Following the budget announcement, the regulations and guidance on the downrating of Benefits during periods spent in hospital have now been published. The new rules mean that claimants will be able to keep their full rate of certain Benefits for hospital stays of up to 52 weeks, rather than their Benefit being downrated at intervals as before.

The rules apply to Retirement Pension, Pension Credit, Bereavement Allowance, Widowed Parents Allowance, Widowed Mothers Allowance, Widows Pension, Incapacity Benefit, Severe Disablement Allowance, Income Support, Minimum Income Guarantee, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit.

Downrating will now not occur until the claimant has been in hospital for 52 weeks, rather than at the previous intervals. The change came into effect from 21 May 2003. Anyone who entered hospital on or after 9 April 2003 will not have their Benefit downrated unless and until they receive more than 52 weeks hospital in-patient treatment.

Carers UK has launched “e carers” - for anyone with access to the internet and who is interested in campaigning on behalf of carers.

I fully agree with Mr S (Issue no. 31) and have tried ways and means to help myself, eg a letter to the Minister of Health with my grievances, but received a reply saying how much money the government has put into the NHS. My response was that unless it helped me, which it hasn’t, it’s useless.

Relate exists to promote healthy relationships, and is the largest provider of couple counselling in the UK. All sorts of people come to Relate and find it helps them to understand what’s going on in their relationships and change things for the better.

They offer counselling and support for couples or individuals, married or not, gay or heterosexual, who are experiencing difficulties in their relationships. Counselling is available at their main office in Torquay, and on certain days at outposts throughout South Devon - in Paignton, Newton Abbot, Ashburton, Totnes and Kingsbridge. Sex therapy is currently available in Torquay, Newton Abbot and Kingsbridge.

City & Guilds is the leading provider of vocational qualifications in the UK. It is now extending its commitment to E-learning, and is launching a new online learning product aimed at informal or unpaid carers.

CarersLine is Carers UK’s free, national helpline for carers and people who help carers. It offers expert advice on benefits, community care and other carers’ centres and support groups.

Unfortunately, due to funding problems, the service offered by CarersLine has now been restricted in terms of the days and times it is open.

CarersLine is now available to callers at the following times:

Wednesdays:

10 am to midday and 2 pm to 4 pm

Thursdays:

10 am to midday and 2 pm to 4 pm

Information for carers is still available on www.carersonline.org.uk

Oddly, though carers by definition are anything but selfish pigs, they are liable to feelings of guilt, probably brought on by fatigue and isolation. So Hugh Marriott has written this book for them - and also for the rest of us who hadn’t realized what went on behind those closed doors.

His aim in writing the book was to bring into the open everything he wished he had been told when he first became a carer...and he does. The book airs topics such as sex, coping with incontinence, dealing with the responses of friends and officials who fail to understand, and even thoughts of murder!

It is thought-provoking, informative and brutally frank, but also funny and moving.

If you would like a copy (price £9.95) you can order it from your local bookstore, or contact Polperro Heritage Press, Clifton-upon-Teme, Worcestershire, WR6 6EN.

Do you take care of a family member, friend or neighbour? Do you feel you get enough help from the different services to support you in your caring role. If not, have you asked Social Services to come and assess your own needs as a carer?

If you have not yet received a Carers Assessment, then it is your right to ask for one! Contact your nearest Social Services office, and ask for a Carers Assessment for yourself.

In preparing for next year’s Celebration for Carers at Exeter Cathedral during Carers Week, the organising committee have launched a competition. There are 2 prizes, each of a £20 gift voucher.

Does your caring role get you down sometimes? Do you sometimes feel frustrated to the point where you want to hit out at somebody?

Have you thought how care workers or emergency services would get into your house if you were laid low with an illness or were out of the house. Can the person you care for open the front door easily by themselves?

KeySafe is a secure way of allowing authorised persons to enter your property, by way of a small security box attached to the outside of your property. This box contains your front door key, but it can only be opened if the person has the right code.

This is ideal if you carry a Carers’ Emergency Response Card (the scheme operated by the South Hams & West Devon Carers Link). If you are out and fall ill, for example, Call24Hour alarm centre could have the KeySafe code, and would be able to give it to the Emergency Services, if they need to be called out to look after your cared-for person at home.

If you or your cared-for is disabled or over 60, the Handyperson Scheme (run by Care & Repair) can supply and fit the KeySafe for £36. There is no charge if you are in receipt of Income Support. Even if you are not eligible for this help, anyone can still buy a KeySafe of their own for £45.37 (inc VAT & delivery).

This is a much safer alternative to leaving your door key under a mat or plant pot, or leaving the door unlocked for visitors (which can make your home insurance policy void).

Diana Eastman, SDCC’s member of staff who set up the Carers Link and Emergency Response Card Scheme for South Hams & West Devon, has left her post after 2½ years to move onto other things. She has done an excellent job, and she will be missed by all her colleagues.

Sue Hurley has taken up the baton in Diana’s place, and can be contacted on the same number - (01803) 862622 (extension 201). At least initially, Sue will work the same days, ie Tuesday and Friday mornings. An answerphone can record your messages in-between times.

Teignbridge District Council has produced a leaflet that outlines useful information and contact details aimed at making a range of services more accessible, as well as raising awareness of their existence.

In preparing for next year’s Celebration for Carers at Exeter Cathedral during Carers Week, the organising committee have launched a competition. There are 2 prizes, each of a £20 gift voucher.

Does your caring role get you down sometimes? Do you sometimes feel frustrated to the point where you want to hit out at somebody?

Have you thought how care workers or emergency services would get into your house if you were laid low with an illness or were out of the house. Can the person you care for open the front door easily by themselves?

KeySafe is a secure way of allowing authorised persons to enter your property, by way of a small security box attached to the outside of your property. This box contains your front door key, but it can only be opened if the person has the right security code. This is ideal if you carry a Carers’ Emergency Response Card (the scheme operated by the Teignbridge Carers Link). If you are out and fall ill, for example, TeignCare alarm centre could have the KeySafe code, and would be able to give it to the Emergency Services, if they need to be called out to look after your cared-for person at home.

Devon Social Services can arrange to fit a KeySafe free of charge for people that meet certain criteria, eg people who are in need of domiciliary care services, are alone for substantial parts of the day (eg while their carer is working), or have difficulty getting to the door. Even if you are not eligible, you can still buy a KeySafe of your own for £45.37 (inc VAT & delivery).

The South Devon Coalition of Disabled People are pleased to announce the continuation of their ’Free and Confidential Counselling Service’ - thanks to the Torbay Primary Care Trust. The Coalition have just been notified that they have been successful in their bid to operate this new ad innovative project for a further six months. Counselling Manager Debbie Forte says “We are unique to the bay and if the local community decide that it is a service that they value, then long term funding will inevitably be our next challenge”.

The coalition has 5 counsellors who are funded specifically to provide counselling to disabled adults and children living in the area of Torbay. Appointments need to be booked in advance.

Counselling provides the opportunity for people to explore their thoughts and feelings in a safe and supportive environment, which is confidential and non-judgemental.

The service is provided at premises which have complete disabled access. Debbie added “However if we are successful after March 2004, we will be able to extend this service to carers. It would be really helpful to have some feedback on the perceived usefulness to this addition” If you have any views you would like to share then please contact Debbie.

Would you like more choice and control over the community care services you receive from Social Services? Would you like to choose who provides services for you, when they provide them and how they provide them? Take control now!

Torquay Carers Support Group -

Croft Hall Medical Practice, Croft Road, Torquay. Meetings are held on 1st Monday of the month, 2.30-4.00pm.

5 January for Paper Craft by Samm’s of Lucius St,

2 February for Demonstration of Reflexology,

1 March for Gardeners Tales & Wildlife Slides.

The Torbay Learning Disability Partnership have put together a day to provide carers with information about housing options for people with learning disabilities. There will be workshops, stands and information about the different ways people with learning disabilities can access housing and support. Keynote speaker will be Maurice Harker from Housing Options.

Date: Friday 27 February 2004

Venue: The Riviera Centre

Specifically designed by St John Ambulance to cover two key areas of learning for family carers. Each course will have 2 sessions of 3 hours (10.00am - 1.00pm). Session 1 deals with incidents, basic resuscitation, heart attacks and strokes, burns, scolds, poisoning, choking, shock, bleeding and fractures. Session 2 covers back injury, risk assessment in moving and handling, safe moving techniques, safe patient handling between bed and wheelchair, etc.

Session 1 - 8 January (Paignton)

Session 2 - 29 January (Paignton)

Session 1 - 16 January (Torquay)

Session 2 - 30 January (Torquay)

When only a small number of people were available to take up the co-counselling course offered this autumn, we at first wondered whether to continue, but carried on in response to the enthusiasm of those who did attend. Now nearing the end, both participants and facilitators agree it has been good fun and of great benefit to all of us. It has proved itself not only as a form of stress relief, but also as a way to practice effective listening in support of our own and others caring role.

Once again SDCC is organising the ever popular leisure events at the Redcliffe Hotel this year. Carers will be able to attend on either 26 February or 12 March. These events include a range of fun and relaxing activities, as well as hands-on therapies (eg back massage, reflexology).