CareChooser Win NatWest & Royal Bank of Scotland Pitch Award!

CareChooser celebrated winning the NatWest and RBS pitch award on Tuesday. CareChooser's founder Christopher Downie pitched the innovative home care business at the London launch of Entrepreneurial Spark powered by NatWest and the Royal Bank of Scotland.

Christopher gave a 60 second pitch of his personal story and how CareChooser helps and empowers families to choose their own carer. Christopher's Grandad needed carers at home but the family were left disappointed and disillusioned with the level of care which prompted Christopher and the team to start CareChooser, giving families more of a choice in who cares for their loved ones at home. 

There were 5 exceptional pitches in the final of the competition, from 5 fantastic entrepreneurs.  Manish Shah of Copofi, an innovative mortgage provider for Air BnB and short term lets. Richard McCormack, founder of Effortless3D, offering intuitive 3D scanning. Barbara Njau, the founder of First Rate Tutors, quality providers of qualified tutors and Sammy Gunnell, the founder of the Benchwarmers, a popular London based brand and the only providers of vintage basketball gear to Londoners.

The award of a cool £1000 was awarded by Ross McEwan CEO of the Royal Bank of Scotland Group in Angel on Tuesday at the launch of the new hub which was also attended by Jenny Campbell, the new star of BBC's Dragon's Den who was watching on from the front row! 

Watch the video of the launch event here and Christopher, a little overwhelmed and very shocked!! 

Find a Private Carer via Video

At CareChooser we are very excited at the launch of a new way to find a private home carer. You can now meet with our team and carers via video on desktop, tablet or on your phone. We're offering this service free of charge to help you find the carer that's the best fit for your family. The video meets will be available to families searching for quality care at home right across the country and you'll have our support throughout.

If finding the right private carer is proving difficult or you live in a different area to your loved ones, our video meetings could prove to be a great solution for your family. Up to 8 people can meet at a time too meaning multiple family members can have input in the decision to choose the carer. You'll meet with one of our care advisors and the carer where you can get to know and get a really good feel for the carer before choosing which care professional to work with.

If you're interested in meeting our carers and choosing the best the fit for your family via video get in touch with us via one of our get started forms, call us on 0208 886 0686, email us at hello@carechooser.com or use the live chat below and we'll arrange the best time to meet. We can hold a free video consultation together to get a feel for your ideas, concerns and expectations of the care, we'll send you profiles of carers in your area that meet your expectations with details of experience, qualifications, dementia training and more. This can be followed by a free video meet with the carers you choose.

For more information get in touch today. www.carechooser.com or try our premium carer service at www.carechooser.com/premium

Can a Robot Care?

The BBC today reports that robots could be used to help, support, enhance and complement carers in care homes and those delivering home care. The robots communicate verbally and through gestures and may be able to pick up signs when an elderly person is in pain. 

Softbank Robotics are the Japanese company manufacturing the bots. Similar robots are being used in Japanese hospitals to help lift patients and serve food. 

This got us thinking so many questions... 

Can a robot care? How much could it do? Is it ethically correct? Should we change and future proof the name? CareBotChooser or RobotChooser? How would an elderly person feel about a robot companion? What does a robot made tea taste like? Could it join us in a tea?

We'd love to know what you make of this. Add your questions and comments below.  

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What is Dementia?

Q) What is Dementia?

A) An umbrella term describing the symptoms that are caused when the brain is affected by certain diseases and conditions.

The most common of these is Alzheimer's disease, followed by Vascular Dementia, Fronto-Temporal Dementia and Dementia with Lewy Bodies.

Last week CareChooser completed the Alzheimer's Society's brilliant Dementia Friend training. The training advocates 5 main points which CareChooser pledges to implement in it's home care.

1. Dementia is not a natural part of ageing.
2. Dementia is caused by diesase of the brain.
3. Dementia is not just about memory loss.
4. It is possible to live well with Dementia with support and understanding.
5. There is more to a person that the Dementia.

There IS more to the person than the Dementia. Despite the negative associations, the stigma and the fear surrounding the disease. We need to look past the Dementia and see the person, their life and their acheivements.

Our home carers have a strong understanding of Dementia and can provide help and support to those with the condition to live well.