First of its kind 'The dementia guide' launched to help doctors provide support when people are diagnosed

A new booklet to help guide people with dementia and their carers through their journey with dementia is being launched today (29 July 2013) by Alzheimer's Society. 

The guide is the first of its kind to provide the information you need after a diagnosis of dementia. It offers advice to help people come to terms with their diagnosis and plan ahead and enable them to live well with the condition.

Full Article on Alzheimer's Society

Hospitals must improve links with dementia carers, study finds

Hospitals are failing to link up sufficiently with the carers of patients suffering from dementia, an audit carried out by the Royal College of Psychiatrists has found.

Despite improvements over the last two years, a third of hospitals still do not have guidance in place on the involvement of and information sharing with the person’s carer, according to the latest National Audit of Dementia.

The audit, the first of which was carried out in 2011, found case notes often do not include information that could aid communication with carers, while information important to future care is not routinely summarised at the point of discharge.

Full Article on Community Care

INFO: Transition Information Network - new website

The Transition Information Network has launched its new look website:
www.transitioninfonetwork.org.uk. 

The new website has been designed as the sector's 'go to' place for the latest news, resources and events on issues relating to transition. 

The aim is to provide information about transition that is useful to disabled young people, parents/carers and professionals.  The website has the needs of the user at its heart; it is designed to ensure that you can find exactly what you need from the second you open the home page. 

Mental health drop-in to reopen in Melksham

A Melksham-based mental health charity will be reopening its doors next Wednesday, less than a year after it was forced to close.

Wiltshire Mind closed its Melksham drop-in centre last year when it lost a major council contract, and was only saved from bankruptcy by a £50,000 donation by an anonymous Wiltshire Times reader.

Now, after fundraising from the community, the three-hour drop in group will run every week at the St Anthony of Padua Church on West End from 1pm to 4pm, offering advice and support. For further details call 01225 706532.

Article from Wiltshire Times

INFO: Summer Holiday Swim Therapy Sessions

Summer holidays are approaching and, thanks to the generous support of the Norie Trust and the Bramble Charitable Trust, Bath Swim Therapy are able to run Holiday Swim Therapy sessions from July 22nd to August 8th - this may be before the holiday start for some but different counties have different start dates!

They will run on

·         Mondays, Wednesdays & Thursdays 10.00 - 1.00 in the hydrotherapy pool at Three Ways School, Odd Down, Bath BA2 5RF and

·         Tuesdays 1.30 - 4.00 in the Learner Pool at Longwell Green Leisure Centre, BS15 9LA

These sessions are open to any family with a disabled or special needs child or young person (0 - 25yrs) who would benefit from hydrotherapy or specialist swimming instruction in a small warm water pool during the summer holidays. Each session gives them a 20 min individual time with the physiotherapist to focus on hydrotherapy or learning to swim or a combination or both.  They are also an opportunity for parents/carers to learn how to work with their children in the water and become more confident when taking them swimming

Other members of the family are also welcome (provided there is room in the pool) but siblings will need to be accompanied by an additional adult unless they are confident swimmers. Alternatively, families can just book to come for a swim without any therapy time if, because of the level of their child's disability, they need the fully accessible facilities .

The cost this year will be £5 per session but we are able to offer concessions if this amount is difficult. There is no additional charge at Longwell Green

For more information, visit http://www.bathswimtherapy.org.uk/holidayswimtherapy/index.html

Mural showcases 1,400 years of caring

A mural representing 1,400 years of care by Wiltshire residents will go on tour around the county this month.

Each of the 100 hands in the artwork represents someone from the area who gives up their time, unpaid, to care for others.

The hands are embroidered with the number of years they have been a carer, including one 76-year-old woman who has dedicated herself to looking after other people since she was nine.

Full Article on Gazette & Herald

Discounts for carers on the new O2 Health Help at Hand product mobile care service

Carers Trust has recently launched a partnership with O2 Health, one of the UK's largest providers of mobile care services. The partnership forms part of Carer's Trust's aim to improve support, services and recognition for anyone living with the challenges of caring.

Carers can get exclusive discounts on the new help at hand service by visiting the Carers enterprises website www.carersenterprises.org

Help at Hand is ideally suited to carer who want to support the person they care for to live as independently as possible, or for people with long term or temporary care needs who wish to be more independent, like Helen who has dyspraxia and often suffers with falls, or Sharon a mum with epilepsy or Stella who is recovering from a stroke As Helen says, "its like a little piece of freedom in my pocket."

Find out more about how the product works and whether it might help you at www.carersenterprises.org

Specialised Health Services Clinical Reference Groups: Patient and Carer Member Recruitment

NHS England has opened the second wave of recruitment for patient and carer members of its Clinical Reference Groups for 2013/14. For a full list of CRGs who are still recruiting members please follow the link below.  Voluntary sector organisations are well placed to suggest clients and carers they know about with relevant expertise who would be keen to influence development of these groups. Information below (and on https://www.engage.england.nhs.uk/application/crg-patient) about involvement in the clinical reference groups, from NHS England:

CRGs are responsible for providing NHS England with clinical advice regarding specialised services, and for promoting equity of access to high quality services for all patients, regardless of where they live. CRGs are also at the forefront of the drive to spearhead innovation, working with clinical leaders, patients and suppliers to identify and promote best practice; scanning the horizon for new treatment approaches; and taking action to improve patient experience and outcomes in the NHS.

This is an exciting time to join a CRG, as they take their place within the new commissioning structures of the NHS. The accompanying Guide to CRGs and Information Pack for Patients and Carers will provide you with more, detailed information about their work; where they sit within NHS England, and what it means to be a patient and carer member of a CRG. If you are interested in applying to be a patient or carer member, you will also find an application form which you can complete online. The closing date for applications for membership is 13 June 2013.

To find out more about becoming a patient or carer member of one of these groups, please go to the following link https://www.engage.england.nhs.uk/application/crg-patient where you will find the list of CRGs we are still recruiting to, a Guide to CRGs, an Information Pack and application form.

Carer Support open day

AN open day for carers is being held at Carer Support Wiltshire’s centre in New Street, Salisbury, on Tuesday, June 11.

The event is part of Carers Week 2013 and will offer people the chance to drop in and chat with a support worker to get help and advice about their caring role.

There will also be an opportunity to buy plants and books at the charity’s fundraising stall at the centre.

As part of Carers Week, there will also be a Wiltshire Council road show visiting the Old George Mall on the same day.

Article from Salisbury Journal

Government launches new care comparison website

Information to help people choose, compare and comment on residential care homes and home care services is now available on NHS Choices.

The new care profiles provide the most comprehensive source of information on care services. Launched today by Care and Support Minister, Norman Lamb, they help people to search and compare residential care homes and home care services and make confident choices about registered care for themselves or family members.

Full News Release on Gov.uk

INFO: Papworth Trust – free respite holidays

Papworth Trust is offering free respite holidays to disabled people and their families at Kerry Farm in Wales, thanks to a £2 million grant from the Big Lottery Fund.

Typical respite is where the disabled person goes away while their family stays at home. The Trust’s respite holidays are unique because they offer a chance for the whole family to together have a supported break, without the pressures of everyday life.

For more details, please visit the Papworth Trust website here.

Advice day for Wiltshire people affected by sight loss

A free event being run by the UK's leading sight loss charity on Thursday 18 April and aims to bring together Wiltshire's people affected by sight loss and to promote independence.

The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) has worked closely with the local society, Wiltshire Blind Association, to bring together a Low Vision Day. 

It will offer advice to people who have lost their sight, as well as to their families and friends, including details of support and clubs available in the local area. 

Full Article on This is Wiltshire

10% Late Availabiity Discount on Carers Holidays

Carers Support Centre Bristol and South Gloucestershire currently have availability in their 2 and 3 bedroomed caravans at Torbay between Friday 12th April and Saturday 27th April. They’ve got short breaks available for 3 or 4 nights for just £199 or a 7 night breaks for only £266.

Carers must quote reference CT0113 to get this special discount.

This discount is only for the forthcoming two weeks so you need to act quickly so you don’t miss out!

BBC One - DIY SOS: THE BIG BUILD are looking for applications

For the past 3 years DIY SOS: The Big Build has helped ordinary people whose lives have been dramatically changed by an unforeseen issue e.g. an accident leading to a disability, the onset of a  life altering illness or a condition, the sudden death of a parent and so forth.  

The show helps these people by radically transforming their homes, in the past we have put in downstairs wet rooms for people who can no longer get up to the bathroom. We have totally reworked entire houses so that they are wheel chair friendly. We have put up single and double story extensions to increase the living space for a family and have thus created healthy safe environments for young children and those with learning difficulties.  We have added internal lifts, wheelchair ramps, specialist bathrooms and bedrooms to people homes.

DIY SOS: The Big Build is a very positive series which genuinely helps people and really makes a difference to their lives.  As well as bringing great benefits to the chosen families the series will raise public awareness of the conditions that affect them. 

 

Download the flyer for more information and a link to apply

INFO: Welfare Reform / Changes to Benefits - EASY READ version

The guide explains some of the most significant changes and explains what people can expect to happen over the next few years.  It was written with the people supported by United Response in mind, but we are keen to make it available to other organisations, support workers and individuals to use if they think it would be helpful. We consider it important that easy read materials should be widely disseminated and not held onto in a proprietary way.

You can find the guide here (or click on the image to the right) – we are very happy for anyone to use it to guide their own education efforts. However, we should stress at this stage that as well as being a document created with our own specific stakeholders in mind it is an easy read guide, which means that some details have been simplified and others omitted in order to make it as accessible as possible.

Taken from United Response who produced the guide 

Wiltshire Council to run autism campaign

Wiltshire Council will be running an autism awareness campaign next week.

The roadshow will offer an opportunity to find out more about the condition and also access diagnostic services for adults.

The council van will be outside Salisbury Library on Tuesday, County Hall in Trowbridge on Wednesday, The Bear Hotel in Devizes on Thursday and on Chippenham town bridge on Friday with all events running between 10am and 2pm.

Full Article on Gazette & Herald

Budget 2013: What it means for Carers

In addition to downgrading forecasts for economic growth, the Chancellor announced a number of tax changes including some tax cuts, additional cuts to public spending, support with childcare vouchers, and the bringing forward of significant policies including State Pension reform and a cap on the costs of care. This briefing is a short summary of the major areas of the ways in which the March 2013 Budget will affect carers and their families.

Download the information on CarersUK

EVENT: WPCC Information Event - Special Educational Needs & Disabilities

Wiltshire Parent Carer Council are hosting an event for PARENT CARERS & PROFESSIONALS who work with families...

Friday 22 February 2013

10am to 2.00pm

Corn Exchange, Devizes, Market Place SN10 1HS

Refreshments and lunch will be provided.

Come to this event and find out more about local services in Wiltshire which support children and young people 0-25yrs and their families.

From early years through to adulthood, education, health and social care to benefits, transport, short breaks, employment and supported living, a wide variety of providers will be represented on the day.

1-1 surgery sessions will also be available at this event for parent carers who would like an opportunity to talk to a professional about any specific issues or difficulties.

Parents and Carers can claim travel and childcare expenses for this event.

Need assistance with transport or childcare? Contact us, we can help!

Go to their online booking facility click here
Or call us on 01672 569 300
Email office@wiltspcc.co.uk

INFO: Free Cakes For Kids, Salisbury

Why? At the heart of every Free Cakes for Kids volunteer group is the feeling that every child deserves a birthday cake. A chance to create a memory that will always be remembered.

 

What? Free Cakes for Kids Salisbury matches up two parties: families who find it difficult to provide a birthday cake for their child due problems with finances, ill health or other difficult circumstances and passionate bakers in the local community who enjoy making themed cakes in their own kitchens. As the cakes are homemade the volunteers can often accommodate the child’s favourite flavour or theme. Examples include football themes, cartoon characters and pretty princess styled cakes.

How? Families can call themselves or are referred to the local volunteer coordinator by a partnering organisation. Local groups aim to build strong networks in their communities and work closely with organisations like the young carers, food banks and social services as well as asking for the support from local businesses for donations, cake ingredients and other useful bits such as cake boxes, tins and cake decorations.  

 

Also: Community and charity baking- While individual birthday cakes are what matters most to us, many groups have built close ties in their communities and have become integral parts of the social infrastructure. They organise cake sales for local children’s charities, design celebration cakes for children centres and set up hands-on community baking sessions for clubs, young mums and everyone who wants to learn more about baking.

 

We want to make a difference….. One cake at a time!

For more information please contact the Salisbury volunteer group co-coordinator, Ally on 01722 321319 or freecakesforkidssalisbury@gmail.com

Or you can visit www.freecakesforkids.org.uk