Carers Together in Hampshire
Carers Together in Hampshire, based at Fenwick2, offers support services for all carers. These include information about services and facilities for carers, a free information and chat helpline, support groups, respite services, relaxation days, outings and trips and a carers' newsletter.
Carers can also find out about CAPE (Carers Action Planning for Emergencies), which helps carers to plan for caring for their loves ones in the case of unforeseen events and to provide access to free support in an emergency.
To find out more about these services, open da
ys and outings, contact the Carers Together helpline on 08000 3 23456 or the website at www.carerstogether.org.uk
Anyone wanting more information about Carers Together can ring Vicky Hamilton Vey (pictured left) on 023 8028 6342.
Carer Support Days
Anyone caring for a spouse or relative who has had a stroke or has Parkinson's Disease can now get help from two new support groups at Fenwick2.
New Forest Carers Together and staff from the PCT Long Term Conditions Centre at Fenwick2 are holding regular meetings offering advice, support and companionship.
The first meeting of the Stroke carers' group took place on Monday July 14th in the Resource Room at Fenwick2 from 10.30am to 12 noon and subsequent meetings will be held on the 2nd Monday of each month at the same time and place.
The first meeting of the Parkinson's carers' group will take place on the 24th September 2008 from 10.30am to 12.30pm at Fenwick2 and on the 4th Wednesday of every month thereafter.
Any carers are invited to come along to the drop-in meetings to meet staff from Carers Together and the PCT, Stroke Co-ordinator Raj Vaithilingam, Parkinson's Disease Nurse Specialist Sheena Morgan, and to swap advice and information with other carers.
Caring with Confidence Launched in Hampshire
A national programme to help carers deal with the demands and stress of caring has been launched in Hampshire.
The programme - Caring with Confidence (CWC) is being launched first in Romsey, Chandler's Ford, Lyndhurst, the Waterside and Southampton throughout July, August and September and will later be rolled out to other areas of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, including Portsmouth.
Carers Together in Hampshire is responsible for running the government-backed programme across the county. All carers across Hampshire and IOW can take part in the free sessions and places can be booked via Carers Together in Hampshire. The programme is flexible and can be completed through face to face sessions, self study, online sessions or a combination of all three.
Caring with Confidence consists of seven sessions, some of which are aimed at particular groups of carers. The first session, Finding Your Way, is an introductory session completed by everyone and after that carers can choose which other sessions suit them best. Anyone who misses the first session locally can complete it in another area.
The other sessions are:
• Caring and Coping - managing the stress and emotions involved in caring
• Caring and Me - health and well-being, and how to be fit for life and caring
• Caring Day to Day - the practical essentials of caring
• Caring and Resources - accessing resources which save carers money and maximise their income
• Caring and Life - time out to think about how the caring role fits with other aspects of life
• Caring and Communicating - using real life caring situations to help carers get the best from communicating with professionals and service providers.
"Caring with Confidence is not telling you how to be a carer, or whether you are doing it right or wrong," said Sarah Spencer-Stonehill, the CWC Project manager for Carers Together in Hampshire.
"The sessions are designed to help carers to get the most out of their role and to try to balance their caring responsibilities with work and family responsibilities.
"The programme focuses on the carer and their needs, giving them time to think about themselves a little more than they might normally do. It helps to give them ideas for coping strategies that could make their lives a little easier and ease some of the pressure they sometimes face. We also deal with some of the practical issues and signpost resources that will give them additional support."
The CWC sessions cover practical aspects of caring such as emergency planning and medication, as well issues such as dealing with emotions.
"Caring is a very difficult job, so carers sometimes have feelings of isolation or feel negative emotions such as guilt, anger or frustration. We can help them to realise that these feelings are commonplace and that there are ways to gain support or to deal with them," said Sarah.
Anne Meader, Chief Executive of Carers Together in Hampshire, said she is delighted that Carers Together will be able to offer Caring with Confidence to people in the Hampshire, Portsmouth, Southampton and Isle of Wight areas.
"The programme allows carers to meet other people in a similar situation, to learn more about the condition they are dealing with, and to improve their ability to get exactly what they need from the health professionals and services available to them," she said.
"It gives carers a safe and supportive environment to explore the essentials of looking after someone. This can only help carers to improve their own health and well-being and that of the person they care for."
For further information contact Sarah Spencer-Stonehill on 01794 519495 or email