...must be coming to an end! How do we know? - because the planning for all the Spring events is well under way already! This must be good news!

BREAK provides a wide range of services for children, adults and families with special needs. These include respite care, holidays and child care.

The charity has two centres in Norfolk - ‘Rainbow’ in Sheringham and ‘The Sandcastle’ in Hunstanton. These centres provide respite care in a holiday environment for children and adults from all over the country, whatever the level of disability in the family.

It also provides self catering holidays at its chalet in Westward Ho!, North Devon. Children’s holidays are arranged in the summer months in conjunction with public schools, who generously give them use of their facilities. A week or two does make a difference and, for many, BREAK is a lifeline.

The ‘Expert Patients’ Task Force convened to design a new Programme that will address the needs of the one in three people in this country living with chronic illness or disability.

Set up and chaired by the Chief Medical Officer, Professor Liam Donaldson, they have been meeting since last autumn. Their job is to pool expertise to assess the extent to which those affected by chronic disease can act as experts in managing their own condition, with appropriate help and support from health and social care services.

...concerning a report by the Royal Commission on Long Term Care. The commission have begun from the point of view that old age should not be seen as a problem, but a time of life with fulfilments of its own. To provide security in old age and proper care for those that need it, the reports main recommendations are that:

The costs of long term care should be split between living costs, housing costs and personal care. Personal care should be available after assessment according to need, and paid for from general taxation: the rest should be subject to a co-payment according to means.

The Government should establish a National Care Commission to monitor trends, including demography and spending, ensure transparency and accountability in the system, represent the interest of consumers, and set national benchmarks, now and in the future.

The Commission’s recommendations represent a unique opportunity for a new contract between Government and people and between all generations of society. This will ensure that the nation’s resources which are spent on the care of older people are more effective and will promote increased social cohesion and inclusiveness. If the proposals are accepted, the nation will have demonstrated that it values its older citizens, and is prepared to give them freedom from fear and a new security in old age.

Many of the Commission’s recommendations can be implemented without the need for primary legislation, and it has urged the Government to implement their proposals as soon as possible, as the need for change is pressing.

The full text of the Commission’s report is available on the Royal Commission’s website at www.open.gov.uk/royal-commission-elderly. The summary is also available in Braille and audio tape by calling...

Were you advised to take out a personal pension when you could have stayed in (or joined) your employer’s pension scheme?

Did this happen between 29 April 1988 and 30 June 1994? If so, then you need to obtain the Financial Services Authority fact sheet “Personal pensions mis-selling: the facts”.

The recent campaign explained that some people could have lost out by £4,000 or more and outlined the importance of getting your case checked.

This is to be held at the Riviera Centre on Friday 16 February, between 10am and 3pm.Organised by South Devon Carers’ Consortium and funded by Social Services, it is supported by Carers’ National Association (Torbay Branch) and the Torbay Partnership Committee.

Speakers will include Roger Blunden (from The King’s Fund) who will be speaking on Quality Standards for Carers’ Services, and James Drummond (from Torbay Social Services) who will be giving a Review of Torbay’s Carers’ Strategy Measure Up.

Service 66, that is, the Brixham to Torbay Hospital bus which travels via the Ring Road. The service has been instigated, and part funded, by Torbay Council, First Western National and the South Devon Healthcare NHS Trust. It is aimed at widening people’s travel choices to the Hospital, by providing a high quality, convenient and affordable service.

The easy access buses have a low step for wheelchairs and pushchairs, and are also low emission vehicles, doing their bit for the environment!

So if you have a hospital appointment, or simply want to visit Pertinax at Paignton Zoo, then this is the service for you!

All set for Thursday 8 March for a South Hams Carers’ Recharging Day? This will take place at the Dinnaton Country Club, Ivybridge.

You can enjoy all the facilities on offer at the club, as well as a choice of alternative therapies and beauty treatments, jacuzzi and sauna, swimming, golf, tennis and so much more.

There will also be a delicious two course buffet, crèche and soft play area for the kids, and if you fancy a tipple, the bar is open all day!

The cost of the day is £2.00 and tickets are limited, so either fill in the tear off slip at the bottom of the enclosed flyer, or contact Totnes Caring on (01803) 865684 for further details.

...the next meeting of the South Hams Carers’ Planning Group. This will be at Kingsbridge Town Council Chambers, on Wednesday 28 February, 11-2.30pm (buffet lunch included).

An important date for your diary is 20 March...

...the Teignbridge Re-charge day to Powderham Castle.

Organised and supported by members of the Teignbridge Carers Action Group, the trip will include a tour of the house and gardens, lunch and coach to pick up at various points in the Teignbridge area. There will also be a chance for a spot of “retail therapy” at the castle shop.

Total cost is £2.00 and tickets are limited. For further details contact the South Devon Carers’ Helpline on (01626) 889288. Alternatively return the tear off slip at the bottom of the enclosed flyer to them as soon as possible to secure your place!

SPLASH! Or the Special Play and Learning Activities during School Holidays: this group operates a quality play provision for children with special needs during the summer holidays. It is primarily aimed at parents/carers who are working, but it is also open to those who require a break during the school holidays.

...the next meeting of the Teignbridge Carers’ Action Group. This will be at the Dartbridge Inn, Totnes Rd, Buckfastleigh, 10:30-12:30pm (buffet lunch included).

This is to be launched at Torbay’s first Carers’ Conference on 16 February. Membership is free of charge, is voluntary, and is open to all carers who live in the Torbay area.

The register will give a clear picture of the number of carers in Torbay, and help to ensure that future services for carers, and the people they care for, are developed on the basis of accurate information. It will mean that agencies will be able to identify and plan for what support carers need, where and when it is needed.

In addition, the Register will provide a more efficient way of sending out regular information to those carers who want it, for example, this newsletter, but also to gear other information to particular types of illness or disability. Also, it will be a way of asking carers of these different client groups, what they think about particular developments in services that might be being planned.

The Register is strictly confidential, and access to the anonymous statistical information it contains will be administered by an inter-agency, Register Management Group.

Alongside the Torbay Carers Register, will be the launch of the Carers Emergency Response Card scheme.

They are issued with a card to carry on their person, on which is the Emergency telephone number and a reference number. If anybody calls the number, no personal details are given to the caller. Instead a procedure is followed that ensures the cared-for person receives adequate care at home until the carer is able to get home. This should give carers extra peace of mind when they have to go out on their own, and may even enable some to go out more often.

This friendly group of parents of children with special needs meets regularly on the first Thursday of every month between 10 am and 12pm at the Parkfield House, Esplanade Rd, Paignton.

....carers, service users, representatives of groups, and those working in the mental health profession to attend an open meeting on Saturday 3 March 10.00 to 2.00 (with refreshments and buffet included). This is to plan the way ahead for involving carers and service users in making their voice heard through the Torbay Mental Health Forum.