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: Hermione Ford (01291-689233)
Secretary: Patsy Lewis (01291-420602)
Office: 'Cobblers Pitch', Highmoor Hill,
Caerwent, Monmouthshire NP26 5PF
Dear Carer,
At our February meeting we welcomed the Carers Wales Development Officer, Maggie Titterton, to Boverton House. Maggie was asked to come along and discuss the campaign that we are undertaking with the Local Authority on the Review of the Domiciliary Charging Policy in Monmouthshire. At this moment in time, the Review Board are considering ours and others' comments on the principle of Increasing charges for domiciliary services. They will be putting firm proposals out in due course and then consult with us further on these proposals. One of the questions that Maggie said we must ask is "How much will this new charging policy cost to implement?". In one local authority the implementation costs were more than the revenue that was raised, but the authority had not bothered to work it out!
We have written to say that we are in principle against any charges for comnnmity care services. Carers are already saving the government several billion pounds by doing what they do free! (A Carers Allowance of £41.75 per week is supposed to be an Income, which works out at about 4p per hour. Slightly less than the minimum wage!) It seems an insult that charges should be made on top of that! However, we are not naive to realise that we know that the Local Authority desperately need money. We have to take up this Issue with Westminster to encourage them to give more money to the Welsh Assembly for Community Care which would help the situation. Most carers do this work out of love for the person that they care for. They want to be recognised as 'partners in care', i.e. doing an important job in partnership with Social Services and Health. After all they are probably holding the care situation together. They do not feel that charges should be made on top of giving all their time and effort and often their health too. We shall keep you informed of any developments that occur. If you are in contact with your local county councillor, please make him or her aware of the situation and tell him/her that you are not happy about being charged £8 per
hour for services, when you are already saving the state millions!
Of course, it is the Welsh Assembly who decides the way that the money is proportioned and distributed to the Local Authorities, but it is our local elected members of the County Council who decide exactly how it is spent. We need to have our fingers on both buttons. Make a point of going to see David Davies, our AM, at one of his surgeries and if you have contact with your local County Councillor, make use of him and tell him how you feel about the new proposed community care charges. He is probably not aware of them yet, if he is not on the review panel.
The Coalition on Charging in Wales is acting to review disregarding disability benefits when people are having financial assessments for community care services. This is a great step, but we do not know what the outcome will be. Maggie also brought the new Caiers Manifesto that has been produced by Carers organisations In Wales. This is in preparation for the Welsh Assembly elections in May. The National Assembly has done much to recognise the vital role of carers to try to meet their needs, however, many carers still receive little or no help from statutory services and much more still needs to be done. The main Carers' demands in the manifesto are:
1. Carers need time off from caring. This needs adequate funding, quality and flexible and affordable alternative care.
2. NO to charges for carers' services.
3. Carers need choice. They should have the right to choose whether or not to care and choice about the level of care they provide. For this they need information to make choice a reality.
4. Carers need action, not words. We ask for the NHS and local government to reatise that support for carers in an essential service requirement We want better recognition and support of carers by health professionals. The inclusion of carer representatives on the new Local Health Boards is an important first step.
TRANSPORT TO MEETINGS
Please ask for transport if you can't get to any of our meetings. Please don't let that be the reason that you feel you cannot come. We are more than happy to provide it.
RESPITE CARE FOR MEETINGS
We can also offer help to provide respite care to attend any of our meetings. This would be through Crossroads, or Social Services and the Care Agencies. If you want replacement care whilst you come out for a few hours, contact me at the telephone number at the top of the page.
PAMPERING FOR CARERS AT MEETINGS!
At every meeting we offer reflexology, Indian Head massage, manicures and neck and shoulder massage. Carers find this wonderfully relaxing to receive some hands on care for themselves for a change. There is no charge.
Do come along and be pampered. It is also an opportunity to meet other carers.
Our next meeting will be on Thursday 6th March at Boverton House, when we shall have someone coming to speak to us about Direct Payments. This is a system of buying in care whereby Social Services assess your needs and instead of offering you services, they give you the money and you buy the services from anyone who can provide it, as long as it is not an immediate member of your family. This gives people choice and flexibility in how their care is provided. The meeting starts at 10:00am with pampering, we have a sandwiche for lunch and then the talk starts at 1.45pm. Looking forward to seeing you.
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 Fran Green on 01633 881142.
Best wishes,
Patsy Lewis.
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