Hello everyone,

Welcome to the autumn edition of At Home, which you may notice looks a little different this time around! We've been giving our newsletter some thought and wanted to make it something you really look forward to receiving. 

A chance to share useful advice, interesting ideas and a little inspiration for enjoying life at home, whatever the season brings. Through our conversations with clients and families, we're reminded every day that it's often the little things that matter most. Whether it's maintaining a favourite routine, enjoying time with family and friends or simply feeling comfortable and confident at home, these are the things that make such a difference to everyday life.

With that in mind, we've refreshed At Home to focus more on the topics that matter to you. 

Each quarter, we'll be sharing practical guidance, answering some of the questions we're often asked and exploring ways to make life at home as enjoyable and fulfilling as possible.

As we head into November, the changing seasons are certainly making themselves known! The evenings are drawing in, the temperatures are dropping and many of us are starting to enjoy the comforts of being indoors a little more.In this edition, we're sharing some simple ways to stay warm and well through the colder months, looking at the importance of maintaining independence and offering a little seasonal inspiration for those who enjoy their gardens and wildlife.We also hope this newsletter becomes a two-way conversation. 

If there's something you'd like to know more about, a question you'd like answered or a topic you'd enjoy reading about, we'd genuinely love to hear from you.

For now, we hope you enjoy our new-look At Home and find a little something of interest.

With our very best wishes,

Jo & Julie

As the days grow shorter and temperatures fall, a little preparation can help make home feel comfortable and welcoming. It is a good time to check your heating and talk with your carer about anything you might need for the colder months.

Simple ways to stay comfortable

• Dress in layers. Several lighter layers, together with warm socks and well-fitting slippers, can help you stay cosy throughout the day.
  
  
• Keep gently active. If you are able, try to move regularly in a way that suits your mobility, whether that means a short walk or gentle seated movement.
  
  
• Enjoy warm meals and drinks. Soup, porridge and other warming favourites can be comforting on colder days. Continue to eat regularly and have drinks throughout the day.
  
  
• Keep the warmth indoors. Close curtains at dusk and reduce draughts, while keeping ventilation openings clear.
  
  
• Use heating safely. Keep portable heaters away from curtains, bedding and furniture, and never use an oven or hob to heat a room. Check smoke and carbon monoxide alarms regularly.

A little preparation

Make sure blankets and warm clothing are easy to reach, check that your heating is working and plan ahead for essential medicines and everyday supplies.

If you use a hot-water bottle, check it for signs of wear and follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Never fill it with boiling water.

If anything is making it difficult to stay comfortable at home, let your carer or our team know so we can discuss what support may help.

Listening to our clients and families helps us understand what is working well and where we can improve.

From time to time, we will invite you to complete a short service review. These straightforward forms take just a few minutes, and every response helps us better understand your experience of Access Care.

You are also welcome to speak with us at any time. Whether you have a suggestion, a concern or something positive to share, our team is here to listen.

Would you like to share your experience?

If you would like to leave us a Google review, we would be very grateful. Your honest feedback can help other families who are considering live-in care understand what to expect.

If you need help finding our Google review page, please get in touch and we will happily point you in the right direction.

Small conveniences can make everyday life a little easier. For some people, a voice assistant such as Amazon’s Alexa, used through an Echo speaker or Echo Show screen, can be a useful addition at home.

With a simple spoken request, you can listen to the radio, check the weather or set a timer without needing to find a remote control or navigate a screen.

Everyday ways it could help

• Enjoy familiar favourites. Ask for music, a radio station or an audiobook.
  
  
• Set helpful reminders. Create prompts for appointments or everyday tasks.
  
  
• Stay in touch. With a compatible device and the right setup, make calls to family and friends.
  
  
• Make small tasks easier. Compatible smart lights and plugs can allow you to control certain devices by voice.
  
  

You do not need to use every feature. Starting with one or two things you enjoy, such as listening to a favourite radio programme, can be a comfortable way to become familiar with it.

A family member or someone you trust can help with setup, privacy settings and choosing suitable features. Smart technology can offer added convenience, but it should complement your existing care and support arrangements.

We know that many of you take pleasure in watching and feeding the birds that visit your garden. This year the RSPB issued new guidance to help stop the spread of disease among garden birds by making two simple shifts to how we feed birds - Feed seasonally and Feed safely.

During the Summer and Autumn when there are more natural foods available the recommendation is to pause feeding certain types of food.

However, from 1st November to 30th April, a full range of bird foods can be put out.

To keep birds healthy, it’s vital to keep things clean and the following is recommended:

• Clean your bird feeders and water baths at least once a week.
  
  
• If you can, place your bird feeders in a different spot every week.
  
  
• Avoid putting feeders under places where birds roost, such as under trees.
  
  
• Don’t use bird feeders with flat surfaces, such as bird tables, window feeders and feeders with trays.
  
  
• Feed in moderation.
  
  
• Keep food as dry as possible
  
  
• Change water in bird baths daily – tap water is best
  
  
• Help birds find their own food – plants such as sunflowers and teasels are good sources of seeds

As Christmas approaches, we would like to let you know about our festive opening arrangements and reassure you that support will remain available should you need us. 

Our office will close at 5pm on Wednesday 23 December 2026 and reopen at 9am on Monday 4 January 2027, allowing our lovely team to enjoy a well-earned Christmas break with their families and friends.

In preparation, we have been working closely with our clients, their families and our carers to understand everyone's plans and ensure that care arrangements are in place throughout the festive period. We are still here if you need us. A member of our team will remain on call for emergencies throughout the Christmas closure, including bank holidays, between 10am and 6pm daily.

Emergency contact: 07557 050 717

For routine enquiries or anything that can happily wait, we look forward to catching up with you when we return in January.From all of us at Access Care, we wish you and your loved ones a peaceful, happy Christmas and a wonderful New Year.

We hope you’ve found something useful to try, enjoy or share with your family and carer.

Your experience matters to us, and we always welcome your thoughts, questions and suggestions. Whether you would like to discuss your care arrangements or suggest a topic for a future edition, please do get in touch with our team.