Category Archives: disability

Carers need our support

May 8, 2014   Carers, disability

By North Devon Journal  |  Posted: May 08, 2014

In last week’s Journal there was a fabulous piece from North Devon Hospice’s very own Beth Kelso.

In the regular “Opinion” section, Beth was writing about the way in which we support carers, an aspect of hospice care that many are not aware of. After all, if it wasn’t for these carers (often husbands, wives, sons or daughters) the health of the person they are looking after would suffer greatly.

We feel it is absolutely vital that carers feel supported in their task, which can take over their entire life.

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‘If my disabled son still lived at home, I wouldn’t be here now’

April 28, 2014   autism, Carers, disability

The deaths in New Malden have focused attention on the plight of the parents of disabled children – something this mother understands all too well

In the summer of 1999, I was sitting on Whitby beach with my husband, Andrew, and our two-year-old toddler, Tom. There was a strong breeze that kept blowing sand into our ice creams, but the sky was bright blue, and the sun danced on the surface of the sea.

I didn’t know that the next day would bring a tsunami with it, one that would destroy the life I knew and leave me to rebuild a completely different one. I was only 24 weeks pregnant and my waters broke. Three days later, James was born weighing just 1lb 12oz, with extensive brain damage.

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Disabled people ‘pay penalty’ on everyday costs

April 15, 2014   Carers, disability

Spending an average of £550 a month extra

A person in a wheelchair Disabled people have to buy specialist equipment and also pay a premium for everyday items, Scope says

Disabled people pay “a financial penalty” on everyday living costs, spending an average of £550 a month extra, according to a report by Scope.

They needed specialist equipment and had to pay out for things like taxis instead of public transport, it added.

Disabled people were, on average, £100,000 worse off when it came to pensions and savings, the charity said.

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