Letter to our MP in the care sector

I am writing to you as the director of a domiciliary care company, Ashwell Home Care Service. We provide home care for those that need it most in and around Malvern and the surrounding rural areas, as well as Worcester St John’s and North Worcester.

The care sector is remarkable. It is resilient, compassionate, and brave. It has stood by the people it helps through the very darkest of times. It has been by the bedsides of the sick and the dying. It has been there for families and friends of the elderly and the ill. It has been there throughout everything. I am honoured to work in the care sector, honoured to be given the chance to help others, to make people’s final years a pleasure, not a penance.

I would like to invite you, my local MPs, my local county councillors to come and experience this world. This world full of people who aren’t driven by profit, but by kindness, people who spend their career serving others, not for the glory or the accolade, but because they believe in the work that they do. The care sector is routinely dismissed by the media, by the powers, but without the care sector, everything else falls apart. The hospitals back up because there aren’t enough carers to allow people back into their homes, A and E waiting times increase, people lie abandoned on trolleys on corridors, doctor’s surgeries become overrun. All because not enough attention is paid to the care industry.

The care industry needs to be acclaimed for all that it does. It needs to be acknowledged, and it needs to be understood. It needs to be respected and revered. Without the care industry, where would we be? Who would be caring for the elderly, who would be there with dignity and compassion? Who would ensure medications were taken, meals were eaten? Would you?

The decisions that you make have far-reaching effects. Come and see what impact your policies will have. Whether you are deciding where to allocate funds or making changes to local policy, each action has a consequence. We understand that the decisions that you have to make are complex and difficult, that funding is never infinite, and that you cannot help everyone all of the time. But let us give you the opportunity to be informed. Come and spend time with us, with our care companions, our clients. Don’t just look at figures on paper, come and meet the people behind the numbers. At Ashwell Home Care Services, we take great pride in the work that we do, and we would love the opportunity to share this with you, to give you a glimpse into our world. A world full of care, and compassion, and love. Come to Ashwell Home Care Services, our doors are always open.

Is your heating on?

Is your house toasty warm as we head into deeper winter? Who put it on? Did you as the nights got darker, and the days got shorter and that first nip in the air appeared? Are the dials and the buttons on your heating easy to use? Or are they small and fiddly? Is the heating unit in the cellar, or the cupboard under the stairs? Why are we asking?

There are so many things that we take for granted when we are adults, that suddenly when we are old can become a challenge. Arthritic fingers can be swollen and unwieldy rendering small buttons and dials impossible to alter. Want to change the time on your heating? Well, you can’t because the tiny movements required by your finger joints to do this, just aren’t possible. Eyesight too can fade. So, that previously easy-to-read panels are suddenly shrouded in mystery.

And it is not only the physical but the mental acuteness. As we know, reprogramming your heating system can be a challenge to anyone who doesn’t have a master’s degree in engineering! Add a bit of dementia to the mix, and the challenge simply becomes too complicated. A perfect cocktail of old age can conspire against us to render previously simple tasks impossible.

This is why care companions are amazing! Philip Ashwell of Home Care Services says: “Home care is such a vital service. It enables people to continue to live independently, people who would struggle without support, our care companions do a simply incredible job.” Care companions not only deliver personal care, help with the shopping, provide companionship, ensure medications are taken correctly, but they are there. Our care companions can set the heating up at the beginning of the winter, they can check the water temperature on your boiler is correct. They can replace the lightbulb at the top of the stairs, they can retrieve the television remote that has fallen down the back of the sofa. There are countless things that we don’t even think about doing until we can no longer do them. Care companions are literally lifelines to so many people.

The work done by carers up and down the country is incredible. It is the most rewarding sector that you can work in, you do actually make a difference every day, every hour, and every minute of the day. The lady waiting for her care companion because she can’t find her glasses. The man who can’t remember if he has taken his medication. The lady whose family live away who can’t turn her heating on. They are all waiting, waiting for someone to turn up, waiting for someone to care. They are all reliant on their care companion, for sight, for health, and for warmth. The moment their care companion arrives they have made a difference. There are so many opportunities working in care to make a difference, so many incredible touching moments. So, if you care, come and join us at Ashwell Home Care Services.

Wishing you a caring Christmas and New Year

Christmas can be joyous and wonderful, full of family, fun, laughter, and general over-eating, family time. But it can be lonely. The portal of Christmas is always happy families, people around large tables, children crammed onto sofas together. But what if you don’t have that? What if you are alone? Your family has grown and moved away, moved abroad, your health not what it was, your days long, and empty, filled only with the memories of Christmas past?

Phil Ashwell, director at Ashwell Home Care Services says, “Christmas can be a challenging time for those who are alone, but our care companions always strive to make the day a little special for our clients. We always leave enough room in their schedules for a cup of tea and a chat, so on Christmas day, they can eat a mince pie, pull a cracker, wear a hat, and enjoy a terrible joke! All our staff will always go out of their way to make sure that anyone alone on Christmas Day doesn’t feel lonely.”

All across the country offices, factories, schools, shops, and businesses close their doors on Christmas Eve and head home to their families. But caring doesn’t stop. All caring industries from the emergency services to the health and social care industry remain open. Many people spend their Christmas Day caring for others, for those that need our help. Our care companions are no different. Phil says, “In some companies, everyone wants Christmas Day off, but at Ashwell Home Care Services our care companions are always happy to work on Christmas Day because they know the difference that they are making.”

It can be easy to be sucked into the commercialism of Christmas, to succumb to the frenzy of consumption. It can be easy to forget about the important things in the world. Last Christmas, subjected as we were to restrictions, the gift most of us wanted was to see our families. Let us hope that we haven’t forgotten that wish in the Christmas hype this year. Let us hope that we have remembered that our presence is more important than our presents. When our care companions visit a client, it is their presence that is so important, it is that time with another human, that interaction, that love that makes the difference. The tasks they carry out, the medicines given, the meals cooked, the food bought, are all incredibly important but it is also the comfort of another person. It is two mugs by the kettle instead of one. It is the murmur of conversation rather than the deathly silence of the endless ticking clock. Giving isn’t just a physical action, giving comes in many forms. A care companion is giving all the time, the gift of compassion, the gift of affection, the gift of comfort. We bring reassurance, kindness, and care. And after all, isn’t that the true meaning of Christmas?

Care in Crisis

There are 100,000 job vacancies across the care sector. Just take a moment and let that sink in. Now imagine how much care that represents, that is simply not being delivered. How many elderly people are waiting? Waiting for over-worked carers to arrive? Waiting for a bed in the care home that they desperately need? Waiting to be discharged from hospital for a care package to allow them to live independently at home? Waiting for a home care company to have enough staff to fit them in? Waiting…

This is not a temporary crisis; this is not a supply chain glitch that will be ironed out in a few months. Phil Ashwell, director at Ashwell Home Care Services, says “We are in a perfect storm. The combination of the pandemic, Brexit, and the double jab ruling for care home workers has created this crisis.” The media have not helped with their endless portrayal of the care industry as failing, as a low-skilled sector, as a last resort. Actually, it is none of those things.

The care sector is remarkable.  It is kind, compassionate, dedicated. It allows you to progress without a degree, it welcomes everyone. In the care sector, you can work your way up from a care assistant to an area team leader. It is flexible and dynamic. In what other sector can you work around your life? It is rewarding and fulfilling. There are thousands of people across the country who are living a better life because of the care sector. Thousands of people, of all ages, greeting their carers with a smile, looking forward to seeing them. Thousands of people receiving care to help them live the best life they can, because of the care sector. The care sector is incredible.

But what can you do? How can you help to ensure that our care sector continues to do what it does best – care. You can talk about it with your family, to your children looking for careers, to your neighbour who wants a part-time job, to the waitress in the café with the overbearing boss looking for a change in direction. And you can say, what a wonderful thing to be able to do, to help people, to make an actual difference in the lives of others. How many get that opportunity, how many of us get that chance?

Phil says, “The care sector is resilient. Carers will deliver care when faced with enormous adversity, from snowstorms to pandemics. But we do need more people.” Ashwell Home Care Services does have enough care staff, but only because they keep their care staff, by treating them with respect and appreciation, as well as paying above the industry average. “We have seen the number of applicants drop off, by 80%, which makes finding the right people incredibly hard,” says Phil. “Fortunately, we have a reputation as a good employer, so we still have people wishing to work for us, which means that we can continue to deliver excellent care to those who need it most.”

If you are in the Worcester area and interested in a career in care then we would love to hear from you, take a look at our careers page to find out more.

No fuel, no care

The current fuel crisis has yet again highlighted the incredibly important work done by carers across the country. The implications of care staff not being able to get to their clients, are severe. From missing medications to time delays in calling ambulances for those in need, the repercussions are endless.

Panic buying affects the supply chain, as the demand suddenly increases it causes a shortage. Many people only put £20 worth of fuel in their cars which means that they are not as protected against a fuel crisis. Yet again, it is the key workers of the country who are affected by a national crisis. Many people who rarely use their cars filled them up as the sight of growing petrol station queues triggered their panic.

Philip Ashwell, director of Ashwell Home Care Services, contacted the local paper to try and raise awareness to the plight of the care sector during this time. You can read the full article in the Worcester News by clicking here. The care sector has had an extremely difficult two years. Care staff have continually gone above and beyond during this time.

If you see a care worker waiting for fuel, let them go ahead of you in the line. Imagine it was your mother, your grandmother, patiently waiting for their carer to arrive. During the pandemic key workers could go to the front of the queue, could shop at different times, we know how to do it, why not continue to strive to be better? Why not continue to appreciate and value our key workers?

If you are worried about a loved one, speak to our friendly head office at Ashwell Home Care Services. We offer home care services across Malvern, surrounding rural areas, North Worcester and the St Johns area of Worcester. Our care companions are handpicked to provide care to those who need it most. Call our team today on 01684 778750.

Celebrating Homecare

Celebrating Homecare takes place on the 22^nd of September and is a celebration of the work done by the wonderful carers across the country. Carers have long been unsung heroes, but during the pandemic, the work done by carers has become more noticed by the general public. The theme for this year’s celebration is “made with care” and encourages people to share the amazing things they have made or created with carers. Whether it is a plate of biscuits or a hand-made card to send to a loved one, everything that is created is not only “made with care” but also made with love.

We know how vitally important the work done by carers is across the country. At Ashwell Home Care Services, we know that the time spent with our clients is also incredibly important. This is why we call our carers, Care Companions, to highlight the time spent with our clients. “Man cannot live on bread alone” and the elderly don’t just need help with daily tasks, but also companionship. Companionship can take many forms but spending time doing an activity with someone else is hugely enjoyable. Whether it is cooking a meal together, playing a game, taking someone to the wool shop to buy some new wool, our Care Companions are here to help.

Anything that engages our brains will help us. A craft activity, a project, will give us focus, a sense of purpose, it will keep us occupied and fulfilled. When we, at Ashwell Home Care Services, plan the day for our Care Companions we always allow time. Time for a chat, time for a cuppa, time for companionship. Care isn’t just helping with the physical tasks of daily life, care is; laughing, talking, engaging, interacting, being, giggling. Care is so much more.

We take great pride in the amazing work done by our care staff every day. We value, respect, and appreciate our Care Companions. We have Care Companions working across Malvern and the surrounding countryside, as well as in North Worcester and the St John’s District of Worcester. If you think care should be about more than just the physical task of daily life, you could be our sort of person! If you love the idea of “made with care”, if you love the idea of bringing a smile to someone’s face, and companionship to their day, speak to us. We are always looking for kind, compassionate people who want to make the world a little better. Call our friendly Head Office team today on 01684 778750.

Rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis – what’s the difference?

Rheumatoid arthritis is a painful and debilitating condition. It is different from osteoarthritis, which is the more common of the two. Rheumatoid arthritis is an auto-immune disease where the body thinks the soft lining around joints is a threat and attacks it. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease where inflammation occurs around joints that have worn down over time. Osteoarthritis is a disease that manifests as we grow older, whereas rheumatoid arthritis can strike at any time during a person’s life. Rheumatoid Awareness week begins on the 13^th of September and aims to increase the understanding of rheumatoid arthritis.

Both rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis can be restrictive. Inflammation around joints can make everyday activities a challenge. Both rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis commonly start in the smaller joints such as our fingers and hands. Think about how often you use your hands. From first thing in the morning to the end of the day, our hands are constantly busy. Joints in the fingers are often attacked by arthritis, leading to pain and swelling in the knuckles. The inflammation in the fingers reduces your strength so that previously easy activities such as opening a jar can suddenly become impossible. Think about how often you use your hands and all the activities that would be affected if your hands were too painful to use.

At Ashwell Home Care Services, we provide trained care companions who can help those living with chronic health conditions. Whether you need assistance once a day with certain activities, or multiple visits a day to enable you to remain living independently in your own home, we can help. Our care companions provide support, comfort, and care to those who need it most. Being able to continue to live independently is vitally important to our clients, and we can help them to achieve that with care delivered according to their needs. One client says: ““As I am someone with chronic arthritis the help I receive from Ashwell Home Care Services is vital for me. The concern shown by the carers also helps my mental attitude towards coping with the pain.”

If you are suffering from either rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis and require support for your day-to-day living we can help. All our care is designed around your needs, so when we create your care package we would take the time to understand your condition and the limitations that it may cause. Our aim at Ashwell Home Care Services is to enable people to continue to live independently despite age or illness. If you or a loved one are struggling, please contact the friendly team at Ashwell Home Care Services today on 01684 778750.

We are expanding!

We are so excited to be able to offer our great quality care to even more people. We had the opportunity to expand into North Worcester, and the St John’s area of Worcester, so we took it! Of course, we are still keeping our Malvern area, looking after our lovely clients in and around Malvern and the beautiful countryside that surrounds us. Obviously, we do now have to contend with Worcester traffic (sigh) but it’s worth it if we can help even more people receive top-quality care in their own homes.

“We are thrilled to be able to bring great care to more people,” says Debbie Ashwell of Ashwell Home Care Services. “Home care enables older people to continue to live independently in their own homes.” Ashwell Home Care Services was founded by husband-and-wife team Philip and Debbie Ashwell, after struggling to find good home care for Philip’s aging mother. “We couldn’t find the sort of care we wanted for my mum, so we created it!” says Philip.

We have been recognised for the quality of our care by both our Governing body and the public. Winning the homecare.co.uk Top 20 Home Care Providers West Midlands 2021 award, as well as receiving a “Good” rating from our Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection. “We are thrilled to have been publicly and professionally acknowledged for the quality of our care,” says Philip. “We have an exceptional team of care companions, who do an amazing job!”

The work done here at Ashwell Home Care Services by our care companions is incredibly important. Many older people wish to continue to live independently but struggle with everyday tasks and loneliness. Being able to access support makes the world of difference for many of our clients. It means they can spend quality time with their family, rather than using that time for jobs. It enables them to remain in the home they love. Many older people don’t want to move into a care home, and good quality home care can help to prevent this.

If you are concerned about a loved one and feel they could benefit from home care, why not speak to us? Our friendly team at head office are always on the end of the phone with help and advice. We now cover Malvern, and the surrounding rural areas, North Worcester, and the St John’s area of Worcester. So, if you are looking for home care for yourself, or a loved one in these areas, please get in touch. Call Ashwell Home Care Services today on 01684 778750.

Flexibility in the workplace

9 to 5 really doesn’t suit everyone. Many of us require more flexibility than a traditional office job allows. Many employers still (despite the pandemic!) haven’t embraced flexible working practices and remain wedded to their traditional structure. Many of us struggle with this, our lives are too full and too complex to work with organisations that offer little leeway to their employees. For many of us, traditional working environments simply don’t work. The care industry provides a solution. The care industry is a dynamic, flexible industry where you can work around your life, rather than fitting your life around your work.

We are all gloriously different. Some of us are naturally early risers and would rather jump out of bed and get on with our days. Some of us would rather work late than be forced to wake to an ear-piercing alarm. Some people love working at night. Some of us only want to work for a certain number of hours in a week. Some of us need shifts that fit around our partner’s work for childcare reasons. Whatever your reason is and whatever you need, come and speak to us.

At Ashwell Home Care Services, we offer a range of different contract options. Whether you want a few shifts a week to pay for some treats for your family or to work weekends when you have childcare cover, we can help. Care is always needed; care doesn’t clock off at 5 pm on a Friday. We understand the complexities of our employees’ lives, which is why we offer flexible shift patterns to fit around your world.

All we ask in return is that you are kind, caring, and compassionate. We don’t mind if you have never worked in care before. We offer comprehensive, paid training before you start working. We make sure that you are ready before you venture out to see clients on your first solo shift. We have a supportive senior team who check in with you throughout the day. We offer ongoing training, with the opportunity to progress for those who wish to continue their training in Health and Social Care.

If you are looking for flexible work around the Malvern and Worcester area, speak to us. If you would like to work for a company that understands that you have a life outside of work, speak to us. If you would like to work for a supportive and understanding employer, speak to us. Due to the nature of the rural location of our clients, all employees must have a full driving licence and access to a car. If you are bored of the grind of 9 to 5, why not speak to us? Contact Ashwell Home Care Services today and take the first step towards your flexible career. Call now on 01684 778750.

Do you have time for tea? We do!

We understand that rituals and routines are so important to us all. When we create our tailor-made care packages, we make sure that we understand all the rituals that are important to your loved one. If afternoon tea is one of the highlights of their day, we make sure that it is included in their care. Maybe they struggle with preparing the tea, we can help. Maybe they just need the companionship of taking afternoon tea with another person, we can help. Afternoon Tea Week runs from the 9^th – 15^th August and celebrates the importance of tea! We love a cup of tea, and more than that we love enabling our clients to enjoy one too.

Old age can be difficult, whether you are struggling physically or mentally, our care companions can help. Because we understand the importance of human interaction, we make sure that our schedules are always designed with time for a cup of tea. For many clients, the time they spend with their care companion will be the only contact they will have during the day. We want to make sure that we give them time, time for a conversation, time for a cup of tea, time to chat.

There are too many horror stories of home care staff rushing through appointments with not enough time to deliver care. Many of them will be unpaid between jobs, leaving them stressed and undervalued. At Ashwell Home Care Services we value our care companions. We know that the job they do is vitally important, not only to their clients but to society. We pay our care companions for the travel time between their clients, we make sure that we don’t skimp on the time allocation for care. We make sure that they never feel rushed, that they always feel that they have time to spend with the client.

If you are looking for care with a difference, speak to us. If you are seeking support for a loved one, whether they need help with personal care, or simply someone to sit with them and enjoy afternoon tea, we can help. Our home care services cover Malvern and surrounding rural areas and extend into Worcester. We are here to answer all your questions, so why not call our friendly team today? For help and advice simply call Ashwell Home Care Services on 01684 778750.