At Bluebird Care, we take pride in supporting people in need through our care services or by supporting you and your loved one with resources. Here, we’ve compiled a guide to series one of our new Family Carer Podcast, discussing issues and current topics surrounding care.
If you want to know what each episode offers and what you can learn, read this guide.
For personalised advice, contact our team at Bluebird Care today.
Guide to Series 1
In this guide, we’ll list each episode of our podcast along with which guests they feature and what topics they cover. Join our host Melanie Cohen, Managing Director of Bluebird Care Bournemouth and Poole, to explore each episode. Find the ones that interest you, or tune in to hear for yourself.
Episode 1
Guest: Eliza Atyeo, Carers Commissioning Officer from BCP Council
In episode one of our Family Carer Podcast, Melanie sits down with Eliza Atyeo. Together they discuss the growing need for respite care and additional support for carers. As the episode progresses, Eliza talks about different local initiatives. She mentions some that are still being launched and others that are currently available. They both further discuss how these initiatives can support you and your loved one.
Eliza Atyeo: ‘We really want to have services that enable people to be independent but continue their caring role if that's what they want. And it's just about finding ways that we can minimise that pressure on carers.’
Episode 2
Guest: Heather Olive, Age-Friendly Communities Coordinator from BCP Council
Episode two of our Family Carer Podcast invites Heather Olive to discuss different ways people can speak up. She elaborates on the importance of sharing your voice and why carers need to be heard. After discussing this, they move on to explore available educational training and how the ‘Age Friendly Communities’ initiative can impact locals.
Heather Olive: ‘People want to hear you, like, how are we doing? What could make it easier for you? It's that feedback into the organisations that are looking after you that's really important.’
Episode 3
Guest: Susannah Brade Waring, Managing Director of Aspirin Business Solutions
Enjoy episode three of our podcast as Melanie sits down with Susannah Brade Waring. They discuss the different impacts conflicting responsibilities can have on carers. From providing care at home to work and family relationships, Susannah talks about her personal experience. She elaborates on these issues and how you may be able to balance them better with different tips and advice.
Susannah Brade Waring: ‘I'm not the only person who's going through this, to talk about it. To talk quite openly, but also respectfully with a mind to my parents, and to listen to and share with other people and just normalise it. And the more we can normalise it, the more we can check in.’
Episode 4
Guest: Mevin Sohorye, General Manager and Dementia Champion at Barchester Care Home and Trustee for the Leonardo Trust
As we reach the halfway point of our Family Carer Podcast, Melanie takes the time to sit down and speak with Mevin Sohorye. In this episode, they discuss the different types of residential care available to people in the community and how families can navigate finding the right fit. Mevin goes further to discuss how Leonardo Trust can support carers and families.
Episode 5
Guest: Olly Lester, Health and wellness coach
Olly Lester meets with Melanie to discuss how mindfulness and physical exercise can help carers and their loved ones. Olly goes on to discuss practical tips and different activities people can try to better manage their day. To round off this episode, Olly discusses different support available to families through the NHS. He encourages people to reach out to their GPs so they can receive the resources they need.
Olly Lester: ‘I'd like to use that analogy of when you're on the aeroplane. The oxygen mask is dropping down and you're told to put on your own mask first before you assist others …. You can use mindfulness and physical activity to promote your own health, and put on your own mask.’
Episode 6
Guest: John Mayor, Member of the Research Team for Dementia Nutrition Research at Bournemouth University
Episode six of our podcast sees Melanie meet with John Mayor to discuss the importance of nutrition and hydration. John elaborates on how he started on this research journey for Dementia and Alzheimer’s care. He then discusses the different ways carers and families can work together to achieve their nutrition goals. As care needs change so too do preferences, so managing our loved one's care becomes more involved.
John Mayor: ‘You've got to be ever aware of changing habits, not eating as much. If the person is living by themselves, and the family unfortunately doesn't see them every day, some of the signs could be missed.’
Episode 7
Guest: Betty Parra, Deputy Manager Bluebird Care Bournemouth and Poole
In the penultimate episode of series one, Melanie sits down with Bluebird Care manager Betty Parra. Together they discuss Bluebird Care’s onboarding process for new customers. From initial meetings to specific steps, Betty elaborates on the different ways Bluebird Care is available for support. Likewise, she offers examples to help families feel more prepared when facing the beginning of the process.
Betty Parra: ‘What we like doing first is listening to that person. Getting to know them a little bit better from that initial phone call so we can help them in the best way possible.’
Episode 8
Guest: Dr Beverley Lee, Consultant in Palliative Care for Forest Holme Hospice
For our final episode of series one, Melanie meets with Dr Beverley Lee. They discuss emergency preparedness for carers and their families and how hospice care can help. Dr Lee then elaborates on how hospice care can more specifically support the overall well-being of our loved ones. She then goes on to provide advice for families living with serious illnesses.
Dr Beverley Lee: ‘We don't want to talk about the end of life. People find it quite frightening. But actually, the evidence shows that … if you do communicate and look at what your wishes would be, your preferences, and try to make some of those plans in place … your experience of how your end of life will be is so much better than for those people that haven't thought about those things.’
Discussing Topics You Need to Hear
Our Family Carer Podcast is here to help people at home find the resources they need, get great everyday advice and listen to people with similar experiences and in-depth knowledge. Being able to share resources and hear from people in similar situations is one of the most valuable resources a carer can receive.
At Bluebird Care, series one of our Family Carer Podcast is available to listen to now. Meet Melanie and hear what her guests have to say for yourself.
