Is the person you care for at risk of pressure ulcers? Birmingham Community Healthcare The following checklists will help you to identify The signs to look for are: NHS Trust their level of risk and the signs that you need to • Not eating as much as usual be looking for, and to know when to ask for help • A problem with a cushion or mattress from your GP who can refer to our Birmingham Community Healthcare District Nursing Team: • Not moving as much as usual Low Risk: Can change position without help or • Sore bottom, heels hips or elbows prompting, have a good appetite and no serious • Chest or urine infection health problems • Incontinence problems Carers Update from the Medium Risk: May have reduced mobility • Sleeping in a chair rather than a bed and require prompting to move regularly, have If the person you care for is already receiving occasional incontinence and a poor appetite services from a district nurse contact the District Carer Support Team High Risk: Cannot change position without help Nurse Message Taking Service, (if services are or prompting, may have persistent incontinence, being received from a district nurse you will have June - August 2012 poor appetite and poor general health. this contact number). Otherwise talk to the GP for a referral. Do you have an email address? If so you could help us to save money and the environment! If you would like to receive your newsletter by email please send your name, postal address Carers Week 2012 18th to 24th June and email address to [email protected] All details will be kept confidentially and not passed to anyone else In Sickness and in Health National Carers Week 2012 is being held on 18-24 For those who wish the MAC is open for We do hope you enjoy the contents of this Newsletter. June 2012. During this week, events and activities refreshments before and after the walk. If you have any comments or suggestions on ways in which we can improve the information across the week will pay a tribute to 6 million Please remember to dress appropriately for the we provide to you, or would like to let us know which articles you found most interesting or unpaid carers across the country. This years Carers British weather and bring along any refreshments useful, please get in touch in the following ways: Week theme is “In sickness and health” and aims or equipment you may need whilst walking i.e. a Phone: Our Customer Services Team on 0800 9172855 (this is free from a land line. If you are to highlight the fact that carers’ health and safety drink, walking aids etc. phoning from a mobile a member of the team can call you back). This phone line is answered is of paramount importance. between 9-5pm Monday to Friday and is an easy way to let us have your comments. Please Note: Whilst the terrain at Cannon Hill The Carers Support Team at Birmingham Park is reasonably flat, if you have not taken Email: [email protected] Community Healthcare Trust are constantly part in any exercise recently or have any If you no longer wish to receive the newsletter please complete & return the below thinking about ways to maintain carers health and pre-existing medical condition, you should slip to: The Carers Support Team, G Block, West Heath Hospital, Rednal Road, West Heath, in line with the theme for this year, will be hosting consult your GP before undertaking the walk. Birmingham B31 8HR a “Walk and Talk” event which will mark the beginning of Carers Week in the city. Birmingham Community Healthcare Trust or the Carers Support Team cannot be held responsible If you would like to join the team to get some or liable for any claim, loss or damage resulting By completing & returning this form I am confirming that I no longer wish to receive the exercise, meet new friends, talk to other carers from attendance at the walk. Carers Support Newsletter. & professionals then you can meet us in the Our Carer Support Team would also like to let you Name: courtyard at the rear of the Midlands Arts Centre, Cannon Hill Park on Monday 18th June 2012. know about some other events organised locally Address: Meet at 10am to start walking at 10:30am. for Carers Week. (on the next page) Postcode: Carers Group previously attended: Carers Support Team G block, West Heath Hospital The information contained in this newsletter is provided for general information purposes for Rednal Road, West Heath, Carers. The information is current & up to date at the time of printing and is not necessarily a Birmingham B38 8HR recommendation or endorsement from Birmingham Community Healthcare. Produced by Clinical Illustration and Information Design, Birmingham Dental Hospital Ref: 05/12 42492 Tel: 0121 466 4314/8 Email: [email protected] Wednesday 20th June, 11am-3pm Thursday 21st June Acocks Green carers celebrate Elsie’s 100th birthday ‘Bridge That Gap!’ Birmingham City Council Opportunities Fair Elsie Skidmore celebrated her 100th birthday Hospital (health respite unit) and at home through The Paradise Caring Circle - the Hall Green A Market Place for services for carers of people Carers Group in February with her daughter and carer Crossroads Care Service to give me a chance to with Learning Disabilities at the New Bingley Hall, Eileen who has cared for her mother full-time get out of the house and do things for myself.” An event for carers of teenagers/young adults 1 Hockley Circus, Hockley, B18 5PP There will be for over 20 years. After years of caring, Eileen is now the chairperson Chinnbrook Centre, Trittiford Road, an opportunity to look at the services available to Elsie has a combination of conditions including of the Acocks Green Carers Group and helps Billesley, B13 0ET carers in the day between 11.00am to 5pm. dementia, type 2 diabetes and arthritis and in advise and support other carers. ‘Coping Counts’ - taster sessions with Cedar Also at Bingley Hall is the Birmingham City 1995 Eileen and her friend Phyllis decided to move Alison Kirton, carer support officer, said: “Both Counselling and the Mercia Aspurger Support Team. Council Celebration for all Carers and those that in with Elsie to give her the round-the-clock care Eileen and Phyllis do a fantastic job of looking they care for from 6pm to 11pm. Entertainment ‘Rest and Recovery’ taster sessions of reflexology and support she needed. after Elsie. It’s a perfect example of how home will be provided for adults and children with and massage. Like most first time carers, Eileen didn’t know care can really benefit patients and keep them music, therapies, magicians, Punch and Judy ‘Where is it?’ Information about what is available that there were a range of NHS support services healthy and happy well into their later years.” show, Irish dancing, Bhangra dancing, Caribbean for carers of young people in Billesley and the available to her, but now she is one of the city’s entertainment and a Jazz singer to end the surrounding area. biggest advocates for the Trust’s carers support evening. There will be a selection of foods at a team. Taste and Tell - refreshments will be available, as reasonable cost. well as the opportunity to tell us about your own She said: “The carers support team is extremely experiences. For more information on Carers Week contact important and invaluable. It gives help and advice Birmingham Carers Centre Carer helpline on in a friendly way and you always feel as though For further information call Sylvia Fry on 0121 604 0121 262 3033 6150 or just turn up on the day! you can go there for support.” “Carers can sometimes feel isolated and need support to access services. One of the issues Need someone to cut your nails? “Take a break and relax” the carers support officer assisted us with was, Birmingham Bhuddist Centre Park Road, accessing respite care in Ward 4 at Moseley Hall • Filing Moseley B13 8AB organise relaxation breaks • Nail cutting for weekends (Friday to late Sunday afternoon) Come along to a Carer Group Quinton Carers Group • Split nails for unpaid carers. Applications should be made (Carers of Children) A chance to make friends, share concerns and through the Bhuddist centre. Meets 2nd Wednesday every month 9:30 - 12:00 • Optional extras such worries and pick up information; as hand/foot Call 0121 449 5279 for an application form. At Quinton Lane Health Centre, Quinton Lane Acocks Green Carers Group (Carers of Adults) massage Quinton, B32 2TR There are lots of available weekends coming Meets 1st Tuesday every month, 12:30 - 3:00pm and nail paint up and every effort is made to ensure that any At The Library, Shirley Road Moving On Group • An AFFORDABLE carer who applies does get onto one of the Acocks Green, B27 7XH (Carers of Young People) service for all those week ends at the right time for them. Carers Meets Quarterly on a Thursday, 10:30 - 12:30pm who need help are collected from and brought back to the Hall Green Carers Group (Carers of Adults) New Venue to be Decided Early 2012 Buddhist Centre. Venues for the weekend Meets 3rd Monday every month 1:00 - 3:00pm Ring Carers Support Team Look after YOURSELF by taking care of your FEET breaks are either Charney Manor in Oxfordshire At St Peters Church Hall, St Peters Church For venue and times call Carers Support Team: Use Birmingham’s Registered Nail Carers or Offa House, near Leamington Spa.