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Encephalitis Society trek in Transylvania (added 8.3.10)
Barbara Wilson (aged 69), President of the Encephalitis Society, and her husband Mick (aged 75) will be doing a six day trek in the Transylvanian Alps in August to raise funds for the Society. They are looking for sponsors and any contribution would be appreciated. To make a donation online visit www.justgiving.com/Barbara-and-Mick-trek or send a cheque to Barbara and Mick Trek, The Encephalitis Society, 7b Saville Street, Malton, North Yorks YO17 7LL.

Kick Asthma Holidays for children and young people aged 7-16 years (added 2.3.10)
Organised by Asthma UK, these holidays in July and August are for children and young people with asthma and/or other related conditions such as eczema and anaphylaxis. There will be many activities ranging from camping to abseiling; find out about their asthma and how to control symptoms; meet other children and young people with asthma, and develop new skills, self-confidence and independence by being away from home. Asthma UK will subsidise the cost of the holiday but parents/carers must arrange and pay for travel to and from venues. For more information or a booking form phone 0800 121 6255, email holidays@asthma.org.uk or visit www.asthma.org.uk/holidays

Caring with Confidence (added 1.3.10)
This training programme is government-funded and delivered in partnership with the Alzheimer's Society. The service has been commissioned to deliver sessions for carers of people living with dementia. The free service is available to carers through a number of formats. The programme will deliver knowledge and skills through face to face group sessions, self-study workbooks and online sessions. The sessions are aimed at improving support for carers aged 18 and over, and can help make a positive difference to the life of both the carer and the person that they care for. To find out more or to book a place email kerrie.stapley@alzheimers.org.uk or visit www.caringwithconfidence.net

New Carers Information Pack available added 26.2.10)
The Adur, East Arun, Worthing and Chanctonbury Carers Information pack has been updated and is available free of charge to carers. The pack now has supplementary handouts covering mental health, learning difficulties, parent carers, and sensory impairment. Please remember to ask for the relevent extra handout with the pack if one or more of these situations apply to you. For a pack contact Lynn Harber on 01903 603474

Updated guides for families with disabled children available from Contact a Family (added 26.2.10)
Parents and carers can obtain free, updated guide on how to claim Disability Living Allowance for children, Checklist of entitlements, Holidays play and leisure, The Winter guide - help with fuel bills and keeping warm, Working and caring for a disabled child, and A guide to dealing with bullying. For copies phone the freephone helpline on 0808 808 3555

Buddies wanted in the Henfield area (added 26.2.10)
A buddy is a fellow carer to chat or meet up with, get together for coffee or lunch, walk the dog, go to the cinema, etc. Lynne Lunn is looking for carers in the Henfield area who would like to be a buddy. She can also help if you would like to set up a buddy group in your area. Phone Lynne during the day 01273 494288 or email lynne.lunn@hotmail.com

New leaflet to help hospital staff improve care to people with dementia (added 23.2.10)
A new Alzheimer’s Society leaflet has been launched to help tackle poor dementia care in hospitals. 'This is me' is a simple and practical leaflet that can be given to hospital staff to help them understand the person's condition. It provides a 'snapshot' of the person with dementia, giving information about them as an individual, such as needs, preferences, likes, dislikes and interests. This should enable staff to treat each person as an individual, and helping to prevent issues such as malnutrition and dehydration. Read more on the News and Media section of www.alzheimers.org.uk

Carers Week, 14-20 June 2010
A life of my own - we would really like to hear from carers about how their life has changed since becoming a carer. Most people take life for granted, i.e. family occasions, going on holiday, a meal out, or even just relaxing for a few hours with no worries or responsibilities. As a carer these, and many other aspects of your life, are not easy. West Sussex Carers Online would really like to know how your life has changed since becoming a carer. You can email us at col@icis-info4life.org.uk. Responses will be printed in the Carers' stories section of this website - personal details can be kept anonymous if you prefer.

Mental Capacity and LPAs (added 22.2.10)
From 1st October 2009 the Lasting Power of Attorney forms have been simplified by the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG). Some banks do not understand the law regarding LPAs and EPOAs (Enduring Power of Attorney) by suggesting that, for instance, 'an appointeeship order is needed from the court' or 'their systems cannot be updated with new LPAs. This is incorrect, and if anybody has a problem with LPAs and EPOAs and their bank, CareAware would like to hear from them. Visit their website at www.careaware.co.uk, phone 0161 707 1107, or write to PO Box 8, Manchester M30 9NY

Families losing out on care home fees (added 22.2.10)
Families of vulnerable elderly people may be missing out on getting help with care home fees. Some people struggling to sell a home to pay fees are not being offered the 'no interest' deferred scheme from their local authority. The scheme may entitle people to an option of not paying for their care until they sell their home or after their death. Contact your Local Authority to see if you are eligible for the Deferred Payment Scheme.

Hospital parking charges to be phased out (added 22.2.10)
Health Secretary Andy Burnham has announced that hospital car parking charges for patients and their visitors are to be phased out in England. Please read your local newspapers to find out when your local hospital will implement this change.

Expert Patients Programme training for carers (added 1.2.10)
This is a free six week course for anyone living with any long-term health condition/s. The programme aims to provide support and develop self confidence to help you feel more in control. Other free courses include: New Beginnings; Looking After Me; an interactive web-based course; Substance and Alcohol Misuse; Supporting Parents; COPD and Breathlessness; Persistent Pain Programme; X-PERT Diabetes; and Staying Positive. Read more by visiting the Education and training opportunities for carers page.

Power cut in your home? (added 1.2.10)
If you have electrical medical equipment in your home, contact your electricity supplier to register for Priority Re-Connection. In the event of a power cut, they will endeavour to reinstate the electricity supply as quickly as possible.

Carers of people with dementia in Sussex to benefit from free knowledge and skills programme (added 22.1.10)
Caring with Confidence is a free programme which helps carers aged 18 and over build on their own strengths, share experiences and gain useful information, ideas and tips about looking after someone with dementia to help them decide how to make positive changes to their caring role. Read more by visiting the Education, training and employment page.

West Sussex Emergency Heating Scheme (added 12.1.10)
Scheme providing oil-filled radiators to people with no working heating system. One radiator can be provided per household. They are intended to be a stopgap until the client is able to have a heating system fixed or replaced by the Warm Front grant or by their own means. In order to receive the radiator the client must fulfil the criteria as well as agreeing to a visit from the county Fuel Poverty Coordinator at a time to be agreed by both. Radiators will not be supplied without a referral. The client must be a homeowner or in private rented accommodation with no working central heating system and in receipt of means-tested benefit or have a net household income of less than £18,000, be over 60, or have at least one dependant child under 16, be pregnant or disabled. Contact the Fuel Poverty Co-ordinator, Arun District Council, Tel: 01903 737537 or email rebecca.jones@arun.gov.uk

Children's Swine Flu Vaccination information (added 12.1.10)
Information about the swine flu vaccination for babies over six months and children under five years is available by phoning 0800 1 513 513 or visiting www.direct.gov.uk/swineflu

Work Focused Support for Carers programme (added 5.1.10)
A new national programme provided by JobCentrePlus to help support carers wishing to get back to work or need help remaining in employment. More details are available on the Employment page of Help for Carers.

Message in a bottle added 21.12.09
The Lions Club sponsors this 'Message in a Bottle' scheme, which encourages people to keep their basic personal and medical details in a plastic bottle that can easily be found in an emergency. The information is kept in the fridge where the emergency services can find it in the event of being called to your home. The containers can be obtained free of charge from health centres, GP surgeries and chemists. All costs are paid for by the Lions Club.

Dementia Resources Library, Chichester Area Mind (added 15.12.09)
Chichester Area Mind, with funding from Healthier Chichester Partnership, has put together a Dementia Resources Library which consists of books and DVDs on various aspects of dementia. The material will be useful to those caring for a person with dementia as well as those with an interest in the subject. Books and DVDs can be reserved and put by for collection. They can be collected from the Dementia Resources Library, Chichester Library or the Mobile Library. Mind also has a guide to dementia-related websites. This includes websites that provide detailed factsheets, and telephone helplines etc. For further information contact Carole at dementiarl@chichestermind.f2s.com or phone 01243 787878

Please support your local ambulance service – we want your views, not your money! (added 8.12.09)
When you phone 999 in West Sussex you get emergency medical care from South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Trust (SECAmb). We also provide patient transport services for people who need medical expertise on journeys to and from healthcare appointments. SECAmb is changing and we need the views of carers to help make sure we are moving in the right direction and to hear about ways we can improve.
Carers often know their loved one’s needs and health conditions inside out, and in emergencies the more information our crews have, the better for the patient. We also want to make sure our staff always treat carers with the same kindness and respect with which they treat patients. As we move to become a Foundation Trust, carers’ views are crucial to making our services the best they can possibly be for patients. We know there are many demands on carers’ time but we’re determined to ensure carers’ views are heard, and making it easy for carers to get involved without putting them under additional pressure.
By becoming a ‘member’ of our Trust you can stay in touch with the way we’re changing and tell us what you or the people you represent need from us. It’s free and easy to become a member, and you can get involved as much or as little as you choose. We’ll send you information and ask what matters to you. For those who want to get more involved, we’ll facilitate various ways for you to work alongside us to improve our services. Members will elect a Council of Governors from among the membership to work with our Board of Directors. If you have a personal or professional interest in ambulance and/or patient transport services, becoming a member is the first step to having real influence.
Recruiting members is part of our journey to become a NHS Foundation Trust. We’ll still be part of the NHS, providing services free when they’re needed, but we’ll be accountable to our members and governors rather than central government. We hope this will allow us the flexibility to adapt our services to the needs of the communities we serve. But to do this effectively we need your support and views.
Please help make your ambulance service among the best in the world. You can get more information and sign up online via our website www.secamb.nhs.uk. Alternatively, you can contact the membership office for membership forms: 01273 897840, or email ftmembership@secamb.nhs.uk. Do get in touch with any questions or comments you might have. (Article supplied by Izzy Allen, Membership Manager, SECAmb).

Caring for your income and pension new publications available (added 7.12.09)
When giving up work to care, carers' first thought is not about their pension but about managing care and making ends meet. Two guides are available from your local Carers Support Service: Caring about your pension - new guide for carers on pension planning and making the most of your pension; and an updated version of Looking after Someone - a guide to carers rights and benefits.

DisabledGo - Health (added 7.12.09)
DisabledGo has launched a national disabled access guide to healthcare, where people can search for detailed information on hospitals, dentists, opticians, GPs and other healthcare providers. The guide has been launched in response to research and feedback from disabled people about the barriers disabled people face in accessing healthcare. Visit www.disabledgo.com

Age Concern Literary Competition (added 24.11.09)
Do you enjoy writing? The Age Concern West Sussex 40th Anniversary Literary Competition is open to all residents of West Sussex who are 50+. There are 8 categories, covering Fictional stories, Poems, an Article (non fictional), a Monologue, a 100 word story, and a Young Person’s story. You can enter as many categories and themes as you wish. Pre-numbered Entry Forms, copies of the Rules, Presentation Guidelines, Category Details and Titles are available from Literary Competition Organiser, Age Concern West Sussex, Suite 2, Anchor Springs, Littlehampton BN17 6BP, on receipt of an A5 stamped self addressed envelope. Entries close on 31st March 2010.

Benefits suspended when a disabled child is hospitalised (added 3.11.09)
Contact A Family is looking for families whose child has had their Disability Living Allowance (DLA) suspended after a stay in hospital. At present, DLA regulations state that if a child under 16 is in hospital for more than 12 weeks their DLA payments are suspended (4 weeks for young people aged 16 and over). Contact A Family is gathering evidence from families affected by this benefits rule in order to push for change in the regulations. Phone Elaine Bennett at Contact A Family on 020 7608 8741 or email elaine.bennett@cafamily.org.uk

Guide for Carers and Parents of Disabled Children (added 4.9.09)
Working Families, the work-life balance charity, has published a guide to help carers and parents of disabled children, who want to return to the workplace. The illustrated guide draws on the experience of the Working Families’ network, which consists of working carers and parents of disabled children, as well as helpful advice from recruitment professionals. For further information or a sample copy of the guide contact Liz Whitehead at Working Families on 020 7253 7243 or email press@workingfamilies.org.uk

Aiming High for Disabled Children, West Sussex
West Sussex County Council is receiving money from this government programme to develop short break services for disabled children. Short breaks provide all sorts of opportunities for disabled children and young people. Spending time away from their primary carers may allow them to experience and enjoy new relationships, environments and positive activities. They also provide an opportunity for carers to recharge their batteries. A short break may include a few hours, a day, evening, overnight or weekend activity. They could take place at home, at an approved carer's home, in the community or in a residential setting. Read about the programme here

You Care, You Count - free guide for carers from Rethink
This short guide to carers' rights advises carers on actions which can be taken locally to improve mental health and carer services. It is a free publication, funded by the Department of Health, and is available from Rethink, Tel: 0845 456 0455, or visit www.mentalhealthshop.org

www.counselling-directory.org.uk (added 8.5.09)
The purpose of this website is to provide a free and confidential counselling support network, enabling those in distress to find a counsellor close to them and appropriate for their needs. The website also contains a number of sections on emotional disorders and provides some useful statistics. Every counsellor on the site who has submitted their profile has had their qualifications and insurance cover checked, or is registered with a professional body online with recognised codes of ethics and practice.

LINk - Your Voice on Local Health and Social Care (added 24.2.09)
Have you ever wanted to speak up about a health or social care service in your area but not known how? LINk (Local Involvement Network) is a network of local people and groups which listens to what people have to say about health and social care services in your area, and tells councils and the NHS what it has discovered. They are legally obliged to give the LINk any information it asks for and to respond to any recommendations the LINk makes. LINk wants as many people as possible to be involved. For more details phone 0300 111 0102, email westsussexLINk@makesachange.org.uk or write to Freepost Business Reply Service, Licence No. BH1902, LINks, 896 Christchurch Road, Bournemouth BH7 6BR

www.thecarer.co.uk - not-for-profit public interest website focused on the practicalities and emotional needs of caring.

In Case of Emergency contacts added (25.7.08)
We all carry our mobile phones with names & numbers stored in its memory, but if we were to be involved in an accident or were taken ill, the emergency services attending us would have our mobile phone but wouldn't know who to call. Hence the 'ICE' (In Case of Emergency) campaign from South East Coast Ambulance Service. ICE is a method of contact during emergency situations. All you need to do is store the number of a contact person/s who should be contacted during emergency under the name ICE. In an emergency situation, Emergency Service personnel and hospital staff would be able to quickly contact the right person by simply dialling the number stored as ICE. For more than one contact name simply enter ICE1, ICE2, ICE3 etc.

Helpcard for people with dementia (added 8.7.08)
The Alzheimer’s Society has created a pocket-sized helpcard for people with dementia to carry with them, to maintain their independence. The card explains their diagnosis when they are out on their own and includes contact details of a carer, friend or relative. The card is available from the local branch of the Alzheimer’s Society, or by phoning the national branch on 020 7306 0785; www.alzheimers.org.uk

Two things your mobile phone can do in an emergency (clarified with various mobile phone providers) (added 16.6.08)
Emergency The emergency number worldwide for a mobile is 112. If you find yourself out of the coverage area of your mobile network and there is an emergency, dial 112 and the mobile will search any existing network to establish the emergency number for you; this number can be dialled even if the keypad is locked.
How to disable a stolen mobile phone - to check your mobile's serial number, key in the following digits on your phone: *#06#. A 15 digit code will appear on the screen which is unique to your handset and should be kept somewhere safe. If your phone gets stolen, phone your service provider and give them the code. They will then be able to block your handset so even if the thief changes your SIM card, your phone will be totally useless.

Emergency Respite Care Scheme (added 3.6.08)
This is a West Sussex scheme providing emergency care for a person if their carer becomes ill or is involved in an accident. Care can be provided for up to 48 hours (72 hours over a weekend or bank holiday) to enable the person to stay in their home until the emergency is over or until other care arrangements can be made. To apply for an Emergency Plan contact Crossroads on 01403 243924 or visit www.westsussex.gov.uk

Choosing the Right Care Service booklet - free booklet from the Commission for Social Care Inspection. (added 22.4.08)

Scams - What can you do as a carer to stop the person you care for from being scammed? (added 1.4.08)
A scam is a scheme to con someone out of their cash, by bogus and fraudulent offers sent by post, telephone or email. The Office of Fair Trading has produced a guide for carers and care professionals which details how to look for warning signs, offers advice, getting help and what the common scams are. Copies are available from the Selsey Carers Support Group, Tel: 01243 603602.

Keep an Eye Open for Bogus Callers (Added 21.1.08)
Online guide from The Home Office with information to help people, particularly older or vulnerable people, avoid falling into the bogus caller’s or rogue trader’s (known as distraction burglary) trap. The guide is suitable for care professionals, carers, anyone living independently, or if you care for older people living independently, and has simple and useful tips to reduce the risk of distraction burglary. Download a copy from www.crimereduction.homeoffice.gov.uk



If you would like to add an item to our noticeboard, please email us at col@icis-info4life.org.uk