Technology in Healthcare | Enhancing Your Loved One’s Experience
Why is technology in healthcare becoming increasingly more prevalent?
As technology advances, many healthcare providers are incorporating it more and more into their daily care; from digital care records to video calls with loved ones, there are plenty of ways in which technology is beneficial for the sector.
In this blog, we’re sharing some top ways we’re utilising digital platforms without our care homes here at ACI Care:
Technology in Healthcare: Virtual Fitness Classes
At ACI Care, we understand the importance of maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle — particularly in later life.
Due to advancements in technology in healthcare, there are now plenty of opportunities to stay active via digital platforms, including virtual exercise classes, online pre-recorded videos (such as YouTube), and even wellbeing apps.
These are essential in the modern age, as they ensure exercise is accessible and inclusive — particularly for those with limited mobility or who may be unable to attend an in-person session.
Being able to exercise from the comfort of your own home can also act as a great motivator, especially in the winter months.
From pilates and Zumba to seated stretches, there are a myriad of classes and activities available.
Remember to always seek the advice of your GP before starting any new exercise.
Technology in Healthcare: Remote Patient Monitoring
The implementation of remote patient monitoring in care homes helps improve the quality of care, enhance resident safety, and provide a more proactive approach to healthcare.
It allows care providers to respond promptly to changes in residents’ health conditions, ultimately leading to better outcomes and an improved quality of life for residents.
Remote patient monitoring can include:
- Vital signs;
- Fall detection;
- Medication adherence;
- Chronic disease management’
- Telehealth consultations;
- Health and wellness tracking;
- Dementia care.
While it doesn’t take away the important role a carer plays within a home, it can help them manage their care more efficiently, while reducing the risk of human error.
Technology in Healthcare: Electronic Health Records
Electronic health records are a digitised version of patients' medical histories, treatment plans, diagnoses, medications, immunisation dates, allergies, and test results.
These records are stored in secure databases, and are accessible by authorised healthcare providers and staff.
Electronic health records allow for continuity of care, and provide seamless sharing of patient information between hospitals, primary care providers, and care homes.
This ensures that healthcare professionals have access to the most up-to-date and comprehensive healthcare records, enabling them to provide efficient, personalised, and accurate care.
Monitoring Exercise and Fitness Tracking
Monitoring exercise, health, and wellbeing is just one of the many brilliant advancements in healthcare in technology that many people use on a daily basis.
Smart watches, for example, are excellent for monitoring sleep patterns, tracking exercises, recording heart rate, and much more.
This helps the user not only understand their body better, but also encourages and motivates them to make healthier choices.
In our ACI Care homes, we use an array of equipment and devices to help us monitor, assess, and improve our residents’ wellbeing, and help them to optimise their lifestyles.
Staying Connected
At ACI Care, we understand that, sometimes, life gets in the way of visiting your loved one as much as you’d like — you may have work commitments, family responsibilities, or live far away.
So, we organise plenty of social activities to help your loved one stay connected and provide them with opportunities for stimulating and meaningful interactions and conversations.
With developments in technology in healthcare, though, there are now plenty of ways you can stay connected with your loved one, helping to bridge the gap between visits:
- Video calling: Facetiming is a great way to engage in a phone conversation with your loved one, while being able to see their face. You can see each other’s reactions, show each other items of interest, and even blow kisses! This is a lovely way to stay connected; please contact us if you’d like to arrange a video call — our team will be more than happy to help.
- Emailing/instant messaging: Emails/instant messaging are the modern mode of communication — and much quicker than writing a letter! It’s a great way to share quick updates between calls and visits, and helps to put a smile on your loved one’s face. (Although, many of our residents do also enjoy receiving a letter in the mail!)
- Sharing pictures and videos: Whether it’s via email, message, or uploaded to a photo-sharing app, sending your loved one pictures is a great way for them to see their loved one’s faces whenever they wish, and really helps to brighten their day.
- Group calls: Platforms such as Zoom are great for group calls, where lots of family members can join the fun! This is particularly great if your loved one is unable to join a family gathering, or if you have family across the world that may not be able to visit. You can set up games, a quiz, or simply enjoy a meaningful catch-up!
Technology in healthcare is making waves in the industry, helping to improve our residents’ overall wellbeing.
If you’d like to know more about how we incorporate technology into your loved one’s daily life, please contact a member of our team.
Alternatively, why not check out our recent blog to discover what we offer here at ACI Care?
Holistic Healthcare | Ensuring Safety, Happiness, and Wellbeing
What is holistic healthcare?
At ACI Care, we’re committed to providing exceptional care for each of our residents, with a strong focus on enhancing their health and wellbeing.
In this blog, we’re sharing how we offer a holistic approach to our caregiving, to help your loved feel safe, happy, and heard:
What is Holistic Healthcare?
Holistic healthcare is an approach to care that considers the individual as a whole.
So, instead of addressing just physical symptoms at ACI Care, we also ensure the person's mental, emotional, social, and spiritual wellbeing.
The philosophy behind holistic healthcare is to understand and treat the entire person rather than focusing solely on isolated symptoms or specific organs.
For example, if your loved one is living with dementia, we’ll do more than just support their needs from a medical perspective. We also focus on providing meaningful experiences and stimulating activities that will support and improve their overall lifestyle.
Social Connections and Activities
Meaningful connections are an essential aspect of holistic care.
Within our ACI Care homes, we arrange plenty of social interactions and help nurture our residents’ relationships, by creating opportunities for communal activities, celebrations, and excursions.
These enhance our residents’ social bonds, and contribute to a vibrant, meaningful living experience.
Just some of the amazing activities and events we host include pet therapy, baking, arts & crafts, and music & dance.
Holistic Healthcare | Supporting Our Residents
As part of our commitment to providing holistic healthcare, we ensure that each of our residents has the space, confidence, and support to practise their cultural and/or religious beliefs and values.
We ensure they have a safe place for prayer, are able to eat foods that align with their needs, and can speak freely about their religion, culture, beliefs, and preferences, without fear of judgement or ridicule.
We accept people from all backgrounds and beliefs, and welcome them into a warm, loving environment, where everyone is treated equally.
By facilitating access to their individual needs, we’re able to offer a peaceful living space that nurtures the soul.
Holistic Healthcare | Ensuring Our Residents Feel Heard
At ACI Care, we believe that each of our residents should feel safe, supported, and heard.
Our goal is to foster an accommodating and nurturing environment, where residents feel comfortable to express themselves freely.
We create tailored care plans for each individual, and adapt activities and games to suit their personal needs or preferences.
We champion inclusive environments, and each of our homes is adapted for accessibility, while offering a home-from-home feel.
Where possible, we ask our residents — and their families — to share their ideas, thoughts and feedback on areas of our care such as:
- Routines;
- Food;
- Living spaces;
- Activities;
- And more.
This helps us to improve and tailor our care in line with what our residents feel is important to them.
For more information about our holistic healthcare approach, please contact a member of our team.
Alternatively, why not check out our recent blog to discover more about our care home services?
Fun Christmas Ideas | Discover 5 Ways We're Celebrating the Festive Season
Are you looking for some fun Christmas ideas for creative activities, to help you stay entertained throughout the festive holidays?
At ACI Care, our residents are getting into the Christmas spirit with a variety of craft ideas and activities!
As the big day nears, keep reading to discover how you can ignite a little more Christmas spark into your every day:
Fun Christmas Ideas: Festive Baking
Fun Christmas Ideas: Festive BakingWhy not pop on an apron and try your hand at baking some Christmas treats this festive season?
With a variety of mince pies, gingerbread men, and cake recipes to choose from, you’ll be spoilt for choice. You can then enjoy each stage of baking, decorating, and eating your festive delights!
At ACI Care, this fun Christmas idea is particularly poignant for our residents. It helps to promote appetite, stimulates brain activity, and can evoke childhood memories — the perfect instigation to reminisce on Christmas past.
Although Christmas can be a lonely time for many, we ensure our residents are able to enjoy the festivities through the many social activities we have planned!
Have a Go at Making Some Festive Crafts
What could be more personal than a handmade craft at Christmas time?
Whether it’s displayed on the mantelpiece or hung on the tree, we encourage our residents to participate in crafty sessions over the festive period.
With a variety of options available, from designing Christmas cards to moulding baubles for the tree, craft activities at Christmas are a great opportunity for older people to connect.
Throughout the year, our residents enjoy designing and creating handmade crafts to display around the care home to boost mood and uplift each other during a celebration.
So, why not spread some festive cheer with your own homemade crafts?
Fun Christmas Ideas: Participate in a Seasonal Quiz
Are you keen to catch up on the Christmas classics with a quiz this winter?
Over this festive season, engage in some fun Christmas ideas with your friends and family, such as hosting a Christmas quiz to really get them racking their brains!
What could be more inviting than a quiz with all your festive favourites blasting, while you scramble to fit the correct answer on your scoresheet?
At our ACI Care homes, we care about the wellbeing of our residents, and believe quizzes for social interaction and memory strengthening are imperative to mental health. So, we’ll be sure to hold our Christmas quiz this festive season…
Find the Elf!
Find the Elf!A couple of our residents are always up for a little mischievous fun!
That’s why, this year, we’re introducing some fun Christmas ideas to keep them on their toes — starting with a little game called ‘Find the Elf’.
As well as elves, we also encourage angels, Santa, reindeer, and any other festive friends! Simply hide them around our home, and let your loved one go wild exploring new hiding places each day in the lead-up to Christmas.
To spark some competitive fun, winners can have their names on the leaderboard, and pick the festive activity for the day, or the film for Christmas movie night.
At ACI Care, our dedicated staff are always finding unique and creative ways to spark excitement and curiosity for our residents.
We understand that not every game needs to be a sit-down board game, and we encourage our residents to get out and about on an adventure!
Fun Christmas Ideas: Create a ‘Christmas Spirit’ Board
This year at ACI Care, we’re stepping back into Christmas with a ‘Christmas spirit’ board.
One of our favourite fun Christmas ideas, we’re going to encourage our residents to share their festive memories and traditions, that we’ll then add to the memory board in our communal area.
As everyone gathers to read past Christmas experiences, our residents will feel a strong sense of community and connection — particularly in these cold winter months.
Why not do something similar at home, and add a sense of nostalgia to your festive activities by reminiscing on the happy memories of previous celebrations?
To find out more about how we make important celebrations special for our residents, please contact a member of our team.
Alternatively, why not check out our previous blog to discover how we celebrated National ‘I Care About You’ Day?
Our Care Home Services | What We Offer
Are you looking for reliable and attentive care home services for your loved one?
At ACI Care, we understand the importance of providing exceptional support for older people.
Our facilities, staff, and activities offer those moving into one of our homes a smooth and seamless transition.
With four care homes across the UK, keep reading to find out why ACI Care should be your first choice:
Care Home Services in Hastings | Our Mountside Care Home
For those who prefer a cosy night tucked away in the warmth with a board game, Mountside care home, located in Hastings, is the perfect place to reside.
Our care home services strive for a strong sociable atmosphere, and Mountside is bouncing with games of bingo, quizzes, and group sessions to stimulate and entertain our residents!
We care about the wellbeing of our residents, and encourage assisted baking and cooking to increase mood and stimulate brain activity.
But it’s not all baked treats and teacakes; our dedicated team ensures our residents are served healthy, nutritious meals, prepared and cooked from the freshest ingredients.
We believe that staying active as an older person is important, and our care services offer collaborations with GFitness to improve residents’ mental and physical health.
Care Home Services in New Romney | Our Fairways Care Home
Why not skim a pebble on the beach by Fairways care home?
Located on Greatstone Beach's doorstep, you’ll be transported to a picturesque landscape in the heart of Kent.
Our care home services in New Romney specialise in dementia, and can offer exceptional, short-term support for those in need of extra care.
At Fairways care home, we understand the importance of a daily routine, and incorporate activities such as gardening, cooking, and baking to help regulate brain function and boost mental and physical health.
Kettering | Our Gabriel Court Care Home
We understand that not every individual is the same, so why should every care home be?
Located in Kettering town centre, with accessible links to Leicester and Northampton, Gabriel Court specialises in unique activities designed to inspire creativity and self-expression.
We’ve previously celebrated awareness days by trying activities such as designing your own tartan, and listening to bagpipes for the celebration of Scotland’s ‘Burn’s Night’.
As well as providing care and attentiveness when it comes to meal times, we also provide nutritional meals which fuel our residents, while giving them plenty of opportunities to build social connections and relationships.
We encourage our residents to share experiences together; whether it’s a gentle walk in the garden, or sitting comfortably in our communal areas, the sentiment of enjoying one another's company is at the heart of our care home services.
Kent | The Old Rectory Care Home
One of our larger care homes is The Old Rectory, situated in Dymchurch, Kent.
With over 35 bedrooms, each equipped with an en-suite, we offer an idyllic, private space for each of our residents.
We also have a range of enchanted gardens and patios, where our residents are able to enjoy leisurely strolls and socialise with their close friends and family.
Within walking distance from our care home, you’ll find the serene ‘Golden Sands’ beach — the perfect place for a lazy stroll.
Return to the easiness of The Old Rectory, where our car home services provide high-quality, person-driven care to ensure our residents are calm and healthy.
Care Home Services: Respite Care
If you’re looking for an extra pair of helping hands, why not get in touch regarding our respite services?
All of our ACI Care Homes are equipped to provide respite care when you need it most. We understand that, to take care of your loved one, you need to be the healthiest you can be; so, if you need to take some time out, we can help.
It could be that your loved one requires some additional assistance when recovering from a hospital stay or, as a carer, you need to travel and be away from home for a period of time.
Our services allow you to take your break, with the understanding that your loved ones can experience all of the amenities our residents enjoy, but for a shorter period of time.
To find out more about our care home services, please contact a member of our team.
Alternatively, why not read our previous blog to discover more about how you can support your loved one with our respite services?
Working Towards the ‘Pride in Care’ Award | Our Care Services
At ACI Care, we’re committed to developing our care services to better meet the needs of individual residents.
As part of this commitment, we’ve started working towards the ‘Pride in Care’ award, which seeks to recognise organisations providing quality care and support to older LGBTQ+ people.
Check out our blog to discover how we’re working to achieve this award in our Hastings Residential care home…
The Pride in Care Award
The Pride in Care award works towards improving the quality of care and support for older lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer people.
Supported by Care England, and with accompanying training endorsed by Skills for Care, the Pride in Care quality standard is awarded by Opening Doors to UK organisations that are assessed as providers of quality care and support to LGBTQ+ people over the age of 50.
The Pride in Care team aims to help organisations improve their quality of care and support, while also challenging any poor practice they encounter in the health and social care sector.
This quality standard award is appointed through a accreditation process, a specialist team of LGBTQ+ quality advisors offer:
- Policy reviews;
- Staff surveys;
- Internal training;
- Ongoing consultancy advice.
We hope to achieve this award to showcase that we provide high-quality, inclusive, safe and supportive services to older LGBTQ+ people.
Developing Our Care Services
At our Mountside care home, we’re delighted to announce that we’re currently at the stage where we can use the ‘Working Towards Pride in Care’ logo across our website and newsletters, to promote the work that we’re doing to improve our care services.
Working closely alongside the Pride in Care team, we’re developing detailed action plans based on their recommendations.
Our aim is to make our home more accessible for individuals over 50, who’re from the LGBTQ+ community. Once our action plans have taken effect and we’ve completed their assessments, we’ll be able to display the full Pride in Care logo.
Working With Circle | Our Care Services
Circle is a research project led by Dr Jolie Keemink at the University of Kent.
Circle stands for ‘Creating Inclusive Residential Care for LGBTQ+ Elders’ and evaluates what factors help and hinder implementing the Pride in Care programme.
Our Mountside residence is the only care home in East Sussex to take part in the research project, and we’re excited to achieve this accreditation in the near future.
Recent feedback from a relative:
"Mountside Residential home has inclusively at it core. Over the past 18 months I have regularly visited a close friend resident here, we are both members of the LGBT+ community. I can honestly say the welcome to both of us has been genuinely warm and you feel that inclusiveness is part of Mountside's beating heart. A truly welcoming home."
The Importance of Creating an Inclusive Environment
It’s important to create a safe, LGBTQ+ inclusive environment for our residents.
Respecting and valuing the diversity of our residents is a crucial aspect of providing high-quality care and it’s important to honour both their identities and history.
Providing inclusive care services can help residents build connections and provide a sense of belonging, helping residents build a relationship with people who understand and respect their identities.
Creating this environment also promotes education and awareness among both staff and residents and reduces the presence of biases, fostering an empathetic community.
Holding a Pride in Care accreditation for our care services can promote our services to a wider, diverse population, ensuring potential residents feel safe and cared for.
Ensuring our care services are LGBTQ+ inclusive is imperative for the well-being and dignity of our residents. This helps to address disparities in healthcare, fostering a sense of belonging and promoting understanding and acceptance in the care setting.
Care Services at ACI Care
Over the next few months, we’ll be working to implement changes to our care services to achieve the Pride in Care award and provide better services to individual residents.
In our Mountside care home, we pride ourselves on providing exceptional, personalised care services to each of our residents.
Our dedicated staff get to know each resident on a personal level to understand their preferences and needs.
Along with providing exceptional care, our team offers a range of social opportunities tailored to individual interests and abilities.
To find out more about the Pride in Care award, click here.
Contact a member of our team today to find out more about our services and how we can help support you and your loved ones.
Alternatively, why not check out our recent blog on National ‘I Care About You’ Day.
Supporting You and Your Loved Ones With Our Respite Services
Are you keen to discover more about our respite services?
At ACI Care, we understand the importance of caring for your loved one — but, also, taking some time out for yourself.
In this blog, we’re sharing how our respite services can help:
What Are Respite Services?
Respite services are designed to provide temporary relief to primary caregivers of individuals who require day-to-day support and assistance.
The aim of respite is to provide caregivers with a break from their responsibilities, while ensuring that the person in need of care remains in a safe, secure and happy environment, with adequate care provisions.
The length of respite care can range from a few nights to several months, depending on the requirements of the carer.
At ACI Care, you can rest assured that your loved one is in capable hands, receiving high-quality care within our home.
The Importance of Respite Services
Being a full-time carer is a demanding role and respite services have several benefits.
It can often be difficult to take the time out to look after yourself whilst caring for another person; respite care offers you the opportunity to take a well-deserved break from your caring duties.
The role of carer can, at times, feel demanding, and may lead to emotional and physical burnout. So, it’s important to take a break and recharge your mind and body.
By taking a well-deserved break, you can reduce feelings of stress, put important time into your other commitments, and refresh your mindset. This will prevent any build up of tension or resentment, ensuring your relationship with your loved one stays strong and healthy.
ACI Services
Our respite services allow you and your dear ones to enjoy all of the amenities and support that our full-time residents receive, on a short-term basis.
Individuals in our homes receive personalised assistance with daily activities such as washing, getting dressed, medication management and moving around.
Our respite services also provide individuals with the opportunity to interact with other residents and engage in group activities. Social interaction is important, as it promotes mental stimulation and improves overall emotional well-being.
Engaging with other residents can also offer emotional support and companionship, reducing feelings of loneliness and isolation.
Supporting You With Respite Services
Throughout our care services, we aim to provide great care and great opportunities.
We want each of our residents to have the best possible experience during their stay with us, whether it’s a few weeks or months.
With a range of social events and engaging activities, our trained caregiving teams always go the extra mile in ensuring our residents’ happiness and comfort.
Each of our care homes have multiple lounge and garden areas, where residents can enjoy socialising, or sit back and have some personal time.
With trained professionals offering specialist care, you can find comfort knowing that your loved ones will receive the best quality of care at ACI Care.
We offer a safe, supervised environment for all those who visit us for respite care. This is important for those who require round-the-clock care, or assistance with personal care activities.
Our kitchen staff also provide balanced and nutritional meals to each of our residents, ensuring your loved one is receiving proper dietary care during their stay.
Caring For Your Loved Ones With ACI Care
With four homes offering exceptional care, you can find the right respite services for you and your loved one.
Providing a home-from-home environment, our incredible staff are on hand to ensure the best support is provided to each of our residents.
Get in contact with a member of our team today to find out how we can help you.
Alternatively, why not check out our recent blog on National ‘I Care About You’ Day?
Former Kent care volunteer earns senior role at New Romney home
A care home in Kent is proud to celebrate the inspiring journey of its acting senior carer, who started as a 14-year-old volunteer before rising through the ranks – which the home attributes to her determination and passion for the social care sector.
Georgia Hollis started volunteering at Fairways Care Home, in New Romney, as part of her Duke of Edinburgh award six years ago, spending time with residents, painting their nails and taking them for walks. Over the years, she has gone on to progress through various roles, including working in the kitchen, carer and shift leader, before landing in her current senior role.
Following in the footsteps of her father, who works on the maintenance of the home, and her brother who worked as a general assistant, Georgia’s interest was initially piqued after hearing the stories from her family about their time at Fairways. After spending a short time volunteering, Georgia was won over by the warm and welcoming environment and knew she wanted a full time role at the home, which specialises in residential, respite and dementia care.
Speaking about what makes Fairways so special to her, Georgia said: “I love interacting with the residents and seeing how the small things that we do can have such a big impact on their life. This is their home and we are here contributing to it by providing such a friendly and warm environment for them. It’s nice just knowing that they’re happy where they are and get to enjoy their twilight years with us.”
Georgia’s progress at the home and increasing responsibilities can be attributed to her bubbly personality, kind nature, and hard work. Her growth and confidence have been nurtured by both the staff and residents, who have enjoyed watching her journey over the past six years.
Speaking of her colleague, Alison Yarnley, Registered Manager at Fairways Care Home, said: “It’s always a joy to witness our team members grow and develop, and I’m thrilled for Georgia. We’re committed to providing a supportive environment for personal and professional development and I’m confident that with Georgia’s knowledge and experience already, she will excel in her new role as acting senior carer and continue to provide outstanding care to our residents.”
When asked what advice she would give to someone considering a career in care, Georgia said: “Don’t think that it’s an easy job, because it’s really not. It can be quite challenging and some of the tasks you have to do can be quite tough, but it is also so rewarding and you get a lot of job satisfaction out of it.”
And for those considering a care home for their loved one, Georgia said: “It can be quite daunting at first, but it’s ultimately the best thing for them going forward. There have been many occasions where family members have been unsure, but after visiting our home they see how happy their loved ones can be and decide that it’s the best thing for them and what they really want.”
Fairways strives to offer the best in care for its residents in a warm, comfortable, and relaxed environment. Its focus is on accessibility, compassion, and independence, helping residents to blossom and grow under its care.
Read the full story here...
Musical memories: home resident shares sax story for Music Day
Roy's journey into the world of music began at a young age when he discovered the saxophone, albeit after initially aspiring to play the clarinet. Reminiscing about his early days, Roy fondly recalls the joy of attempting to play along with the hits on pirate radio, with early experiences shaping his deep passion for music.
After working as a potato picker, Roy eventually found his way to the saxophone when his clarinet needed new reeds, before eventually selling the instrument to purchase a ring for his now-wife, Jessie.
In 1970, The Roy Bishop Sound was born, named serendipitously after a bishop’s chess piece that happened to be in Roy's hand during a discussion about different names. The band began as a three-piece ensemble, and over time, it grew in numbers, incorporating a bass player, guitarists, and singers.
Roy, 87, who now lives with dementia, spoke fondly of his musical past: “I’m left with so many memories of happy times and a keen ear and passion for music. I still remember attending the concert of one of my biggest influences, Victor Silvester OBE, a musician from the British dance band era. The lights went down on an empty stage and when they came back on the piano player was sitting there and began playing, captivating the audience. I knew then I wanted to perform in similar venues, and I went on to have a lovely career.”
Music has a unique ability to stimulate memories and emotions, allowing individuals to reconnect with their past and evoke positive feelings whilst also helping to reduce agitation and improve mood — especially in those living with dementia. Reminiscing about these past times on World Music Day helps individuals to engage in meaningful conversations, promoting a sense of identity and belonging.
Dale Knighton, Activities Coordinator at Gabriel Court, said: “Talking to Roy about his past in music has made it clear to me that music has a great impact on people's memories and emotions. It’s been lovely hearing Roy share these memories and listen to some of the music of his life. Music is generational and is a great way to open up someone's world."
Discover the full story here...
ACI Care celebrates double triumph at Kent Care Awards
ACI Care’s The Old Rectory care home in Dymchurch has celebrated a double triumph at the Kent Care Awards.
Kelly Parker and Dalia Neves won Registered Manager and Dementia Champion respectively, at the ceremony at the Mercure Great Danes Hotel.
Parker said: “I’m delighted to have won an award but it’s also a testament to the incredible team I have the privilege to lead and the wonderful residents we care for. I’m grateful to those that have supported me and we will continue to work as a team to provide excellent standards of care.”
The Old Rectory’s sister home, Fairways Residential, in New Romney, received finalist awards in the following categories: Residential Registered Manager – Alison Yarnley; Workforce Development Award – Leah Hirst; Residential Champion – Georgia Hollis; Innovation Award – Michelle Millard; and Care Team – Fairways Residential Home.
Michelle Millard, head of operations at ACI Care, said: “We’re so proud of the winners and finalists across our two amazing homes. For us, the Kent Care Awards is about the industry coming together to celebrate amazing care for residents in our area. This is why we get out of bed each day.”
Check out the full article here...
Residents invite community to join their beach clean-up efforts
Residents from a Kent care home are appealing to the care community to join them in cleaning up beaches for International Coastal Cleanup Day — a global initiative dedicated to preserving the coastlines and protecting wildlife that also coincides with the Great British Beach Clean.
The Old Rectory, a branch of ACI Care that specialises in residential, respite and dementia care, is hoping to team up with members of their local community for a day of beach cleaning in Dymchurch – with its residents having expressed a desire to help maintain the environment for future generations.
As part of their efforts though, they’re appealing to the wider care community to get involved too – as they seek to sustain and maintain the environment for future generations.
In recent years, the growing problem of beach litter and pollution has been a cause for concern and hasn’t gone unnoticed by the residents of the New Hall Close home.
These concerns led to conversations about what they could do, and this resulted in proposing a beach clean up, which is now set to take place on September 16 at 2pm, just over an hour after high tide – a peak time for coastal debris.
Registered manager Kelly Parker said: “We’re really lucky to be so close to the sea, and our residents want to do their bit to help future generations enjoy it.” And whilst we’re doing our own beach clean, we’re encouraging other coastally based care communities to get involved too and go to their own local beaches on September 16.
“A scenario where care communities around the country get involved would be fantastic – and would set a wonderful example to younger generations and communities.”
As part of the cleanup, the team from the Old Rectory will provide participants with litter pickers, gloves, rubbish bags and high-vis jackets.