News items from April 2012
Loughborough conference on Asperger Syndrome
Translate is a volunteer-run organisation addressing the needs of all people affected by Asperger Syndrome in adults. Its central focus is to break down the barriers to understanding between those with the condition and those without.
The Loughborough-based group was launched in June 2008 by husband and wife Paul and Jo Sandford, after Paul was diagnosed with the condition in his early forties (supported by the Leicestershire branch of the National Autistic Society).
Translate is holding a one-day conference on Friday 18th May from 9.30am to 4pm called 'Communication and Asperger Syndrome - Issues and Strategies' at Loughborough Town Hall, Market Place, Loughborough, LE11 3EB - for anyone with the condition, their friends and family and people with an interest in Asperger Sydrome including professionals, charities and volunteers.
Guest speakers will include Brenda Smith Myles, a Consultant at the Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence and Dr Luke Beardon, a Senior Lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University.
The event will also include a range of practical workshops.
Tickets cost £30 for individuals with Asperger Syndrome and their friends/family and £90 for professionals with an interest in the condition.
To find out more or to book please visit the Translate website or call 01509 554 797 or email [email protected]
Have your say on local health services in East Leicestershire & Rutland
East Leicestershire and Rutland Clinical Commissioning Group (ELR CCG) is a group of GPs from 34 practices in the south and east of Leicestershire and Rutland serving over 318,000 patients in Melton, Rutland, Market Harborough, Blaby District, Lutterworth and Oadby and Wigston. The group works together to improve the quality and delivery of services for patients and to reduce health inequalities across the area.
The group is currently reviewing how community services are provided locally and it wants YOU to have your say by completing a short survey.
It wants to make sure that patients receive the best care by offering services which are local, cost effective and delivered as close to home as possible. In East Leicestershire and Rutland there are a number of community hospitals and other venues delivering healthcare services, including:
· Market Harborough District Hospital
· St Luke’s Hospital, Market Harborough
· Rutland Memorial Hospital
· Feilding Palmer Hospital, Lutterworth
· Melton Mowbray Hospital and St Mary’s Maternity Hospital
· GP Practices e.g. Syston Health Centre
With these in mind, the group would like to find out your thoughts and suggestions on what you want from your community services. They are particularly interested in finding out your thoughts on elective care services (treatment and surgery which is pre-arranged and not urgent) and the Minor Injury Units.
Click here to take part in the survey online (closes 13th May 2012)
Or, if you would like translations, large print, hard copies or easy read versions please call Penny Harris on 0116 295 7571 or email [email protected]
Please return hard copies to Get Involved, Freepost RRUE-JRBR-RGGT, NHS Leicester City, St Johns House, 30 East Street, Leicester, LE1 6NB by the 13th May 2012.
Alzheimer’s Society support groups - latest news including new group for North West Leicestershire
Do you care for someone with Alzheimer's? Would you like to meet other carers in a similar situation to you whilst getting help and support from the Alzheimer's Society?
The Alzheimer's Society runs Carer Support Groups around Leicestershire - plus groups for people with Alzheimer's and their carers.
Here's a list of groups running at the moment:
Carer Support Groups
NEW! Starting on Monday 21st May to coincide with Dementia Awareness Week - the Alzheimer's Society is starting a Carer Support Group at Legion House, South Street, Ashby de la Zouch. The group will meet on the 3rd Monday of every month (starting on 21st May) from 1.30pm to 3pm.
The Loughborough Alzheimer's Society Carer Support Group meets on the 4th Wednesday of every month from 1.30pm to 3pm at Trinity Methodist Church, Royland Road, Loughborough.
The Market Harborough Alzheimer's Society Carer Support Group meets on the 1st Thursday of every month from 1.30pm to 3pm at Brooklands Gardens Day Centre, Walcot Road, Market Harborough.
Support groups for people with Alzheimer's/dementia and their carers
The Poppies Dementia Cafe meets on the 1st Monday of every month from 10.30am to 12 noon at Syston Community Centre, School Street, Syston.
The Blaby District Drop-in meets on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month from 10am to 12 noon at The Pavilion, Sportsfield Lane, Huncote.
The Younger People with Dementia Evening meets on the 3rd Monday of the month from 7pm to 8.30pm at Braunstone Civic Centre, Kingsway, Braunstone Town.
To find out more about any of the groups above please call Laurie Woodruff, Dementia Support Worker, Alzheimer's Society on 0116 231 1114 or 07889 604233 or email [email protected]
Please click here for details of other Alzheimer's/dementia support groups in Leicestershire
Has the person you care for been in hospital recently?
Has the person you care for recently been to the Leicester General, Glenfield or Royal Infirmary hospital?
What did you think of the hospital and the care given?
University Hospitals of Leicester, the NHS trust that runs the hospitals, is asking carers to complete a short online survey to help it improve its services - not only for patients but for carers and families too. The survey is anonymous and you won't need to give your name or any personal details.
Click here to complete the survey online and have your say.
Your feedback could help other carers and families in a similar situation.
Have you been affected by stroke? The Stroke Association could help
Around 150,000 people in the UK have a stroke every year.
A quarter of a million people are living with long-term disability as a result of stroke and it has a greater disability impact than any other medical condition.
The Stroke Association
As well as providing information and support to help people affected by stroke and their carers, UK charity the Stroke Association, also campagins to raise awareness of stroke generally.
Plus, it acts as a voice for everyone affected by stroke and funds research into prevention, treatment and better methods of rehabilitation.
It also helps stroke patients and their carers and families by providing Life After Stroke Services, which include information, advice, support, communication support and grants.
Click here to find out more about the symptoms of stroke and what you can do to lower your risk of being affected
Click here to find out more about the Stroke Association or call the Stroke Helpline on 0303 303 3100 from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday or email [email protected]
Click here to find out what services the Stroke Association offers near you
You can write to the Stroke Association at Life After Stroke Centre, Church Lane, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, B61 8RA.
We’re launching a new project and we’re looking for volunteers
We're launching a new project on Wednesday 25th April in Melton Mowbray - in partnership with the local branches of Age UK and the Alzheimer's Society.
Together, we're launching a new group called 'Friends of Carers' - with the aim of giving people whose caring role has come to an end the chance to maintain their links with the Alzheimer's Society and/or Support for Carers and other carers they have met at groups like the Alzheimer's Society Carers Support Group or Wednesday Ensemble Social Club (WESC).
In addition, the group will also help to raise funds for local charities and will help us, the Alzheimer's Society and Age UK to raise awareness of the issues around caring.
The Friends of Carers group will meet on the last Wednesday of every month, from around 3.15pm to 4.45pm, in the small lounge at Gloucester House, 3 Norman Way, Melton Mowbray, LE13 1JE directly after the current Alzheimer's Society Carers Support Group meeting.
Has your caring role come to an end because you've lost the person you cared for?
You're very welcome to come along to the group.
There's some good advice on coping with the emotional and practical aspects of bereavement and the end of your caring role on the NHS Choices website including links to other sources of support and carers' stories - so you can hear how other carers have coped in similar situations.
We're looking for volunteers
We'd like to recruit a small team of volunteers to lead the Friends of Carers project. Appropriate training will be available plus ongoing support from us and the Alzheimer's Society.
Volunteer duties will include tasks such as:
• Setting up the room
• Purchasing refreshments prior to meeting (cost to be met by Friends of Carers)
• Welcoming members of the group, particularly first timers
• Helping with refreshments during the meeting
• Tidying room after the meeting
• Being a point of contact that people can be referred to for more information about the group
• Liaising with the Alzheimer's Society and Support for Carers Leicestershire regarding fundraising events
• Liaising with the Alzheimer's Society and Support for Carers Leicestershire regarding rising awareness locally of the issues about living with dementia or caring for someone.
If you are interested in volunteering for the above role/s or would like more information please contact Lynn Orridge on 01664 561244 or email [email protected] as soon as possible.
Enjoy knitting and live in South Wigston?
The Big Knits is a small group of ladies who knit for charity. At the moment they are knitting for neo-natal centres (premature babies) in the UK. So far they have knitted two blankets, six hats and 53 pairs of bootees. Anyone is welcome to join the group for a knit and a chat on Tuesdays at the Bassett Centre, Bassett Street, South Wigston, LE18 4PE from 2pm. Tea, coffee, biscuits and wool are provided free. To find out more contact Sue on 0116 278 4230.
Do you use the Northfield Medical Centre in Blaby?
As you may be aware, there is new government NHS legislation which will affect how GP practices like Northfield are funded.
These changes are important, not only to the Centre, but to patients as well.
The Northfield Medical Practice Patient Participation Group (PPG) gives patients the chance to air their views on issues such as the appointment system and telephone access.
The Centre is very keen to work in partnership with patients - especially at this time of change.
If you'd like to get involved by joining the group or to have your say please contact the Chair of the group, Mick McNeill by emailing [email protected]
New walking/photography group for adults with learning disabilities starting 26th April
A new group for adults with learning disabilities is starting on Thursday 26th April in Huncote.
The group is called Snap and Stroll and it will go on fortnightly walks to give people the chance to photograph various locations around the districts of Blaby and Oadby and Wigston. Carers are welcome too.
Walks will last around an hour, are wheelchair friendly, free to attend and suitable for all abilities. You don't need any experience of photography to join in, beginners are welcome.
To find out more go along to the group's first meeting on Thursday 26th April at 11am at The Pavilion in Huncote (where the first walk will start from) or email Eleanor Blackwell/Sporting Change Team on 0116 272 7670 or email [email protected].
Personal Independence Payment replacing Disability Living Allowance
Did you know?
From 2013 the Government is proposing to introduce a new benefit called Personal Independence Payment for eligible working age people aged 16 to 64 to replace Disability Living Allowance (DLA).
The Government's intention is that Personal Indepedence Payment will focus support to those individuals who experience the greatest challenges to remanining independent and leading full, active and independent lives.
The Government is currently consulting the public on Personal Independence Payment - and there's still time to have your say:
Click here to take part in the Consultation
Find out more - frequently asked questions about Personal Independence Payment
The national organisation Disability Rights UK has produced a useful guide about Personal Independence Payment, which should help to answer more of your questions.
‘Never too old to learn’ - event for older people interested in adult learning
To celebrate Adult Learners' Week 2012 - Leicestershire's Older People's Engagement Network (OPEN) and NIACE, a national organisation promoting adult learning, are holding a special event called 'Never too old to learn!'
Anyone who is interested in adult learning is welcome to go along to find out more and to hear the experiences of older learners - who will be talking about topics including Storytelling Skills, Family History, Seated Exercise and what is it that older learners want? Plus they'll be plenty of information and free refreshments provided.
The event is on Monday 30th April from 10.30am to 3.30pm at St Bartholomew's Church Hall, Main Street, Kirby Muxloe, LE9 2AL.
To book your place at the event please call Liz McGregor on 0116 233 4243or email [email protected]
Are you a young carer looking after someone with mental health difficulties?
'Labelled' is a group of young people from Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland who care, or are part of a family who cares for, a loved one who is experiencing difficulties with their mental health.
Anyone aged up to 25 years is welcome to join the group.
'Labelled' aims to provide a safe place where a young person can receive support from their peers and be referred to other services where needed.
The group also provides training, counselling and coaching.
'Labelled' holds a drop-in on Saturdays at The Water Shed, Bede Island, Upperton Road, Leicester, LE2 7AU from 12 noon to 2pm.
The group explains:
Young people are often put into a caring situation without the support or information needed to ensure the safety of the person they care for, or themselves.
175,000 young people are carers. Of these, 80% may become service users and over 70% have been bullied.
Our intention is to stop this now. It's a huge issue but one we are not afraid to take on - we can change the world one step at a time.
You can find out more about 'Labelled' via Facebook or by emailing [email protected] or call Rose on 07817 771636.
Labelled works in partnership with the Young Minds charity - to fight stigma and discrimination around mental health.
Young Minds is the UK’s leading charity committed to improving the emotional wellbeing and mental health of children and young people - and you'll find lots of information and advice on its website.
If you know of a young person who could benefit from 'Labelled' or Young Minds - please pass this on.
Coping with our son’s addiction - one couple’s story
We recently reported on a support group in Leicestershire called Snowdrops, that helps people living with or affected by someone else's drug or alcohol use.
A couple who have had this experience very kindly shared it with us via this letter, in the hope that it may inspire other people in a similar situation.
We'd like to thank them for their openness, honesty and wisdom and we're sure anyone reading this will agree, it'll hopefully reach out to others who are trying to cope on their own.
Our son is an addict...
What have we done to cause this?
This question kept going over and over in our minds.
We were feeling guilt, shame and isolation.
We didn’t want anyone to know about our situation.
We tried to keep up the pretence that all was well.
We stopped inviting people to our home and lost touch with friends and family members.
Our whole lives revolved around trying to cope with the everyday chaos and keeping our emotions on an even level.
Trying to keep our daily routine of work and school as well as trying to keep the addict out of trouble, by paying off his debts so that he didn’t have to steal. Ferrying him around from one appointment to another to try and find help for him. All of this was wearing us down and having a devastating effect on our marriage and well being of our other children.
We saw Snowdrops advertised in the local paper but couldn’t bring ourselves to go to the group. We didn’t want to be judged, we might meet someone we knew. Looking back I wished we had plucked up the courage to go then, it could have saved us a lot of heartache. Two or three years down the line we met two members of the group who invited us to an open evening where we met lots of lovely people all experiencing similar problems.
At Snowdrops we found support, advice and most of all people who were willing to listen when we were ready to talk and nobody judged us.
We now understand we can’t change our son but we can change the way we react to him. We can still be there for him without enabling him and when he’s ready to change his life we will be ready to support him.
We want this letter to be anonymous because we still don’t feel comfortable with people knowing our situation.
At Snowdrops everyone is known only by their first names and what is said in the group stays in the group.
Click here to find out more about Snowdrops
Are you a carer in your 30s, 40s or 50s? Do you feel left out by carers’ organisations?
Diane Claridge from the Support for Carers team asks...
Are we missing something?
As I was driving back from the Bottesford Time Out for Carers Group last week I was listening to the Jeremy Vine show on Radio 2.
He was interviewing a man from Lincolnshire whose wife had early onset dementia and was now living in a residential care home despite only being in her early 40s. This prompted several other people to call in who had similar experiences caring for a loved one who had illnesses or disabilities in their 30s, 40s or 50s. One gentleman said he felt that ‘younger’ carers were not catered for by carers’ organisations. He commented that there is support for Young Carers (under 18) and he had tried local carers groups but had found it was mainly more mature people attending who he could not relate to.
This made me wonder if we are missing something at Support for Carers Leicestershire and whether there is a group of carers who may be feeling isolated because they work or their contemporaries are working and people generally don’t understand their home situation.
If this sounds like you we would love to hear from you to see if there is some kind of support network we could set up?
Maybe an online forum or an evening social group would suit you, let us know your thoughts and ideas so we can see how we can help.
The following support is already available:
Younger Parkinson's Network (Leicestershire)
Contact Gina Ward on 0116 231 2911
Alzheimer's Society
Contact Laurie Woodruff – 0116 231 1114
YPWD – Younger People with Dementia (daytime) Social Group
Support group for carers of younger people with dementia - to meet with their partners for activities, social events etc.
YPWD (evening) carers' group
Opportunity for carers to meet, share experiences , speakers, outings etc.
www.alzheimers.org.uk
Talking Point – this is an online forum with various topics specifically for younger people with early onset dementia and their carers.
Free suicide awareness training - 20th April
Are you worried about someone who may be at risk of suicide or would you like to raise your awareness about it?
The Suicide Awareness Partnership Training (SAPT) project offers free training in suicide awareness throughout the East Midlands, including Leicestershire - with the aim of increasing awareness and helping to remove the stigma which can be a barrier for those in need of help.
The next free training session for Leicestershire is on Friday 20th April from 9am to 12.45pm at Foxton Village Hall, Middle Street, Foxton, Leicestershire, LE16 7RE.
Anyone is welcome to attend the event whether you're worried about someone who may be at risk of suicide and you'd like to know how you might be able to help, or you'd like to find out more about likely suicide risk factors and warning signs, or you just want to understand more and raise your own awareness. The training will also explore attitudes to suicide and the myths surrounding it.
The event will include refreshments and a buffet lunch (at 12.45pm).
Although the training is free places are likely to be limited so please book your place in advance by calling Mike Wilbur on 0116 268 9712 or email [email protected].
Alternatively, click here to download a booking form
Your chance to have a say on local community hospitals - 1st May
The Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust is inviting carers and cared for to a public forum on 1st May to hear about its plans for community hospitals in the future.
There are two opportunities to attend the event, which will include a presentation about the proposed future vision and 'brand' for the in-patient services provided by community hospitals in Leicestershire and Rutland.
Some work has already taken place to review what the hospitals do and identify potential areas for improvment. The work has also looked at the image and reputation of the hospitals and how well their role in the care of older people is understood.
The review has resulted in recommendations that the Trust would like to share with you, so that it can capture your thoughts and feedback on the proposed way forward.
The event will be held at 2.30pm on Tuesday 1st May at the Coalville Community Hospital (Training Room), Broom Leys Road, Coalville, LE67 4DE and at 6pm on Tuesday 1st May in the Coffee Bar at the Settling Rooms, St Mary's Place, Market Harborough.
Refreshments will be provided and forms will be available should you wish to claim travelling expenses.
To confirm a place at the event please contact Bernadette Somerset on 0116 295 7689 or email [email protected]
Drop-in event for carers - 16th April at Hinckley Library
If you're taking care of a friend, family member or loved one because they need help with their day-to-day lives, why not come along to our next drop-in event for carers?
It's on Monday 16th April from 10.30am to 12.30pm at Hinckley Library, Lancaster Road, Hinckley LE10 0AT.
You'll be able to meet a member of the Support for Carers team and find out more about the help and support that's available to you as a carer.
The event is free and you're welcome to drop-in at any time - you don't have to stay for the whole event if it's not convenient for you.
We hope to see you there!
