Information Sessions for Family Carers!

Fife Carers Centre, in partnership with specialist practitioners, is holding a number of information sessions for carers.  If you are caring for a family member, a friend or a neighbour these are for you.

The sessions for September and October are:

Thursday 23rd September 10am - 1pm in Kirkcaldy.

"Caring for someone living with Epilepsy".

Thursday 30th September 10am- 2pm in Kirkcaldy

"Caring for someone living with Dementia".

Friday 8th October 10am - 1pm in Glenrothes

"Managing Pain - yours or the person you care for."

Tuesday 12th October 10am-1pm in Dunfermline. 

"Caring for someone living with Breathing Problems".

Thursday 21st October 10am - 2pm in Kirkcaldy

"Caring for someone living with Dementia".

The sessions are designed to give carers a sure understanding of the condition affecting the person for whom they care and to enable them to help in the self-management of the condition.

These sessions are FREE for unpaid carers to attend but places are limited so please call us soon on 01592 642999 or email to lesley@fifecarers.co.uk to book a place.

If you would like to come but have problems with transport of alternative care please call us as we may be able to help you overcome them!

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.

New Carers Strategy launch

What's available from Fife's Libraries and Museums?

Plans to identify and support carers of all ages across Scotland were revealed on 26th July 2010, including investment in respite and short breaks.
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."

The adult strategy - Caring Together - lays out a ten-point plan with specific commitments to help carers, including:
The following are the headline actions in this strategy to help improve outcomes for carers:
1. A Carers Rights Charter will be developed, consolidating existing legal rights and setting out key principles for carer support both now and in the future.
2. Measures will be put in place to help professionals in the health and social care workforce identify carers. Carer identification opens the door to a carer's assessment and to the provision of support. There will be a strong emphasis on workforce training as members of the workforce who are 'carer-aware' have a big role to play.
3. Steps will be taken to improve the uptake and quality of carers assessments/carer support plans. This will be achieved through workforce training and widely-disseminated guidance as well as by inclusion of the role of assessments in the forthcoming NHSinform carers information zone. Carers centres will continue their vital work in supporting this process.
4.  The provision of information and advice to carers through various means including workforce training and our support for NHSinform.
5. Working to ensure carer representation on Community Health Partnerships. Carers will be central to the planning, shaping and delivery of services for the people with care needs and in relation to support for themselves.
6. As carers can suffer poor health directly as a result of caring, carer health and well-being is vitally important. A bespoke resource on issues relating to stress and caring to complement the successful Steps for Stress will be developed. Work will continue with the Royal College of General Practitioners Scotland and the national carer organisations on carer identification and support, including promoting good health. Work will be done to ensure that carers aged 40-64 have access to health checks under plans to target groups of people, including carers, who may not live in the most deprived areas - those eligible people in the most deprived areas will already have access to health checks under the Keep Well initiative.
7. Carer training promotes carer confidence and enables carers to care for longer.  £281,000 will be invested in carer (and workforce) training this year through a grant to the national carer organisations. Working  with NHS Boards to ensure a 'training offer' may be made to carers in greatest need, contingent on the outcome of the next Spending Review.
8. The provision of short breaks or respite is hugely important to carers. Work will continue with a range of partners to promote the further development of flexible, personalised short breaks. Local authorities will continue to provide, and support access to, short breaks. A further £1 million will be invested in 2010-11 to provide more innovative short breaks provision in Scotland to be delivered by the voluntary sector.
9. It is important for carers to be able to remain in employment, when they want to, or to take up employment, learning or training opportunities. Employers will be encouraged to develop and promote carer-friendly employment practices. Skills Development Scotland will be working with the national carer organisations to help promote learning and other career opportunities.

What do carers want?

10. There is a clear need for better strategic planning and collaborative working between health and social care services to ensure the delivery of co-ordinated services and supports. Work will be done to ensure this happens so that carers do not have to negotiate the boundaries of different health and care services.

Afternoon Tea with the Queen

Fiona Knight in a suitably flower frock for a garden party

Nancy, Pamela and Margaret get their glad rags on

The rewards of being a carer usually are confined to the gratitude of the one that you care for - which for most is sufficient. However just occasionally that dedication is recognised and rewarded by others - on 13th July that happened to six carers here in Fife when they were invited to the Royal Garden Party at Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh. Fife Carers Centre had arranged for Peter and Sheila Hibberd, Margaret Norie, Pamela Adamson, Nancy Beveridge and Fiona Knight to go along to this very special occasion as recognition of their dedication to their role as carer and as a way of thanking them for the help and support that they give to Fife Carers Centre throughout the year.

Peter and Sheila Hibberd ready for their meeting with the Queen

The afternoon started with tea, sandwiches and pastries before the Queen, Prince Philip and Princess Anne came amongst the guests. The chances however of being introduced to the Queen is remote as the afternoon is shared with so many other people. However, much to their surprise, Sheila and Peter were asked if they would like to be presented to Her Majesty. Like for most the opportunity was welcomed.
In the few minutes available Peter and Sheila told the Queen of their role as carers and the fact that their son Gavin had moved onto his own home with support. They also told the Queen of the role that Peter has as a Carer representative on the Strategy Implementation Group for Learning Difficulties. The Queen showed great interest in what they had to tell her and for them the experience will stay with them for the rest of their lives. 
It could only be described as an afternoon of great excitement for everyone, an opportunity to dress up and live in another world.

Dementia Learning Forums for 2010

If you are caring for someone living with Dementia I’m sure you would be interested in going along to one of the forthcoming Dementia Learning Forums. The forum runs 6 times a year from mid morning and over lunchtime and each forum starts with a presentation by a keynote speaker on a dementia related topic – something that has usually been recommended by forum delegates.  The forum gives you an opportunity to meet other people involved in aspects of Dementia care and treatment both over lunch and then in the small conversational learning groups, facilitated by Forum members.


The forum has several objectives and is always looking for carers to take part and share the knowledge and experiences they have:

    * To create better outcomes and improve the experience for people living with dementia and their carers through supported shared learning;
    * To involve the wider multi-disciplinary network in a process of shared learning about dementia and make best use of local knowledge and experience;
    * To include carers and people living with dementia as partners in learning;
    * To contribute to the induction of new staff working with patients with dementia.


Over the past 2 years, the number of people coming along has averaged at 68 per forum.  People come along from all sorts of backgrounds, from community social work, community health, acute and primary care ward staff, voluntary agencies, independent sector as well as carers and people living with dementia.


An example of topics covered to date have included “Legal Considerations for adults with dementia , their carers and professionals”, “Palliative care for people with dementia” “Therapeutic Values in Horticulture” and considered the carers perspective in each case.

The meetings are all held between 11.30 and 2.30 in the Dunnikier House Hotel in Kirkcaldy and for the rest of this year are as follows:

    * Tuesday 27th July – Topic is “Living with Risk” and the speaker is Bill Coyne, Senior Clinical Effectiveness Practitioner, NHS Fife.
    * Tuesday 21st September – The topic is Dementia Care in the Acute Hospital Setting and the speakers are Audrey Melrose, Nurse Specialist, Liaison Psychiatry (Older People), NHS Forth Valley and Dr Emma Reynish, Consultant Physician in Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Victoria Hospital Kirkcaldy, and Honorary Professor in Dementia Studies, University of Stirling.
    * Tuesday 16th November -Fiona Crow, Music Therapist, NHS Fife, Jane Bentley, Community Musician, Art Beat and ‘The Buddy Beat’ Community Drumming Group.

The Forum are very keen to hear from carers and to have their input at the forums – if you’d like to attend please contact Sandra Anderson, KLLMU Development Co-ordinator, Balfour Rehab Unit, Cameron Hospital, Cameron Bridge, Leven, KY8 5RR.  Tel: 01592 226768  Email: Sandra.Anderson-lmu@fife.gov.uk

Caring with Confidence for someone living with Dementia - workshop

The dates have been released for the next six "Caring with Confidence for someone living with Dementia" workshops.  They are

•  Thursday 30th September 2010 between 10 am and 2pm.
• .Thursday 21st October 2010 between 10 am and 2pm.
• Wednesday 24th November 2010 between 6.30pm and 9.30pm
• Thursday 20th January 2011 between 10am and 2pm.
• Thursday 10th February 2011 between 10 am and 2pm
• Wednesday 22nd March 2011 between 6.30pm and 9.30pm.

All of the workshops will be held at Fife Carers Centre in Kirkcaldy.  To book a place please call Fife Carers Centre on 01592 642999. These workshops are run in partnership with Alzheimer Scotland and are free for unpaid carers in Fife to attend.
The workshops will help carers understand the effect of Dementia on the brain, some of the common behaviours associated with dementia will be discussed along with the groups own experiences. The session will also include some ideas and suggestions for helping the carer cope with their caring role.

Carers Week 2010

Phew!  What a week!
Our first attempt at filling Carers Week with useful and interesting events for carers was pretty successful - everyone who came along to anything seemed to enjoy it and get something out of it.  We learned a few things to bear in mind for next year:

• We need to be better at advertising the events.
• We should include evening and weekend events so that working carers can be included without taking time off work.
• It's worth including not just unpaid carers but also anyone who is interested in carers issues and supporting carers in Fife.

We'll be carrying out an evaluation and will take note of any points raised but if you have ideas for how we can build on this year's event and make next year even better please let us know!

Carers Week Information Event at Rothes Halls Friday 18th June

Carers week is drawing to an end but there is one final event to take place - there is an information event taking place at the Rothes Halls in Glenrothes on Friday 18th June in Hall B between 10.30 am and 2.30 pm.  There will be 20 information stalls from a wide variety of organisations who will have information and help for carers and those interested in Carers issues.  We hope you will come along - and bring a friend!

 

Carers Week - Keeping carers fit and healthy - Monday 14th June in Fife Carers Centre

We know it's difficult in a carer's busy life to keep your own good health in mind - and yet it's so important! Keeping healthy yourself means that you are more likely to be able to help the person you care for stay as well as possible too.
To help with this Fife Carers Centre and the Keep Well project team are offering carers a chance to have a quick general health check up - in your half hour appointment a nurse will check your Blood Pressure, Cholesterol, Blood Sugar and BMI and talk over the results with you there and then - you'll also have plenty of time to talk over any health concerns that you might have and get some advice on maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
There are appointments available throughout the day and into the early evening on Monday 14th June 2010 - if you'd like to book an appointment call us on 01592 642999.

Carers Week - Information Event in St Andrews on Thursday 10th June and in Glenrothes on Friday 18th June

Carers Week 2010 has the theme "A Life of my own" and is all about finding ways to help carers to be able to be confident about leaving the person they care for (and knowing they are safe) whilst they go and do something for themselves - find work, explore their educational possibilities and take up new hobbies or interests -or perhaps just go back to something they once enjoyed.  To help carers find out how they can go about taking some steps to make some positive differences in their own lives we have arranged a number of events.  The first of the Carers Week two Information events takes place on Thursday 10th June in the Scores Hotel in St Andrews.  You can come along between 10 am and 2.30pm.  You'll find information stalls there from a wide variety of organisations including Telecare, Crossroads, Fife Cares Home Safety, Fife Young Carers and of course (most importantly naturally) - Fife Carers Centre! 

Wheelchair users and carers survey

Many wheelchair users are independent however some rely on others.  The right wheelchair can prevent injury to carers.  NHS Wheelchair and Seating Services across Scotland are currently undertaking modernisation.  Clearly it is very important that the needs of users and unpaid carers are taken into account in this process.

Research into the needs of unpaid carers of wheelchair users has been set up in partnership between NHS Fife, PAMIS, Fife Carers Centre, and Dundee University to particularly look at carers’ needs.

A confidential questionnaire will be sent to a sample of Fifers using NHS wheelchairs.  The researchers also want to hear from carers of people with privately purchased wheelchairs.  Contact Hannah Young   H.Young@dundee.ac.uk.  Tel: 01382 385154

The research is being resourced by Fife Carers Information Strategy funded by Scottish Government.  The results should be relevant across Scotland.

Carers Week - Chat with Esther Rantzen

ESTHER RANTZEN
With Carers Week fast approaching we are delighted to announce that we have arranged a webchat for all carers with Esther Rantzen – next Thursday, 9^th June, from 7-8pm.

Esther has been in the public eye for many years, having first made her name in the BBC consumer programme – That’s Life! Innovative programmes such as Trouble in Mind (on mental health) and Childwatch followed, and Esther subsequently set up ChildLine, a free 24-hour counseling service for children and young people.

Esther has been a long-term supporter of Carers Week – she was the very first celebrity to support the new partnership formed in 2001 – having cared for her husband Desmond, until he died of coronary heart disease in 2000. Whatever your question for Esther, back in the news last month as an independent candidate in the General Election, we are sure it will be an interesting 60 minutes.

To take part in the webchat you need to first register with The Princess Royal Trust for Carers – the hosts for the event – at http://www.carers.org/user/edit-my-details.html

Once you've registered, it is recommend that you visit the chat room
http://www.carers.org/chat to familiarise yourself with the surroundings. If you have any difficulties, please email web@carers.org


IS YOUR MP SUPPORTING CARERS?
MPs from four different parties have come together to put forward one of the first motions in the new UK Parliament. Proposed by the MP for Banbury, Tony Baldry, the other lead sponsors were his Conservative colleague, Lee Scott; Hywel Francis and Rachel Reeves from Labour, Tim Farron from the Liberal Democrats and Eilidh Whiteford from the SNP.

To see the motion, and find out who has signed it so far please go to http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=40928&SESSION=905

Please urge your MP to sign the motion – EDM 14 – you can contact your MP via
the Parliament website at http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/mps/

Health Board Elections

The parliamentary election is not the only opportunity that people in Fife will have to vote in 2010. Look out for the ballot papers for the Health Board elections!
NHS Fife is one of only two Boards in Scotland that have been chosen to be a pilot site for Health Board election. This is a new way of giving members of the public a say directly on who should be at the Board-level of an NHS organisation.
The election is by postal ballot. Ballot papers are being issued round about 10th May and have to be returned by 10th June. For the first time 16 and 17 years olds who are on the electoral register will be able to vote.
At present NHS Boards are appointed by the Scottish Government. There are different types of Board Members. These include what are called stakeholder members, that is, people representing our staff organisations or our clinical forum or nominated by Fife Council. They include the senior managers of the organisation like the Chief Executive or the Nurse Director. They include people appointed from outside who bring to the Board, as Non-Executive Members, skills and experience they have gained from other organisations and careers.
An elected Fife NHS Board will consist of:
12 directly elected Non-Executive Members
12 Members appointed by Scottish Ministers (including the Chairperson, Non-Executive Members, Stakeholder Members and Executive Members)
1 Councillor Member nominated by Fife Council
This will achieve the Scottish Government’s objective that over half of the Board members will be elected. As at present, all Board members will be expected to work together on behalf of the population of Fife as a whole and to be accountable to the Scottish Government for the delivery of its health policy.
So please – look out for the ballot papers coming through your door and make your choice of candidate! Two of the candidates with a strong interest in representing carers interests are Dawn Norton and Lesley Childs. Dawn told us “I am a single parent of two teenage boys. I am also a full time carer for one of my sons, who has profound special needs. I was born and brought up in Fife.
I have had contact with various services within health in relation to my son and other members of my family. My experience has been both positive and negative and I now feel strongly that I wish to be involved in promoting the best possible health for all in Fife. I believe that my experience of caring for my son will bring a different aspect to the board although I am very aware of the need for impartiality and objectivity. My caring responsibilities prevent me taking up employment at the moment but I am keen to make a significant contribution to my community.”
Lesley is the Information Officer at Fife Carers Centre and in common with all the staff here has some caring experience herself. In addition to that she has lots of experience of working in committee led and monitored activity, having previously worked with the military and now with both NHS Fife and Fife Social Work since she began work with us. She feels this experience gives her the confidence to speak up and put across points effectively. She told us “I feel it’s important that carers have a clear voice speaking out and representing their interests at this level and my work and life experiences mean I have knowledge and understanding that will help others understand what “Partners in Care” really means for carers and those they interact with.”

Sharing experiences of health and illness

Healthtalkonline is an award winning charity website that lets you share in other people's experiences of health and illness. You can watch or listen to videos of the interviews, read about people's experiences and find reliable information about conditions, treatment choices and support. Why would you want to do that? Well, often people find a great deal of comfort in finding out that their own experieinces are shared by others; it often helps to know that others felt the way you feel now or have stories which might help prepare you for a future event. You might find a story about an aspect of your treatment that you hadn't expected to affect you the way it does and in the carer section you will find many stories of people affected by their carng role.
If you have a story you would like to share with us here at Fife Carers Centre to be included on our website please contact Lesley on 01592 642999 or lesley@fifecarers.co.uk

For all parents and carers of disabled children and young people

Is your short break service delivering all that you and your child need?

Are you starting to worry about what happens when your child leaves school?
Is school life the same for your child as everyone else's?
Would going out to work be an option if you could find the right childcare?

The fSDC liaison project was set up to bridge the gap between the good intentions of government policy and legislation and the services and support families with a disabled child receive - but they need to know more about families' experience - and importantly they need to hear parents' views on what should change and what support you would like that would make a
difference in your family's lives.

They are hosting a series of events to find out parents' views and experiences starts in Inverness on 24th March and then in Edinburgh on 31st March. More details about both events and how to register are given below. If you would like them to run a similar workshop at a carers or parents' group that you attend please get in touch. Distance no object!

Event in Inverness - Wednesday 24 March 10.15am to 1pm followed by lunch - Waterside Hotel, 19 Ness Bank, Inverness
Event in Edinburgh - Wednesday 31 March 10.15am to 1pm followed by lunch - McDonald rooms conference centre, McDonald Road, Edinburgh

Free to attend!

Refreshments and lunch will be provided. Expenses for childcare and travel expenses will be reimbursed. For more information and to book a place contact Donna Tomlin donna.tomlin@cafamily.org.uk or tel: 0131 659 2939

Office of the Public Guardian - Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000

On Thursday 18th March Fife Carers Centre are hosting briefing sessions on aspects of the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000 (such as Guardianship and Power of Attorney) as overseen by the Office of the Public Guardian Scotland. There are two discreet sessions, one starting at 10 am and concluding at about 12 noon and one beginning at 1pm and concluding at about 3 pm. Please call Lesley on 01592 642999 to book a place. Anyone is welcome to attend.

Caring with Confidence Workhop - Living with Mental Illness

Fife Carers Centre and Fife Families Support Project are hosting a "Caring with Confidence for those living with Mental Illness". The workshop will take place at Fife Carers Centre on the evening of Tuesday 16th March 2010 between 6 pm and 8.30pm.

The workshop includes information about caring for someone living with a mental illness and the support available. It will also cover the rights and benefits that carers are entitled to.

There is help available on the night for those who find transport to and from the event a problem and soup and sandwiches will be provided free of charge on the evening.
If you would like more information or to book a place please call either Mary Stewart at Fife Carers Centre on 01592 642999 or Colin Orr at Fife Families Support Project on 01592 641401.

Taster Holistic Therapy Sessions

During the morning of Tuesday 23rd March 2010 we are having taster therapy sessions for carers. These will be conducted by 2nd year students of Holistic Therapies at Adam Smith College. You will be offered a choice of Hand Reflexology or an Indian Head Massage. The sessions will take place at Fife Carers Centre in Kirkcaldy.

The time slots available are as follows:

Arrive 9.30 for a session between 9.45 and 10 am.

Arrive 10 am for a session between 10.15 and 10.30 am

Arrive 10.30 am for a session between 10.45 and 11 am

Arrive 11 am for a session between 11.15 and 11.30 am

After your session we invite you to stay at the centre for tea/coffee and nibbles. This will give you an opportunity to chat with other carers who are also attending for a therapy session. If you would like to book one of these slots please contact us bere at Fife Carers Centre on 01592 642999. Places are limited so if you are interested please phone as soon as possible.

Pontin's Spring Breaks

Pontins are offering up to 50 FREE for carers classic self-catering apartments Spring Breaks at each of the following locations.

Friday 26th March - Monday 29th March in Brean Sands Holiday Park, Burnham on Sea in Somerset.

Monday 29th March - Friday 2nd April in:-

Brean Sands Holiday Park, Burnham on Sea in Somerset.

Southport Holiday Park, Ainsdale Beach, Merseyside

Prestatyn Sands Holiday Park, Prestatyn Sands, North Wales.

Each apartment contains a bedroom, lounge with TV, bathroom and kitchenette with full sized cooker and fridge. Each sleeps up to four people - 2 in the bedroom and 2 on a bed settee in the lounge. There will be a full entertainment programme with live cabaret and music as well as the fantastic Bluecoat Shows.

How to book.

The free breaks are on a "first come, first served" basis and bookings can be made by ringing 0844 576 5943 and quoting the special code PKCH.

Criteria

Carers must be able to self manage all care and childcare needs as there will be no dedicated support on the holiday.

Children must be supervised by parents at all times.

Suitability of apartments for those needing to use wheelchairs/motorised scooters/walking frames etc will depend on specific requirements. This should be discussed at the time of booking with requests for ground floor accommodation and any other needs identified. Please be aware that bathroom facilities are standard and slip mats/grab rails etc are not provided.

The breaks are self catering so food is not included. There is a convenience store on each locationa dn a choice of restaurants and bars. Carers do not have to buy food onsite and they can bring everything with them if they wish.

Apart from Guide/Hearing dogs no other pets are allowed.

Some apartments are a 5/10 minute walk from the restaurant/leisure facilities.

Carers must provide an emergency contact.

Insurance is not included with this holiday and it is the carers responsibility to source their own insurance for members of their party.

Heads up on forthcoming Information sessions and Workshops

The Office of the Public Guardian will be running information update and overview sessions on the provisions under the Adults with Incapacity Act 2000 - as amended, to organisations and individuals in Fife. Fife Carers Centre is likely to be hosting at least one of these 2 hour sessions, probably on the 18th or 19th March. As soon as we have more details we will let you know! If you would like to register interest in attending a session please give Lesley a call on 01592 642999 or email her on lesley@fifecarers.co.uk with your details.

Residents of Fife are encouraged to love their lungs!

This information was taken from the British Lung Foundation Website which you can find at http://www.lunguk.org/

The British Lung Foundation (BLF) is launching the Love Your Lungs campaign in Fife on Wednesday, 10th February to screen its residents for the early signs and symptoms of a lung condition called Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
Research by the charity suggests there are an estimated 3.7 million people with COPD in the UK, yet only 900,000 people have been diagnosed with the disease. This means there are 2.8 million people who are currently unaware they have a condition which, if left untreated, could severely restrict their lives and eventually kill them. These are the “missing millions” the BLF wants to find.
Fife residents are being encouraged to come along to these free events after research by the charity showed that people in the area are 25.3% more likely to be admitted to hospital for COPD than the UK national average.
COPD is a term used to describe a number of lung conditions including chronic bronchitis and emphysema, which are often caused by smoking. It leads to damaged airways, making it hard for air to get in and out of the lungs. As COPD progresses, people find it difficult to cope with everyday activities such as walking or climbing stairs, and can be left literally fighting for breath. Damage to the lungs caused by COPD is irreversible but if diagnosed early, symptoms can be treated to prevent further damage.
Mairi McConnochie, COPD Project Officer at the British Lung Foundation said “With the cold snap sweeping over Scotland, it’s particularly important, now more than ever to maintain good lung health. Only 1.5% of the UK population is diagnosed correctly with COPD so I encourage any resident in Fife who is experiencing breathlessness or a persistent cough to come along to the events and be tested.”
The testing only takes around 10 minutes, doesn’t hurt and simply involves blowing in to a tube. Trained health professionals will be on hand to advise those having the tests. Testing events will take place at the following four locations:

Wed 10th February: Kingdom Shopping Centre, Glenrothes, 10am-4pm
Thurs 11th February: Mercat Shopping Centre, Kirkcaldy, 9am-5pm
Tues 16th February: Gala Bingo, Glenrothes, 10:30am-6:30pm
Wed 17th February: Kingsgate Shopping Centre, Dunfermline, 10am-4pm

Keeping the lines of communication open

It is important in any relationship to be able to communicate. This is especially so when you are caring for someone. It is often hampered by the fact that more than 41% of over 50 year olds have a hearing loss. This means that simple conversations can turn into disagreements when one of you hasn’t heard the other correctly. Learning to lipread and to use basic communication tactics will help. For example:-

Always make sure you are facing the other person and that your mouth is not covered by your hand (or moustache!).

Speak clearly but don’t shout. This just destroys the lip shapes and rhythm of what you are saying making it more difficult to understand.

Try to have the light on the speaker’s face not on the listener’s.

Switch off background noise if you can e.g. television, music, etc and always have a pen and paper handy to sort out misunderstandings.

To learn more why don’t you both enrol in a lipreading class? It’s fun and friendly and is often available for free. For more information please contact Alison on 01383 623708 or email alison@pendlowski.plus.com

Fife Gingerbread Buddy Project

Life can be hard even at the best of times for carers and it can often feel a million times worse when you are a lone parent. If you feel like this Fife Gingerbread can help you!
The Buddy Project is free to any lone parent in Fife and aims to provide a variety of support that lone parents need, when they need it.
Buddies will meet regularly and offer:
A relationship that focuses on you, not the children!
A smiling face, a listening ear and a shoulder to cry on if needed.
An extra pair of hands, because one pair isn't always enough.
The confidence to try new activities - isn't it easier to go places with someone else?
Practical help, because two heads are better than one!
Who can have a Buddy?
If you are a lone parent living in Fife, YOU can have a buddy!
How long do I have a Buddy for?
It’s completely up to you! Some lone parents feel they need the extra support when they first become single, others prefer it a few years down the line. Some people prefer to have a buddy on a regular basis whereas others find they only need one occasionally – Fife Gingerbread can arrange support that suits you. A buddy can be accessed at any point of being a lone parent and you can change your mind at any time.
Who are the Buddies?
All of the Fife Gingerbread Buddies are very special people and have been picked because of their friendly, open-minded approach and their genuine interest and enthusiasm. Buddies come from all backgrounds and walks of life. The one thing all Buddies have in common is that they know what it feels like to be a lone parent. This may be because they are a lone parent and have been there themselves or they may have experience and training relevant to lone parent issues.
Fife Gingerbread Buddies:
· Will meet you wherever and whenever you want.
· Will go with you to a class or outing
· Will offer support in a range of areas.
· Won’t judge you.
· Are selected carefully for their friendliness and understanding.
· Are fully approved and trained.
Are the meetings confidential?
Of course! Everything you say will be kept confidential within Fife Gingerbread. The only exception to this would be if there was a concern about the safety of your child(ren). Fife Gingerbread are here to support you and provide you with the best support you need and want – all information they hold will be used solely for this purpose!
Can I become a Buddy?
Fife Gingerbread are always on the lookout for people to become new Buddies. If you have a few hours a week to help others, learn new skills and have fun then please get in touch for more details. Call them on 01333 303124 or email them at info@fifegingerbread.org.uk or visit the website on http://www.fifegingerbread.org.uk/

Mental Welfare Commission Survey for carers and users

The Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland’s first service users’ and carers’ views survey is still live!
If you have used Mental Welfare Commission services they want to know what you think of them.
To complete the survey please click on the link below:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/MWCsurvey
Or on this link if you would like an easy-read version of the survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/MWCsurvey-easyread
Your answers will be kept private.
You can ask a carer, an advocate, a friend or staff to help you fill in the survey.
The survey closes the 26th of February 2010.
If you have any questions about this survey you can phone Hannah Biggs on 0131 555 5959 or email her on hannah@sdcmh.org.uk
If you would like more information about the Mental Welfare
Commission, you can call 0800 389 6809 or go to their website,
www.mwcscot.org.uk.

Guide Dogs

Hands up who remembers collecting milk bottle lids to send to Blue Peter so they could buy guide dogs for the blind!? Taking part in those fundraising activities gave many of us a lifelong affection and interest in guide dogs. We can all recognise that a guide dog can offer a unique, safe and effective way of getting about independently and confidently – but did you know that to be a guide dog owner you don't need to have lost all your sight? Most people who own a guide dog still have some vision. You don't even have to be formally registered as blind or partially-sighted. There’s no upper age limit to being a guide dog user - people in their seventies, eighties and even nineties become successful guide dog owners. No previous experience of keeping a dog is necessary - providing you are committed and able enough to work with, support and care for a guide dog then our training will teach you all you need to know. It costs just 50p to have a guide dog. All essential equipment and training is provided by Guide Dogs, and they can also cover the cost of vet bills and dog food if people wish.

Owning a guide dog is not just about improving mobility. A guide dog and its owner exist as a partnership, and the companionship, loyalty and fun that each partner brings to this relationship can be immensely rewarding.

You can learn more about the world of Guide Dogs by coming along to the meeting point lunch in Fife Carers Centre on Friday 30th April 2010 when Pamela Munro, the Information Officer from The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association will be the speaker.

If you would like to explore the possibility of you or someone you know getting a guide dog please call Guide Dogs on 0845 372 7499 and they will arrange to come and talk to you, informally and confidentially, to help you decide if a guide dog might be suitable for you. Guide Dogs staff understand how severely people's independence can be affected by sight loss, and they can explore the best way of meeting your specific needs. There is nothing to lose and potentially much to gain by exploring allthe options - so get in touch.

CEN Education Day

Parents and carers of children with complex and exceptional healthcare needs are invited to attend the CEN Education day on the practical and emotional issues related to enteral feeding in children with complex and exceptional healthcare needs on 24 Feb 2010 9.30-4 pm at the e-Science institute, South College Street, Edinburgh.
The CEN Education day will include the following sessions:
Practical issues related to feeding.
Emotional issues related to feeding.
Decision making and risk assessment related to feeding support.
Issues related to the implementation of decisions in school and local authority setting.
Launch of the CEN Education module on the emotional issues related to tube feeding.
The CEN Education day will include presentations, discussion sessions, and the launch of the CEN Education module on the emotional issues related to tube feeding.

If you would like to attend early registration is recommended and before 14 February, however spaces will be available for late registration of parents and carers.
http://www.nesc.ac.uk/action/registration/index.cfm?id=1027

Fife Central Carers Group

The first meeting of the Fife Central Carers Group took place on Friday 8th January with a pretty good turn out considering the weather! We decided that as most of those who come along to the Carers group are also able to come along to the Meeting Point Lunches we aim to have a different flavour to the Carers Group Meetings. Fair enough. What's going to happen at our meetings then?

We thought a few trips out might be good, we're thinking a day out at the Hobbycraft Show later in the year, perhaps a guided tour of local Museums, talks from people with ideas about ways to fill our time productively in a fun way. We also decided that it would be good to have something fun to do here at the centre so we're going to buy a Wii and have a bit of a competition going - I'm a demon at the 100 pin bowling so watch out!

We'd really like to invite any carers who are able to join us to come along on Friday 5th February between 10.30 and 12.30 at Fife Carers Centre - We look forward to seeing you!

Money and Legal Matters Information Day - for people with dementia and their carers

On Monday 15 February 2010 Alzheimer Scotland will be holding an information day with workshops covering a wide range of money and legal matters, including benefits and financial help, powers of attorney, guardianship, paying care home fees, having your wishes heard, taking control of your own care, your rights to assessment and community care services and much more. This is a chance to hear from and speak to experts. There will also be a chance to speak privately with a solicitor of benefits adviser during the day.

The event will be held at The Gillis Centre, 100 Strathearn Road, Edinburgh, EH9 1BB.

For further information or to book a place at a cost of £5 per head, contact Anne Burnshide on 0141 418 3936 or email aburnside@alzscot.org the closing date for bookings is the 10th February 2010.

Hard of Hearing - Information and Advice Open Day

On Thursday 28 January 2010,our friend Kirsteen McFarlane from Deaf Action’s Including You project will hold a showcase event at the Rothes Hall in Glenrothes, for people experiencing hearing loss in Fife. A host of organisations (including Lesley from Fife Carers Centre!)will be there to provide details about how to access Information, Advice and Guidance, specialist equipment, lipreading, and courses on assertiveness, confidence-building and mobile phone texting. Information will also be available on other services available for people who are hard of hearing.
Deaf Action’s Including You Project Workers work across Fife and Lothian to provide services for hard of hearing people. For more information about this event or about the project in Fife, contact:
Kirsteen McFarlane, Information, Advice and Guidance Worker,
at: Deaf Action Fife Office: Office 7, Albany Business Centre, Gardeners Street, Dunfermline, KY12 0RN
Tel / Text: 01383 730 997 / SMS: 07775 838 338 /
Email: kirsteen.mcfarlane@deafaction.org

Visual Awareness Training for Fife Carers of People with a Learning Disability

The RNIB Pathway ViiTAL project is delivering training courses and events to parents/carers in Fife to raise awareness of the link between visual impairment and learning disability to help enable them to support people with sight difficulties safely and effectively.

Visual Awareness and Learning Disability Training provides participants with an introduction to sight loss issues for people with a learning disability. It highlights that at least 1 in 3 people with a learning disability will also have a visual impairment. Training focuses on raising awareness of the inequality in access to eye health care for this group, the prevalence of eye conditions related to specific learning disabilities, and strategies to employ in the development of person centred support and care plans.

This includes information on practical ideas such as: environmental considerations, lighting issues, sighted guiding and mobility issues, adapting activities and the way we work, resources and equipment. Carers will have information about how and where to access relevant services and resources within Fife.

The courses are free, lunch is provided, and reasonable expenses will be reimbursed to parents and carers. Participants receive an information pack and Certificate of Attendance.
All courses are held at Fife Sensory Impairment Centre, Wilson Avenue, Kirkcaldy, from 9.30am until 2.30pm.
The course dates are as follows:

Tuesday 12 January 2010
Thursday 28 January 2010 - course full
Tuesday 9 February 2010
Thursday 25 February 2010
Tuesday 9 March 2010
Tuesday 23 March 2010

There is a programme of dates running from now until the end of March 2010. If you would like more information, or to reserve a place please contact:

Janice Bain - janice.bain@rnib.org.uk
Linda Gray - linda.gray@rnib.org.uk
Tel - 08451 555555 extn 474131

Friday Carer Lunch Talks

We have the last carer lunch for 2009 on Friday 27th November. As usual it will start at 12 noon and go on til 2pm. The speaker will be Sarah Bromley from The Energy Assistance Package. The Energy Assistance Package provides advice and support to enable you to maximise your income, reduce your fuel bills and make your home warmer and more comfortable. It offers a range of measures to help improve the energy efficiency of your home. Sarah will be talking about the package and how it may apply and will be available to answer your questions. We'll also have our usual lunch of sandwiches, cakes and cuppas plus our fabulous brain stretching prize winning quiz.

There will be no carer lunch in December and so the next one will be on the 29th of January 2010. The Speaker at the January lunch will be Iain McGarry from Fife Fire and Rescue Service (yes! a fireman -control yourself ladies!!)

University of Dundee, Department of Social Work

Would you like to influence the social workers of the future?

Would you be willing to share your knowledge and experience with a social work student to help them understand what caring is about?
The University of Dundee trains social works students. Part of the course is called ‘Making Sense of the Experience of Caring’. It is a new style of learning, done mostly outside the classroom. Each student is linked with a family and spends periods of time directed by the family in their own home.
An introductory day will take place on Monday 7 December 2009. Between December and April 2010, the student will spend between 15 hours and 24 hours with the family and others closely involved in the care. This could include several periods with the family at different times of the day, an introductory meeting and time in a weekly activity with the person cared for. Suitable arrangements will be agreed between students and families.

Students will do written work and presentations to show their understanding, based on their research and their time with families. Students will also look at issues which families themselves want to find out about. In this way, families will hopefully benefit from this experience too.

PAMIS, Fife, Angus, Dundee and Perth Carers Centres are working in partnership with the University of Dundee to develop this training module and will be there to support the families. Two family carers are also on the steering group.

There are 25 students to link with families! If you are interested or have questions, please contact:

Sheila McCallum
School of Education, Social Work and Community Education
University of Dundee
Nethergate
Dundee
Telephone – 01382 381441 or s.z.mccallum@dundee.ac.uk

PAMIS on 01382 385154

Your local Carers Centre: Fife – 01592 642999, Angus – 01241 439157, Dundee – 01382 400222, Perth – 01738 567076

Avoiding SCAMS!

I caught up yesterday with Janice Russell from Trading Standards who spoke to us earlier in the year about trying to protect the people we care for from falling for Scams. Janice was telling me that she had been at a conference that changed the way she thought about why people fall for Scams and the psychological pressure that is put upon us by very cynically manipulative con artists. She pointed me towards an excellent website which was set up to bring the problem to the attention of the public and highlight how easily people can become sucked in to the Scam. The website is called http://www.thinkjessica.com/. If you care for someone and are worried that they have been the victim of a scam or think that perhaps you have been "suckered" you can contact Consumer Direct on Telephone: 08454 04 05 06 or Website: http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/. They can also give you advice on how to avoid Scams as well as things like "How to find a reputable tradesman" and "What to do when a company goes into Administration" etc.

Partners in Care Workshops

Our Partners in Care Workshops for Health and Social care workers have been underway during October and November and our feedback from those attending has been very positive. Without fail the part that the delegates say has been the most use to them has been the time they spend listening to carers talking about their own experiences as carers. We would not be able to run these workshops as effectively without the help of the carers who volunteer to take part so thank you very much for all your help this year to Nancy, Bill, Mike , Hugh, Cath, Dave and Grant.

We have more of these workshops coming up next year and will be looking for more carers to talk about their experiences - if you feel this is something that you could do and would like to take part please give us a call!

Kirkcaldy District Stroke Club

The Kirkcaldy and District Stroke club was set up October 1999. It is an independent club run by a small committee of members and volunteers. The club is affiliated to Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland. The club organises activities to reflect the wishes and interests of its members and also organise occasional outings. Membership is open to people who have had a stroke. The club aims to offer friendship and support in a relaxed and welcoming environment. Carers are also welcome to attend the club or carers can take the opportunity to have a short break. Volunteers are essential to the running of the club. Volunteers can help with club activities, fund-raising, seriving refreshments and chatting to club members. No special qualifications are required apart from lots of enthusiasm, a sense of humour and a genuine interest in people. Volunteer drivers are needed who are willing to use their own car to transport people to and from the centre are also needed. They would be delighted to hear from you if you would like to join their small and friendly team of volunteers. They meet fortnightly on Thurdays between 2pm and 4pm in the Templehall Community Centre in Beauly Place in Kirkcaldy. For further information please contact the Stroke Club on 01592 583363.

Head Injury in Children - Open Forum Meeting

The Scottish Head Injury Forum will be holding an open forum meeting on the topic of Head Injury in Children on Friday 30 October 2009 between 10 a.m. - 3.30 p.m at the Apex European Hotel, 90 Haymarket Terrace, Edinburgh. There is a charge of £30 for non-members.

Speakers and workshops include:
Dr Tom Beattie, Consultant in Emergency Medicine, Edinburgh:
Acute medical care of the head injured child
Dr Alex Baxter, Consultant in Paediatric Neuro-rehabilitation, Edinburgh:
Rehabilitation of the head injured child: physical and cognitive problems
Dr Beth Wicks, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Nottingham:
How does ABI affect educational progress?
The Child Brain Injury Trust: Supporting the child and family after ABI
Relatives of children who have survived a brain injury: Living with the effects of brain injury in a child.

If you would like to attend please contact Fiona Maxwell SHIF Aministrator on 01382 423196.

National Austistic Society - Information Survey

Its been a very busy time in the world of Autism with lots of people trying to make a difference.

The National Autistic Society Scotland (NAS Scotland)is working with other autism organisations to get the best services and support for people with autism spectrum disorder, including Asperger syndrome, across Scotland.

An Autism Bill is currently being debated at Westminster but it will only apply to England.

To find out if there is a need for a Scottish Autism Bill NAS Scotland are asking people to fill out this survey and to tell them about their experiences of living with autism and using services.

The survey focuses on services provided by councils and the NHS but can also include things like housing, criminal justice or universities.

If NAS Scotland get enough evidence they will work with other autism organisations to camapign to get the Scottish Parliament to act. If you wish to become involved then remember to enter your email details on the survey.

This survey will run until 4 November 2009, please encourage others to complete it. Thank you for your help!

To get to the survey click here

Meeting Point Lunch Speakers for 2010

Our speakers at the meeting point lunches over the last year have been very interesting. We've heard from Samaritans, Cancer Network Fife, Fife Trading Standards, Telecare, Fife Cares Home Safety, Long Term Conditions Team and Deaf Action amongst others. We are now looking at who we can invite to speak at the meetings in 2010. Who would you like to hear from? The speaker should be talking about a subject which has a broad appeal to carers and be able to present their topic in around half an hour. If you have any ideas for speakers please let us know - you can call us on 01592 642999 or leave a comment here.

Electric Blanket Testing 2009

Have you got an electric blanket to keep you cosy through the long winter nights? If you're anything like me you might have had it for a while. You can make sure it's still safe to use by taking it along to one of these testing centres on the dates shown to have it given a good going over. You don't need to make an appointment, you just turn up!

On Monday 19th October
between 10.00 – 13.00 and then 14.00 – 16.00
at

Lomond Centre, Woodside Way
Glenrothes, KY7 5RA
On Tuesday 20th October
between 10.00 & 13.00 then 14.00 & 16.00
at

Corn Exchange
St Catherine Street
Cupar, KY15 4BT

On Wednesday 21st October
between 10.00 & 13.00 then 14.00 & 16.00
at

Victory Memorial Hall
St Marys PlaceSt Andrews, KY16 9TA

On Thursday 22nd October
btween 10.00 & 13.00 then 14.00 & 16.00
at Parkgate Centre
Parkgate, Rosyth, KY11 2JW

On Friday 23rd October
between 10.00 & 13.00 then 14.00 & 16.00
at

Templehall Community Centre
Templehall Avenue
Kirkcaldy, KY2 6EB