Why My Vision Is “Continuity Of Care” – And What This Means

In this episode of the Care CEO Success Stories Podcast, host Adam James of Springup PR, interviews Adam Hutchison, CEO of Belmont Healthcare   which operates  five care homes across the South East and provides   community care services in the West Midlands.

Adam began his journey into social care 12 years ago when he worked in a 25-bed care home operated by his father.   

Predominantly based in Kent, Sussex, Belmont Healthcare  has made a number of new acquisitions over the last few years.

A trustee of the Care Workers Charit, Adam discusses his vision on “the continuity of the care journey” including:

•     The “lack of understanding from the general public” about care homes with families often “falling into crisis” when an elderly relative begins to need extra help.

•     What families need to know, who to approach for help and support, and why Adam believes that staying at home for as long a possible is the best option. 

•     Why care homes are slowly moving into a more private hospital space.

•     The help Belmont Healthcare provides with the transition from someone’s own home to a care home and then to return home if possible.

•     The advantages of building relationships between providers, carers and families.

•     How care can help unblock hospital beds by helping people return home if possible.

•     Creating more cohesion, better connections and outcomes for individuals has become a vision for Adam.

•     The development of a care home in north Kent which added a dementia wing, a hospital discharge wing and plans to put 55 retirement homes on site supporting home care.

•     How a trip to Holland inspired Adam to model an approach on one providing intermediate care for anyone needing rehabilitation after a hospital admission, to and subsequently returning home.

•     Creating assisted living apartments within the next two years catering for single clients and couples, with support for any care needs.

•     The importance of good relationships with local hospitals, enabling them to discharge patients who are medically fit and to free up their beds with “75% of our occupied beds coming from either a hospital discharge or referral .”

•     Bringing care seekers and care givers together, to enable the search for the right care to be easier, with continuity of care a priority.

•     How care providers and care homes work better in regional clusters in regions allowing them to “become well known and trusted in your area,” and sometimes being “big is not always the best.”

•     The importance of relatives “knowing of our values, and feeling happy passing on the responsibility of caring for their loved ones to us.”

•     The challenges of “releasing staff into the community with your brand,” and recruiting experts in that field to manage that side of the business.

•     The importance of knowing what you are good at and what you are not good at, then seeking advice from others in those cases.