16
NEWS
DOING A DUET
Pioneering diabetes training and guidance has been
launched for care homes.
A
multi-award-winning care
home group has welcomed
a new innovative set of
guidelines which aim to
improve care for residents living with
diabetes following the successful
launch of a training scheme in three
of its centres.
Hallmark Care Homes held the
first of many training sessions in
collaboration with DUET diabetes*
recently at Henley Manor in Henleyon-Thames,
Chamberlain Court in
Royal Tunbridge Wells and Greenhill
Manor in Merthyr Tydfil.
The purpose of the training was
to show care home teams how to
use the latest set of comprehensive
guidelines from the National Advisory
Panel on Care Home Guidance
(NAPCHD). Chaired by Professor Alan
Sinclair, this was formed in mid-2020
to bring about a culture change in
the way residents with diabetes are
cared for in order to bring about
sustained benefits.
In addition, as part of the training,
care home workers also took part in
a practical training session on blood
glucose monitoring and glucometers.
According to specialists working
in this field, a quarter of people
living in care homes across the UK
have diabetes. International diabetes
expert, Professor Sinclair, of King's
College and Foundation for Diabetes
Research in Older People (fDROP),
is the lead author for the guidelines,
which are set to improve the wellbeing, quality
of life and clinical
outcomes of all care home residents
with diabetes. He explains, "The new
guidelines are essential as care home
residents are recognised as being a
highly vulnerable group (as evidenced
also by the COVID-19 pandemic) so
these recommendations will help
healthcare professionals and care
teams to better implement highquality
care. The document reflects
the views of a fantastic panel of
experts who were a joy to work
with and is a great opportunity
to make a difference in this care
sector. We are confident that these
recommendations will improve
diabetes care for older adults with
the condition."
Specialist services
Care Quality Governance and
Compliance Director at Hallmark
Care Homes, Julie Rayner, who
worked with Professor Sinclair to
develop the guidelines adds, "The
development of the Management of
Diabetes Guidelines for Care Homes
has been an incredibly important
piece of work. We are seeing more
and more residents moving into our
care homes with diabetes and the
support and input we receive from
specialist services varies greatly from
area to area."
She added: "Other care providers
must experience the same, which
is why these Guidelines are so
important as they provide a
framework in which best practice
can be developed and promoted.
The first step for us at Hallmark was
to benchmark our team members
awareness of safe and effective
diabetes care and their confidence in
delivering such care. What followed
on was a programme of training for
our senior carers and registered
nurses supporting them to become
strong advocates for residents who
are living with diabetes, ensuring
that they can access appropriate
screening services and can recognise
and take timely action on any
of the complications associated
with diabetes."
DUET action
Lynne Reedman, Founder and Service
Lead from DUET diabetes, said: "As
a panel member of the NAPCHD, I
Professor Alan Sinclair talking to a care home resident.