supporting unpaid adult carers across anglesey, conwy and … · 2016-08-25 · eye on our online...
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Supporting unpaid adult carers across Anglesey, Conwy and Gwynedd
The Carer
Issue 79 Autumn 2016
Carers Week 2016
Fundraising event
Turn the page for up to date carers’ news!
“What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness?” ~ John Steinbeck
Conwy carers went to Betws y Coed Gwynedd carers went to Barmouth
Gwynedd parent carers and their families went to Greenwood Forest Park
Robbie the dog went to work to raise funds
Registered Charity No. 1066262
Update from Carers Outreach
Emergency Planning Checklist In the last issue we emphasised the importance of keeping your dependant’s information up to date and accessible to all visitors involved in their care.
Carers in Conwy have already benefited from our new Emergency Plan checklist. This two sided sheet can be fixed to a prominent place such as the fridge door.
There are spaces to record: Your details
Details of the person you care for
Details of anyone who would be willing to provide care if you suddenly had to be away from home
Details of any home care provider
Information about the type of care needed and the preferences of the person you care for
The sheet also displays the phone number of your local Social Services.
Contact your local Carers Outreach office to request your Emergency Plan checklist. New DVD to raise awareness Carers Outreach worked in partnership with Bangor University to produce a new promotional DVD which highlights carers’ issues and concerns. Keep an eye on our online information channels - it’s due to be launched in September 2016.
Many thanks to the 3 carers who gave up their time to take part in the DVD. You are all stars!
Contact your local Carers Outreach office for information and support
Fund Raising News Raising funds for Carers Outreach Service is a continuing challenge.
In 2015 our volunteers provided the catering at the Mona Antiques Fair in Anglesey. We also ran a charity shop in Holyhead at the beginning of 2016.
There are plans to run a cake stall, a wine tasting session, a coffee evening and a table top sale; details will be publicised when we have more information. Thank you Robbie! Robbie the dog went to work at the Bodnant Clinic in Llandudno Hospital with his owner Sarah and raised £300. You can see Robbie’s picture on the front page. And thank you Tina! Tina Williams, our Carers Support Officer based at Ysbyty Gwynedd, completed a sponsored walk to the top of Snowdon and raised £130. In loving memory Carers Outreach is grateful for all methods of generating funds to boost our income. One recent bequest paid for the production of one print run of this newsletter. We are always extremely moved and grateful to receive donations from bereaved carers in memory of their loved ones. Our thanks and heartfelt sympathy go out to everyone who has given us donations in memory of their loved ones.
How to contact us Email, telephone or write to us
Usual office hours: Monday - Friday 10 - 4
When emailing please state which county you live in.
Bangor Office 01248 370797 Unit 6, Mentec, Deiniol Road, Bangor, LL57 2UP
Penrhyndeudraeth Office 01766 772956 Llys Deudraeth, High Street, Penrhyndeudraeth, LL48 6BL
Llangefni Office 01248 722828 Town Hall, Llangefni LL77 7LR
Colwyn Bay Office 01492 533714 The Metropole Basement Offices, Penrhyn Road, Colwyn Bay LL29 8LG
www.carersoutreach.org.uk
Contact us with all your caring concerns. You can ask questions or offload about your caring role.
Our service is free and confidential.
Update from Carers Outreach
Antibiotic resistance on the rise? Drinking one glass of cranberry juice a day can help to prevent urinary tract infections.
~ The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Are you a carer aged 25-50 living in Anglesey or Conwy?
Above, carers enjoying lunch at the Valley Hotel in Carers Week
Our new project ‘Menter Morgan’ funded by the Morgan Foundation means we now offer specialist support for carers aged 25 to 50. We provide one to one and group support, including:
Emotional support
Help to access benefits
Employment / training support
Monthly get-togethers If you would like support, contact Eirian or Laura in the Llangefni or Colwyn Bay offices. Courses for carers and the person they look after The BCU Health Board arranges a variety of free courses across Anglesey, Gwynedd and Conwy. The ‘Introduction to Self Management’ and the ‘Chronic Disease Self Management Programme’ help people who live with a long term health condition, and their carer, to maintain and improve their quality of life. 01286 674236
Solution slot
Q: My neighbour and friend of many years, Wil, is struggling to manage his affairs. He has memory problems and is awaiting an appointment at the memory clinic. He has asked me to help more with things like managing his benefits. But I’m not sure of how to proceed legally. I want to make sure everything is above board.
A: You can apply to become an appointee for Wil; an appointee is someone who has been authorised to act on someone’s behalf to deal with benefit affairs, generally due to mental incapacity.
To become an appointee you should make a request to the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP). You, and Wil, will then be interviewed to ensure you are suitable, and if so, you will be formally appointed to act on Wil’s behalf.
Your responsibilities as an appointee: Signing the claim form Notifying the benefits office of any
changes in circumstances Claiming all benefits due Ensuring the benefit is spent in the
best interest of the customer Responsibility for any
overpayments if you knowingly provide wrong information
The phone number to ring will vary depending on which benefits the customer is receiving. E.g. if it is Attendance Allowance, you need to ring the Attendance Allowance helpline. It is important to note that an appointee has no role beyond welfare benefits.
Benefit helplines
Swansea Pension Centre 0345 6060 265 (English) 0345 6060 275 (Welsh) Attendance Allowance 0345 605 6055 Disability Living Allowance 0345 712 3456 PIP (Personal Independence Payment) 0345 850 3322
Remember that Carers Outreach can refer you to:
The DWP to request to become an appointee.
Agencies that can help you to complete forms for PIP, Attendance Allowance etc.
One carer’s experience
When my mother died in September 2015, I was shocked to discover that her savings had gone over the allowed limit for someone on Pension Credit.
Now her estate is frozen until the DWP has calculated how much must be repaid.
This could have been prevented if I had been aware of the rules, or better still, been her appointee.
A carer’s story
Excitement! Today’s the day, Snowdon Mountain Railway here we come.
A cloudy start soon gives way to watery sun. Once in Llanberis, there are crowds waiting outside the station, along with a lovely choir, ‘Tenovus Cancer Care Sing with us’, who entertain us while we wait in the warm sun for our train. We meet the Rotary Club stewards for a welcome briefing, and are given straps to wear bearing the motto, “By your side, love, hope, strength, foundation.”
Our fellow passengers are all ages, cancer sufferers/ survivors and those with dementia. We are loaded into carriages with a drink and a bun and off we go, grinning like schoolkids.
I didn’t know what to expect and was surprised at the height we had reached almost as soon as we left the station. Then, a lovely two-part waterfall, thundering into the river below, was very picturesque.
We trundled along - the train making quite an effort to carry its load - Half-way Rocky Valley Halt, Clogwyn Station then the actual summit.
By this time the weather had improved dramatically but the summit was cold and misty. I was amazed at the hundreds of foot soldiers slogging to the top of Wales’ highest mountain.
Many of them waved at the train - and we waved back. Another surprise was the new Summit Café, packed to the rafters with hundreds of walkers. We had our photo taken with the ‘Snowdon Summit’ sign behind us to prove we had made it. We also caught a glimpse of Mike Peters, the rock star, who joined our homeward train.
Of course, the mountain range just defies description; Crib Goch, Moel Eilio, y Lliwedd, Llechog etc, truly breath-taking and awesome. It’s hard to imagine such grandeur unless you see it with your own eyes. The road like a silver ribbon, far below.
The mood was one of great camaraderie, we met the loveliest people. Such a happy atmosphere pervaded the train. We could not have contemplated this adventure without assistance and support and we are sincerely thankful for the opportunity.
We were filled with happiness on our trip home and will remember the day very fondly.
~C Longworth, Conwy carer
Snowdon rocks is an annual event that raises funds for North Wales’ Cancer Treatment Units and local hospices. The organisers arrange a free train and invite people who could not otherwise take part.
A wonderful day out at Snowdon Rocks!
Noticeboard
The information in this newsletter is, as far as we are aware, accurate at the time of going to press. Carers Outreach Service can accept no liability for errors or omissions or for the quality of information provided by other organisations, nor can we recommend products or services.
New Marks & Spencer Clothing Line for children with additional needs
The Marks & Spencer Customer Services team was contacted by a customer about offering a range of products tailored for children with disabilities which require them to wear sleepsuits and bodysuits in a larger size than the baby and child sizes usually on sale.
The Kidswear team has adapted some of their products to meet needs.
As this was a response to a direct customer request, the range currently has a small number of products that will be available online only. :www.marksandspencer.com/l/kids/specialist-bodysuits-and-sleepwear
Money back from Welsh Water?
There are companies who may contact you claiming to be able to reduce your water bill. These companies usually claim a fee to investigate if savings are possible, or keep part of any savings that are made. There is no need to pay a third party, Welsh Water will work directly with you for free to see if you are entitled to a Surface water rebate.
Almost everyone connected to the sewer network pays towards the overall cost of looking after rain water or surface water that enters the system. If your surface water ends up somewhere other than the sewers, then you can claim a reduction in the amount you pay. The reduction is £50 for this year, and can be back dated as far as April 2014. For more details contact Welsh Water:
0800 052 0145 www.dwrcymru.com
The Open University needs you!
Would you like to have an input into the training of new social workers and help ensure there are more carer friendly social workers in the future?
An Advisory Group made up of service users and carers provides advice and information to the Open University. The group meets about twice a year. A fee is paid for your time and your expenses are reimbursed.
The Open University will be sensitive to your needs when enabling you to participate.
For more details contact Rick Pearle:
02920 262711
Has your Blue Badge expired?
This needs to be renewed by you every 3 years; you won’t be sent a renewal notice. If you use an out of date badge you are liable for a parking ticket / fine.
Contact your local council for details:
01766 771000 Gwynedd
01248 752704 Anglesey
01492 577800 Conwy