Watchdog says too many people experience a ‘one-size-fits-all’ care service, despite attempts by the government to personalise care.

The Commission for Social Care Inspection’s report on social care in England 2007-08 found the Department of Health’s Putting People First initiative had not really improved the care most people received.

The CSCI chairman, Dame Denise Platt, said: ‘People who need social care should be seen as individuals, first and foremost. The support they receive should be tailormade, allowing people to live their lives as they choose. If we get it right for people with complex needs, it is likely that we’ll get it right for everyone.’

The report discovered an improvement in the overall performance of councils and care services, but are still concerned about people being lost to the system because they were ineligible for funded support.

Director general of Age Concern, Gordon Lishman said: ‘The report highlights the widespread discrimination against older people in the drive to more personalised care. Older people who get direct payments are likely to get far less money than younger people with similar needs.’

‘We are also very concerned at the lack of information, advice and support for those receiving direct payments.’

And Imelda Redmond, chief executive of Carers UK, said: ‘When services work well and are tailored to people’s needs they not only improve the lives for older and disabled people, but they give carers the opportunity to get some of their own lives back. With the right support many are able to combine caring with paid work, whether full- or part-time, have a regular break and have a social life.’

In many cases of stress incontinence, there is no need for a surgery, there are many treatments available that do not involve surgery (like exercises to help strengthen the muscles in the pelvic floor, commonly known as pelvic floor exercises).

A surgery for stress incontinence aims to improve support for the muscles around the bladder entrance to help the urethra to stay closed to prevent it from leaking. There are two types of surgical procedures for stress incontinence, one is surgery through the abdomen and the other is a surgery through the vagina.

In both cases there are three things to consider before making your final decision; first, surgery for stress incontinence is not recommended if you are planning to have children; second, no operation can be guaranteed to cure your stress incontinence, but most offer a good chance of making an improvement and third, there are risks of developing extra problems (complications) depending on the procedure.

In next week’s post you’ll find detailed information on each surgical procedure, i.e. how long each procedures lasts, recovery time, etc…

One of the most effective ways of helping incontinence is doing pelvic floor exercises.

This will help toward strengthening the pelvic floor muscles and therefore the bladder.

The first step in making your pelvic floor stronger, is recognising where the muscles are. To locate them, contract your muscles as though you are trying to stop yourself from going to the toilet, this is your pelvic floor.

Make sure you contract the muscles correctly, the movement should be an upward and inward contraction, and not bearing down.

For the exercises to be effective you should do one set of slow exercises and one set of fast contractions six times a day.

Around 6 million men, women and children are affected by incontinence in the UK .

So this week a video is being launched to highlight issues relating to incontinence and an All Party Parliamentary Group is to hold its first meeting in the House of Lords. The Group backed by MPs and health professionals, aims to encourage better continence care for all age groups, and to remove the stigma associated with incontinence.

Most people will be affected by incontinence at some point in their lives, be it during childhood, middle age or later in life so it is important that we have adequate care for the condition.

Despite the importance of continence care, NHS resources are limited and staff struggle to provide quality services and products against an ever increasing budgetary constraint.

A survey conducted in 2008 by The AHPMA, painted a rather low picture of continence services in the UK. It showed increased workloads and waiting lists for assessment and treatment, and restricted product provision which means many people have to self fund or top up their allowance.

That’s why here at Allanda we aim to provide you with the best incontinence products, care and advice  we can to remain one of the good statistics involved in continence care.

For more information on our brilliant products please click here.

The Looking After Me, or LAM, courses held by Devon Primary Care Trust are designed to get carers thinking about their own needs.

Carmel Farconi, from the Primary Care Trust, said: ‘We want to get people to realise they can give time to themselves without feeling guilty.’

‘We don’t do as many LAM courses as I’d like but I think we’re going to grow that in the next financial year.’

‘The whole idea is to stop them feeling guilty about making time for themselves and planning the time in and recognising the importance of their own health.’

Mrs Farconi explains that carers were first asked to talk about their current roles, but concentrating on themselves rather than the person they care for.

The course goes on to help them with looking after their cared-for, address their own extreme tiredness, and help them cope with feeling down.

Within the course they talk about relaxation technique and cognitive therapies, about exercising and healthy eating.

Farconi added: ‘They love the idea of coming to a group and sharing experiences and information. They often come out with a major action point, such as making sure they get interim care so they can go off for a break.’

As well as providing all the personal products and advice needed for incontinence, Allanda also realises the importance of offering products to protect your home furniture.

That’s why we retail a full range of Bed Protection products, including Bed Pads, Duvet Protection, Matress Covers and more.

To view the full range please click here.

The Japanese think they have come up with a solution to space pooping with this fancy new wearable toilet – Yes you did read right the first time!

These techno pants can detect when you relieve yourself, remove the waste with suction and clean you up after each use. And can even eliminate unpleasant sounds and odours.

Amazing! But unfortunately the wearable toilet project won’t be completed for another five years.

The developers say the pants are perfect for the incontinent, elderly and just plain lazy.

Just think in five years time you’ll be able to go for a night out without worrying about queing for the toilets, you’ll have your very own, oh what a thought!!

Carers’ Rights Day which took place on the 5th December is aimed at the many residents providing unpaid care by looking after an ill, frail or disabled family member, friend or partner.

As part of a national awareness day Staffordshire County Council, along with a variety of other agencies set up stands at an event in the ballroom of the Civic Centre on Beecroft Road.

There was financial advice and information on health and safety as well as refreshments available.

Councillor Susan Woodward said: ‘In the current economic climate, this information could be particularly useful as it will be tailored to meet the needs and concerns of individual carers.’