Instead of resting, older people should be exercising and keeping physically active, according to doctors.
A report in the British Medical Journal has called for a change in the current thinking that exercise is only for the young.
Older people need to take responsibility for their health and cut down the need for social care by keeping fit, say doctors.
Scarlett McNally, an orthopaedic surgeon and lead author of the report, said: “Social care can be preventable because the risk of disease, disability, dementia and frailty can be reduced.
“We need individuals to understand how to get active every day and to help their friends and family to be active. We need national and local organisations to build activity and active travel into our environments and to demand improvements. The improvements are quick.”
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Dedicated Mark Dunn overcame his fear of heights to help a seriously ill man fulfil his bucket list of wishes – and now the carer is in line for a top award.
Mark, 46, has been shortlisted for a prestigious Wales Care Award for Excellence in Palliative and End of Life Care after impressing colleagues at Everycare Cardiff, based in Splott.
“He has shown great compassion and professionalism,” said manager Toby Stockton. “Mark has led excellent practice with his colleagues including communicating difficult messages from health teams.” He worked to an “exceptionally high standard” and had attracted compliments from social workers, too.
Mark, married with five children, thanks his sister for a career switch into caring for some of the most vulnerable in society which he made almost 20 years ago. He’d done a number of jobs previously including office cleaning.
It was during a period between jobs when his sister, now a district nurse, suggested that he tried the social care sector. “I’ve got a lot to thank my sister for, I have never looked back,” Mark, of Amroth Road, Ely, in Cardiff, said. “I love meeting people and new service users, it’s never one and the same, they have different challenges.”
For one of his supported clients he arranged a flight in a four-seater light aircraft above South Wales. But the service user’s bucket list also included a helicopter flight. “I am scared of heights and looking after a gentleman who had never been on a plane,” Mark said. “We had so much fun and because I was taking photographs I didn’t really realise how high we were.
“I conquered my fears thanks to my service user.”
Such is his compassionate nature and commitment to providing the highest standards of support, Mark even arranged for the man to join him and his family for Christmas dinner so he wasn’t alone.
Nominating him for an award, Toby Stockton said :”This shows Mark is not only professional but also deeply caring.”
Mark works with adults of various ages in need of support.
Outside work, Mark is involved with Ford Fanatics, a group of car enthusiasts.
He said :”I was over the moon and dumbstruck to be nominated for an award. I never thought I would be recognised. I love my job making sure every one of our service users has a better life.”
He’s now set to join other inspiring carers from across Wales for a night in the limelight.
The annual Wales Care Awards, run by Care Forum Wales, are now in their 15th year and showcase best practice in a variety of roles across the care sector. They are an important part of raising the profile of care workers and demonstrating to the wider public the vital work they do in looking after some of the most vulnerable members of society.
They will be announced at a glittering presentation evening on Friday, November 17, in Cardiff’s City Hall. The host is tenor and radio presenter Wynne Evans, better known as Gio Compario from the Go Compare TV ads. Mario Kreft MBE, the Chair of Care Forum Wales, said the Wales Care Awards had gone from strength to strength.
He said: “The event is now firmly established as one of the highlights in the Welsh social care calendar.
“The aim is to recognise the unstinting and often remarkable dedication of our unsung heroes and heroines across Wales.
“The care sector is full of wonderful people because it’s not just a job it’s a vocation – these are the people who really do have the X Factor.
“If you don’t recognise the people who do the caring you will never provide the standards that people need and never recognise the value of the people who need the care in society.
“We need to do all we can to raise the profile of the care sector workforce – they deserve to be lauded and applauded.
“It is a pleasure to honour the contribution of all the finalists. Each and every one of them should be very proud of their achievement.”
One of Everycare Cardiff’s carers has been awarded a South Wales Echo – bouquet of the week.
Everycare Cardiff care worker June Allen-Burnett was nominated by Splott district nurses who described her as “inspirational”.
June calls Everycare a great company and commends her colleagues who work alongside her. Read the full story below as it appeared in the South Wales Echo.
Everycare Cardiff , one of the leading home care organisations in South Wales has appointed a new registered manager – Toby Stockton.
Toby has excellent experience across a range of care facilities which has included working as a multi-site service manager for Mencap where he managed two homes as well as some community placements. Importantly the facilities he managed all achieved successful contractual inspections. It was this excellent track record in the care industry that made him the perfect candidate for his new role at Everycare Cardiff which has a long standing commitment to provide the very highest standards of care. In addition to working at Mencap, Toby previously worked at The Disabilities Trust.
Commenting on his appointment Toby said “I have recently moved from Sussex to my hometown of Cardiff. I am excited to be taking over as the registered manager of Everycare Cardiff and look forward to forging excellent relationships with the team around me and the people we support and their families. As with most care services across the UK at the moment recruitment of quality carers and staff retention continues to be a challenge. I am hoping to bring valuable experience to the role around this by making recruitment personal and getting out into the local community to tell people about Everycare’s offering both as a service provider and employer. I am passionate that we should be offering the best quality care despite the national challenges both currently and on the horizon.”
