Care sector news review: October 2018

Find out what’s been happening across the industry during October 2018 in the latest edition of care sector news review, bought to you by The Good Care Group.

Welcome to care sector news review, October 2018 edition.

Here, we’ll update you on the latest care news, medical research and awareness initiatives.

Find out what’s been happening across the care sector in October 2018:

Care services

• The government has asked the Law Commission to review whether abuse towards elderly people should be considered a hate crime. Action on Elder Abuse hope any re-classification would lead to tougher sentences that would help protect older people from instances of abuse.
• The complexity of London’s health and social care systems is preventing meaningful change that could help improve outcomes for residents in the capital. The report from The King’s Fund analysed the performance of London’s five STPs over the past year.
• Matt Hancock, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, announced a £240m boost in care funding earlier on this month. This new investment has been earmarked to reduce delays in the transfer of care, helping patients to be discharged from hospital faster.
• 79% of care services have been rated as ‘good’ and 3% as outstanding, according to the latest annual report from Care Quality Commission (CQC). 17% are classified as requiring improvement, while 1% were deemed inadequate.

Medical research

• An accepted idea that’s guided dementia research for almost 30 years has been found to be flawed, according to Prof. Andrew Doig’s review of 120 scientific papers. The biologist – based at University of Manchester – believes this will contribute towards more effective treatment methods.
• Alzheimer’s Research UK has described dementia as “the health crisis of our time” and called on the government to triple its investment into the development of new treatments. This would be equivalent to just 1% of the total amount dementia costs the economy by 2025.
• New research has indicated that an active lifestyle involving regular exercise could help to “clean up” the Alzheimer’s brain, based on initial experiments on mice. This finding fits with other studies indicating that exercise can potentially lower the risk of developing the condition.
• Scientists have now attributed the majority of cases of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s to genetic errors or mutations that occur while in the womb. The study – led by the University of Cambridge – could also have implications for disorders such as Huntingdon’s and Motor Neurone Disease.

Awareness initiatives

• October is National Cholesterol Month 2018; an initiative dedicated to raising awareness of the dangers of high cholesterol and funds for HEART UK. Participants are being encouraged to raise money by walking, running, cycling, swimming or rowing 100 miles over the course of the month.
• Tips and information have been shared throughout October as part of National Home Security Month 2018. This initiative aims to help people make basic changes that will improve their home security, something that’s vitally important for older people.
• World Osteoporosis Day took place on October 20, with events designed to raise awareness and funds to aid the diagnosis and treatment of the condition. Inspirational events took place in over 90 different countries worldwide.

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

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