Tag Archives: carers

Cash boost so Bath carers can take a break

November 10, 2012   Carers

 Carers in Bath will be given the chance to take some time out and treat themselves thanks to a new charity fund.

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Bath Chronicle

The Carers’ Centre has been presented with £1,500 Bill’s Breaks fund, which is designed to allow people to do something they enjoy, such as a museum or theatre trip, a computer course, help finding employment, shopping days or even a 1940s-style tea party.

Thanks to the fund all the treats are free for carers and can include free transport and help to look after the cared-for person.

Read More

£5.4 million volunteering fund to benefit charities

November 9, 2012   Carers, charities, disability, DOH
November 9, 2012

Health and Social Care charities are to benefit from an injection of £5.4 million to support local health and care programmes, Care and Support Minister Norman Lamb announced today.

Through the Health and Social Care Volunteering Fund, 13 organisations bid for funding and were chosen for outstanding achievement.  They have been awarded money which will help to support projects in local communities.  Some of these organisations are:

  • StreetGames – supports young disadvantaged women who need support to develop a healthy and more active lifestyle.
  • Breast Cancer Care –supports people coming to the end of treatment for breast cancer and will encourage them to become physically active in a supportive environment.
  • The Carers’ Resource – supports carers and those in need of care and support.  Working with and through volunteers it will prevent low level mental health issues and improve the health, wellbeing and quality of life for carers and those in need.
  • Signhealth – will train and support Deaf sign-language volunteers who will work to improve the quality of Deaf patients’ experience of health and care services; and gain skills, knowledge and experience in the process.
Read More

Cameron's dementia campaign will be a missed opportunity

November 9, 2012   Alzheimer’s, Carers, dementia

Unless the Dementia Friends initiative incorporates the Special method, a lot of money and good intentions will go to waste

 

Elderly Germans who have Alzheimer’s disease dance at a community centre in Berlin.

Yesterday’s announcement of a national campaign to increase understanding and awareness of Alzheimer’s could have been very good news. There will be £2.4m of government money given to the Alzheimer’s Society (AS), initially to train 6,000 Dementia Friend volunteers. It is hoped that they, in turn, will go back to their communities and create 1 million people in the population with greater awareness – “dementia friends”.

Alas, this is going to be a case of a wonderful opportunity missed. The core problem with Alzheimer’s and most dementia cases is that the person is no longer storing short-term memories. By the time they receive medical care, the vast majority are already in the mid or even late stage of the illness. Frequently they cannot recall what happened from more than 30 seconds ago. However, there is very solid evidence from brain imaging studies that their long-term memory is nearly always fully, or largely, intact.

Read More