Tag Archives: Scotland
Carers Told To ‘Ask For Help’
Carers need to be cared for too
Today sees the launch of a new DVD to reach out to carers in Glasgow to recognise the value of their contribution.. With an estimated 660,000 unpaid carers in Scotland caring for a family member, friend and loved one the short film highlights that ‘It’s OK to ask for Help.’
The film features Tommy Whitelaw who is well known in carer’s circles across the country for his relentless campaigning for services for people with dementia and their carers.
Tommy cared for his mum Joan and experienced first-hand what it is like to care for someone with dementia. Tommy collected carer stories around Scotland to raise awareness of the impact of dementia on families and the difficult but vital role played by carers.
Family Carers in Scotland will get volunteer help
Carers to be given help in Scottish first
A PIONEERING volunteering database which aims to offer relief to thousands of city carers is to launch within months.
In a Scottish first, the web-based system will attempt to tap in to a group of people who are willing to help other members of their community on a temporary basis. It is hoped that by putting volunteers in touch with permanent carers through the online booking system, a proportion of an estimated 47,000 people in Edinburgh who look after someone free of charge can be given a break.
Volunteers could offer respite by sitting with someone while a carer goes out, or by carrying out odd jobs such as shopping or gardening on their behalf.
Memory quilts cover Hampden pitch to showcase lives of people with dementia
The playing surface at Hampden was covered with thousands of memory quilts
Thousands of quilts stitched with the memories of people with dementia have been spread out to cover the pitch of the national stadium at Hampden.
The event is linked to the Alzheimer Scotland Scottish Football Memories Project, which uses football to stimulate memories of the past.
Some of the quilts on show featured stars including Sir Alex Ferguson, Gordon Strachan and Craig Brown.
Former Scotland manager Brown was at Hampden to show his support.
Ann Hill, resident quilter at NHS Dumfries and Galloway, has been a driving force behind the event.
Work to create the quilts sees people with dementia talk about family, friends, places and events from their past and these are stitched into a quilt which is then presented to the person.
The memories of football teams and games from the past have also been used in a project run by Glasgow Caledonian University.
Ms Hill said: “We have been working on this project for around four years and almost 3,000 quilters from right across the world have rallied to the cause superbly.
