Domiciliary Care
Care in the home
Domiciliary care, or homecare, are both common terms used to describe the support and personal care which some people receive in their own home.
Providing support services can be a rewarding venture if carried out to correct standards of care, there are various options when buying or selling a domiciliary care business or of course some people start new domiciliary care businesses from scratch.
“Domiciliary” derives from the word Latin “domus” which means “home”. Home care can vary in the time spent delivering support. Domiciliary care could be a routine 15 minute check to make sure the individual is up to date wth medicine prescribed by a doctor, and on the other end of the scale some carers are live-in and they will care for an individual 24 hours a day.
Domiciliary Care Explained
Domiciliary care falls into two categories which are: self funded and state funded.
Homecare can be provided by individuals’ families and friends and this form of home care is often unpaid on an informal basis, this can sometimes result in high levels of care, which can be time consuming but is carried out by loved ones or friends who live nearby.
There is also state funded care which usually results from a commissioning body paying the homecare provider to carry out the home care or by giving Direct Payments to the ‘Service Users’ thus enabling them to pay for the care of their choice.
This type of home care is offered to children, teenagers, adults and of course elderly people who may all have a wide range of care and support needs. Homecare providers will often specialise in delivering care services to one of these age groups or to a specific set of users who may present needs in areas such as illness, or learning disability and mental health diagnosis.The homecare given to users is often non-medical, however, some care workers can train in certain areas such as peg feeding. Domiciliary care agencies often work in partnership with other Health & Social Care professionals, and an individual or user may receive personal and medical care at home through the co-ordinated services of, for example, District Nurses, Care Workers, and Occupational Therapists.
Domiciliary care is most usually delivered by carers in the person’s own home, however this care sometimes needs to be delivered outside the users home. This could be for instance, an escort service for the user to visit a hospital appointment or clinic. It could be that the carer needs to carry out shopping for the user or even with the user present.
The importance of care agencies to adhere to guidelines and provide compassion when caring for users is imperative and Domiciliary care agencies are inspected, monitored and regulated by the following regulatory bodies:
- England – Care Quality Commission (CQC)
- Scotland – Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Social Care
- Northern Ireland – Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA)
- Wales – Care & Social Services Inspectorate Wales (CSSIW)
Domiciliary care agencies will also carry out their own quality assurance checks. This is by through staff supervision and appraisal, random spot checks, training assessments of carers, client satisfaction questionnaires, complaints and compliments, client forums, staff surveys, team meetings and feedback from other Health & Social Care professionals.
Domiciliary Care can be a rewarding service and is an essential part of healthcare in modern day Britain.
Article by Simon Lucas
Chiropody and Podiatry for Children
Childhood bone development, feet X-ray
Children’s feet are delicate as they are still growing and will need ample space and support to develop healthily. Rebecca Parker, (a home visit chiropodist in Kidderminster) explains that check-ups by a podiatrist or chiropodist are essential to promote healthy foot development.
Rebecca is also a home visit chiropodist in Malvern and she carries out podiatry home visits for all ages in Worcestershire.
Here are a few of Rebecca’s tips on ensuring your child or children maintain healthy happy feet:
- Regular check ups with a qualified podiatrist/chiropodist.
- Arrange regular checks with a reputable shoe shop to ensure that your child’s footwear is well fitted. Your child’s feet should be measured for length and width.
- Do not be guided by the choice of your child alone, they will so often opt for something they like the appearance of, but keep in mind that this may not be best for their feet. Be guided by the dimensions of your childrens feet when assessing the right type of shoe. This is essential in early years children. Remember that when a child’s foot is young, it will not yet be fully formed and as such incorrect pressure by footwear could cause future foot problems.
- Ensure that your child has the right size socks.
- Ensure your child’s feet are washed daily in soap and water and dried well, especially in between the toes as this area is at risk of athletes foot, a fungal skin infection commonly occurring inbetween the toes and sometimes on the sole of the feet.
- Inspect your child’s feet for any red pressure marks on the back of the heel or on the small bones of the toes, additionally any inflamed nails, both these may be an indicator of a poorly fitted shoe.
- It is very important to check your child shoe for any unsual wear. Unusual wear may be a first indicator that that there is a problem with your child’s foot or general posture and if so seeking advice from a qualified health professional is essential.
- Normal wear on a shoe is across the back of the heel or outside the heel. Unsual wear is severe wear on the inside or outside of the heel, this wear may also carry forward to the outside of the shoe. If you suspect any unsual wear on your child’s shoe again it is important to consult a qualified health professional.
In all, you will know your child and if they are finding it uncomfortable to walk or run, this may be an opportunity to have a professional opinion on your children’s feet. Some abnormalities can be picked up at a very early age, and quick action and appropriate footwear can help prevent long term damage to the rest of the body. Many things can be linked to foot problems in later life such as back problems, knee problems, back, hip and posture problems als.
Article by Rebecca Parker. BSc (Hons) MChS
Ref: www.feetforlife.org childrens- feet -1.pdf
Eye Care Basics When Buying Contact Lenses Online
Vision is widely regarded as one of the most important senses, and yet it can so easily be taken for granted. This is often the case even with those who have already experienced medical intervention of some kind or another when it comes to eye care. In younger years, the vast majority of treatments involve wearing glasses or contact lenses. Although it is now easier than ever to buy products like contact lenses online from suppliers like Vision Direct, there are several important points to note, especially if you are new to wearing contact lenses.
While the most convenient course of action nowadays is to buy contact lenses online, there is perhaps a potential issue posed by this method of purchase for new wearers of contact lenses, or those that have recently converted to disposable contacts after years of using standard soft (hydrophilic) or rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses. More traditional retail usually involves talking to at least an employee of the prescribing optometrist, who can point out the importance of adhering to usage instructions when it comes to disposable lenses.
The recommended wearing period is set for several key reasons, and is not about ensuring that you need to keep buying the product, but rather to do with maintaining good eye health while wearing daily lenses. Exceeding the recommended wearing period can result in discomfort caused by dryness and irritation, and even blurred vision. Worse still, the build up of lipids and proteins that can occur if the lenses are kept in too long can lead to an allergic reaction which can have serious consequences.
This should not put you off using daily disposable contact lenses, however, and is merely intended as a reminder to follow proper procedure. Disposable contact lenses have many benefits over semi permanent soft lenses and RGP lenses, not least of which is the avoidance of the need to bother with a cleaning solution and regime.
Rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses do of course last longer than disposable lenses, but also come with the risk that dust and dirt can become trapped between the eye and the lenses, causing palpable irritation. Those playing sports, and especially contact sports, should not wear RGP lenses during this activity, and should instead try soft or disposable lenses.
Make sure that you continue to arrange a regular check up for your eyes, even if you feel that your vision is O.K. It can be easy to get used to gradual sight deterioration, day to day, and as you get older it is necessary to monitor for several other potential issues. Older people are at risk of sight loss through age related macular degeneration. One of the forms of this condition, wet macular degeneration, is treatable if caught early enough, but the time frame in which treatment is effective is fairly short, meaning that regular check-ups are essential.
Nail Care and Nail Pathologies
Rebecca Parker runs a chiropodists in Worcester, England. In this article Rebecca writes about nail care and nail pathologies.
toenail diagram
Nail Care
It is essential to look after toenails as we spend many hours of each day on our feet, and a painful or sore toenail can often lead to difficulty in getting around.
The nail is made up of different parts including the free edge, the nail bed, the nail plate, the eponychium, the hyponychium, the lanula, the sulcus and the matrix.
Non pathological nails are nails in good health. These nails can be filed or cut as suits the individual. These nails are often easy to manage by the patient in between seeing a podiatrist or chiropodist for treatment. It is very important to follow these guidelines in order to maintain a healthy nail. Firstly cut the nail straight across, avoiding cutting down the sides of the nail. Ensure that any sharp areas are adequately filed down.
There are various different pathologies that can effect the nail. Below is a list of just some of the most common nails podiatrists and chiropodists regularly see and treat.
- Involuted nails
- Onychomycotic nails
- Onychauxic nails
- Ingrowing toe nails
Additional conditions which affect the nail are:
- Paronychia
- Leukonychia
- Koilonychia
- Onychogryphosis
Involuted nails are nails that are positioned as such that the nail is pressing against the skin, but without breaking the skin. These nails are at risk of becoming ingrowing toe nails.
Onychomycotic nails are those nails that are thickened, and are fungally infected. To determine whether there are any fungal spores present within the nail it is often necessary to send a sample of the nail away for microbiological tests.
Onuchauxic nails thickened nails are often caused by a fungal infection.
Ingrowing toe nails are those nails which are digging into the skin and that, as a result, cause breaking in the skin. When this occurs the toe may become infected and the patient may require a course of antibiotics. The in growing toenail may be treated conservatively or may require nail surgery as a long term management plan.
Paronychia is bacterial skin infection of the area of skin surrounding the nail. Most commonly caused by an ingrowing toe nail.
Leukonychia. These are areas of white discolouration in the nail. Often an indication of a fungal infection beginning.
Koilonychia. These are spoon shaped nails.
Onychogryphosis is a severe over growth of the nail which results in the nail having a ‘rams horn’ appearance and which needs to be significantly reduced by the podiatrist or chiropodist.
If you have a concern about a toenail then it is advisable to seek professional advice from your doctor or chiropodist. All chiropodists and podiatrists should be registered with the HPC (Health Professions Council).
Article by Rebecca Parker, Lilypad Podiatrists & Chiropodists Worcester.
References: Achilles Foot Health Centre.
The Importance of Quality Medical Supplies
Portable Drill
The importance of good quality and accurate equipment for healthcare professionals cannot be stressed enough, and as concerns grow over the standards of NHS care, it is more important than ever before for healthcare providers to be mindful of this. Many hospitals and private practices face closure as the Care Quality Commission (CQC) carry out inspections across the UK.
Private practices and professionals such as chiropodists / podiatrists, dieticians, occupational therapists, paramedics, physiotherapists, practitioner psychologists, prosthetics / orthotics, radiographers, speech and language therapists and more must comply with The Health Professionals Council (HPC) regulations. This means that they must obtain high enough standards in training, skills, behaviour and health in the area of medicine or health care in order to be HPC registered.
Whether you’re business is part of the NHS or a private healthcare provider registered by the HPC, your methods of practice, quality of care and hygiene among other things will be under constant surveillance; one way in which you can be confident in the quality of care your practice gives is to maintain a supply of high quality medical equipment. Thanks to Mobility 365, this task is simpler than ever before.
Disposable Blades and Handles
At Mobility 365 you’ll find a wide choice of medical supplies, disability aids, sports injury aids, health clinic supplies and so much more, in fact they have over 14,000 products, one of the UK’s largest selections of medical and mobility supplies on the internet making it so much easier to find everything you need in one place. With a range of features designed to make ordering faster and easier for their customer, Mobility 365 certainly put their customers first. For example, if you represent a government funded organisation like a school, NHS trust, GP, government department etc, you can order by faxing an official headed purchase order.
Another perk to shopping with mobility 365 is their willingness to offer quotes on bulk orders, plus the free delivery when you spend over £40. All of their products are approved by the BHTA (British Healthcare Trades Association) which means that they have been granted full Office of Fair Trading approval under the Consumer Codes Approval Scheme (CCAS).
Good quality equipment for health professionals can ensure greater accuracy, faster results, better hygiene and ultimately the better quality care of patients. Initially these tools and supplies may seem costly, however better supplies will last longer and will withstand heavier duty use. You will enjoy faster cleaning results, more hardwearing materials and features which will ensure you can do your job to the best of your ability.
So for a wide choice of high quality and affordable easier living supplies, household products, injury and emergency items, medical supplies, paediatrics products and therapy consumables, look no further than Mobility 365, the UK’s favourite health-care products supplier.
The Health Professionals Council
HPC Registered
The Health Professions Council (HPC) has been set up in the UK to help protect the general public when seeking advice and treatment from a health professional.
The HPC, as it is also known, is a regulator of health professionals. They keep a register of health professionals who meet their standards for training, skills, behaviour and health in the area of medicine or health care the health professional practices in.
The HPC regulates fifteen health professions: arts therapists, biomedical scientists, chiropodists / podiatrists, clinical scientists, dietitians, hearing aid dispensers, occupational therapists, operating department practitioners, orthoptists, paramedics, physiotherapists, practitioner psychologists, prosthetists / orthotists, radiographers, and speech and language therapists.
These professions all possess at least one ‘professional’ title which is protected by law, this means that anyone who uses one of these titles must be registered with the HPC. It is a criminal offence in the UK for someone to claim they are registered with the HPC when they are not, and they can be prosecuted by the HPC if this happens.
Clubs & Societies
Society logo next to HPC logo
Some health professions also have an additional society which health professionals may be a member of, in Podiatry and Chiropody this is the Society of Chiropodist and Podiatrists.
Those wishing to join this society need to be HPC registered before applying. This ensures all professionals are already vetted and are qualified to work under the title of Podiatrist or Chiropodist in the UK.
To check whether a Podiatrist or Chiropodist (or other health professional) is registered with the HPC, you can ask for their registered number and search for them online here: http://www.hpc-uk.org/
If you have any doubts about your health professional, it is definitely worth checking up before you begin treatment.
Information sourced from The HPC Website.
Home Visit Podiatrists
foot care
Podiatry and Chiropody is usually carried out in a health clinic but in some cases a home visit is necessary. An example of this is Lilypad Podiatry which is run by myself, Rebecca Parker, a Chiropodist in Worcester, England. I have worked along side other Chiropodists in Worcester for several years and there are some important things to know before you look for a home visit Chriopodist.
As a professional health worker, a Podiatrist or Chiropodist in the UK should be registered with the Health Professions Council, they will have a reference number which you can check online or by calling the HPC on (0)20 7840 9802.
What is a Podiatry Home Visit?
A home visit Podiatry appointment initially consists of an assessment interview. Information is acquired and details are observed and then recorded onto a personal record file: This includes the presenting foot complaint and medical history, including any medication currently being taken and the patient’s current health status.
An assessment interview is extremely important so that the correct podiatry treatment and management plan can be written up.
The next part of the appointment consists of the Podiatrist or Chiropodistperforming an observational and clinical examination. This consists of looking at the patient’s vascular and neurological status, their skin and nail health, and additionally the type of footwear being worn. In some cases a gait analysis may be performed. (Merriman and Tollafield 1996)
toe nail care
Management Plan
Following this assessment, the patient will be required to sign a consent form. This ensures the patient is happy to have their feet treated. The Podiatrist will be able to answer any questions or concerns throughout the appointment.
In some cases other conditions of the lower limb can be diagnosed and may need referral to another health professional, this can be arranged with the patient’s consent within a visit. The Podiatry treatment will then commence whether that be the cutting and/or the reduction of nails, the removal of callus and corns and the treatment of veruccae.. etc.
The podiatrist will then build a long term management plan to suit the individual’s needs, and will work out how often would be suitable to return for the next visit. They will provide any foot health information a patient may require.
Type of patients Podiatrists treat on a Home Visit
Podiatrists mainly see the housebound on a home visit, these are people who cannot get out and about due to being elderly or due to illness or injury.
Podiatrist’s routinely visit nursing homes, hospitals, care and day centres and residential properties, to provide podiatry treatment for those who cannot or find it difficult to travel to visit a Podiatrist in a clinical setting.
healthy feet
How long will a Home Visit last?
Generally, a Podiatrist’s home visit lasts around thirty minutes, this is according to the treatment which is required. A first appointment can be a little longer due to paperwork requirements and the initial assessment.
For more complicated procedures more time should be allowed, but this can be arranged to suit the patient’s needs.
Are Podiatry Home Visits more expensive?
It is sometimes slightly more expensive to have a home visit, as the Podiatrist may need to cover traveling expenses and the time taken to travel between patients.
Article by R. Parker, BSc (Hons) MChS. Lilypad Podiatry (Podiatrist in Worcester).