Chepstow & Caldicot Carers Support Group

OCTOBER 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, At our afternoon session in September, we welcomed a distinguished panel for a question and answer session - Huw Edwards MP, David Davies AM, Brian Hood, Monmouthshire County Councillor and Chairman of the Select Committee for Housing and Social Services, and Julie Boothroyd who is the Partnership Officer for Monmouthshire County Council whose remit it is to deal with Carers Issues. We had a full house for this afternoon session and we brought up a variety of questions, including: Invalid Carers' Allowance. Why should it stop after pension age, when caring does not stop. The Widow's Pension is now only available for I year. Why has the registration fee for Enduring Power of attorney gone up from £70 to over £200? The problems that many carers are experiencing with the Private Care Agencies. Having the option of respite care in your own home rather than in an institution. The inequality of services and charging, depending on where you live as to what you get. Obtaining and disposing of equipment like wheelchairs and stairlifts, the private companies who sell them, how the contracts are given to them, and how they are monitored for good and efficient practice. As you can see we had an interesting variety of questions and very active discussions from carers at the meeting. The politicians on the panel were very mindful that as carers we should use them to air our views and problems. They want to help. Perhaps in the past we have not done this enough, but carers at the end of the caring day do not always have the urge or energy to lift the telephone. We must make more effort to use these people. We hope that the issues that were raised will be taken forward and that there will be some feed back from the members of the panel. That is what we want. Our next meeting is on Thursday 3rd October at Boverton 'Powerhouse' when we shall have Lynne and Gaynor Wogan talking to us about their complementary therapy business which they run in Caldicot called 'Inapeace'. We have a member who has agreed to sit on a working group of the local authority who are reviewing the charging poUcies within Monmouthshire Social Services. She will be representing carers as to what carers think about charging and rates of charges for carers. Watch this space! Monmouthshire Crossroads need more Care Attendants in the Chepstow and Caldicot area. If you know anyone who would enjoy relieving carers whilst they have a break, tell them to contact Jasmine on 01291-672750. Full training will be given. I know that there are more carers out there who would like to have computer lessons. Do come along on a Thursday morning, or if that is not a convenient day, ring Boverton House on 01291-635154 and ask when you can go along. They really do want more carers to become computer literate. Finally, since we have had the new newsletter subscription year, we have over 100 people who wish to take the full newsletter. If anyone would like to receive the full news version, please contact me. It is good to know that many carers enjoy it and find it useful. 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.