JUNE 2001 THE CHEPSTOW AND CALDICOT CARERS' SUPPORT GROUP The Resource Centre, 5a. Church Road, Caldicot. NP26 4BP. Telephone 01291-420666 or 01291-420602 Dear Carers, The Carers trip to Westonbirt Arboretum was a great day, enjoyed by all. Everyone thought it was relaxing and interesting and especially by those who are normally unable to clamber into a coach. The coach we had came from Community Active Travel Services in Caerphilly and was excellent. It had a special lift which took wheelchairs, or lifted people up who cannot climb normal coach steps. The steps that they did have were shallow and easily managed. We can thoroughly recommend the service. Next year they hope to get an even bigger coach. We then enjoyed a lovely lunch at Old Down, near Thornbury on the Aust road. That is another good place for a run out with a nice restaurant and shop. The May meeting was enjoyable. After the usual pampering and lunch we had a fascinating talk from Elaine Smith who is a Kinesiologist. This is a means of assessing imbalances in the body and finding the best therapy to resolve a problem. This is done through muscle testing, and was discovered by a chiropractor called George Goodheart in the 1960s. He demonstrated the links between muscle response and energy circuits in the body. He determined that each muscle has its own communication or wiring with a circuit in the body. He found that anything out of balance in that circuit would affect a muscle that shared the same 'wiring system'. As a result, therapies such as massage, holding acupuncture points, nutritional therapy, herbology and flower remedies are used to correct these imbalances. Elaine gave an example of her work by testing two of our members. It was a very interesting session. Elaine has now offered to come to our monthly meetings and do reflexology which she also does, or kinesiology. During the morning we held a bring and buy coffee morning for the Chairman of Monmouthshire County Council's Carers Fund and had a surprise visit from the chairman himself, Gerald Robbins, and his lady, Joyce. We raised £44.45. Thank you to all who contributed in any way. NATIONAL CARERS WEEK. 11th - 16th June It's almost here! We have a full week of activities so any support would be very welcome indeed. The theme for the week is 'Health' with the strap line 'Take Care' The word 'health' is being used in its broadest term. Your health is vital, because if you fall to ill health, then the caring situation falls down completely. If carers do not take care of their own health they are no good to themselves or anyone else. To those of us who work with carers, you are the most important person in the caring scenario. Using the word 'health' we also want to improve practice and services to carers from 'health' professionals. We shall be providing leaflets for all primary care practitioners, that is GPs, health visitors and nurses. We shall be highlighting the gaps in support to carers from health professionals. We are launching 200 balloons at the Community Hospital on Monday 11th June at 11:00am to publicise National Carers Week and on Tuesday 12th we are having a stall at Caldicot market to try to get to carers who do not know that there is help available for them. During National Carers week we are giving carers an opportunity to have a 'Health Check for Carers'. At Gray Hill Surgery on Wednesday 13th June and at the Community Hospital in Chepstow on Thursday 14th June from 2:00 to 4:00pm. Any carer is welcome to come in and have a check. Our next meeting is our special Pampering day to celebrate National Carers Week. It is on our usual monthly carers day on Thursday June 7th. Parking might be difficult that day at Boverton House, in which case continue along the Bulwark Road a little farther and take the next turning on the right. You can then use the Catholic church car park as an overflow car park. Do encourage friends and neighbours who you know who are carers to come along and join us. We shall be having a special lunch funded by the National Lotteries Grant. Please contact me for this day so that we can cater for numbers. We are also organising trip to Tetbury with a lunch at the Hare and Hounds on Thursday June 28th. If any one wishes to just come to Tetbury and spend the time there and not come to the hotel, then they can just pay £5 for the coach fare. The full cost of the coach and lunch is £20 for a drink, the meal and coach. Please contact Normal Gaulton at Hayes Gate House, Hayes Gate Lane, Mathern, Cheptow. NP16 6LL. Again, ask friends and neighbours if they would like to join us. We need to fill a 53 seater coach. If we do we are able to make a small profit which will go into our funds. For transport to meetings contact Nan Smith on 421665 or Alison Short on 623771. Best wishes, Patsy Lewis.