News
WORKING FOR FAMILIES
Working Families has got funding for a booklet for parents of disabled children about finding work or stepping up your work. They would like to hear from you: about your experiences; what helps and what doesn't help. They are also seeking a small panel of people to comment on their work in progress. See their website at www.workingfamilies.org.uk/asp/family_zone/f_disability.asp for more information. You can also contact them by phone on 020 7017 0072 if you have any queries.
COLD WEATHER PAYMENTS
If the temperature reaches freezing or below for seven consecutive days or more in your area, and you are in receipt of one of certain means-tested benefits (and the benefit includes a disability or pensioner premium, or you are responsible for a child under 5, or you are getting Child Tax Credit which includes a disability or severe disability element, or the benefit you are in receipt of is Pension Credit), you should receive an automatic cold weather payment. The amount of the payment for the winter 2008/9 is £25.
Other tips for Carers struggling in this cold snap include: Check with your gas and electricity supplier regarding any help they provide for vulnerable customers. Check special rates offered at www.consumerfocus.org.uk in the energy help and advice section. The EDF Energy Trust and The British Gas Energy Trust can give their customers grants towards costs of energy bills - phone 01733 421050 for more information. Think about insulating your home via the Home Energy Savings Programme - free for those over 70 or in receipt of at least one of certain benefits, 50% discounts for other households - phone 0800 512 012 for more information. The Warm Front Grant, if you are in receipt of at least one of certain benefits (e.g. Pension Credit and Disability Living Allowance), up to £2700 could pay for improvements to insulation and/or central heating repairs and installation. Phone 0800 316 2805 for more information or visit the Warm Front website at www.warmfront.co.uk. The Home Heating Helpline - 0800 33 66 99 and the Energy Savings Trust - 0800 512 012 can also give you advice about grants and assistance you may be able to access.
THE NATIONAL DEMENTIA STRATEGY
£150 million has been earmarked for this five year strategy for England. The aim of the Strategy is to ensure that significant improvements are made to dementia services across three key areas: improved awareness, earlier diagnosis and intervention, and a higher quality of care. To read more see www.dh.gov.uk
CHANGING PLACES
There is a Changing Places toilet with an adult sized changing bed and a mobile hoist in the new Warwickshire Direct One Stop Shop in Shire Hall, Market Place, Warwick. It is open Monday - Thursday 8.00 - 5.30, Fridays 8.00 - 5.00 and Saturdays 8.00 - 4.00.
GUIDEPOSTS TRUST
If you live in Warwickshire and care for a person with dementia the Information Officer for DISC (Dementia Information Service for Carers), Anne Deas, can provide you with information and support. She can be contacted by phone on 01788 577825 , by email at adeas@guidepoststrust.org.uk or at Guideposts Trust, 6 Tom Brown Street, Rugby, CV21 3JT
THE MACMILLAN INFORMATION AND SUPPORT CENTRE
The centre is situated in the Aylesford Unit at Warwick Hospital. It aims to help improve the quality of life for people affected by cancer. It can be used as a drop in centre or you can book an appointment to receive written information relating to cancer, benefits advice, signposting, practical advice and time to talk. To find out more contact Shirley Griffin, Information and Support Specialist, on 01926 495321 ext 8214 or email her at shirley.griffin@swh.nhs.uk
AGE CONCERN WARWICKSHIRE
Age Concern Warwickshire has a service which can help with shopping, light housework and food preparation, for up to 6 weeks.
Cost £8.00 per hour for up to 6 weeks.
Longer term support is also available to suit your needs and help you retain your independence.
Enquiries for Warwick and Stratford Districts telephone Linda on 01926 458126 or email ho@ageconcernwarks.co.uk
LOW COST HOLIDAYS AT THE BOND HOTEL
The Bond Hotel is an Award Winning Specialist Hotel in Blackpool that caters for disabled people.
For more information on breaks phone 01253 341218 or visit www.bondhotel.co.uk or email karen-dixon@bondhotel.co.uk
KEITH DUCKITT, FORMER CHAIR OF TRUSTEES, SWCSS
We were extremely saddened to hear of the death of our former Chair, Keith Duckitt. A number of staff, trustees, employees of Adult Health & Community Services, WCC and the regional representative of the Princess Royal Trust for Carers were amongst the many mourners at his funeral in October. Tributes were made showing the great esteem with which he was held on a personal and business level.
EMPLOYMENT AND SUPPORT ALLOWANCE
Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) will replace Incapacity Benefit and Income Support paid to people who are not well enough to work, but only for people claiming on or after 27 October 2008. Therefore, if you are currently getting Incapacity Benefit and/or Income Support because you are a Carer and not well enough to work, you will continue to do so for now.
For advice on ESA contact CarersLine on 0808 808 7777 (Wednesdays and Thursdays 10 am - 12 noon and 2 - 4 pm)
LORD DARZI'S REVIEW OF THE NHS
In June 2008 Lord Darzi launched High Quality Care for All: NHS Next Stage Review final report, outlining his vision and recommencations for next steps for the NHS. a dreaft constitution for the NHS has also been published for consultation alongside this report. The report can be downloaded from http://www.ournhs.nhs.uk/
The Report recognises the importance of Carers as key partners in the delivery of care. At a local level the need to forge new partnerships between professionals, patients and their Carers is acknowledged, specifically the need to integrate care around the need of patients including community services and greater use of assistive technology.
BACKDATED CREDITS CRUNCHED
From October 6th pensioners will only be able to claim backdated pension credit, housing benefit and council tax benefit for the previous three months rather than the twelve months currently allowed. It is essential therefore to claim what you may be entitled to e.g pension credit. For information on eligibility call the Pension Credit helpline on 0800 991234.
From October 6th the Pension service will deal with all three claims, rather than people having to send the housing and council tax benefit forms to their local authority.
CARE AND CHOICE (ACCOMMODATION) PROGRAMME
CACAP
This Warwickshire County Council initiative involves modernising care and support services to give older people more choice and control, a wider range of services to help them remain independent for longer, and specialist residential care if and when independence is no longer a safe or realistic option. The plan is to build new care homes, some specialising in dementia and develop 'extra care' housing - complexes of self contained flats suitable for older people with a care team on site and on call 24 hours a day. WCC would like your views on these proposals. Check out the CACAP website: www.warwickshire.gov.uk/careandchoice or phone 01926 745617
LOCAL INVOLVEMENT NETWORKS (LINKS)
These are made up of local people (including patients, Carers and Service Users), organisations and groups from across the community that want to make health and social care services better.
If you want to find out more phone your local LINk Officer, Sharon Johal on 07827 156683. You can find out more by visiting www.communityvoicesonline.org
KEEP SAFE AND SECURE AT HOME
An exciting new service has just started in parts of Warwickshire. It is called Telecare and provides a home safety and personal security system that enables people to live independently in their own homes.
How does it work?
Though a telephone line, using the latest technology, sensors send alerts to specially trained operators in a Control Centre. The sensors either operate automatically or by pressing a button. This enables a wide range of risks to be managed such as falls, fire, flooding, intruders, etc. When an alert is received the operator will take the appropriate action which might be contacting family members, the doctor or other emergency services, or sending someone from the Centre to help.
How much does it cost?
The Telecare equipment is loaned free of charge. You will need a phone line and an electric point within 6 feet of each other. There may be a weekly charge for the monitoring and response service depending on you financial circumstances.
How do I find out more about Telecare?
If you already have contact with a Social Worker or Occupational Therapist, please talk to them about it. If not, then please contact Warwickshire County Council's Customer Service Centre on 01926 410410 and they can send you a leaflet or arrange for an assessment of your needs.
CARERS VISIT JEREMY WRIGHT MP at HOUSE OF COMMONS
Carers’ Voices Heard
Carers from South Warwickshire were invited to attend Parliament by Jeremy Wright MP for Rugby and Kenilworth in order to put forward questions regarding their caring responsibilities and the issues that they face.
On arrival at the Sovereign’s Entrance, 15 Carers including two Young Carers and accompanying staff were treated to a guided tour of Parliament before moving on to the Members’ Area dining rooms where they met with Jeremy over lunch.
Also in attendance was Barbara Keely MP, Parliamentary Champion for Carers Week 2007, Kate Groucutt, Policy and Public Affairs Officer for Carers UK and Fiona Castle, Patron of SWCSS.
Carer’s wake up call!
Lynn Grainger, who cares for her son, Paul, invited Jeremy Wright MP to visit her while she was getting him ready for school. Paul Grainger suffers from severe and frequent epileptic seizures and learning difficulties.
“Jeremy arrived as I was having to attend to Paul’s personal needs so my husband talked to him while he waited and then he came in to talk to me while I was getting Paul dressed, giving him his breakfast and getting him ready for school. Jeremy was with me for about an hour and a half. He was very approachable. He wanted to reassure all Carers that if they have any issues they can go to him. We talked about a whole range of things that affect Carers including the Health Service, Respite, Schools and Finances. I think the visit went very well and it was good to be able to put over some of the issues to someone who might be able to do something about it.”
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