Time marches on. There is no doubt that Covid-19 has changed everything for everyone of all ages and walks of life, and accessibility to the elderly and the vulnerable in society for the past year has been impossible at worst and fraught with challenges at best.

How are your loved ones faring? Not only the old, but the disabled and challenged… As we work towards taking back some form of normality in our daily routines and meeting up with one another, we may notice differences in relatives, old and young, and it’s a good time to put things in place with a view to having an action plan should it be needed. .

Check in with them: How are they coping with everyday life? Are they happy and engaged, can you get a feel for their social life (whether or not you can be there in person) and a simple call or visit gives a snapshot of memory function, and you can take a look at hygiene, housekeeping, dexterity and so much more.

You might have that ‘wakeup call’ and notice some indications that loved ones aren’t quite the same. This can be more noticeable after a long period of time apart or having relied on phone/video contact rather than face-to-face visits for a while. Maybe they’re a little forgetful, have lost weight, are not as social as they used to be or even have cuts or bruises. These indicators are signs that they may need a little help with their everyday life.

If you have those concerns then it’s wise to act fast. Talk to them about it. Have a conversation with them and discuss some options… getting in specialists such as St Kath’s might be part of that, as will bringing in the wider family and, crucially, thinking ahead with a series of ‘What If’s?’ Safety, dignity, independence and contentment are the end goals, but a little fall can put all that into jeopardy.

As people grow older and develop age-related diseases two of the most common are the loss of mobility and cognition. Broad areas we know, but below are some things to look out for when assessing a loved one:

1. Memory. As we get older our memory isn’t what it was. “Now what did I come in here for?” is a question anyone over fifty probably asks with some regularity! But it’s more profound loss, and more regular, that’s of concern. For example, repeatedly locking themselves out of the house, leaving the stove on or the bath overflowing…  These might well need more formal investigation, and while no-one wants to think about dementia, early detection is the key to doing something about it.
2. Dexterity and balance. Falling is a massive cause of injury in the elderly and in some cases a simple fall can have very serious consequences. As you get older your balance goes, and this makes falling one of the leading causes of injury in the over 65s. And don’t forget the emotional impact of a fall, the loss of confidence that leads your loved ones to avoid activities or social engagements for fear of falling. This in turn can lead to physical and psychological decline.
3. Hygiene. OK, let’s go there, because we all know this is one of the first things that stands out when things start to go downhill. Clothes may start to look dishevelled and/or smelly, dentures not cleaned, bathing less regular or non existent and (hate to say it) check the loo…
4. Housekeeping.  Take a look around your loved one’s house and check if they are on top of the housework, it’s another of the first signs of not coping. Old or spoiled food, sell-by dates passed, rotten food in the fridge (yes…) lack of hoovering, cleaning, rubbish not emptied… all signs that home support may well be needed.
5. Socialisation. Keeping up with friends and ex-colleagues? Any clubs or societies joined? Are they still driving? What about bingo, social clubs, cultural activities? Companionship is so very important, and as old people become isolated their carers can provide some of that, and we do. What is important is to ensure they have something to enjoy and look forward to every day.

There’s no shame in any of this, and we all need to do what we can to help. On a personal note I’ve experienced all this with both my parents and other family members, there is nothing bad or wrong with not coping, only in our response, as family, to that.

St Katherine’s Care has a team of wonderful home care workers and we would be happy to provide you with an assessment to understand the individual care required and how we can customise this to ensure your loved one’s needs are met today and prepared for the future.

Remember, if you are able to bring in support early you are helping them to remain independent and safe in their own home for longer.

When simple parts of daily routines such as shopping, dressing and cleaning become a more serious challenge for our elderly relatives it’s time to take stock and look at how things could be made easier for them.

The first thing that always springs to mind is residential care, but we know this is a huge decision with life-changing impact, and often the person you love isn’t quite ready to give up their independence, or even isn’t at that stage in their life.

Our team at St Katherine’s witnesses this at first hand every day in the home care service we provide. For many older people, being able to continue in the comfort and familiarity of their own home is key to their dignity and maintaining a zest for life. Ageing of course takes its toll both mentally and physically but the routine of home life is a staple of happiness. As we age, everyday tasks that we would normally take for granted can become increasingly difficult, which is where a home care service can really transform lives, alleviating strain from specific tasks and enabling more time for hobbies and interests.

You might wonder what home care involves. First up, incredibly dedicated, trained and warm carers: they provide visits to homes for not just the elderly but also those who are unwell, on medication, or require additional daily support for all manner of reasons.

These visits can involve all sorts of personal care from bathing, dressing, sorting medications, assisting with mobility, to helping with pets, admin, shopping, cleaning, cooking, and so on, and often vital companionship.

Our team at St Katherine’s forms a strong bond with the people in their care and provides that essential support lifeline they need to ensure they can stay in their homes.

Sometimes (and we have often found this when discussing care with families) that some elderly people can see this prospect as an intrusion on their space or show fear that they will lose independence. It’s not uncommon for someone to dig their heels in and say :”oh, I don’t need that…”

Our reply is that actually families can find this a really positive life bridge to ensure that the individual can remain as active as possible, and without the upheaval of a move into residential care. In can be a bit tough at the start, but accepting assistance with certain daily tasks can almost always free up more time for the things they love to do, and increase their confidence and sense of well-being.

Home care isn’t intrusive and can easily be slotted around everyday life. It gives family members peace of mind, and thanks to its flexible nature, it can be adapted to the needs of the individual and their schedule. So, you might find that our carers only needs to visit for an hourly catch up here and there, or may visit daily, or even provide 24h care, at the other end of the spectrum.

Another example is discharge care, when someone leaves hospital and may need specific help with their recovery, something else our team can help with. We can provide tailored care packages and coordinate with other care agencies (such as the GP) for people living with medical conditions, and it is important to ensure these are bespoke. Different disabilities come with different sets of needs and care requirements, and we understand that.

Here at St Katherine’s, we are flexible and adjustable, and our main focus is to ensure that the individual is happy, comfortable and able to enjoy their life. We can take the pressure off the individual’s daily routine either through complete care or on a supportive basis working alongside care already provided by friends and relatives. This is a really wonderful aspect of home care in that the family and the individual have control over the level of home care provided and can be as involved as they feel they need to be. It gives peace of mind.

The versatility and benefits of home care are becoming increasingly popular: Our staff love what they do, and this is very evident in the time and level of care they invest into each individual we have committed to look after.

Do get in touch and we can talk you through the many facets of home care and how it could work for your family, either through admin@stkatherinescare.com or by calling 01522 437949.

Monday the 18^th of January (this year) is supposed to be the most depressing day of the year, as if this year COULD get any more depressing! For those of us who suffer with depression and anxiety, we know it’s not a question of simply ‘pulling yourself together’. If only it were…

We’ve talked about mental health so many times on this blog, and the simple things we can all do (within the lockdown rules) to protect ourselves from sinking into those black holes that seem to be strewn around the pathways of our lives. If possible, regular fresh air helps, with even a passing nod at other likeminded souls as you go to give a little lift; the smallest interaction is valuable, even at a distance. Pets are a lifeline, if not yours then other peoples and at a pinch the ones you can find on YouTube or Facebook.

Perhaps the one place that ‘they’ can’t get to you is in your own mind. No-one can take that away, and the technique of finding a safe place where you can close your eyes and imagine yourself to be is really valuable. It takes practice – what doesn’t? – but your safe space can provide a real refuge for ten minutes or so against the worst that January can bring.

Sadly, there’s boring, practical stuff to do with lockdown that adds to the difficulties of the month. Can I just take a line to remind you how important shielding is, and to minimise contact with your loved ones unless they are expressly in your bubble? It’s social interaction that’s transmitting the disease and controlling that is how we control the disease, along with hygiene.

We all know the words by now and what they refer to – Hands, Face, Space! But what does it mean for us, as a community?

Well, our job at St Kath’s is to care! It’s a role we take extremely seriously, and we will continue to make our calls, care for our lovely customers (I do hate the more correct term of “Service Users”!) and do what we can to make everyone in our little world as safe and secure as they can be.

St Kath’s prides itself on going that extra mile for our customers, we can help out with shopping etc, set up FaceTime or WhatsApp video calls to help keep in touch within the family and a host of other things. I know from my own experience that, when loved ones are far away, these video calls can be a lifeline.

The vaccination roll-out in Lincolnshire continues and with the AstraZeneca vaccine, created here in the UK, approved for use, it’s accelerating. This means there are now three vaccines officially available, but the Astra Zeneca vaccine can be kept in conventional fridges (unlike the Pfizer vaccine, which needs ultra-cold storage) so as that gets rolled out in the coming weeks expect a call from your GP surgery to get vaccinated.

So there’s good news amongst the bad, and perhaps reasons to be cheerful as we head through the dark days of January.

The UK vaccination programme is steaming ahead and heralds a time, not too distant, when restrictions will be eased. Infection rates are starting to come down and eventually hospitalisation will decrease, even though this new strain of the virus is said to be much more infectious. Please, stay in your bubble and don’t take any risks. Hands, Face, Space!

Finally, do what you can to beat those January blues. Enjoy fresh air if you can, revel in what good news there is (and silly animal videos are a great antidote to the bad stuff) and find your safe place. The dreamscapes of the mind can be a refuge for us all, if only for ten or twenty minutes – but sometimes that’s all you need.

A Happy (and safe!) New Year to us all.

Loneliness was a mental health issue long before the Covid-19,  but let’s face it, 2020 has only made it worse with social distancing leaving millions of people feeling isolated in the UK.

Throw into the mix the shorter, darker days that winter brings and the inevitable increase of time spent indoors, and it doesn’t take long to realise that mental wellbeing can suffer.

Let’s take a moment to think about how loneliness is moving across our nation at an alarming rate, impacting on mental and physical health… what ‘s more the very people we at St Kath’s care for could be among the most vulnerable, so we try extra hard to make sure that’s not the case. Even then, you can be lonely in a crowded room, or at work, you just need to feel ‘that’ sadness and if there’s no one around to support you it’s the thin end of a very big wedge…

Covid-19 has meant our routines are all out, and familiar things are not where they normally are; add in fewer (or no) interactions with family and friends and anyone could sink into loneliness. Do you or yours feel this? It’s a problem we’ve experienced, and our carers have seen this first-hand and know how to recognise the signs.

Boredom is another trigger, particularly in the case of people whose health has deteriorated and may have previously led a reasonably active life, as many of our customers have.  There’s often no warning either, the change can be abrupt, and loneliness can come down like a shutter. Carers know that activity and mental stimulation needs to be front-and-centre to counteract this.

\It’s a strange Christmas season – isolation, loneliness, distancing, the opposite of what we expect (and value!) at this time of year. No-one likes to be restricted, but it can’t be helped, and we need to be on the lookout for those who are affected most.

Our team at St Katherine’s Care will do everything we can to reduce this impact on the lives of the people they are caring for, as well as keeping an eye on their families where we can.

Do you know (or think) of someone who might be feeling the pinch of loneliness?? Is it you? Here’s some tips to help you/them to feel a little brighter…

• Head outside – no matter how you are feeling, if you can, get outside whenever possible (and of course at safe distance). When you exercise, your body releases endorphins which trigger positive feelings and energise your mood. A short stroll will suffice
• Cook up a storm– besides spending time with family and friends, food can be a wonderful part of Christmas. Don’t go without your feast just because you are alone. Still plan a menu. Where you can, cook and bake as these are great forms of meditation. If you’ve got the technology, why not video call friends and family, even a neighbour, and enjoy your meal virtually together?
• Enjoy ‘me’ time– if being alone this Christmas is unavoidable, try to embrace it. Plan a day for yourself and enjoy your favourite things. Indulge in food, plan your Christmas TV and movie schedule, put some Christmas music on, make time for some of your hobbies or sink into a good book. At least there will be no fighting over the remote or the Quality Street!
• Stay in touch– You might not be physically in touch with those closest to you but still spend time together. Staying connected makes a huge difference to how you feel. Again, use phone calls, messages or video calls, eat drink and be merry on Zoom or Skype – you can even share opening presents.
• Speak to someone– You are not alone! A friendly voice or face is always around when you need it most. Don’t be afraid to ask, whether it’s us at St Kath’s, a neighbour, a family member or a community organisation.

So, wear a mask on your face but not on your heart this Christmas!  Now, more than ever, we need to reach out to one another. A simple chat can be all it takes to brighten yours, and someone else’s day.

May you have peace and happiness this festive season,

From all at St Katherine’s Care.

Care Co-ordinator Debbie Named Local Lockdown Hero!

When Care Co-ordinator Debbie made the decision to live apart from her two young children during the pandemic, so she could keep providing vital care to our customers, she could not have imagined she would go on to win an award!

Debbie was one of eight people officially recognised for their efforts to help others during lockdown at the Lincolnshire Lockdown Heroes Awards 2020. During the ceremony, organised by The Lincolnite, Lincoln College Group and Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce, Debbie along with the other winners was treated to a three-course meal and presented with vouchers and chocolates.

Speaking at the event Lincoln College Group CEO Gary Headland said: “This was an opportunity to celebrate the wonderful examples of human compassion, resolve and bravery that we saw in Lincolnshire throughout the lockdown period.

“Reading the hundreds of nominations was a truly humbling experience and every single individual deserves recognition.

“Our winners really stood out as extraordinary and we were delighted to be able to invite them onto our campus for a small socially distanced celebration today.

“We sincerely hope we will not face another lockdown situation in the near future, but if we do, we have learned that we live in a place where people will support and care for each other when the need arises, allowing us to pull through stronger than ever.

“Another fabulous example of Greater Lincolnshire being a terrific place to live, study, work and visit.”

In typical Debbie-fashion, she was very embarrassed to win, claiming she was just doing her job, but admitted it was nice to be nominated by her colleagues! However, we at St Kath’s think Debbie really deserves this award and are so proud of her. As Care Co-ordinator Debbie is responsible for managing the staff rota which can be very stressful as we provide care for over 60 extremely vulnerable and elderly people in their own homes 24/7, 365 days a year.

She is a very caring person and always puts other people before herself, which is one of the reasons why she is such a popular member of the team. She also has a knack of making people feel special and is good at identifying what is important in people’s lives.

So I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Debbie and thank her, as well as the rest of the team at St Kath’s, for all their hard work and commitment during what has and continues to be a very challenging time.

Together we will succeed!

CW

Like many others, particularly those working in the healthcare sector, we’ve been through some really challenging times over the past five months. However, the support we have received from clients and their families as well as partners and suppliers has made all the hard work worthwhile.

Earlier this week one of our kind-hearted clients knitted a St Katherine’s Care mascot, inspired by her carer Hayley.

This lovely lady has been knitting teddies for Lincoln County Hospital’s maternity ward for some time, but this unfortunately had to stop when the coronavirus pandemic struck. She was at a bit of a loose end and offered to repair Hayley’s horse rug which had a tear in it. Following on from that, to help keep her spirits up, Hayley suggested she might like to knit a mascot for St Katherine’s Care. This is now in pride of place at our headquarters in Lincoln.

At the end of last month, we also received a lovely email from a nurse at St Barnabas Hospice in Lincoln, praising the efforts of our carer Karl.

Having struck up a very good rapport with one of our clients who was receiving palliative care, Karl could tell when there was even a slight a change in her condition. When he visited her home on one occasion, he rang St Barnabas Hospice to advise them that she had deteriorated slightly and asked if they could send a nurse for symptom management and support.

In her email the nurse at St Barnabas Hospice said: “His [Karl’s] communication and detailed handover was extremely accurate which enabled this patient to receive prompt, person-centred care.

“This carer’s actions were precise, descriptive and compassionate.

“This gentleman is a credit to your organisation, and I look forward to working alongside him again.”

We don’t like to bang our own drum, but we do like to take every opportunity to recognise the dedication and commitment of our staff who regularly go above and beyond to provide first-class care. So, thank you to Hayley and Karl who have made such a massive difference to our clients’ lives and made their colleagues at St Kath’s so proud!

Keep up the good work!

To secure a more prosperous and sustainable future the care sector needs to move away from being perceived as a manual labour/blue collar occupation and become a recognised and respected profession.

Vulnerable Customers

As a company we routinely work with the NHS, social services, local authorities and of course our customers and their families, and these stakeholders are all hard pressed. We know about the challenges in the healthcare sector, which have become more acute since the coronavirus pandemic, and similar problems exist within social services, the NHS and others. However, the person receiving the care (referred to as a ‘service user’ by the CQC) is real and has serious and often complex needs. They are very often vulnerable and have family members who are scared by the costs that they know will inevitably mount up.

Dangerous Times For Care

Care companies themselves are in a very dangerous place; caught between an expectation of high levels of service and the reality of rock-bottom rates (for most) where can they go? In our area the discrepancy between what the local authority will pay and the real cost of care is huge, so why do companies do it? The simple answer is, by and large, bulk contracts. Get a chunk of cash in and make your margins by squeezing the carers and the business costs – in other words by buying the cheapest of everything. Then take the money and use the tax system to maximise what can be made through financial manipulation. And there is the rub: care so often comes down to money and everything else is secondary. This must change.

More money for training is a good goal but without better rates of pay and good apprenticeship/training opportunities the youth intake will be a reservoir of less successful students who see it as a last resort. Despite reasonable pay and conditions, a pension, mileage allowance and block working (so travel time is paid) our recruitment problems are profound and restrict our ability to take on more customers. Carers are often regarded as little more than labourers by social workers, nurses and doctors, probably because they are providing personal services rather than being involved in life saving, health maintenance and end-of-life management. However, when the chips are down, we are intimately involved in quality of life, wellbeing and the comfort of palliative care. Very often we are there at the end, sometimes when no-one else is.

Valuing Carers AND Customers

So while the future of care is lies in better pay and conditions which will lead to better recruitment, we must value carers not only financially, but also through better training prospects and a proper career ladder that isn’t simply defined by NVQs.

As a society we need to support the sector more, through better information and a grown-up discussion nationally about the kind of care we want and not through the dog-whistle of politics. A recent government suggestion that we could have a National Care Service was met with hoots of derision in our office, not from a political standpoint but because it shows a complete lack of understanding of how social care works.

Helping The “Sandwich” Generation

Hard-pressed ‘sandwich’ families with children under 21 at one end and elderly parents at the other know the conundrum all too well. Add the distress of the elderly who want to pass something on to their kids (but have a charge on the house for what might still be marginal care) and families who want to maximise the inheritance by not paying for care, and you have a strange brew of competing interests pulling against each other with the subject being a vulnerable person or couple.

Education comes from our taxes, and a good education is the gift we give our children to set them up for the future. Care should be the same, but it is the gift that says, “Thanks for all you’ve done for us.” I think the future of care depends on acknowledging that.

The lockdown eases – for some!

No doubt you will have seen the government’s latest relaxations of the rules for social distancing and interaction. Alongside this is a further easing of the restrictions on many shops and businesses including hairdressers, bars, restaurants and hotels. All of this has been expected and sadly, following the introduction of the one metre plus rule, I’m sure we’ll see a rash of people disregarding social distancing altogether.

 

A Change of Rules

Alongside the more general rules, the government announced that from 6^th July the rules on shielding would change, and those people can spend more time outside their homes. They can also gather in groups of up to six people outdoors and form a ‘support bubble’ with another household. I would urge you to read the guidance on the government website and look at the specific rules regarding health and wellbeing as they apply to your situation. We all want to see family and friends, but we really need to be safe!

There is another effect to this as well, which is, if the government ends shielding officially then any financial support to do with shielding will also end. It doesn’t affect our customers, but an example of this is the ending of statutory sick pay for those off work so they can shield; that income stream will end. Other benefits may be affected, and if you need any help or advice with this please let us know and we will do whatever we can.

Mask Or No Mask?

We’ve also had a couple of weeks now of wearing masks on public transport; how has that worked for you? It has been ignored by some and grudgingly accepted by many; however, it is the law. Furthermore, masks have been proven to contribute to overall safety and according to scientific advice should be worn in public where possible. And certainly, if you are visiting someone who has been shielding, I would urge you wear a mask as it’s another layer of precaution and, as they say, every little helps.

Lovely To See You – But Keep Your Distance!

With regard to changes to social distancing I think the one metre plus rule is fine, so long as you stick to it. It’s basically an arm’s length plus a bit more; not quite close enough to touch. Combined with a mask you have every possibility of protecting someone who is shielding at that distance, according to the research, and at least these precautions allow us to see loved ones. If you’re prepared to continue isolating you can also have your loved one as part of your ‘bubble’, which is even better and allows you much more freedom but, in the case of the most vulnerable, please exercise caution.

So where does this lead us? Towards a more complete opening of the economy, I guess, but we must all be very cautious about the ‘second wave’ or, when it happens, the winter ‘flu season. And keep your fingers crossed for a vaccine that works.

Carers Week is an opportunity to raise awareness of the millions of unpaid carers in the UK and the challenges they face, particularly during the pandemic. Staggeringly, an additional 4.5 million people are now caring for older, disabled or seriously ill relatives or friends because of coronavirus. These unsung heroes are undertaking huge caring responsibilities looking after their relatives and friends who are disabled, ill or elderly, very often with very little support. While many feel that caring is one of the most important things they do, its challenges should not be underestimated. Caring without the right information and support can be very hard.

Help where you need it most

As a domiciliary care provider, we offer vital support to families and work alongside them to help ease some of the burden. As well as offering a well deserved break our dedicated team can also take care of the more intimate jobs such as bathing and toileting which can be more difficult to manage. The amount and type of support St Katherine’s Care can provide varies from a few hours a week, such as picking up prescriptions and preparing meals, to providing emotional or personal care day and night. We can also help with things like shopping, laundry, cleaning and cooking. Some of our customers’ families live further afield and are unable to step into the role of carer so we give them peace of mind that their loved one is being properly looked after. During the coronavirus pandemic it has been particularly tough as most of our customers are elderly and or vulnerable and are self-isolating. Our carers are the only people they see and their only connection with the outside world.

 

Choosing a care provider

As carers we understand the demands of the role and the huge responsibilities it entails and speaking to someone who knows what you are going through can make a big difference. During Carers Week we would like to pay tribute to the army of unsung heroes and the huge contribution they make to society and let them know we, and other providers like us, are here to help. Getting the right support is vital and requesting a carer’s assessment from your local authority is a good place to start as it will identify what help and support, including financial assistance, is available to you. Often people feel guilty asking for help but caring can be exhausting and take its toll on relationships, work and family life. And of course, self-care is just as important.

Choosing a care provider is very personal and you need to feel comfortable with whoever will be looking after your friend or relative. The Care Quality Commission monitors, inspects and regulates health and social care services and publishes its findings, including ratings to help people decide. If you are eligible for funded support, it’s important to remember that you are entitled to choose your own provider. If the cost is higher, you can pay the difference and effectively top up the amount you receive from your local authority.

Understanding what help and support is available to you can be complicated but there are plenty of organisations who offer advice and resources for free. The Carers Week website is a mine of information and of course if you’d like to find out more about St Katherine’s Care and the support we can provide please visit our website or call 01522 437949.

The day-to-day business of care is about people who need help for a whole bucket of reasons. Of course we all have our problems and the old and infirm (and indeed anyone who needs care) have very specific ones, and we at St Kath’s are committed to doing what we can to help.

Mental Health issues split very roughly into two categories, ‘reactive’ and ‘clinical’. The first is when you’re in a situation that creates a certain response… loneliness, for example, can make you feel a bit “down” and in situations like this the brain can be helped to rectify that because it has mechanisms to bring itself back into balance. Essentially though, you ‘react’ to the stimulus.

The “out of balance” feelings are the bad ones, and the “in balance” feelings are the good ones. A very good example is the way in which our carers bring help and companionship to their calls, to cheer up the customer and help re-balance their feelings. Family can do that as well. This is why, during lockdown, when families haven’t been able to visit,  we’ve done our best to step into the breach in whatever small way we can, because nothing can really replace family, can it?

Sometimes, however, the brain can’t re-balance itself and that’s when clinical intervention is needed. Clinical Depression is a good example of this, as is Severe Anxiety Disorder, both of which can require medication. Our role then is to support the customer, possibly helping out with meds, liaising with other healthcare agencies if need be, prompting the medication to be taken and noting it being observed. We do our best to keep an eye on things, too.

Then there are the major mental illnesses: Dementia, Alzheimers, Bipolar, Schizophrenia, and many others, and we have experience of helping with all of those.

But what about the carers themselves? We all have similar problems…

As well as dealing with solitude and loneliness, we have to deal with our fear of catching the virus, the stresses that food and supply shortages bring, the increased closeness of family life (we love our kids, but…) and then again the agony of being six feet away from a sick or dying loved one and being unable to give them the comfort of a hug. No wonder that we have to think about our mental health.

One technique that I have found invaluable is to create a “Safe Place” in your mind. For some people it can be somewhere real, but for many it’s an imagined space where you feel absolutely at one with yourself. Close your eyes and build a picture; it could be a garden, a hilltop retreat, a beach, a riverside scene, we all have something different. As you imagine it, add features to it. Trees, grass, flowers, birdsong, whatever it takes to make your heart lighter…

The “Safe Place” technique really works for me, and with practice you can turn a ten minute coffee break into a two week holiday, it really does leave you feeling that refreshed! Close your eyes, build your picture, and let your thoughts drift away…

Life’s hard enough, so our message is that “we’ve got your back” on mental health, whatever the issue and however it presents. We take the mental health of our own staff very seriously and have help/mentoring/counselling available to everyone for those times when life gets too much, for whatever reason. If we can help our carers, then they are better placed to help our customers, and that can be a virtuous circle that never ends.

Find your Safe Place!