This story is sponsored by Vida Healthcare.

James Rycroft, Managing Director, discusses how Vida Healthcare is leading the way in the provision of care for people living with dementia.

Supporting the dementia journey

When we founded Vida, our aim was to create a safe place for people living with dementia and their families, where our staff would be trained as dementia ambassadors. Over the years we’ve looked into and deployed a range of alternative approaches and techniques. This innovation has given us the tools to provide outstanding care to our residents. We’re so proud to play a part in people’s dementia journeys. We’re always looking out for new approaches that support their wellbeing.

Our care is centred around taking the time to get to know our residents and support them as individuals. By learning about their family and friends, hobbies and interests, likes and dislikes, we can make meaningful connections. That helps people to feel at home. We are also passionate about providing the most effective care by keeping up to date with the latest research and findings, alongside drawing on our high level of clinical expertise.

We continue to secure numerous awards and accolades as a result of our continued drive for excellence. As of June 2023, all three care homes are rated ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission.

Our specialist houses

We have worked closely with healthcare experts, specialist architects, interior designers and landscape gardeners to help create unique environments in our homes. Every element, from our residents’ bedrooms to our outdoor spaces, has been designed with our residents’ health and wellbeing in mind.

Residents are made to feel at home.

Within all three of our homes there are multiple, smaller houses which allow us to provide tailored care for our residents no matter where they are on their journey with dementia. In total we have 20 specialist care homes across our three buildings. Each house has a similar look and feel but offers a different level of care and support. Should care needs change over time, our residents do not have to experience the upheaval of moving to a completely different care home.

Our staff

Every member of the Vida team has been selected because they share our values. Vida treats everyone with respect and dignity. We are transparent, honest and fair at all times. We support people to make their own decisions so that they can lead independent lives where possible, and we treat everyone equally.

Our in-house Learning, Performance and Development team that form our bespoke staff training programme, Vida Academy, are always on hand to support our staff to excel. They provide our staff with multiple opportunities to learn new skills, develop in their roles and achieve career progression. Vida Academy supports all our staff, from new starters through to senior managers. The academy promotes lifelong learning and establishes our team as dementia ambassadors.

Communicating with families

As we have developed and grown as a provider we have recognised the importance of clear and engaging communication channels in order to inform and update family members, and build their trust in our ability to care for their loved ones.

Effective communication with families is essential which is why we have developed our own in house app, Family Team Talk. The app offers a lifeline for our families, giving them a digital platform and news feed to keep up to date with daily life through text, video and image posts from staff. Originally launched in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the app continues to raise the morale of relatives, residents and staff and give everyone a greater feeling of connectivity and reassurance.

For more information, please visit www.vidahealthcare.co.uk or contact admissions@vidahealthcare.co.uk. You can view the life inside Vida by visiting us on our social media pages.

Harrogate Chocolate Factory will be hosting an informal business networking event on Monday.

Coffee and cake will be included, with a tour of the chocolate factory.

The event will run from 9:30am on Monday 25 April and will all be completely free of charge for anyone wanting to attend.

Attendees are free to bring a guest, and are asked to reserve a place by emailing Angela at the factory at angela@hs4lc.org.uk.

Harrogate Chocolate Factory is a social enterprise café launched in 2019. The company sells dark chocolate made from Peruvian cacao beans, and aims to support young adults with learning disabilities and autism to gain vital skills to enter employment.

Elexshow comes to Harrogate

The UK’s largest trade event for electricians, the Elexshow, is coming to Harrogate.

Businesses such as Alltrade, Aico, CK Tools, and Metrel will be at the show, which will be hosted in Great Yorkshire Showground this year.

Exhibitions of equipment, tools, new apps and systems will be available to view for tradespeople in and around the region.

The event spans over the course of two days, from Thursday 28-29 April.

Tickets are available to book online for free, and can be found on the Elexshow website.

Inhealthcare UK raises money for Frank’s Fund 

Inhealthcare UK has raised more than £200 to support a local charity.

The raffle gifted the winner a Bettys Yorkshire Delights hamper.

The company, which provides digital health and remote patient monitoring, donated the money to Frank’s Fund.

Frank’s Fund was set up by the family of a young boy who died from a rare form of bone cancer

Frank’s Fund is a local Harrogate based charity. It was set up in memory of Frank Ashton, a Harrogate schoolboy who died from Ewing’s Sarcoma. The charity aims to raise awareness and funds for this rare form of bone cancer. You can read more about it on a Stray Ferret Charity Corner here.

To date, the charity has raised £299,170.77.

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