Comment homecare ENVIRONMENT Editor


Susannah Millen susannahmillen@stepcomms.com


Business Manager Carl Archer carlarcher@stepcomms.com


Online Sales Executive


Peter Moon petermoon@stepcomms.com


Journal Administration Katy Cockle katycockle@stepcomms.com


Design Dave Woodall


Publisher


Geoff King geoffking@stepcomms.com


Publishing Director Trevor Moon trevormoon@stepcomms.com


2017 –looking forward


As we enter a new year, it can be useful to take a look back over what came before. The year 2016 was one of significant political turmoil in the UK, during which we saw a continuously changing landscape and agenda. Davina Ludlow looks back at some of the most significant developments for the social care sector and looks forward with an air of positivity on pages 12-13. On pages 15-17, Jo Geraghty asks ‘How much do you care?’ Jo advocates


thinking beyond your instinctive response. As a care leader, it is up to you to encourage the open exchange of views between staff and residents through building active engagement, she says. With staff shortages and standards of care regularly in the news, Sara McKee


discusses an alternative care model – ‘Uberification’ –on pages 18-19. She believes care homes should embrace a gig economy that encourages workers to be their own bosses, and explains how much could be learnt across the sector from the Uber business model.


At this time of year, warmth and comfort are at the forefront of all of our minds, but care home residents require their surroundings to be maintained at a comfortable temperature all year round


THE CARE HOME ENVIRONMENT


is published in January, March, May, July, September and November by Step Communications Ltd, Step House, North Farm Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 3DR, UK. Tel: +44 (0)1892 779999 Fax: +44 (0)1892 616177 Email: info@thecarehomeenvironment.com Web: www.thecarehomeenvironment.com


Wellbeing and quality of life are of course hugely important to care home


residents and their families. Tanya Clover considers how communal space is used and helps reframe our thinking when it comes to deciding who should benefit from how it is allocated on pages 22-24. Karen Clayton describes how good design can reduce agitation and aggression in people living with dementia, reducing the need for antipsychotic drugs on pages 25-27. Also in this issue, Karen Burman explains how carpets can be used to create


comfortable surroundings that are also safe and accessible on pages 28-30, while Philip Ross describes how access control can protect and empower residents and staff on pages 32-34. Finally, fire safety is paramount in a care home environment and a fire risk


©Step Communications Ltd, 2017 Single copy: £12.00 per issue. Annual journal subscription: UK £96.00 Overseas: £120.00


ISSN NO. 2398-3280


The Publisher is unable to take any responsibility for views expressed by contributors. Editorial views are not necessarily shared by the journal. Readers are expressly advised that while the contents of this publication are believed to be accurate, correct and complete, no reliance should be placed upon its contents as being applicable to any particular circumstances.


This publication is copyright under the Berne Convention and the International Copyright Convention. All rights reserved, apart from any copying under the UK Copyright Act 1956, part 1, section 7. Multiple copies of the contents of the publication without permission is always illegal.


assessment is a legal obligation to ensure that vulnerable residents are protected from harm. Doug Agnew provides tips and information on how to reduce the risk of fire on pages 36-38. Particularly at this time of year, warmth and comfort are at the forefront of all


of our minds, but care home residents require their surroundings to be maintained at a comfortable temperature all year round. With this in mind, Veronica Leeke discusses ways in which heat loss can be reduced in order to enhance the wellbeing of residents and lower energy costs. We hope you enjoy the issue!


Susannah Millen • Editor susannahmillen@stepcomms.com


January 2017 • www.thecarehomeenvi ronment .com Follow us on twitter: @tchemagazine 5


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