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ISS Healthcare offers elderly tips to prevent a SAD autumn and winter
| Published: 17th September 2020 09:35 |
A LEADING Welsh home care provider is offering advice to the elderly this month (September 2020) to help prevent them from suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
The team at ISS Healthcare say SAD becomes more widespread when the clocks change next month and in the run-up to the year’s shortest day in December.
Neil Griffiths, Regional Manager at ISS Healthcare, which provides care across Cardiff and the surrounding areas and has offices at Springmeadow Business Park, said: “The majority of our service users are elderly and, as we enter autumn and go into winter, our carers are trained to keep a much closer eye on them and to look for symptoms of SAD, which is a type of depression that comes and goes in a seasonal pattern.
“At this time of year, it’s much easier to develop due to the on-set of cooler weather and the darker evenings. Also, as the weather changes many people may be spending much more time alone at home too. Many of our service users live on their own and are vulnerable, so having people into their homes represents a massive risk to them, as the Coronavirus is still out there. This means they will be lonely too as the night’s draw in and, as a society, we all need to be aware of this and keep up as much safe contact as we can.
“Symptoms of SAD include a persistent low mood, a loss of pleasure or interest in normal, everyday activities, irritability, sleeping for longer than normal, finding it hard to get up in the morning, craving carbs and gaining weight.
“According to the NHS, the exact cause of SAD isn’t understood, but it is often linked to reduced exposure to sunlight during the shorter autumn/winter days.
“The lack of sunlight may stop a part of the brain called the hypothalamus from working properly, which can affect the production of melatonin, the hormone that makes you feel sleepy. The body may produce higher levels due to SAD, the production of serotonin, the hormone that affects your mood, appetite and sleep, and your body’s internal clock, as your body uses sunlight to time important functions, such as when you wake up.
“Our top tips for the elderly to help reduce the chances of SAD this year include:
- Getting as much natural daylight as you possibly can, especially at midday and on brighter days. When you’re at home, it’s also a good idea to sit near windows that lets light in.
- If getting natural light is proving difficult, try light therapy by using a light box. They give out very bright light that is 10 times stronger than ordinary home and office lighting, however, they can prove to be expensive, so you could try using a dawn simulator bedside light. These lights can be connected to an alarm clock and will get brighter gradually, mimicking a sunrise and waking you up naturally.
- Keeping the mind active is a good way to prevent symptoms of SAD creeping in. You could take up a new hobby, join a new group, do crafting, writing, photography or anything else that interests you and keeps your mind ticking over and concentrated on something else.
- Eating well can help boost your mood and give you more energy. Balance carbs such as potato and pasta with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables.
- Being cold can make you feel down, so make sure you stay warm with hot drinks and hot food, warm clothing, shoes, slippers, blankets and jumpers. Aim to keep your home heated between 18°C and 21°C.”
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.
Neil added: “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 02920 779443 or leave a message on its Facebook page at https://bit.ly/2X4FvaH. 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 02920 779443 or visit www.isshealthcare.co.uk.
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