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Just for Carers You Care, We Care Winter 2019 What’s inside: • Welcome • Carers Rights Day • Carers stories • News and info • Health and wellbeing • Training courses • What’s on Save Paper, Save the Environment Receive your copy of the magazine by email: contact 03456 434 435 also available online www.devoncarers.org.uk www.devoncarers.org.uk 03456 434 435 Welcome to the Devon Carers magazine! Providing you with all the latest news, top tips, carers stories, training courses, upcoming events and information, to help support you in your role as an unpaid carer. For those of you new to Devon Carers, we support unpaid carers to maintain their own health, wellbeing and independence, by providing them with the information and advice they need in their caring role. Visit www.devoncarers.org.uk to find out more about our services including: • Carers Assessments • Carer and Peer Support Groups • Training courses • Alert card • Carers Hospital Service • Online services: webchat with our helpline, magazine, training and the pod • Get involved by becoming a Carer Ambassador or Volunteer • The latest news, events, carers articles, information and so much more! Please note: Services are provided on behalf of Devon County Council, if you don’t want your information recorded on their systems please inform our helpline t: 03456 434 435. We welcome your thoughts with regards to items you’d like to see included in our future magazines - please email us: e: [email protected] 2 Be prepared for winter - utilities priority services If there is someone living in your home who has a long term health condition or is vulnerable and would be effected if your electricity and water supply was interrupted, you can apply to be on the priority register. In the event of your water or electricity supply being interrupted (for example due to a burst water main, or a pylon down due to a storm) the utilities companies will be able to give you priority support when you need it. For water: Phone South West Water on 0344 346 1010 or minicom 0800 169 9965 (Text Relay is also available). Or you can apply online: https://www.southwestwater.co.uk/ water-advice-and-services/priority-services/priority-services-registration-form/ For electricity: Phone Western Power Distribution on 0800 096 3080 (Text Relay by dialling 18001 first using your textphone) email: [email protected] Or you can apply online: https://www.westernpower.co.uk/customers-and-community/priority-services/priority- services-register Why the flu vaccine is important to carers The flu jab is the best way to protect yourself and the person you care for from flu. Flu can be far more serious for the person you care for. It can lead to complications such as bronchitis and pneumonia, which could result in an admission to hospital. Don’t put it off, contact your GP or pharmacist to get a free flu jab. Carers who are eligible include those who are in receipt of a carer’s allowance, or those who are the main carer of an older or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if the carer falls ill. Find out more about the flu vaccine and for further advice on helping yourself and the person you care for stay well this winter visit https://www.nhs.uk/staywell/carers 3 Carers Rights Day is a national event and opportunity for organisations and services to empower carers in their community. Whether you are starting your caring journey or someone who has been caring for a long time, we believe it’s important: • for you to know who is there to support you • to be in touch with the services in your community • to know about your rights as a carer For Carers Rights Day 2019 we have organised an information event in each locality area (where our teams are based around the county), either on Carers Right Day Thursday 21st November or on the Saturday 23rd November, to enable carers who work in the week to attend. These events include a variety of information services and speakers; visit our website page https://devoncarers. org.uk/information-and-advice/information/my-rights-as-a-carer/carers-week- carers-rights-day/ and social media for up to date information. Devon Carers - Carers Rights Day Events: Meet other carers for a talk from Chat to us and other carers Citizen’s Advice, Q&A and Tai Chi at this information event session When: Thursday 21st November When: Thursday 21st November Time: 2pm to 7pm Time: 10.30am to 12.30pm Where: Cedars Inn, Bickington Where: The Beehive Centre, Dowell Road, Barnstaple, EX31 2HE Street, Honiton, EX14 1LZ Join us, Devon Young Carers This event will focus on working age and local community and carers, staff/parents, sixth formers voluntary services to gain and young carers transitioning to more information and a talk adults. In addition to Devon Carers from Citizen’s Advice providing information, Bright Futures, When: Thursday 21st November Devon Young Carers, Healthwatch Time: 6.30pm to 8.30pm and Howard & Over Solicitors will be Where: Heathcoat Community available to answer your questions Centre, 81 King Street, Tiverton, When: Thursday 21st November EX16 5JJ Time: 3.15pm to 6.45pm Where: Beacon Room and Café, The Gain information on how to Watermark, Erme Court, Leonards Road, look after yourself, join an art Ivybridge, PL21 0SZ therapy session and have a go at crafting Pop along to this information event When: Saturday 23rd November which will focus on working carers Time: 10am to 2pm When: Saturday 23rd November Where: CoLab Exeter, Wat Tyler Time: 10am to 1pm House, King William Street, Where: Trago Mills, Newton Abbot, Exeter, EX4 6PD TQ12 6JD 4 Book reviews from a carers point of view Our new webpage featuring books that carers recommend and find helpful is now live! Our first review is of: Finding your way: Caring for yourself while caring for someone else, by Verran Townsend, reviewed by carer Linda Shannon: This is such a lovely, powerful book, written in a simple but enigmatic style. It covers the period Verran first identified that Karen, his wife, had health issues and continues as her illness progresses, and Verran moves into a long-term caring role. Their lives were no longer the ‘normal’ that they were accustomed to. As their world gradually changed, Verran came up with thought-provoking tips and coping strategies. He highlights the importance of carers having time and space for their own wellbeing to remain mentally and physically fit and provide compassionate care. His ideas and solutions aid him in the challenges of caring towards the end of life pathway, some as simple as to cry, accept support and help offered by others. He also suggests trying to maintain some semblance of normality by finding time for hobbies, opportunities for fresh air and exercise, and not being afraid to talk about bereavement, which will resonate with all of us as carers. Visit https://devoncarers.org.uk/your-voice/book-reviews-from-a-carers-point- of-view/ to find out more. You can purchase this book from Amazon https://www. amazon.co.uk If you have read or would be interested in reading and reviewing a book that might be of interest to carers, please let us know on t: 03456 434 435 or email us at e: [email protected] 5 Top tips for a happier Christmas The following tips were shared by carers Christmas for carers takes a little more planning, however these tips should help to make the festivities run smoothly. Be prepared: Ensure you have enough medication for the festive period. If shopping together, check accessibility of parking and toilets, check for quiet times or shop online. Have a bag packed with everything your person will need if eating out (adapted cutlery, favourite low fat, low sugar food or drink alternatives) Christmas decorations: Put them up gradually so they are not overwhelming, create a quiet room with low stimulation, involve the person you care for as much as they can or want to be. Take up offers of help: The fiddly bits such as the lights, collecting heavy shopping, sharing the preparation or cooking, taking a turn in sitting with or involving the person you care for. Ask for presents that will be useful - gifts of time or jobs around the house. Can the family club together to get you a tablet so you can become connected online. See from the perspective of the person you are caring for: Prepare family that the person you care for may not remember their names and may take themselves off somewhere quiet. Consider small gatherings rather than a big get together. Does the person need their routine maintained? Keep distracting noise to a minimum. Sing familiar carols or play simple games that do not rely on memory, such as pass the parcel. Time for you!: Make sure you have some treats for yourself, even if the person you care for does not share the importance of the day. Indulge by buying yourself a present, get outdoors, sing, play games, see family and friends. For more tips visit our website: https://devoncarers.org.uk/top-tips-for-christmas/ Do you have any top tips for other carers? 6 Email them to us [email protected] Caring for the carers Fresh from the garden, Vera and Graham Tooke Vera Tooke cares for her husband Graham who has Parkinson’s disease and Lewy-Body Dementia. Below she talks about her struggles with his condition and how it impacts on her life too.