home carer | Secure Healthcare Solutions

As you get older it could be that you lose your appetite. There are many reasons for this, whether it is due to medical issues such as dysphagia, stomach and digestion issues, or mental health conditions that make them not hungry. This can be a struggle for a carer or family member who looks after them as they need to eat to get vital nutrients and minerals in their body to ensure they keep their strength up. If you are looking for ways to combat lack of appetite in the elderly, here are some ways that you can help. Whether you are a home carer or looking for a home carer to assist with your personal care at home services, then we are here to help.

Think about food texture

It is important to consider the texture of food when giving it to someone. If they are suffering from difficulty swallowing, sore gums or a dry mouth then you don’t want foods that are going to exacerbate that. It is a good idea to try foods such as soups, stews and smoothies which can help provide them with nutrients without being painful or difficult to eat. You can also liaise with their doctor to see if there is anything they can advise.

Enjoy meals with them

Meals can be much more enjoyable if they are eaten with someone. As a home carer, you might not be able to eat at the same time as your client, but you could stay and keep them company. Sometimes just having a bit of extra company while you eat can be a real encouragement. Alternatively you

Find flavoured foods

As you get older your taste buds can weaken and this can make food seem much more unappealing. If this is the reason for loss of appetite then it is a good idea to focus on food that stimulates flavour. This includes things such as garlic, chilli and other herbs and spices. Plain food such as rice or pasta can seem extremely flavourless if they are served on their own.

Encourage meals that are smaller but more often

If your loved one or the one you provide personal care for has a lack of appetite then it could be that they benefit more from meals that are little or often. A big meal can seem overwhelming so instead, try to help them to eat a few times a day, with less on their plates. As long as they are getting the right nutrients and vitamins throughout the day it doesn’t matter how many meals this is spread over.

Look into a meal delivery service

It can be a struggle for elderly people to cook food and if they have something such as dementia they might forget to prepare something or not remember how to use the oven. It might also be dangerous for them to do so. If this is the case, it can be a good idea to use a meal delivery service. There are many companies out there where you select meals for the next week the week before, and then they get delivered at mealtimes. These are healthy and nutritious and can cater for dietary needs.

If an elderly relative or someone you care for is suffering from a lack of appetite then these top tips can help to get them back on track. For care at home service that can assist with personal care then please get in touch today.

Looking for a job in personal care or as a home carer? We have a number of vacancies here. Find out how you can help and find your ideal new role today.

If you have a condition that limits your mobility, it can be difficult to keep healthy and there can be a parallel between your level of mobility and your level of overall health. Yet it is important not to let it stop you from living a healthy life. Having a disability or limited movement can mean that your ability to take care of yourself physically and emotionally isn’t the easiest of tasks, but it is important to do in order to promote your overall happiness and wellbeing. With a home carer helping with your personal care, this can happen.

Home carers can help you to take care of yourself and lend assistance or support you with tasks that you might otherwise find tricky. This can include getting washed, dressed, preparing meals, and just going about your daily life. If you are looking to live a healthy life with limited mobility, we have some top tips that you can follow.

Learn to accept your disability or condition

It can be difficult to accept your disability as this can make you feel like you are giving in or that you are subject to a limited life. Neither of which is the case. Before you can accept your disability if it is a new one, you need to give yourself time to grieve and get through the process. Recognize that your plans and the way you live your life have been changed unexpectedly and this is something that you need to acknowledge. Remember you don’t need to put on a happy face – you will have bad days and that is okay. Make sure you have family and friends who can support you and if not, that you have external help such as Mind charities or personal care carers who can be there when you need them.

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Find exercises that work for you

While you might not be able to exercise in the same way that you once did, it doesn’t mean that you can’t ever exercise again; you just need to change the way that you do it. Exercising is extremely important for healthy wellbeing and as well as improving your physical health, it also helps mentally. Exercise releases endorphins that improve your mood, relieve stress, and can boost your self-esteem. Depending on your condition you could go swimming. This supports the body and reduces joint and muscle discomfort, as well as reducing risk. You can work out with weights, or you could do stretches which can keep your body and joints supple and mobile.

Focus on your diet

Your diet is really important to support your physical and mental wellbeing. By eating healthily and getting all the nutrients that you need, you are more likely to feel better in yourself and be much healthier too. If you aren’t able to fix meals yourself, then your personal care carer can do this for you, or you can get a meal service that can deliver fresh and nutritious meals to your door every day. Do whatever you feel most happy with and that suits your lifestyle. Ensure that you get enough protein, vitamins, and minerals to stay strong, focused, and positive.

These are just a few ways that you can live a healthy life with limited mobility. If you are looking for a home carer that can assist you with your day-to-day life, then please get in touch. We have a range of personal care and other types of carers here at Secure Healthcare Solutions who can create a plan tailored to your needs. Get in touch today for a home carer who can help you out.

If you have had a family member diagnosed with Parkinson’s, it can be a shock. You can be left wondering what it means and just how you can help with Parkinson’s care. Parkinson’s is a progressive nervous system that affects movement. It gets worse over time and this can be distressing for you to watch a loved one go through. This is why it is a good idea to prepare yourself as early on as possible. Parkinson’s symptoms often start gradually and are barely noticeable. It could be that the person has a slight tremor in a finger, but this gradually gets worse. It is usually followed by stiffness and slowing of movement. Your loved one will need extra help during this time and this is where a Parkinson’s care at home carer can come in. There are also additional things you can do to help.

Learn as much as you can about the condition

When you find out someone has Parkinson’s, it is a good idea to research it. This is so you know what to expect as their condition progresses. While not everyone is the same and they don’t move at the same pace, it is better to prepare yourself for certain things that might occur. There are books you can read, blogs you can find online, websites, and charities that are all on hand to help you out. You can also ask your Parkinson’s care carer for any advice.

Let your loved one have as much independence as possible

Being diagnosed with Parkinson’s’ can be frustrating for the person that has received the diagnosis. They will likely want to retain as much independence as possible. This will ensure that they can feel like themselves and not like they are useless. Instead of doing everything for them, let them try it themselves. You could also offer. For example, if they look like they want a drink, ask if they would like you to make it for them or for them to do it themselves.

Parkinson's care — Photo by **Pixabay** from **Pexels**

Help them to get active

Keeping active is especially important for those suffering from Parkinson’s. Exercise helps the brain to use dopamine which is a chemical involved in the movement. This can help with Parkinson’s care. You can help them to stay active with things such as going on a walk with them, doing an exercise class such as yoga, or even simple exercises at home. These will also help to improve their mental health as well as their physical health. It is also a lovely way for you to all spend some time together too!

Keep an eye out for worsening symptoms

If someone has Parkinson’s, their symptoms will gradually worsen. They might not notice it themselves, but you could. Keep an eye out for if their speech, walking ability or movements change. It is also important to check that they aren’t getting depressed as this can cause them to decline faster. It could be a good idea to keep a diary of their symptoms so you can track if anything changes.

These are a few ways that you can help to look after someone with Parkinson’s disease. Here at Secure Healthcare Solutions, we have a range of carers who are specialized in Parkinson’s care. Find out more and how we can help you here.

If you are looking for a role as a home carer, check out our vacancies here.

If you have a relative that is sick, your natural instinct is that you want to care for them. After all, the person in question has likely always been there for you and you want to give something back. Yet you could find that after a while it takes its toll. If you have a job that you need to go to every day, have children and pets to look after or have a lengthy journey over to your loved one, it can soon become stressful. The emotional investment can keep you going but it could end up making you ill. If you get ill and burnt out from doing too much work this isn’t good for anyone. This is why it is a good idea to look into getting a home carer. If you are considering this, then there are a few things you need to remember:

Asking for help is not a failure

If you have been looking after a relative for a while, you can feel a sense of failure if you suddenly need to ask for external help. This is not the case. It is important to remember that by asking for help you are doing your loved one and yourself a favor by giving them the best care possible. This is a courageous thing to do and says a lot about how much you care about the other person.

Your relationship with your loved one will probably improve

It can be very stressful looking after your loved one. Even though you want to do it, you may find that your stress shows as resentment or you just find it very distressing to see them that way. When the pressure of caring for them is removed, you can focus on spending quality time with them. You can play games, talk, look at photos and reminisce. Instead of worrying about their care, you can sip cups of tea and just enjoy the time you spend together. This is a much healthier way to spend your time.

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They are better qualified for the role

Your home carer is qualified to do this role and will therefore be very good at it. They will know what to do in certain situations that you might have found distressing or not known what to do. They are also good at handling situations such as getting people dressed or helping them bathe with dignity. If you are too close to someone they can see this as embarrassing or that they don’t want you to do it. A carer is detached enough from the situation that it isn’t an issue.

It is important that if you are finding it difficult to look after a loved one who needs care, that you seek external help. All of our carers at Secure Healthcare Solutions are experts in their field and fully checked by the CQC for their top-quality care. If you are looking to find out more or hire a carer then please get in touch with us today.

If you are looking for a role as a home carer, see our vacancies here.

A cancer diagnosis can be a scary and devastating thing for all those involved. Whether you are the one that has been diagnosed, or it is a family member or friend. This is where cancer care can come in. Cancer care can be there for you right from your initial diagnosis through each stage of your condition. Many people that get cancer can live well for a number of years. By receiving the right care at home they can experience an improved quality of life. All from the comfort of the place they feel most familiar.

There are around 367,000 new cases of cancer every day in the UK, meaning that someone is diagnosed with cancer once every two minutes. Here at Secure Healthcare Solutions, we know how important it is to be supported throughout your cancer journey. We will do what we can to make it more comfortable for you. By receiving cancer care at home you could find that there are a number of benefits. Here are just a few…

It can be more convenient

Making the journey into the hospital when you need a dressing changed or assistance with your catheter can be a hassle. If you don’t drive or don’t have someone who can drive you then it can mean getting public transport. This is something you won’t want to do if you’re feeling poorly. By having cancer care at home you can have someone there to assist you with low-level medical support such as your catheter or stoma or dressing wounds. They can also help you with palliative care if you need it, as well as other specialist care.

You are in your familiar surroundings

There really is nowhere quite like home. By having cancer care at home you can stay in your own familiar surroundings, with your belongings, your photos, and all your memories. This has been shown to help with the mental health of cancer patients. When you are ill or upset, the last place you want to be is in a clinical setting away from everything that you know.

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You will get to know the same faces who look after you

By having cancer care at home you can have the same person look after you and give their dedicated attention. Your carer will be there to help you look after the house when you are unable to. They will prepare your meals, pick up your prescriptions or just give you some company, these are all things that they can do. Your carer knows that having cancer can be a daunting and lonely experience. They will also be an ear to listen to and a shoulder to lean on when you need it the most.

Home-based chemo could be more effective

If part of your cancer care involves you having cancer therapy or treatment at home, it could actually be more effective. A 2010 study in the US on cancer patients showed that those who were treated at home experienced less use of emergency services, better mental health, and higher levels of independence.

These are just a few benefits of cancer care at home. If you are looking for a home carer to help with your cancer care please get in touch today.

If you are looking for a role as a cancer carer or a nurse, please check out our vacancies here.

Mental health is just as important as your physical health and that is why it’s not something that should be neglected. If you are suffering from an illness or if you can’t get out and about like you used to, then it can be detrimental for your mental health. You can find that you don’t want to do activities that you used to be interested in. You could withdraw from yourself and others around you and could end up having potentially harmful thoughts. This is where a home carer can come in.

They can ensure you aren’t alone

One of the biggest causes of mental health issues can derive from loneliness. This has been especially true during the pandemic, but can be a continuous problem. A survey by Age UK found that over 2 million people in England that are over the age of 75 live on their own. They also found that over a million people go over four weeks with no contact with someone they know such as a neighbor, friend, or family member. If you are lonely it can be hard to reach out.

This might be because of pride or just because you feel helpless. Your carer will be a friendly face that you don’t need to reach out to as they will always be there. Whether you need someone during the day or a live-in carer who is with you all the time, you can rest assured you are in safe hands at all times.

They can give you back your independence

One thing that can take a toll on mental health can be if you lose your independence. A carer can help encourage you to do things yourself at home while knowing you are under watchful supervision. By being able to do these things on your own it can help you feel more positive about yourself. This will therefore help your mental wellbeing. You will feel more like your old self, more capable, and have small daily challenges that when you complete will be a real mood booster.

They can help with brain training activities

Your carer can help to set you up with activities that can boost your mental health. This can include word searches, playing chess with you, sudoku and quizzes. These are all good for keeping you feeling positive and your brain active and healthy. It can also help with dementia and reduce your likelihood of developing it as well as potentially slowing symptoms. They can also play your favorite music and help with other activities that can keep your mind busy. It will also be a welcome distraction from any sad or negative thoughts you might be feeling.

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They can address your health concerns

One of the things that could impact your mental health could be if you are worried about your physical wellbeing. If you have recently been diagnosed with a condition then this could leave you feeling worried and anxious, with many questions. A carer has looked after many people and may know the answers to things you are fretting about. If they don’t, they will know the right contacts and be able to get the answers for you.

They can support your family

If your family is looking out for you and know that they are worried about you then it can cause you to feel guilty and impact the way you feel mentally. You might feel like a burden and this can be upsetting. By having a carer you know that your family won’t have to worry about you so much, which in turn can ease your own anxiety and feelings.

These are just a few ways that having a home carer can help with your mental health. If you are suffering mentally make sure you speak to someone and get the help that you deserve. If you are looking for care at home services, we are here to help. Find out more about what we do here.

If you are looking for care at home job, we have a number of vacancies which can be found here.

If you or a loved one are suffering from an illness, have recently come home from hospital, or find that age is meaning you can’t do things around the home as you normally would, it might be time to consider a home carer. A home carer can make a huge difference in your life. They can ensure that you stay living independently in your home; as opposed to having to go to an assisted living facility or a care home. This can be very beneficial to people who don’t want to leave their homes, surroundings, and pets behind. When it comes to the time to get a home carer, it can leave you with a number of questions. The first of these might be “where do I find a home carer near me?” (You’ve come to the right place – here at Secure Healthcare Solutions we can help you with this.) The second might be what hours do I choose for a home carer? If you are stuck at the hours you should select, this article should be able to provide some clarification…

Consider how much you can spend

The cost of care differs around the country but tends to be between £15-£20 an hour. Sometimes councils will be able to contribute to the cost. It is a good idea to get in touch and find out if they can help and how much by. You can also speak to your healthcare team who can advise you on if you are eligible for any funding for care at home services.

Think about the reasons you need a carer for

There are many reasons that you might need a carer. As an example, here at Secure Healthcare Solutions we provide personal care, live-in care, respite care, holiday care, 24-hour care, overnight care, and assisted living – to name but a few! Consider if you need a carer for a specific purpose. This might be to help with medication, to get you up in the mornings, and to bed in the evenings. Or for a company during the middle of the day. There are many reasons that a home carer can help you so think about what will be best for you and your circumstances.Photo by Cristina Serí on Unsplash

Is it permanent or temporary?

Once you have a home carer it doesn’t mean that you will have one forever. It might be that you have just come out of the hospital and need help with your daily tasks while you recover. Or it might be that you have recently had a fall and can’t get around as you did, but you will be better soon. When you are thinking of the hours for a home carer, consider if it is permanent or only temporary.

Remember hours can change

It is important to keep in mind that your home carer hours can change depending on your needs. You will regularly meet with your home carer (or they can speak to a loved one for you). They will ensure that you are getting the right care for your needs. If you start with just an hour in the morning and the evening but then find this isn’t enough, we can up your hours to something more suited for you. Similarly, if they are coming for too long each day and you don’t need them for that amount of time, let them know and your hours can be cut down.

These are just a few tips when it comes to choosing the hours for your home carer. If you are looking for a home carer, please get in touch with us at Secure Healthcare Solutions today and find out how we can help.

If you are a home carer looking for a new role, we have a number of vacancies that you can see here.

hIt could come to a point in your or a family member’s life when certain home adaptations are needed to be made around the home to help with everyday tasks. If you have a home carer, one of the main benefits is that you can retain your independence and live at home. Yet there are still certain things that can be done to make it that little bit easier. One thing that you can do is make home adaptations.

If you are worried about falling over, accessing items in your kitchen, or getting in and out of the bath, there are things that you can do. Speak to your home care team who can also help with what might be best for you.

Top home adaptations that you might need to make in your home include:

Motion sensor lights – These can be placed so they automatically turn on when you get out of bed or walk in the front door. This can help to prevent trips and falls.
Stairlifts and a second-hand rail – If you struggle with getting up the stairs, these options can make it much safer and easier to do.
A key safe or door entry system – This will prevent you from having to get up every time the door goes for your carer or family member but also ensures that only those with the correct code will have access to your home.
Shower seats and bath rails – If you have a bath or shower, the hardest thing can be getting in and out, or standing up for the duration. Rails will help with this.
Powered recliner chairs – If you have trouble getting out of your chair, a powered riser-recliner will aid you with this.

Look to see what financial help is available

When it comes to making home adaptations, it can be expensive. Luckily there is financial help available if you need it. You might be eligible for support from your local council if you need to make small changes. Otherwise, for larger adaptations, you can apply for a disabled facilities grant.

Once you have applied for this, you will have an occupational therapist visit your home. They will walk around with you and you can show them what you struggle with. You will then work out just what you might need together. These assessments usually take at least an hour. It can be helpful to have a friend or family member with you to help explain your situation. They can also take notes if necessary.

Small adaptations usually don’t cost anything. The council should pay for each adaptation that costs less than £1,000. If you need a more expensive adaptation such as to widen doors to make room for a wheelchair or fitting a wet room, you could apply for the Disabled Facilities Grant or the Independence At Home grant.

Think about the future

When you are looking to get home adaptations, it is important that you think not only of what will be good now but also what will suit your needs for the future. It is better to get as much done in one go. This will save having to keep coming back and change what you are doing to your house, causing more hassle. When someone comes to do your assessment, this is something that you can talk about with them. If you have a home carer you can also ask them for advice to make your home better equipped for your needs.

Need more help at home? Want advice on your home adaptations? Whether you are looking for a home carer, personal care or a live-in carer, we are here to help. Check out our services and what we can do for you.

When it comes to a point in yours or a loved one’s life that they can no longer cope living at home, you will have to consider what the next step is. The two main options are usually live-in care or care homes. While both offer the same fundamental propositions, there are many differences between them. Both offer expert care 24/7, seven days a week on a long-term (or short term) basis depending on what is needed. There are benefits and detrimental points to both, but home care services have been rising in popularity more and more over recent years. And with good reason. A good alternative to sending your loved one to live in residential care, it offers all the benefits of a care home, with others added on too. Here are some top reasons that care at home is rising in popularity.

Care at home means you can stay in familiar surroundings

If you go to live in a care home you are being taken away from all that you know and hold dear. Houses are so much more than bricks and mortar, and many have been the home of the occupant for many years. In this time you would have built up a host of memories and created a space that you love and cherish. Being taken away from all your belongings and the sights, smells, sounds and routines that you know so well can be challenging; particularly for those that are suffering from conditions such as dementia. Home care services allow you to stay in your familiar surroundings, while also receiving the additional support and care that you require.

You receive dedicated one to one care

In a care home, you will receive care that is shared out between a number of other residents. When you receive home care services from a healthcare agency you receive dedicated one to one care in your own home. Your care at home provider will be there just for you and will be able to give you their undivided attention. No matter if it is emotional or medical, they will look after you and make sure that your needs are met without distraction. In a care home, they might have to rush off to help someone else, or be speaking to and helping many of you at the same time.
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You can feel more in control

When you receive home care services you can feel more in control. It is a home carer coming into your home as opposed to you going to their care home. You know where everything is and it is your space where you feel most comfortable. In a care home, you often don’t have control over the time you eat, when you go to bed and when you wake up. A home carer is more flexible with this and can sort out a schedule that works for you.

You don’t have to move away from your family

When looking for a care home you want it to be somewhere that you can envisage yourself living at. This might mean that you have to move out of town, or further away from your family. Many people need the care and companionship that their family provides and if it is harder for relatives to visit, this could be detrimental to your mental health. By staying at home you don’t have to alter any visiting routines from your family and if they usually pop round often, this can easily continue.

You can stay with your pets

Not many residential homes allow you to take your pet with you. For many, pets are like family and moving away from them can be very difficult and distressing. By staying at home and choosing care at home, you can keep living with your pet. If you have a dog that you aren’t able to walk anymore, your home care service carer can help you with sorting appropriate care for them so they still get the exercise they need. They can also help you with feeding them and liaising with a vet for you if this is required.

These are just a few reasons that care at home is rising in popularity. Here at Secure Healthcare Solutions, we are a healthcare agency that provides many home care services ensuring you can stay in your own surroundings when you need it the most. We are one of the best home care agencies in Wolverhampton and the surrounding areas. If you are looking for a care at home provider that puts their all into everything that we do, then look no further. Find out more about our home care services here and please get in touch with us if you have any questions.

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.