Bluebird Care Stamford & Rutland launch campaign in light of increased need for Care Assistants this winter.

This comes after another Rutland-based care home, Belton House, was rated Inadequate by the Care Quality Commission after inspectors found "a litany of failures".

Research carried out by Age UK has found that many older people feel their physical and mental health had deteriorated due to isolation and reduced opportunities to socialise and be physically active over the last couple of years.

According to the study, many older people have experienced loneliness, low mood, decreased health, increased pain and lack of support. This in turn has affected their appetite and diet, causing malnutrition and self-neglect. The study also showed that since March 2020, 1 in 5 people have found that their memory and cognitive thinking has decreased.

Leading homecare provider Bluebird Care Stamford & Rutland has launched a campaign to address these problems by increasing the number of care assistants this winter.

Tim Carey, Director of Bluebird Care Stamford & Rutland, commented: "Older people are going to need more support than ever before to get through this winter. We feel that it is our duty to support the older and vulnerable in our community. The recent pandemic has meant that there is an increased number of older people that have experienced loneliness and isolation.

"As a care provider it is often our care assistants who offer companionship and a friendly face for our customers who otherwise would spend a lot of time on their own. By increasing the number of care assistants we have, we can look at what further support we can offer our customers and help reduce the number of those who are experiencing loneliness and a decline in health."

Bluebird Care Stamford & Rutland is hoping this new campaign will help raise awareness in the community of their increased need for care assistants.

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Fiona, a family member of a customer at Bluebird Care Stamford & Rutland said: "The last six months have been a really difficult time, we needed the extra support. I don't know what we would do without our lovely care assistant. She really looks after mum, giving her the attention that she needs. We call the team at Bluebird Care our Blue Angels! Thank you all!"

A recent nationwide carers' survey, which produced almost 1,000 responses across 50 Bluebird Care offices in the UK, found that staff praised their employers for their leadership and management during the covid pandemic. The survey led to some wonderful written feedback from team members on their confidence in Bluebird Care as an employer, with many stating that Bluebird Care was the 'best' employer.

If you would like to know more about working for Bluebird Care and how you can support older, vulnerable people in the community please contact Bluebird Care by calling 01780 480 881, email [email protected] or visit the Bluebird Care website.