AsterCare

11/08/2025

We had a truly wonderful fundraiser on 7th August, and we’d like to extend our sincere thanks to everyone who made it such a success. A big thank you to our friends, families, current and ex-service users, and all community members who came to play games, win prizes, and challenge themselves with Jade’s quiz. We are also incredibly grateful for the donations received from those who couldn’t attend, and a special shout-out to the two children of one of our staff who generously donated their pocket money.

So far, we have raised £220 for . We also have a brand new Kenwood Chef food processor we are taking bids on, as well as a used deep fat fryer. These are currently listed on Gumtree, but feel free to free to make us an offer directly if you are interested.

11/08/2025

We had a truly fabulous fundraiser on Thursday 7th August, and we'd like to extend our sincere thanks to everyone who made it such a success! A big thank you to our friends, families, current and ex-service users, and all community members who came to play games, win prizes, and challenge themselves with Jade's quiz. We are also incredibly grateful for the donations received from those who couldn't attend, and a special shout-out to the two children of one of our staff who generously donated their pocket money 🥰♥️

So far, we have raised approximately £220 for Myeloma UK! We also have two items available for auction to the highest bidder: a brand new Kenwood Chef and a deep fat fryer. These are currently listed on Gumtree, but please feel free to make us an offer directly if you are interested!

We've already been asked if we'll be holding another event this year, and the answer is yes! We plan to host a Christmas-themed coffee morning in early December. We hope you can join us for some coffee, cake, games, a quiz, and perhaps even pick up some early Christmas presents.

We will announce the exact date closer to the time.

Thank you once again for your incredible support!

05/08/2025

Our get-together and fundraiser is nearly here!!!

This Thursday 7th August, the local community, carers, staff and families are all invited for coffee and cake, and the opportunity to buy raffle tickets to win prizes, spend pocket money on little purchases, and Guess The Name of the Teddy. There is also a brand new Kenwood Food Processor that the highest bidder can win!

You will also be raising money for a little-known blood cancer called myeloma, and supporting to raise awareness, and help to find to cure. You can donate here:

https://coffee.myeloma.org.uk/jade-mc-cloud

Come and visit us!

Venue: 591 London Road, Portsmouth.
Time: 12 noon.

We look forward to seeing you there 😃

10/07/2025

Are your wishes, choices and opinions heard when you receive care services? Do you receive your care and support in the way you wish? Everyone deserves to be heard.

Take a look at our latest blog and see how advocacy can support you, and how we embed this into our home care service.

Advocacy in care means ensuring that every person's voice is heard, their rights are protected, and their choices are respected.

18/06/2025

This week marks Myeloma Awareness Week. Myeloma is the second most common type of blood cancer worldwide (there are over 100), yet little is known about it.

The symptoms of myeloma are often subtle and easily missed, leading to late diagnosis. By the time it is identified, individuals may already be suffering from significant bone damage or repeated infections.

Currently, there is no cure for myeloma but thanks to the tireless efforts of , new treatments are being approved on the NHS, significantly improving life expectancy for patients.

Please take a moment to familiarise yourself with the symptoms to help you or others to seek help.

13/06/2025

For the next few days, the weather is expected to heat up (at long last!) which means we must take care of ourselves, and watch out for others who may be vulnerable: -

• Older adults (65+), especially those living alone
• Babies and young children
• Individuals with chronic health conditions (e.g., heart, lung, kidney diseases)
• People on certain medications (e.g., antidepressants, blood pressure drugs)
• Those experiencing homelessness or living in top-floor flats

Here are some tips to stay safe:

*Stay indoors during peak heat (11am–3pm)
*Drink plenty of water and carry drinks around with you
*Wear loose, light-coloured clothing
*Keep your home cool by closing curtains and windows during the day (as it may be hotter outside than in)
*Check on elderly or vulnerable neighbours and relatives

Signs of heat exhaustion can include dizziness or confusion, heavy sweating, nausea or vomiting, and a rapid heartbeat.

If symptoms persist after 30 minutes of cooling down, seek medical attention immediately.

For more information, visit the NHS guide on coping in hot weather on nhs.uk.

Stay cool and stay safe! 💧🌬️

12/06/2025

If you're a care/support worker looking for a friendly supportive employer with various opportunities to grow and develop new skills, look no further! We are recruiting due to expansion of our services: -

Aster Care has been a dedicated provider of care services at home in Portsmouth area for approximately 18 years. We are a small, local organisation with a long-standing management team known for excellent staff retention and very satisfied clients. We only provide visits of 3 hours or more, including day and night work, therefore, there is minimal traveling and the opportunity to spend meaningful time with our clients without rushing.

Our ethos is to support our staff in delivering outstanding care, believing that happy staff lead to happy clients.

You will not necessarily need experience due to our person-centred training, but attitude, reliability and the desire to help vulnerable people must be high up in your priorities. Your role will involve:

1. Supporting individuals with long-term conditions
2. Providing respite care to family members through our sitting service
3. Assisting people with learning disabilities and autism in developing life skills

Become a part of a team that values compassion, respect, and community.

Apply through our website or alternatively, call us on 023 92 694551.

15/05/2025

This week is Mental Health Week. We all need to check-in on our mental well-being to prevent us becoming overwhelmed by our daily lives, often made more stressful by 24 hour news, opinion, and social media. Here are 10 ways to step back, and take time-out. This simple guide was written by children, for children, but is equally relevant to people of all ages.

13/05/2025

From MIND. This is Sunny's story. This Mental Health Awareness Week, Sunny reveals how she was helped by us while receiving treatment for cancer.

'I had a strong Asian upbringing. My life was sheltered - I wasn’t allowed to cut my hair until I was 17. Then I went to Newcastle University to study English and History and had the best three years of my life.

There was a lot of alcohol, and looking back now I can see that caused problems. It got quite messy. People don’t often realise that alcohol is a depressant.

I wasn’t sure what to do with my life. Then I thought of teaching, so I did a PGCE in English. It started off well and I was pleasantly optimistic.

I loved my first placement. It was an all-boys school. But my second placement was different. There was abusive language - and not just from the kids. I heard some of the teachers making references to my skin colour.

“I was diagnosed with depression. I felt nervous and anxious, thinking nothing would ever get better.”

I became depressed and stopped eating properly. I would have breakfast and lunch, but as soon as I got home I would go to bed. I’d sleep from half five straight through until the next day. It was a horrible experience. I didn't know what was wrong with me. People weren't really talking about mental health so much back then.

I became a qualified primary school teacher, but by 2012 I was getting disillusioned. Schools would offer me long-term placements but never a permanent role.

In 2016 I was diagnosed with depression. I think I’d had it before but hadn’t really got any emotional support. I felt nervous and anxious, thinking nothing would ever get better. They call it the Black Dog.

Being slim and having my fertility were things that I had always taken for granted. In 2016 I was diagnosed with cancer. There were no warning signs. I went to hospital and found that a cyst had burst. The doctors started talking surgery to remove my appendix and left o***y.

I felt heartbroken when the cancer came back in 2020 and they needed to remove my remaining o***y. I was basically rendered infertile. I still have my womb and I’ve got eight frozen eggs, but it’s not the same thing.

“I called up the Mind infoline. They people were lovely, and it gave me someone to talk to.”

The side effects of losing my other o***y were brutal: the mood swings, the lack of confidence, the hot flushes, the anxiety, the night terrors. But because of the cancer, I couldn’t have hormone therapy.

I called up the Mind infoline a few times, and the people on there were lovely. They signposted me to different services, and made me feel empowered and safe. That meant a lot to me. It was just nice to have someone to talk to that understood. I knew that they were always there and that I could call them if needed.

Creative writing also helped save me. In 2017 I started writing poetry about the female South Asian experience of living in Britain and my cancer. I didn’t take it too seriously at first, but then I got two collections of poems published. That felt amazing. Writing has been a lifeline for me.

I’d encourage anyone struggling with their mental health to do something creative - anything that calls to them. Writing might not be for you, but I’d definitely give it a go. You never know where it will take you.'

11/04/2025

Continuing our efforts to connect people who either use or have used our services, we recently visited in Southsea to try our hand at ceramic painting!

It was a great night, polished off with a homemade lemon and blueberry cake (courtesy of Pam 🍰.

We await the results from the kiln…🎨

07/04/2025

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Coffee Morning and Book Exchange! It was such a fabulous time. The group is growing and it is nice to see people benefiting in a sociable setting. Thank you to Jade for producing the quiz whose questions were all about Hampshire, and Carey for being an excellent Quizmaster! Elaine and I made a crack team, but it was not enough to defeat the previous winners, Sue and Alan (this time with my Mum!).

Next coffee morning will be held in June and will be a bring and buy charity cake sale and book exchange. Dates to follow.

04/04/2025

It's Stress Awareness month! At Aster Care, we understand the wellbeing of our team, service users and family. We have Mental Wellbeing and Managing Stress at Work policies to support people, as well as an Open Door Policy.

Stress affects us all, but small changes can make a big difference:

🧘‍♀️ Take mindful breaks - switch off phones/TV for short periods
🚶‍♂️ Get moving outdoors - fresh air, a short walk will help you rebalance
💬 Talk to someone you trust
😴 Prioritise rest - this is so important in preventing ill health. Becoming unwell may be your body's well of telling you to rest

Let’s break the stigma and support each other. What’s your favourite way to unwind?