ENVIRONMENT Editor


Tim Probert timprobert@stepcomms.com


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Contents 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


4 News


© 2020 Step Communications Ltd 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.


6 Covid-19 from the care home front line The Care Home Environment editor Tim Probert speaks to Askham Village Community director Aliyyah-Begum Nasser about how the Cambridgeshire establishment is managing the Covid-19 crisis


8 The role of loved ones in care and interventions


There has been little research to determine the best way of involving the family in care or interventions in people living with dementia in care homes, says Sue Brewin, an associate dementia trainer for the Alzheimer’s Society


10 How rolling out the carpet can be acoustically sound


13 How abolishing ASTs could affect care homes Tom Lumsden, a partner at CooperBurnett, considers how the proposed abolition of the assured shorthold tenancy in England could affect care homes and care home residents in the future


15 Product news April 2020 • www.thecarehomeenvironment.com 3


homecare


Care home sector does nation proud Comment


Welcome to the first edition of The Care Home Environment Digital. This digital-only issue will be published in the interim months between print editions of the bi-monthly magazine to keep readers informed of the latest developments relating to the care home environment. If you would like to be considered for coverage, please send your latest care home-related news and information to timprobert@stepcomms.com. This is an extremely challenging time for


the care home sector. Elderly people in care facilities are among the most at risk of Covid-19 transmission and many are fearful for their lives while being cut off from physical contact with family and friends. At the same time, carers working flat out to


ensure the mental and physical wellbeing of residents – often covering for absent colleagues in self-isolation or shielding – have deep concerns about the level of available equipment and support. Care staff have at times seemed at the back of the queue to receive protective


equipment despite the high level of risk involved. Furthermore, the strain on the NHS has


a knock-on impact on care homes as hospitals try to free up critical beds. Many care homes are under pressure to take people in who require more care than what some facilities would normally provide. The upshot is a care sector doing its level


best in exceptionally difficult and risky circumstances. As Askham Village Community director


Aliyyah-Begum Nasser says on page 7, the health and social care sectors are starting to sing from the same hymn sheet instead of seemingly being in competition. It ought not to take a pandemic to recognise


the importance of care homes, but the crisis response could augur well for the government’s long-term objective of ‘fixing’ social care. Enjoy the issue.


Tim Probert • Editor timprobert@stepcomms.com


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