Hospice News’ Post

Have you taken some time for yourself to get out and enjoy nature on #WorldMentalHealthDay? The effect of the natural world on wellbeing cannot be underestimated. A Government report into the impact of seven green prescribing pilot projects published earlier this year revealed that it is well worth investing in a ‘natural health service’. Those taking part in the pilots experienced big reductions in anxiety and depression symptoms, and significant increases in happiness and life satisfaction. From an economic perspective, there was a return on investment of £2.42 per £1 invested by HM Treasury, making it more cost-effective than some other interventions. Staffordshire Wildlife Trust is currently leading two projects to improve health and wellbeing through nature connectedness – Wilder Neighbourhoods in Stoke and a programme of wellbeing walks for patients of a GP surgery in Wolstanton, Newcastle (pictured below with the Trust's Shaun Rimmer). Participants in both projects have told us how spending time in a natural environment, socialising with others, has really lifted their spirits. Green prescribing could play a really important role in creating healthier communities and reducing demand for other more traditional NHS services. We’re keen to work with other GP practices across the county on green prescribing initiatives – please get in touch with s.pattison@staffs-wildlife.org.uk if you’d like to learn more! #MentalHealth #GreenPrescribing #NaturalHealthService #NHS

❗ "A third of people in England currently do not have access to nature nearby, and people from ethnic minorities, younger people, and those living in more deprived areas are much less likely to have green spaces within easy walking distance." 🌳 This despite the fact that "creating access to green space is cost-effective because it can be cheap – and sometimes free...it saves the NHS more than £110m a year from fewer GP visits alone, and that £2.1bn of annual health costs could be saved if all of England had good access to nature." 👍 Interesting article below about potential plans for the East of England: https://lnkd.in/ehJEhbtc 🚶➡️ Fresh air in nature, with friends and gentle exercise is a great combination for health and wellbeing of every kind. 💞 This is one reason why Dedici has chosen Thrive (The Society for Horticultural Therapy) as our charity partner. ❓ Will you go for a walk today somewhere nice? #thrivethursday #wellbeing #health

"General Practitioners and other health and social care professionals in Badenoch and Strathspey can now prescribe nature-based activities to patients through the Park Authority’s nature prescriptions project, one of 20 projects that make up The National Lottery Heritage Fund-backed Cairngorms 2030 programme." https://lnkd.in/eaZ-M-nY.

This November, we proudly honor Indigenous People’s Month by celebrating the resilience, culture, and achievements of Native communities. At Forward Community Investments (FCI), our commitment lies in partnerships that drive equity and create lasting change. We are excited to highlight our New Market Tax Credit investment with the Lac Courte Oreilles Community Health Center. This vital impact investment enables the center to serve over 77,400 patients annually, reducing long wait times and the need for extended travel to receive care; it created 42 construction jobs and 121 permanent jobs. The new facility expands patient capacity, enhances operational efficiency, enriches the patient experience, and strengthens connectivity between on-site services. This collaboration represents more than just funding—it’s a meaningful step towards improving healthcare access and empowering the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. Together, we’re building a future where community health and prosperity go hand in hand. #IndigenousPeoplesMonth #CommunityInvestment #HealthcareAccess #Empowerment #PartnershipsForChange

From the Blog: What Goes into Choosing an Assisted Living Community? This month, we are lucky to have the insights of Beth Weeks, RN, Co-Founder & Placement Specialist at Senior Living Consultants of New York. Read an excerpt from her piece below. "I am often asked, “What is your favorite assisted living community?” This is a nearly impossible question to answer directly because my favorite community is the one that fits my client perfectly (or as near perfectly as possible); and is the one that they feel most strongly connected to when we’re exploring options. Perhaps the better question is, “What goes into choosing an assisted living community? Just like in any industry, there are ebbs and flows in the senior living world and timing is everything. Even though a community was once the gold star standard of care for years, changes in staffing, corporate structure, regulations, etc. can drastically alter a community’s quality and overall vibe. Did you know that there are several different types of assisted living licenses in New York? Further, just because a community holds the same assisted living license as their neighboring community, they may not utilize it the same way. Care assistance varies from community to community, so it’s important to know not only what type of license is in place, but how they actually use it in the delivery of care assistance to their residents. For example, can a community provide hands-on transferring assistance? If so, does the person need to be able to bear their own weight during the transfer? Does the community accommodate modified diets? If so, can they admit a resident who is at risk for aspiration?" Read the full article at https://buff.ly/3U9Pjx4

The UK government’s £100 million investment in hospices is a step forward, recognising the critical role we play in end-of-life care. While this funding could improve infrastructure, it does not address the urgent need for sustainable funding models to meet rising demand. At St Michael’s Hospice, we’re committed to advocating for a future where high-quality care is accessible to all. Read our full statement here: https://lnkd.in/e7yug8U6 #HospiceCare #EndOfLifeCare #SustainableFunding

The landscape of aged residential care is evolving, with more facilities implementing additional charges to cover the gap between funding and operational expenses.   Over the period from 2009 to 2021, the proportion of subsidy-only (standard) rooms in aged residential care (ARC) has decreased from 69% to 34%.   Subsidy-only rooms refer to aged care accommodation where residents rely solely on government subsidies to cover their costs. Accommodation supplement rooms, often associated with premium charges, provide residents with additional amenities or services beyond what is covered by subsidies.   This shift towards fewer subsidy-only rooms and more accommodation supplement options poses challenges for seniors, particularly those from low-income backgrounds, as it limits access to affordable care options.   As the trend of introducing extra charges persists among new or renovated facilities, it becomes imperative to address these disparities to ensure that all seniors have equitable access to high-quality care, regardless of their economic circumstances. #ACA #NZACA #AgedCare #CostOfCare #ElderlyCare #SeniorLiving #ARC

There was much discussion at last week's excellent Landor LINKS Ltd conference #TransportandHealth2024 of the value of #ActiveTravel projects in preventing ill-health. My co-panellist Ben Simm has provided a handy overview https://lnkd.in/ecPnyRDp. So it's great to see The Health Foundation, Demos, Institute for Government and CIPFA issuing a joint call to Rt Hon Rachel Reeves @ HM Treasury for increased spending on ill-health prevention: https://lnkd.in/egku4mYG. It is so important for active travel advocates to focus on tackling 'transport inequalities'. There are broadly 4 dimensions to this: * Economically disadvantaged groups tend to live in places with poor transport connections. They may be unable to drive, either because they cannot afford to, or because of health conditions or disabilities which make it impossible. Disabled people also face exclusion from many public transport services. Bike-share schemes struggle to operate commercially in deprived areas, and will typically need financial support if they are to reach the communities which could most benefit from them. * Disadvantaged groups typically suffer disproportionately from road danger and pollution, despite making lower use of cars themselves. * They also need the greatest support to take up active travel - you cannot just "build it (i.e. active travel infrastructure) and they will come". People with disabilities or health conditions often assume that "cycling isn't for someone like me". Overcoming this perception often requires a tailored "try-before-you-buy" opportunity, e.g. to help them discover whether a non-standard electrically-assisted pedal cycle (e.g. a recumbent or hand-cranked e-bike) could work for them. These are of course disproportionately expensive machines - and the people who could most benefit from them are often also those least able to afford them. The charity Wheels For Wellbeing does excellent work aimed at overcoming these challenges. * Finally, disadvantaged groups are often least able to influence local transport funding priorities, either because they are time-poor or because of inaccessible consultation processes. The common factor here is the need for revenue funding. Boosting active travel mainly requires capital funding to improve the physical environment for walking, wheeling and cycling. But without revenue support, we risk perpetuating the idea that active travel is for middle-class health-conscious people - and failing to reach the people whose health, wealth and well-being could most benefit from discovering it. So I really hope Rachel Reeves heeds the call from the Health Foundation et al to prioritise funding to prioritise the prevention of ill-health. Because a fairly modest revenue funding allocation for the Department of Transport could go a long way here!

See this week 🤩, this week- did I spin a lot of plates or did I spin a lot of plates? …kids/family, managing my HMOs, viewings, contractors, social housing opportunities, education, keeping fit and the list goes on… I’ve spent hours on the phone, talking, understanding my supported living provider clients needs, looking at: - How my property connection service could make a huge difference to your business - How it helps you to expand your services - How we help you to support more clients and make more of a social impact - How in turn you make a huge difference to someone’s life and lifestyle. And I’m even more excited about the service we provide, which helps you to grow with no effort. I delayed my passion for a while through fear but no more, my mission is to help and serve the vulnerable through helping care providers access property. So if you want to expand your services in Hertfordshire and North - North west London then we should have a chat. If you are a landlord with HMos or small blocks of 1 beds in these areas then I’d love to hear from you. #careandsupport #supportedliving#propertydeveloper#passivepropertyinvesting#careprovider#ensuite#HMO#

💡 New case study In a world where personalised home care is more important than ever, Bluebird Care Barnsley & Glossop is passionate about making a difference. New to the area, the company stands out for its commitment to high-quality care services, providing tailored support in the comfort of people's own homes 💙 Read their story on the link below 👇 #thebusinessvillage #barnsleybusinesses #southyorkshire #casestudy #successstory