Care sector news review: October 2017

Find out about all the latest care sector news – including care news, medical research and awareness initiatives – from October 2017 with The Good Care Group.

Welcome back for the October 2017 edition of care sector news review.

Each month, we’ll introduce you to some of the most important and compelling stories from across the care sector, including care news, medical research and awareness initiatives.

Read on to find out what’s been happening across the care sector in October 2017:

Care services

• Local councils increased spending on social care by over £550m during 2016, the first real-terms spending increase since 2009/2010. Councils spent £17.5bn in total, but the rate of investment varied significantly by region.
• The NHS is trialling a new initiative that could see hospital patients discharged into private residences to recover with the assistance of the homeowner. The Care Quality Commission has stated its intention to contact the parties involved to gain a greater understanding.
• The cost of an average stay in a care home is equivalent to 26 years’ worth of family holidays, according to research from Independent Age. The average cost of both residential and nursing care has also risen above 2015/2016 levels.

Medical research

• Blood-thinning medicines already in use – such as Warfarin, Apixaban and Dabigatran – could cut the risk of developing dementia by 48% in people with irregular heartbeats, new research has found. The Swedish research team also noted the drugs’ capacity for reducing stroke risk.
• A study of 7,000 US citizens identified that women with high blood pressure in their 30s and 40s are more likely to be affected by dementia. Compared to women who maintained normal blood pressure, this group was found to be 73% more likely to develop the condition.
• Compounds derived from spider venom could be used to treat nervous-system disorders, including strokes and chronic pain. Australian researchers have identified that venom from the funnel-web spider is more effective than the synthetic drugs used today.
• Cancer drugs undergoing clinical trials could also be used to prevent the build-up of fatty plaques that cause heart attacks and strokes, University of Sheffield researchers have claimed. Lead author, Prof. Paul Evans, described the findings as “an exciting new target for treating atherosclerosis “.

Awareness initiatives

• October marked Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an initiative designed to raise awareness of the condition and its warning signs, as well as funds for research into treatment. Women aged 70+ are at particular risk, with the mean age of diagnosis being 62.
• National Home Security Month also took place during October, and a series of events was organised to raise awareness of potential home security risk factors. This year’s initiative – and its fifth anniversary – featured five key themes, with one week dedicated to each.
• Heart UK is aiming to raise £60,000 from fundraising and corporate support to mark National Cholesterol Month. Aside from fundraising activities, the initiative also seeks to raise awareness of the risk factors causing high cholesterol.

Join us again in the last week of November for the next edition of care sector news review.

If you would like to find out more about The Good Care Group’s unique approach and commitment to improving overall care standards, contact our friendly team.