Caremark Thanet Presents a Cheque to East Kent Hospital's Charity Dementia Appeal

Dementia affects an estimated 850,000 people in the UK. This is expected to rise to over one million people by 2025. In Kent, there are currently some 22,000 people living with dementia. This figure is expected to rise to 30,000 by 2026. There could be thousands more people living with dementia that is as yet not diagnosed. It is estimated that in the UK there is one person every 3 minutes diagnosed with dementia.

Dementia is not a disease itself but is caused by other diseases; Alzheimer's disease, perhaps, being the most widely known of these causes. There is no cure for dementia. Historically, dementia research has been underfunded. This under-funding has meant that the progress in dementia research has been slow, when compared with other areas of medical research.

Although there is no cure for dementia; there is help. Often this help comes through the work of charities. One such charity is the East Kent Hospital's Charity Dementia Appeal. On June 30 2017, Caremark Thanet was pleased to team up with Bernie's Chocolate Bar to sponsor a stand up comedy night for the East Kent Hospitals appeal.

The evening was a runaway success. The twelve talented comedians kept the audience laughing. One of a number of comedians making his debut at stand up comedy was Caremark Thanet's financial controller, Jay Harrison. Jay was the youngest performer on the night and proved a real crowd pleaser.

A fantastic £1,200 was raised on the night, and the cheque was presented by Caremark Thanet and Bernie's Chocolate Bar to representatives of the dementia appeal. From left to right in the photograph above are: Berine Morgan (owner of Bernie's Chocolate Bar), Lorna Shadbolt, Joy Marshall, Karan Scrivener (dementia nurses), Jemma Clayton (Business Development Manager, Caremark Thanet), Garry Costain (Managing Director, Caremark Thanet) and Vicky Adley (Fundraising and Development Officer, East Kent Hospital's Charity).

The money raised will be spent on facilities at the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital in Margate.

Garry Costain is the Managing Director of Caremark Thanet, a domiciliary care provider with offices in Margate, Kent. Caremark Thanet provides home care services throughout the Isle of Thanet. Garry can be contacted on 01843 235910 or email garry.costain@caremark.co.uk. You can also visit Caremark Thanet's website at www.caremark.co.uk/thanet.

Care and Support Worker Recruitment Open Day 11 July 2017

Caremark Thanet is a domiciliary care company that provides care throughout Thanet. On the 11 July 2017 we will be holding one of our Care and Support Worker Open Days at the The Trinity Community Resource Centre, St Mary's Avenue, Margate CT9 3TN. There will be two sessions: one starting at 10.30 am and the second at 12.00 midday.

These events have proved incredibly popular with people looking to work in domiciliary care. The main purpose of the event is to provide potential care and support workers with information about working in care generally, and working for Caremark Thanet more specifically.

Working in domiciliary care presents challenges and brings enormous rewards. It is a career that is not for everyone. If you have never worked in care and want to get some idea about what is involved; this event may be just right for you. Experience is useful but not essential. What we look for is people who are caring, reliable, hardworking and flexible.

If you have care experience, you will probably be more concerned about finding out what it is like working for Caremark Thanet. Working for us will not suit everyone. We have high expectations; in turn; you rightly should have high expectations of us. We are a company that is prepared to invest in the right people. If you feel you have something to offer; come along and see what we can offer you.

The format of the session will probably go something like this:

First, there will be an introduction session led by our Business Development Manager, Jemma Clayton.

Second, there will be a presentation from the managing director of Caremark Thanet, Garry Costain. This presentation gives the audience a little bit of information about our history; emphasises the company’s ethos based on an uncompromising approach to the quality of care delivery and valuing of our carers; outlines the benefits of working for us and the wider opportunities available, and rounds off with a glimpse of the plans for how our success story will continue.

Third, there will be an opportunity to ask Garry any questions that the audience might have.

Finally, we always try to invite along one or more of our carers so that the audience can ask questions directly to someone who is, in fact, doing the job.

The feedback from our most recent open day on 7th March was extra-ordinarily positive. Most people went away with one of our application packs. We subsequently interviewed several candidates and were able to offer jobs to some of these people.

Spaces are limited so you are strongly advised to book a place. To guarantee your place, please contact Jemma Clayton on 01843 235910 or email jemma.clayton@caremark.co.uk.

Garry Costain is the Managing Director of Caremark Thanet, a domiciliary care provider with offices in Margate, Kent. Caremark Thanet provides home care services throughout the Isle of Thanet. Garry can be contacted on01843 235910or email garry.costain@caremark.co.uk. You can also visit Caremark Thanet's website at www.caremark.co.uk/thanet.

Comedy Night Raises £1200 for East Kent Hospital's Dementia Appeal

East Kent Hospital's Dementia Appeal will receive £1200 in the next few weeks. This is the sum of money raised  last night - 30 June 2017 - from a charity stand-up comedy night held at Bernie's Chocolate Bar in Margate and sponsored by Caremark Thanet.

Caremark Thanet and Bernie's Chocolate Bar

The charity comedy night is the second event organised by Caremark Thanet and Bernie's Chocolate Bar. On 16 June 2017, we held a Great Get Together, in celebration of the values of Jo Cox. Our Charity Comedy night was held to raise money for East Kent Hospital's Dementia Appeal. We have requested that the money raised goes to the QEQM Hospital in Margate.

The evening was a fantastic success, but it could hardly have failed. Our venue - on the seafront in Margate - is stunning. If you've been to Bernie's you'll know what I mean. The hospitality was - and always is - exceptional. The comedians were outstanding. The audience was receptive, warm and appreciative. And everyone was generous. 

Thanet's Talent

The people who performed for us were all very different. Our oldest performer was 86; our youngest was 22; one or two were seasoned performers; one or two were less experienced; some were first timers. The one thing they each had in common was their talent. Thanet should be enormously proud of  the very talented people who live and work here. We were truly entertained by twelve of those remarkable talents last night. 

Some of those first time performers had been coached by Bernie in the work she is doing with Ageless Thanet. Bernie should be congratulated; her students did not let her down.

Caremark Thanet's Own Talent

I could not end this article without drawing particular attention to one performer. I do this only because, by day, this comedian works for Caremark Thanet. His name is Jay Harrison; he works in our office as our Finance Controller. He took to the stage last night; it was his first time; his performance was magnificent. 

We should have expected nothing less because, by night, he is The Caped Comedian 

Garry Costain is the Managing Director of Caremark Thanet, a domiciliary care provider with offices in Margate, Kent. Caremark Thanet provides home care services throughout the Isle of Thanet. Garry can be contacted on 01843 235910 or email garry.costain@caremark.co.uk. You can also visit Caremark Thanet's website at www.caremark.co.uk/thanet.

Thanet Has a Super-Hero: The Caped Comedian

A special announcement: this article will end with another special announcement

By day, Jay Harrison is an ordinary man, doing an extra-ordinary job, in a remarkable office, staffed by unforgettable people, working for the World’s Best Company (as voted for (following heavy bribery) by Jay Harrison and the unforgettable people he works with). But by night he becomes: The Caped Comedian.

At the age of 17 Jay’s life was transformed when he ate genetically modified mango chutney while watching old Abbott and Costello films. He woke up at 3.00 am with an urge he just could not control; an itch he could not scratch; a craving so strong he could think of only one thing; he had to find relief and he knew relief could be found in only one way: He had to be funny.

Five minutes later, Jay told his first joke- to himself. His craving was satisfied for the time being and he knew where his destiny lay: from now, his life would be dedicated to ridding Thanet of the evils of grumpiness. But first he had to learn how to control his super-power.

By day Jay wasn’t working. This is a problem for this article because it means that by day, as Jay Harrison, he wasn’t at this point in our story an ordinary man doing an extra-ordinary job. He needed to be, because we need to be able to say in this article – purely because it gives a narrative coherence to the article - that by day, as Jay Harrison, an ordinary man doing an extra-ordinary job he could never be funny or else his cover would be blown, and people, innocent people, might be harmed.

However, by night, as the Caped Comedian, he could use his super-power mercilessly and mirthfully against the forces of grumpiness. But controlling his uncontrollable urge would not be easy because it was uncontrollable.

He knew that with great power comes great responsibility (sorry that’s Spiderman). He knew he was the most powerful being on earth (oops no that’s Superman). He knew he was Bruce Wayne (Batman). Frankly, he knew very little, apart from the fact that he had to get a job so that by day he could be – and we can say he was - an ordinary man doing you know what.

And he did get a job. He became by day an ordinary man doing …something. He became Caremark Thanet’s Financial Controller.  At first, just one reckless, witty monosyllabic quip from his almost infinite store of reckless, witty monosyllabic quips could reduce a co-worker to a helpless, howling, undisciplined, uncontrollable, rolling, reeling, laughter junkie. The only cure for her would be to go cold turkey while listening to re-runs of the Money Programme, first aired on Radio 4 during the financial crash.

Over-time, Jay, an ordinary… has learnt to control his super-power. He uses it now only when he becomes the Caped Comedian and only against the grumpy people.  And only in Thanet.

And now a special announcement: 

The Caped Comedian will be appearing as Jay Harrison at the Charity Comedy Night at Bernie’s Chocolate Bar on 30 June 2017 starting at 7.30pm. This event is sponsored by Caremerk Thanet where an ordinary man named Jay Harrison works doing an extra-ordinary job. Money raised will go to East Kent Hospital’s Dementia Appeal. Jay Harrison an... invites you to attend. Be there or you’ll be somewhere else.

Another special announcement: 

This article ends with this special announcement. You’ve read the article; you’ll see the act, now, look out for the film: The Caped Comedian staring Daniel Radcliffe (in the most challenging role of his career) as the Caped Comedian in the film The Caped Comedian staring ….

Garry Costain is the Managing Director of Caremark Thanet, a domiciliary care provider with offices in Margate, Kent. Caremark Thanet provides home care services throughout the Isle of Thanet. Garry can be contacted on 01843 235910 or email garry.costain@caremark.co.uk. You can also visit Caremark Thanet's website at www.caremark.co.uk/thanet.

Can You Answer The Question: What Is Comedy?

What Is Comedy?

Working in domiciliary (home) care is a serious business; so a little light relief is always welcome: And there are few more effective ways of delivering that relief than through comedy. Have you ever wondered, though, what comedy is? if you have; you are in fine company. Stan Laurel is on record as saying: "A friend once asked me what comedy was. That floored me. What is comedy? I don't know. Does anybody? Can you define it?"

Stan Laurel, one half of one of the greatest comedy double acts in history, did not know what comedy is. Can you believe it? 

If that has got you thinking about what comedy is; let me tell you that I have the answer. Sadly, the great man died some time ago so I cannot share it with him. I can, however, share it with you. But why should you believe me? That is a very good point; a very good point indeed. You do not know me, and I must confess that my qualifications for answering the question do not rank highly.

Having confessed to one deficiency, I might as well go on a roll. I'm not actually able to tell you, in so many words, here and now, in this article, what comedy is. But if Stan Laurel didn't have the answer; I'm in good company

I'm not be able to tell you the answer; however, I can do something much better than that. I can show you what it is. At least, I can if you accept my invitation to a charity comedy evening. At this event, there will be a group of well qualified people who will demonstrate the art of comedy. This group of people will be performing at our charity comedy evening. Allow me, then, formally to invite you to:  A Charity Comedy Evening at Bernie's Chocolate Bar, sponsored by Caremark Thanet. The event starts at 7.30 pm on Friday 30 June 2017.

Now you know where to find the answer to the question "what is comedy?" why not come along? In doing so, you will not only have the balm of insight applied to the itch of curiosity you will also be helping the worthiest of causes:  East Kent Hospital's Dementia Appeal.  

Dementia

Dementia is not a disease; it is caused by other diseases.  Dementia respects no-one. It has no sympathy for illness, for gender or status. It is not a natural part of aging though age makes us more susceptible. Dementia will touch the lives of many of us. It is estimated that in Thanet there are over 2000 dementia patients and this figure will rise to approximately 3000 in 2026. In Kent the figures are over 22 000 current patients rising to over 30 000 in 2026.

Please Join Us

I hope you can join us on 30 June. We have a wonderful cast of comedy talent lined up. Some very experienced; some less so including one or two first time performers. We have old and young: there is a 60-year age gap between our oldest and youngest performers.

Whatever money is raised on the night Caremark Thanet will match up to £500.

The cost is £5 on the door. Please tell your friends. Please share this article with your friends. There’s no need to dress up, but you can if you want: and if you do dress up, as Stan’s partner Ollie didn’t say: “that’s another evening dress I’ve got you into.”

I promise the jokes on the night will be far superior to that.

Garry Costain is the Managing Director of Caremark Thanet, a domiciliary care provider with offices in Margate, Kent. Caremark Thanet provides home care services throughout the Isle of Thanet. Garry can be contacted on 01843 235910 or email garry.costain@caremark.co.uk. You can also visit Caremark Thanet's website at www.caremark.co.uk/thanet.

The Great Get Together: A Great Success

The Great Get Together held at Bernie's Chocolate Bar on Friday 16 June 2017 was an enormous success. Caremark Thanet teamed up with Bernie's to show that we have more common than things that divide us.

The Great Get Together celebrated the values of Jo Cox who was horrifically murdered on 16 June 2016. The Great Get Together was not an isolated event but a series of events held throughout the country. The Great Get Together was all about sharing, and at Caremark Thanet we think that a great deal of sharing happened at Bernie's Chocolate Bar.

We'd like to say a very big thank you to everyone who joined us. We were delighted that some of our customers and care and support workers could join us to share conversation, cake, tea and coffee. We also shared conversation and time with old friends and new friends.

We made sure that each of our customers received a piece of Bernie's delicious cake. On Thursday and Friday a number of our care and support workers were out delivering cake.

Such was the success of our event that we are sure it will be repeated next year.

Garry Costain is the Managing Director of Caremark Thanet, a domiciliary care provider with offices in Margate, Kent. Caremark Thanet provides home care services throughout the Isle of Thanet. Garry can be contacted on 01843 235910 or email garry.costain@caremark.co.uk. You can also visit Caremark Thanet's website at www.caremark.co.uk/thanet.

Support Our Dementia Appeal

Did you hear the one about the circus lion who ate a clown? He said never again because the clown tasted funny. You thought that was a bit cheesy, did you? Personally, I thought it was grate.

There's nothing like high class comedy: And that was nothing like high class comedy. However, I'll let you into a secret: I know where you can find high class comedy in Thanet. It's a secret I'm sharing with you but keep it to yourself because places will be limited. The place is Bernie's Chocolate Bar, 12-14 High Street, Margate, CT9 1AT; the date: Friday, 30 June 2017; the time 7.30 pm.

You can be sure that  in this place (Bernie's Chocolate Bar), on this day (Friday 30 June 2017) at this time (7.30) there is a stand up comedy night where the quality of the jokes will be far superior to what is on offer in this article. But this event is more than just a showcase for some of the regions comedic talent. It is also an event that will raise money for East Kent Hospital's Dementia Appeal.

Dementia is an evil, hideous, horrible condition. Dementia is not itself a disease. It is an umbrella term that refers to symptoms caused by a number of illnesses, of which Alzheimer's disease is, perhaps, the most widely known. There are probably, however, a hundred or more illnesses that can cause dementia.

The shadow of dementia will touch many of us. It is estimated that in Thanet there are over 2000 dementia patients and this figure will rise to approximately 3000 by 2026. In Kent the figures are over 22 000 current patients rising to over 30 000 by 2026.

To raise money for East Kent Hospital's Dementia Appeal, Caremark Thanet has teamed up with Bernie's Chocolate Bar to bring you a a charity comedy night. Caremark Thanet will match the sum of money raised on the night up to a maximum of £500. We have requested that the money raised goes specifically to the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital in Margate.

Come along and join us. The price of entry is just £5 on the door. We have a wide range of performers. Our youngest performer is 23 years old; our oldest is 86. Some of our comics are very experienced; some are not; one or two are first timers. Old or young; experienced or novice; all our performers want your support. And in supporting our comics you will also be supporting the most worthwhile of charitable appeals.

Alternatively, you could stay at home and wait for my next article on the subject of comedy. Did you hear the one about... .

Garry Costain is the Managing Director of Caremark Thanet, a domiciliary care provider with offices in Margate, Kent. Caremark Thanet provides home care services throughout the Isle of Thanet. Garry can be contacted on 01843 235910 or email garry.costain@caremark.co.uk. You can also visit Caremark Thanet's website at www.caremark.co.uk/thanet.