It’s a Man’s world… or is it? - Announcing Male Carers Conference dates for this winter.

Male Carers might carry out many different tasks in their day.

Becoming a carer can involve massive changes for anyone but for many men it can mean a complete role reversal in their home life.  Although there are over 20,000 male carers in Fife many male carers report feeling isolated and unable to cope with aspects of their new life.
In recognition of the specific problems and aspects of life that male carers may encounter we have three male carer conference days planned for this winter.
The first of these will take place on Wednesday 10th November 2010 in the Kingdom Suite at East End Park Football Ground in Dunfermline and will start at 10 am and finish at 3pm. The opening speaker will be Jim Leishman who will reflect on his own experiences. The programme for the day will include information about the benefit system, organising your carer related paperwork, keeping yourself in good health amongst other things plus an opportunity to discuss aspects of your caring role that you find particularly difficult.
There will be a further two male carer conferences early next year each with the same format.  One will be on the 9th of February in the Gilvenbank Hotel in Glenrothes and the other on 16th March in the Scores Hotel in St Andrews.
There will be 35 - 40 places at each of these conferences for male carers and booking is required.  Please call Fife Carers Centre on 01592 642999 to book a place if you would like to attend.

“Caring Together” - the Carers Strategy for 2010 – 2015

Public Health Minister Shona Robison

To give carers, local councillors and those involved in health and social care the opportunity to hear about the new Scottish Government's Carer Strategy 2010 - 2015 and how it could impact carers in Fife we will be hosting two briefing sessions on Monday 11th October 2010 in Committee room 1 at Fife House.  There will be one at 2pm and one at 7pm.  There will be speakers from the Coalition of Carers in Scotland, Shared Care Scotland, Fife Carers Centre and Fife Young Carers.  If you would like to attend (and we hope you will!) please call Fife Carers Centre to book a place.
In July 2010 the Scottish Government, in partnership with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) launched “Caring Together”, a five year strategy outlining a shared vision for the future of carer recognition and support in Scotland.
For the first time, carers are being recognised as equal partners in care. The strategy’s headline message states: carers are equal partners in the planning and delivery of care and support.  There is a strong case on human rights, economic, efficiency and quality of care grounds for supporting carers.  Making the announcement Public Health Minister Shona Robison said “Carers of all ages make a huge contribution to their families and to society. Their efforts help their loved ones to continue living independently - and their contribution as unpaid workers to health and social care is worth an estimated £7.68 billion a year.”  Without this valuable contribution of carers the health and social care system would not be sustained.
One of the key changes for this new strategy is the development of separate strategies for Adult and Young Carers, which mean that the problems that each group encounter are specifically addressed. The strategy for young carers is called “Getting it right for Young Carers” and you can find out more about it on the Scottish Government website.
The Government strategy forms the cornerstone on which all Local Authorities and the NHS Boards must base their own strategies for identifying and supporting carers and so plays a hugely important part in carers’ lives in Fife.

Caring with Confidence

Our Autumn/Winter schedule of Caring with Confidence sessions is currently being put together - sessions will be taking place across Fife and the healthcare ones will cover topics such as Stoke, Dementia, ME, Diabetes, Breathing Problems and Cardiac Rehab.  You'll find the dates and locations at the end of this post and in the Events Calendar.

Caring with Confidence is the "umbrella" name that we (along with lots of other carer organisations) have given to our rolling programme of courses, information sessions and events that take place throughout the year across Fife.  

Our aim is to help carers to make a positive difference to their lives and that of the person for whom they care.  We want to 

• Help carers recognise and build on their own strengths.
• With the help of specialists give carers information, ideas and tips about looking after someone.
• Give carers the chance to share their own stories with others, swap and compare experiences with carers in similar situations.  
• Give carers access to information and knowledge that will help them manage their caring role and plan for the future.
• encourage carers to take time to care for themselves with relaxation therapies and learning new information and skills.

We do this in a number of different ways - for example workshops, information sessions, carers groups and individual one-to-one sessions.

If you are an unpaid carer looking after a relative or friend and are interested in attending any of the sessions please call us at Fife Carers Centre in Kirkcaldy on 01592 642999 or drop an email to lesley@fifecarers.co.uk

All of the sessions are free to attend and if you would like to attend but have problems with transport or respite please call us as we may be able to help you overcome them!

The sessions planned so far are:

"Caring for someone living with the effects of Epilepsy" on Thursday 23rd September between 10 am and 1pm in Kirkcaldy.

"Caring for someone living with the effects of Dementia" on Thursday 30th September between 10 am and 2pm in Kirkcaldy.

"Pain Management" on Friday 8th October between 10 am and 1 pm in Glenrothes. 

"Caring for someone living with the effects of Breathing Problems" on Tuesday 12th October between 10 am and 1pm in Dunfermline.

"Caring for someone living with the effects of Dementia" on Thursday 21st October between 10 am and 2pm in Kirkcaldy.

"Caring for someone living with the effects of Diabetes" on Thursday 4th November between 10 am and 1pm in Cardenden.
"Recognising and dealing with Stress in yourself." on Tuesday 9th November between 10 am and 1pm in Glenrothes.

"Caring for someone living with the effects of ME" on Monday 15th November between 7pm and 10pm in Glenrothes.

"Caring for someone living with the effects of a Stroke" on Wednesday 8th September between 10 am and 1 pm in Dunfermline.

"Caring for someone living with the effects of Dementia" on Wednesday 24th November between 6.30pm and 9.30 pm in Kirkcaldy.

"Caring for someone living with Autism" on Thursday 2nd December between 10 am and 1pm in Kirkcaldy.

"Caring for someone living with the effects of Diabetes" on Thursday 16th December between 10 am and 1pm in Dunfermline.

"Caring for someone living with the effects of a Stroke" on Wednesday 19th January between 10 am and 1 pm in Kirkcaldy.

"Caring for someone living with the effects of Dementia" on Thursday 20th January between 10 am and 2pm in Kirkcaldy.

"Caring and living for someone with a hearing loss." on Tuesday 25th January between 1 pm and 4pm in Kirkcaldy.
"Caring for someone living with Depression and Anxiety" on Wednesday 2nd February 2011 between 10 am and 1pm in Methil.

"Caring for someone living with the effects of Dementia" on Thursday 10th February between 10 am and 2pm in Kirkcaldy.

"Caring with confidence for the Elderly" on Wednesday 16th February between 10 am and 1pm in Glenrothes.
 "Caring for someone living with the effects of a Stroke" on Wednesday 2nd March 2011 between 7 pm and 10 pm in Glenrothes.

"Caring for someone living with the effects of Dementia" on Wednesday 23rd March between 6.30pm and 9.30pm in Kirkcaldy.

"Caring for someone living with the effects of a Stroke" on Wednesday 23rd March between 10 am and 1pm in St Andrews.