Chepstow & Caldicot Carers Support Group

SEPTEMBER 2002 NEWSLETTER

CARERS... Look after family, partners or friends in need of help. Because they are ill, frail or have a disability. The care they provide is unpaid. THE CHEPSTOW AND CALDICOT CARERS' SUPPORT GROUP Chairman: Alison Short (01291-623771) Secretary: Patsy Lewis (01291-420602) Office: 'Cobblers Pitch', Highmoor Hill, Caerwent, Monmouthshire NP26 5PF Dear Carer, Our last meeting was at the Lindors Leisure Club. Hermione Ford sends this report "Lindors, the Christian hotel on the way to St. Briavels, is set in stunning sylvan beauty, it was an idyllic choice for our August meeting and the weather shone on us as well. A group of 37 arrived on Tuesday, August 5th, some arrived as early as 10:30am when they could go for a swim in the lovely pool! The more faint-hearted arrived later and sat in the warm sunshine, until lunch was served at 12.30pm. This was served in a spacious dining room where we all gathered to eat and chat. After lunch some had coffee in the drawing room and others gathered outside to make the most of the exceptionally warm day. Many who had not used the pool as yet were able to go and look at it and familiarise themselves for future visits. Those who wanted could walk around the grounds and admire the splendid trees and the water features m the cooling shade. It was a wonderfully restful day and it was lovely to be together in such a peaceful setting, so thank you to the organisers". I hope now that more of you will use the memberships that we have to go and use the pool and enjoy a few hours there. As always there is lots of information for you this month. Firstly, there is a new Red Cross small aids service that started at the Community Hospital in August. 'PALS' is Practical Aids Living Service. This is the medical loan retail service from which any member of the public is able to purchase a wide range of daily living aids. This will be at the hospital every other Friday from the 30th August from 10:00am - 4:00pm. They have anything from jar openers to elastic shoe-laces, grab rails and tap turners. Go and have a look. The computer classes at Boverton Powerhouse are still running and hopelully more of you will enrol for the Thursday classes in September. The new IT suite is up and running and is an excellent facility. These lessons are free to carers, so do take advantage of them. We have had some feed back from Julie Boothroyd on the Carers Day workshops at the Royal George at Tintem. Julie, together with Judy Turner and Richard Austin who are the hospital discharge team for the South of Monmouthshire talked to groups of carers, who were asked three questions. Who should be involved in discharge planning and at what point? Result: Most carers identified that the carer, social services, district Nurses, GP's and Occupational therapist should be involved. However, it was noted that most carers do not experience this. Action: With this new hospital discharge team, this should improve, but it relies on the person being referred by the ward staff in the first place. Carers need to get involved and request involveineitt in the discharge process as early on as possible and ask for referral to the discharge team or social worker as soon as possible. To do this you should contact the ward staffer ring 01291-635666 if the person you care for lives in south Monmouthshire. What do Carers need to know about the person they care for when they are due to be discharged? Result: Everything, dietary requirements, bathing needs, how to care for specific problems, medication, physical needs, what to expect, professional services available, and follow up support, who/where. Again, feed back from the groups confirmed that in the majority this is not always as comprehensive as is needed. Action: These comments to be taken to the operational group dealing with discharges to discuss and agree how these requirements can be improved and implemented with new carers identified. Have you been involved in a community care assessment? Were your needs taken into consideration? Were you offered an assessment in your own right? Result: Out of the three groups most had been involved in a community care assessment for the cared for person. Most people felt their needs were considered but three people had had an assessment in their own right. Action: New carers assessment worker could be used more in hospital discharge where appropriate, Carers need to request assessment of their own needs either via Social Worker or Carers Assessment workers. There also needs more ongoing awareness raising via support groups and through individual Social Worker contact about carers assessments and services to carers in their own right. You will see from this report that there is still an onus on the part of the carer to ASK to be involved, The new Carers Assessment worker (Chris Pearce) has been appointed and has started working with the Chepstow Social Work team. Hopefully some of you will become aware of her and have a separate carers assessment. However if you feel that you are not happy about your situation, or it has changed, do ASK for a further assessment of the person you care for or a carers' assessment. Julie will be feeding this back to the Team Managers and using it in feedback in discussions that they have planned on the Monmouthshire Hospital Discharge project. Our next meeting is a very important one. It is on Thursday 6th September at Boverton House on the Bulwark Road in Chepstow when we have several politicians coming to answer questions from carers. Huw Edwards, MP for Monmouthshire. David Davies, Welsh Assembly Member. Brian Hood and Verona Nelmes, both Monmouthshire County Councillors with special interest in the Social and Housing Services Directorate. If you want a chat I am at Gray Hill Surgery on Monday and Wednesday mornings from 10:00am-12:00 mid-day. Anyone, subscribers or not, can come and see me there. Ring 01291-420282 for an appointment or take a chance and pop in! For transport to meetings contact Nan Smith on 01291-421665 or Alison Short on 01291-623771. Best wishes, Patsy Lewis.