Finding Connection on Screen
Once treated as background noise, television is being reimagined as a tool for dementia care. My Life TV explains how the right content, used well, can calm, connect and celebrate the person behind the diagnosis.
Television in care settings was once treated as passive background entertainment, something to fill an afternoon rather than a tool with therapeutic value. As understanding of dementia has deepened, so has recognition of what carefully chosen media can offer: support for emotional wellbeing, connection and a stronger sense of self.
The relevant question is no longer whether people living with dementia should watch television, but what they are watching and whether it leaves them calmer and more connected. My Life TV, a charity offering dementia-friendly content, positions television not as a substitute for meaningful activity or human interaction, but as a support for both.
Mainstream television can be overwhelming through fast-paced editing, complicated storylines, or intrusive advertising. Dementia-friendly media takes the opposite approach, focusing on accessibility, familiarity, and emotional comfort. Nature films, familiar music, reminiscence programmes, quizzes, gentle movement and slow-paced footage each offer a different route into engagement, depending on a resident's mood and cognitive ability.
There is no single formula that works for everyone. One resident might find comfort in watching wildlife, another might respond to music from their youth, while a third might enjoy travel programmes that spark memories and conversation. Preferences vary from person to person and change over time, so personalising content allows care teams to tailor engagement meaningfully.
Supporting emotional wellbeing
Evidence gathered by My Life TV points to measurable benefits. NHS-led evaluation, alongside independent work with care homes, has identified improvements in quality of life, social interaction, agitation and the overall atmosphere within participating settings, prompting some homes to incorporate My Life TV into personalised care plans as a non-pharmacological intervention.
Alongside this formal evidence, the charity regularly receives feedback from care professionals describing residents who become calmer, smile more, reminisce with others or reconnect with aspects of their identity through familiar places, music and shared memories.
Naomi Daglish, My Life TV Advisory Panel member and Lead Happieness & Wellbeing Ambassador at Advinia Healthcare, explains: "If used effectively, television can help reduce anxiety, promote orientation, improve social interactions and strengthen relationships between residents, colleagues and families."
Her point speaks to a wider truth about wellbeing: it is not always about increasing stimulation. In a communal lounge, sensory overload can be a genuine problem for people living with dementia, and sometimes the most useful intervention is a calmer one: gentle visual content or familiar music that can sit alongside other activity without competing for residents' attention.
Creating connection, not replacing it
One question most frequently asked of My Life TV is whether screen-based tools risk replacing human interaction. The charity's view is the opposite: the issue is not whether people should spend time with people or with screens, but whether screen-based experiences are designed and used in ways that strengthen relationships.
A film about seaside holidays might prompt residents to share childhood memories. A wildlife programme may encourage quiet conversation, and familiar songs can lead to spontaneous singing, movement and laughter. In each case, the screen becomes a starting point for connection rather than the destination.
This can also help families, for whom visiting a loved one with dementia can feel difficult as conversation becomes harder. Shared viewing creates common ground, easing the pressure to talk and allowing people simply to enjoy being together.
Kerry Monaghan, Activities Coordinator at Rowan Lodge, part of Forest Care, explains: "I'm not a great believer in just watching the telly. I like there to be interaction. We pause, ask questions and engage everybody. We try to make it much more than just watching the telly; it's about interacting, reminiscing and learning about residents at the same time."
Her approach reflects a shift in thinking: television becomes a starting point rather than an activity in its own right. A programme about Wimbledon becomes a conversation about sport and shared memories; coverage of the Chelsea Flower Show prompts residents to talk about their own gardens, with flowers brought in to stimulate the senses. Television provides the spark; the value lies in what follows.
Building the evidence base
While there is a substantial evidence base for music, reminiscence, and other non-pharmacological approaches in dementia care, the specific contribution of dementia-friendly television is far less well understood. Addressing that gap is now a priority for My Life TV, which, with support from Dementia Research UK, is commissioning research into how dementia-friendly media contributes to emotional wellbeing, meaningful activity and person-centred care in everyday practice.
Rather than simply asking whether My Life TV "works", researchers want to understand which types of content are most effective for different people, how care teams use them in practice, and what difference they make to residents, staff and families over time, giving the sector robust, practical evidence for using screen-based media in high-quality dementia care.
Celebrating the person behind the diagnosis
Wellbeing, ultimately, is about more than occupying time; it is about helping people feel recognised, valued and connected. That philosophy extends into the charity's wider work. In November 2025, My Life Films visited Cloisters Care Home in Hounslow to film the first episodes of its Sharing Stories series, giving residents the chance to share their lives, passions and achievements on camera and creating lasting memories for residents, families and care teams alike.
Bubs, Activities Coordinator at Cloisters Care Home, reflected on the experience: "It was wonderful to see the residents speak so proudly about all their achievements and hobbies. Residents are still speaking about this experience today! Fabulous activity!"
For My Life TV, that reaction captures what wellbeing looks like in practice: not reduced anxiety or filled time, but moments of pride, identity and joy. Designed with people living with dementia in mind, television and film can become far more than something to watch, another way to celebrate the person behind the diagnosis and strengthen relationships in everyday care.
Hydration Beyond the Heatwaves
Valentina Giannelli, Dietitian at White Oaks, the senior living division of Compass Group UK & Ireland. discusses why care homes need a year-round strategy for meeting hydration challenges.
Between June and August this year, we had five heatwaves in the UK – a record for this country, and a pattern that looks set to continue. For older people, a heatwave can bring serious health risks, posing significant challenges for care home teams as they work hard to keep residents cool, comfortable and hydrated.
As we age, the body becomes less efficient at regulating temperature and thirst naturally declines, making it more difficult for people to consume enough fluids to meet their nutritional needs. Plus, many residents are living with heart, lung or other health conditions, and some medications can affect fluid balance or the way the body responds to heat.
During these periods of persistent hot weather, we see many reminders of the dangers of dehydration, an important response when heatwaves bring acute risk. However, what we must bear in mind is that dehydration in older people is a threat whatever the weather.
Hydration remains one of the most significant nutritional challenges in later life. Dehydration can have serious consequences for older individuals, including increasing the risk of falls, and contributing to or causing confusion, dizziness, fatigue, constipation and kidney problems. It can also lead to urinary tract infections, which in older adults frequently present with sudden disorientation and unsteadiness. Residents can be admitted to hospital following a fall that was, at its root, caused by not drinking enough.
A worrying statistic from researchers at the University of East Anglia, found that ‘one in four older adults has low-intake dehydration[1]. Over 65, the target is to drink up to three to three-and-a-half pints (or six to eight cups) of fluids per day. But, if thirst has declined and drinks are repetitive or uninspiring, intake can easily and quickly drop well below what the body needs to function safely.
For catering and care teams, the first response to this must be proactive. Hydration needs to be built into the day, not left for residents to ask for a drink. Alongside jugs of water and flavoured water in dining areas, plenty of hot and cold drinks should be provided between meals; this can be anything from fruit juice at breakfast to a chocolate milkshake with afternoon tea. Food services can also play a big role in hydration. Fruit, yoghurt, jelly, soup and ice cream all have a high liquid content and can make a useful contribution to overall fluid intake.
Core to the success of encouraging residents to keep hydrated is enjoyment. If food or drink is not appealing or enjoyed, it is not consumed, so this requires deliberate effort and creativity.
At White Oaks, we have just launched a new hydration range designed specifically by our culinary team to support the wellbeing of older adults. The Circadian Hydration Range is a collection of drinks designed around the natural rhythm of the day to help meet people’s hydration needs and is based on taste, aroma, colour, temperature and presentation. It features a fresh juice-based drink for the morning to gently stimulate the body and prepare for the day ahead; a smoothie-based ‘midday boost’ to provide nourishment and sustained energy; and a night-time warm milky drink to help relaxation and support better rest.
This initiative is about much more than fluids. It combines nutritional science with sensory engagement, creating an enjoyable experience that encourages people to drink regularly and supports their health and wellbeing. Our trials across several sites have been successful, so we’re working with our partners within assisted living and care homes to bring this to more residents across the UK and help overall wellbeing.
Our culinary team has also developed ‘Melting Moments’, a nutrient dense chocolate treat which can be enjoyed in solid or liquid form. They start as protein-fortified chocolate truffles and can double up as a rich hot chocolate when melted in warm milk.
Great food and drink are at the heart of great care. Drinks bring not just vital hydration and improved health but also pleasure and joy to residents every day. Who can deny the power of a comforting cup of tea or energy-boosting smoothie for changing our mood? The heatwave headlines look set to stay each summer, but hydration needs to be considered every week of the year.
[1] Parkinson E, Hooper L, Fynn J Low-intake dehydration prevalence in non-hospitalised older adults: Systematic review and meta-analysis Clinical Nutrition, 2023; 42, 1510-1520
The Family Is Not Just a Visitor: It Is One of Care’s Greatest Safeguards
By Jayne Connery, Founder and Director, Care Campaign for the Vulnerable
We have spent years talking about putting the person at the centre of care, yet I wonder whether we have misunderstood what that actually means. Because when we talk about the person, we often talk about the resident as an individual and the professionals around them as the people responsible for delivering their care. Somewhere between those two sits the family, frequently treated as a visitor, a relative to be kept informed, or, when relationships become difficult, even as a problem to be managed. I believe that is fundamentally wrong. If we genuinely want to create safer, more personalised and more accountable care, then we need to recognise the family not as an optional addition to the care relationship but as one of its most important safeguards.
A family brings something into care that no care plan, electronic record or assessment can ever fully replicate: a lifetime of knowledge about the individual. They know how their mother normally speaks, how their father takes his tea, what makes their husband laugh, when their wife is frightened, what their brother looks like when he is in pain, and when something simply is not right. They know the person before the diagnosis, before the care home, before the dependency. They often recognise change long before it becomes measurable. That knowledge is not sentimental. It is evidence. It is context. It is intelligence about the individual that can be extraordinarily valuable to the professionals responsible for their care.
Yet too often the care system asks families for this knowledge at admission, writes some of it into a care plan and then moves on. We say we want person-centred care, but the person-centredness can become remarkably institutional once the resident enters the system. The routines of the organisation begin to determine the rhythm of the individual’s life. The language of care becomes dominated by tasks, records, medication rounds, staffing, policies and procedures, while the people who have known the resident for decades can find themselves standing outside the process, trying to persuade somebody that the person they know is changing.
This should concern all of us.
Because families can be an early warning system.
They notice the quiet changes. They notice when somebody who normally eats has stopped eating, when a confident person becomes withdrawn, when a resident begins sleeping through the day, when their behaviour changes, when they seem frightened, when their clothes look different, when they are suddenly less mobile or when their personality is simply not quite the same. They may not know what the change means, and they should not be expected to diagnose it, but they can identify that it exists. A good care system should want that information. It should actively seek it.
The question should not be, “Why is this family complaining again?” The question should be, “What are they seeing that we need to understand?”
That is a profound cultural difference.
There is an understandable sensitivity within care around families who challenge decisions. Providers have responsibilities around confidentiality, capacity, consent and professional judgement, and not every request from a relative can or should be acted upon. Families can get things wrong. Professionals can get things wrong too. The answer cannot be to automatically believe one side over the other. The answer is to create a culture in which concerns can be raised without the relationship immediately becoming adversarial.
That is where I believe social care has an opportunity to change the conversation.
We should stop measuring family involvement primarily by whether a family attended a meeting or received an update. We should ask whether the family has been genuinely listened to. Has their knowledge changed the care being delivered? Have their observations been taken seriously? Have they been told when something has gone wrong? Have they been able to challenge without fear that their relationship with the provider will deteriorate? Most importantly, does the resident benefit from the relationship between the family and the care provider?
Because this is not ultimately about families.
It is about the person receiving care.
A resident should not have to choose between a care provider and their family. They should not become the territory over which two sides compete. When the relationship between a family and a provider becomes adversarial, it is the resident who can lose most.
I have seen too many situations where families become investigators because they feel they have no alternative. They begin keeping notes, recording conversations, comparing what they have been told with what they observe, asking for records and trying to understand safeguarding procedures, funding processes and care regulations. They learn a language they never wanted to learn because they are trying to protect someone they love.
That should make the sector uncomfortable.
The family should not have to become a detective in order to have confidence in the care being provided.
And yet there is an uncomfortable truth here for families too. Partnership means partnership. It means respecting professional expertise, understanding boundaries and recognising that good care is complex. It means accepting that a concern should be investigated rather than assuming guilt. It means working with staff rather than assuming that every problem is evidence of poor care. Genuine partnership cannot be built on either side believing that it possesses the whole truth.
The whole truth is usually found somewhere between professional expertise and personal knowledge.
This is why I believe we need to move beyond the language of “family involvement” altogether. Involvement suggests that the care organisation owns the process and permits the family to participate. Partnership is different. Partnership recognises that each party brings something valuable to the table and that the shared purpose is the wellbeing, safety, dignity and quality of life of the resident.
It also means being prepared to hear uncomfortable things.
If a family says something is wrong, the instinct should not be to defend the organisation. It should be to understand the concern. If the family is mistaken, explain why. If the family is right, act. If the answer is unclear, investigate. What matters is that the concern has somewhere to go and that the family can see that it has been taken seriously.
This is where trust is created. Not through polished newsletters, satisfaction surveys or carefully worded statements, but through what happens when something difficult is raised.
I would go further. I believe families should become part of the quality conversation within care homes. Not because they are regulators, inspectors or professionals, but because they experience the service from a completely different perspective. Their observations should form part of the intelligence that tells a provider whether care is working.
We have become increasingly sophisticated about collecting data in social care. We monitor incidents, falls, medication, staffing, complaints, audits and outcomes. We invest in technology designed to identify risk. All of that has value. But there is another source of intelligence that is often sitting in the reception area, visiting at weekends, speaking to their loved one and noticing things that may never appear on a dashboard.
It is the family.
The irony is that we talk constantly about innovation in social care, while one of the most powerful forms of intelligence available to us is human and has existed for generations.
Perhaps the real innovation is not finding another way to keep families outside the system. Perhaps it is finding a better way to bring them in.
That does not mean asking relatives to provide unpaid care. It does not mean transferring responsibility from providers to families. It does not mean compromising privacy or autonomy. It means recognising that safe care is stronger when the people who know the resident best and the people professionally responsible for their care are able to work together.
The care sector has a choice.
We can continue to see families primarily as visitors, customers or potential complainants. Or we can recognise them as partners whose knowledge, challenge and involvement can help make care safer and better.
I believe the second approach is not simply desirable. It is where the future of good care must go.
Because the strongest care environment is not one where nobody asks difficult questions.
It is one where people feel safe enough to ask them.
And perhaps the most important question for every care provider is not, “How satisfied is the family?”
It is this:
“What does this family know about this person that we don’t?”
The answer could change the care being delivered.
And ultimately, that is what family partnership should be about.
The Familiar Sights of Everyday Life Brought Inside at Thistle Court
A bus stop, a greengrocer, a flower shop, a bakery, a barber and even a music wall might not be what you expect to find inside a care home, but at Thistle Court in Cwmbran, familiar parts of everyday life have been brought into the home through a collection of interactive and sensory spaces.
Rather than simply decorating the walls, the team at Thistle Court has thought about how the spaces can be touched, picked up, explored and, importantly, used to start conversations.
Recreating the familiar greengrocer
One of the latest additions is the home's grocery wall, an idea developed by Thistle Court Administrator Tracey Baker and brought to life with help from the kitchen team. Designed to resemble the familiar greengrocers’ people may remember visiting, the display includes fruit and vegetables that can be picked up and handled, alongside recognisable grocery items.
The kitchen team saved empty food packaging and carefully filled it with safe materials so that the items don't just look the part. A bag of flour or sugar has weight and gives slightly when squeezed, while boxes make a familiar sound when shaken.
Sparking conversation through touch
Residents (who the home fondly refer to as family members) have already begun making the grocery wall their own, picking up the fruit and vegetables, feeling the different items and taking them with them into other areas of the home. On one occasion, a family member took some of the produce into the lounge and handed another family member a lemon, prompting the quick response that it was “no good without a gin”!
They are such ordinary things, and I think that's exactly why they work so well. You can pick something up, feel it and it can naturally start a conversation.
Sarah Butfield, Home Manager at Thistle Court, said: “They are such ordinary things, and I think that's exactly why they work so well. You can pick something up, feel it and it can naturally start a conversation. Our home should still be full of the familiar things that make up everyday life. Sometimes something as simple as picking up a bag of sugar or recognising a shop can give people something to explore, talk about or simply enjoy.”
For the team at Thistle Court, the sensory spaces are another way of ensuring the home reflects more than somebody's complex care needs. By bringing familiar pieces of everyday life inside, the team hopes to create an environment that feels interesting, recognisable and, above all, like home. This approach echoes a wider shift towards designing homes that anticipate higher need while still feeling personal and welcoming.
When every second counts: why care homes need personal evacuation plans
For many families, a care home is so much more than a place of residence. Over time, it becomes a trusted sanctuary of comfort and round-the-clock care.
With over 16,700 care homes supporting more than 440,000 residents across the UK, the scale and importance of the sector cannot be denied. However, these environments are also complex, and with high vulnerability among residents, this makes safety planning essential.
Fire risk in care settings is very real. In 2023/24, there were 485 primary fires in UK care homes, resulting in 57 non-fatal casualties. Incidents like the 2019 Hertfordshire fatal care home fire are a sobering reminder that behind each statistic is a vulnerable person, and a care team under pressure to act quickly.
This is why robust care home evacuation planning, including personally tailored PEEPs and a facility-wide GEEP, is not just best practice but lifesaving. Emergencies can escalate fast and, without a tailored evacuation plan in place, lives and dignity are put at risk.
What's the difference between a PEEP and a GEEP?
Effective evacuation planning isn't just a matter of legal obligation: it's a moral responsibility and a central component of resident safety. In a care home, where many residents have mobility limitations, cognitive impairments or severe medical conditions, evacuating without having a tried and tested plan can become extremely dangerous or even fatal.
This is where Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) and Generic Emergency Evacuation Plans (GEEPs) come in. A PEEP is a personalised, detailed strategy, built into the care plan and fire risk assessment of residents, who are unable to safely evacuate a building independently in an emergency. It considers their specific needs, ranging from mobility assistance and communication difficulties to the use of vital equipment like evacuation chairs. Most importantly, it sets out who is responsible for helping that individual and what steps need to be followed.
In contrast, a GEEP offers clear guidance by outlining the steps required to evacuate safely, such as designated assembly points and exit routes, specifically for visitors, temporary staff or contractors. This generic plan helps address the unpredictability of precisely who might be on-site at any given moment.
Together, PEEPs and GEEPs form the basis of a comprehensive evacuation plan, but evacuation planning goes beyond paperwork. It requires ongoing reviews, staff training, reliable equipment and knowledge of the building's layout and dangers. When executed well, these plans can mean the difference between chaos and control, and risk and reassurance.
What are the legal duties around care home evacuation?
Evacuation planning in care homes isn't just good practice: it's a legal requirement. Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, as amended by the Fire Safety Act 2021, the designated "responsible person", typically the care home manager or operator, has a legal duty to ensure that everyone in the building can be safely evacuated during an emergency. This includes those who may need extra assistance due to limited mobility or cognitive impairment, a group that represents the majority in care home settings.
Furthermore, the Equality Act 2010 requires that individuals with mobility impairments are not placed at a disadvantage compared to others. This means that reasonable adjustments, including the provision of evacuation equipment such as an Evac+Chair and properly trained staff, are not optional: they are legal obligations.
Failing to plan adequately puts care providers at risk of regulatory penalties, legal liability and reputational damage, but more importantly, it puts lives at risk.
Why is care home evacuation different from other buildings?
Evacuating a care home is not like evacuating an average workplace or public building due to the complexity of the residents' needs, many of whom can't simply comply with standard procedures or exit independently.
Residents often rely heavily on lifts to move between floors, but when they stop working in an emergency, immobile residents can be left stranded.
The impact isn't only physical. Being unable to leave their rooms can result in fear, confusion and serious distress, and the impact on mental and emotional wellbeing can be just as dangerous as the physical risk.
This causes ongoing anxiety for residents, families and staff. The uncertainty of "what would happen to me in a fire?" becomes a barrier to inclusion and wellbeing.
This challenge is further exacerbated by low staff-to-resident ratios, especially during night shifts. In addition, many care homes are often located in older, multi-storey buildings and therefore not constructed to meet today's evacuation standards, making emergency planning even more crucial.
Together, these factors highlight that generic fire safety policies are not sufficient. As health conditions evolve, and in some cases deteriorate, PEEPs must be regularly reviewed, along with the overall evacuation plan, and reinforced through regular fire drills. Care homes must also ensure the availability of appropriate equipment and trained staff to carry them out effectively.
How can care homes evacuate with confidence?
Even the best evacuation plan is only as effective as the tools and training behind it. For residents unable to use stairs independently, evacuation chairs are essential, not just a "nice to have". According to Greenwich University, the Evac+Chair 300H evacuation chair is the fastest method of escape in emergency situations for those with reduced mobility.
However, speed alone isn't enough. Staff must be trained not only in how to operate the equipment, but also in how to do so safely and confidently under pressure. If an evacuation chair is operated incorrectly or with hesitation, it can delay the process or even place residents and carers at risk.
This is why staff need hands-on training and regular practice to keep skills current, not just once, but throughout the year. Staff need to know exactly what to do, how to use the equipment in real-world conditions and how to remain calm and coordinated during a high-stress situation. In addition, regular maintenance ensures each evacuation chair remains fully operational and ready for use when it is needed most.
In care homes, where time is precious and lives are on the line, the correct equipment coupled with the right training can make all the difference.
Claire Blakemore is the Managing Director of Evac+Chair
Cinnamon Care Collection Completes Pressure-Relieving Mattress Rollout Across All 23 Homes
Pressure ulcers remain one of the most preventable yet persistent risks in residential care, and the equipment used at the bedside plays a direct role in managing that risk. Cinnamon Care Collection has completed a rollout of specialist pressure-relieving mattresses across all 23 of its care homes, in partnership with pressure-care specialist OSKA, to broaden the range of support available to residents.
Why does mattress provision matter for pressure ulcer prevention?
Residents with reduced mobility, complex health conditions or limited sensory awareness face a heightened risk of pressure-related skin damage. Static seating or standard mattresses often cannot provide the level of pressure redistribution these residents need, which is why many providers are turning to clinically developed surfaces as part of their broader skin integrity strategy.
The equipment introduced across Cinnamon's homes includes static foam, hybrid, bariatric and alternating air mattress systems. Each uses pressure-redistributing technology, combining dynamic air systems with advanced foam structures designed to adapt to an individual's clinical needs. Having this range available means care teams can match the mattress to a resident's specific risk assessment rather than relying on a single default option.
How does matching equipment to individual need improve care?
Gavin Pathmarajan, Head of Care & Quality at Cinnamon Care Collection, said the priority behind the investment was resident safety and comfort. "Introducing OSKA mattresses across all our homes is another important step toward delivering the highest standards of care. Their innovative technology allows us to better support residents with a wide range of clinical needs, helping to protect skin integrity, improve comfort and promote safe, restful sleep."
Tom Carron, National Account Manager at OSKA, said pressure ulcer prevention plays a vital role in supporting comfort, dignity and overall wellbeing, and that the products had been selected to meet residents' individual risk assessments and care requirements.
What does this mean for wider care planning?
The mattress rollout sits within a broader investment programme at Cinnamon Care Collection, which is also introducing a new pain management tool and continuing to invest in AI-powered care technology. Taken together, the approach reflects a trend among larger providers toward standardising clinical equipment across a portfolio of homes, rather than leaving procurement to vary home by home, so that every resident has access to the same baseline of pressure care regardless of which home they live in.
For care providers reviewing their own pressure care provision, the key takeaway is variety: a single mattress type rarely suits an entire resident population, and having access to a graded range, from static foam through to alternating air and bariatric options, allows equipment to be matched to changing clinical need as residents' conditions evolve.
Balancing Risk: Dignity, Independence and the Case Against Risk-Averse Care
Jayne Connery FRSA FRSPH, Founder and Director of Care Campaign for the Vulnerable (CCFTV), discusses how good risk management must protect vulnerable people while enabling them to live meaningful, independent lives.
Risk management is ultimately about people. It is about protecting vulnerable individuals while ensuring they can continue to live meaningful, fulfilling lives.
As Founder and Director of Care Campaign for the Vulnerable, I have spent more than thirteen years supporting families and working alongside care providers across the UK. I have attended safeguarding meetings, Best Interest meetings, Continuing Healthcare assessments and countless conversations with families facing difficult decisions. I have visited hundreds of care homes and dementia communities.
What I have learned is that the greatest challenges around risk management do not stem from a lack of care, commitment or compassion. More often, they stem from fear.
I have met dedicated managers and care teams who want to do the right thing but are understandably concerned about complaints, regulatory scrutiny, safeguarding investigations and the consequences of getting something wrong. In today's environment, there can be a temptation to become increasingly risk-averse.
When risk management focuses solely on preventing harm, we can unintentionally remove independence, choice and quality of life. In trying to protect people, we can sometimes overlook what makes life worth living.
For people living with dementia, this balance is particularly important. Care providers make daily decisions about mobility, activities, social engagement, access to outdoor spaces and personal choice. Good risk management is not about wrapping people in cotton wool. It is about understanding risk, assessing it proportionately and supporting people to live as fully and independently as possible.
Throughout my visits, I have seen outstanding examples of positive risk management. Providers who work closely with families and recognise that individuality does not disappear when someone moves into care. Homes where thoughtful design, meaningful activities and community help people feel safe, valued and respected. These providers understand that dignity, independence and wellbeing are not separate from safety; they are part of safety.
I have also seen technology's growing role in supporting good risk management. When used ethically, transparently and with consent, it can provide reassurance, support staff, identify concerns earlier and strengthen confidence for both families and providers. Technology should never replace human care, but it can help create safer environments while supporting greater independence.
Effective risk management is rooted in culture. The strongest organisations are those where staff feel confident raising concerns, learning from incidents, and having open conversations without fear of blame.
As our population ages and the number of people living with dementia continues to rise, the sector faces increasing complexity. This makes balanced, person-centred risk management more important than ever.
The question should never be how we eliminate all risk. Instead, we should ask how we can support people in living well while managing risk responsibly, compassionately, and with dignity.
When providers, families and professionals work together, we create care environments that are not only safer, but also more empowering, more compassionate and more reflective of the lives people wish to lead.
DISHING UP: The Bean Benefit
A warming, spiced bean stew for autumn menus, developed by Bidfood's Care Team to help operators build variety and nutrition into weekly cycles.
Beans are a practical addition to any care home menu. They're a good source of fibre, micronutrients and protein, relatively low-cost, and low in carbon, with the added benefit of enriching soil through nitrogen fixation as they grow. They're versatile too, working equally well in soups, stews, salads and bakes, which makes them easy to build into weekly menus without residents tiring of them.
This autumn recipe puts beans centre stage. The Latin American Bean and Butternut Squash Pot combines five bean salad, chickpeas, and butternut squash with warming spices, including cumin, coriander, and a hint of chilli, finished with tomatoes and sweetcorn for a hearty, colourful stew. It works well served on its own, with rice, or with crusty bread for dipping, making it easy to adapt to different appetites across a home.
The recipe forms part of Bidfood's wider menu cycles, which are aligned with the BDA Care Home Digest and developed with input from the company's Nutrition Manager, Heather Dolan, to help operators meet residents' protein and nutrient requirements. Bidfood's specialist Care Team also works with operators on the broader challenges of catering for residents with conditions such as dementia, diabetes and dysphagia, with support available through the Interactive Care Home, an online resource offering room-by-room guidance, recipes and product brochures, and Caterers Campus, a free e-learning platform with modules covering dysphagia, fortification and hydration.
The recipe also reflects Bidfood's wider push on beans specifically. Last November, the company became the first UK wholesaler to join the Food Foundation's Bang in Some Beans campaign, which aims to double UK bean consumption by 2028.
For more recipes, visit bidfood.co.uk/care-homes
Ingredients
- 200g red onion
- 200g mixed peppers
- 400g butternut squash
- 20ml vegetable oil
- 5g ground cumin
- 5g ground coriander
- 1g hot chilli powder
- 20g garlic puree
- 800g five bean salad
- 1kg chopped tomatoes
- 200g chickpeas in water
- 150g frozen sweetcorn
- 40g tomato paste
- 500ml water
- 20g gluten-free vegetable bouillon paste
Method
- Wash, peel and dice the vegetables.
- Heat the oil in a pan and add the onion. Cook for a couple of minutes, then add the butternut squash and peppers and fry until tender.
- Add the garlic and spices and mix well.
- Add all remaining ingredients and bring to the boil.
- Simmer until the sauce has thickened and is piping hot.
Multilingual AI Voice Agent Launched to Give England's 465,000 International Care Workers Instant Answers in Preferred Language
A multilingual AI voice agent has been launched by Health Connect Global, allowing care workers across England to ask questions about their organisation's policies and procedures in the language they are most confident using, and get an answer back in seconds.
It answers from a library of policies built and validated by more than 100 sector experts, including former CQC inspectors and senior care leaders.
Supporting staff whose first language is not English
The new capability has been developed to help providers support staff whose first language is not English. Rather than working through a long policy document in a second language, or waiting to catch a manager between visits, staff can ask the question out loud and get an accurate response straight away, in their preferred language.
England's adult social care workforce has become increasingly international. Recent Skills for Care data shows around 465,000 people, almost 30% of the workforce, have a non-British nationality, up from 16% four years ago.
At the same time, the Department of Health and Social Care's adult social care workforce skills survey found nearly 50% of providers named English skills among the hardest to recruit for in direct care worker roles.
As providers continue to recruit internationally to meet growing demand for care, the new multilingual AI voice agent has been developed to help those staff access and understand the information they need to deliver high-quality care.
Answers drawn from approved policies
The voice agent enables care workers to ask questions about their organisation's approved policies and procedures in the language they are most comfortable using. Rather than searching through lengthy documents or trying to navigate technical guidance, staff can receive instant answers drawn exclusively from their own organisation's approved policies.
The feature is available through OpenDoc, Health Connect Global's free policy library, which is used by more than 1,300 care
providers across the UK. Built by more than 100 experts, including former CQC inspectors, clinical leaders, and senior care professionals, OpenDoc provides access to hundreds of expert-validated policies and procedures, helping providers keep guidance accurate, up to date, and easy for staff to access.
Dr Devan Moodley, CEO of Health Connect Global, said: 'Social care is one of the most diverse workforces in the country, and that's something to celebrate. The workforce has changed significantly in recent years, with providers increasingly recruiting talented people from around the world to meet growing demand, so it's important that every member of staff can confidently access the information they need to deliver safe, high-quality care. OpenDoc's AI voice agent removes unnecessary barriers for care teams and allows staff to interact in the language they feel most comfortable using. This makes trusted guidance easier to understand while ensuring every answer comes directly from their own organisation's approved policies.'
Meet the Care Home Chef Who Believes Food Is a Form of Care
From the moment you meet Aneil Manmohan, Head Chef at Hamberley Care Homes, his passion is impossible to miss. His infectious smile, boundless energy and genuine warmth shine through in every conversation. For Aneil, food is far more than nourishment. It is comfort, connection, memory and one of the most powerful ways we can show care to another person.
Originally from South Africa, Aneil’s life has been shaped by values of service, generosity and purpose. He describes cooking as a God-given gift that allows him to bring happiness to others every day. Today, as Head Chef at Hamberley Care Homes, he has found a place where those values are shared.
“There are no uniforms,” he says. “Everyone is part of one family.”
Rather than feeling like a workplace, Aneil describes the home as exactly that—a home, where residents and colleagues are treated with warmth, dignity and respect. At its heart is the kitchen.
He believes in cooking with fresh, seasonal ingredients wherever possible, creating colourful, flavourful meals that lift spirits as well as nourish the body.
His approach was shaped early in his care career.
“I walked into a home where everything was beige, grey and lifeless,” he recalls. “There was no soul in the food.”
The experience became a turning point. When he was later given the freedom to experiment, he reinvented a traditional cottage pie by adding warming spices and topping it with sweet potato instead of mashed potato. The residents loved it. For Aneil, it proved that familiar favourites can still surprise people while preserving the comfort they bring.
Some of his most meaningful moments come when food reconnects residents with cherished memories.
One resident, John, often spoke about the food he grew up eating in Hyderabad and longed to enjoy an authentic Hyderabadi biryani again. Aneil researched traditional methods, sourced the correct ingredients and even built an outdoor fire, completed the necessary health and safety checks, and bought traditional cooking pots so the dish could be prepared exactly as John remembered.
When the meal was served, John said very little. Aneil walked away believing he had failed.
A few days later, after John had passed away, his family asked to speak to him.
They told Aneil that John had spoken constantly about the biryani during his final days. It had transported him back to his childhood, bringing him immense comfort and happiness.
“That meal gave him happiness at the end of his life,” Aneil reflects. “That’s something I’ll never forget.”
It is a reminder that the smallest acts of care often have the greatest impact.
Another conversation has stayed with him ever since. Following the death of a resident, his family thanked Aneil, believing that the thoughtful changes he made to their father’s nutrition had given them eight precious extra months together.
For Aneil, it reinforced what he has always believed: food in care is never just about taste. It is about health, dignity, comfort and quality of life.
When asked what makes someone exceptional in care, his answer is simple: “Compassion, kindness, patience, love for the job and passion for creating amazing memories every day.”
Those values were instilled in him by his grandmother, alongside his mum and aunties, who taught him about home-cooked food, family and preparing every meal with love.
“My gran, along with my mum and aunties, are a big reason I’m in care. That’s where my love for food and family comes from.”
That desire to serve others extends beyond the kitchen. Outside work, Aneil supports young people through a charity he founded in South Africa and partners with another in his hometown, helping young people believe that poverty does not have to define their future.
“I want them to know they can change their lives and their communities.”
Despite the recognition he receives, Aneil says his greatest reward is seeing residents smile. He enjoys creating menus alongside residents and their families, listening to favourite recipes, honouring traditions and bringing special requests to life.
“When I know they’re looking forward to a meal, that makes me proud of my day.”
Listening to Aneil, it becomes clear that every carefully prepared plate carries far more than ingredients. It has the power to comfort, reconnect people with treasured memories, strengthen wellbeing and remind residents that they are valued.
His story is a powerful reminder that exceptional care isn’t always delivered through grand gestures. Sometimes it arrives quietly, served on a plate, prepared with skill, compassion and love.