Bradwell: Down Hall Care Home introduce robotic therapy pets

A CARE home has taken a futuristic approach to comfort after introducing robots in the shape of loveable pets to their residents.

Down Hall care home in Bradwell has brought in a life-size robotic therapy dog and cat which were donated during the third lockdown by Essex dementia services.

The cat purrs and meows, the dog barks, and both pets move in response to touch and the residents’ voices.

Resident Joyce Ashton, age 89, has formed a special bond with the robotic cat.

Home manager Karen Johnson said: “Joyce is living with dementia and loves to sit with the cat on her knee, she strokes and brushes it and chats away to it, just as you would a real-life animal.

harwichandmanningtreestandard.co.uk

The post-pandemic legal challenges facing care providers

It seems trite to tell an audience of care home professionals that elderly and other vulnerable people have been disproportionately impacted by Covid-19. It is well reported that in the early days of the pandemic, care home residents experienced a significant increase in excess deaths, which has been linked to a variety of factors including a lack of clear government guidance, discharge of patients from hospitals into care homes without testing, and acute Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) shortages.

Worryingly, however, it is becoming increasingly clear that it is not just the residents of care homes who have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic, and there is a growing body of evidence which highlights the impact of Covid-19 on care workers too.

carehome.co.uk

BREAKING NEWS: Care home COVID-19 deaths drop to eight-month low

The number of people COVID-19 related deaths in care homes has dropped to an eight-month low, according to the latest ONS data.

In its latest weekly update, the ONS reported 46 COVID-19 related care home deaths in the week ending 23 April down by 10 on the week earlier, the lowest level seen since early October.

Deaths involving COVID-19 accounted for 2.6% of deaths, down from 2.8% in the week earlier.

carehomeprofessional.com

Blackpool care home inspected by CQC after concerns raised about nursing care

A Blackpool care home has dropped from a "good" rating to "requires improvement" following an inspection from the industry watchdog.

The New Victoria Nursing Home, in Hornby Road, was dropped from a "good" rating to "requires improvement" following its latest Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection in March.

The watchdog inspection came after it "received concerns in relation to the management of people’s nursing care needs," and the home's safety and leadership was observed.

Some aspects of safety and good governance were highlighted as a concern during the inspection, but no concerns were raised in relation to nursing care.

blackpoolgazette.co.uk

Changes announced to hospital and care home visits

Changes to hospital and care home visits will take effect from Friday 7 May, the Health Minister Robin Swann has announced.

The new rules will allow every patient in hospital in Northern Ireland to have one daily visit from at least one person.

The number of allowed visits to care homes will also increase to two per week.

Speaking about the changes, the Health Minister said: “I fully recognise the importance of visiting for those who are receiving care. I hope this guidance will be widely welcomed. “It is also important to remember that the threat from COVID-19 remains very real. Everyone has a vital role to play when it comes to safe visiting. That includes social distancing, hand hygiene and not visiting if you are feeling unwell yourself," Mr Swann added.

ITV.COM

Covid: MPs want law to protect care home visiting rights

The rights of care home residents to have visits from loved ones must be "underpinned" by law, according to a new report by cross-party MPs.

The Joint Committee on Human Rights said it was "unacceptable" that some care home providers had argued it was not safe to follow government guidance.

Since April, care home residents in England have been allowed two regular visitors indoors as lockdown has eased.

But the report said providers have not felt bound by the guidance.

The regulator, the Care Quality Commission (CQC), said it had found that 95% of providers were enabling visiting to happen.

BBC.CO.UK