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Welsh asked to help elderly get ready for autumn

Published: 8th September 2020 14:10

  

PEOPLE living in Wales are being asked by a leading home care agency this month (September 2020) to help prepare elderly relatives, loved-ones and neighbours for the autumn and the inclement weather to come.

ISS Healthcare says as the cooler temperatures set in, so too does the heightened risk of seasonal-related illnesses, falls and loneliness, as the elderly and vulnerable stay indoors more.

Caroline Jones, Regional Manager at ISS Healthcare, which provides care to people in their own homes in Torfaen and the surrounding areas and has offices at Torfaen Business Centre, said: “While many of us don’t consider the change in season has much of an impact on us, it can affect the elderly more than you realise, so it’s important to make sure they are prepared for the change and that their homes can cope with the conditions.

“For many older people, like our service users, they will have spent a great deal of time this year at home already due to COVID-19 and the associated restrictions. Some will be feeling very worried about the autumn and winter months ahead, the threat of the pandemic and having prolonged periods on their own facing loneliness, which can shorten life expectancy too.

“We’re encouraging the kindhearted and caring people of Wales to keep their elderly relatives, friends and neighbours in mind and to make sure they’re comfortable and warm this autumn, while abiding by any relevant and current social distancing rules that are now applicable due to COVID-19.

“If your relative, friend or neighbour has a heating system, it needs to be serviced yearly by a qualified engineer to ensure it’s running safely and efficiently before the really cold weather arrives. You should also test any electrical heaters to make sure they work properly – but remember, they should not be left unattended at any time.

“It’s important to make sure they have blankets within easy reach of beds and chairs and that they have plenty of jumpers/cardigans in their wardrobe to wrap up in.”

Now is the season for flu-jabs too and elderly people, along with those aged 50 plus this year, will be invited along to their GP surgery to have theirs.

Caroline added: “You could help provide transport if you have a four-door car, so your passenger can sit away from you in the back seat and both parties wear masks. It’s also a good idea to stock up on cold and sore throat remedies.

 

Don’t forget any outside space around the house, including front and back gardens. The combination of falling leaves and wet weather can cause slippery surfaces so if you can, rake up leaves and clean pathways and steps. You could even add handrails if needed.

“Autumn into winter often means that we stay indoors for longer and for your loved-one to have a whole day at home with no plans can be quite daunting, so be sure to encourage elderly friends and relatives to have some home hobbies to help keep their mind active.

“It’s also a good idea to try and up the amount of contact you have with your loved-one during the week and at weekends as the nights start to draw in, but please play close attention to all the current guidelines issued by the Government with regards to in-person contact.”

ISS Healthcare provides care support to thousands of people, with services commissioned through authorities in the area or purchased privately by individual service users or their families.

Its aim is to deliver care, which improves the lives of its service users and that treats them, and their families, with respect, dignity and compassion.

ISS Healthcare believes its services should not only comply with regulatory standards, but that it also delivers excellence and promote overall wellbeing.

It offers flexible and supported work for kind, committed and reliable people, who have excellent communication skills and a genuine care for others.

 

Caroline continued: “Being a carer is a highly skilled, professional vocational occupation that is essential to the fabric of our society and the beauty of a job for life means people can start at the very bottom and work their way up with training and qualifications.

“We’re looking for kind and caring individuals to join our team. We can offer people who work in rural areas the opportunity to become a carer in their community. We have found that there are often people living in the same small community as someone who needs care and support and who would be pleased to work for us, if only with one or two people. 

“Anyone looking for work can register with us and we can let them know when work becomes available in their area. Working in a close-knit community enables a richer relationship between the carer and the person supported, as they can have more in common and can also pop in more easily. 

“Where this kind of match between the person needing support and the carer can be made it also helps enormously with safety during the winter months, as locally based carers can almost always reach someone even in heavy rain or snow.”

 To enquire about a position, people can call ISS Healthcare on 01495 759977 or leave a message on its Facebook page at https://bit.ly/345tgvU. Alternatively, people can apply for positions via Indeed at https://indeedhi.re/2JBKAiU. 

New recruits are given free uniforms, access to national staff discount scheme for many major brands, as well as 28 days paid holiday, paid travel between calls and paid mileage.

“We offer competitive wages, generous holiday allocation and a refer a friend bonus scheme. It is a great opportunity for people to achieve recognised qualifications and they’ll also have access to exclusive discounts online and in-store from retailers including Tesco, Primark and Argos, as well as discounts covering holidays and electrical goods.

Being a carer is a highly skilled, professional vocational occupation that is essential to the fabric of our society and the beauty of a job for life means people can start by training with us and work their way up the career ladder gaining further training and qualifications. In today’s changing world of employment, we pride ourselves on being able to offer long-term job security and career prospects.

“Thanks to modern technology we are able to conduct interviews via FaceTime and Skype for speed and to ensure people don’t leave their homes unnecessarily. We could receive a person’s application and have them on a FaceTime call the same day. The Government has also taken steps to ensure a quicker turnaround on DBS checks, so we can get people into work even quicker.”

For more information about ISS Healthcare, please call 01495 759977 or visit www.isshealthcare.co.uk

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