Staff support
that they can more effectively find tailored resources to the support their needs.
What can care providers do to help? Women make up 81 per cent of the care sector’s workforce. On top of this, 13 million women in the UK are currently peri or menopausal, so the need to make those experiencing the menopause feel comfortable at work is imperative. While many care providers do want to be part of positive change in the sector, they are having to balance this with time and budget constraints. The panel revealed that there are a number of simple, cost-effective changes that can be made in the short term to enhance the support offered in each care home. For example, one of the biggest challenges revealed during the day is that
many people, even those experiencing the menopause do not understand what it actually is. Diane founded the #MakeMenopauseMatter campaign and through the campaign, she developed a free downloadable booklet titled Understanding Menopause.1
It contains information that
carers can share around teams to help raise awareness of the impact and be a subtle sign to employees that their workplace does care, will listen, and is here to help.
Menopause Support’s resources do not stop there. A number of brochures can be found on the website, tailored to a variety of needs both within and outside of work, including to help guide conversations with line managers, for partners and loved ones, and even to navigate appointments with doctors.
Fellow expert, Caren explained how
educating the workforce had been invaluable at Majesticare. Employees have access to a short 10-minute training course on menopause awareness at work through eLearning provider i AM Learning. The course aims to challenge stigma and dispel the myths and misconceptions associated with the menopause. It was clear from the discussions that simply implementing short training or signposting people to resources available can have a huge positive impact on people because it showcases that the workplace is open to adapting to people’s needs and gives them peace of mind that they are working for an organisation that respects these needs. In line with this, carers at the event agreed that developing a clear policy detailing what support is available, how to access resources and who are the key points of contact to raise concerns to is a useful tool for all organisations to implement so it is easy for people to see what is available to them.
How can uniforms help? The symptoms associated with menopause are often very physical for example itchy skin and sweating, with one of the most commonly cited as ‘hot flushes’. In fact, eight in ten people experience hot flushes according to Bupa’s review in 2022.2 Often described as a sudden feeling of warmth in the upper body, particularly the face, neck and chest, accompanied by sweating. They cause considerable discomfort and can even affect the whole body. This is particularly true when working in environments required to be kept at higher temperatures, such as care homes.
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www.thecarehomeenvironment.com January 2025
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