Clients give our service seal of approval

A survey of Corinium Care clients reveals a high rate of satisfaction and improving levels of service.
The survey was carried out at the end of 2013 as part of the company’s continuing aim to provide the highest possible standards of live-in care.
The questions covered a host of topics, from general levels of service to complaints and time off for carers.
Of those who responded, nearly 90 per cent said that Corinium Care took their needs into account well or very well.
A similar number were of the opinion that the standard of service they received had either remained consistently high or improved.
Carers are considered to be generally well-informed on arrival, and clients’ choices of carer are almost always met.
Whilst awareness of the company complaints procedure is high, very few clients said they had had cause to use it.
Managing Director of Corinium Care, Clare Janik, thanked clients for taking the time and trouble to complete the survey.
“In our determination to strive for excellence, it is important that we invite feedback and have the courage to act upon it. It’s clear that those who completed the questionnaires invested a lot of thought into their response. The information received has been taken on board and will be very useful as we plan for the future,” she said.

Corinium takes part in forum on dementia

The Managing Director of Corinium Care joined a forum on dementia hosted by Gloucester MP Richard Graham.

“Dementia is one of the biggest problems we face in the western world today,” said Mr Graham. “Numbers are increasing rapidly and it’s something we are all going to have to deal with.”

He pointed out that the G8 Summit has set a target to find a cure or treatment for dementia by 2025 as the number of people diagnosed reaches 36 million worldwide. In Gloucestershire 8,500 people are diagnosed with dementia.

Dr Simon Ridley, Head of Research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, told the audience at Shire Hall in Gloucester: “It’s very challenging to find a cure by 2025. There may be effective disease-modifying treatments by then, but they won’t come easy, they won’t come cheap and they won’t come tomorrow. There won’t be a wonder pill – we have plenty more work to do, and research has to be carried out across international boundaries.”

 Dementia is high on the Corinium Care agenda. “An increasing number of our clients are living with dementia,” said Corinium MD Clare Janik.

“They can no longer manage alone, but with the right care, understanding and support, we make it possible for them to stay in their own home for as long as possible.

“We see at first hand the beneficial effects of keeping people in their own home, surrounded by familiar things and comforted by the anchor of connections with their past.

“We also provide dementia training for our carers because it’s essential that they tune in, not just to a client’s words, but to their body language and their past experience.”

She added that when someone is struck by dementia, their entire family is left in a state of confusion and distress.

“That’s why we welcome the interest of politicians. If they can help widen awareness of dementia, and promote the sharing of best practice, that has to be a good thing.

“The reality is that, whilst a search for a cure continues, finding the best ways of living with dementia will remain an equal challenge for years to come.”

MD joins national forum to promote option of live-in care

The Managing Director of Corinium Care has joined national calls for greater awareness of live-in care as an option for older people who can no longer manage alone at home.

Clare Janik has teamed up with other live-in care providers and the UK Homecare Association to lobby health professionals and MPs and push the profile of live-in care higher up the national care agenda.

“Live-in care is not only a good and affordable option for thousands of people in the UK, it also forms an essential part of the care landscape,” said Clare.

“It benefits the individual because it means they can maintain their independence and stay in their own home as long as possible.

“It reduces pressure on the NHS because it helps keep thousands of older people out of hospitals, and enables them to go home sooner rather than taking up much-needed beds.

“And finally it boosts the economy because it’s a rapidly growing part of the private sector.”

Award-winning Corinium Care has expanded rapidly since its formation in 1995 and now has 17 staff in Gloucestershire and more than 800 registered carers.

“The problem we face as an industry is that live-in care is hardly mentioned when the issue of the ageing population comes up at Westminster and within the NHS.

“There is a lot of discussion about care homes and the spiralling costs of social care, but the existence of live-in care as an alternative is not significantly recognised.

“It’s up to those of us in the industry who believe passionately about it to stand up and promote it as an affordable option which provides quality care.”

The UKHCA has agreed to lobby MPs and help educate health care professionals, including GPs.

There are more than 10 million people over the age of 65 in the UK, and that number is set to double in the next 30 years, placing extra burdens on the NHS and social services departments which face swingeing spending cuts.

“When we discuss how to face the challenges of an ageing population, we cannot ignore the question of where the money for social care and health care is going to come from,” said Clare.

“In that context, it makes sense for the live-in care sector to lift its head above the parapet and to play a more visible role in the provision jigsaw so that the best care choices can be made.

“We know that, generally, older people want to stay in their own home for as long as possible, surrounded by a lifetime of memories and things they hold dear. Live-in care helps to make that happen.”