News items from February 2012
Calling all carers - Carers’ Forum, 27th March, Coalville
Support for Carers is holding a Carers' Forum on Tuesday 27th March from 10.30am to 12.30pm at the Marlene Reid Centre, 85 Belvoir Road, Coalville, LE67 3PH.
The event is free and is open to all carers, cared for and anyone who works/volunteers with carers or cared for.
Guest speakers will include a representative from the Local Pension Service talking about Carers' Allowance and Personal Independence Payments and Mander Cruickshank Solicitors, who will be discussing Wills and Probate.
Parking is available at James Street car park on Belvoir Road (please note there is a charge for using this car park).
To find out more or to let us know you'd like to attend the event please call us on 0845 689 9510 or email [email protected]
This is our third Carers' Forum - we've previously held forums in South Wigston and Huncote.
Read more about our Carers' Forum in South Wigston
Read more about our Carers' Forum in Huncote
Do you know of someone who would like help to get online?
We're really keen to help as many carers as possible to get online. Can you help?
The internet can be a great source of information, help and support for carers whilst knowing how to use online forums or social networking sites such as Facebook can give carers the chance to chat with other carers, even when they can't leave the house.
If you know of someone who could benefit from being online, but needs some help to learn how to use a computer or the internet, please pass on the information below - thank you!
We're hoping to plan our own course for carers in partnership with the WEA, the largest voluntary sector provider of adult education in the UK. Because we want the course to be right for carers, please tell us what you'd like to learn, where you think the course should be held, and when it's best for you to take part, for example, daytimes or evenings? You can call us on 0845 689 9510 (calls charged at local rates) or email [email protected]
In the meantime, there are also lots of beginners IT courses available at your local library. There are a variety of discounts and learner support funds available if you can't afford the full fee. If you're eligible for a discount, you could get up to 100% of your course fees paid so it's well worth taking a look at what's on offer where you live.
You can find out more at www.leics.gov.uk/golearn or call 0800 988 0308 (freephone number).
Help available from your local library
Did you know that your local library can be a big source of free help and support - both for you as a carer and for the person you care for?
Most local libraries provide the following types of services:
Fiction and non-fiction books including Health and Wellbeing
CDs, DVDs and talking books available to rent for a small cost
Newspapers and magazines
Computers and free internet access plus courses for beginners
Information about other local services and forthcoming events
Plus:
Help with looking for work etc
Services for children such as homework clubs and story time/songs for under 5s
Reading groups
All Leicestershire libraries are accessible for people with disabilities and have baby changing facilities.
To find your nearest library call 0116 305 6988 or visit www.leics.gov.uk/libraries
Public Meeting on the future of the NHS - 17th March, Leicester
Are you worried or confused about the Government's planned changes to the NHS?
Come along and find out more at a Public Meeting about the NHS on Saturday 17th March from 2pm at the Adult Education Centre, Wellington Street, Leicester.
Guest speakers will include Jon Ashworth MP and John Lister from London Health Emergency.
Concerns about the Government's plans for the NHS include:
Will the NHS be privatised?
Will people have to pay for services that they currently receive free of charge?
Will profits come before care?
The Royal College of Nurses, the Royal College of Midwives, the Royal College of GPs, the Royal College of Radiologists, the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, the British Medical Association, the Royal College of Psychiatrists, the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and the Faculty of Public Health are all opposed to the Government's plans.
Click here to find out more details
Directory of useful contacts for carers
One of our volunteers has very kindly updated our directory of useful contacts for carers in Leicestershire.
You'll find details for all kinds of local organisations who can help you - and the person you care for.
Click here to download the directory as a Word document
Community Health and Wellbeing event - Oadby
Leicestershire County and Rutland Community Health Services is holding a Community Health and Wellbeing event at Oadby Library, 10 The Parade, Oadby on Tuesday 6th March from 10am to 12.30pm.
The event will include BMI and blood pressure checks from Lloyds Pharmacy, health advice, hand massage, Indian Head Massage, seated exercise and laughter yoga and a talk from Oadby and Wigston In Bloom.
You'll also be able to pick up advice and information from charities including Age Concern, Community Food, Helping Hands Rotary, VISTA and Voluntary Action. To find out more please call 0116 305 8763 or visit www.leics.gov.uk/healthandwellbeing
Please note: BMI and blood pressure checks are by appointment.
Group for disabled adults in Harborough
If you care for a physically or sensory disabled adult and live in Market Harborough why not encourage them to go along to the Alternative Choices group?
It meets on Thursdays from 10am to 2pm at the Evangelical Church on Bath Street and is very much guided by its members. For example, it has speakers, music and crafts and occasional outings.
The group has the benefit of two carers and some great volunteer helpers. Tea, coffee and biscuits are provided, but lunch is not included in the cost. Transport may be available.
To find out more email [email protected] or call Fiona on 01858 433232.
Do you attend the Coping with Cancer group in Harborough? It’s moved!
Please note, the Coping with Cancer complementary therapy support group in Harborough now meets at Lubenham Village Hall, Laughton Road, Lubenham, Market Harborough on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month from 1.30pm to 4pm.
If you haven't been before, Coping with Cancer is a local charity offering practical and emotional support to cancer patients and their carers in Leicestershire and Rutland. The charity runs complementary therapy support groups in a calm and relaxed atmosphere, offering aromatherapy, reflexology, Indian head massage and Reiki. Treatments and refreshments are free of charge.
To find out more call Lucy on 0116 223 0055 or visit the Coping with Cancer website.
Looking for specialist equipment?
If you're looking for equipment for the person you care for, you may be interested to know that there's a new Enable Me™ Centre based in South Wigston.
The Centre includes solutions for independent living, from daily living aids to home adaptations. The Centre also provides advice, information and demonstrations to help you choose the most suitable equipment for your needs.
For example, you can see demonstrations of home adaptation equipment in action, such as a Stannah stairlift, a through-the-floor lift, bathing aids in a bathroom area and a range of rise and recline chairs.
You can buy products direct from the Centre or by mail order, or you can use the Centre's computer facilities to order online if you prefer.
The Enable Me™ Centre is open Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 4.30pm and can be found at:
NRS Community Equipment Services
Units K, L, M
Wilson Road
South Wigston
Leicester
LE18 4TP
Free, off-road parking is available.
If you wish to discuss your needs prior to visiting, please telephone Julie on 0844 893 6956. Group visits are welcome but please telephone to arrange a convenient time and date.
Please click here for more details
Alzheimer’s support groups around Leicestershire
Do you care for someone with Alzheimer’s? Would you like to get out and about and talk to other carers?
Here’s a list of Alzheimer’s groups running around Leicestershire – all of which welcome carers, families and the cared for. The groups are free but there’s normally a small charge for refreshments.
Bluebells Dementia Café – meets on the 2nd Thursday of the month from 2pm to 4pm at Groby Village Hall, Leicester Road, Groby
Forget Me Not Dementia Café – meets on the 1st Wednesday of the month from 2pm to 4pm at Countesthorpe Library, Station Road, Countesthorpe
The Teapot Dementia Café meets on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month from 10am to 12pm at Age UK, Kings Walk, Earl Shilton
The Memory Box Dementia Café meets on the 1st and 3rd Friday of the month from 10am to 12pm at the One Stop Shop, Gilmorton Road, Lutterworth
To find out more call Gurjit on 0845 689 9510 or email [email protected]
Have your say on the Bradgate Involvement Centre
Have you used or visited the Patient Involvement Centre at the Bradgate Mental Health Unit?
Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, who runs the Centre, would like to find out what people think of it, so they can continue to improve it.
The Centre opened in March last year to provide a dedicated space for mental health and learning disability service users and carers, where they can meet, book space, network and receive support and advice from peers and from voluntary and statutory organisations.
The Centre also has a cafe, computers, phones, internet access, meeting spaces and a number of displays and leaflets. Service users can also use the Centre to access advice on things like employment and benefits.
If you'd like to let the Trust know what you think of the Centre please download and complete the Survey and return it to the Trust by Monday 27th February. Your views could help to improve the Centre for other service users in the future.
Did you know?
The Centre is run by volunteers.
To find out more please call Samantha Quinn, Patient Experience & Partnerships Manager, on 0116 295 7688, email [email protected] or write to/visit:
Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust
Lakeside House
4 Smith Way
Grove Park
LE19 1SS
You can visit the Trust's website at www.leicspt.nhs.uk
Do you have concerns about Personalisation?
Do you still have concerns about Personalisation? Are you in control of your Personal Budget?
Leicester LINk is running an event for anyone affected by these issues on Thursday 16th February from 10am to 3.30pm at the Leicestershire Centre for Integrated Living, 5 - 9 Upper Brown Street, Leicester, LE1 5TE.
Leicester LINk is a local organisation that helps to give people a say in how health and social care services are delivered in Leicestershire - especially people who use those services and their carers.
The event aims to make Choice and Control a reality - by giving you practical guidance and ideas about your Support Plan.
Refreshment and lunch will be provided.
To find out more and to book your place please call the Leicester LINk office on 0116 279 5075 or email [email protected]
Download the event poster for more details
New national website for carers
Carewell is a new website for carers - featuring information, support, guidance and tips from carers and health experts.
The idea behind the website is to improve carers' health and quality of life. For example, the website includes a section called 'Energy to Care' which is packed with useful tips and guidance on how to manage stress levels, get a better night's sleep, eat healthily and get more exercise - taking into account that carers have a very busy schedule and don't often have enough time for themselves.
Carewell is a partnership between Bupa, Carers UK and MEND. The website will be developed in line with what carers actually want so why not go and have a look and let Carewell know what you think?
More than anything, Carewell is keen to get tips from carers - which they can then pass onto other carers, via the website. If you've got a valuable experience or piece of advice to pass on, why not share it with carers around the UK?
Click here to visit the Carewell website
Click here to visit the Carewell carers' forum and have your say
National Carers Week Survey - have your say and help make a difference!
Calling all carers!
Ahead of Carers Week 2012, the charities behind the event are asking carers throughout the UK to take part in a survey.
The survey will take around 15 minutes to complete and your experiences and opinions will shape Carers Week 2012, which is on from 18th - 24th June.
Carers Week is a partnership of 9 national charities including Age UK, Carers UK, Counsel & Care, Crossroads Care, Dementia UK, Macmillan Cancer Support, MS Society, Parkinson's UK and The Princess Royal Trust for Carers.
If you're an unpaid carer, this is your chance to tell Carers Week what you think is important - so they can help to campaign for carers everywhere.
You can complete the survey anonymously if you wish to and all the information you supply will be processed by Carers Week in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998. Any reports published using this information will not contain any personal information.
The theme for this year's Carers Week is 'In Sickness and in Health' including:
How does caring impact on carers' health and wellbeing?
How much have the cuts to local services impacted on carers' health and wellbeing?
What could really make a difference to your life as a carer?
Finally, a plea from Carers Week:
Please tell other carers about the survey and encourage them to fill it in - to ensure that carers' voices are heard loud and clear!
Click here to complete the survey
Do you care for someone with dementia?
Jacqui from Support for Carers is going along to a Dementia Summit on 8th February and you're very welcome to go along too, especially if you care for someone with dementia.
The Summit is called Improving Lives: A Partnership Approach to Dementia and it'll include a film about dementia and talks by special guests, including a dementia carer. Plus, the event will launch the joint Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland dementia strategy, which aims to create ongoing improvements in dementia care for local people. Carers and service users helped to shape the new strategy.
The event is on during the morning of 8th February, at the King Power Stadium.
We understand it's difficult for carers to get along to these kinds of events which is why Jacqui is going. We'll report back to you after the event and will aim to keep you up to date with any changes to local dementia care.
Click here for more information about the event
Help shape your Local HealthWatch
As you know, the Government is planning to make big changes to the NHS. For example, responsiblity for making decisions is already passing from regional 'Trusts' to GP-led consortia or groups.
To make sure that everyone, including individuals, get a say in these changes, Leicestershire is developing a Local HealthWatch organisation.
If you'd like to find out more or get involved, you can go along to a HealthWatch Engagement Event on 14th March from 10am to 4pm at Voluntary Action Leicestershire, Newarke Street, Leicester.
The event will be a chance for you to help shape Local HealthWatch and meet the organisations behind it, including Local Authorities and local LINks - umbrella organisations that bring together networks, organisations and individuals in Leicestershire to give them a voice in improving Health and Social Care Services.
What will Local HealthWatch do?
Local HealthWatch will ensure that everyone has a voice in how health and social care services are changing - including carers and the cared for. It will also feedback what local people need and want to GP Consortia and report concerns about the quality of local services to HealthWatch England for example.
If you'd like to go along please call 0116 279 5075 to book a place or for more information.
Click here to find out more on the Leicestershire LINk website
