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Month: May 2023

Diabetes Week 2023

How to Support Someone with Diabetes

Diabetes Week 2023 takes place 12th-18th June 2023. The annual event, organised by Diabetes UK, aims to raise awareness and support those living with diabetes.

Advantage Accreditation specialises in training for Health and Social Care staff. This article demonstrates how the public can support those with diabetes.

Support networks are vital for those living with diabetes. Diabetes comes with a range of physical and emotional challenges. People with diabetes are 20% more likely to experience anxiety compared to people without the condition (CDC). If you have a friend or family member with diabetes, consider how you can support them. This doesn’t need to be physical support, monitoring diets or administering medication. Rather, we recommend thinking of ways to ease the burden. On days when they feel unwell, you could take on the school run, help with housework, or simply be present and listen. In some locations, specific diabetic support groups may be available.

Those with diabetes will likely rely on care, medication and technologies for the rest of their lives. In the UK, those with lower incomes are more likely to experience long-term health conditions (Kingsfund). It is vital that care continues to be affordable for those with low incomes to treat diabetes. One way to support those with diabetes is to advocate and campaign for affordable healthcare. Those with diabetes often need breaks to self-administer medication and it is important this is not stigmatised. Employers should create an inclusive atmosphere that meets diabetic employees’ care needs.

If you know someone with diabetes, it may help to become familiar with their emergency procedures. If appropriate, talk to them about their needs and prepare to help if they experience low or high blood sugar.

Advantage Accreditation offers a Level 2 Award in Diabetes training course. If you would like to become an accredited training centre to deliver this course, please enquire online or call 020 7405 9999.

Diabetes UK will host several events and campaigns during Diabetes Week. Visit the Diabetes UK website to see what they have planned.

Challenges Faced By Unpaid Carers in the UK

Carers Week 2023 takes place from 5th to 11th June. Every year, this event aims to raise awareness of the challenges faced by unpaid carers across the country. In 2023, the week will once again provide an opportunity to acknowledge and support those in unpaid caring roles.

This is a vital role in our country. Without the work of unpaid carers, there would be extreme strain on our NHS. The current annual NHS budget is £159 billion, while the estimated value of care is £162 billion per year (University of Sheffield). To meet care needs without unpaid carers, the NHS would need more than double their budget.

 

Here are only a few challenges facing unpaid carers in 2023:

 

Rising Cost of Living

With the present cost of living crisis, 14% of unpaid carers are unable to pay their utility bills. 5% of unpaid carers are relying on food banks. This data comes from Carers UK, which continues to campaign for better provision for unpaid carers.

 

Mental Health

Many unpaid carers have extra responsibilities beyond providing care. These often include work, education, childcare and housekeeping. The majority of carers struggle to manage their stress. 70% say caring has a negative impact on their mental and physical health (Care Quality Commission, 2022).

 

Lack of Support

Carers often go to their local authority for support. In 2021 only 27% of carers who requested support actually received any (The Health Foundation). Without respite care, counselling and other types of support, carers’ roles grow more and more challenging.

 

Organisations throughout the UK will host various events to raise awareness during Carers Week 2023. Find out what you can do in this online resource.

 

Do you know an outstanding unpaid carer?

We invite you to celebrate the carers in your life. Send them a token of your appreciation, offer some support, or post about them on social media using #CarersWeek.

Four Tips for Getting a Dementia Diagnosis

 

Dementia Action Week 2023 takes place from 15th to 21st May. Created by the Alzheimer's Society, this campaign encourages us to 'act on dementia'.

Dementia describes symptoms affecting cognitive abilities. There are several types of dementia. Alzheimer's disease is the most common type, affecting 60-70% of dementia cases (World Health Organization). Around 900,000 people in the UK experience dementia (Alzheimer's Society). Researchers expect this to increase to 1.6 million people by 2040. There is currently no cure, but some treatments are available to help manage symptoms.

This year, Dementia Action Week focuses on encouraging people to seek a diagnosis. Many people choose not to seek a diagnosis due to denial, misconceptions and barriers to healthcare.

Advantage Accreditation supports the Alzheimer's Society in its campaign to increase diagnosis. Here are our tips on how to seek a diagnosis for yourself or someone you know:

 

Understand the importance of diagnosis
Early diagnosis provides time to make preparations for the future. Beginning treatments as soon as possible can help slow deterioration over time. Plus, the diagnosis means family members can access support groups and helpful resources.

 

Know the symptoms
Signs of dementia can include:

  • Memory loss
  • Disorientation
  • Poor concentration
  • Mood changes
  • Self-neglect
  • Weight loss
  • Perception changes
  • Sensory loss
  • Depression
  • Incontinence
  • Behavioural changes
  • Repetitive behaviours
  • Communication difficulties

We recommend completing the Alzheimer's Society's symptom checklist and sharing this with your GP.

 

Prepare for the diagnosis process
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) provides a Dementia Pathway.

  • It is believed the individual may have dementia
  • Initial assessment in a non-specialist setting
  • Diagnosis in a specialist diagnostic service
  • Further tests for dementia sub-types
  • Referral and support
  • Management

 

Hear other people's stories
Click here to see people share first-hand dementia stories. This can help reduce feelings of fear and isolation. These stories show that it is possible to live a full life with dementia.

 

Advantage Accreditation supports training providers to deliver high-quality training on dementia. We provide ready-to-use courses, including:

  • Level 2 Award in Dementia Awareness
  • Level 2 Award in Managing Behaviours That Challenge in Dementia

If you would like to become an accredited centre with us, please enquire online.

Exciting Digital Developments in Care

The UK government have new plans to invest £150 million in the digital transformation of adult social care (gov.uk). This is a collaboration between the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England. This plan aims to make significant improvements by 2025 by implementing new digital strategies. The goals of this initiative are to:

  • Prevent care needs from escalating
  • Personalise care and reduce disparities
  • Improve the experience and impact of care workers
  • Transform performance

The use of iPads in care homes during the Covid-19 pandemic inspired these digital developments. These iPads allowed staff to communicate via video calls and allowed residents to keep in touch with friends and family. This was hugely impactful and the iPads are still used today. The technology has been helpful in the delivery of care too, with staff using iPads for care planning and ordering medication. Over 50% of CQC registered providers now use electronic care plans. Find out more in this gov.uk article.

In the coming years, the government will implement its digital health and social care plans in England. The needs of local areas will be taken into consideration when delivering funding and support. The benefits of technologies including tablets and smart speakers are currently under consideration.

New fall detection and prevention systems may be used to help older adults live at home for longer (National Library of Medicine). These take various forms, including watches and bed sensors. When they detect a fall, they immediately notify caregivers. Some may even prevent falls by detecting movement and playing a voice message warning the listener to move carefully.

Care workers have a wide range of digital capabilities. They are likely to have mixed feelings about the implementation of new technologies. To address this, the government has produced a new digital skills framework. This covers seven key themes for effective digital working:

  • Using digital technology in a person-centred way
  • Technical skills for using digital technology
  • Communicating through technology
  • Being safe and secure online
  • Ethical use of data and digital technology
  • Using and managing data to deliver care
  • Digital learning, self-development and wellbeing

The framework is currently available as a draft. This provides an opportunity to give feedback and see further development. The final version will be available online soon.

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