Articles by Dr Jamie Wilson
Dr Jamie Wilson is hometouch’s founder and Chief Medical Officer. Jamie’s creation of hometouch was inspired by his work as a dementia psychiatrist in the NHS, and he has written about healthcare issues in The Times and the Evening Standard. Jamie has a MBBS from the University of Leeds and has spent a decade in the NHS, working as a Psychiatric Registrar and Memory Specialist at Imperial College Hospital.
The Negative Health Effects of Loneliness Among The Elderly
“Human beings are social creatures” – this sentence is probably one of the most common definitions describing people. As such, we often take the presence of others for granted. However, loneliness is a serious issue among people regardless of their age, gender, and ethnicity. Speak to one of our knowledgeable care advisers about Hometouch’s high quality live-in care service Book call Tell us your care needs The COVID-19 pandemic forced societies worldwide into long periods of social isolation and social distancing, which prompted a discussion about the fact of feeling lonely and its possible consequences. Loneliness is a health concern that’s been present for a long time, yet it’s still rarely discussed. It’s especially problematic for the elderly, a social group that’s affected by it the most. Even though loneliness is perceived as a feeling, it has real-life consequences on human health. There are numerous studies that focus on the…
The Skills and Values You Need To Become A Live-in Carer
Live-in care is one of the most rewarding and essential careers you can think of. You can help the elderly with dementia or other serious conditions stay safe and happy in their own homes. Thanks to a live-in carer, a person who needs help with everyday activities can get all the essential support without the need to move to a residential home. Speak to one of our knowledgeable care advisers about Hometouch’s high quality live-in care service Book call Tell us your care needs However, keep in mind that it is a responsible job and requires certain qualifications, values, and personality traits. As your clients will entrust you with the lives of their beloved parents, grandparents, or other relatives, they need to be sure you are the right person for this position. Keep on reading to find out the most important live-in carer skills and values. What Is Most Important…
What Qualifications And Training Do I Need To Be A Live-In Carer?
Whether you are looking for employment in the health and care field, or you are looking for someone to provide live-in care to one of your relatives, it’s important to know what kind of requirements there are and what qualifications a person needs to have to become a live-in carer. Speak to one of our knowledgeable care advisers about Hometouch’s high quality live-in care service Book call Tell us your care needs In the first case, it will help you understand what steps you need to take to be closer to becoming a live-in carer, and in the second, it will help you make more knowledgeable decisions when hiring one. In this article, we will go through qualifications one needs to have if they want to pursue a career as a live-in carer, be it for the elderly or those who have some kind of disability or illness preventing them…
Would you like to know more about Hometouch's high quality live-in care service?
How to Avoid Live-In Carer Burnout and Stress
Being a caregiver is a very responsible and demanding job that only a handful of people can do. Caregiving responsibilities include cleaning, cooking, and running other household chores. Additionally, they care for a loved one or a patient by bathing the person, feeding, or carrying out other necessary medical tasks. Whether you provide live-in care for your loved one or someone else, it can be challenging, especially in the beginning, when you do not have profound experience. Caring for a loved one or a patient can drain lots of your energy, leaving you exhausted and fatigued. Speak to one of our knowledgeable care advisers about Hometouch’s high quality live-in care service Book call Tell us your care needs A live-in caregiver spends plenty of time with another person who needs medical assistance and support with other personal needs. It can be tiring and stressful, but it definitely is rewarding to…
Speak to one of our knowledgeable care advisers about Hometouch’s high quality live-in care service
Activity Ideas for People Living With Dementia
Dementia is a combination of symptoms a person can experience because of the damaged nerve cells in the brain. Without nerve cells functioning normally, the information is not transmitted, and without it, the brain cannot carry out certain tasks. The most common conditions are Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia, among other 200 conditions. Speak to one of our knowledgeable care advisers about Hometouch’s high quality live-in care service Book call Tell us your care needs Regardless of which type of dementia a person has, the symptoms vary but most commonly include memory problems, behaviour changes, difficulties with concentration and speaking. Older adults with dementia find it difficult and frustrating to deal with daily tasks even if those activities are simple. Importance of Failure-Free Activities for People With Dementia People with dementia deserve to have a good quality of life and enjoy different things. Unfortunately, it is hard for them to…
How Much are Dementia Care Home Fees?
Care home fees for dementia care homes in the UK vary from around £1000 to more than £3000 per week. Care homes fees for dementia care in the UK have been increasing year on year by at least 5%. This is 0.5% higher than the average care home fee which has also increased by 5% per annum over a 3-year period so there seems to be a trend showing that care home fees are increasing at faster rate than general living costs. Speak to one of our knowledgeable care advisers about Hometouch’s high quality live-in care service Book call Tell us your care needs Another reason is due to the an ageing population and people newly diagnosed with dementia which means that there are not enough specialist care homes available at present. Additionally, staff shortages are driving up costs which is further contributing to dementia care home fees inflation. The…
How to Become a Self-Employed Carer
This article discusses self employed carers and how to become a self-employed carer. Many carers are self-employed particularly live in carers who may work independently or for an agency that works with self-employed carers. If you are looking for self-employed live in care jobs, read on to find out more. Speak to one of our knowledgeable care advisers about Hometouch’s high quality live-in care service Book call Tell us your care needs Why become a self employed carer? There are many advantages to becoming a self-employed carer. Becoming a self-employed carer means you get to choose who you want to work for and potentially earn more money. Being your own boss has other advantages, as well as working on your own conditions it is also easier to set your own hours which can be beneficial if you have other commitments outside of self-employed carer jobs. Becoming a self-employed carer can…
Waking Nights: A Guide for Care Live in Carers
If you are a live-in carer or aspire to be one, you may be interested in knowing what’s it like working nights and waking nights in live-in care. For care workers doing night jobs, this article will answer some of the common questions that come up when considering night work. Speak to one of our knowledgeable care advisers about Hometouch’s high quality live-in care service Book call Tell us your care needs Who Is Overnight Care For? The clients for overnight care are usually elderly individuals who have difficulty performing basic tasks by themselves. This usually involves going to the toilet by themselves, changing positions during the night and more. Many times, these individuals may have reduced mobility and/or vision and are at risk to suffer serious injury if they have a fall. This can be an especially risky situation if they encounter such an event during the night when…
What is Alcohol-related Dementia?
Excessive alcohol use is known to have a direct detrimental effect on the brain and its functionality. Some effects of alcohol abuse include memory loss, poor judgement, indecisiveness, and lack of insight, all of which lead to struggling in daily tasks. This phenomenon is termed Alcohol Dementia/Alcohol-induced Dementia/Alcoholic Dementia/Alcohol-related Dementia which is a type of alcohol-related brain damage (ARBD). Speak to one of our knowledgeable care advisers about Hometouch’s high quality live-in care service Book call Tell us your care needs These dementias can be caused by long-term alcohol abuse. To make matters worse, nutritional deficiencies often accompany prolonged alcohol abuse. This becomes a synergistic factor in the deterioration of brain cells. This means that excessive alcohol can cause early-onset dementia. However, it is important to note that Alcohol-related dementia progression is reversible. Also, that moderate alcohol consumption does not lead to any kind of dementia or loss of cognitive…
Medications That Worsen Dementia and Increase Dementia Risk
What Medications Make Dementia Worse? Many of us are familiar with what dementia is, or at the very least, have heard the term. The medical model of dementia perceives it as a symptom of various brain diseases, characterised by losing the ability to memorise or remember things. In severe cases, there are significant behavioural changes and the patient may be unable to perform the simplest of the tasks. Speak to one of our knowledgeable care advisers about Hometouch’s high quality live-in care service Book call Tell us your care needs However, dementia can be cured with the correct medication, and several medication classes for dementia as well as medical interventions for dementia exist. While dementia medication in the UK works to treat dementia, and medication aids for dementia and are widely prescribed as medications to treat dementia, some routinely used non-dementia medications can aggravate dementia if not taken carefully. We…
Apply for live-in care jobs
Hometouch has been one of the best companies I have worked for in the care sector! I have always been told I’m appreciated and been made to feel like it too. I’m so happy to be a part of the Hometouch team
Shaheen
£750 - £900 per week. Double bank holiday pay
You choose your own clients
Clinical support
Free training, webinars and supervision