Coventry Carers Bulletin - August 2017

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Coventry Carers' bulletin

Library Service Improvements

Coventry Library Service can be accessed from the comfort of your own home. Have a look at the great range of downloadable E-books, E-audio and E-magazines to use for free. All you need is your Library Card and PIN number.

Read our 'Libraries 24/7' leaflet.

Coventry’s Box of Trix goes live on the internet

We have reported on the Box of Trix before in this newsletter. It is a collection of gadgets and gizmos that have been put together and can demonstrate how to either promote a person’s independence or to support carers to look after a loved one. Most of the items are relatively inexpensive but in lots of cases have changed someone’s life for the better.

They are permanently on display at the Central Library in the Carers' Trust Heart of England reception area. We are very excited however as for the first time there have been a number of short videos created to explain how items work and how they can support people with certain conditions. Also featured on the videos are the places we purchased them from and how much we paid for them. This is to give people an indication of how much they can be purchased for if you shop around and in some cases we’ve done a lot of the leg work for you.

The first 12 can be watched here. Please take some time to browse through them and if you require any further information or would like see the rest of the Box of Trix please visit the Carers' Trust Heart of England reception at the Central Library or call us on 024 7610 1040 (Option 1 or 3) or email us at info@carerstrusthofe.org.uk.

Recruitment

New Carers' Lead

The Joint City Council and Coventry and Rugby Clinical Commissioning Group Carers' Lead post has been recruited to and we are just making arrangements for the new post holder to start – look out for more details in the next bulletin.

Carers' Assessment Worker

We will be recruiting to one of our Carers' Assessment Workers posts in the near future.  This vacancy has arisen as Ben Sedgebear has secured a Community Case Worker post with the Council. Details of the new member of staff will be given in a future bulletin.

Are you worried about your memory or the memory of someone you care for?

If you’re worried about your memory it’s a good idea to see your GP. If you think someone else may have dementia, encourage them to make an appointment and maybe suggest that you go along with them.

Being forgetful doesn’t always mean dementia. Memory problems can also be caused by depression, stress, medication side effects or another health problem. It can be just as important to rule out these other problems or find ways to treat them. Your GP will run through some simple checks and either reassure you, give you a diagnosis or refer you to a specialist for further tests.

An early diagnosis gives you the best chance to prepare and plan for the future, receive any treatment that would help, and access the range of support available to people diagnosed with dementia. With the right support, many people with dementia continue to lead active, fulfilling lives.

For more information and support, speak to your GP, visit your local library and ask for Books on Prescription for Dementia, or search for support near you at www.alzheimers.org.uk.

You can also self-refer to Dementia Navigators for one to one support, information, advice and groups by calling 024 7665 2602, or Admiral Nurses for support in more complex situations by calling 0300 303 3131.

The Care Companion

Warwick Uni logo

The Care Companion website has been created by researchers at the Warwick Medical School and people who are actively involved in caring. Our aim is to provide a unique, personalised experience for unpaid carers who are seeking additional help, advice and support.

We are currently looking for carers, over the age of 65, to take part in a study which is testing how useful, reliable and relevant the resources and website are. We are aiming to cover the whole of Coventry and Warwickshire to collect a representative sample, so we will travel to you if that is most convenient.

If you would like to take part or receive more information on this please contact: E.Fairclough@warwick.ac.uk  or 07392 125610. 

 

Dates for your diary

Free Vitality Festival

Date: Sunday 1 October - 11am to 4pm

Venue: Fargo Village, Far Gosford Street

A celebration of vitality in older people! Lots for everyone to do, see and hear. This event is primarily aimed at older people but all are welcome.

The vitality festival is for citizens, professionals and researchers.

It will promote active ageing and longer lives. It is organised by the West Midlands Academic Health Science Network.

There will also be a ‘marketplace’ where social groups and entrepreneurs' ‘products and services’ will be promoted and available for citizens and wider stakeholders to engage with.

Scratch the Surface – DIALOGUE 2017

Mental Health Arts Festival – ‘celebrating the provocative and vanguard’

Date: 30 September – 10 October 2017

Venue: Coventry & Warwickshire

Contact: collectivepod@outlook.com

The Pod and its arts collective, Collective//Pod, presents ‘Scratch the Surface – DIALOGUE 2017’, a two-week mental health arts festival that promises to celebrate contemporary practice and capture the provocative and vanguard. Collective//Pod is an artist collective with members who have experienced severe mental ill health who believe that a city with creative life stimulates positive change; qualities intrinsic to a city bidding for City of Culture 2021 status.

Arts venues across the city will welcome a mix of fine art, music, literature, contemporary dance and film; from the CCCA at Fargo Village, The Tin Music and Arts at The Coal Vaults, Sherbourne Allotment CV5, Helen Martin Studio at Warwick Arts Centre

The festival programme includes internationally renowned Chinese artist Wen Wu and her exhibition of Literary Paintings and Wolfgang Buttress and ensemble BE to perform their critically acclaimed album ‘One’ with a live-streamed chorus of 50,000 bees from hives within the Cathedral grounds.

More exciting ‘Scratch the Surface – DIALOGUE 2017’ information to be released in upcoming weeks or join our events page on Facebook.

You can also follow us on Twitter: @STSfestivalCov

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