Crcl – Blog for Social Care

Social Care Reform

Great blog on The Guardian website surrounding social care reform by Stephen Dorrell:

“Social care reform was to be a priority during the second session of this parliament. In its first reforming months the coalition suggested that the Law Commission and Andrew Dilnot would produce reports during the first session that would form the basis of a new legal and financial framework for social care, and this would be the subject of legislation during the second session. But there is no such bill in the Queen’s speech. Real life has intervened.”

Click here to read more

Focus On: Agoraphobia

Agoraphobia is usually simply described as a “fear of open spaces” it is hoever, much, much more complicated than this. Ranging in levels of severity in different people, Agoraphobia tends to affect people in different situations such as being alone, being inside or outside the home, in a crowd of people, or travelling on public transport.

People with agoraphobia will tend to experience a change in behaviour as they begin to avoid situations which cause them anxiety. This may then lead to a restriction in the living of day to day life.

There are a number of different symptoms which will vary in intensity. Some sufferers will find it impossible to leave the house, whereas others may be able to travel short distances or manage in small social situations. Symptoms include:

• Rapid heart beat
• Rapid breathing
• Blushing/sweating
• Nausea
• Butterflies/upset stomach
• Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)
• Tinnitus
• Feeling faint

Behavioural Symptoms

• Obsessive and/or depressive behaviour
• Avoidance of situations
• Becoming housebound
• Needing assistance/company
• Avoiding travelling
• Avoiding physical activity

On top of these symptoms there are a variety of psychological symptoms such as feeling depressed, having low self-esteem and a general anxious feelings or feelings of dread.

If you suffer from any of these symptoms, particularly if they begin to interfere with your every day life, then you should see your GP as soon as you can.

If your doctor thinks that you need it, then they may refer you to a psychiatrist who will be able to examine your background in depth and be able to determine whether you have agoraphobia or whether you are suffering from another mental health condition and to try and find suitable treatment.

Treatments for agoraphobia include psychological therapy which is used to challenge the processes of negative thoughts and behaviour and medication which will be used in connection with panic disorders. The most common forms of medication or SSRI antidepressants, tricyclic antidepressants and beta-blockers.

For help, support and further advice; Mind and Anxiety Care UK have a number of good resources.

Focus On: Stroke

There are a number of things that can be done to prevent strokes from occurring. Smoking, high blood pressure, excessive drinking and a poor diet will all place you at a higher risk of suffering a stroke. If you have a family history of heart disease or diabetes you are also at higher risk.

If you think someone is having a stroke, it is vital that you call an ambulance straight away. The faster a stroke is diagnosed and treated, the better the chances. Symptoms of stroke can vary from person to person, however the main symptoms can be remembered by FAST: Face-arms-speech-time:

Face
The face might have dropped on one side, not be able to smile on one side or their mouth or eye may have dropped.

Arms
The victim of stroke might not be able to lift their arms because of weakness or numbness

Speech
They might have slurred speech or might not be able to talk at all

Time
You need to call an ambulance straight away in order to increase the chances of survival and to ensure that the impact of the stroke is decreased.

Other symptoms include paralysis of the body, dizziness, problems with balance, communication problems, severe headache and blacking out.
 

If a stroke is identified quickly, there are a number of things that can be done in order to prevent long-term disability and aid the chances of survival. Once the patient has been taken to hospital, they should undergo a CT or MRI scan as soon as possible and have a multidisciplinary assessment. They will then be given medication like anticoagulents to prevent bloodclots and pills to reduce blood pressure, lower cholesterol. In some cases, a surgery may also be required to unblock the carotid artery in the neck.

There are a number of support networks available for those who have suffered a stroke such as The Stroke Association. After suffering a stroke, it is likely that the patient will require rehabilitation including occupational therapy and there are a number of psychological impacts that may occur such as depression and anxiety disorders that may need counselling.

If you are caring for someone who has had a stroke, you should remember to remain patient as rehabilitation can be a very slow process depending on the intensity of the stroke, and don’t forget that you aren’t alone – there is a wealth of support out there for when you need it.

Social Media And Depression

There has been much debate within the mental health community about the link between social media and depression. Certainly, over the last few years there have been a number of high profile cases of online bullying or “trolling” – some of which have made the lives of the victim so unbearable that they have led to suicide.

Recently, in a clinical report issued by the American Academy of Paediatrics entitled “The Impact of Social Media Use on Children, Adolescents and Families” warned that social networking sites can help to fuel depression in teenagers, and that overuse can result in “social network anxiety”.

“Researchers have proposed a new phenomenon called ‘Facebook depression’, defined as depression that develops when preteens and  teens spend a great deal of time on social media sites, such as Facebook, and then begin to exhibit classic symptoms of depression….The intensity of the online world is thought to be a factor that may trigger depression in some adolescents…preadolescents and adolescents who suffer Facebook depression are at risk for social isolation and sometimes turn to risky internet sites and blogs for ‘help’ that may promote substance abuse, unsafe sexual practices, or aggressive, self destructive behaviours.”

Cyberbullying is also cited as a cause for concern, particularly amongst teenagers, and there have been a number of cases in the media recently showing that celebrities are now also being widely targeted, some of which have resulted in prosecution.

However, this is far from the only perspective. In a recent article in The Guardian, Dr Tim Anstiss makes a link between social media and the support of those suffering with depression. In the article Anstiss states that social networks allow people with similar problems to communicate, helping them to realise they are not alone and talk through their problems.

“Online chat, discussion and support provides many other benefits to depressed people – feelings of connectedness, not being judged, reassurance that things can and do get better over time, or that the painful or empty feelings of depression can be tolerated…Social networks have emerged as an accessible platform on which people are able to connect  with like-minded individuals.”

However, he does go on to warn that

“While it is important that those with depression have a safe haven in which to share their issues with a trusted community, making use of the more mainstream sites of Facebook and Twitter may amplify previously hidden anguish. It brings conversations about depression out into the public sphere where information then has the potential to trickle down to people who have little understanding of the illness and also those who may not realise that they too are suffering.”

If you feel that you are suffering from depression, The Post Secret Community is a great online forum containing a wealth of information and support for mental health issues, and www.cyberbullying.org has useful advice for victims of cyberbullies.

Ovarian Cancer – The “Silent Killer”

Known as the “Silent Killer” Ovarian cancer will affect around 6,600 women in the UK every year. Of these, 4,400 will not survive. Notoriously hard to diagnose, Ovarian cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women, but as GP’s will only see an average of one case a year, and because symptoms are difficult to pick up upon, a proper diagnosis is often missed.

If the disease is picked up upon in its early stages, the outcome is usually good, however because symptoms affecting the sufferer can also be linked to a number of common conditions, most women are not diagnosed until after the cancer has spread.

Common symptoms include:

• Persistent  pelvic and abdominal pain
• Increased abdominal size/persistent bloating
• Difficulty eating/feeling full quickly

The key terms here are persistently, frequently and severely. If you do experience these symptoms, then it is vital you see your GP as soon as possible, particularly if there have been any cases of breast or ovarian cancer in your family in the past.

Around 7% of ovarian cancer cases are linked to a faulty inherited gene from either parent, and researchers have discovered that close relatives of women with ovarian cancer are slightly more at risk of developing the disease. Those with strong family history may be referred to a cancer geneticist who may remove their ovaries and tubes, this however is not completely effective. 90% of cases occur in post menopausal women and those over the age of 45.

Research has shown that you can lower the risk of ovarian cancer by using the combined contraceptive pill and through breast feeding upon the birth of a child. It is also conjectured that HRT, Dairy consumption and talcum powder are linked to increasing the risks.

There are a number of different ways of treating ovarian cancer, and new developments are occurring all the time. Usually a patient will have surgery to remove the tumour before undergoing chemotherapy to kill the cells that are dividing unnaturally.

For more information, or to donate to Ovarian Cancer research and support, both the Eve Appeal and Ovacome are doing some fantastic work in the field.

Focus On: Dementia

Dementia is an overall term which describes symptoms associated with a deterioration in memory and other cognitive skills which are severe enough to have a detrimental effect on a person’s ability to live their every day lives independently.

The most common form of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease, which accounts for around 60 to 80% of all dementia patients with Vascular dementia, often a side effect of Stroke, is the second most common type.

Often wrongly referred to as “senility”, dementia has been considered by many to be a natural part of ageing, new evidence suggests that this is not the case however, and there has been a vast amount of research over the last few years in an attempt to find preventative treatments for the condition.

Because there are so many different kinds of dementia, symptoms can vary massively however, impairment in at least two of the following core functions must be present to make a firm diagnosis:

• Memory
• Communication and Language
• Focus and Attention Span
• Reasoning and Judgement
• Visual Perception

Many people mistakenly believe that memory loss alone can be indicative of someone suffering dementia, this is not the case however, and there are many causes of memory loss in the over 65’s particularly some of which can be reversed.

Dementia is caused by damage to brain cells which makes it impossible for cells to communicate with each other, affecting normal cognitive behaviour. The brain is made up of lots of distinct regions, with each one being responsible for different functions which means that damage to any particular region will affect its functionality. Different forms of dementia are generally associated with specific types of brain cell damage in specific regions of the brain and most symptoms will increase in severity over time.

Diagnosis of dementia is notoriously difficult as there is no single test that can be given. Instead, doctors have to use a series of physical examinations, lab tests, character and behavioural assessment and look into the patient’s medical history before confirming dementia. Confirming the exact type however is even more difficult because they can develop and overlap meaning that some doctors will specify that a patient has dementia without naming a specific type.

If you are worried about a loved one, there are a number of support groups available and Dementia UK can provide you with further information.

Counselling

There are almost as many different types of counselling as there are issues to counsel people on, with the list growing each year as different counsellors train to specialise in more and more unusual topics. This is arguably a good thing, as it means that more people can get specialised care, but at the same time the sheer amount of different types can be very confusing at times, especially for the people that the counselling is aimed at.

If you are thinking about going into counselling as a career choice, then you also need to bear all the different types in mind, and apply for jobs accordingly. Some types of counselling are more popular and widespread than others, so it may be easier to get a job in those types of counselling. For others who have either recently been created, or are perhaps less popular, it may paradoxically be both harder and easier to get those jobs, because demand for workers will be low but the company may want to expand.

As well as the different types of counselling available, there are also different intensities, ranging from hotlines to one to one personalised services every day. Each intensity is suited to a different problem, or range of problems, but it is also relative to how the person themselves is affected by the problem. The more affected they are, the more intense the counselling may need to be, though this is not always the case: it is therefore most important to take individual needs into account.

Volunteering

One of the best ways you can be seen to be helping your community, and indeed actually help it, is by volunteering. It can be useful in all kinds of situations, particularly if you are looking to impress potential employers or to get into a specific industry. For example if you are looking to get into adult social care, a good way of gaining experience in the industry, as well as discovering how the sector works, is to volunteer for a nursing home or  age related charity like Age UK. This would not only give you an insight into how the day to day running of a home or charity works, it will also give you an insight into what it takes to do the job, and whether it’s the right career path for you.

A good way to start volunteering if you have never done it before is to think about what kind of job you would like to do, what or who you want to work with, and how much work you want to do. If you are interested in animals for example, but you do not want to get physically involved with them, then you could apply to do some volunteering as a receptionist for an animal shelter or a vet’s.

Volunteering always looks good on a CV, so if you lack work experience, do not be hesitant to try out volunteering. You will also find immense gratification in knowing that you have helped to make a difference to your local community. Who knows, you may even gain some friends or even find yourself a rewarding job in the process.

Charity

A charity is a type of non-profit, voluntary organisation which is set up and required to use any profits only for the organisations purpose, rather than that of an individual. The whole purpose of the organisation must be charitable and we can see a large list of charitable purposes under the Charities Act 2006, including, amongst others, the prevention and relief of poverty, the advancement of education and religion, the advancement of human rights, environmental protection or animal welfare and the advancement of the arts and crafts.

It is likely that we could all name a whole host of varying charitable organisations, ranging from those giving assistance to those with terminal illness, and in addition researching new methods to treat these, through to local community groups with the aim of keeping children occupied and away from the streets.

Charities often receive no government funding and are left completely to themselves to raise required funds through a variety of fundraising events of all types. Those who do receive funding often receive it from independent bodies such as the National Lottery Fund, who allocate a percentage of their profits to help charitable causes. Another form of income for charities is donations from the public; however with so many charities seeking donations, these can often be low, depending on the type of charity. People will often donate to a charity which they have a particular link with, due to family ties or the like, and it is common for the elderly to leave a small donation to a charity of their choice in their will.

Support Groups

Support groups are generally nonprofessional groups where members provide one another with support and help on a shared problem or issue. The format of the groups often entails the sharing and evaluation of information, sometimes personal experiences, through listening to each other and showing a sense of compassion and empathy on relevant issues.

There are a number of differing forms of support groups. The main types being self-help support groups and professionally managed support groups. A self-help group is generally organized and managed solely by its members, who are generally volunteers with personal experience in the field and who wish to pass their experience on to help others with their problems. These can also be referred to as peer support groups, fellowships and mutual help groups. Secondly, a professionally managed support group is one run by professionals who do not generally share the problems and burdensome issues that the members do. Professionals who run such groups are often trained as social workers or psychologists and they are the ones who lead discussions within the group. Professionally managed groups can often be found in public locations such as hospitals and may only be accessible to people who meet certain criteria.

In addition to traditional support groups, recent years have seen such groups appear on the internet, allowing wider access for members. Post Secret for example, is an online community which helps members address issues surrounding mental health problems. In these groups it is often possible for members to chat both in real time and through the use of forum style websites, and these have proved to be invaluable to many members of such groups over the past twenty years or so.