A Great Opportunity

You cant turn on the TV or search the internet recently without being aware of how much coverage is being given to Health and Social Care. 

The Scottish Government recently announced a further £100 Million over three years is to be invested in the NHS to help reduce the numbers of people waiting to be discharged from hospital.

This funding will be used to support health boards and local authorities deliver good quality care and support for people at home or in a homely setting.

This is aimed at preventing delays in discharge and preventing admissions to hospital and attendances at A&E. Combined these actions will reduce pressure across the system.

I am delighted that Shona Robison MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Sport has agreed to meet with me to discuss "The Future of Care Services in Scotland"  

Ahead of my meeting I would like you give you the opportunity to pose a question to Shona.  Whether you work with us are receive support from us, now is the chance to have your voice heard.

I won't have time to ask everything, but will try and reflect the most popular questions that you send me.

To get involved please email the office with your question.  If you work with us please ask the people you support whether they would like to get involved.

Stephen

Stephen Wilson, Director

NEW COMMUNICATION TOOL

In 2012 we were proud to be the first to design, develop and release an app specifically to help overcome communication difficulties.  

Since then our Communication Tool has been a huge success and is used in more than 27 countries worldwide by families, health care professionals and hospitals.

Now updated for 2015 it remains FREE to use with unlimited ability to upload your own images.

COMMUNICATION TOOL

For many people the ability to communicate with those around them is hampered by conditions such as Dementia, Stroke, Brain Damage or General Ill Health. The communication tool is designed to bridge that gap. Whether you are a care giver, professional, family member or have yourself a difficulty communicating, this tool helps overcome some of this barrier.

They say a picture speaks a thousand words, and this app does just that. With over 500 possible images from which to select, communicating your needs, choices or feelings is easy. With just 3 simple taps on the screen you can choose from any of the pictures you desire. You don't have to worry about being limited to the stock images, because you can swap any image for one of your own in seconds. By creating a library of images personal to you, the app allows meaningful communication, reminiscence, memory prompts, memory exercise and more.

The uses for the app are only limited by your imagination. We hope that the frustration and isolation experienced by people with communication difficulties are replaced by experiences of inclusion, dignity and choice.

DOWNLOAD THE APP FOR FREE HERE

Nataly Wilson, Director, Social Care Alba

www.social-care.org

Opening Times

Our office will be closed from Wednesday 24th of December until Monday 5th of January.

Only emergency calls will be answered by during this period by our on call manager by telephoning 0845 0945 279.

Wishing you and your family a wonderful Christmas and New Year.

 

GOLD AWARD

SOCIAL CARE ALBA ACHIEVES INVESTORS IN PEOPLE GOLD ACCREDITATION

Social Care Alba, is a registered Care at Home provider who has achieved the prestigious Investors in People Gold Accreditation, the most successful framework for business improvement through people in the UK. This represents a true commitment to employees and demonstrates a solid foundation of good practice which remains challenging and aspirational for many organisations.

Achieving the Gold level of Accreditation puts Social Care Alba in the top 7% of all IIP Accredited clients.  Social Care Alba joins an exclusive group of UK employers eligible to use and display the sought after Investors in People logo and plaque, and enjoy its benefits.

Commenting on the award, Stephen Wilson, Director said, “Everyone at Social Care Alba works tirelessly to improve the quality of peoples’ lives.  In return we believe in supporting our staff to achieve their full potential, whether that be through investment in research & development or education.”

Peter Russian, Chief Executive of Investors in People Scotland, said “This is a fantastic achievement for Social Care Alba.  I would like to congratulate the organisation and its people on their commitment to continuous improvement. Investors in People offers a flexible, practical and easy to use business improvement tool designed to help organisations and their people achieve their objectives. I hope that more organisations in the area will be encouraged to sharpen their competitive edge by choosing to work with us.”

Social Care Alba was established in 2011, and has since achieved a number of awards for quality and innovation.  It is recognised as a leader in the provision of support to people living in their own homes.  It currently holds the highest grades awarded by the Care Inspectorate, its industry regulator.  It has strong links with Edinburgh Napier University, and invests heavily in research aimed at improving the quality of care delivered to people across the world.

Design and Dementia

Age-related changes and impairments can make it more difficult to understand and navigate the built environment. These can be sensory, mobility or cognitive impairments, and sometimes a combination, which can affect functioning, behaviour, independence, and ultimately, quality of life.

VIDEO

BPA Architect - Liz Fuggle, on Hospital Design

The importance of design

Understanding such impairments is the first step towards creating living environments which support the needs of older people and those with dementia, keeping them safe from dangers such as falls, which can have a devastating effect on an older person; allowing the freedom and confidence to use their abilities to the fullest extent, in all things from the mundane to the creative; aiding memory in day-to-day living; and reinforcing personal identity.

The challenge is to design enabling buildings thoughtfully, with concern for the people who will live there.

Click the links below to find out about the importance of individual aspects of design.

• Lighting
• Colour and contrast
• Orientation and signage
• Getting outside
• Communal areas

Reproduced with the thanks to Stirling Dementia Centre

Mens Health

THE HAIRY FACTS

OVERVIEW

WHAT IS THE PROSTATE?

Function

• Gland producing fluid that protects and enriches sperm

Location

• Immediately below the bladder, in front of the bowels. 
• The prostate is doughnut shaped and surrounds the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder out through the penis.
• In younger men the prostate is about the size of a walnut. 
• The nerves that control erections surround the prostate. 

What is prostate cancer?

• Prostate cancer occurs when some of the cells in the prostate reproduce far more rapidly than normal, resulting in a tumour. 
• If left untreated, prostate cancer cells may eventually spread from the prostate and invade distant parts of the body, particularly the lymph nodes and bones, producing secondary tumours in a process known as metastasis. 
• One of the most worrying aspects of the disease is that most prostate cancers develop without men experiencing any symptoms in the early stages.

What are the risk factors?

• Gender: prostate cancer only affects men, as women do not have a prostate gland
• Age: the older a man, the more likely he is to be diagnosed with prostate cancer
• Family History: a man with a father or brother who developed prostate cancer before 60 is twice as likely to develop the cancer
• Ethnicity: increased occurrence in black African and Afro-Caribbean males
• Lifestyle: poor diet and lack of exercise

What are possible symptoms?
Note: the majority of prostate cancers have no symptoms, and it is really only advanced cancers that have spread throughout the prostate (and beyond) that cause urinary symptoms such as:

• Urinary issues (slow flow, hesitancy, frequency, urgency)
• Blood in the urine or semen
• Reduced ability to get an erection
• Painful ejaculation

 

If you have any concerns and are experiencing any of the symptoms above it is important to contact your doctor and note that these symptoms are also common to many different conditions, not just prostate cancer.

TESTING

What tests are available?

The purpose of testing is to detect prostate cancer at its earliest stages, before the disease progresses. 
There are currently two common tests available for initial detection:

• Physical Examination (DRE: Digital Rectal Exam)
• Blood Test (PSA: Prostate Specific Antigen)



 

The PSA blood test (PSA)


The PSA blood test looks for the presence of a protein in the blood that is produced specifically by prostate cells called Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA). The presence of an elevated PSA does not necessarily mean prostate cancer is present as there are other medical conditions that can lead to a PSA result outside the normal range. These include enlargement of the prostate (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia or BPH) and inflammation of the prostate (prostatitis).

 

The Digital Rectal Exam (DRE)


The DRE involves the doctor inserting a gloved finger in the anus, where it is possible to feel part of the surface of the prostate. Irregularities include swelling or hardening of the prostate, or lumps on the surface that may indicate development of a tumour or other problems. The drawback to this test is that the doctor can feel only part of the prostate during the examination, so some irregularities may be beyond reach and therefore missed.

 

Results

If the results of the test are abnormal, your GP would refer you to a specialist (i.e. Urologist) to take a tissue sample in the form of a biopsy. A biopsy is the only way to determine if cancer is present. A doctor typically diagnoses prostate cancer after closely examining biopsy cells through a microscope and will inform you of the results. 

 

To test or not to test?

Our recommendation is to discuss your situation with your doctor to decide if testing is right for you. Together, you can choose the best course of action. As an aid to having this conversation, we worked with the Société Internationale d'Urologie on a tool to help men and their families navigate the decision making process:

 

Thank You Everyone

"A huge THANK YOU from Social Care Alba and everyone we support! 

Our Coffee Morning raised £150.84 in total for Macmillan. 

The money will provide those facing cancer the support they need."