Caring

Matters

Jan / Feb 2019 Issue

Happy New year to you all!! 2018 was a memorable year that brought

redundancy for me but it also created many opportunities including a

new job with Bolton Carers Support and the CCG. I love to help and

support people and to be able to share my experience of being a carer

with others, to make improvements to local health services is a win

win as far as I’m concerned. I feel incredibly lucky to have a job which

is extremely rewarding.

Carer Coffee Morning:

In January the Patients’ Forum for Dr Page & Partners held a “Carers Coffee Morning” at

Crompton Health Centre in conjunction with staff at the practice and Bolton Carers Support

(BCS). The aim was to combine carers’ annual health checks with an outreach/social event for

patients on the practices’ carers register, giving them a chance to chat to others in a similar

situation, seek advice and gain information which could support them in their caring role.

Forum members welcomed everyone and served coffee, tea and biscuits. Those in attendance

heard about the different services on offer through BCS which prompted sharing among the

group of some of the problems they were facing. Carers were then invited to discuss, one to

one, general concerns and financial queries with Elaine and Melissa from BCS.

Delia, a Health Care Assistant from the Practice, was available to carry

out carer health checks on the morning of the event and successfully

completed 9 of these with patients who hadn’t been able to get in for

their review prior to the event due to their caring role.

Feedback from Carers was really positive saying they found it useful to access advice, support and practical help in their role as carers. Such events can be a really good and effective way for GP practices to support carers and increase their carer annual health checks.

Follow Up:

Since the coffee morning, BCS have been able to follow up a number of carers who attended. Elaine has carried out 5 home visits to complete benefit checks and one carer has now been signposted to Bolton Dementia Support where he has been allocated a support worker to help him manage caring for his wife who has Dementia.

These past few months I’ve been targeting my work, supporting those

practices most in need. Sometimes its just a few tweaks here and

there to the way they work. Other times it’s about encouraging

practices to think outside the box, to look at new ways of working and be a little more

innovative. There is some great work going on in Bolton which I’m keen to share.

Melissa Taylor

Carer Health Linkworker

Bolton Dementia Support is a charity supporting people living with dementia and their carers/family. They hold a variety of activities including: Memory Cafes: • Mon 2-4pm Victoria Hall, Knowsley St, Bolton Town Centre • Tues 2-4pm RMI Club, Chorley New Rd, Horwich • Wed 2-4pm Bar Lane Bowling Club, Ivy Bank Rd, Astley Bridge Carers Support Group • Tues 10:30am- 12pm Thicketford Centre, Thicketford Rd, Tonge Moor,

Bolton BL2 2LW.

Carers Assessments –All carers are entitled to a ‘Carer Assessment’. This assessment looks at a carers role and how this affects them physically, mentally and socially. Following an assessment a carer may receive support, which could

include a direct payment, to help with their caring role. To request a ‘Carer Assessment’ please call 01204 338027

Melissa Taylor, Health Linkworker Post funded by:

Bolton Carers Support / NHS Bolton CCG

Email: melissa.taylor2@nhs.net

Tel: 01204 363056 / 462157

www.boltoncarers.org.uk

Carers can gain information, advice and support and have the opportunity to meet other carers

They also have a Community Outreach worker who supports the person living with Dementia and their carer. Anybody can refer into the service. 6-8 sessions can be offered with a program to suit the needs of both parties.

For more info visit their website: www.allcommunity.co.uk/dementiasupportgroup or Facebook page: Bolton Dementia Support or call Alison Lowe - 01204 386696 for further details.

Bolton Carers Support Opening Hours

Helpline & Appointments:

Our helpline is now open 24

hours, 7 days a week.

From 9am-5pm weekdays:

call with any caring query or just

talk to someone in confidence

about your caring role.

At all other times

(evenings/weekdays/Bank

Holidays) call if you have any

urgent issue or emergency.

Tel: 01204 363056