News items from January 2012
Family fun day for children with disabilities
Local charity Menphys is holding a Family Information and Fun Day on Sunday 13th May from 10am to 4pm at Parklands Leisure Centre in Oadby.
The event is open to families with children with disabilities and additional needs throughout Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.
To find out more please call Kirsty Neale on 0116 288 5353.
Useful advice for preventing falls in the home
We've heard from a few people who have had falls in their homes recently so we thought we'd pass on some advice from the NHS for preventing falls - hopefully it will prove useful for both carers and the people you care for.
Making small changes in your home can make a big difference in helping to prevent accidents. The NHS's tips for preventing falls in the home include:
Mop up spillages straight away
Remove clutter, trailing wires and frayed carpet
Use non-slip mats and rugs
Use high wattage light bulbs in lamps and torches so that you can see clearly
Organise your home so that climbing, stretching and bending are kept to a minimum and to avoid bumping into things
Get help to do things that you are unable to do safely on your own
Don't walk on slipperly floors in socks or tights
Don't wear loose-fitting, trailing clothes that might trip you up
Wear well-fitting shoes that are in good condition and support the ankle
Take care of your feet by trimming toenails regularly, using moisturiser and seeing a GP or chiropodist about any foot problems
To find out more and for more information please visit the NHS Choices website.
If you care for an older person, the charity Age UK has some useful advice on preventing falls on its website.
The art of caring - carer Stan Pearson shares his hobby
Carer Stan Pearson gave a great talk on painting at our 'Time Out For Carers' group in Melton recently.
Stan enjoys painting as a hobby and brought along a selection of water colour and oil paintings to show other carers, all depicting different water scenes such as the sea, lakes and rivers.
Hopefully, Stan's inspirational talk will encourage other carers to talk about their hobbies at future meetings.
If you're a carer in Melton, why not come along to our 'Time Out For Carers' group? It's free, friendly and informal and an opportunity to meet other carers, share experiences and generally enjoy a quick break from your caring role.
The group meets at the Carnegie Museum, Thorpe End, Melton Mowbray (in the Community Room) alternate months on Thursdays between 11am and 1pm. The next two dates are 15th March and 17th May.
To find out more please call Diane at Support for Carers on 0845 689 9510 or email [email protected]
Help & support if you’ve suffered a bereavement
As you may know, the Department of Work and Pensions streamlined its Bereavement Service last year, to make it easier for people to use.
If you've recently suffered a bereavement you can call the service on 0845 6060 265.
A trained advisor will take down the details of the person who has passed away and will notify all the relevant Department of Work and Pensions departments for you, so you don't have to make multiple phone calls.
They can also advise you on any financial support you may be entitled to, such as help towards the cost of the funeral and Bereavement Benefits.
You can also request a home visit if necessary, please ring the number above and talk to an advisor.
Please click here to find out about the Bereavement Service offered by your Local Authority
We realise that bereavement can naturally be an incredibly hard time for carers, families and friends and you're always very welcome to call us for advice on 0845 689 9510 or email [email protected]
Do you think the care system for older people in the UK is in crisis?
Leading charity Age UK believes that the care system for older people in Britian is in crisis and many people are struggling to cope.
It's calling on the Goverment to reform the care system so that older people get the care and support they need.
Find out more about Age UK's concerns and how you can have your say.
We'd be really interested to know what you think about the care and support available for older people - your views as a carer are absolutely vital and invaluable.
Please leave your comments below or email [email protected] or call us on 0845 689 9510.
New carers’ group for Hinckley - UPDATE
As we reported last week, Support for Carers is setting up a new carers' group in Hinckley.
The new group will start on Monday 16th April at Hinckley Library on Lancaster Road, Hinckley, Leicestershire, LE10 0AT.
Carers are welcome to drop in anytime between 10.30am and 12.30pm. You can stay for as long as you like, but you don't have to stay for the whole session if you don't want to.
The idea of the group is to give carers somewhere to have a 'time out' from their caring role and the chance to meet other local carers for a chat and to share valuable advice and tips.
As well as meeting other carers socially, you'll also be able to meet a representative from Support for Carers.
Going forward, the group will meet every other month, on the third Monday of the month at Hinckley Library from 10.30am to 12.30pm.
If you have any questions please feel free to ring us on 0845 689 9510 or email [email protected]
Free Mencap seminar on Wills and Trusts - 19th March
Mencap, the UK's leading charity for people with learning difficulties and their carers, is holding a free seminar about Wills and Trusts at the Brite Centre, Braunstone Avenue, Leicester, LE3 1LE on Monday 19th March from 12.30pm to 2.30pm.
The event will be a chance for you to find out more about how to take care of someone with a learning disability when you are no longer around, by making a suitable Will or by setting up a Trust.
A local solicitor with experience of drafting Wills and Trusts for the benefit of people with a learning disability will be present, so this is an ideal opportunity to ask questions you may have regarding your current situation.
Anyone is very welcome to just go along to the event, there is no need to book.
To find out more about Mencap please visit the charity's website www.mencap.org.uk
Would you be interested to find out more about online social networking for carers?
We're thinking of teaming up with the WEA (Workers' Educational Association) to put on a course for carers - to show people how to use online social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter.
Is this something you'd be interested in?
The WEA is the largest voluntary sector provider of adult education in the UK and specialises in putting on friendly, informal, fun courses for adults. We're planning to work with the WEA to develop a course specifically for carers - so that carers can benefit more from using social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter.
As you know, these kind of online sites are a great way to talk to carers not just locally but around the world. However, many of us aren't sure how to use sites like Facebook, or don't really understand how they work.
If you'd be interested in attending a course please feel free to let us know so we can start planning!
We want the course to be practical and useful for carers so it would be great to have your ideas as to how many hours you could spare, how long the course should run for, where it should be held and what it should cover etc.
If you're on a low income there's a good chance you won't have to pay any course fees to study with the WEA and you may be entitled to further financial support. Click here to find out more
Please get in touch with us by calling the Support for Carers team on 0845 689 9510 or email [email protected]
New carers’ group for Hinckley
Support for Carers is holding new monthly drop-in sessions for carers in Hinckley starting on 16th April.
The new 'Time Out For Carers' group will meet at Hinckley Library between 10.30am and 12.30pm. Carers are very welcome to pop along anytime between 10.30am and 12.30pm - or stay for the whole session of course!
The sessions will aim to give carers a 'time out' from their caring role and a chance to meet other carers for a chat and to share valuable advice and tips.
As well as meeting carers socially, you will also be able to talk to a member of the Support for Carers team, and ask any questions you may have about being a carer.
To find out more about the new sessions please call Support for Carers on 0845 689 9510.
We look forward to meeting you at the first session on the 16th April!
NHS Campaign: Love Your Liver and Live Longer
The Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Primary Care Trust (PCT) Cluster are supporting a month long Love Your Liver campaign - encouraging people to look after their livers.
Advice includes staying off alcohol for two to three days at a time, avoiding fatty foods and taking regular exercise.
The liver helps to process fats and proteins from digested foods, removes and processes alcohol, poisons and toxins from the body and processes any medicines like painkillers and antibiotics.
Staying off alcohol for two to three days in a row keeps your total alcohol intake down and gives your liver time to recover.
Being overweight can triple your risk of liver disease if you drink alcohol too, so staying active and exercising regularly is important.
Cutting down on treats such as crisps, chocolate and sugary drinks will also help to optimise your liver function, as will ensuring your diet includes lots of fresh fruit and vegetables plus plenty of water.
For more information about the campaign visit www.loveyourliver.org.uk
Did you know there’s a free library home delivery service in Market Harborough?
If you or the person you care for enjoys reading or listening to books but can no longer get to the library, Market Harborough Library has the answer.
They offer a well-established home delivery service for people living within Market Harborough, which is run by volunteers.
You can have books and other library items delivered to you at home free of charge including books in both ordinary and large print, talking books on CD and now DVDs (for a one-off annual payment).
There is no complicated joining procedure either!
To find out more and to see if you're eligible for the scheme please call Gail or Amy at Market Harborough Library on 0116 305 3636.
General Library Information
Market Harborough Library
Adam & Eve Street
Market Harborough
Leicestershire
LE16 7LT
Tel. 0116 305 3627
Fax: 01858 467875
Opening Times
Monday 9.30am–8pm
Tuesday 9.30am–8pm
Wednesday 9.30am–5.30pm
Thursday 9.30am–8pm
Friday 9.30am–5.30 pm
Saturday 9.30am–5pm
Help if you’re struggling with winter fuel costs
Local charity, The Rural Community Council (Leicestershire and Rutland), is holding free energy advice sessions throughout the winter, designed to help you save money whilst keeping warm.
Staff from the charity have been trained to deliver the energy advice sessions as part of a national campaign called the Energy Best Deal Campaign which is being run by Citizens Advice with support from the energy regulator Ofgem. Since the campaign began in 2008, it's helped over 94,000 people - particularly those who are worried about rising fuel costs.
The sessions will be particularly beneficial to carers, especially if you're looking after someone who feels the cold and you're worried about winter fuel bills. For example, the sessions will show you how to find the best energy deal for you and any financial support you may be entitled to.
The next session is on Tuesday 17th January from 7pm to 8.30pm at Rutland County Council, Council Chamber, Catmose, Oakham, Rutland. Anyone is very welcome to attend this session. To find out more and to register your interest please contact John Preston on 0116 268 9707 or email [email protected]
If you can't attend this session please feel free to ring John for details of future sessions or watch this space for more!
The Rural Community Council is also arranging sessions for 'frontline workers' including staff and volunteers who can pass advice onto carers and the cared for. Please get in touch with John for more information.
An independent evaluation of the Energy Best Deal campaign showed that 80% of consumers said they would probably or definitely do something as a result of the session. 50% said they would contact their current energy supplier, 40% said they would look at other energy suppliers’ prices, and 38% said they would tell friends and family what they had learnt.
