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On the 20th March the usual discussion, laughter, sounds of people coming and going, and noises of normal life fell eerily silent. We had gone into a national state of ‘lock down’. I had always avoided using the phrase if we had needed to close our care home to visitors previously, but now it actually felt appropriate. We were locked down and locked in.
The first article in our fun-guarding series, George Coxon sets out what fun-guarding is and why it is important.
The Older People’s Commissioner for Wales has published an information guide for older people and their families giving information about care homes.
The BGS is committed to celebrating all endeavours that seek to improve care for older people. As many of us know, this takes input, expertise and often kindness, from a wide range of people, encompassing healthcare professionals, but also volunteers, carers and family members.
Out of hospital care for older people, such as hospital-at-home, is being delivered in a number of countries as an alternative to hospitalisation for a select group of older people.
We live in the worst of times and now, perhaps the very worst of times. The thing, I’ve always found, about being a ‘carer’ is that you don’t realise that you’re a carer until you’re quite advanced into the job.
We are in exceptional times, and people are providing care in extraordinary ways. On the 30th January 2020, the World Health Organisation (WHO) announced that the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak was a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
I love being a doctor and hospitals have long been something of a comfort zone; predictable, with protocols, and plans, and SOPs. To me, they often feel more controlled than the unpredictable world outside.
Many of our most important and fun moments relate to our family, explains David Attwood.
Person-centred care, for those who are enthusiastic about it like me, can at times feel like a religion. To be a pure follower of this approach, it means respecting the holistic aspects of a person, including perhaps interests and beliefs.
'Fun' and 'safe' do not have to be opposite concepts, writes Susan Shenkin.
Trisha Elliott reflects on how she would like fun to be guarded when she approaches frailty in older age.
Consider whether an activity will bring joy to an older person over whether it is socially appropriate, says Jenni Mack.
Talk to residents about what they want to achieve and you might be surprised, says Caroline Benham.
In 2018, as part of a Florence Nightingale Foundation travel scholarship, I spent over a month visiting the islands of Ireland and New Zealand. I went to find out more about advance care planning, hospice research activity, knowledge mobilisation and models of care for people living with dementia.
There is a story told of a man walking along a beach. A big storm the night before had thrown up thousands upon thousands of starfish. A small boy was bending down and repeatedly picking up a stranded starfish and throwing them back into the surf.