Care Home News
Coronavirus vaccinations in care homes speeded up by approval of Oxford vaccine
30 Dec 2020
The approval of the Oxford/AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine will speed up the vaccination programme for the most vulnerable groups as it does not have to be stored at such cold temperatures as the other approved vaccine. Health.....
Care home chief: 'Why I took part in a COVID-19 vaccine trial'
29 Dec 2020
When volunteers were needed to take part in Covid vaccine tests, Royal Star & Garter Chairman Major General Tim Tyler stepped forward. Here, he explains his reasons for volunteering and the impact it could have. “I.....
Care home staff in England to get three coronavirus tests a week, promises government
29 Dec 2020
Care home staff in England are to receive two rapid tests a week as well as the weekly PCR test they already get, according to the government which has announced a £149m grant to support roll out of rapid testing......
GPs start vaccinating residents in England's care homes
22 Dec 2020
GPs are ordering extra amounts of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID vaccine to begin vaccinating larger care homes in England from this week. Care homes with over 50 beds are reported to be getting the vaccine first......
Care workers perform dementia-friendly panto for residents...Oh yes they did!
22 Dec 2020
A dementia-friendly panto with a three-day run has been performed for residents in a care home after staff spent three months of their free time learning how to act. Unable to allow entertainers inside their.....
Care workers' 2020 sacrifices remembered forever in British Library
21 Dec 2020
The sacrifice made by care workers in 2020 in the fight against COVID-19 is being remembered in a book of personal stories to be included in the British Library for future generations. The book ‘Caring.....
Coronavirus: Tier 4 brings no hugs in care homes as new COVID-19 mutation hits England
21 Dec 2020
A mutant strain of coronavirus spreading across London and the South East which is more infectious than others, has prompted Prime Minister Boris Johnson to ban households from meeting indoors at Christmas and stop hugs and other.....
Care home occupancy predicted to rise to pre-pandemic levels by end of 2021
18 Dec 2020
Social care analysts predict that although care home occupancy rates will continue to fall during the winter months, by November 2021 they will have risen to pre-pandemic levels. Care homes have been on the.....
Care home residents connect to community with intergenerational IT classes
18 Dec 2020
Residents of a care home in Barnet have stayed in touch with the local community despite the coronavirus restrictions of 2020 by taking up intergenerational IT classes with students from a local school. The.....
Retirement villages and extra care housing in England invited to take part in new COVID survey
17 Dec 2020
A new research project has been launched to study the true impact of COVID-19 on retirement villages and extra care housing schemes across England. Led by the St Monica Trust, in partnership with the Housing.....
Care home workers among the 137,000 people to receive first dose of COVID vaccine in one week
16 Dec 2020
Care home workers, NHS staff and the over 80's are among the 137,897 people in the UK to have received the first dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in the first week of the largest vaccination programme in British history. The.....
Care home workers still not receiving regular COVID tests according to new survey
16 Dec 2020
One in nine care home staff are still not receiving weekly COVID tests despite government promises, according to a survey published today by public-services union Unison. The new survey reveals 11 per cent.....
Care home residents name new pub in honour of Barbara Windsor
16 Dec 2020
Care home residents at a care home near Taunton have voted to name their new pub 'The Windsor Arms' in memory of actress Dame Barbara Windsor who died recently. The Windsor Arms in Camelot House and Lodge had only just.....
How a circus performer and a cabin crew member transferred their 'people skills' to working in a care home
15 Dec 2020
From touring around the country appearing in festivals and on TV shows to jetting to destinations from Costa Rica to Peru, two care workers talk about how their "people skills" from their old careers were perfect in landing a new.....
Pilot COVID-19 vaccination roll-out to care homes in Wales to begin this week
14 Dec 2020
A pilot for the roll-out of the COVID-19 Pfizer / BioNtech vaccine to Welsh care homes is to begin on Wednesday 16 December, the Welsh health minister, has announced. A designated care home in Betsi Cadwaladr.....
First Scottish care home resident receives coronavirus vaccine
14 Dec 2020
A 90-year-old former care worker has become the first care home resident in Scotland to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. Annie Innes was immunised at Abercorn House Care Home where she has been living for the past six.....
Santa Claus infects residents and staff with coronavirus at Belgium care home
14 Dec 2020
Authorities in Mol, Antwerp, are investigating an incident after residents and some members of staff at the Hemelrijck residential home tested positive for COVID-19, following a Christmas visit from Santa Claus. Flemish.....
Care home residents in Scotland to receive coronavirus vaccine from today
14 Dec 2020
Residents of some care homes in Scotland will begin to receive the Pfizer vaccine against coronavirus (COVID-19) from today but the Scottish government warned this could be a "slow process". This comes after.....
Dame Barbara Windsor dies at London care home at age of 83
11 Dec 2020
Much loved actress Barbara Windsor, best known for her roles in Eastenders and the Carry On films, has died at her London care home with her husband Scott Mitchell by her side. The 83-year-old had been diagnosed.....
Isle of Wight, where nearly a third are pensioners, gets over 100 new extra care homes
10 Dec 2020
The Isle of Wight, where pensioners are predicted to make up a third of the population by 2026, which is more than Japan - famous for its ageing population, now has a new care village with 102 extra care apartments and bungalows. The.....
Mass vaccinations begin for care home workers
09 Dec 2020
Care homes all over the country are booking their care workers in for COVID-19 vaccinations. With care workers at the top of the priority list, many care homes are acting quickly and getting their staff vaccinated.....
COVID-19 vaccine: UK grandmother becomes first person in the world to receive Pfizer vaccine
08 Dec 2020
Margaret Keenan, 90, has become the first person in the UK to be given a Pfizer vaccine this morning and said it was the "best early birthday present". Matron May Parsons administered Ms Keenan's vaccine.....
Government appoints chief nurse for adult social care to provide 'support' through winter months
07 Dec 2020
Social care nurses and care workers in England will soon benefit from the leadership and advice of the first chief nurse for adult social care, who was appointed today. Professor Deborah Sturdy has been appointed.....
Woman, aged 85, spars in care home after finally getting wish to be a boxer
04 Dec 2020
An 85-year-old’s lifelong wish to pick up a pair of boxing gloves and knock out an opponent or two has led to a care home allowing her to spar with care staff clad in full PPE. Despite having boxing.....
Care home resident shows 'pure joy' from daughter's first hug since March
03 Dec 2020
Care home resident Audrey finally got a hug from her daughter for the first time in nine months after visitors who tested negative for COVID-19 were allowed to enter care homes on Wednesday. Residents in.....
Pfizer vaccine available from next week for older people and care workers
02 Dec 2020
The Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine has been approved for use in the UK and is available in 'hospital hubs' from next week with older people, NHS and care workers given priority. The vaccine has been approved.....
Families can visit England's care homes this Christmas if they test negative for COVID-19
02 Dec 2020
Care home residents in England will receive indoor visits from family and friends this Christmas if they test negative for COVID-19, the government has promised. In new guidance which came into force today.....
Most families put off conversations about care with only one in six discussing it
01 Dec 2020
The majority of people (57 per cent) have not even started discussing future care needs with older relatives - with many finding it too uncomfortable and upsetting and fearing it might cause an argument......
Scotland's care workers to get Christmas gift of £500 as 'Thank you'
01 Dec 2020
Scotland’s adult social care workers as well as NHS staff are to receive a one-off Christmas gift of £500 from the Scottish government as a ‘heartfelt thank you’ for their sacrifices during the pandemic. The.....
Elderly can leave care homes to form 'Christmas bubbles' with family suggests Cabinet Office
01 Dec 2020
Care home residents can leave residential care to form a ‘Christmas bubble’ with family indoors during 23-27 December and while current guidance does not apply to people aged over 65, the Cabinet Office has said updated regulations.....