The government has announced that all unpaid carers in England who aren’t living with the people they care for can apply for free PPE. The news follows a successful pilot scheme designed to set up the right distribution systems and logistics. This means successful applicants will be able to keep themselves and the people they care for safe from the virus when they move from their home to the home of the person being cared for.

The free PPE offer lasts until the end of June but might be extended depending on how we fare coming out of lockdown. Almost two thirds of Local Authorities and local resilience forums have already signed up in support, and work is already starting on a workable nationwide PPE distribution system. To find out more about free PPE for unpaid carers in Kent visit https://www.kent.gov.uk/social-care-and-health/care-and-support/caring-for-other-people/ppe-for-unpaid-carers And to order free PPE for unpaid carers visit http://bit.ly/3reIXL3

It’s really good to get this news, since we know how important it is to do everything possible to protect the vulnerable and the people who care for them. Unpaid carers are the bedrock of the UK’s social care system, and they have laid their lives on the line during the pandemic. The scientific advice is to wear PPE while caring, and this scheme finally closes the gap we have all been so concerned about.

The government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies social care working group recommends unpaid extra-resident carers should use PPE in the same way as their paid counterparts. It’s good to know that there is also financial support for local authorities and resilience forums who will support the rollout of free PPE, and to see so many of them signing up for the scheme so quickly.

As the Minister for Care, Helen Whately, said, “Unpaid carers are the unsung heroes of this pandemic. All too often their kindness and devotion go unseen and unacknowledged by society. I know the enormous strain this pandemic has placed on those caring for family and those they love. I’m determined to do everything possible to support them.”

When it comes to deciding whether your parents, elderly friend or relative needs additional help to ensure they can live safely in their own home, it can be tricky to know where to start. The wheres, whens and hows of the situation are not simple. It can easily start to feel overwhelming as you try to get to grips with all the options available, the costs, and what is best for the elderly person themselves.

That’s why we have put together our Everycare 8 tips on helping you decide if your elderly parents, relatives or friends need extra help. This is intended as a guide, and you probably have all sorts of questions to ask before you can make the right decision. We’re perfectly placed to help you. The Everycare Medway Swale team has worked extensively with elderly people at that crucial point where they’ve just started to need support, and we have lots of experience that we’re happy to pass on. If you’d like to call Richard Tutt on 01634 295630 he’ll give you a warm welcome and answer your queries.

8 tips for deciding if an elderly person needs some extra support.

• Assess the person’s needs

This can feel quite difficult. Do you ask the person, observe them, ask other people who know them, or something else? You may not know what your parent, relative or friend requires, or what is available. We can help you organise your thoughts. You can fill in our downloadable form, here (link to downloadable form http://bit.ly/Asses_WS), and use your answers to establish what level and kind of support is needed. It’s a handy starting point for everyone involved. To make it simple, have a think about these questions.

Does your parent, relative or friend have:

• Family support – are there family or friends living locally and are they available to help?
• A safe home environment – is their home as safe as it can be? What barriers restrict their ability to stay in their own home? For example dangerous steps or staircases, a large garden, or badly maintained security?
• Medical needs – does your parent, relative or friend have increasing medical needs that they can’t manage on their own? Is the person taking their medication as per prescription? Do they need assistance?
• Good cognitive health – Can they clearly think, learn and remember, able to carry out everyday activities safely?
• Mobility – are they able to safely move around their home and ideally to local shops, GP surgeries and to see friends and relatives?
• Personal hygiene – Can they wash themselves and keep themselves clean? Do you think they are struggling with using the bath or shower on their own?
• How much support are they already getting around the above, and how much help do they realistically need to stay safe and healthy?

If your mum can’t see that well and lives in a rural area on her own, her needs will be very different from someone else’s healthy dad, who lives in a flat in the city surrounded by relatives but is starting to become frail and can’t get to the shops.

• Don’t forget – the person in need of care is still a person!

It’s vital that you involve the person themselves in the process from end to end, as a partner in it. Just because they’re getting on it doesn’t mean they’ve lost their pride, their love of independence, their unique personality. Nobody wants to lose control of their life, and that means sensitivity and positivity are both essential. Together you’ll find a clear way through any potential resistance faster and more easily.

It helps not to intrude. It’ll probably take several conversations. That’s fine as long as there’s no immediate risk. You can always offer a small amount of help at first, and increase it when you need to, rather than going off at the deep end. Maybe get them used to accepting help by focusing on a couple of the more pressing needs.

• What can you offer – and what do you need?

There are many things to consider when thinking about an elderly persons on going help and care. It’s tough taking care of people, whatever their age so you do need to make sure that you have considered;

• Is your own health good enough for the lifting, carrying, housework, shopping, whatever it takes?
• Are you working so don’t have the time to spare, or living too far away to visit as often as needed?
• Would you want to live with them, and would they want to come and live with you? Would living in close proximity be too much to bear, bringing back too many bad memories?
• Do you even have a naturally caring personality?
• Can you learn how to care properly?

All of it matters. We are not all natural carers, it’s a skill. It’s OK if you’re not the best person to provide the care yourself. You care, and that’s what matters most of all. You’re being a supportive and caring, and honesty is always your best policy. Otherwise you’ll just burn yourself out and you won’t be any use to anyone!

• Make their home as safe as you can

Torn lino, worn carpets, rickety stairs, slippery floor tiles and high baths, need to be dealt with to avoid trips, slips and falls. Clear the floors and hallways so there’s plenty of space for your elderly friend, relative or parent to safely move around. Make sure electrical cables are not underfoot. Add bright light bulbs and fit grab bars in the bathroom. Ensure electricity switches are accessible and appliances are in good working order. In many cases organisations such as the Falls Prevention Service may be able to advise and help.

• Know the money side of things

Never ignore the finances. It costs money to provide care, and you need to know how much so you can plan properly. Talk to us about this from the outset, we will advise and make recommendations within your budget, and if we are not able to provide the level of care provided within your budget we will always try to come up with alternatives. If care needs to escalate it’s important that we all understand the financial consequences of any changes.

• Make communicating easy

An elderly person needs to keep in touch with family and friends, and get help quickly if they need it. Loneliness can be very distressing and has a very negative effect on physical as well as mental health. They need a phone with big numbers and letters, that’s easy to use. And maybe also a basic mobile with pre-set phone numbers in it, so they always have a phone on them. They might even benefit from wearable medical alert technology. If wifi is available then you may be able to use a Facebook portal or one of the other video conferencing options.

• Explore all your caring choices

When you can’t provide the level and quality of care they need, there are specialists who can. This is your support system. The Evercyare team can guide you on how to manage every aspect of caring, saving you time, money and potential problems. Our In-home care-giving is available privately, and carers take care of elderly people in their own homes.

• Can we help you?

We’re always happy to help. Call Richard Tutt on 01634 295630 for answers to your questions or e-mail info@everycaremedway.co.uk

Frank Rothwell is seventy years old. He has made the famously difficult Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge look easy. He rowed 3000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean, raising a massive amount (£1 million at time of writing) for Alzheimer’s Research UK, and he is an inspiration for us all. Never assume that someone with seven full decades of life behind them is not strong, capable, and extremely determined! So what’s the story? Frank is the oldest person to complete the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge and had previously been the oldest contestant on Bear Grylls survival show The Island in 2017

Frank Rothwell left the island of Gomera, one Spain’s Canary Islands, on 12th December 2020 in his boat nicknamed ‘Never too old’ and reached Antigua and the finish line on 6th February 2021, an epic 56 day voyage. The strict covid protocols the race took place under only made it more of a challenge.

Frank was rising money for the dementia charity because of the devastating effect of the disease on his brother-in-law, Roger, who sadly died at aged just 62 while Frank was at sea. He heard the news while rowing, getting heartbreaking messages from people who’d had similar experiences around dementia. He would I’d like to thank everyone who reached into their pockets. It meant the world to him.

Iceland Foods Charitable Foundation honoured its promise to double every donation of up to £500,000 to dementia research, and were looking forward to seeing Frank reach his £1million target. As Sir Malcolm Walker, founder and executive chairman of Iceland Foods, said, “Seeing the heart-warming and generous support he’s receiving from the public is astounding. It’s been a tough twelve months, to say the least, but it’s people like Frank who restore our faith in community spirit.”

The chief executive of Alzheimer’s Research UK, Hilary Evans, was also moved by Frank’s determination to raise £1 million for dementia research. She said, “By taking on such a monumental challenge at 70 years old, he has helped to spread awareness and inspired people of all ages to take on their own challenges. To bring about life-changing treatments for dementia, fundraising efforts from ordinary people like Frank and his supporters provides a crucial lifeline to the progression of our research. We will always be thankful to Frank for doing so much to support Alzheimer’s Research UK during this time and we hope he enjoys a well-earned rest!”

If you would like to donate to Frank’s fundraising challenge yourself, you can still do that. Here’s a link to his Just Giving page: www.justgiving.com/frankrothwell And to his website https://frankrothwell-atlanticchallenge.com/

It can be difficult communicating with someone suffering from dementia and for many of us the first time we have to do it is when one of our loved ones starts developing dementia or Alzheimers disease – we have put together some tips around communication techniques that make such a big difference. They matter a lot when every chat can feel weighted down by sadness, anger and fear.

Thanks to these tips you will find talking to someone with dementia easier, more meaningful, more enjoyable and more rewarding.

1. Take a minute to ground yourself before starting a conversation. Breathe in and out slowly, and be aware of every breath. It’s a very good way to calm down quickly and feel ready for anything.
2. Stay positive and calm. It’s important because people with dementia pick up on emotions, especially when they don’t match the tone of voice you’re using.
3. Turn off the radio or TV, close the door of the room, send the kids out of the room, turn off gadgets and phones. Things like this are more than a simple distraction to a person with dementia, they can be very distressing.
4. Always tell the person who you are, so they’re not afraid or worried. Tell them how you’re related as well. This helps bring back memories in addition to helping them feel safe.
5. Watch your body language. Eye contact means you are definitely listening,  and your body language needs to match the words you’re saying. Be conscious of that.
6. Bring a carer in if the person gets distressed or confused. It’s OK to ask for help settling them down.
7. Be patient. They’re worth it.
8. Give a choice between two things, or ask yes or no questions. It’s easier for people with dementia when there’s less choice. Offer two choices of drink, or ask whether or not they want a snack.
9. Speak slowly. Give them the time they need to understand you and make connections.
10. Use simple words and short sentences.  Pause in between sentences for as long as they need you to.
11. Don’t ask “why” questions or force someone to talk about a subject when they’re not in the mood.
12. Don’t interrupt. Focus on listening to them.
13. Say exactly what you mean. Use a name or point. When you mention another person, also mention the relationships between the three of you.
14. Never assume what someone is going to say, and don’t finish their sentences for them.
15. Don’t assume they don’t want to participate in activities. Respect them. Give them time they need to form and express their own opinions and feelings.
16. Do active listening, where you make your communications even clearer by nodding and using other ways to show them you are listening, interested and engaged. Experiment to find out which validations they prefer. Their carer might know if you don’t.
17. If they’re about to do something dangerous, redirect them to something safer rather than panic, shout or force them.
18. Try communicating by drawing, writing or music. Verbal communication might not always be their first choice. Don’t forget humans also communicate via sight, sound, smell, taste and touch.
19. Spend as much time as you can together. If it’s difficult to focus on them because there are so many practical things you need to do to keep them comfortable, think about getting help from professional carers.
20. Remember the person, no matter how little is left of them, loved you and loves you still. This also helps to make you feel more able to cope.

Do all of this and you stand a better chance of having good, positive conversations with the person you love, despite their dementia.

At Evercare Medway Swale we are used to talking to people with Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, if you feel you need any extra help to talk to your loved one,  do feel free to ring the team on 01634 295630

See below for some websites where you can get additional help with how to communicate with people with Dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.

https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/symptoms-and-diagnosis/symptoms/communicating-and-dementia

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dementia/communication-and-dementia/

https://www.alz.org/help-support/caregiving/daily-care/communications