Radfield Home Care Havering & Brentwood

Getting out and about can be great for physical, mental and emotional wellbeing

There’s no doubt that staying active and enjoying trips out of the house can be a really positive experience. From heading down to the local shops or hopping on a bus to visit a nearby museum, to a café for morning coffee or exploring a new walk, it’s lovely to be able to continue exploring and enjoying opportunities to get out.

This helps to prevent feelings of isolation and loneliness that can come when people experience a change in health or living circumstances that prevents them from doing things they used to do. And it makes sure that people still have plenty of things to look forward to. The anticipation of an outing is an important part of the overall mental and emotional experience.

Our team of Care Professionals can plan and prepare for trips out and will help make any necessary arrangements, such as transport, pre-bookings or tickets. And we’ll accompany people on their outings to make sure they’re confident and comfortable and, most importantly, getting the most enjoyment out of the trip.

We recognise, of course, that everyone is different. What may be exciting to one person can be intimidating (or just plain boring!) to another. What’s possible for one person may also be impractical for another. That’s why we make sure all outings are client-led in discussion and planning. Many of our clients find that just knowing they have someone to go out with opens a whole new world of possibilities to explore.

The Radfield team love getting out and about with our clients. If that sounds like something we could help you with, then get in touch today and let’s have a chat about the ways Radfield Home Care can offer you support for companionship and outings.

The right diet and hydration are a great foundation for good health

Great tasting, healthy meals and plenty of the right liquids are super important for everyone at every stage of life. It doesn’t have to be complicated, but it does take a bit of time and effort to get the right ingredients and prepare regular meals and drinks. Sometimes that’s not always as straightforward as we’d like it to be.

There’s nothing like the aromas and flavours of food to stimulate memories and feelings. Old favourites evoke familiarity, while new dishes bring variety (it is the spice of life after all) and new favourites waiting to be discovered.

Our team can prepare all types of meals, from the basics of heating a ready meal and cooking some vegetables to go with it right through to creating a full meal from scratch.

As you’d expect we cater for all sorts of different dietary choices and requirements. We also support clients with different nutritional needs, which may include; making thickened drinks, catering for diabetic diets, and blood sugar testing.

Maintaining a healthy diet is about more than just the food on the plate of course – planning is a key element. Our carers work with our clients and their relatives to look at meal planning, make shopping lists, buy ingredients, and cook and serve delicious, healthy meals at our clients’ homes

All our carers are trained in food hygiene and nutrition, which means we’re constantly monitoring food and fluid intake where healthy nutrition support is required. That means we can keep a close eye on both short-term behaviours and longer-term trends to make sure that people are getting the diet and hydration levels they need to support their health.

If diet and hydration is something you’d like to find out more about, please get in touch with your local Radfield team today. We’d love to have a chat about the ways Radfield Home Care can offer diet and hydration support.

With the right support, medication can be managed effectively

From starting a new course of medication to managing existing prescriptions, medication can feel complex and even confusing at times. Not only that, but it’s important to make sure the correct doses are being taken and in the right way. We understand that it can become a source of anxiety for both older people and their families in different ways. This is why we’re working to help make it easier for everyone.

Our services for providing medication support have been developed by our management team, led by Radfield co-founder and GP Dr Hannah MacKechnie, and are designed to provide comprehensive support and complete peace of mind.

Our team works seamlessly with GPs and pharmacists to ensure the correct medication is provided in the first place and then our full medication service gives plenty of flexibility and choice.

We can make sure people take the right medication in the right way

Our team is qualified to provide support in administering medication. Maybe it’s a new routine to get into, maybe there are a number of different medications to take, maybe individuals just need a bit of help to make sure they’re taking their medication properly – there are many reasons why a bit of extra help can make all the difference.

We can administer medication from original boxes or from multi-dose systems which have been pre-packed by the pharmacy (often called NOMAD or MDS packs). We can also administer medication as creams, via inhalers, nebulisers or as nose, eye and ear drops.

It’s always really important to make sure we’ve got clear lines of responsibility between us, our client and the family so that medication is given safely.

We can take on responsibility for reordering medication

Again, there are many reasons why it’s often helpful for our team to take on reordering medication from a GP and making sure it’s delivered on time. As with all our medication services we do need to be kept fully up to date with any alterations to medication so that we can provide the right support at all times.

We can collect and deliver medications

Most GP surgeries and pharmacies tend to offer a delivery service themselves these days. We have found that often it can be helpful if medications are delivered to our office, which means they can be taken to our client’s home by a carer. And that means the carer can put the medication away safely and in the correct place.

We know just how important it is to make sure medication is managed properly. If you’d like to know more, then get in touch today and chat with our team about the ways Radfield Home Care can offer you support for medication assistance.

It’s good to get home and it’s important to feel settled and secure

Returning home after a visit to the hospital can bring mixed feelings. It’s natural to be a little apprehensive about what happens next, even as it’s also nice to be back in familiar surroundings. While some people may be coming back after a relatively short stay and in good health, others will be coming home to quite a different future with changes that may not all be welcome.

There are often lots of things to think about and prepare for even before someone returns from a stay in the hospital.

Obviously, creating a physical environment that promotes both comfort and confidence is top of mind. This can include a range of adaptations from relatively minor to quite significant. Increasingly it can also involve using smart technology to provide monitoring support.

And along with physical support, there is emotional preparation and support. While it can be a relief to return home from the hospital, it can also be unnerving as the medical staff who have been available around the clock are no longer on hand. It’s not always possible for family members to be close by.

Finally, there may also be new routines and behaviours to consider – from taking medication and changing diet, to personal care and using new equipment. It can sometimes feel a little overwhelming to be facing even small changes in habits. Especially when the person may still be in some physical pain or discomfort.

Whether it’s a short-lived or long-term adjustment, recovery from a serious illness or accident, or a relatively minor operation, our team is available to provide support across the board. We can be involved as little or as much as is required and our expertise and experience will help ensure as smooth a transition as possible.

From organising transport and accompanying people, to managing more significant conditions and changes, we know how to give people the help they need when coming home from hospital. Get in touch today and chat with our team about the ways Radfield Home Care can offer support for getting home from the hospital.

Care is often about peace of mind and protection, we’re always looking for new ways to provide just that through Radfield Assure, our range of assistive technology services.

Having someone there in their home with them to provide support in a range of ways is often a very reassuring experience for older people. From companionship and personal care to nutrition and medication, it’s a relationship that brings many benefits. Unless live-in care is arranged, there are times when older people will find themselves on their own. That can be a cause for concern for them and their families. Let’s face it, we all know what it means to worry from time to time!

Radfield Assure

Radfield Assure is our selection of assistive technology solutions for providing next-level care and support. We offer a variety of innovative assistive technology solutions from our Radfield Assure line of services and products.

We’ve always been a leader in the introduction and use of technology to enhance the level of care we offer through Radfield Assure, our evolving range of assistive technology services. Like pretty much every other aspect of our lives, there are many benefits to new technology. It’s important to be clear about what these are and how they apply to every different situation. That’s why we use individual care plans to make sure we’re not using Radfield Assure technology for its own sake, but for a very clear purpose.

Please note we are continually testing and assessing technology to ensure that it is robust, fit for purpose and, most importantly, delivers real benefits to our clients and their families. To find out which Radfield Assure options may currently be available through your local Radfield Home Care, please get in touch and ask.