Hallmark Care Homes has introduced a set of guidelines which aim to improve care for residents living with diabetes.

The company held its first training sessions in collaboration with Duet Diabetes at Henley Manor in Henley-on-Thames, Chamberlain Court in Royal Tunbridge Wells and Greenhill Manor in Merthyr Tydfil.

The purpose of the training was to show care home teams how to use the latest set of comprehensive guidelines from the National Advisory Panel on Care Home Guidance (NAPCHD). Care workers also took part in a practical training session on blood glucose monitoring and glucometers.

Diabetes expert, Professor Alan Sinclair of King’s College London, is the lead author for the guidelines, which aim to improve the wellbeing, quality of life and clinical outcomes of all care home residents with diabetes.

Sinclair said: “The new guidelines are essential as care home residents are recognised as being a highly vulnerable group, as evidenced also by the Covid-19 pandemic, so these recommendations will help healthcare professionals and care teams to better implement high-quality care. We are confident that these recommendations will improve diabetes care for older adults with the condition.”

Care quality governance and compliance director at Hallmark Care Homes, Julie Rayner, who worked with Sinclair to develop the guidelines commented: “The development of the management of diabetes guidelines for care homes has been an incredibly important piece of work. We are seeing more and more residents moving into our care homes with diabetes and the support and input we receive from specialist services varies greatly from area to area.

“Other care providers must experience the same which is why these guidelines are so important as they provide a framework in which best practice can be developed and promoted. The first step for us at Hallmark was to benchmark our team members awareness of safe and effective diabetes care and their confidence in delivering such care.

“What followed on was a programme of training for our senior carers and registered nurses supporting them to become strong advocates for residents who are living with diabetes, ensuring that they can access appropriate screening services and can recognise and take timely action on any of the complications associated with diabetes.”

Lynne Reedman, founder and service lead from Duet Diabetes, said: “As a panel member of the NAPCHD, I can attest that the work clearly has had residents living with diabetes at the heart of it, however it also encompasses so many aspects and information right across the health and social care board to aid best practice.

“Those who work in the care sector do an amazing job, regardless of their role they are essentially the eyes, ears and hands of the health team – GP practice, community allied healthcare team, hospital-based clinicians etc.”

“Effective communication, collaboration and training can mean that the outcomes and quality of life can be maintained or perhaps even improved for many older people living with diabetes.

The recommendations are now available for all care homes across the country.