News items from August 2015
Do you care for someone with psychosis or schizophrenia?
King's College, London (KCL) has recently developed a new online course, focused on some of the relevant issues for carers of people with psychosis and schizophrenia. The course is free and open to anyone interested in psychosis and caregiving issues, particularly carers, all you need to do is register. The course starts on 12th October and is based on you studying for around 3-4 hours a week. You can study how you like, in your own time.
The two-week course is designed to offer an in-depth understanding of some of the key issues and questions relevant to carers supporting people with psychotic disorders, including:
Why is schizophrenia commonly described as psychosis?
How can we best understand psychosis and its key symptoms such as hearing voices?
What are the links between cannabis use and developing psychosis?
Can psychosis affect physical health?
How do medications work and what effects can they have?
In what ways are siblings of people with psychosis affected?
How can psychosis affect a carer’s health and their relationships?
The course includes a mixture of activities such as talking head videos, quizzes, written texts and opportunities for moderated discussions between learners. It will be the first time a course like this has been developed for carers. The course includes people with lived experience of caring and a number of leading national and international academics and clinicians from psychology, psychiatry, pharmacy and nursing including: Professor Elizabeth Kuipers (Chair of the NICE Guidelines for Psychosis and Schizophrenia) Professor Sir Robin Murray (Chair of the Schizophrenia Commission) Professor David Taylor (Author of the Maudsley Prescribing Guidelines) Professor Mike Slade (Author of 100 ways to support recovery) Dr Fiona Gaughran (Lead Clinician, National Psychosis Unit) Dr Nadine Keen (Consultant Clinical Psychologist for the PICuP psychological therapies service).
No previous knowledge of psychosis or experience of caring is required to take the course. You can listen to a carer talking about the course here
Do you care for someone with Autism?
FREE exercise classes for adults living with dementia or Alzheimer’s
Charnwood Borough Council is running FREE exercise classes for adults living with dementia or Alzheimer's on Fridays from 11.30am to 12.30pm at Loughborough Leisure Centre, Browns Lane, Loughborough, LE11 3HE until 11th September 2015.
The classes involve aerobic, strengthening and stretching exercises, and will be customised to your needs, conditions and abilities. They are held in a private studio environment, led by trained and qualified members of staff.
To find out more:
Email [email protected] or [email protected]
Call 01509 632535
Due to limited space you need to contact them in advance if you would like to attend a class.
Carers Engagement Event - Leicester
The Hospitals of Leicester are holding a free event for carers on 4th November from 9am to 4pm at Devonshire Place, London Road, Leicester - where you'll be able to find out how hospitals are improving things for carers, have your say on what else could be done, meet other carers and find out more about services and support for carers in your community.
Free falls prevention programme
Does the person you care for have a fear of falling?
Are they 65+ and living in Leicestershire?
Would they like help to gain confidence with daily living skills and take more control of everyday life?
Olive Green Leisure's FaLL (Fit and Live Longer) Falls Prevention Programme is a free programme for elderly people who struggle to get out and about in their local community because they have a fear of falling, reduced mobility, lack of confidence/motivation or poor support networks.
The programme is designed to help give them a better quality of life, increase their ability to manage daily living, develop new interests, increase friendship circles and improve mobility and self confidence.
Initially, Olive Green Leisure will work with them in their own home, then support them to access opportunities in their local community. The programme is delivered by Olive Green Leisure, working with Leicestershire County Council.
To find out more:
Call: Julie Robinson, Postural Stability Instructor, on 07740373474
Email: [email protected]
Do you care for someone with dementia?
Just to let you know, the Dementia Cafe in Market Harborough has recently updated it's details on our website
Do you care for someone with Parkinson’s?
Would they like to feel more energetic and lively and take a positive step to improve their health?
The Active Together team at Charnwood Borough Council are running Chair Based Exercise sessions for people with Parkinson's on Mondays 14th, 21st and 28th September, 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th October and 2nd November from 1pm-2pm at Gorse Covert Community Centre, Maxwell Drive, Loughborough, LE11 4RZ.
They describe it as 'a fun, social class which can help improve balance, coordination and mobility'. Why not go along and give it a try?
To find out more call the team on 01509 632535 or email [email protected]
