Author Archives: wendy
Campaign for Torbay carers takes to the road
Torbay raising awareness for Carers
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Paul Lucas (Non-Executive Director at Torbay and Southern Devon Health and Care NHS Trust), Caroline Taylor (Torbay Council’s Chief Operating Officer and Director of Adult Services), Janet Helmore (Carer), Pat Goss (Chair of Torbay Carers Register), Kevin Dixon (Carer)
Stickers are springing up on car windows around the Bay with the message ‘Join Torbay Carers Register Now’ as part of a new campaign to raise awareness of the free help and support that is available to the thousands of unpaid carers across Torbay.
Torbay and Southern Devon Health and Care NHS Trust runs carers services for people living in the Bay. Torbay’s Carers Register is one of the most successful of its kind in the country, supporting over 3,500 carers a year. It offers unpaid carers a range of services including a Carers’ Emergency Card; discount scheme; a regular carers’ newsletter and a host of useful information and support including drop-in centres in two of the Bay’s towns.
The striking car window stickers feature an image of the purple and yellow Carers Register card and encourages people to sign up to the register to access help and support. This latest campaign was launched on National Carers’ Rights Day which also aims to raise awareness of the needs of unpaid carers across the country.
Prime Minister’s Challenge on Dementia Hails Launch of New Website for the South of England
Media release
Thursday 3 January 2013
Prime Minister’s Challenge on Dementia Hails Launch of New Website for the South of England
A pioneering online public information service is today being launched across the South of England.
The ‘Our Health’ website is the first of its kind in England. It aims to transform the way that patients, their carers and health professionals access and share the latest information on a range of key local health and care services across the South.
The Our Health website was developed in the South West, initially providing information on local stroke and dementia services.
The website received the Prime Minister’s backing in March 2012, when David Cameron launched his ‘Challenge on Dementia’ and set out the need to promote local information on dementia services.
‘Target winter fuel benefit to pay for elderly care’
By Nick Triggle Health correspondent, BBC News
Social care is in need of reform, many experts say
Winter fuel payments should be means-tested to help pay for care of the elderly, a former minister says.A report by Lib Dem MP Paul Burstow and the Centre Forum think-tank, said targeting the allowance would help pay for a fairer social care system.
The report said it could fund most of the £1.7bn cost of implementing reforms of elderly care in England proposed by the independent Dilnot Commission.
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said a funding model was yet to be decided.
The Dilnot Commission, which was set up by the government, recommended that the cap on the amount individuals have to pay towards their social care be set at £35,000 over a lifetime.
The commission argued that such a move would protect people from catastrophic care costs that result in them having to sell their homes.
As things stand, older people in England have to contribute to their care costs if they have savings of more than around £23,000.
