Domiciliary Care | Secure Healthcare Solutions

Working in the summer as a healthcare worker for a healthcare agency can be difficult because of the warm weather conditions. It is important that you stay cool and cool yourself down to prevent exhaustion.
Warm weather can cause health risks. It is vital that you identify the signs if someone is struggling in the warm weather and what you should do to protect yourself and service users from the heat.
There are various symptoms that individuals can experience in heat. These include:
* Heat stroke, which is life threatening illness in which the body temperature may be above (41 °C) within a short a short period of time.
* Heat cramps, muscle pains or spasms that occur during heavy exercise. Generally, you get these in your abdomen, arms and legs.
* Difficulty breathing and increased heart rate
* Dehydration, nausea or vomiting
* Difficulty sleeping, drowsiness, faintness and changes in behaviour
* Heat can affect the heart and respiratory system

Secure Healthcare’s tips to keep your body temperature down
Take regular showers and baths
We highly encourage you to take regular cool showers or baths. If you are providing home care for an individual, it may require you to assist an individual with a shower or bath. Even though it can be difficult during a warm period, it is important that patients regularly have a bath.

Drink regularly
While providing personal home care to an individual during the warm weather, one the most important things is to stay hydrated, particularly by drinking water and juice regularly. On average you are supposed to drink 2 litres of water a day, however during the warm weather we encourage you increase this intake. If you are providing care for an individual, you should monitor their daily fluid intake to ensure service users are hydrated.

Wear comfortable clothing
For our live-in carers, it is advised to wear clothing that is appropriate for warm weather conditions. This could be by wearing loose clothing which helps individuals feel comfortable. Here at Secure Healthcare Solutions, we provide our employees short sleeve tops and clothing appropriate for warm weather conditions. When providing care to patients it is important that they are dressed appropriately and feel comfortable, particularly during the warm weather.

Eat cold foods
During the warm weather, we encourage you to eat cold food, as opposed to hot food, eating food with high water content will also keep you hydrated, eating healthy foods such as fruits and salads contributes to a large amount of water to your diet.

Stay in the shade
When it is really hot, stay in the shade as much as possible to avoid heat stroke and heat exhaustion, it is recommended to stay in the shade as much as you can. Although sun is the best way to receive vitamin D, it is important to wear sunglasses and sun cream when outdoors to protect you from the sun.

Ventilated room
The room should be ventilated to ensure there is fresh air coming into the house. This is generally done by opening windows within the property. You could also use fans and air conditioning to ensure yourself or somebody you provide care for feel comfortable.

As a healthcare company, it is important that our staff and service users feel comfortable during the warm weather. Our staff have been professionally trained to deal with individuals in the warm weather.

Contact us on 0121 285 9449 or email us on homecare@securehealthcaresolutions to see how we can support you as staff or provide home care for your loved ones during the warm weather.

An individual with a learning disability often finds it difficult to understand and perform day to day tasks. Tasks may take longer to perform and some may require support from a carer to complete care. The individual living with a learning disability may find it difficult to process complicated information, interaction with other people can be a struggle, apart from primary carers who they are likely to have built a relationship with. Statistics show that 1.5mn people have a learning disability. Sometimes learning disabilities can be associated with conditions such as autism, individuals living with a learning disability will not require the same level of care. To find out more about various learning disabilities click on the link.

Individuals with learning difficulties may struggle to undertake day to day tasks, particularly if they have autism, these individuals may struggle to cook and clean, to being unable to fill in paperwork and pay bills. Individuals problems may vary and the care and support required will also differ.

Individuals living with learning difficulties often find it difficult to mix with society, and often have trouble looking after themselves. If you or your loved ones are struggling to cope alone, we encourage you to contact us, so we can support and provide care for individuals with learning difficulties.

Our live-in carers will follow a structured tailored care plan devised by our care managers after an initial care assessment has been carried out. The care plan has been devised to ensure loved ones feel safe and secure around their surroundings.

Carers will identify and adapt learn the preferences of the individuals to create a detailed care plan which will enable them to live independently. It is our carers responsibility to ensure that individuals physical and emotional needs are met. Our live-in carers may assist individuals with cooking, cleaning, washing, assisting with grocery shops or attending various places.

Our carers will develop a strong friendly relationship with the individual requiring care. They aim to involve your loved one with as many different activities aligned to the individuals interests, to keep them engaged and ensure there is a routine.

Caring for a loved one with a learning disability can be difficult, however we are here to support you. Whether this is caring for an individual in a care home or home care, we offer effective and affordable care to ensure your loved one is well looked after and supported. We offer 24-hour care if required, to be as flexible as you need us to be.

We offer the following learning disability services at Secure Healthcare Solutions:

* Domiciliary care provided within individuals personal homes.
* Registered care and nursing care within a care home or at the individuals own home.

Our specialist areas of learning disability include:

* Autism spectrum disorder
* Schizophrenia
* Personality disorder
* Anxiety/mood disorders
* Obsessive compulsive disorder

We are registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Please visit the link to find out more about our rating
If you are seeking learning disability support care for your loved ones, get in touch with our care team today, contact us on 01902 302 017 or email homecare@securesolutions.co.uk

The NHS faces one of the greatest challenges of delayed discharge of patients as there is no or insufficient home support to meet the daily essential needs when patients are ready to leave the hospital, resulting in patients remaining in the care of the NHS. This results to hospital beds being occupied, which becomes very costly for the NHS, also it restricts treatments for those that are more likely to need it. Healthy patients can also contract illnesses in hospitals such as flu or urinary tract infections. Delayed discharge has resulted in a difficult cycle which hospitals are finding difficult to overcome, despite all the hard work of the hospital staff and adult social services within the local authorities.

Secure healthcare is here to offer compassionate and efficient discharge services across the UK. We ensure that we take care of the patients’ discharge when the healthcare professionals at the hospital have approved for the patient to be discharged. We make sure that the patient returns safely within their home or care home and ensure they receive the support and care required after they leave the hospital.

What is Secure Healthcare Solutions Fast Track Discharge Services?
Our discharge services ensure patients return to their homes or care homes safely, reducing the amount of time spent in the hospital and avoiding necessary delays. We provide after-care when released from the hospital to ensure patients receive adequate support.

We can:

Create a post-discharge plan to suit individual patient needs.
Arrange to accompany a patient home from the hospital or can arrange to meet the patient on arrival at home.
We can provide further support to those that require it to settle back in, which could include helping with shopping for basic food and clothing essentials, ensuring the house is clean and tidy, supplying basic medicine if required. This is essential for patients that do not have much or any family support.
Remain overnight or stay with the individual requiring care for a few days, or providing more intensive support if required.
Check-in with the patient to ensure that they are receiving the sufficient care required.
Whether you require a nurse, healthcare care assistant, or community support worker, we are here to provide this support.
We operate 24/7 and our team can deal with any discharge inquiries.
Agree with individual, family, or care manager about the extra support required when discharged from the hospital, short term, and long-term requirements to ensure that we are providing quality care.
Communicate with GP’s, Nurses, and hospital professionals about the support the individual patient will require to prevent the patient from being readmitted.

The NHS provides further information about arranging care before leaving the hospital. Click here to find out more.

Secure healthcare solutions are here to support those that require discharge services across the Midlands and Staffordshire, areas including Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Stafford, Stoke, Coventry, Cheshire, Shropshire, Worcester, and much more.
Speak to us today to see how we can support patients with discharge services. Email us at homecare@securesolutions.co.uk or call us on 01902 302 017 to discuss how we can support you to provide the best possible care and support.

As you get older you tend to not move around so much and your joints and muscles can weaken. Elderly people can suffer from poorer eyesight, pain when you move, and reduced coordination – all of which might be the reason that you can no longer get around as you once did. This is why it is important to partake in physiotherapy to help battle this. Physiotherapy is often thought of as something to keep athletes in shape, but the reality is that it can help anybody at any time.

It is essentially the process of improving the movement and function of your body and anyone can benefit from it. When setting up a care plan for yourself or a loved one, it is a good idea to speak to the carer about physiotherapy options and how this can be integrated with the plan at hand. Home carers can work with or liaise with physiotherapists to ensure you get the care that you need. Here are some top benefits of including physiotherapy in care plans for the elderly.

What will a physiotherapist do?

– Find out about any falls at home or concerns you might have
– Decide the best approach to tackle this
– Work on strength and balance
– Show the patient how to do some exercises on their own to strengthen muscles at any time

How can physiotherapy in care plans for the elderly help?

It can improve mobility

When deciding care plans for the elderly, the aim needs to be on making their life as comfortable and independent as can be. By doing physiotherapy it improves your mobility and can enable you to walk around the house better, doing more things on your own.

It is a safe way to exercise

When you get older you might not be able to just pop out for a game of tennis or a job as and when you feel like it. Yet that doesn’t mean you don’t want to do some exercise – particularly if you used to be into fitness. Physiotherapy is a safe and risk-free way of getting a bit of exercise into a daily routine. You will be assigned small exercises that are within your capabilities and will be overseen by a carer or physiotherapist.

It can reduce the chances of a fall

A fall is a scary thing for both the person involved and their loved ones. One in three people over 65 have a fall each year and 10-25% suffer a serious injury from this. By partaking in physiotherapy and improving strength and balance, this helps to reduce the chances of a fall and therefore be much safer around the home.

It can aid with recovery

Home care plans for the elderly aid with recovery as soon as possible. If you have just returned from the hospital due to injury or something such as a stroke, physiotherapy can help you regain strength and mobility. Your physiotherapist will put you on a plan tailored to your needs. If you are coming out of the hospital and won’t be able to do things at home like you normally would, we can provide emergency care at home to help.

These are just a few things that a physiotherapist will do to help with home care plans for the elderly.

To find out more about our home care plans or our home care vacancies, please get in touch.

We are celebrating nutrition and hydration week to highlight the importance of nutrition and hydration within the healthcare sector.

Nutrition and hydration are very important, particularly for the older generation. Not consuming enough food and not being hydrated can cause fragile skin and bones, dizziness, headaches and feel weak, increased risk of infections, falls, kidney problems, and many other problems.

It essential that we provide our patients a nutritious well-balanced diet and ensure our patients are hydrated on a consistent basis, our healthcare staff ensures our patients healthy and energized.

Secure healthcare work closely with chefs at care/nursing homes and home care patients to assist and support to ensure individuals receive nutritious tasty meals and make sure our patients are hydrated.

It is important to have a well-balanced diet that is nutritious and that you remain hydrated, as your long term health is likely to be impacted if you are not doing this, whether that is if you are not eating enough or if you are eating fatty foods such as pizza, cheese, fast food meals, etc. Having a well-balanced nutritious diet and staying hydrated will ensure you are energized throughout the day and you will be much healthier.

The British Nutrition Foundation highlights that one-third of our diet should be made up of fruit and vegetables. A portion of fruit and vegetables is 80grams and it is important to have 5 portions to contribute towards your 5-a-day.

Fruit and vegetables are important to contribute towards your vitamins and minerals, to ensure a healthy well-balanced diet, and reduce nutritional deficiencies. Fruit can be a good way to start your day, eating a banana full of, high in sugar and fiber will give you great morning energy, also it vital to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables throughout the day to ensure you have a nutritious diet.

High fiber fruit and vegetables are good for the digestive system, to remove waste more efficiently. Eating a diet with fiber can reduce blood cholesterol levels, prevent heart disease, bowel cancer, and type 2 diabetes.

Click here to find out more about different fruit and vegetables nutritious information

Protein

Is it essential that you have a diet that has your daily protein intake to fuel your energy and to help you repair your body cells and make new ones? For adults it is recommended to take an average of 0.8g of protein per kilogram body weight per day, for example, if you weigh 75kg, you would need 60grams of protein per day. If you work out having 20-30grams of extra protein after workout out is important, to repair your muscles.

Some high protein foods per (100g) include: Chicken breast (28g), Salmon (20g), Cheese (25g), Red lentils (7.6g), Chickpeas (8.4g), Oatmeal (11.2g), Almonds (21.1g)

Hydrate your body

Ensure that your drink enough water throughout the day to make sure you are hydrated. Hot drinks often tend to cause dehydration, therefore it is important that you drink water throughout the day. In the UK it is recommended that adults have 1600ml of fluid (women) and 2000ml of fluid (men), approximately 6-8 glasses a day. For those that do not drink enough, you will feel dehydrated, you will become thirsty, urine will become darker in colour, and will notice a stronger smell, you may also experience headaches, feeling dizzy and tired, and finding it difficult to concentrate.

Vitamin D is one of the most important vitamins required throughout the year for the human body to feel energized throughout the year. This vitamin relies on a large amount of exposure to sunlight and is known as the sunshine vitamin. The limited sunshine in the UK results in a lot of the UK being deficient in vitamin D, particularly during the winter months, also the BAME community is at increased risk of lower levels of vitamin D, as darker skin absorbs far less vitamin D than lighter skin.

The main factors likely to increase being affected by Vitamin D deficiency include:

Living in a country where there is a limited amount of sun exposure all year round
Having darker skin, less likely to absorb vitamin D
Spending a lot of time indoors
Lacking a diet rich in vitamin D foods
Being Obese
Elderly

Approximately 1 in 5 people have low vitamin D in the UK. There have been several studies reported that those who lack vitamin D are more likely to experience more severe Covid 19 symptoms. Studies carried out indicate that individuals lacking vitamin D are more likely to die with Covid 19. It is particularly important for individuals low in Vitamin D to take vitamin supplements and eat foods rich in vitamin D.

Symptoms of low Vitamin D

Bone and muscle pain
Fatigue and tiredness
Hair Loss
Reoccurring bacterial and viral infections
Feeling depressed and mood changes

What to do if you feel you have Vitamin D deficiency?

If you are experiencing the symptoms mentioned above and you feel you have a vitamin D deficiency, we strongly encourage you to speak with your doctor to arrange a blood test to check your vitamin D levels.

The NHS recommends adults take a vitamin supplement throughout the year. The recommended dosage is 400 IU (10ug per day), as it not possible to achieve sufficient levels of vitamin D through a diet alone. If your vitamin D level is very low, your doctor is likely to write you a stronger dose of vitamin D.

Fair-skinned people should spend 15-20 minutes per day in the sun, particularly in the spring and summer, to avoid vitamin D deficiency all year, during the winter period vitamin D will from coming from your diet and vitamin D supplements.

Darker-skinned people’s exposure to sunlight should be 20-40 minutes due to being unable to absorb sunlight as effectively as lighter skin colors.
Food which contains vitamin D includes:

Oily fish such as salmon, sardines, mackerel, and trout

Red meat
Cod liver oil
Orange Juice
Egg Yolks
Fortified cereals, dairy, and milk
Mushrooms

Secure Healthcare Solutions recommends to find out more about vitamin D deficiency, visit the NHS using the link below.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-d/

When a loved one has dementia, the home can have a big impact on them and how they live their life. When someone has dementia it can be a frightening and confusing experience both for them and their loved ones. They can often experience symptoms such as confusion, memory loss and difficulty learning new things. This means that they might forget how to do things around the house. Or they might forget where things are kept. By making the house more dementia friendly, you can make this process much easier for them.

It is important to remember that not every point might apply to every person and that it is not a good idea to do everything overnight. Big changes can often make their condition worse, so you will want to do things gradually. Take a look through the list and decide what will be best for the individual. We have a range of Dementia care services in Dudley, Walsall, Birmingham, Wolverhampton and surrounding areas so are here to advise if you need any further help. As soon as you think “where can I find dementia care near me?” don’t hesitate to get in touch. Here are some top ways to make your home more dementia-friendly.

1. Ensure there is good lighting
It is important to ensure that the home is well lit. This will enable you to see clearly where you are going and if there are any potential trip hazards. Daylight and good internal lighting will help to eradicate any shadows or dark areas that can make the floor confusing. It can also help you to roughly keep track of the time of day. You can set up smart devices that will turn lights on at a certain time of day so that they automatically come on if the room is starting to get dark.

2. Eliminate any unnecessary noise
Unnecessary noise can be stressful and confusing, particularly if the individual has hearing aids. You can reduce noise by getting fabric items such as cushions, carpet and curtains. These can help to absorb sounds such as that of walking on laminate flooring. It is also a good idea to turn the radio or television off when it is not in use. For dementia care at home, this is a simple yet effective way to help.

3. Remove any potential hazards
It is important to remove any potential hazards that the individual could be affected by. Remove any rugs that could be a tripping hazard, particularly those at the tops of stairs or in rooms that aren’t as well lit. It could also be a good idea to lock away any hazardous products such as those used for cleaning. People with dementia could get confused, you don’t want them to find and either consume them or get them on their skin which could cause irritation or injury.

4. Put up signs around the house
To help with dementia care at home, put signs up labelling what certain rooms are for. For example, you could put a sign up on the toilet door with the word toilet and an image of a toilet. This could help with them trying to remember what room is for what function in the home.

This will prevent them from becoming distressed at not being able to find what they are looking for. You could also put up signs for things such as the kettle or microwave and instructions on using them. Putting timers next to devices can also be a good way of helping them not forget about things such as putting the kettle on.

5. Display photos of loved ones and happy memories
Items such as photos of family members or loved ones can help with dementia care at home. It can help them to feel comforted and keep their loved ones in their mind. It is a good idea to put a photo of the recipient next to their phone number. Pin this up in case they can’t remember who to call. Make items such as puzzles, books, photographs and essential phone numbers easy to find and put them in multiple places around the home.

If you are looking for dementia care in Dudley, Walsall, Birmingham, Wolverhampton and beyond, Secure Healthcare Solutions are here to help. Our dementia care services ensure that your loved one is looked after at home. We will make them feel as relaxed and happy as possible. For more information about our dementia care at home and dementia care services, please take a look here or get in touch with us today.

When the time comes for you to introduce a home carer to your or a loved one’s life, it can feel like a big step. You probably have a lot of questions to ask and things you are thinking about before it happens. It can feel difficult, confusing, or a bit overwhelming, but this is completely normal and to be expected. In order to make it a bit easier for you, we have put together some of the top questions that you might have thought of but don’t know the answers to, or those that you haven’t even thought to ask. Here are our top questions to ask your home carer before they start…

1. Why did you start working in care?

This is a great question to ask your home carer as it helps you to get to know your potential home carer and what their personality is like. After all, if you are going to be accepting someone regularly into your home and to look after you, you want to know you trust them, their personality, and their professionalism. If you know what prompted them to begin their career as a carer, you will find out about their journey and hear stories about what they have done. It is also a great way to get to know them a bit more and find out if they are someone you gel and connect with for your home care.

2. Do you visit me before my home care starts?

You will receive your own dedicated home care plan before your carer starts with you and this will usually be decided following a care assessment process. The person who will be your main carer or a dedicated care manager will come and visit you ahead of time so you can answer any questions (such as in this article) and they can conduct a health and safety risk assessment as well as find out a bit more about you. They will be able to see your living situation, what your condition is like (if you have one), and how you currently go about your day to day life. When your bespoke care plan is created, they will ask questions such as any medications you require, any challenges you face with your daily life such as mobility, hearing or sight, your dietary needs, who else helps with your care, and your lifestyle choices, preferences and beliefs.

3. Will I always have the same carer? How often will I see them?

We know how important it is to have someone that is constant in your life. Someone that can get to know you as a person, your preferences with how you like things done, and knows your routine. If you were to have a myriad of different carers every day not only would this be an inconvenience, but can also be unsettling. Because of this, we try to ensure you have the same couple of carers as much of the time as possible. Sometimes this cannot be the case, for example, if your regular carer is off sick or on holiday, but you should be given a different carer who you have probably met and interacted with before. Remember that it is down to you with how you feel about your carer and if after a few visits you aren’t comfortable with them, you are well within your rights to ask for someone else.

4. What costs are included?

The costs for your home care plan will depend on a number of different factors. The amount you pay can depend on if your local council has carried out a care needs assessment and agreed you are eligible for this, your income, and your savings. The council will do a means test to decide how much you need to pay. If you are self-funding your care, you will need to arrange this yourself. As well as the charges per visit, you will also need to find out where they stand on costs such as mileage for trips if VAT is included and National Insurance for the care worker. You will also need to consider things such as shopping money or petrol money for the carer if they go out to fetch your shopping or other items for you during the day.

5. How can I make it easier for you to help me?

Last on our list of questions to ask your home carer is a simple yet worthwhile question as it will help you both with some clarity on what you need. It will show that you understand there are challenges faced within the role, but you want to make it as easy as possible. They might be able to make some suggestions for you which will make you feel more independent or comfortable. For example, you may feel shy and not want to speak up about certain things in case you offend them, but they might not know they are doing something wrong or not how you like it. If you speak up, this will help them care for you in the way you feel most comfortable, and make them feel happier that they are doing their job properly.

These are some of the most important questions to ask your home carer before having them start in your home. It is a big step for all of those involved and therefore it is important that you feel comfortable. Find out more about our home care services here.

If you are looking for a home care role, we have many vacancies and information which you can find here. Get in touch with us today.

As people’s lives change, support could be needed in order to assist them to live as close to an independent life as possible. This could be at any stage of life, due to a disability, old age, or mental health problems. As a domiciliary care worker, you are there to make a difference in their lives, supporting clients to maintain their quality of life. Here at Secure Healthcare Solutions, we have a range of domiciliary care jobs for you. Whether you are looking to join the career and it is something you have wanted to do for a while, or you just want to find a bit more about what is a domiciliary care worker entails, we have put together the following blog post to make it a bit clearer.

What Is a Domiciliary Care Worker?

As a domiciliary care worker, you will be looking after people’s loved ones in the facility of their own home. You will be there to support them with day to day tasks that they are struggling to complete, due to age or a particular illness. As a domiciliary care worker, you can choose to work nights or days, helping your patients feel independent and able to live a quality life. You should be patient and empathetic to the challenging situations that your client may have. When looking for domiciliary care jobs, ensure you check where it is based and if you will be working days or nights or if there is a choice.

What would day to day duties typically be?

As a domiciliary care worker, your roles will vary depending on the situation of your patients. You are there to help the patient feel at home and will support them with living independently. You’ll be tested on a daily basis and no two days will be the same. It’s important that you use your initiative and are approachable and patient as your client will be asking you to support them with a variety of tasks, these can include:

Supporting them when seeing doctors or nurses
Helping to get them around the house
Supporting them with household tasks
Preparing their daily meals
Supporting with their personal care
Helping them get ready in the evening and to bed
Being there to talk to and give them company

How to get started as a domiciliary care worker?

If you want to become a domiciliary care worker but don’t have any experience, don’t let this stop you. To work in this field, you don’t need to have any previous experience, as long as you have worked in positions that require you to have a similar skillset and certain qualities, you will be considered. Key qualities of domiciliary care duties include punctuality, good communication skills, ability to work under pressure, and always maintaining a high standard of care, hygiene, and organization. If you are considered for the domiciliary care job, introductory training is always provided to help you feel confident in your ability.

What career progression is there for a Domiciliary Care Worker?

There are a variety of positions you can move to once you have been a domiciliary care worker. If you want to study whilst on the job, you can train to be a domiciliary care manager. In this position, you will be in charge of other domiciliary care workers, similar to how your manager will be to you. Alternatively, you could work towards being a care home manager however with this you may need some extra qualifications on top of your domiciliary care management ones.

Where can I find care jobs and health jobs to become a domiciliary?

As a specialist company, we at Secure Healthcare Solutions have a whole array of domiciliary care jobs available within the healthcare profession. If you are looking to become a domiciliary care worker, please get in touch and we will help find you a suitable role, matching your requirements. Find out more about Secure Healthcare Solutions and our available domiciliary care jobs on our website today.