FEATURE ARTICLES

The noise around recent key policy and fiscal events – the King’s Speech, the Autumn Statement, the recent Cabinet reshuffle – has masked the deafening silence from the government on the urgency of social care reform. With a general election on the horizon, Liz Jones, policy director of the National Care Forum, outlines what the sector requires – and expects – from a future government

As care homes continue to grapple with financial challenges amid the current economic climate, an examination of laundry processes can reveal substantial opportunities for cost reduction. Amanda Symmons, care expert at WASHCO, looks into how reviewing all facets of your laundry operations can lead to significant financial benefits

Carrie McDonald, clinical safety officer and clinical lead for Nourish Care, delves into the intricacies of predictive care, highlighting its potential impacts, its significance for the people we support, and the profound implications it carries for the future of care

Pests such as rodents, flies, and cockroaches pose a clear and present danger to the health and wellbeing of care home residents. Paul Bates, managing director of Cleankill Pest Control, discusses how to prevent infestations in the first place, and what to expect from pest control contractors

Rising energy costs are putting increasing pressure on healthcare providers. Eve Wellard, marketing & communications manager at DELABIE UK, looks at the potential pitfalls of cost cutting, and provides solutions that take into account the risks of scalding and infection

Oliver Bussell, a partner at CooperBurnett LLP, looks at how biodiversity net gain could affect the development of new care homes

Care home managers have to concern themselves with a range of ancillary tasks on a daily basis. Richard Newton, principal of independent care home consultancy Opeque, suggests that they might want to consider offloading some of the burden by contracting out

When it comes to designing later living interiors, quality, comfort, and care are key considerations. Bernard Interiors managing director Jen Bernard explores how these principles can be smoothly integrated into every project

Care Show Birmingham – the UK’s premier event for the care sector – took place at NEC Birmingham on 11-12 October. The Care Home Environment editor Matt Seex picks some highlights from the show

Horizon Construction has recently finished building Braintree Mews, a 75-bed care Avery Healthcare care home located in the Essex town of Braintree. The Care Home Environment editor Matt Seex visited the impressive new home to discuss the build

Ashley Hooper, commercial marketing manager at JHS, discusses how making informed choices about the colours, patterns, and shapes used in care home flooring can enhance wayfinding for residents living with dementia, boosting their independence, autonomy, and overall wellbeing

Joanne Balmer BEM, CEO of carbon neutral care group Oakland Care, explores the recent successes the provider has had in driving sustainability forward as part of its renewed ambitions for the future

Shaleeza Hasham, director at CHD Living, sets out a pathway to sustainable growth for care businesses, and explains how a well-defined ESG strategy can have a positive impact on both business performance and employee engagement and retention

Bill Sinclair, technical director at Adveco Ltd, explains why, when considering a move away from a gas-fired boiler, data gathering on your existing hot water system is a critical first step

Andrew Coles of Person Centred Software sets out the case for switching from paper-based MAR charts to an eMAR system

After releasing The Big Exit in 2022, detailing the motivations of 1000 health & social care leavers, Sona has acknowledged that responses can shift with time, as working trends change, and decided to run the poll again this year in order to help organisations improve their recruitment strategies.

Richard Woodward, general manager for apetito’s care home division, dives into new research on how care homes cater for residents with dysphagia and looks at how apetito’s texture modified range can help ensure residents get the nutrients they need, while taking pressure off staff

Tanya Clover, head of dementia and personalisation for Porthaven Care Homes, looks at how, when setting out to enable and support those living with dementia, providers can best measure their ‘success’

Sam Hussain, founder and CEO of Log my Care, asks if change management belongs in the digitalisation of social care

Rohit Sharma, resilient sales manager at Bona, shares his insights into going green from the ground up