Carer Support Service - News for Carers

Issue No. 96

June 2010/July 2010

Carers Week 14th - 18th June 2010

“A Life of My Own”

The Carers' Support Service invites you to celebrate National Carers' Week in Darlington. We are holding two events which will be held at Bondgate Methodist Church.

Tuesday 15th June 10.00am - 1.00pm

Thursday 17th June 12.00pm - 3.00pm

Fun events for all and please do come along.

Hobbies and crafts to see, tasters to try and people to meet.

Across the town, there will be information in all the GP Surgeries, please see Carer notice boards.

Staff will be free to talk to you during Carers' Week at the MacMillan Information Centre, which can be found at the main entrance of Darlington Memorial Hospital, on Monday 14th June 10am till 12am and Wednesday 16th June 1pm till 3pm.

Wednesday 16th June, 7pm meal at Scholars Restaurant, Darlington. Please contact Gayle May on 01325 346818.

Information about the Carers Emergency Card Scheme available throughout the week. Leaflets are available from ourselves or speak to Unique Home Care Limited on 01388 773884.

Fire Safety Checks

Darlington Fire Service are working in partnership with Carers' Support Service to ensure everyone's home is free from the risk of fire. They offer a home safety visit, if you are interested please contact Clair on 01325 357533 and we will pass your details to the Fire Service.

Caring with Confidence

We have received some great feed back from carers who attended the sessions. Carers found that it was very useful and resourceful, they enjoyed meeting other carers and have made new friends and would definitely recommend it to others. We are now taking bookings for September, please ring if interested.

Funding for Carers

There may be some additional money (approx £200,000) to help carers in Darlington. We would like your views on how it should be spent.

A few suggestions could be:

• alternative therapies to help you relax

• practical tasks to give you more time to spend on caring pay for someone to look after the person you care for, to give you a much needed break

• a holiday

• take part in leisure activities.

• Do you think some of it should be spent on identifying other carers?

Please ring Lisa Holdsworth on 01325 346490 with views or suggestions.

Chiropody Talk

A very informative and lively talk delivered by Louise Nelson, the clinical team leader for podiatry across the Durham and Darlington area. All carers who attended had the opportunity to ask questions and really benefitted from full and informed answers. We hold a leaflet.

Consultation Opportunity

Carers are being asked to take part in a consultation survey by Kings College London available until the end of July. It is a great chance for carers to influence future respite / replacement care services. You must be caring for an adult aged between 18-70 years old who has a neurological condition. Further details obtainable from David Williams tel. 020 7848 5418 or visit Carers Study

Diary Dates

Please note: All groups will now meet at Evolution offices in Church Row in the Redworth room.

Tuesday 1st June: Nordic walk taster, 10.30am. Phone to book place

Thursday 3rd June: Dementia Carers' Support Group, 1.30 - 3.00pm. Speaker: Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)

Tuesday 8th June: General walk. 10.30am. Phone to book place

Thursday 10th June: Relaxation, 1.30 - 3.00pm.

Thursday 24th June: Mental Health Carers Group, 12.30 - 2.00pm. Speaker: Getting Everyone Motivated (G.E.M)

Thursday 1st July: Dementia Carers' Support Group 1.30 - 3.00pm. Speaker: Representative from Alzheimer's Society

Thursday 8th July: Relaxation, 1.30 - 3.00pm.

Thursday 29th July: Mental Health Carers Group, 12.30 - 2.00pm. Speaker: Arts & Crafts Session (Open Art Studio)

Thursday 5th August: Dementia Carers' Support Group 1.30 - 3.00pm. Speaker: Representative from Primary Care Trust.

Carers Darlington:

Tuesdays: Weekly Drop-in at Age Concern, Bradbury House, 10.00am - 12.00 noon.

Fridays: Weekly Drop-in at Age Concern, Bradbury House, 12.00 noon - 2.00pm.