Meeting Point Lunch

It was a nice meeting point lunch today with a presentation from Karen Gibb from the Long Term Conditions team for the Kirkcaldy and Levenmouth CHP talking about Self Management. It was very interesting to hear about how carers are now more often acknowledged as a vital part of the process in maintaining or improving the health of someone affected by a longterm condition.
Thanks very much to Karen.
The quiz this month was (vaguely) themed around the idea of holidays and was won by Tom and Rena McCulloch who scored a magnificent 19 out of 20... all those months of trying have paid off in the end!!
Our next meeting point lunch will take place on Friday 28th August and will include a presentation from Trading Standards who will amongst other things be talking about protecting the people you care for from scams and conmen.

SAGA Respite for Carers Trust

Are you over 50 and been a carer for longer than a year? You are almost certainly eligible to apply for a respite short break from the SAGA Respite for Carers Trust. There are a limited number of places available and competition for them is likely to be keen but it's always worth a go! You can read more about it on the SAGA website. Good Luck! There are also a lot of very informative and interesting articles on the website - so it's worth a browse through.

Ditch your junk and donate to charity all in one go!

Do you ever look round your attic or garage and think "Right, that's it! I'm going to have a good clear out!". It's easy to part with the stuff that's real rubbish but getting rid of things that feel too good to throw away can sometimes be a bit more difficult.

If you have access to the internet there are a few novel approaches to the problem you might want to try. They enable you to get rid of the item and the opportunity to feel good about raising funds for your favourite charity (Fife Carers Centre obviously!!):

Ebay - you can sell your item and donate all or part of your sale price to the charity of your choice. It's great fun to do and fairly straightforward (just try not to go and buy a whole load of new junk to replace the stuff you've just got rid of!!).

JumbleAid - a good old fashioned jumble sale with a new twist - an on line jumble sale, avoids the rough and tumble and sharp elbows of fellow jumblers. The money given for the item can go to your favourite charity (yup! That's us!)

Freecycle - give it away! One man's rubbish is another man's treasure. You can advertise your item for pick up only so that there's no postage, or you can ask for the delivery charge to be paid.

Then having cleared your junk you can sit back and enjoy the glow gained from a job well done!

BIG Cancer Conversation - event in Stirling

The BIG Cancer Conversation is a Scottish Government event

Join the BIG Cancer Conversation!

• Living with cancer?
• Got an opinion, an experience or an idea about cancer?
• Do you want to help improve cancer services in Scotland?
....... then we’d like you to join us

on Thursday 20 August from 10am to 4pm at
The Albert Halls, Stirling for the BIG Cancer Conversation.

The BIG Cancer conversation is an informal event that gives you the opportunity to have your say. It’s a great way to share your experiences and for us to hear from a whole range of people who are living with and beyond cancer and their carers.
Not only will your experiences help us to improve the quality of services for people living with cancer, they will also help to inform the Scottish Government and NHS Scotland in their efforts to improve the quality of health services for all patients and their carers. The event is free but places are limited so timely registration is advisable to avoid disappointment! To register, please e-mail jennifer.smith@scotland.gsi.gov.uk or call 0131 244 5179 or with the following information by 31 July 2009:
• Your name
• Your contact details – email, telephone, address
• Your main interest in attending, eg. Are you a cancer patient, a carer, from the voluntary sector,
a health professional or ‘other’?
• Any special access or dietary requirements
• Any other requirements e.g. let us know if you anticipate difficulties in paying for or arranging travel to and from the event as assistance or advice might be available.
Depending on numbers we will confirm your place by 12 August 2009 and provide full details of the event and joining instructions.

Partners in Care Training

Carers often come into contact with Health Care professionals who are involved in the treatment of the person who they care for. We run workshops as part of the NHS Fife Carer Information Strategy to help Health Care professionals understand the difficulties that carers may face in all aspects of their lives and the legislation and policies in place to help carers sustain their role.

The Workshop is aimed at: Health Professionals and Medical Centre staff in contact with people who require ongoing care and their carers.

Workshop Location: Fife Carers Centre, Meeting Room and Soft Room
Workshop Duration: 3 ½ hours including lunch
Dates and Times: Times includes lunch

PIC1 Thursday 10 September 2009 - 12.30 pm – 4pm
PIC2 Tuesday 15 September 2009 - 10 am – 1.30pm
PIC3 Thursday 24 September 2009 - 12.30 pm – 4pm
PIC4 Thursday 8 October 2009 -12.30 pm – 4pm
PIC5 Thursday 5 November 2009 -12.30 pm – 4pm
PIC6 Thursday 21 January 2010 - 12.30 pm – 4pm
PIC7 Tuesday 26 January 2010 - 10 am – 1.30pm
PIC8 Thursday 4 February 2010 - 12.30 pm – 4pm
PIC9 Tuesday 9 February 2010 - 10 am – 1.30pm
PIC10 Thursday 11 February 2010 - 12.30 pm – 4pm
PIC11 Tuesday 2 March 2010 - 10 am – 1.30pm
PIC12 Tuesday 9 March 2010 - 10 am – 1.30pm

Course numbers: Minimum 6 - maximum 15 Delegates

Course Aims

To foster relationships between healthcare professionals and carers based on an understanding of carers as “key partners in care”.

Course Objectives

To develop an understanding and appreciation of the contribution that carers make to health and social care provision.
To develop the means of identifying carers.
To develop an awareness of the issues that carers face and to have the opportunity to hear about some of these issues first hand from carers.
To increase knowledge and understanding of policy (local and national) and legislation relating to carers.
To develop knowledge of support organizations available to carers.

If you are a Health Professional in Fife and would like to attend one of the workshops please make your booking through the NHS Fife Training and Ongoing Development Team.

Fife Outdoor Access Festival 2009

With the effects of the credit crunch on our spending the idea of "staycations" is a big new trend this year - instead of going away on holiday more people are spending their holiday time at home and going for days out. Trying to find things to do for a whole summer holiday can be hard going so you might be interested to hear about the Fife Outdoor Access Festival taking place this year between Saturday 1st August and Sunday 9th August. 2009. It is a varied programme of events designed to make the most of the lovely Fife countryside. There will be planned and supervised walks, cycles and horse rides, water sports, disabled rambles and family fun days. There is something to suit all ages and abilities and most of the events are free of charge. If you want to know more go and have a look at http://www.fifeoutdooraccessfestival.co.uk/ .

The National Autistic Society - One Day HELP! Programme

The National Autistic Society will be running a one day help! support and information day for parents/carers of children diagnosed with and autism spectrum disorder in the past two years or so. The programme sessions cover:

• An overview of ASDs.
• Communicating with your child.
• Education.
• Legislation and benefits.
• What's available from the NAS locally and nationally.
• Benefits and your rights.
• Question time.

The programme is presented by Barrie Cooper help! manager Scotland and other staff from NAS Scotland.

The session takes place on Wednesday 9th September 2009 between 9.30 and 3pm in the Best Western Queens Hotel, 160 Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4DU. A sandwich lunch, tea and coffee are provided and two members per family may attend. If you would like to book a place on the session please phone Lauren Jarvis on 0141 285 7114.

CARERS -THE UK’S SECRET SERVICE!

This poem was written by Fife carer Kerry Black as a way of celebrating carers' contribution to society and to celebrate Carers Week.

Kerry reading her poem to an appreciative audience at the

Fife Carers Week 2009 event.

CARERS -THE UK’S SECRET SERVICE!

Nobody sees a carer, nobody sees a spy,
We’re an invisible band of workers-have you ever asked yourself why?
While James Bond struts about the place in a dashing dinner suit,
Most carers struggle to recollect the last day that they had oot!
He’s fortified by gadgets supplied by the amazing Q,
We’re lonely and under-funded, always needing an extra (Money)penny or two!
We’re always on the go, we rarely get time to relax,
If we were like James Bond, we could escape on big jet packs!
His life is full of glamour. He loves to sip on champers.
Our lives are filled with duty and dirty laundry hampers!
We have no job description, we have no stated hours,
Oh! to be a spy and have some super powers,
To flee our caring duties, to go out and meet a pal.
I’d settle for a cafe - I don’t need Casino Royale!
Though we all love our families and live to show our care,
Sometimes it would be nice if someone else was there.
To give a little hand, to provide some great respite.
James Bond doesn’t need a befriender to let him out at night!
We’re standing in the shadows, we don’t wear any disguise.
We’re the UK’s REAL Secret Service!
We’re the carers, NOT the spies!

KERRY BLACK - 12TH MAY, 2009

Travelling Abroad

If you’re planning to get away and go abroad this year you might find this website useful - http://www.doctorbabel.com/.
DoctorBabel allows you to create and maintain an online medical record that can be translated into multiple languages at the click of a button. The website features an emergency medical information card. Basic membership is FREE and includes web-space for your medical record, the facility to print an emergency card at home for free and some free translation facilities. The translation facility is especially important for safe travel. Having your medical details available in an accurate,organised and easily understood format helps medical professionals to make better decisions. You print your medical record at home and carry it with you whenever you travel.