< Previous50 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY CARING A s we look forward to the summer sun and all the outdoor adventures it can bring for all of our loved ones, keeping everyone cool, comfortable and safe is an absolute priority. Planning for any weather or possible changes – since everyone knows the Great British climate is a fickle mistress – is no less stressful for knowing how essential it is, especially when you’re responsible for elderly or vulnerable people. But this article is here to help you feel informed and prepared for those long days in the sun, getting the worries out of the way so you as a carer can feel free to enjoy them too. If there’s anything you should make sure you take care of first, it’s planning well in advance, especially for any excursions or trips away. Being covered for every eventuality of rain or shine with appropriate clothing, sun protection and drinks to hand ensures you can keep on top of managing everyone’s health and comfort. Having a personalised plan for any particularly vulnerable individuals and making sure to start listing what you’ll need with plenty of time to spare, will rescue you from getting caught short without a solution to a sudden health emergency, or even just a change in plans. With your list to hand, it’s then a simple matter to stay informed about weather conditions by signing up for alerts, or downloading a weather app on your smartphone if you have one. As we approach times of year when extreme temperatures could be their own hazard, you should also prepare for potential emergencies when staying indoors. This might include having a backup generator or a supply of battery- powered fans to cover power cuts, which can be common in hot weather. These often-minor blips aside, if you’re nursing staff or someone who sometimes looks after a care home resident, there should be very little to worry about when they’re indoors. To ensure the wellbeing of elderly residents, the best care facilities and homes will be equipped with air-conditioned facilities. However, it might be necessary to adjust settings frequently, so make sure to add this to a days Summer The weather is getting hotter and hotter year on year, and the elderly population (which we will all count ourselves in one day) need to keep in mind how to stay healthy in the sun. 52 ÁLINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 51 CARING Syda Productions© stock.adobe.com/52 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY CARING list of things to check throughout the day. Units in individual bedrooms can also be employed to allow residents to personalise the temperature to their preferences, as everyone has a different comfort level. But for homes without in- built air conditioning, and those caring for loved ones at home, heat can be kept at bay with fans or portable air-con units. Drawing curtains and blinds against the sun, while keeping windows open behind them, will also help keep any space cooler as we climb into higher temperatures. With all plans in place, the next thing to remember every day, and no matter the schedule, is to keep anyone you’re caring for well hydrated. It may become a bigger part of your job than you’d think just to encourage your folks to drink plenty of fluids and keep the unpleasant symptoms of sun and heat exposure at bay. As well as always making sure there’s easy access to water for every person’s ability, keep reminding them to drink regularly, even if they don’t feel thirsty. To help prevent dehydration and heat exhaustion in anyone who doesn’t like to drink water or is getting bored of limited beverage options, look into some different options. Sports and electrolyte drinks, iced tea, fruit juice and coconut water are all examples to change up your choices, making hydration an easier and more exciting prospect for everyone. Electrolyte replacement drinks have the added benefit of replenishing fluids and minerals lost from sweat, and certain foods can also help keep the body hydrated. Keep a stock of tempting fruits and vegetables with high water content, like watermelon, cucumbers and strawberries. Monitoring fluid intake over time is an easily forgotten but important part of keeping those you care for well-watered. If you notice someone hasn’t drunk anything for a while, especially around midday when temperatures are at their hottest, be vigilant and insistent in encouraging them to have smaller, more frequent drinks. This can be a kinder option for those who struggle to drink a lot in one go. While sipping is great for maintaining even hydration levels, it’s best to limit caffeinated or alcoholic beverages, as these can have the adverse effect of dehydrating the body. Having plenty of refreshing food and drinks to hand is also a gift for helping to keep the body cool, and there are also ways to plan for temperature regulation with canny activity planning if air conditioning isn’t a viable option. Instead, spending time in air-conditioned public places like libraries, shops or community centres is ideal for keeping the vulnerable out of the sun during the hottest parts of the day, while also keeping them entertained. While you’re out enjoying these activities, make sure everyone has loose clothing, preferably in light colours and fabrics like cotton or linen. If you must spend time outside during the hottest parts of the day, make sure there’s ready access to shade. This can be under a tree or umbrella, or in a covered area like a gazebo or pavilion. © stock.adobe.com/CandyRetrieverLINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 53 Ruckland Court Care Home Our home has been newly refurbished with a charming bistro, welcoming pub, new lounge dining rooms and more. 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Woodhall Spa 01526 341 707 Lincoln: 01522 542 701 Sutton-on-Sea: 01507 442 300 Mablethorpe: 01507 473 100 Alford: 01507 463 200 Louth: 01507 608 200 Email: rarnoldlincoln@gmail.com www.rarnoldfuneralservice.com54 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY MACMILLAN CANCER SUPPORT M acmillan was founded back in 1911 because a young man named Douglas wanted to make managing cancer more comfortable, giving people back their independence and their lives. First set up to provide financial assistance, practical support and funding into research, over 110 years later the charity’s still going strong in all these ways and more besides. Inspired by his own father’s excruciating battle with cancer, Douglas Macmillan felt a personal need to ease the physical and emotional burdens and money worries so often faced by other cancer patients. In the early years he focused on financial aid, but as the charity grew, its services expanded. Macmillan began employing cancer nurses in 1948, recognising the crucial role they played in providing support to patients. and played a pivotal role in delivering specialised care, both in hospitals and within communities. These nurses became known as Macmillan nurses and were trained to provide comprehensive care for cancer patients, not only for their physical needs but also addressing their emotional and psychological wellbeing. They improved quality of life for patients as well as their families, with expert advice, empathy and assistance with the simple needs of daily life. They monitored symptoms and medication needs, provided education and information about treatment options, and ensured every patient received appropriate attention. Acting as a bridge between patients and healthcare professionals, they were there for symptom management and support right the way through to palliative and end-of-life care. Even in these later and most vulnerable stages, they’d offer comfort and pain management, helping families to navigate and cope. In the decades since its founding, Macmillan Cancer Support has continued to evolve and adapt. But the Macmillan nurses remain as the best representation of the charity’s caring heart. Their holistic approach, recognising that cancer affects all aspects of a person’s life, still inspires Macmillan’s focus on supporting patients and families wherever they can. Today these invaluable souls remain an integral part of an intricate network of specialists, providing for every possible need in cancer and recovery. Whether supporting in the social work of accessing community, childcare and housing resources, caring long-term even in survivorship, or advising on healthy lifestyle and occupational therapy, they do their utmost to make sure nobody’s left alone or afraid, however cancer might touch their life. 57 Á Lincolnshire Today explores the past and present of Macmillan, the critical cancer charity saving lives, and breaking new ground. 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DN36 5HX Find An Experienced Motor Mechanic In Tetney, Near Grimsby n Servicing n MOTs n Repairs n Brakes & Tyres n Engine diagnostics n Car Batteries n Exhausts n ECU Remapping n Air Conditioning Testing/repairs/Re Gas VW, AUDI, SEAT & SKODA SPECIALISTLINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 57 MACMILLAN CANCER SUPPORT © stock.adobe.com/Yakobchuk Olena Macmillan nurses are specialist nurses that work in different areas of cancer care, and who have an incredible depth of knowledge on various cancers, their treatments and side-effects. Such is the range of stages a patient might be at that Macmillan nurses work in hospitals, hospices, and in the wider community. Not only can they provide detailed information and help people understand cancer, but they focus on providing care and support not only to the patient but to their family as well, demystifying a lot of information on cancer and pointing people to other support groups, as well as helping everyone understand how to mitigate side-effects of treatments and what family can do to help. It goes without saying that being a Macmillan nurse is an incredibly difficult thing, not only in terms of the training required but in being able to offer emotional support to people who are often shocked at their diagnosis. Many times, it can be such a shock to the patient to receive their diagnosis that they can’t remember a lot of what is said – this isn’t because of memory problems, but the sheer anxiety and fear surrounding cancer as a whole taking hold of them. That’s why it’s so important to have someone who can be patient with them and take the time to explain, which isn’t always possible in the NHS with waiting times at an all-time high. In its commitment to care for everyone at any stage, the charity has expanded its services to include extensive support for families and loved ones, providing counselling and emotional assistance. The charity also funds and supports numerous cancer support groups and organisations across the UK, in the hopes that anyone in need can at least find someone to share the heavy burden of their fears and worries with. What makes matters harder is the 58 Á58 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY MACMILLAN CANCER SUPPORT Keeping Your Business Moving Commercial Trailer Specialists in Stallingborough, Grimsby T: 01469 574239 M: 07711 496138 E: glcommercials@btinternet.com W: www.glcommercials.com sheer number of people living with cancer – 3 million in total currently and expected to reach 4 million by 2030. This number may end up rising as a result of advancements in medicine prolonging life – and while that is a good thing, it’s going to mean an even greater number of people in need of key support. This support also varies as the needs of people do. For instance, the cost of living crisis in 2023 (and now) made people suffering with cancer face even greater challenges, especially those who had been forced to give up their jobs because of it. Macmillan responded by investing more of its money into welfare and grants, while also partnering with energy companies and banks to try and influence them to better change policy and support those in the most desperate of needs. With an ultimate goal of making sure every single person with cancer knows they can turn to Macmillan for support of almost any kind, it goes without saying that there’s a lot of cost involved. Not only in training and paying for nurses, but in research against cancer, in influencing policy changes, and in giving out grants to support those in need and also those looking to make a difference. Nothing is free in this regard and Macmillan works tirelessly with over 11,000 professionals to make sure they have the right tools and skills for the job, all of which costs money. In every one of its commitments to care for cancer fighters and survivors, Macmillan relies on your donations and fundraising efforts to keep up its vital work, and there are plenty of exciting ways to get involved. Every aspect of Macmillan support requires funding, especially Macmillan nurses. It’s not uncommon for those helped by Macmillan, or affected by cancer, to go on to support them through charity events and fundraisers, to thank Macmillan for all the help they gave to themselves or a loved one in their time of need. What can really help, however, is for others in the community to get involved – if not to raise money, then even to donate it. And fundraising for Macmillan is not a complicated or overly structured thing. You can fundraise by running a marathon or by stacking cards, or even just by going around a few people you know and asking for money. There are no hard rules behind it, but, if you’re looking for ways and ideas on how to make it more fun, then Macmillan has plenty on their website – and here are some below. 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But even if you prefer a quiet get-together, a Macmillan coffee morning can be as big or small as you choose, the most important thing being that you’ve brought your family, friends or colleagues together to make a difference. Hosting one can be as public or private as you like, you can brew and offer coffee to strangers for donations, or just have some friends and family around and donate money. Or maybe this year will see you ‘Brave the Shave’ and get sponsored to show solidarity with the many cancer patients who lose their hair during treatment. It might be a small gesture, but it’s a powerful way to show your support. Perhaps you’ll take the plunge for a loved one who’s still suffering, or as a twist on the lock of hair in memory of someone sadly lost. Whatever the reason, you can make it a real event and organise a group head shave, get people to donate as their ticket price to see your buzz cut, or even encourage bigger donations in exchange for the givers to wield the razor themselves. If you’re the type who loves to be active, or simply want to celebrate your own health in a way that’ll fund someone’s care, Macmillan organises ‘The Mighty Hike’ in stunning locations 61 Á The famous ‘World’s Biggest Coffee Morning’ takes place every year towards the end of September. That leaves plenty of time to get organised.Next >