Find out all about the latest care sector news from December 2018, including care services news, medical research and awareness initiatives.
Welcome to Care Sector News Review, December 2018 edition.
Here, we’ll update you on the latest care sector news, medical research and awareness initiatives.
Find out what’s been happening across the care sector in December 2018:
Care services
- Life Changes Trust has announced a mammoth investment of £2.5 million to support new dementia-related strategies. These include the introduction of a School of Leadership in Dementia and a National Forum for Dementia Policy and Practice.
- New BBC drama ‘Care’ has met with positive reviews for its accurate portrayal of adapting to caring for an elderly parent recently diagnosed with dementia. The drama – starring Sheridan Smith and Alison Steadman – explores the development of the condition as well as the UK care system.
- The government has announced a new £3.5 billion annual investment targeted at keeping older people out of hospital by providing suitable care in the home environment. The move is a significant endorsement of the many benefits of home-based care.
- 38% of care homes were rated as ‘requires improvement’ or ‘inadequate’ in the latest round of Care Quality Commission inspections. CQC chief inspector Andrea Sutcliffe recognised the desire of care homes to make ongoing improvements, but described the sector as “fragile”.
Medical research
- The NHS has responded to newspaper reports regarding whether increasing dosages of statins could help reduce rates of heart attacks and strokes. While describing the findings of the study as “valuable”, the NHS was quick to point out that they should be properly contextualised.
- Scientists at UT Southwestern, Texas, have outlined a new strategy they believe will enable doctors to forecast the type of dementia a person might develop based on a single molecule before symptoms become apparent.
- A Mediterranean diet could help reduce heart disease risk by up to 25%, according to new research from the US. Researchers believe that this diet helps support heart health by reducing inflammation while improving glucose metabolism, insulin resistance, and body adiposity (or fat).
Awareness initiatives
- Barts Charity – an organisation that raises funds for hospitals in East London – has launched its Greatest Gift Appeal. The campaign aims to deliver 1,000 Christmas presents to young and elderly patients who will be in hospital over the festive period.
- Christ Church Centre in Henley has hosted an inspirational afternoon of tea and opera for elderly residents. Opera Prelude – a group that’s previously sung for elderly residents in Kensington & Chelsea – provided the entertainment at the ‘See Golden Days’ event.
- Charities Contact the Elderly and Community Christmas have joined forces on a mission to ensure older people aren’t required to spend Christmas alone. The former aims to tackle loneliness through face-to-face contact with its volunteers, while the latter provides listings for local Christmas events.
- A host of other charities and care providers will be working tirelessly over the festive period to help tackle loneliness. Among others, Volunteer Centre Dorset has launched an initiative called ‘Company at Christmas’, while Cartref Care Home is opening its doors to older people with nowhere else to go.
Join us again at the end of January for the first Care Sector News Review of 2019.
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