Almost a fifth of people have no idea where to find information about care – prompting a charity to call the social care system “bewilderingly difficult for older people and their families to navigate”.

The comment from a director at the older people’s charity Independent Age, follows findings from a Which? poll which revealed 19 per cent of people said they did not know where to get information about care.

George McNamara, director of policy and influencing at Independent Age added: “We regularly hear from people who tell us they don’t understand whether care is free, what they are being asked to pay for from care providers or how to choose good care services.”

The poll of 2,104 people also revealed only a third (34 per cent) of people aged 55+ have discussed their care preferences with a friend or relative.

For more on this story visit homecare.co.uk

One of the UK’s bravest centenarians is hoping to break the world record to become the oldest tandem skydiver.

On 2 August, Sydney Crossland celebrated his 100th birthday by jumping 15,000ft and free-falling for 60 seconds at a speed of 125mph.

The former game ranger and engineer, who previously worked in Zambia, has now set his sights on beating the world record, currently held by 101-year-old Verdun Hayes.

Describing his first skydive, Mr Crossland from Emsworth, Hampshire, said: “It’s better than staying at home playing Scrabble. The view was fantastic – you could see Stonehenge. It makes a change from a mobility scooter – they don’t usually require a parachute.”

According to Henk Post, one of GoSkydive’s most experienced instructors, Mr Crossland “didn’t seem nervous” and was “a natural”.

More women will leave their jobs to care for elderly and sick relatives if social care employers can no longer recruit workers from the EU, the Department of Health has said – prompting Labour MP Jess Phillips to brand the prediction as “sexist” but true.

‘Greater numbers’ of women will take up informal care

If EU migrants are barred from coming to the UK post-Brexit, Ministers have said there will be a shortfall of 28,000 care staff within five years and women will most likely stop work to step in to support loved ones.

The Department of Health has warned: ‘If we fail to meet social care needs adequately we are likely to see a decrease in labour market participation levels, especially among women, as greater numbers undertake informal care.’

It also stated: ‘If social care employers were no longer able to recruit EEA [European Economic Area] direct care staff, after five years there could be some 28,000 fewer workers in the sector.’

For more on this story visit  homecare.co.uk

Hospital wards have been given the go ahead to accept animals and especially therapy dogs onto hospital wards and other healthcare settings, by senior nurses.

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has published new guidance for hospitals to explore the use of animal therapy after it conducted a survey last year and found most nurses didn’t allow animals in their workplace.

This was even though many survey respondents were in favour of animal therapy, stating they thought it beneficial to patients.

Amanda Cheesley, RCN professional lead for long-term conditions and end-of-life care, said: “Anyone who’s worked in this area can see the amazing impact animals have on the health of adults and children alike.

“However, there are so many myths around the dangers of having animals in health care settings that most organisations are too concerned to try it out.”

To find out more visit the Homecare website