Category Archives: Carers

Volunteers helping older people learn the internet!

October 21, 2012   Carers, internet, Older care

7:30am Sunday 21st October 2012 in News By Emily Roberts, Chief Reporter

OVERTON has been asked to take part in a project to provide information to elderly residents.

Hampshire County Council ran a pilot of the Village Agent project in 14 villages, and has now given a grant to continue and extend it across rural Hampshire during the next three years.

It works by recruiting volunteers to offer four-to-six hours of their time a week to help increase and improve the way older people find and benefit from, information and advice.

A representative from the project spoke to Overton Parish Council and said: “Elderly people don’t necessarily get on the compu-ter very much so when they need information they have difficulty finding it. It’s things like care facilities, or getting a blue badge. Sometimes they don’t even realise they exist.”

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Anti-austerity marches taking place

October 20, 2012   benefits, Carers
 Tens of thousands of people are marching in protest at the government’s austerity measures.
Demonstrators during the TUC-organised march in London The Trades Union Congress said workers and campaigners from across the UK would be involved with the London demonstration

Tens of thousands of people are marching in protest at the government’s austerity measures.

Labour leader Ed Miliband, among dozens of speakers addressing crowds at the biggest march in London, received a mixed reaction. Other rallies are taking place in Glasgow and Belfast.

Demonstrators want the coalition to end public service cuts and instead create policies they say can create growth.

The government says austerity measures are vital to cutting the deficit.

Union leaders recently criticised Labour for supporting a public sector pay freeze.

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Health secretary Jeremy Hunt visits Norwich dementia unit

October 20, 2012   Alzheimer’s, Cancer, Carers, dementia, health, Norfolk

 

The reality of living with and caring for someone with dementia is extremely tough, and Thorpe St Andrew pensioner Maurice Bartle was among carers who told health secretary Jeremy Hunt more about the difficulties they face when he visited Norwich yesterday.

Kim Briscoe, Health correspondent Saturday, October 20, 2012
6:30 AM

Jeremy Hunt talking to dementia carer Maurice Bartle at Hammerton Court in Norwich. Photo: Bill Smith Jeremy Hunt talking to dementia carer

The 72-year-old lives in South Hill Road with his wife Shirley, also 72, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s two years ago.

Mr Bartle, a retired maintenance electrician, said: “At the moment we are going through a difficult patch. The wife has got a bit of a rejection of drugs and of me sometimes.”

The pair visit Hammerton Court’s day centre one day a week and Mr Bartle said he valued being able to meet other carers.

The £13m unit, in Bowthorpe Road, has 36 bedrooms and also houses the Norfolk Dementia Care Academy – which aims to be a centre of excellence in training staff and carers to look after people with the illness.

He said: “I have found it ideal, but it’s not for long enough and I wish we could come for longer.

“I have found it very informative and it’s given me a lot of extra information I wasn’t aware of until I came here.”

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