Category: General

How live-in care works for the family Having access to high-quality, professional live-in care is an option every family needs to know about. Two of the biggest concerns for clients’ families are: Is Mum getting the best possible love and care? Is Dad happy and enjoying life? The possibility of having a professional care assistant live at home with a loved one is proving to be one answer to the issue of long-term care. Care company Inspiring On, a growing home care company in the southwest, understands how families need and appreciate this special kind of at-home care service. Their trained care staff see for themselves the benefits of round-the-clock care and support. For them, happy clients also mean happy families. Having this option, concerned adult children no longer need to worry about their parent’s welfare. They know their...

Image by Rollz International on Unsplash In my last piece, I looked at the benefits of live-in care from the client’s perspective. Most carers can expect to work either in residential care or supply care to clients in their own homes. Both scenarios have their plus points, but what about those who choose the live-in route? What are some of the positives of this role? Benefits to long term assignments Live-in care contracts give the assurance of a long-term assignment and with that comes an element of job security. Most assignments are around 8 – 12 weeks long with two assigned carers taking it in turns to care for their client in rotation. Living with the client helps carer and client to get to know each other, build trust and communicate more easily and openly with family members. Being...

Here I look at the benefits of live-in care from three different viewpoints: the client’s perspective, the carer’s and finally the family’s viewpoint. Let’s first consider how a client might see the benefits of live-in care. Home. It’s our safe space. A place full of memories, a place where we can be ourselves, do what we wish and feel ok about spending all day in our slippers. We may not realise how precious our home is until we must consider leaving it for somewhere else because of failing health or increasing frailty. But this does not have to be the end of the story. There is another option – live-in care. The client’s perspective Live-in care is an excellent option because it offers just the kind of care and support that some older or disabled people need without them...

We may all have felt lonely at some point in our lives, but chronic loneliness is something else entirely. It is a state of feeling completely alone and unloved, with no friends or social contact. Social isolation kills the spirit We know from COVID what separation and isolation do to the human spirit–it destroys it little by little. This is particularly true for older or vulnerable individuals who, for various reasons, become socially isolated and feel the pain of loneliness. The fact is that as we age, things change. We may find getting around more difficult, experience memory problems, loss of hearing etc. And for some, becoming dependent on others is burdensome, so we are tempted to soldier on in silence. Losing a spouse, too, can trigger a deep sense of loneliness, particularly if the marriage or partnership is...

Artificial intelligence is now part of our modern world. It is already widely used in business, from bots on company websites providing customer services to ChatGPT programmed to produce a variety of content. In fact, it’s probably doing something for us humans at virtually every moment of the day and night. But is it all that it’s cracked up to be? How clued up are you? Are you aware of the benefits as well as the risks AI poses to your business? Not everyone is convinced that it’s a good thing. So far seven countries have banned the use of the AI tool ChatGPT, with Italy being the most recent. The concerns about this tool and possible data security are reasons enough to halt its use. But first, let’s look at some plus points of artificial intelligence. What are...

Hiring a ghostwriter for your autobiography is an exciting project that both you and your chosen writer should have fun with. However, before you embark on finding someone to write for you, there are several things you need to consider. Don’t let your enthusiasm for writing a book blind you to the practicalities of what it takes to get your story out there. For a successful outcome, your project needs a strategic approach. Having a clear direction and goal from the off will also help your writer and make for a mutually enjoyable experience. Ask yourself these questions and consider them carefully. Why do you want to write your autobiography? Do you have an interesting story to share? Who do you want to read it? Family, friends, or the public? Why is it important for you to write it...

    Remembering my time of getting ‘up close and personal’ with some superb aviators. “We are looking for volunteers and really could do with your help”, it said or words to that effect. Well, that got my attention. This was back in 2018 when I was still living in West Sussex and working a full-time job. Back then, my office was on the south coast, and we used to have regular Herring gull visitors to our business park. They liked to nest on the roof of another building nearby which was safe for them (and for the nearby humans). Over the years, my fascination with these magnificent birds grew. They had a very definite social structure, were clearly highly intelligent, and had excellent memory. I have since learnt they can recognise human faces and remember who is kind...

Photo credit: Souvik Banerjee   Earlier in the week, the upbeat and inspiring Jay-Anne Dingwall invited me to speak at her weekly Tuesday LinkedIn audio event and offer some top tips for brushing up your LinkedIn profile. It has to be more than a list of your achievements; think of it as your personal landing page with a headline geared to attract eyeballs. Whether straight up and down or quirky, it must keep them scrolling and reading. So here are a few tips to help you create something that speaks about you and your achievements YOUR PICTURE – Select a great profile picture that is current and reflects who you are. DETAILS – Add your pronouns, if that’s important to you and choose a background picture that has relevance to your business/company/or service you offer. MAKE IT STAND OUT...

  Remember that catchphrase? For those of a certain age, Max Bygraves, famous comedian and storyteller of the ‘70s was the man behind the words. He knew the power of a good story. We all love a story, especially if it has a bit of everything chucked in: Suspense Conflict Humour Unexpected setbacks A satisfying ending It’s no different in business. People will easily tune out of an advert, but a good story can hook them in and keep them reading. Plus, if it has a crisis or two, they will hang on in there to find out how it all ends.   Storytelling for business can focus on different things: A product An employee’s inspiring rise through the ranks The business itself A customer The founder Making the story memorable will help position your company/product/brand in your reader’s...

A local group of dedicated, bird lovers are reaching breaking point as they work to help injured and orphaned birds following the closure of most of the wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centres in the wake of the Avian Flu crisis. The icon of the seaside, the Herring Gull is in deep trouble. Love them or hate them, these are protected birds under the Countryside & Wildlife Act 1981 and are on the Red List of Endangered Species. THE WAKE OF AVIAN FLU The outbreak of Avian Flu that swept through East and West Sussex earlier in May left hundreds of adult birds dead or dying, with their healthy offspring left abandoned and starving. The South Coast & Sussex Bird/Gull Volunteer Network, a group set up and spearheaded by local East Sussex man Justin King, stepped in with his band...