Category Archives: disability

Islington home carers’ financial support ring fenced in council pledge

August 4, 2013   Carers, charities, disability, epilepsy, Older care

Mrs Willson, 71, hailed the decision to ring fence home carers’ cash at a time when budgets are pressed

Jean Willson Jean Willson

By David Churchill Saturday, August 3, 2013
5:00 PM

A leading care figure has hailed Islington Council’s decision to ring fence money available to home carers for assisting disabled loved ones.

Jean Willson OBE, who was recently given the Freedom of the Borough, claims Islington’s estimated 16,000 carers save local taxpayers about £15 million a year.

In recognition of their huge humanitarian effort, Cllr Janet Burgess, Islington Council’s executive member for health and well-being, this week pledged to ring fence money for carers until at least 2015/16.

Carers, of which there are more than 15,000 according to the 2011 Census, can currently claim up to £30-a-week depending on how severely disabled their loved one is.

However, only about 1,000 claim, according to Cllr Burgess, who is pushing a drive to reach more.

She said: “When you think about it, 1,000 isn’t a lot compared to the total number of carers that we know exist across the borough.

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Golfers tee-off in first pan disabled open tournament

August 1, 2013   Carers, deaf/blind, disability, learning difficulties, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinsons

Thursday, 01 August 2013

MORE than 60 golfers with disabilities flocked to High Barnet on Monday for the UK’s first ever pan-disabled Open Golf tournament.

Taking a swing: One golfer taking part

 Pictures by Anne-Marie Sanderson

The event organised by The Golf Trust, an inclusive golfing charity, was held at The Shire London golf course in St Albans Road and brought together disabled golfers of all ages and abilities including amputees, Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson’s sufferers, stroke survivors, blind, deaf and visually impaired people, as well as golf enthusiasts with learning difficulties.

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Working Carer shortage ‘could force me into a home’

July 31, 2013   Carers, disability, ukcuts

The lady claims to have gone a week without being able to use the toilet

Written byELEANOR DICKINSON

15/07/13 - Christine Maksymowicz from Cambridge who following an illness is now a Quadripelgic with her husband John Maksymowicz, they are concerned by failings of a care agency. Picture By Keith Jones 15/07/13 – Christine Maksymowicz from Cambridge who following an illness is now a Quadripelgic with her husband John Maksymowicz, they are concerned by failings of a care agency. Picture By Keith Jones

A paralysed woman claims a shortage of suitable carers could force her into residential care.

Quadriplegic Christine Maksymowicz, of Cherry Hinton Road, Cambridge, said she has been left without a live-in carer despite needing round-the-clock assistance.

She told the News she is being looked after by a district nurse while she waits for private care agency Pulse to provide a new carer.

However, the 60-year-old claims the changes have affected her quality of life and meant she has gone a week without going to the toilet.

She said: “The district nurses said they will only deal with my bowel movements twice a week, so if I can’t go on the day they come, then I won’t be able to go until the next week.”

Mrs Maksymowicz now fears she may have to go into residential care.

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