Contributing to the Store of Community Well-being in Domiciliary Care

Caremark Thanet: The Reason We Do What We Do

Let me tell you about us. We are a domiciliary care company serving the Isle of Thanet. And we are different. We are different not simply because we provide outstanding care - what else would you expect from a domiciliary care provider - we are different also because of the reason we do what we do.

The reason that we do what we do is to contribute to the store of community well-being. Providing outstanding care, of course, contributes to the Thanet community’s store of well-being. However, we do more; much more.

Caremark Logo

At Caremark Thanet, we believe in communities, especially the Thanet and wider East Kent communities. Our business philosophy is very much based upon strengthening the indivisible links that exist amongst a very important trinity; a trinity that consists of everyone at Caremark Thanet, each of our customers and each person in our community. 

We live in an interconnected world. By providing outstanding care to our customers - something upon which we will never compromise - we are making a significant contribution to the store of community well-being. But we do far more. We do far more by making further contributions to the store of community well-being. 

How We Do More

We do more by being a community engaged organisation. We believe that connected communities are stronger communities and that stronger communities are good for the well-being of every person in that community. That is why we support a whole range of community organisations and events; and that is why we organise our own events that bring together our carers, our customers and our community.

Christmas Carol Concert

In the last two years we have organised a comedy night, a quiz night a variety afternoon, a Christmas Carol Concert and many more events. Some of these events have helped us raise over £3500 for East Kent Hospital’s Dementia Charity Appeal. These events and our fundraising activities are excellent examples of how we contribute to the store of community well-being.

What Is Well-Being?

Now here is an interesting question. Have you ever thought about what well-being actually means? You probably haven't and if you did you may find an answer difficult to arrive at, There is quite a burgeoning body of writing on the subject of well-being. Some believe that it is possible to measure well-being; indeed the government has attempted to measure it. 

Although it is difficult to explain, a lot of people have said a lot of things about well-being. I've just searched on Google for "what is well-being" and received over five billion results!. The thing is; well-being is important to all of us. Yet if asked to explain well-being, we may be at a loss. We can probably say that our well-being is high or low; good or bad or indifferent; but we may struggle to say exactly why our well-being is as it is. 

Although it's not easy to say precisely what it is; we can say, without any hesitation, that well-being is much more that just physical health. Certainly, our physical health is one part of our well-being. However, it is quite conceivable that someone in poor physical health may have good overall well-being. 

There are a whole range of factors that will contribute to our well-being; there are just two, though, that I want to highlight: the quality of our network of relationships and the strength of our community links. I want to highlight these because they are so important to everything we do at Caremark Thanet. They are central to our community engagement programme and our work to create community well-being.

Connected Communities Are Stronger Communities

The idea of social capital is not new. The term has been used for well over a century and the idea itself can be found in writing dating way before this. It is however from the 1980s onward that a new found academic interest arose particularly in works by Pierre Bourdieu in France and James Coleman and Robert Putnam in the USA. 

Margate Carnival 2018

There are differences, inevitably, in the work of each author and there exist multiple strands, straddling various disciplines, to the many discussions of social capital. However, a theme that is important for this article is that of the benefit that individuals and communities gain from the trust and support that the many networks that strong communities can provide.  Community well-being and social capital are clearly related concepts. 

Our Recruitment Philosophy

Would you like to be a part of this? We are always looking for people to join our team of care and support workers. When we recruit, we are very exacting. Of course, we look for people who are caring and reliable. But we look for something more - as you might expect given what I have written so far. 

We look for people who share our vision of making our community stronger by contributing to its well-being. Its hard work but supremely rewarding. Our expectations of you are enormously high, and one of our expectations is that you will have high expectations of us.

Recognising the outstanding work of our carers

We also look for people who understand the importance of developing through education and training. We believe that it is important that we all take responsibility for our self-development. That is one simple way of creating community well-being. By developing our knowledge and skills we can play a greater role in our communities. And that creates community well-being.

An essential part of everything that happens at Caremark Thanet is the training opportunities that we provide. We know that education and training can have a transformational effect on people's lives. As an employer, it is right that we encourage your self-development and provide opportunities for this to happen. When you work for us you are never just a carer; when you work for us, it is not just a job it is a career. The opportunities we have are transforming domiciliary care.

If you like what you have read so far, and you appreciate the transformational potential of education and training; we may be just what you are looking for. Why not have a look at our website: www.caremark.co.uk/thanet. You can also find out a great deal about the type of company that we are by visiting our Facebook page:  
https://www.facebook.com/caremarkthanet

After you've had a look at us, I'll look forward to hearing from you.

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.

Working in domiciliary care is not right for everyone...

...but might it be right for you?

Do you want a career in domiciliary care? Yes we did say a career in care. Let's just emphasise that again, because at Caremark Thanet, we are looking for people who want a career not just a job. 

Working in domiciliary care is one of the most challenging yet rewarding jobs that there is. At Caremark Thanet, we have some of the most exciting opportunities around for talented, ambitious people who work in domiciliary care or who would like to work in domiciliary care. If this sounds like something that might interest you, we invite you to join us at Smith Court's Hotel in Margate on Wednesday 30 January at 10.00 am to found out more about us. 

Our Open Day

We are not just another domiciliary care company. We are different. We are different for many reasons. Too many reasons to go into in this article. This article can only give you a taste of why we are different. If you find this taste palatable and your appetite is whetted, why not do a bit of research and find out about us. Look at our website, Facebook page, blog and our reviews on homecare.co.uk. When you have done that ask yourself one question: Is Caremark Thanet the type of company that I want to work for? 

Caremark carer and customer

If you answer yes, then you must come along to our open day and see what we have to offer. The day will start at 10.00 am and we should be finished by 12.00-12.30. Smith's Court Hotel is a fabulous venue where we are always made to feel very welcome.

The format for the day will run something like this. We'll begin with a short presentation that will tell you a little about us, our ethos, our expectations of you and what you can expect from us. We will also touch on some of the amazing training opportunities that we can offer to the right people. We will also explain some of the other rewards - like progression opportunities - that are available for talented people who want a career in care.

Next we'll have a talk from our training manager who will tell you much more about our training opportunities and our initial training course that everyone undertakes. 

You will also hear about our community engagement activities. At Caremark Thanet we are a community engaged organisation. We believe passionately that we can do more than provide outstanding home care. We do more by being a community engaged organisation.We live in an interconnected world. Everyone who works for Caremark Thanet, and everyone who is cared for by Caremark Thanet, is part of the Thanet and wider East Kent communities. There is extensive evidence that shows that connected communities are healthier communities. We believe that our community engagement programme contributes in a small but positive way to the store of community well-being.

We will then give you the opportunity to talk openly to one or two of our carers and one of our customers. You can ask whatever questions you like. This is your chance to find out what it is really like to work for Caremark Thanet and to be cared for by Caremark Thanet. 

Finally, if you feel that we might be what you are looking for, we will give you an application pack to take away. 

If you would like to come along to Smith's Court Hotel on Wednesday 30 January, contact our Business Development Manager, Jemma Clayton to reserve your place. Jemma can be contacted on 01843 235910; or 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 235910 or email garry.costain@caremark.co.uk. You can also visit Caremark Thanet's website at www.caremark.co.uk/thanet.

Are You a Care and Support Worker?

Working in Home Care

Working in home care can be very challenging yet extra-ordinarily rewarding. If you are working in home care you will, of course, be well aware of this. At Caremark Thanet, we have some fantastic opportunities for the right people. If you are working in home care, why not read on and see what we look for and what we can offer.

Caremark care and support workers

Caremark Thanet

We have been providing care for the residents of Thanet since 2012. In that time we have built up an enviable reputation for the exceptional quality of the care that we provide and the exceptional working opportunities that we offer. 

Caremark Thanet are part of a franchise network of over a hundred offices. The Caremark brand stands for excellence and up and down the country there are thousands of care and support workers just like you who everyday make excellent care a reality. for these people, every day excellence is the everyday.

We provide well over 2000 hours of care each week and, at the time of writing, we employ over 100 people. To put that into perspective, that is the equivalence of around 75 full time jobs. We are constantly growing; therefore, we are constantly recruiting. 

Anyone who joins us will have to buy into our ethos. Our ethos is very simple:

We believe that our customers are the most important people for our business; that our care and support workers are the most important people in our business; that a socially responsible business is most important for everyone.

Our ethos does not consist simply of words on the page. It is something that informs everything we do.

We care passionately about the Thanet community. Our approach to business is very much based upon the indivisible links that exist amongst everyone at Caremark Thanet, our customers and our community.

Thanet landscape

We live in an interconnected world. We provide outstanding care to our customers and this is one, exceptionally important, way that we contribute to the stock of community well-being. However, we do more than this.

We do more by being a community engaged organisation. We believe that supporting other community organisations and individuals also contributes to the stock of community well-being.  However, we go further.

We go further, by organising our own events. We and others engaged at those events further contribute to the stock of community well-being.

What We Look For in Care and Support Workers

There are a small number of qualities that we look for. Each of these qualities are things that cannot be taught. They will be part of your make up; part of what makes you the person that you are. These are all very much related to each other.

First, you must be caring. This may seem like stating the obvious; it is stating the obvious, but it has to be stated. Just because you are working in care it does not follow that you are caring. You have only to look at some of the horrendous abuse cases that have appeared in the media to appreciate that there are people working in care who should not be. We often talk about the mum test: would you let this person look after someone you love?

Second, you must be reliable. It is impossible to overstate how important this is. We care for some of the most vulnerable people in our society. These people come to rely upon you. They come to trust you. This places a heavy burden of responsibility upon you. You owe a duty to your customers not to let them down and harm that trust they have reposed in you.

Third, you must be trustworthy. When you work in care you become an important part of the lives of the people you care for. This is a position of trust. Abusing that trust is one of the worst things you can do.

Fourth, you must have the ability to get along with people. The people we look after come from all sections of society. Our duty, your duty, is to provide the same high quality of care to each of our customers. We are all different. We all have our beliefs, our opinions, our ways of life. To work in care you have to respect everyone, no matter what.

Fifth, you must be flexible. Things change constantly in home care. Responding to our customers ever changing needs is not an inconvenience; it's a privilege.

Sixth, you must be prepared for hard work.

What We Expect

We have the highest expectations of the people who come to work for us. You must buy into our ethos. We will never compromise on the high quality of care that we deliver to our customers: each time, every time. This places great demands on you. We offer no apology for insisting that everyone who works for us meets our exacting standards. 

We expect you to have high aspirations for yourself. And we expect you to have high expectations of us. We expect you to be self-reflective and always challenging yourself to do better. We expect you to be ambitious. We expect you to be motivated by the facts: that working for us is not just a job, it is a career; that you are never just a carer, you are one of the most important people in our business; that if you have the talent and drive to succeed, we will provide you with the opportunities for that success.

What We Offer

You should by now appreciate that working for us is not an easy option. We expect a great deal. For some we expect too much. However, for those of you who can meet our exacting standards we have a great deal to offer. 

First, we offer highly competitive rates of pay.

Second, when you join us you will undertake a full one week introductory training course - whatever your previous experience. We also use this as an extended selection process. It gives us time for a number of people to have a good look at you and decide whether you have what we are looking for. Equally, you have the chance to have a good look at us.

Care and support workers using a hoist

Third, once you have found your feet we have some of the best training opportunities that exist. The world of domiciliary care is changing. We will be at the forefront of these changes. To do this we need people with the talent and ambition to become experts at what they do. 

Fourth, we offer some fabulous progression opportunities for the right people. Most of our current management team are internal appointments. We are growing rapidly and will constantly need to expand this team. We are also opening an office in Dover, which will create more progression opportunities.

Fifth, we are a community engaged provider. We believe passionately that we have a duty to help increase the store of community well-being. And we want you to play a role in this. You will have opportunities to take part in our many community engagement events. When you work for us you are one of our ambassadors. We want you to feel that you have a connection with us and a connection with our community. Our community engagement events give you the opportunity to help us contribute to the store of community well-being.

Sixth, we are a very ambitious company. We have a very simple vision: we want to be the first choice domiciliary care provider for customers and carers. And you will play a significant part in helping us achieve this. We are a learning organisation. We always look for ways to improve. Therefore, we will constantly seek out your views. In fact, we go further than this. We believe that you have a duty to give feedback to us. If you feel that there is something we should know, it is your duty to tell us.

Seventh, the support we offer is second to none. We have an open door policy. You are welcome to speak with anyone in the organisation so long as he or she is free. We are very busy so we always suggest you telephone to make appointments; however, there is always someone available to speak with you. We will schedule in up to six one to one meetings for you. These are opportunities for you to tell us how things are going and for us to give feedback to you. It is very important that you receive feedback from us as well as you giving feedback to us.

Eighth, we will always seek to recognise your achievements. Indeed, we will go out of our way to find out what you have done that should be recognised. When you have a supervision, we will ask you to tell us about a moment of truth. A moment of truth occurs when you have an engagement with a customer - sometimes it can be a member of a customer's family or occasionally a member of the public. A moment of truth is your opportunity to delight or deflate a customer. Carers delight customers by doing something outstanding. 

In Conclusion

If we sound like the type of company you'd like to work for, why not get in touch. You can call us on: 01843 235910 or email us at thanet.recruitment@caremark.co.uk. If you want to find out more about us go to: 

Our website: www.caremark.co.uk/thanet

Our blog: http://thanetcare.blogspot.co.uk/

Our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/caremarkthanet

Our Twitter account: https://twitter.com/caremarkthanet

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.

Why Our Homes Are Important

Home Is Where The Heart Is

It is something that every domiciliary care worker knows: there's no place like home. Have you ever thought, though, why it should be that our homes are so important to us?

Just on the edge of the Exmoor National Park there sits what must be one of the most beautiful villages in England, Dunster. Dunster puts the quintessence into the quintessential English village. In this village, there is a church, the Priory church of St George. The Priory church of St George is quite well known in the area for its bell ringing. On Tuesdays, at four hourly intervals, you can hear ring out the well-known tune, Home Sweet Home. Many years ago now, when I first heard the church bells ringing out this tune, I recognised it but thought it was called There's No Place Like Home. Those words do form part of the song's lyric, but not its title.

It is, perhaps, not surprising that there are innumerable fields of human endeavour where the concept of home has been, directly or indirectly, a subject of consideration. It is unsurprising because the evidence that we have suggests that human beings have from earliest times made homes for themselves. Home is a physical thing that produces psychological states. Our homes are much more than a protection for the frailties of our human body. Our emotional reactions and attachments to our homes are complex and manifold. Of no little importance, is the sense of well-being that we get from having in our lives these tranquil harbours that shelter us from the unpredictable storms of life.

Home is where the heart is

The saying that "home is where the heart is" was, it would appear, first uttered by Pliny the Elder (23-79 CE). I think it is equally true that our hearts are where our homes are. Many of us may have several homes during our lives; something that is increasingly the case. No doubt we will have our favourites, but it is usually the case that where we are we make our homes and that is what I mean by our hearts are where our homes are. Of course, the opposite is also the case. Our hearts do not settle where we do not want to be. We can be staying in luxury, but if we do not want to be there luxury becomes misery. The most opulent hotel can become the most oppressive institution. I think Charles Dickens meant something very similar to heart is where the home is when he wrote: "When I speak of home, I speak of the place where in default of a better - those I love are gathered together; and if that place were a... tent, or a barn, I should call it by the same good name notwithstanding."

Talking of luxury hotels, how often have you come home from holiday and told friends what a fantastic time you had but "it's good to be back home", which is exactly what Simon and Garfunkel sang:

" Gee but it's great to be back home
Home is where I want to be.

Our homes are part of us and we are part of our homes. For many of us, especially as we get older, a sense of place is important; our homes give us that. Our memories are important; our homes are memory storerooms. Our individuality, autonomy and independence are central to our identities; our homes give focus to how we see the world. This individual, emotional, engagement with our homes has been called "autobiographical insidedness". The term is a little clumsy but it does encapsulate something many of us will experience. The engagement we have with our homes is personal and different for each of us. 

When I Was at Home I was in a Better Place

There is a great deal of truth in the old maxim that familiarity breeds contempt. Many of us are guilty of failing to respect as we should those activities that we do over and over again. How often have you found yourself driving far more cautiously in an unfamiliar area than you would on the roads where you live. There is a saying about never meeting your heroes because once you get to know them (familiarity) you may well lose respect for them. However, familiarity is not always a bad thing.

Someone once said, words to the effect, that the "...harder I practise the luckier I get". There is some dispute as to who said this. Some say it was the golfer Gary Player. It doesn't matter who said it. It is far more important to appreciate exactly what it means; quite simply, becoming familiar with something can help us do things better. Can you imagine actors going on stage without rehearsing?

It is often a very good thing that we become familiar with our homes. We know that we have to turn the key just so to unlock the front door - that lock's been the same for years. Knowing our physical environments well can be particularly important as we get a little older, especially as our physical selves begin to let us down. And perhaps more importantly as our mental agility declines. There is substantial evidence to show that for people living with dementia a familiar environment, and a familiar routine reduces stress and enhances well-being.

It is, perhaps, important at this point to say that our communities are an extension of our homes. When we have lived somewhere for a while we make connections with people, places and institutions; we make connections that are social, formal and informal; we make connections that contribute to our well-being and contribute to the store of community well-being. Our community connections help combat the scourge of loneliness.

Loneliness does not discriminate. It is a state that has no sympathy for illness, for gender, for status or age. Though it is an state to which age makes us more susceptible. There is a burgeoning body of evidence that strongly supports the potential of social prescribing for reducing loneliness. Social prescribing involves health professionals prescribing for people non-clinical activities that are typically available in the community.

Perhaps, Shakespeare's Touchstone, speaking in As You Like It, knew something when he said that he was in a better place when he was at home.

Our Homes, Our Family, Our Lives

For many of us, our homes are inseparably connected with our shared lives; the lives we live with our closest friends and nearest family. Charles Dickens knew this well.

To say that Dickens’s family life was not always happy is, perhaps, somewhat of an understatement. His father was imprisoned for debt when Dickens was just twelve; his marriage was anything but harmonious, and his sons had their own financial difficulties. And yet in Dickens’s writing we often find descriptions of home and hearth that make us long for roaring log fires, extended families and domestic happiness. 

One such description is found in a later novel, Great Expectations. Although the novel is one of Dickens’s most popular, the characters I’m about to describe are not, it is reasonable to say (with the exception of the main protagonist), from the premier league of the great man’s dramatis personae. 

Pip, the main character, is first introduced to John Wemmick towards the end of chapter 20 of the novel. Wemmick is Mr Jaggers Clerk. Jaggers is a lawyer and Pip’s guardian. Wemmick lives with his father, whom he refers to as “aged P”, “aged parent” or sometimes just “aged”.  Pip gets to meet Wemmick’s father in chapter 25. 

‘“Well aged parent,” said Wemmick, shaking hands with him in a cordial and jocose way, “how am you?”

“All right, John; all right!” replied the old man.

“Here's Mr Pip, aged parent,” said Wemmick, “and I wish you could hear his name. Nod away at him, Mr Pip; that’s what he likes. Nod away at him, if you please, like winking!”’ 

The aged P is one of Dickens’s comic delights and the favourite grandfather you might  (be lucky enough to) have or always wanted to have. When Pip is hurt by the evil Miss Haversham, Wemmick suggests as a remedy “a perfectly quiet day with the Aged”.  

John Wemmick lives a life that today we would describe as hitting a pretty good work life balance. By day Wemmick is Jaggers’s henchman. He is business-like, slightly feared by those owing money to Jaggers and somewhat clinical and stern. At home he is very different. He is caring, loves his home, loves his aged P and has an engagingly tender side. For Wemmick, work and home are different spheres that never connect. 

Wemmick looks after his aging father. Here is a touching scene of filial warmth and devotion:

“…Wemmick said, ‘Now, Aged Parent, tip us the paper.

’Wemmick explained to me while the Aged got his spectacles out, that this was according to custom, and that it gave the old gentleman infinite satisfaction to read the news aloud. ‘I won't offer an apology,’ said Wemmick, ‘for he isn't capable of many pleasures - are you, Aged P.?’

‘All right, John, all right,’ returned the old man, seeing himself spoken to.

‘Only tip him a nod every now and then when he looks off his paper,’ said Wemmick, ‘and he'll be as happy as a king. We are all attention, Aged One.

’‘All right, John, all right!’ returned the cheerful old man, so busy and so pleased, that it really was quite charming.”

Dickens didn’t just tug at the heart strings he stretched them with a winch.

So Why Are Our Homes Important?

I don't think there is one simple answer to this. What is written above certainly addresses many of the reasons that our homes might be important to us. However, if I was going to sum it up in a few words I should simply ask: how would you feel if you had to leave your home?

Winston Churchill described this emotion well in one of his many letters to his wife, Clementine, “As usual I did not leave Chartwell without a pang”. Chartwell, located in Westerham, Kent, was the property that Churchill purchased in 1922 which remained his family home for the rest of his long life. It was the home that he cared for, where he loved to stay and where he longed to return when absent.

Churchill was talking about temporary absences. How much more intense is the pain of permanent absence. But why should we be surprised?

Home is where the heart is.

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.

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Our First Variety Show

On 1st August 2018 we at Caremark Thanet held our first variety show. The show was put on for our customers, family and friends. We had over 30 people in the audience to be entertained by a magician, comedian and singer

Caremark Thanet's Variety Show

The event was held at the Trinity Resource Centre in Margate. The responses from the people attending was, without exception, very enthusiastic indeed. How could it have been anything else given the fabulous acts that were on show,

Local magician, Jez Gorham, moved from table to table performing some seemingly impossible acts of prestidigitation (that's sleight of hand to you and me) with a pack of cards. 

Pick a card.

Next up was Doug Weale whose comedy routine had the audience hanging on his every word waiting in smiling expectation his next punchline. 

Our singer was our very own Geraldo Delgado - Gerry to his friends. Gerry is one of our care and support workers who still performs occasionally. Gerry demonstrated a set of vocal cords in fine fettle as he belted out a wide range of numbers from musical hall favourites to modern standards. Several members of the audience - and a couple of the Caremark team - joined Gerry in duets at different points during his act. Well done (and thanks), Gerry, the audience loved it.

We were also pleased to have with us as our guest Vicky Adley, The Fundraising and Development Officer for East Kent Hospitals Charity. Thanks to the generosity of those attending we raised over £20 for East Kent Hospitals' dementia appeal, which we were able to present to Vicky at the end of the show. 

Over the next few days there will be quite a few pictures of the event appearing on our Facebook page so do take a look if you get a chance and please remember to like our page (https://www.facebook.com/caremarkthanet)

All in all the event was a magnificent success. I am almost certain that we will want to do something similar 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.

Caremark Thanet Raise Money for East Kent Hospitals' Dementia Appeal, or "The Waxing"

Dementia Action Week

Dementia Action week took place between the 21-27 May. We wanted to do something to raise money for the East Kent Hospitals' Dementia appeal during this period and hit on the idea of someone having his legs and chest waxed. However, things did not run to plan. When our original volunteer became unavailable with less than a week to go we were left asking: "what do we do?"

We have supported the East Kent Hospitals' Dementia Appeal in the past and we all knew that to let them down was unthinkable. Our distress call was answered by one of our fabulous care and support workers, Jerry. At very short notice, Jerry agreed to step up, lie down and place himself in the very capable hands of the Beauty Lady, Julia Marrison.

However, what Jerry did not realise was that there were going to be a number of other hands very eager to help him shed his body hair.

"The Waxing"

We'd like to extend our thanks to Karen Scrivener, Dementia Specialist Nurse and Vicky Adley, the Fundraising and Development Officer at East Kent Hospitals for coming along on the day and making a significant contribution to Jerry's hair removal.

Further contributions to the new hairless Jerry were made by: Kerry Hill, Xana Welch, Abbi Downton and Jayne Costain.

Video production was by Jemma Clayton. We understand that the full length recording of the "The Waxing" has become a cult classic- you can find the expurgated version on our Facebook page. There are rumours that a major Hollywood studio is seriously considering financing a big budget blockbuster of "The Waxing" with a "triple A listed male star" as good as signed up to play the lead role. The scheduled release date is October 31 2018.

Our biggest thank you has to go to Jerry. He was very bold to lie down on that table: and very bald when he got off it. Only Jerry's legs and chest were at any point placed at the risk of harm. Contrary to the reports that you may have seen on social media, we refused to allow Jerry to have a body double for the close up scenes, and we can, therefore, reassure the public that at no time were any small furry animals harmed. We understand that Jerry has fully recovered; that there is unlikely to be any lasting damage and that his life is now returning to normal.

We're not sure how much we have raised, yet. Our aim was to hit £700. If you would like to contribute it is not too. late. 

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.

Caremark Thanet Raise Money for Dementia Action Week

About Dementia

Dementia is not a disease; it is caused by other diseases with Alzheimer's disease being by far the biggest cause.  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 people living with dementia and this figure will rise to approximately 3000 in 2026. In Kent the figures are over 22 000 people currently living with dementia, rising to over 30 000 in 2026.

Caremark Thanet's Dementia Support

As things stand, there is no cure. There are, though, things that can be done to help those living with dementia and their families. These things often cost money. And that money is often raised through charitable donations. At Caremark Thanet, we were trying to think of what we could do for Dementia Action Week, which this year takes place between the 21 and 27 May. We have supported the East Kent Hospitals' Dementia Appeal in the past and thought that me might like to do something again for that appeal.The question was what precisely could we do?

Our question was answered for us by Jay Harrison, pictured below, who volunteered to have his legs and chest waxed to raise money for this very worthwhile charity. 

Jay Harrison before his waxing

Jay who works for Caremark Thanet, is no stranger to charitable fundraising. In June 2017, he made his debut as a stand-up comedian at our charity comedy night held at Bernie's Chocolate Bar in Margate.  Let's face it, to do a stand-up comedy routine takes some courage, but probably not as much courage as having your legs waxed. With Jay's help we are trying to raise £700. If you'd like to donate you can do so by going to Jay's JustGiving page. 

Jay will be having his head shaved at 3.00 pm on 21 May 2018 at Caremark Thanet's offices - Unit A5A Continental Approach, Margate, CT9 4JG. His legs and chest will be waxed two days later on 23 May 2018 at the same location - the time to be confirmed.



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.