• by Quality Care Choices
• 19/04/2021

My father -in-law was playing football into his 80s and only stopped when he moved too far away from where he played, the first thing my stepmother is going to do after lockdown is to go swimming, my father walks his dog religiously twice a day and my wife is taking a course in how to teach yoga in care homes. Clearly being active in later years is not just important for health reasons but also for our wellbeing and our sense of enjoyment. I have ...

• by Quality Care Choices
• 19/04/2021

“Sheena is a punk rocker, Sheena is a punk rocker, Sheena is a punk rocker now…” The Ramones, 1977. Assuming that Sheena was in her early 20s back in ’77 she’d be approaching 70 now, whether she’s still a punk rocker with a Mohican and a safety pin through her nose is anyone’s guess, but the point is that she’d be now approaching that time of life when decisions need to be made about her future car ...

• by Quality Care Choices
• 26/03/2021

My Gran burnt her clutch out 3 times in under 7000 miles whilst my Grandad was still driving to Spain in his 80s. My father who is in his 70s is an excellent driver as is my Step mum, so just what is the situation with driving when you are over 70? Our good friends at Age UK have written a thorough and in depth piece on this issue https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/travel-hobbies/driving/ which really ought to be read, but ...

• by Quality Care Choices
• 26/03/2021

Prego, Merv, Betty, Alfie, 4 dogs that have added so much to my life. Companions, reasons for exercise, sources of joy and entertainment and above all receivers and givers of unconditional love. But what happens when we need to move into care? Clearly taking Anacondas, Crocodiles, Tigers or Lions with you may prove to be restrictive, but what about dogs, cats, hamsters etc? and what about reptile, spiders, birds or fish that live in their ow ...

• by Quality Care Choices
• 11/03/2021

We all want to see, touch, hold, embrace, and hug those that we miss so much, and it seems like ages since we were able to. Once the roadmap was published last week outlining the gradual lifting of restrictions, we at QCC have been counting the days until we can move away from blooming Zoom and Skype and have an actual, proper, face to face conversation with our family members, raise a real toast rather than lifting our cups of tea/glasses of win ...

• by Quality Care Choices
• 04/03/2021

According to the Guardian the lack of support outlined in the budget yesterday will lead to the country’s most vulnerable people feeling betrayed. The shadow health secretary, Jonathan Ashworth, claimed that “buried in the small print is a cut to frontline NHS services.” It was also estimated that that NHS budget will fall by £9bn next year. It is reported that the social care sector felt “dismayed” that no ...

• by Quality Care Choices
• 15/02/2021

Fees It is important to discuss how much you’re willing to spend on care, along with what is included in the fee of each individual care home, for example, some places may include toiletries, whereas others may request friends and family to bring it in. It’s also important to find out how often the fees are taken and if a deposit is required. Bedrooms Have a look at the bedrooms available, and discuss the size of the bedroom, ...

• by Quality Care Choices
• 14/02/2021

Choosing a care home can be hard, whether it is for yourself, or one of your loved ones and for many can be a difficult decision to decide which care home to pick, as they want it to be a place that can feel like home. For some, a care home is a place where individuals can be in the company of others and can help to relieve loneliness, and for others, it can be a place where individuals can be supported with their care needs in a safe place. Disc ...