Social Care

The social care sector is going to see an increase in compliance requirements in 2013.

With the past year stacking up a vast list of allegations against care homes for the elderly and vulnerable, the Care Quality Commission has issued it’s ‘State of Care Report 2011/12’ supporting the increased need for a better approach to compliance.  The report highlighted the increased numbers of people with complex or multiple illnesses as well as the rise of elderly people with mental health issues, mainly dementia, needing nursing care within social settings.

Whilst the report also notes that many of the organisations inspected deliver care to an excellent standard, others are failing to manage the increasing and amended compliance demands.

Social Care

Norovirus

Statistics gathered over the Christmas festivities have revealed that the winter vomiting bug, Norovirus, has affected 1.1million people in the UK.

Those suffering with the illness report a variety of symptoms including nausea, acute vomiting, abdominal cramps and diarrhoea. Those most likely to suffer severe consequences of the virus are young children and the elderly; with dehydration being a dangerous side effect for both.

However it’s easier to prevent than you realise; washing your hands prevents the spread of Norovirus via the ‘faecal-oral’ route, where unclean hands contaminate food and water. Soap and water are also said to be more effective than alcohol based hand sanitisers. Although there is yet to be enough research into the prevention of the illness the obvious answer lies in a vaccination but we are a long way off with trials currently in progress.

Asthma Patch

A patch, which so far has been tested on mice, containing a manufactured version of the harmful proteins found in dust mite droppings might hold the key easing asthma in sufferers.

House dust mites are generally less than half a millimetre long and whitish in colour are said to be the leading trigger for asthma attacks.  Dust mites feed on dead human skin cells so can be found in pillows, mattresses, bed linen, clothing, carpets and soft toys.

The patch which can be worn on the arm or stomach, releases tiny amounts of the protein into the skin and is designed to train the immune system not to over-react when it comes into contact with dust mite droppings. Although it can take several months for the body to re-train the sufferer can stop wearing the patches afterwards.

Norovirus Outbreak

The Health Protection Agency has claimed that more than 750,000 could be affected by an outbreak of norovirus this winter.

So far there have been 2630 confirmed reports of the illness but the agency suggests for every reported case there are approximately 288 unreported people suffering.  The numbers stack up to a 72 per cent increase in the illness so far this season.

John Harris, an expert in norovirus at the HPA, said: “People should be vigilant in their hygiene … Having a norovirus infection is very unpleasant but it is short-lived and most people will fully recover in a couple of days”.

Rise of the British Over Eater

An astonishing 2.5 million British people are over-eating and experts have identified five types who might need help.

The secret binger, the happy eater, the comfort seeker, the panic snacker and the fridge magnet are all types of over-eating and various treatments are suggested.  Statistics show that one in five people has an eating disorder, and three out of five of these are compulsive eaters. There are actually fewer sufferers of anorexia nervosa.

Depression has a strong link with binge eating with half suffering the illness and 60 per cent are women.