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News items from July 2011

Care home in Harborough under investigation

The Lutterworth Mail reports that an investigation has been launched by police and social services at the Beech House Care Home on Great Bowden Road in Harborough, which closed last week. 

The care home specialised in help for people with dementia and Alzheimer's disease. 

It's thought that a member of staff at the care home raised concerns, which led to the investigation being launched. 

The matter is also being looked into by the Care Quality Commission, the independent regulator for health and social care in the UK. 

Read the full story in the Lutterworth Mail 

If you have any concerns about this story or you've been affected in some way please feel free to get in touch and we'll do our best to help. 

 

Read the full story


‘Serious concerns’ over Castlebeck-run service in Melton Mowbray

Croxton Lodge, a care home for people with learning difficulties in Melton Mowbray is being investigated by the Care Quality Commission, the independent regulator of health and social care in the UK.

The facility is owned by Castlebeck, who are being investigated by the CQC following the closure of its Winterbourne View care home near Bristol. 

Winterbourne View was investigated by the BBC's Panorama programme recently, following allegations that patients were being abused. 

The CQC has said that although there are 'serious concerns' at Croxton Lodge, they are not on the same scale as the problems found at Winterbourne View. It's also said that where it has immediate concerns about people's safety it takes action, such as closing Winterbourne View. 

Croxton Lodge isn't the only Castlebeck-run service to have raised 'serious concerns'. Rose Villa in Bristol, Arden Vale in the West Midlands and Cedar Vale in Nottingham are also mentioned in the CQC's report, along with seven other facilities which 'do not comply with essential standards of quality and safety'. 

Castlebeck has said it'll 'urgently address' the CQC concerns. 

Read the story in full on the BBC website

If you have any concerns about Croxton Lodge please feel free to get in touch with us and we'll do our best to help. 

Read the full story


Download our new leaflet & poster

Support for Carers Leicestershire has just published a leaflet and poster about the service. 

Please feel free to view or download the leaflet and poster to find out more. 

Alternatively, if you'd like to help us promote our service and you can distribute leaflets or display posters please feel free to get in touch with us for printed copies. 

We'd be very happy to hear from community organisations, doctor's surgeries, local councils, churches, businesses or anyone else that can help us reach carers. 

Many thanks for your help! 

 

Read the full story


BBC reports on dramatic rise in carers aged 65+

BBC East Midlands Today reported last night on the dramatic rise in the number of carers aged over 65 in the East Midlands. According to information from this year's Census, there's been a 15% rise in the number of carers aged 65+ in the last 10 years. 

Out of 430,000 carers in the East Midlands, 77,000 are aged over 65, whilst 26,000 are aged over 75. 

The programme highlighted the case of a carer in Leicestershire who's an amazing 90 years old, who looks after his disabled son, now aged 55. 

Carers UK told the BBC they're worried that the funding cuts will mean less support for carers in the coming months - especially older carers who may have health problems themselves. 

If you're an older carer please feel free to get in touch with us to share your experiences and tell us about the issues you face and we'll do our very best to help you of course. 

Watch BBC East Midlands Today on BBC iplayer (please note the report on caring is about four minutes into the programme)

 

Read the full story


The future of Southern Cross care homes in Leicestershire

The Loughborough Echo reported recently that care homes looked after by Southern Cross Healthcare in Leicestershire will hopefully remain open. Southern Cross looks after 752 care homes around the UK including The Willows in Shepshed and Wymeswold Court in Wymeswold.

The Willows is owned by Four Seasons Health Care, although it was leased to Southern Cross. Now, the care home is due to be transferred back to Four Seasons. The company told the Loughborough Echo that 'there was no intention to close The Willows'. A spokeswoman for the company also said that Southern Cross staff working at the home would be offered a transfer to Four Seasons, so that residents could continue to be cared for by staff that they know.

Wymeswold Court is owned by a company based in the Cayman Islands, who as yet, hasn't officially commented on the future of the care home. However, Leicestershire County Council has said it will help to re-house residents if necessary and that it's 'working with Southern Cross to ensure stability and continuity for residents'. 

Read the story in full in the Loughborough Echo

You can follow the latest developments in the Southern Cross story in the local and national press. 

Have you been affected by what's happening at Southern Cross? If so, please feel free to share your story with us. 

Read the full story


New clinic for children with hearing difficulties

A new clinic for children with hearing difficulties has been opened by Leicestershire County Council on Comet Way in Coalville, for children across Leicestershire.

As well as having all the latest equipment for testing children's hearing the new clinic will also provide support for children, parents, carers and school staff - on how to manage hearing loss for example. 

To find out more you can call the clinic on 0116 305 9400. 

If you have any concerns about a child's hearing you can find out more about the help available locally on the Leicestershire County Council website

Read the full story


Cheques are here to stay!

Cheques, which were due to be abolished by 2018, are here to stay for as long as they're needed, after a public outcry and the intervention of MPs, government ministers and charities including Age UK. The news will be especially welcome to older people, as around 75% of people aged over 65 use cheques. It isn't just a question of older people being more used to cheques either. Many older people find using Chip & PIN cards difficult for physical reasons or because of a loss of dexterity for example.

Age UK has said it'll continue to work with the Payments Council and banking industry to ensure that payment systems meet the needs of everyone, including older people. Over 3,000 people in Leicestershire signed a petition against the Payment Council's plans to abolish cheques by 2018. 

Read the story in full in the Leicester Mercury

Did you know that nearly 1 in 5 people aged 65 and over rely on someone else to withdraw their day-to-day spending money? 

How do you cope with this issue as a carer? Please feel free to get in touch with us to share your experiences. 

Read the full story


New lunch club opens in Melton

A new affordable lunch club for older and disabled people has been launched in Melton. The club will run once a month at the Midlands Co-operative Foodstore cafe on Scalford Road in Melton, offering diners the chance to enjoy a healthy main course and dessert for £3.20 and the chance to meet and socialise with other like-minded people.

The club is being run by the Midlands Co-operative Society, the WRVS, Voluntary Action Melton and Leicestershire County Council. The club has been launched to help older and disabled people to socialise and stay healthy whilst offering carers the chance to take a break. If the new club proves successful, the organisers are hoping to run it more than once a month. Food on offer includes dishes such as sheperd's pie, crispy chicken or tuna salad, followed by cheesecake or toffee sponge pudding. To find out more and for help with transport please call Voluntary Action Melton on 01664 483043. 

Read the story in full in the Melton Times 

Do you know of a lunch club or similar project where you live? 

Please let us know more so we can share the information via our website and telephone service. 

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Support for Carers Leicestershire is funded by Leicestershire County Council. However, we rely on donations to enhance the services we provide for carers in the area. If you would like to support us please contact us.