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.

We won an award!

We did it! Our fantastic team of care companions has been recognised by Homecare.co.uk. We are so proud of you all and delighted that the incredible work that you do has been noticed. Ashwell Home Care Services has been awarded the Top 20 Home Care Providers West Midlands 2021. The Homecare.co.uk awards are chosen based on overall review scores from genuine reviews left by people who have used the services. These awards are the greatest accolade of the amazing work that all our care companions do every day.

“We are so proud of our care team,” says Philip Ashwell, director at Ashwell Home Care Services, “and we are delighted that their hard work has been acknowledged.” Ashwell Home Care Services was founded by husband and wife team Philip and Debbie Ashwell in 2019 after they struggled to find good home care for their ageing parents.

Homecare.co.uk is the leading national website for finding home care services. It is used by many people to find home care services all over the country. An amazing resource for struggling families to help them find care. It is such a useful resource as users of services can leave a review. These reviews are verified by Homecare.co.uk to prove that they are genuine. The users rate the service on a variety of criteria; overall standard, staff, care/support, management, treated with dignity, and value for money. Each element has a maximum of 5 stars available so that you can rate different aspects of the service individually. These scores are then calculated into an overall review score which is out of 10.

Our overall review score is 9.9. It is this incredible score that ensured that we were in the top 20 home care providers out of 1035 home care providers spread across the West Midlands. That is an impressive feat! But better than the accolade of winning an award is reading the reviews. Most reviews are left by the family of a client. Many people had been struggling with caring for their loved ones, before contacting us. The reviews show how much the care that we give means to people, and that is the greatest reward.

If you are struggling with caring for a loved one, please contact the friendly team at Ashwell Home Care Services. We can help you with home care for your loved one, and give you advice on how best to access this support. We are always here at the end of the phone, with compassion and constructive advice. Call us today on 01684 778750.

The tragedy of loneliness…

Loneliness is a silent sadness. It is estimated that 13% of people over the age of 65 are lonely all or most of the time. This figure has stayed roughly the same since the 1940s, but with people living for longer, this is a growing problem. Loneliness Awareness Week takes place on the 14^th of June.

Many of the people who come to us for care, report loneliness as a major factor in their lives, but using a care companion can help to remedy this. At Ashwell Home Care Services we ensure that our care companions have enough time in their schedule for a cup of tea and a chat. We understand that it is not simply the mechanics of having assistance in your daily life that are important, but the emotional benefit.

Never underestimate the power of companionship. Even knowing that your care companion will be around later on that afternoon, can transform your day. Struggling with everyday tasks can in itself be lonely, especially if they were things you used to do with a partner, who has passed away. Having a care companion to take you to the shops, or help you with the laundry can make an incredible difference.

Loneliness can be difficult to combat as it can creep into your life. Many people are happy in their own company for much of the day but can find it difficult as their mobility decreases. Many of the activities that remedy loneliness, such as popping into the local shop, having a cup of tea with a friend, enjoying a phone call with a loved one, are no longer possible with old age. If your mobility is restricted walking to the shop can become too difficult. Often your friends are the same age and can themselves struggle with their health making meeting up a massive undertaking. Our hearing can decline in old age, making phone conversations an ordeal rather than a pleasure.

Many people are very independent, they don’t want to ask their family to come around for company. They appreciate that their adult children have careers, and young families and their time is limited. They don’t want to be a burden. A care companion could be the answer. Our care companions provide support and companionship for older people. This ongoing relationship can help to combat the loneliness of old age. If you would like to have an impartial, informative conversation about the care services that we provide and how they might help you or a loved one, contact us today. Our friendly and experienced team is only a phone call away. Call Ashwell Home Care Services on 01684 778750.

Are you, or do you know, an unpaid carer?

The week beginning the 7^th of June is National Carers Week. It is designed to draw attention to the work done by legions of unpaid carers up and down the country. Many people don’t realise they are carers, instead viewing their actions as simply “what is done.” But it is vital to all our health, both mental and physical that we acknowledge the work done by carers both paid and unpaid.

Many elderly people require extra care. Whether it is help with the shopping, or getting dressed in the morning, what can seem like just “helping out”, is actually care. Our care companions are trained to deliver care for a variety of needs, and they spend their days doing so. Many people are struggling to fit in caring for elderly relatives around their own commitments.

Some people struggle with asking for help. They feel that should be able to do everything themselves. But we can’t. Certainly not without potentially causing ourselves harm. Those people who do rush around looking after everyone else, often do so at the expense of their own health. Early intervention and asking for support can help prevent burnout. Our care companions can go to your elderly relative and provide support for them in their daily lives. This is not a failure on your part, this is accessing the correct support.

Relatives are often relieved when they ask for help. Suddenly you can regain the time you had spent rushing around doing chores for your relatives. Many people comment that it improves their relationship with their elderly relatives, as the time previously spent doing jobs, can now be spent together, having tea, doing a jigsaw. This benefit then flows through the rest of your life, as you can rebalance your load.

Many people assume they can’t afford care, but there is financial support available. Don’t assume you don’t qualify for financial aid, speak to us. We have many years of experience in the care sector and can advise you on the support you may be entitled to. Equally, if you do go down the private route, our care is flexible to your needs. You won’t find yourself paying for more than you need, if your elderly relative only needs a few hours a week we can provide that. If they need 24-hour care we can provide that. If their needs change suddenly, we can adapt our offerings accordingly. With Ashwell Home Care Services you only pay for the care that you need, and the care that your receive.

If you are struggling to care for your elderly relative, remember you are not alone. We are just on the other end of the phone with compassionate, considered advice. Don’t suffer in silence, call Ashwell Home Care Services today on 01684 778750.

My mum is worried about having someone in her house…

This is one of the things we often hear. Many people ring us for advice as they are having difficulty broaching the subject of care with their parents. When you are elderly you feel more vulnerable, you can’t move quickly, you are aware that your senses and reactions are not as sharp as they once were. Letting a stranger into your house is a big deal and is often a barrier for the elderly to receive the care that they sorely need.

When you come to Ashwell Home Care Services we are experienced in overcoming these hurdles. We have had these uncomfortable conversations with our own parents as well as many clients. We can advise you on the best way to tackle the subject as well as reassuring you during this stressful time.

It is a big step to let someone into your house, which is why we handpick our care companions. We only employ people that we would feel happy caring for our own parents. So if we wouldn’t be happy with them in our parents’ houses we certainly wouldn’t send them to yours! This rule means that we interview around 10 people for every single care companion that we employ. So you can be confident that we have thoroughly interviewed them and ascertained that they are everything you would expect of an Ashwell Home Care Services employee.

We also understand that everyone has personal preferences and we always try and cater to this. We aim to match care companions to clients as a good fit. Care is personal, it requires trust and compassion. It is a two-way relationship that works best when that relationship is a good one. Sometimes you might not get on with the care companion that we have selected for you. There may be nothing wrong with them or the job that they do, but it is your home and you are allowed to choose who to invite inside. If you do not like your care companion for whatever reason (maybe they remind you are a very scary teacher from your childhood!) simply talk to us. We are here to help you.

Our aim is that you look forward to your care companion’s visits, that you enjoy the time they spend with you, whatever you are doing. Whether you are venturing down the shops or enjoying a soothing bath. That is your time and we want you to enjoy it. If you are considering whether a care companion might be of benefit to yourself or your family member, why not contact us for an informal conversation today on 01684 778750.

You could say they are a caring family…

Meet the Ashwells, of Ashwell Home Care Services, Malvern, as they welcome the latest member to join the family business.

Matt Ashwell has recently joined his parents, Phil and Debbie Ashwell, founders of Ashwell Home Care Services, and his sister, Emily Ashwell, who works as a care companion for the Malvern-based company. Matt has come into the business as an HR apprentice, building on his passion for equality and fair rights for employees.

Matt began his apprentice scheme in February this year through Nemaltd, the North East Management Academy. This allows him to train while working towards gaining a Level 3 NVQ in HR. Matt says, “I am delighted for this opportunity to work in the care sector and keep up the high standard of employment values that Ashwell is renowned for.” Ashwell is known for the high level of respect they have for their employees. Every member of staff is made to feel valued and recognised for the work that they do.

Sensibly, Matt decided to move out from his parent’s home when he began working in the family business. He sees a different side to his parents in work. Matt says, “they are much more relaxed at home. In the office, I can see how hard they strive to provide the very best care for their clients.” They make an effort to keep work at work so that every family occasion doesn’t simply turn into a business meeting!

Ashwell Home Care Services provides at-home care services for people in and around the Malvern area. The head office is located near the Three Counties showground in a rural business park. From here the team coordinates their care companions around the surrounding areas.

Despite only having been with the business for a short while, Matt already has big ambitions, “I want to help Ashwell to be the number one care agency in the West Midlands,” says Matt, “or at least number one in Worcestershire.” Ashwell is already gaining an impressive reputation in and around Malvern, both from their clients and their employees, and they are a top-ranking care agency on the national website homecare.co.uk.

Matt loves recruiting care companions into the family firm. Ashwell is committed to finding the right people for the job, on average they interview 10 candidates for one successful role. If you are interested in a rewarding job for a company that values you, take note of Matt’s top tip. “Be yourself. There is no point in going to an interview with a fake character.”

Demand for home care is increasing, and the team at Ashwell is constantly recruiting good people to care for their clients. Matt is thoroughly enjoying working in the care sector in his family business. If you are looking for home care for yourself or a family member, Ashwell Home Care Services is always on the end of the phone for a friendly informal chat about care, simply call 01684 778750. If you are interested in a rewarding vocation in the care sector, please call the head office and speak to Matt on 01684 778750.

Dementia is happening every day, all around you…

Did you know someone in the world is diagnosed with dementia every 3 seconds? That’s an incredible number of people who are struggling with carrying out everyday tasks that you or I take for granted. The more we can raise awareness of dementia amongst the wider public, the more support and help people will receive. At Ashwell Home Care Services we are supporting Dementia UK’s “time for a cuppa” week from the 1^st to the 8^th of May, to help raise public awareness about dementia.

Isn’t dementia just part of growing old?

Dementia is not simply a natural part of aging. Dementia is an umbrella term for diseases that affect the brain such as Alzheimer’s. These diseases can cause problems with memory, and understanding. This can result in people forgetting names or important dates. It may lead to confusion with tasks such as getting dressed, or shopping. It can cause personality changes. It can make it very difficult for people to live independently without support.

Can’t I just look after my loved ones?

Caring for someone with dementia can place a great strain upon family members. If you believe a loved one is starting to show signs of dementia it is important to seek help. We provide trained care companions to help provide support to those people with dementia. You are not alone, and no one can provide round-the-clock care without help or a break.  Trying to care for your loved ones and your own family can be difficult for everyone. Reach out and speak to someone.

What are the signs to look out for?

Dementia presents differently in different people. The important thing to look for is changes. If someone has previously been very social and they suddenly become withdrawn, that may be a sign. But if they have always been happy in their own company, then there is no concern. The main indicators are:

• Increased forgetfulness
• Increased confusion
• Changes to personality
• Reduced concentration
• Depression or withdrawal
• An inability to carry out everyday tasks

Who can help me?

Speak to your doctor in the first instance. If you need to access local authority funding to gain support for your loved one, you will need a diagnosis. If you require private care you can proceed without an official diagnosis, or you can put measures in place to support your loved one before they meet the criteria for a formal diagnosis. Speak to us. We are trained professionals and can advise you both about the medical side of dementia, as well as explaining the complexities of local authority funding and what you will need to do. We are always happy to talk.

What’s the next step?

While dementia is an incurable condition, early intervention and diagnosis have been shown to help reduce the speed of deterioration. Our aim at Ashwell Home Service is to help people live a life with dementia, not a life ruled by dementia. Contact us today and let us help you.