Parents should pool resources to combat cuts in respite care

While most of us are enjoying our summer holidays, parents with disabled children are finding it tougher to access the respite care they desperately need for them and the rest of their family to have a break from their 24/7 caring roles.

According to research by the learning disability charity Mencap earlier this year, 29% of local authorities have cut short-break services for children with a learning disability over the past three years. Yet for many families traditional respite services are not suitable.

Full Article on Guardian Society

Carers Voice re-launches today!

Carers’ Voice is to be re-launched today to give carers the opportunity to have their say on services that can help them and the person they care for.

The Carers’ Voice survey is a research tool managed by Wiltshire Council in partnership with Carer Support Wiltshire and NHS Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Groups, who are committed to involving carers in planning and making recommendations about services.

A Carer is someone who provides unpaid care and support to a family member, partner, friend or neighbour who can’t manage on their own because of physical or mental ill health, disability or problems with drug and alcohol use.

The theme of this edition of the Carers’ Voice survey is “Time for yourself” and is mainly addressing respite and breaks. We would like to invite carers to complete this online using the Wiltshire Council web-link:  http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/2013-carers-voice-summer.htm

 

Those without computer access can request a paper copy from Carer Support Wiltshire who will then enter the survey on your behalf. 

We would welcome input from any carer aged 18 and over who is caring for an adult or child with physical and/or learning disabilities, mental health needs, or problems with substance misuse. All information is held securely and will not be passed to anyone else or used for marketing or other purposes.

All carers registered with Carer Support Wiltshire will automatically be asked whether they would like to participate, but if you are a carer who is not registered with Carer Support Wiltshire, please do make contact on 0800 181 4118, or email: admin@carersinwiltshire.co.uk or via our website: www.carersinwiltshire.co.uk.

The closing date for survey submissions is 30 September 2013.

EVENTS: Refreshing Days for Carers at Ammerdown. nr. Radstock

23 July, 24 September and 26 November

REFRESHING DAYS FOR CARERS 

10am - 4pm

Past participants have said:

“A thoroughly enjoyable day.” 

“A lovely change - nice to be pampered.”

”A day to anticipate, knowing everyone leaves refreshed and
strengthened to continue the caring and support .”

These are days designed for those who care for others in all kinds of situations, so that they themselves can be nurtured and refreshed within the peaceful and welcoming surroundings of the Ammerdown Centre. 

Experience a session of complementary therapy such as Indian Head Massage, Reiki, Reflexology or Aromatherapy Massage, creative arts and crafts for fun, inspiring workshops, and a delicious home-cooked lunch.

Cost £20

Includes coffee, lunch and afternoon tea, one therapy session, and all workshops.

Prior booking is essential

Contact Ammerdown to book:

The Ammerdown Conference & Retreat Centre
Ammerdown Park, Radstock BA3 5SW
Tel:  01761 433709  Fax:  01761 433094
e-mail: centre@ammerdown.org
www.ammerdown.org

Carer crisis: Councils cutting vital grants for those looking after sick and disabled relatives

A cruel new wave of council cuts is axing vital grants to people who care for their disabled relatives.

Respite payments, which let full-time carers take an occasional break, are a lifeline for thousands of people who look after vulnerable loved ones.

Some use the money to pay for home visits from professional carers or to take their family members to respite centres near their homes.

Others rely on them to fund short breaks which give them some relief from the 24-hour job of caring.

Full Article on Mirror

SPECIAL OFFER - Young Carers Weekends

Fun Breaks at Calvert Trust, Exmoor

These fantastic special weekends are specifically for young people who have caring responsibilities, and our centre is dedicated solely to carers for these breaks.

These weekends include 3 adventurous activities, 2 nights accommodation, a disco, and all meals.

Friday 16th to Sunday 18th November 2012
Friday 25th to Sunday 27th January 2013
Friday 8th to Sunday 10th February 2013
Friday 8th to Sunday 10th November 2013
Friday 22nd to Sunday 24th November 2013

NOW £30* (was £150) per carer, £30* (was £75) per adult supervisor.

If you are a group or organisation that works with young carers and you would like to bring counsellors or support workers along to offer sessions with the carers, we are able to provide break out rooms at no extra cost.

Young carers age range; 7 to 16.

If you are interested in our Young Carers Weekends you can download our information for Young Carers Groups as a PDF.

If you are interested in any of these breaks, or would just like to find out more, please call us on 01598 763221, or email exmoor@calvert-trust.org.uk

New online tool to search for care providers

A new online tool is available which will enable people to search and compare local care homes.

Available online at NHS choices, it will allow users to search and compare any Care Quality Commission (CQC) registered home care, residential or nursing home provider.

The Provider Quality Profile (PQP) has been launched as part of the Caring for our future White Paper and means that people can use it to search for local providers within a specific area and then link to CQC reports and information to find out more details about the provider.

Full Article on Healthcare Today

Carers to be given a free break

A breaks scheme is being launched at GP surgeries across Wiltshire during Carers Week this year to give unpaid carers who are suffering ill health as a result of their role, or who have a long term health condition, the chance to have a free break.

GPs and Practice Nurses will be able to ‘prescribe’ a social, leisure or health break to those that they identify as a carer in order to give them an opportunity to take some time out from looking after a relative or friend who, due to illness, disability, age, eating disorder or substance misuse, is unable to mange without their help.

Each break will be worth up to the value of £50 and will cover something like a gym membership, a sports activity, complementary therapy, hair and beauty appointment, or, if circumstances allow, a day out. 

The scheme is being hosted by Carer Support Wiltshire and is being financially supported by funding from Wiltshire Council and NHS Wiltshire.

Fiona Hunter, Communications Officer at Carer Support Wiltshire, said: “The method of ‘prescribing’ a carer a break aims to help ensure that carers in Wiltshire can take care of their own health in order to be able to carry on caring for their partner, child, parent, friend or neighbour.

“GPs are often the first person a carer will think of going to when they need help and if they are able to offer them a means of having a break it will also mean they will find out about the other free services and support that they can get from Carer Support Wiltshire.”

The breaks prescription scheme will run for one year and, depending on how successful it is, will be reviewed next year.

Paul Burstow, Minister of State for Care Services, recently gave a speech at the RCGP Carers Conference and said: “With the right help, information and support, carers can care better. They can stay healthy – physically and mentally.

“It’s the small things that can make a world of difference.”

Carer Support Wiltshire would encourage any carers who need some time out to go along to their local GP surgery and enquire about getting a prescribed break. They are also available to carers who are already known to Carer Support Wiltshire.

They can also find out more about it by contacting Leonie Jarvill, GP Liaison Worker at Carer Support Wiltshire, on 0800 181 4118 or leonie@carersinwiltshire.co.uk

Notes

For more information on the Carers Breaks Prescription Scheme please contact Leonie Jarvill (GP Liaison Worker) at Carer Support Wiltshire on 0800 181 4118 or email leonie@carersinwiltshire.co.uk

A carer is someone of any age who provides unpaid support to family or friends who could not manage without this help. This could be caring for a relative, partner or friend who is ill, frail, disabled or has mental health or substance misuse issues.

In the 2001 census it showed that there were 39,886 carers who provide unpaid care in Wiltshire.

Carer Support Wiltshire is a registered charity that offers support, information, advice and break opportunities to people looking after family members and friends across Wiltshire.

Carers Week takes place from 18-24 June. The theme this year is ‘In Sickness and in Health’. It is one of the UK’s largest awareness weeks and is about recognising and celebrating the contribution made by unpaid carers to the people they care for and their communities.

Carers to be given respite holidays

The “sandwich generation”, who care for their elderly parents while supporting children, are expected to gain a new entitlement to services to help them look after their families. Under government plans, councils will be required to arrange support such as short “respite” holidays, assistance with transport or training in care techniques.

Ministers are concerned that people of all ages who have to care for frail or disabled family members are currently treated as “second-class citizens”. A White Paper on reforming care for the elderly and disabled adults is due to be published later this month and will detail the new arrangements.

Paul Burstow, the care services minister, told The Daily Telegraph that the current arrangements were leaving people to struggle on their own.

Full Article on Telegraph

"Army of invisible carers" failing to access available respite care

A study by care sector charity Vitalise has estimated there to be millions of family carers in the UK who are entitled to source respite care services but are failing to do so.


Collated from the findings of several organisations over the last five years, the Vitalise report finds that many people fail to realise they qualify for carers’ benefits because they are unpaid.

Older people in particular are found to be missing out, with a failure to access care services leading to unnecessary retirement and a decline in lifestyle choice.

Full Article