PLANS, CONTINGENCIES AND INFORMATION FOR THE COVID-19 OUTBREAK April-June 2020 Carers Courier INFO Information, advice PACK and plans for 2020 NEATH PORT TALBOT CARERS SERVICE CARERS AT THE HEART An Important Coronavirus: Update: What Should I Do? With the COVID-19 outbreak, we have seen unprecedented disruption across the globe, it has impacted every aspect of daily life, and the Carers Service is no exception to this rule. Sadly, we have been forced to postpone all the activities and workshops we had in place. The service is going to continue to operate Furthermore, home visits of any kind have as usual with information and advice, we Wash hands for about Even if you have no Use a tissue for If you do not have been put on hold and carers assessments understand this is a scary time for everyone 20 seconds with soap symptoms, you should coughs and sneezes. a tissue, use your (for now) shall be carried out over the phone. and we want to do all we can to alleviate any and hot water or use work at home where sleeve. On top of this, the sitting service we had in stress or worry you, or your cared-for might a hand sanitiser gel. possible and avoid place has also come to a stop for low level/ be facing. social venues. volunteer based sits. However, sits provided by domiciliary agencies are still going ahead This booklet includes some important provided all parties involved are happy with information to keep hold of during this very the arrangement. difficult time, along with some information regarding information specific to carers, Goldies continue to do online singing food banks, volunteering opportunities, aid sessions, we have more information about with getting hold of food and medicine and this on our facebook page. If you have general advice with carrying on under such already booked a counselling session with enormous pressure. MIND, these can be carried out over the phone provided carers are happy with this new approach, if not their sessions can Avoid touching your Stay at least be banked and used at a later date once life Avoid close contact If you or someone you 2 eyes, nose mouth with with people who are from returns to normal. live with has a “new, meters/6feet unwashed hands. unwell. continuous” cough or other people in your a high temperature, home if possible. you should all stay home for 14 days. 02 03 What’s going on Plans for the Carers Service going forward into the Spring/Summer If your symptoms get worse or Use the online 111 coronavirus You may be tested for the are no better after seven days service at 111.nhs.uk. virus at a hospital. ? seek medical advice. This is the first time that we as a service have before the carers service had to cancel all had to partake in a lockdown, much of the events and workshops. These will be carried People no longer need to contact NHS 111 if They should only contact NHS 111 if they feel they service have had to be put on pause and we over and put on, as soon as the lockdown they think they may have contracted Novel cannot cope with their symptoms at home, their are reassessing other measures of support lifts. We also have another 3 cooking sessions Coronavirus (COVID-19). People with a fever or condition gets worse, or their symptoms do not we can provide to carers and their loved with cookstars, and a JD coach trip to make persistent cough should stay at home for seven get better after seven days. ones. Some parts of the service have been use of, the trip was originally going to be days if they live alone, or 14 days if they live suspended as previously mentioned but this to Clyne Gardens, but if there is enough The public play an important role in the ‘delay’ with others. Anyone who lives with someone doesn’t mean that we aren’t here for advice interest we could change our destination phase. By following the latest advice, you will displaying coronavirus symptoms should also and information. to somewhere like Bridgend Designer protect yourself, protect the most vulnerable, stay at home for 14 days. They should not go to Outlet, or perhaps another trip to Tenby or and delay and flatten the peak, which will reduce a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital. Phone support is still on hand, between the Carmarthen? the pressure on NHS Wales and minimise hours of 10:00am and 2:00pm (Monday the impact of the virus. to Friday), and support workers will make Carers are instrumental in helping us contact if there’s an emergency, but for decide new ways forward for events, the time being, the carers service needs to workshops and activities, so please make operate remotely; furthermore all our staff sure that if there’s something you want to are working from home, leaving our usual do, or a place you want to go; let us know! base in Cimla hospital unoccupied. And we will do our ample best to make Please access Public Health sure something is put in place. Wales for more infomration We also have another 5 MIND sessions to put on for our carers, Helen from MIND was We continue to undertake priority testing in unfortunately taken ill in February and as a NEATH PORT TALBOT Wales. We are working closely with health boards, result, we had to cancel two MIND sessions CARERS SERVICE NHS 111 and the Welsh Government to develop CARERS AT THE HEART systems so that NHS Wales and members of the public have appropriate access to Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing. 04 05 Carer Friendly Awards We wanted to celebrate some of the good work our GP’s have done this year with carers. These are the surgeries that have been awarded the “Carers Friendly”, and “Carers Friendly +” awards, a commendation for outstanding services to carers and their loved ones. Health & Manual Christmas Party Wellbeing Days Handling The Towers A Health and well-being Manual handling days were The Towers Christmas Party is day will take place at some planned and scheduled to going to go ahead at the end point this year, featuring go ahead from April, but we of this year, we are hoping to facials, manicures, massages, have to postpone those dates, go ahead with a three course hot-stones and more, all please register your interest dinner, no deposit will be free of charge, other service and you will be notified when asked of you. Please phone providers will be there too. they are rescheduled. now to register interest. The GP “Carers Friendly Scheme” is a new scheme designed to recognise how GP surgeries support Carers. This has been launched throughout Neath Port Talbot and Swansea. The GP “Carers Friendly Awards” is a scheme offers a formal accreditation to surgeries who are able Cooking Classes MIND Workshops Online Singing to demonstrate the practical steps they are actively taking to promote Carer awareness within their practice and ensuring their needs are fully understood. with Cookstars with Helen Sessions Cooking sessions will be MIND NPT is still operational Goldies is still continuing resumed later in the year, these but the workshops are going to put on online “virtual” will hopefully continue to take to be postponed for the singing sessions, please place in Taibach Education time being, we will have our see our facebook page for Centre. Three more sessions remaining sessions once the more information if you are are still planned for late lockdown lifts. We have 4 interested. summer - we might book more. sessions to carry over. 06 07 Blood Donation The pandemic has seen a sharp decline in those of us giving blood, so if you able Useful Resources to do so, it’s a fantastic way to give back. They are visiting various spots around the Neath/Port Talbot area setting up bases to people to offer help. Council of Voluntary Services CVS Neath Port Talbot is a great resource for issuing appropriate help for those of No. 0800 252266 us who will need help with getting hold of medicine, prescriptions or aid with shopping. CVS Alternatively, and if you are able to - CVS are NPT Buy Local recruiting as many volunteers as possible to The council is keen to support our help with the coronavirus aftermath. local businesses in these difficult times. NPT Buy local is all about local businesses No. 01639 631246 and communities supporting each other. You may be a business and want to support our local communities with food or shopping deliveries, or you Age Cymru West Glamorgan may be looking to partner with another business to supply services for people Age Cymru West Glamorgan can help you with in our local communities. benefits, financial planning and tax advice. They also offer information and advice, legal www.npt.gov.uk/nptbuylocal advice and ways of combating loneliness. No. 01792 648866 Age Connect Age Connect is very much a part of the Your L.A.C.’s community and wants to help as many older people get the help and support Get in touch with your local area coordinator they need during this difficult time. They to find out ways in which they can help you, will be working with our volunteers, other Go to npt.gov.uk and search for local area organisations and community groups coordination in Neath Port Talbot. to do as much as we can to ensure that isolated older people can still get access to essential groceries, prescriptions and No.