If you have diabetes, or you have a loved one with the condition, you’ll be used to testing, recording, and monitoring. It feels like an endless cycle of blood tests and appointments, doesn’t it? This is why awareness events like Diabetes Week are so crucial.

Diabetes UK has marked 10th – 16th June as Diabetes Week 2024, and we’re committed to sharing useful information about the condition, what it means for you, and how we can help. This week is particularly important for our community in Worcestershire and Malvern, as it provides an opportunity to educate and support those affected by diabetes.

Recognizing the Symptoms

If you or a loved one are experiencing any of the following symptoms, you may have diabetes:

• Toilet: Going for a wee a lot, especially at night.
• Thirsty: Being really thirsty.
• Tired: Feeling more tired than usual.
• Thinner: Losing weight without trying to.
• Genital itching or thrush.
• Cuts and wounds take longer to heal.
• Blurred eyesight.
• Increased hunger.

These symptoms are common indicators of both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is where your blood sugars are too high because your body can’t make insulin. Type 2 diabetes is where your blood sugars are high because your body can’t make enough insulin, or the insulin isn’t working properly.

Specialized Footcare for Diabetic Patients

Diabetic patients can experience various complications, including foot problems. This is why our footcare specialist, Zoe, always tests the nerve sensation in the feet during foot health examinations. If she’s concerned about a reduction in sensation or anything else, she’ll alert the client to see their GP. Regular foot checks are essential in preventing serious complications.

Comprehensive Care in Worcestershire and Malvern

For our clients in Worcestershire and Malvern, it’s important that we are aware of a diabetes diagnosis. This allows us to be vigilant in monitoring for any other conditions that may be caused or worsened by diabetes. Having full knowledge of our clients’ medical issues means we can provide the best care and know when to be concerned if something changes.

During Diabetes Week, we encourage you to reach out for support and information. Local events in Malvern and across Worcestershire will provide opportunities to learn more about managing diabetes, connect with healthcare professionals, and find community support. Check local listings and the Diabetes UK website for events near you.

How You Can Participate

Join us in raising awareness during Diabetes Week 2024 by:

• Attending local events and workshops.
• Encouraging loved ones to get tested if they exhibit any symptoms.
• Supporting diabetes research and local health initiatives.

By coming together, we can make a difference in the lives of those affected by diabetes in our community. Let’s use Diabetes Week 2024 as a springboard to better health and awareness for all. If you want nutritious and healthy meals that suit diabetic needs, Ashwell provides a meals service for seniors.

For more information on events and resources in Worcestershire and Malvern, visit the Diabetes UK website and stay connected with our local healthcare providers. Let’s make Diabetes Week 2024 a meaningful and impactful week for everyone involved.

As Pride Month arrives across the UK, here in Worcestershire, we celebrate diversity every single day. We believe that care should be delivered in a non-judgmental, fair, and respectful way—and our care teams embody these values daily. Treating each client as an individual and treating the family members we encounter with the same respect and fairness is at the heart of what we do.

We can’t say that it doesn’t matter who you love—because to us, it very much does matter. Your loved ones are part of our extended family, and it makes no difference to us whether they are the same sex as you, or if you don’t identify as the sex you were born as. Love and identity are celebrated here, and we welcome everyone with open arms.

The same inclusivity extends to our team members. What’s most important to us is that you are good, honest, caring people who will make a positive difference to our clients across Malvern, Worcester, and Upton Upon Severn. Quality, respect, dignity, equality, and diversity are at the very core of our organization’s values, and we only recruit individuals who share these beliefs. Our staff undergo comprehensive equality and diversity training, with a particular focus on the needs of the LGBTQ+ community. We believe this training benefits not only our clients but also the wider Worcestershire community as we work to break down barriers and foster understanding.

At Ashwell Home Care, we understand that some members of the LGBTQ+ community may hesitate to access care, fearing unfair treatment. We recognize that these individuals can often experience poor mental health due to feelings of conflict, confusion, or isolation. We’re here to help, to take things at your pace, and to ensure that you feel safe and respected.

Our commitment is to provide a supportive and inclusive environment where everyone can receive the care they deserve. We are proud to stand with the LGBTQ+ community, not just during Pride Month, but every day of the year. Together, we can create a more understanding and accepting world.

Ashwell Home Care Services is here for you, celebrating love, diversity, and the unique identity of every person we care for. Happy Pride Month!

Even the word, dementia is a bit scary – we hear that someone has been diagnosed with dementia and we feel sad for them. For all the memories that they’ve lost or will lose, and for all the personality quirks that make them who they are, that they may also lose.

Many of our clients across Malvern, Worcester and surrounding areas have a diagnosis of dementia, and it’s something that we are passionate about. Helping others to understand the condition, and to help those living with it to live their very best lives – safely.

There are many misconceptions around dementia, and we find ourselves correcting those who we are talking to, to put the record straight.

As we’ve just had Dementia Action Week, and a lot of attention has been drawn to the condition, we asked our team to share what they wish you knew about dementia.

Dementia Speaks Out

Deb started the ball rolling by saying that dementia is a degenerative disease (which means that it will get progressively worse over time) which cannot be cured. Whilst it’s true that the diagnosis is becoming quicker, we are still a way off having a usable cure for the disease. Deb goes on to say that the person who has dementia is still the same person they always were – just with slight variations.

Julie is poetic in her statement, where she says that if you imagine your life as a library – each memory is a separate book on the library shelves. If there was an earthquake, and all the books fell off the shelves onto the floor, that’s what having dementia is like – the confusion of knowing that you have a memory of something – but struggling to place it.

One of our carers said that the thing they wished you knew about dementia was how lonely it can be for family members as well as the person with dementia and how hard it is for family to see their loved ones fading away from them. This is one of the most difficult things to understand if you haven’t lived with it. Whilst we know that there are some activities and respite for those with dementia, the support for their families is still someway behind, here in Worcestershire.

Sandra reminds us that if a loved one with dementia is presenting in an irritating manner, or acting in a challenging manner, turn that thought around to remember that our loved one is having a tough time – not intending to give us the tough time. She says that changing our perspective can make all the difference.

Deb revisited the question later on, and came back with “People (both who live with and without dementia) will often forget what has been said to them or who people are but they will Never forget how someone makes them feel” – we think this is so true, and it’s why we go to great lengths to employ people who care enough to make a difference.

We don’t always have all of the answers – but we’ll never stop trying to find them, if the answer will help someone we care about.

If you have any questions about how dementia can affect your loved one, or if you feel like some additional support from dementia specialists across Malvern, Worcester and Upton Upon Severn would be useful in maintaining independence, please do get in touch.

At Ashwell Home Care Services, we are used to answering questions about dementia from clients and their families across Worcester, Malvern and the surrounding areas. This Dementia Action Week, we’re sharing some information that might be useful to those who think that a loved one may have dementia, so that they can be guided through the next steps to get a diagnosis and what comes next.

Memory and Dementia

Memory Loss is usually one of the first indicators that someone may have dementia – maybe they’ve forgotten how to navigate the one-way system around Worcester City, or maybe they have forgotten if they parked their car in Crowngate or St Martin’s car park. This alone does not immediately mean that a person has dementia – there can be many reasons why we forget things, even temporarily – stress and mental health conditions can lead to an element of forgetfulness, as can natural ageing – so as a standalone symptom, this is not an indicator of dementia.

Being able to interpret what is being seen can be another indicator of dementia – so if your loved one is suddenly having difficulty navigating the narrow lanes as they drive around the Malvern Hills, or constantly parking over the white line in the Cattle Market car park, this could be another indication that there is more happening than just a stressful time, or getting older.

We can all forget the correct word for things at some point – how many times have we called the “wotsit” or the “thingy” instead of the TV remote control or dog lead? Again, because this is such a common occurrence, as a standalone symptom, it’s not a strong enough indicator that dementia is present, but coupled with other signs, it could be a clue that additional support is going to be needed.

If your loved one has become (suddenly) anxious, or worried, or has lost interest in things that used to bring them joy – it could be a sign that dementia is starting to impact their personality. This is not exclusive to those with dementia, so again, it’s not a given – but should be taken into consideration, alongside other potential signs.

If your loved one loses track of time easily – or gets confused about what time and day it is – we can start to draw assumptions that they have dementia – but if they’ve always been a bit late to events, or often turn up at the wrong time on the wrong day, then it’s nothing new and we can laugh it off.

When your loved one starts to have problems concentrating or following instructions (If they previously managed to follow logical steps through an instruction manual) – this could be a red flag that we need to get more support.

Symptoms of Dementia

These symptoms can all be attributed to other situations or medical considerations, and taken in isolation, they aren’t an indication that something is wrong. If there is more than one symptom that has developed, or they have developed in tandem with

• Aggressive behaviour
• Poor sleep patterns
• Inability to settle (constantly walking around)

Then it might be time to ask for a check up with the GP. Surgeries across Worcestershire are well used to making referrals to memory clinicS, where professionals can assess an individual’s ability to function within normal parameters.

Alzheimer’s UK ALSO offer a free symptom checklist that you can use to help guide your GP when you speak to them – here’s the link: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/sites/default/files/2023-04/dementia-symptoms-checklist.pdf

I could have reduced the burden on my Mum, if my Dad had spoken about his funeral wishes before he unexpectedly died. Managing Director of Ashwell Home Care Services, Phil Ashwell speaks candidly, as he explains, at the end of Dying Matters Week, why it’s so important to have conversations about death.

Phil’s Story

When Phil’s father died, aged in his 70’s, it was a shock, and then Phil’s Mum was left to organise a funeral at a time when she was grief-stricken, and in shock, and although Phil wanted to help his Mum, to help ease the burden, the conversation had never taken place between Phil and his Dad about what happens next.

Phil has had three close family members die, and in each case, he wishes that there were things that could have been done differently.

The second instance was when Phil’s Aunt passed away, shortly after receiving a cancer diagnosis.  She was adamant that she didn’t want to die in hospital, but left all other decisions and arrangements to Phil. Phil says that he wishes that he’d been able to challenge her to ensure that the people who meant the most to her were able to get what they needed, but in her view, she was being helpful by not dictating the details, and leaving the decisions to Phil.

The third time that Phil lost someone close to him, it was his mother – and he’d been determined to have the conversations around death with her so that he wasn’t in the position that he’d been in before… but the conversations were easily avoided, laughed off, or never really addressed.

Phil says that had the conversations taken place, effectively, and he’d been able to understand what each of his relatives wanted at end of life and in death, what songs they’d wished would be played at their funeral, whether they had any unfulfilled desires that could have been filled etc, it would have promoted acceptance on his part, and offered a sense of peace once his relatives had passed on, as he would be confident that the decisions he was making were what his Dad, Aunt, Mum would have wanted.

Phil encourages everyone to have these conversations around end-of-life care, death, and funeral wishes – but he accepts that it’s not an easy conversation to have. He says “I know that these conversations are really difficult to have, but don’t put them off. It’s really important to start talking about dying, and to get the plans and preparations in place – because it WILL make a difference”.

Let us know if we can help you to have these conversations.

One size doesn’t fit all – in any aspect of life or death. We believe that to be true of care at home, and our guest bloggers, Jackson’s Family Funeral Directors say that it’s not true of funerals either – that although people expect there to be a hearse taking the coffin to a church or crematorium, followed by a limousine carrying immediate family members, there is absolutely no obligation for this to be the case.

Amie Cook, a Local Funeral Director, Advice

Amie Cook is a funeral director at Jacksons, and she says that “no two funerals are the same and we believe that they shouldn’t be. Everything at Jackson’s is tailored to a special family and to their person who has passed away. This year, in Dying Matters Awareness Week, I really hope to make families aware that funerals can involve a real celebration of life, including laughter and smiling, so that their loved one can be honoured with their very special last request.“

Amie’s advice to anyone who hasn’t already planned their funeral is “please do. “

This does not mean that you have to book your funeral now or pay for it upfront. It means that this is something that can be discussed and detailed as part of an ongoing conversation. It could be a simple meeting with your family, or just jotting down your choices, chatting with your chosen funeral director to go through some of your wishes. If people want to pay in advance, they can. Either way, talking about different options can be useful, so when the time does come your family has an indication of what you are wanting – so they fulfil your wishes once you’ve passed away.

Amie is one of a growing number of females involved in the funeral industry – an industry which is still heavily considered to be male dominated – but the truth is that there are now female Funeral Directors, female pall bearers and female on call staff too.

Jackson Family Funeral Directors offer a broad variety of funerals, from a direct cremation or burial – undertaking both attended and non-attended service – to sunrise and sunset funerals, incorporating a variety of different vehicle options: from their informal style of funeral to a traditional service, a horse drawn hearse… and everything in between. As the family wishes, they will ensure the clients’ needs are met.

Amie says that many people believe that funeral directors are sombre and dour. Yet, we are just human beings who care greatly about our role and happen to do a job that people rarely talk about. That said, we are – of course – hugely respectful of the role we play in the death of a loved one and their families, so maybe that’s why we’re often seen as sombre.

For anyone who is bereaved it is important to speak to a funeral director to see what they can offer you as a family. We’re here to help and support you. Let your chosen funeral director know what your loved one enjoyed, so they can incorporate their wishes into the funeral, this extends to favourite colours, football teams supported, etc.

Amie says “At a funeral, we have one chance to get it right, so I think it is important to include the wishes and characteristics of the person who has died, to ensure we are giving them a send-off they deserve and/or what they have asked for. This year, in Dying Matters Awareness Week, I would love to encourage everyone to move away from death being a taboo word.”

 Have you spoken about your funeral wishes yet? Are they recorded anywhere?

Dr Kirsten Protherough, GP, Home Visit Healthcare, Home Visiting GP Service

Every year, Dying Matters Awareness Week serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of open conversations about death and dying. As a GP with a special interest in older adult care and frailty, I’ve witnessed firsthand the profound therapeutic impact these discussions can have on patients and their families.

From my work in Worcestershire’s community hospitals with patients and their families, honest and timely conversations surrounding end-of-life care are fundamental to providing quality support and guidance to patients and their loved ones.

However, societal taboos and personal discomfort often hinder these discussions, leaving individuals feeling uninformed and unsupported during one of life’s most challenging moments.

Two insightful books that I would recommend reading are Kathryn Mannix’s “With the End in Mind” and  “The book about getting older” by Dr Lucy Pollock.

Mannix’s book beautifully captures the human experience of dying, dispelling myths and fears surrounding death while emphasising the importance of compassionate, person-centred care.

Similarly, “The Book about getting older” offers valuable insights into navigating the complexities of aging and frailty, guiding healthcare professionals in providing holistic support to older adults and their families.

Common Myths surrounding “Palliative Care”

“Palliative care is only for patients in the last few days of their lives”

Palliative care is often provided at any stage of a serious illness, not just in the final days. It encompasses a range of services tailored to individual needs. Including pain and symptom management, emotional and spiritual support, assistance with decision making and coordination of care.

“Talking to my relative about dying will upset them”

Research shows that open communication about end-of-life preferences can alleviate anxiety and improve quality of life for both patients and their families. Articulating individual preferences empower patients, and despite initial misgivings, provide a sense of relief. To take an active role in shaping their end-of-life journey and ensuring their wishes are honoured often provides peace of mind to both themselves and their families.

How can carers help loved ones and patients ensure they have the best supportive care at the end of their lives?

• Ask their General Practitioner about the “Gold standards framework”
  The Gold Standards Framework (GSF) was established in 1998, aimed to enhance the quality of end-of-life care for all patients, regardless of condition or setting. 95% of GP practices have GSF/supportive care registers and hold regular meetings to discuss patients who have been identified as in their last year of life to ensure their care aligns with best practice.

• Discuss the RESPECT form
  The “Recommended Summary Plan for Emergency Care and Treatment” form can ensure that future care wishes are carried out, particularly if capacity is lost. It is useful to talk  through this form with a healthcare professional and a trusted relative.

Legal documents

Other Legal documents like advanced directives and lasting powers of attorney for health and welfare prompt vital discussions among relatives and healthcare teams. These documents ensure that healthcare decisions in a patient’s final days reflect their wishes. By expressing preferences and designating decision-makers, patients gain control over their care, fostering transparent communication and peace of mind for all involved. These legal tools facilitate patient-centred end-of-life care, emphasizing respect for individual values and preferences.

Palliative care facilities in Worcestershire

We have fantastic palliative care  facilities in Worcestershire: St Richards Hospice, Kemp Hospice and Primrose Hospice as well as the palliative care teams working within the community and Community Hospitals, including the Primrose Unit in Bromsgrove, Princess of Wales Community Hospital.  Referrals to these can be made by yourself, your GP or other healthcare professionals involved in you or your loved one’s care.

The need for expert supportive end of life care is needed more than ever as we have an increasingly older population who require a different approach when coming to the end of life. An approach that enables and ensures comfort and dignity and avoiding distressing hospital admissions.

Because the way we talk about dying matters. Let’s continue to break down barriers, and foster empathy and understanding in our approach to end-of-life care. Together, we can create a more compassionate and supportive environment for all.

References:

Gold standards framework

RESPECT form

With the end in mind – Dr Kathryn Mannix

The book about getting older – Dr Lucy Pollock

Hospices in Worcestershire

• St Richards Hospice – https://www.strichards.org.uk/
• Kemp Hospice – https://www.kemphospice.org.uk/
• Primrose Hospice – https://primrosehospice.org/

When it comes to funerals, there are so many options available to people now. At one time, it was basically burial or cremation with either a religious or secular service. Whilst it’s still true that some people will go for a fairly traditional ceremony at a church, cemetery or crematorium, there are a huge variety of choices and it’s so important to create something that’s meaningful.

Local funeral celebrant, William (Bill) Blow has spoken to us for Dying Matters Week (6^th-12^th May 2024), to let us know more about funerals and the role of the celebrant.

Bills Funeral Celebrant Advice

Bill is a big fan of the increasing numbers of people that are opting for eco-friendly natural burials in woodland sites. He says that he also loves the growth in living funerals, typically for those nearing end of life, where people can actually be present, hear the wonderful things said about them and say their farewells in an appropriate way.

Bill is based in Worcester, and he creates and leads bespoke ceremonies that help people celebrate and commemorate the major milestones of life. The main ones are naming ceremonies for children,  vow renewals and, of course, funerals & memorial services.

Funerals can be personalised to reflect the life and personality of the person who has died in a way that honours their memory and helps those left behind on their journey through bereavement and grief.

Bill says that many people are opting for direct cremation with no ceremony as they think that it’s less of a burden on those left behind. He says “Whilst I can appreciate that there are real cost benefits to this, I do find this trend a little concerning as it deprives those left behind of a meaningful opportunity to say goodbye. Having said that, a simple cremation can be followed by a memorial in any chosen venue.”

A good funeral done well can really help with the grief process. The Good Grief Guide has lots of useful information at Funerals – The Good Grief Trust

According to research carried out by Hospice UK, only one in three people have talked to those close to them about whether they want to be buried or cremated. Even fewer have discussed other funeral elements, like music choices or who they would want to speak at the ceremony. This could be because people don’t want to upset family or friends; because of a fear that talking about death makes it happen; or because these questions don’t seem relevant to us right now. We also might not know what our options are or where to go to find out more. Most people know the benefits of making a will to put their affairs in order, so why not make life easier for those left behind by having open conversations about funeral wishes now.  Many funeral celebrants will work with people to talk through, plan and record their wishes in advance. There are also some great resources available from The Good Grief Trust (www.thegoodgrieftrust.org) and The Good Funeral Guide (www.goodfuneralguide.co.uk).

Bill says “I don’t find too many misconceptions about what I do – although a couple of times people have asked what I do and when I’ve told them that I’m a celebrant, they’ve replied in a puzzled way, “you’re celibate?””

He does still regularly meet people who have no idea what a celebrant does, which he loves as it’s a chance to explain – it’s a bit like writing on a totally blank piece of paper!

So this is as good a time as any to discuss your own funeral wishes. It doesn’t mean that you’re bringing the inevitable closer – it just means that those who are left behind can carry out your wishes, knowing that it is what you would have wanted.

Let’s open the discussion about death and dying – today.

bill@williamblow.co.uk

williamblow.co.uk

Feet – love them or hate them, they are so important to us. We take our feet for granted – until they start to cause problems (usually because we haven’t looked after them properly!) and because we recognise how important they are, we’ve written this blog in association with Zoe from One Step at a Time Mobile Footcare about ways that you can help your feet to help you.

Looking Good

Take a good look at your feet, or the feet of your loved ones – are they looking healthy? Or do they look a bit sore? Are the toenails thickened? Thickened toe nails can be a sign of old age, but they are also an indicator of fungal nail infection – which can be easily treated before it spreads and causes more problems.

(Did you know that fungal nail problems can lead to sepsis if left untreated?)

This little piggy

Checking your toes and toe nails is really important – and much more difficult to do, the older we get (!) – checking between toes for any callous or hard skin build up and checking toe nails to ensure that they aren’t too short or too long. Zoe tells us that many people are minded to cut their toe nails as short as possible – but this can cause problems as socks and shoes can rub against the nail bed, causing bleeding – which can, in turn lead to infection.

Dancing shoes

Our shoes can tell us lots about our body – look for uneven wear – if one side is wearing quicker than the other, look at what might be causing the imbalance – is it a problematic corn or bunion that’s making you walk differently?  Regularly maintaining your feet is the best way to stay on top of foot problems. Zoe recommends 4-6 weekly visits.

Needles & Pins

Pins & needles, or a numbness/tingling in your feet can be indicator of diabetes (there are other indictors too – check out the blog post from Diabetes UK) – our feet really can tell us so much about our bodies, and give us an early warning alarm.

Look Up

Moving away from the feet – has your posture changed? Are you walking on an angle to compensate for the pad of your left foot being sore? Are your favourite trainers a bit too narrow on the toes and causing pinching, which means that you walk on the heels of  your feet instead of the pads?  By the time you realise the importance of your feet, you’re probably already suffering from pain where you’ve neglected them.

BUT – all is not lost – regular foot health check-ups are now offered to all of our clients – in their own homes, which means that every 4-6 weeks, Zoe can give a thorough check, remove any hard skin, cut toe nails and check for any fungal nail infections. Zoe can also advise on properly fitted shoes & slippers too – the pink fluffy slippers might look pretty – but there are more supportive options on the market – and if you or your loved one spends a lot of time wearing slippers, they should be as supportive as everyday work shoes.

If you want to book your loved one in for a footcare appointment with Zoe, just ring the team in the office on 01684 778 750. and we’ll get it arranged.

Some people will never consider a career in care – and others, who work in care, will never consider what they do as a career.

We often hear “it’s just what I do” or “it’s just the way I am, I like helping” – those brilliant people who have no idea how much light they bring into a room with them when they enter.

Traditionally, care has been viewed as a non-skilled job, and whilst it’s true that you don’t need to have lots of qualifications to work in the industry, we would argue that it is very much a skilled position. Not everyone can care, not everyone can find empathy for another human being and not everyone can think on their feet and find a solution when faced with a problem – it’s a very select set of skills.

What is Involved in Care?

We would love more people to consider a career in care – as our population is ever ageing, there is a real need for more support – in the community and within residential care settings, so let’s look a bit more at what it’s like to work in care:

Hours – Care can be a 24/7 job – so there are hours to suit everyone – part time and full time, and often there can be some flexibility around school drop off and pick up times too – although each employer is different. For those night owls, there are overnight hours – or for the early birds, there are always breakfast shifts across the industry.

Qualifications – Although you don’t need any qualifications to work in care, there are opportunities to gain qualifications throughout your employment – some of these are ongoing safety related qualifications – and others are more specialist or career progression qualifications – depending on the individuals desire progress.

Support  – although each company is different, we have found that the care industry is supportive – and friends you make within the industry will be friends for life. At Ashwell Home Care Services, we really love to support our teams, because we know that they will always go the extra mile for our clients – sometimes that means that we need to be flexible with workloads, or sending messages of support when someone is having a tough time.

Pay – This is a tricky topic – but it has to be talked about. The pay in the care industry is not great – we can’t possibly pay staff what they are worth because they are absolutely priceless – but that doesn’t mean that we don’t pay fairly. Some care jobs pay minimum wage – and others are paying above that. At Ashwell Home Care, we pay above minimum wage, but we have a range of other benefits and treats for our team to recognize their brilliance.

If you think that a career in the care industry might be right for you, we’re always happy to chat and answer your questions, or give advice on pathways that might suit you best.

Drop us a line if you want to book in for a chat – you can call us on 01684 778 750.