MYTHE MEDICAL PRACTICE

CARERS’ GROUP

2017-2018 CARERS’ GROUP MEETINGS
Meetings in The Hutchison Room (Ground Floor) at The Devereux Centre, Barton Road, Tewkesbury, GL20 5GJ.
10.30 a.m. – 11.30 a.m.
DAY / DATE
MONDAY / 9th October 2017
MONDAY / 13th November 2017
MONDAY / 11th December 2017
MONDAY / 8th January 2018
MONDAY / 12th February 2018
MONDAY / 12th March 2018
MONDAY / 9th April 2018
MONDAY / 14th May 2018
MONDAY / 11th June 2018
MONDAY / 9th July 2018
MONDAY / 13th August 2018
MONDAY / 10th September 2018
MONDAY / 8th October 2018
MONDAY / 12th November 2018
MONDAY / 10th December 2018

FLU VACCINATIONS 2017

We know how difficult it is to fit in time for your influenza vaccination so this year we have made it even easier

than last year. As usual we will be holding our Saturday morning Clinics on the following days :

Saturday 30th September 2017 08.30 – 11.00

Saturday 14th October 2017 08.30 – 11.00

Please book your appointment beforehand (01684 293278)

If you are seeing your GP during October they will also be pleased to vaccinate you.

FLU HOT SEATS!!

In addition we will also be offering the opportunity to call in at any time duringthe following

hours throughout October :

Mondays : 08.00-19.30 / Tuesdays : 08.00 - 18.15 / Wednesdays : 08.00 - 18.15

Thursdays : 08.00 - 19.30 / Fridays : 08.00 - 18.15

Just let the Receptionist know that you have arrived for a "Flu Hot Seat Appointment" and we

will fit you in with one of our Nurses.

NEW ELDERLY TEA PARTY GROUPS

Our tea party groups are for guests aged 75 and over, who live alone (including in sheltered accommodation). Guests are collected by the same volunteer driver each month and taken to Sunday afternoon tea in a volunteer host’s home. The group of guests and drivers are the same each month, which means that over time some lovely friendships develop, and new support networks are formed. The service is completely free, groups are overseen by a volunteer coordinator, and all drivers are DBS and reference checked, as well as being briefed on our health and safety and safeguarding procedures. A group usually has around 6-8 guests, but if there is demand we could look to set up more than one group. www.contact-the-elderly.org.uk/guest

Jenny Bright 07379 519486

NEWS FROM ROGER HARE AT CARERS GLOUCESTERSHIRE

Inclusion Gloucestershire

Inclusion Gloucestershire is an all age, all disability user-led organisation. Their aim is to capture experiences, create opportunities and show what is possible;

Contact them via 01452 623120

You can see more on their facebook site https://www.facebook.com/pg/inclusionglos/about/?ref=page_internal

Cheltenham Literature Festival

Always worth a look through festival programmes – the literature Festival in October includes;

The Story Of Alzheimer’s Tue 10 Oct 2017 2:00pm - 3:00pm

In the Town Hall, £10 plus transaction fee*

What do we know about dementia, & how can the creative process help sufferers? As the search for effective treatment goes on, we look at the work being done by specialist practitioners both to understand the disease itself and to allow patients to feel heard and validated through creative projects. The novelist and community arts practitioner Jan Carson, neuroscientist Joseph Jebelli and Susanna Howard, founder of ‘Living Words’, a charity encouraging creative communication about dementia, join together for a timely discussion

Support for Dementia Patients in Hospital

This involves use of the “This is Me booklet” - the carer, and if possible the patient, fills it out prior to admission so they can just pick it up and hand it over when they are at the hospital. It appears it’s not being used very often as Carers aren’t aware of it and the staff are not handing it out. It could help staff and patient build a trusting relationship which can have positive consequences for treatment and help avoid causing agitation for the person with dementia.

For more information see:

https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/download/downloads/id/3423/this_is_me.pdf

Carers Direct helpline

You may already be aware of this NHS Carers support service, but if not……

Carers Direct is a National helpline on 0300 123 1053 that you can call if you need help with your caring role and want to talk to someone about what options are available to you. If you are busy at certain times of day, you can send the Carers Direct helpline a message and ask for an adviser to call you back for free at a time that is convenient to you.

The helpline advisers can give you information to helpmake decisions about your personal support needs and the needs of the person you're looking after. This information includes assessments, benefits, direct payments, individual budgets, time off and maintaining, leaving or going back to work or education. The Carers Direct helpline advisers can put you in touch with specialist national or local sources of help, including social care, healthcare and self-help networks and resources. The helpline staff will tell you how to complain if anything goes wrong with any of the services you use, or put you in touch with your local authority or NHS services.

The Carers Direct helpline doesn't provide personal financial, medical or legal advice and doesn't provide casework, advocacy, representation or counselling.

It’s open seven days a week from 9am-8pm Monday to Friday, and from 11am-4pm at weekends. The helpline is closed on bank holidays.

Language Line translation for Carers Direct

Carers Direct uses Language Line, a telephone translation and interpreting service that has access to more than 170 languages. This three-way conferencing facility enables the helpline advisers to communicate through a trained interpreter with many people whose first language isn't English.

You can usethe call back form to request a call with a translator at a time convenient to you. You can request to be called back in any of the 170 languages.

Text relay services for Carers Direct

Deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing and speech-impaired people who use a textphone can contact Carers Direct on the textphone/minicom number 0300 123 1004.

Alternatively, you can use the TextDirect service. This is the UK’s text to voice relay service. To use the service you simply type a prefix before the telephone number you want to call (18001 if you're calling from a textphone, 18002 from a telephone and 18000 for emergency numbers).

To contact Carers Direct from a textphone via the TextDirect service, call 18001. There is no charge for using this service.

For more information on text relay services, please contact 0800 7311 888

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/social-care-and-support-guide/Pages/carers-direct-helpline.aspx

Information about a new Support Group

Do you care for a family member, relative, or friend who suffers from a severe mental health condition with a dual diagnosis of alcohol or drug dependence?

You may be interested to learn that a new ‘Dual Diagnosis’ Family Support Group will run as a pilot (for 6 months), starting in late September 2017. The Group will be held at the University of Gloucestershire’s Oxstalls Campus, Oxstalls Lane, Longlevens, Gloucester GL2 9HW.

To register your interest and to gain more information, including dates, please contact

Sue Russell email:

Carers Gloucestershire trips for Carers

Wednesday 4th October 2017 , 2-4pm – Afternoon Tea at Ellenborough Park

Caught between the Cotswolds’ highest point and lush green gallops of Cheltenham’s world-famous racecourse, Ellenborough Park is an indulgent 15th Century country estate, turned 21st century luxury hotel retreat. Steeped in history, this manor house is set in 90 acres of countryside made up of a luxury house and plentiful grounds. Carers are invited to take a break and join us for an Afternoon Tea of sandwiches, scones, cakes and tea for a couple of hours. Carers will need to make their own way to the venue.

Wednesday 18th October – Batsford Aboretum, Nursery & Falconry Centre

Batsford is home to the country’s largest private collection of trees and shrubs. Set over 56 acres, Batsford is an intimate place to visit with botanical interest all year round. This trip gives Carers the chance to relax and enjoy fresh air and beautiful surroundings. Visitors can stop for refreshments at the Garden Terrace Café and browse around the plant centre and gift shop. Admission to Cotswold Falconry Centre is also included in the price of this trip. The Centre is home to 150 birds of prey and there are free-flying demonstrations each day.

1