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In this edition

Dear <<First Name>>


Thank you for signing up to Carer Support Dorset newsletter for unpaid carers. We hope you find the following information useful in your caring role. 

Carer Support Dorset in the community 

We will be running several face-to-face drop-in sessions across Dorset. If you have any questions about caring for someone, or would like some information about caring, come along for a chat with one of our Carer Advisers. Here are our upcoming sessions: 

Blandford Forum. Joint drop-in with The Blandford Group Practice
Address: The Corn Exchange, Market Place, Blandford Forum DT11 7AD
Time: 10.00am-1.00pm
Dates: 29 November
 
Dorchester. Joint drop-in with the Dorset Carers Hub
Address: Dorset Carers Hub, 48 South Street, Dorchester, DT1 1DQ
Time: 10.00am-1.00pm
Dates: 23 November
 
Shaftesbury. Joint drop-in with Rural Mental Health Matters
Address: Town Hall Gold Hill Gallery, Shaftesbury, SP7 8JE 
Time: 2.00pm-4.00pm
Dates: 30 November
 
Sherborne 
Address: Sherborne Library, Digby Hall, Sherborne, DT9 3AA
Time: 11.00am-2.00pm
Dates: 21 November
 
Wareham
Address: Wareham Library, South Street, Wareham, BH20 4LR;
Time: 11.00am-2.00pm
Dates: 7 November; 5 December
 
Weymouth. Joint drop-in with Help and Kindness,
Address: Weymouth Information Shop, 98 St Mary Street, Weymouth, DT4 8NY
Time: 10.00am-2.00pm
Dates: 16 November

 
View all events

What do you need from respite and breaks?

Dorset Council, Adult Social Care have created two short surveys to find out more about what people need from respite and breaks. 

There is a survey for carers to complete and another for the person you care for (if appropriate). 

Dorset Council knows that both of these areas (respite and breaks) are in need of development. They have some ideas to improve services, but want to hear from people directly. 

We would very much appreciate it if you would help them by completing the surveys using the following links. The surveys are due to close by the end of November:
Survey for carers about breaks
Survey for cared for person receiving respite

Carers Rights Day

Carers Rights Day takes place this year on Thursday 24 November. As always, it's an opportunity to remind ourselves of the rights we have, as carers, employees and members of our communities, in particular when we are at home, in the workplace and in a healthcare setting. You can find out more on our website.

We're also asking carers to tell us what they wish they'd known when they started caring and we'll share responses on Carers Rights Day. Click here to complete the sentence "I wish I'd known...". 

There are a variety of events going on in the lead-up to Carers Rights Day, including an online workshop hosted by ourselves on the 24 November (see information in training above). Find out about everything that’s going on across the Dorset Council area for Carers Rights Day.

 

Upcoming training events and workshops

Basic First Aid with British Red Cross, on Thursday 3 November, 3pm-4.30pm
An online session teaching you the basics of first aid.

Tax, Care and Family Affairs, on Tuesday 8 November, 11am-11.45am
An online session with Co-op Legal Services to include subjects such as protecting your family’s nest egg, inheritance tax, stopping sidewards ‘disinheritance’ and Lasting Power of Attorney.

Parkinson's Explained, on Monday 14 November, 10am-12noon
An online session run by Consultus Care covering what Parkinson's disease is, treatment options and how Parkinson's UK supports Dorset carers.  

Increasing Emotional Resilience, Thursday 17 November, 10am-12noon
This two-hour session provides an insight into what causes negative and positive emotions and how we can increase our emotional resilience to deal with them.

Physical Intelligence Training, Thursday 24 November, 10am-11am
This session will look at what rights carers have and how you can assert your rights as a carer. The training will also explore what stops carers asserting their right and how you can find solutions to this.

Carers rights and the law, Thursday 24 November, 2pm-3pm
This session will look at what rights carers have and how you can assert your rights as a carer. The training will also explore what stops carers asserting their right and how you can find solutions to this.

Safer Handling of Medication, Tuesday 6 December, 9.30am-12.30pm 
A face-to-face training workshop by Caring for Care held at Woodhouse Gardens Pavilion, The Plocks, Blandford Forum, DT11 7DN. 

Power of Attorney status and care home fee planning, Thursday 8 December, 10.30am-11.15am 
An online session with Silvertime Legal.  

Mental Health Awareness, Tuesday 13 December, 2pm-4pm 
An online workshop with Aster Group’s Daran Bailey.
 
If you would like to sign up for or find out more about any of these free events, then please contact us on 0800 368 8349 or email admin@carersupportdorset.co.uk

Carer support for farming communities 

For those working in farming and living in rural communities, a dementia diagnosis can have a significant impact on the ability to farm successfully and safely. For many farmers, their work is also their home and there’s no option to take some time off. In addition, when living in rural communities there may be an increased risk of isolation as there are fewer people in physical proximity.

Jennifer (pictured above) is a farmer’s wife whose husband developed dementia. She has been working with the Farming Community Network (FCN) to reach other carers in similar positions with some of the information and support she found most helpful when she started caring.

Jennifer has put together a very helpful booklet, called Angels in Gumboots, in association with the Farming Community Network containing a wealth of information particularly useful for those who are part of a farming family or live rurally; but equally it has lots of helpful advice for anyone who is starting out supporting someone with dementia.

Download a copy of the booklet below. If you would like a printed version of the booklet posted to you, contact the FCN helpline on 03000 111 999 or email
help@fcn.org.uk.
Download Angels in Gumboots

Carers can now get their Covid-19 and flu vaccines ahead of winter 

The flu and COVID-19 vaccines are both now available to carers ahead of winter. If you haven’t got any earlier doses that you need of the COVID-19 vaccine, it’s not too late. You can get these right now and will be welcomed at a local vaccination centre to get up to date.

As an unpaid carer, you can book your COVID-19 booster through the National Booking Service or call 119. The flu vaccine may be offered at the same time but if not you can get this at a GP practice or community pharmacy at another time – it’s better to get what you need as soon as you can rather than waiting to have both at the same time.

 
If you want to look back at any of our previous e-newsletters for support, information and guidance, just click on the button below. 
Previous Newsletters

A final note from us

 
The Carer Support Dorset team are here to support you, whatever the question or issue you’re facing. We acknowledge and appreciate the hard work you’re doing in your caring role.

Carer Support Dorset is open Monday 9.30am-4.30pm, Tuesday 9.30am-7pm, Wednesday 9.30am-4.30pm, Thursday 9.30am-7pm and Friday 9.30am-4pm.

Call 0800 368 8349 or email 
admin@carersupportdorset.co.uk if you need support or advice on anything related to your caring role.
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Contact us: 0800 368 8349
Unit B6 Arena Business Park, 9 Nimrod Way, Ferndown, Dorset, BH21 7UH

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