JANUARY 2001 From The Resource Centre, 5a, Church Road Caldicot, NP26 4BP. Tel 01291 420666 or 420602 Dear Carers. Christmas has come and gone and I wish all carers a happy and healthy new year. I hope that all of the 48 people who came to the carers' lunch on the 4th of December enjoyed it as much as I did. It was busy, but I think many more people are enjoying the lunches that Dewstow put on these days. Many thanks are due to Norma Gaulton again for organising it so well. Our meeting at Boverton was quieter than usual, but with Christmas being so near I suspect that carers had other things on their minds. However those who came enjoyed the day. Everyone was able to have their nails done or reflexology or aromatherapy. In the afternoon we had a talk from Corinne Williams who is the co-ordinator of the new British Red Cross Carers' Emergency Cards Scheme. Most of you will have read about this last month in the village magazine and should know by now the way this works. If you have left the person you care for on their own or with a paid carer that will have to be leaving at a given time, and you either have an accident yourself or are delayed in some way that means you will not be at home at the appointed time, you can use this scheme. A phone call by you or someone else will alert the British Red Cross that there may be someone vulnerable at home on their own. Contacts can be made or Emergency care can be put in until the statutory services can arrange further support or until the carer can get home. This is a wonderful insurance policy for carers for that unseen circumstance that we cannot plan for. Hopefully a carer will never have to use it, but it is there in the unlikely event of something happening. I do urge carers to use this service. It is FREE! If you wish to know more or acquire a registration form or simply discuss with Corinne if this scheme is for you, please contact the British Red Cross on 01633 267131/2. Christmas can be a very difficult time for many, more so for carers. The season of goodwill, carols and buying presents for family and friends. It also coincides with dark evenings and this year, absolutely awfill weather. For carers who are going through a particularly bad time, the extra pressures that Christmas can bring are sometimes just too much. We watch TV and read stories of happy families enjoying the Christmas cheer and in reality Christmas is often just not like that! For those of you who are feeling low at present, there is a warm welcome and open door for you at our meetings. We are all in the same boat and by the time January comes, many of us will be wondering where to turn next. Come to the group and experience some friendship, understanding and the opportunity to talk and have some relaxing treatment. It can help when you can offload with people who understand what it is like to care. We may not have all the answers but through talking and discussion you may go away with some new ideas and seeing things in a different light. At the January meeting we have a solicitor, Mr lan Galbraith from Chepstow who is coming to talk about Enduring Power of Attorney, Wills and other important things that Carers should be thinking about. This will be on Thursday 4th January at Boverton House. We meet at 10.00 a.m. and go on until 3.00 p.m. The February meeting will be on Thursday February 1st and the whole day will be attended by the Benefits Agency who can deal with individual concerns and queries with benefits. For transport to meetings contact Nan Smith on 01291-421665 or Alison Short on 01291-623771. Best wishes Patsy Lewis A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL CARERS!