NEWS U PDAT E10 CARE HOME PROFESSIONAL | August 2019T
he number of serious
injuries suffered by care
home residents has almost dou-
bled in the past seven years, according
to CQC data.
Analysis of the data by The Sun-
day Telegraph revealed that reports
of serious injuries, including deaths,
rose to 43,594 in 2018 from 23,
in 2011.
Former health minister Sir Norman
Lamb told the Express: “The truth isA
Tea & Tech event hosted
by Quantum Care has
helped older people in the lo-
cal community use the Internet safely,
increase their digital skills and gain
greater independence.
Aimed at helping older people re-
main at home longer, attendees at the
event at Anson Court in Welwyn Gar-
den City were taught a range of online
skills – from small tasks such as online
shopping, to offering guidance and ad-
vice on Internet safety to protect them
against fraud.
Other sessions explored how online
programmes such as brain games can
help to improve mental agility, as well
as using Skype to alleviate feelings of
isolation amongst elderly people
living alone.
The event, which was part of Anson
Court’s regular day care service, was
made possible by partners Age UK
Hertfordshire, Hertfordshire Police
and Ocado, and was supported by the
Mayor of Welwyn Hatfield, Councillor
Roger Trigg.
Maria Ball, Chief Executive of
Quantum Care, said: “Today hasthat the social care system is living on
borrowed time with wholly inad-
equate resources to guarantee high
quality care for all.
“The result is that we are witnessing
too many failures of care.
“This is intolerable in a civilised
society.
“We must be judged by how we care
for our most vulnerable citizens.”
The rising trend in serious injuries
looks set to continue in 2019 withshown how valuable events like this
are for older people in the local com-
munity. When used correctly and
safely, technology can help reduce
loneliness and increase wellbeing
amongst older people, giving peo-
ple a greater sense of independence
and helping them continue to live at
home. These are real outcomes that
benefit everyone in Hertfordshire,14,600 incidents reported in the first
three months.
Of the sample of 12,800 care homes,
20 recorded at least 150 injuries.
Age UK director Caroline Abrahams
said most care home providers were
doing their best in a challenging
environment.
“The reality is they are trying to navi-
gate a perfect storm caused by cuts to
local authority social care budgets and
chronic workforce shortages,” she said.and we are grateful to our partners for
supporting us to spread this impor-
tant message.
“Tea & Tech is part of Quantum
Care’s wider Technology for Living
strategy, which aims to develop and
apply technology in a way that directly
benefits the lives of older people in the
community, and the thousands living
in our homes.”CQC FIGURES REVEAL SHARP RISE IN SERIOUS CARE HOME INJURIES
QUANTUM CARE TEA & TECH
EVENT HELPS ‘SILVER SURFERS’
NEWS ROUND-UP