will have a need for especially healthy meals in order to replace nutrients lost whilst battling infection.
• Concerns about paying for fuel to keep warm can mean that some older people are worried about spending money on food and may eat inappropriately (Age UK North Tyneside’s Information and Advice team can help assess any unclaimed benefits you might be entitled to, if this is a worry for you).

How We Help

At our three wellbeing and social activity centres, in Wallsend, Killingworth, and North Shields, nutrition in older people is the top of our agenda. Not only do we incorporate ‘exercise snacking’ throughout the day, but our customers are treated to a nutritious spot of lunch as standard. Additionally, on birthdays, during the festive period, and on other special occasions throughout the year, customers can enjoy seasonal treats such as Christmas dinner, a slice of birthday cake, or a traditional Easter lunch.

Additionally, our EveryDay Living service can offer help with keeping older people healthy at home. Our specialist staff undergo regular training and development and are required to have an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check before they begin working for us, as well as being fully insured. They can help with a wide range of domestic chores, including grocery shopping and meal preparation.

Your Say

We love receiving feedback from our customers and their caregivers. One recent testimonial demonstrates just how much of a positive impact our delicious food can have;

“My mam absolutely loves coming to Cedar Grove once a week. The staff and volunteers are all so lovely and my mam is made really welcome. She always enjoys the homely food and recounts what she has eaten when I collect her.”

Useful Links

• If you are concerned about fuel payments, Age UK North Tyneside’s Information and Advice team can help assess any unclaimed benefits you might be entitled to. In May, the team celebrated helping 3,074 people in the borough claim a total of £1,178,488 between them.

Article by Summer Dolan (Marketing Intern)

Older people living with Dementia horse around as miniature mare pays unexpected visit

Customers  including some living with Dementia were able to ‘horse around’ with a very special visitor to our  wellbeing centre at Cedar Grove when they were surprised by equine visitor Taz last week.

Our wellbeing centre, one of three in the North Tyneside, provides a vital service as a place for older people to socialise and stay physically and mentally active, as well as giving respite for their family carers.

And the visit of Taz, a 5-year-old, leopard-spotted, appaloosa mare, shows just how different EveryDay centres are, according to manager Michelle Clement

Centre Manager, Michelle Clement

Michelle said: “Having Taz visit was absolutely fantastic – you could see straight away the impact it had on our customers. They loved it especially those who have had experience of horses in their younger lives!

“We provide a vital service for older people, and ensure sure we give them a place to socialise and enjoy themselves – we are a world away from what you might consider traditional ‘day care’.

“Age UK North Tyneside and EveryDay are focused on ending loneliness for older people in North Tyneside, and our centres are a huge part of that. They also enable us to give respite to family carers, which is extremely important.

“We would encourage any older person who is keen to continue to enjoy life and make friends to come along and see what we do. Our centres really are very special places that make a real difference to people’s lives.”

Taz’s visit happened as part of an initiative called Pets As Wellbeing, where animal ambassadors visit older people, including those living with Dementia, to help with stimulation, interaction and exercise.

It is part of a wider series of EveryDay programmes to keep older people active in body and mind.

EveryDay runs three wellbeing centres in North Tyneside – Cedar Grove in Wallsend, Rowan Croft in Killingworth, and Linskill Park in North Shields.

We provides a range of services at our centres, including podiatry, seated exercise classes, and pop-up music sessions.

EveryDay even offers mini wellbeing checks to keep an eye on customers’ health, something it says is completely unique to the private care sector.

Customer Audrey Pym, 93, from Wallsend, loves her visits to Cedar Grove.

She said: “It was a lovely idea to bring a horse in to see us. I love animals!

“The staff here are always trying to keep us entertained and doing interesting things. I love coming to Cedar Grove.”

For more information, or to book a free taster session at a wellbeing centre, call the Bradbury Centre in North Shields on 0191 2877028

Useful Links

https://everydayuk.org/wellbeing/

End Loneliness- a personal perspective.

I am currently a Personal Support Assistant for EveryDay Care the social enterprise wholly owned by the charity Age UK North Tyneside and I first hand see the conditions that people live in and the budget that they have.

Many of the people I support have no family, friends or a way of even getting out and about. Sometimes they are living in accommodation that isn’t acceptable for their needs with minimal support and for us there is nothing we can do but provide the best care we can while we are there.

Loneliness is a killer and these people have helped shape our country to help fight wars, fight for independence, fight for women’s rights, worker’s rights and over all human rights.

They have voted for your government to take care of them like they have for all of us and in return they are not even entitled to a tiny bit of gratitude.

Convicted criminals get to watch TV, earn money and benefits for committing crimes to innocent people but what about the innocent pensioners who have helped shape the world where we live and get nothing?

Are you accounting for the money they spend on care call, home care, social interaction at a St. John’s ambulance or a wellbeing centre this is the only interaction they may have all week or month?

Do we spend our lives working and paying taxes and fighting for our county to be forgotten about when we reach a certain age and are considered no use to some people?

Well I can tell you first hand these people are more use than most of us will ever be. There is so much to learn if you listen. It is a pleasure and a privilege to say I care for these people.

I value every day I get to spend with them listening to their wisdom and making a difference. I wish you would look beyond profit and see into lives of people you could be effecting.

Help save TV licenses

Charmaine McCabe

EveryDay Care, Cedar Grove Wellbeing Centre

Please take a look at Age UK North Tyneside’s Switched Off campaign page.

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/northtyneside/about-us/news/articles/2019/switched-off/   

https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1141118/bbc-free-tv-licence-over-75s-petition-ben-fogle

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-48583487

https://everydayuk.org/wellbeing/

Recent research suggests there is a link between higher levels of anger and ill health in older people.

In our Wellbeing centres, we offer a wide range of activities proven to have a positive impact on anger levels.

The Research

The American Psychological Association has concluded in a recent study that high levels of anger in older people is associated with inflammation. Whilst inflammation – the body’s reaction to perceived threats, such as infection – is generally a helpful and healthy bodily response, long-lasting inflammation can ultimately lead to chronic illnesses. These might include heart disease, arthritis and cancer.

Meaghan Barlow, lead author on the study, examined the reasons older people might experience anger;

“As most people age, they simply cannot do the activities they once did. They may experience the loss of a spouse or a decline in their physical mobility and they can become angry.

Higher anger levels can become especially pronounced in older men. So-called ‘irritable male syndrome’ arises from the common drop in testosterone levels that occurs as men age. Doctor Ridwan Shabsigh, head of the International Society of Men’s Health, explains;

“Patients with low testosterone tell me they feel less capable of concentration. And they feel less capable of tolerating the nuances of everyday life – from family, friends, colleagues and customers. Whatever you do, you have people around you, and you get irritated sometimes. The ability to tolerate or deal with it is reduced when the testosterone is low.”

How We Help

The NHS has a number of ideas and advice on how we can manage anger in our everyday lives. Many of their suggestions are included as standard in our wellbeing centres in Wallsend, Killingworth, and North Shields .

One suggestion is maintain a regular exercise routine, with clinical psychologist Isabel Clarke noting that ‘exercise as part of your daily life is a good way to get rid of irritation and anger’. In our wellbeing centres, we’re looking to keep older people physically engaged through ‘exercise snacking’. These short bursts of light exercise have been found to improve muscle mass, as well as mental wellbeing, and falls prevention.

Another NHS proposal is to engage with creative hobbies such as painting, musical instruments or singing, or craft activities. Seasonal crafts are a regular activity in our wellbeing centres, and always well received. Anger management expert Anna Martin states;

“There are many creative options to explore when looking for effective ways to channel your anger. Listening to soothing music, dancing to favourite tunes or painting all induce a relaxing effect on us.”

All of our wellbeing customers enjoy the chance to socialise with friends and staff given to them within the wellbeing centre setting. Regular socialisation is also recommended by NHS experts, and mental health charity Mind, as a way of managing anger;

“Talking to a trusted person who’s not connected to the situation, such as a friend, family member, counsellor or peer support group, can help manage an anger outburst.”

Two customers enjoying socialising at our wellbeing centre.

Researchers from Westminster and Essex universities have also established a link between gardening and anger management. They found that working in an allotment, for example, can have a positive effect on warding off depression, low self-esteem, and anger. Our wellbeing centres have landscaped and accessible gardens, enjoyed by our customers in nice weather.

As demonstrated by this emerging research, activities that allow us better control over our anger are integral to keeping healthy in later life. Such activities are offered not only through our wellbeing centres, but through our parent charity, Age UK North Tyneside.

For information on how you can secure a free half day trial in one of our wellbeing centres, please visit: https://everydayuk.org/wellbeing/, or call 0191 287 7028

EveryDay Blog April – June 2019

My name is Kerry Parker and I’m EveryDay’s Head of Professional Care Services and I would like to welcome you to my first blog of 2019.

April

As you already know we have three Wellbeing Centres, they are Cedar Grove  in Wallsend, Rowan Croft in Killingworth and Linskill Park in North Shields . https://everydayuk.org/wellbeing/

We started April with the launch of our mini wellbeing checks across all three centres. Our customers have benefited from monthly blood pressure checks, weight and BMI calculations, mental well-being assessments using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) scale. This new offer has been really positively received.

All of the checks have been carried out with the consent of our customers and their families and their information has been sent to their GP, thankfully all of our customers checked out fit and well.

May

May saw the outcome of our Care at Home and Extra Care contract monitoring which had a fantastic outcome across the board of 95%. We’re so proud of all our team members who made this happen.

Our first ever pop up music café kicked off from Cedar Grove and the customers absolutely loved it, with a range of inflatable guitars , microphones and funky glasses they looked every bit of a  “ wellbeing rock band”

June

Technology joined the wellbeing centres in a big way recently too with the introduction of ‘Alexa Show’ making her appearance across all three centres in June. Within a few days our customers were asking for their favourite songs, weather information and the locals news, which goes to demonstrate that you are never too old to embrace new technology.

We are currently holding free taster sessions across all of our wellbeing centres so that individuals, their families and carers can call in, spend some time with us, join in our activities or take advantage of a free mini health and wellbeing check. You can arrange this by calling our friendly Customer Service team on 0191 2877028.

What’s next from July – September ?

Annual customer satisfaction questionnaires will be sent to all of existing customers during July and we welcome your feedback be it positive or your recommendations for improvements.

Virtual Dementia Experience training will be held in July from Cedar Grove, Wallsend This gives  all of our team the opportunity to experience how Dementia affects everyday life.  https://everydayuk.org/virtual-dementia-training/

As you can see lots has happened over the last quarter with plans in place for the next.

If you would like any further information on any of the above I would love to hear from you on enquiries@everydayuk.org

Kerry    

Can Animals Improve our Wellbeing as we Age?

Research suggests that pets can offer a multitude of health benefits to older people, both bodily and psychological. At our Wellbeing centres, therapy animals are being used to improve customer wellness.

The Research

June McNicholas is an expert on the relationship between pets and older pet-owners. She found in her recent study that pets and animals have the potential to improve the physical, emotional, and social wellbeing of older pet-owners. Ms McNicholas suggests that professionals within the elder care industry should preserve pet ownership within older people wherever possible.

Pet-owning has been found to have a positive effect on blood pressure and cholesterol levels of older people. It’s also been linked with lower levels of triglyceride, the main constituent of body fats in humans. The physical input required in the care schedules of cats and dogs especially can improve physical health. Activities such as walks, or energetic play, can improve cardiovascular health, build stamina, and improve bone and muscle strength.

Social wellbeing can also be improved with pet ownership. Taking pets on walks can lead to interactions with fellow pet-owners – even simply owning a pet is a conversation starter. Research demonstrates that pet owners are 60% more likely than non-pet-owners to get to know people in their local areas. For the older generation, who are more likely to suffer from loneliness and bereavement, this companionship is especially important.

Mentally, animal-human interaction can have an incredible impact. Pets’ needs often require owners to stick to a routine, for example, which has been found to reduce stress. Even simple contact with animals can dramatically improve depression and anxiety.

Obviously, animals can also be helpful in service capacities, as Seeing Eye dogs, Hearing Dogs, or Seizure Dogs, for example.

Your Say

With around half of the UK’s adult population owning pets, we’re a nation of animal lovers. We asked you whether you thought pets, and interaction with animals, was beneficial to older people.

“I think that any pet improves your mental health when you’re older. They keep you company – you have something to cuddle, and look after.” – Julie Bradley, aged sixty four.

“Pets are helpful with sustaining wellbeing as we get older. They give a lot back to their owners unconditionally.” – Sue Flemming, aged sixty eight.

“My dad is sixty four and his dogs definitely helped him when my mum died. They gave him something to do – a reason to go out each day. They help you feel less alone.” – Scott Dolan.

“Pets are company, loving, and help with depression. There are also health benefits with walking dogs and the social interaction with others you meet on the walks.” – Janet Grantham, aged fifty five.

How We Help

The recent suggestion of ‘robopets’ as a solution to ending loneliness in the older population means that ‘therapy animals’ are trending news right now. Interestingly, the UK’s most popular therapy animal, rather than the perhaps expected cat or dog, is the hen. This has spawned the term ‘hensioner’ for those older fans of the poultry companion.

Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) has long been recognised as an effective form of alternative treatment for a range of social and cognitive conditions, including loneliness and dementia.

Whilst we recognise all of the discussed benefits which pets offer to the lives of older people, it is a sad fact that not everyone in later life is able to have or keep their own pet. But, at our wellbeing centres in North Shields, Killingworth, and Wallsend, all customers have the opportunity to experience AAT through use of Pets As Wellbeing ambassadors.

With PAW ambassadors, customers are able to interact with furry friends, and even take them for small walks within our enclosed and accessible gardens. This means they are able to reap the benefits of human-animal contact without the additional costs and responsibilities that a pet might incur. At our Killingworth wellbeing centre customers have also been invited to interact with Hearing Dogs for Deaf people. These experiences have proven to be very popular, with customers not only enjoying the cuddles, strokes, and treats they were able to give the dogs, but also the memories of their own previous pets.

More Information

Of course, AAT isn’t the only fun and beneficial activity on offer at our welfare centres. We also offer customers the chance to express themselves musically and artistically and ‘exercise snacking’ to maintain physical health whatever your fitness level. Our customers also love ‘brain training’ puzzles, and the chance to take part in Maintenance Cognitive Stimulation Therapy, a fun weekly session helping individuals with dementia.

For information on how you can secure a free half day trial in one of our wellbeing centres, please visit: https://everydayuk.org/wellbeing/, or call 0191 287 7028

Article by Summer Dolan ( Marketing Intern)