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Welcome to this month's Carers' Bulletin, which is coming out a bit earlier this month due to the festive season.
However you wish to spend your time over the festive period we want to wish you a peaceful and enjoyable time, surrounded by the ones you love. We know for many people Christmas can also be a difficult time of year, where difficulties may be more pronounced. This month's bulletin focuses on staying connected over the Christmas period and some of those key winter messages.
If you know other people that may be lonely or struggling this Christmas please share this information with them.
Merry Christmas and a massive thank you for reading and contributing over the year.
Festive wishes - Gabrielle
Over Christmas the majority of council services will close.
Between these periods some essential will still be operating.
Adult Social Care - will run normal opening hours on Friday 27 December, Monday 30 December and Tuesday 31 December. (Please note the service will be running on reduced staffing numbers). The service will be closed on bank holidays - 0247 683 3003
Emergency Duty Team - The Emergency Duty Team provide cover outside of usual office hours (5pm-8.30am) and Bank Holidays. (Please note this is only in the event on an emergency with regards to care and support and not for a medical emergency). 0247 683 2222.
Crisis Resolution Team & Home Treatment Team - will remain open during the holiday period. The service offers intensive support to people experiencing a decline in their mental health in their own homes, and tries to avoid a need for a hospital admission. 024 7696 1209
The NHS
The Continuing Healthcare Team (CHC Team) will close early on Christmas Eve at 3pm and will be fully closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. The Team will reopen on Friday 27 December at 8.30am (normal office hours), Monday 30 December and Tuesday 31 December (closing at 3.00pm). The team will be closed on New Year's Day and normal services will resume on Thursday 2 January 2020.
Pharmacies across Coventry will also run limited services over the Christmas period. Full details of opening times.
The Carers Trust Carers Centre based at the Central Library will be closed for a number of days over Christmas but will running a telephone service following Boxing Day and 2 January. The service will be open on Christmas Eve between 10am - 3.30pm. The Carers Trust Heart of England will operate a telephone service on the following days:
- 27 December 2019: 10am - 2pm
- 28 December 2019: 10am - 2pm
- 30 December 2019: 10am - 2pm
- 31 December 2019: 10am - 2pm
Normal opening hours will resume on Thursday 2 January 2020.
You can access the service by calling 024 7663 2972
Remember if you are registered with CRESS, the service will continue to run over the festive period.
We know that Christmas is a cause for massive celebrations but it can also be a time of year when any hardships can be more profound and loneliness can really hit home.
On Christmas Day itself a number of events are taking place across the city so that no one needs to be alone over the Christmas period.
Coventry Cyrenians will be hosting a Christmas Day Dinner Event - for anyone homeless, vulnerable and lonely over Christmas at Methodist Central Hall. Activities start at 11am until 3pm - Dinner served from 12.30pm-2.30pm.
Coventry Open Christmas - Grub N Gab Club - From 24 - 29 December the "Grub & Gab Club" hosted by Queens Road Baptist Church will be open 24/7 providing shelter, company and food for anyone homeless or lonely over the Christmas period.
MIND Wellbeing Hub will be open between 11am-3pm for drop in on Christmas Day.
Mental Health Matters Hotline - The Mental Health Matters hotline, is a free advice confidential helpline providing emotional support for Coventry & Warwickshire residents. The line is manned 24/7 and you can contact them on 0800 616 171.
Coventry Safe Haven – (Phoneline) Service opens on 23 December 2019. For anyone feeling low, depressed, anxious, the service will run every evening between 6-11pm. Can be contacted on 07921 876065.
Food Banks - Foodbanks close on 23 December 2019 until 6 January 2019. The last Foodbank will be open at Coventry City Mission opening at 12pm and will close at 3pm on 23 December 2019. Coventry Foodbanks will remain closed until 6 January however if there is an urgent need for a food parcel over the festive period, Coventry Fire Stations will be administering parcels from their Binley, Canley, Radford Road and Foleshill.
The Festive period can be a time where we're all prone to additional coughs and colds, but not looking after yourself during this time can lead to worsening health. It can also be a time where things are out of sync, so we might not always eat or drink regularly. Because of the festivities, the house may become more cluttered with gifts and there might be more opportunities to stumble and fall around the household. Keeping warm is essential. The NHS have put together some key winter messages to think about over the festive season:
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Stay warm - set your thermostat to 18-21 degrees Celsius.
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Make sure that you have received all appropriate vaccinations.
- Your GP surgery can give you advice on this.
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Make sure you have adequate supplies of medication and
groceries in case there is a cold snap.
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Try to have warm drinks and at least one hot meal each day.
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Dress in plenty of layers and make sure slippers, shoes and boots
are a snug fit with non-slip soles. When you go outside wear a hat,
gloves and scarf.
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Keep active and remove hazards that may cause you to fall.
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Make sure you have an emergency contact number for a friend or
neighbour in case you need help.
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If feeling ill, call NHS 111, the free non-emergency number. A highly
trained adviser, supported by healthcare professionals will assess
your symptoms and direct you to the best medical advice or
treatment for you. Available 24 hours a day.
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For more health advice on keeping warm this winter, visit the NHS
website.
The Diwali/ Christmas event took place on Friday 13 December at United Reformed Church. 63 carers attended with some of their family members. The Chairperson of the Carers Trust Heart of England Mrs. Janet Jones Legg, Councillor Ram Lakha and Mr and Mrs. Seehra who are also board members attended the event. The event went very well with the support from colleagues, dedicated volunteers and the Ramgarhia Sikh Temple who provided the refreshments (lunger). Mr. and Mrs. Bansal and their team went to the temple in the early morning and cooked a fresh meal for the group.
The Milan Group meet regularly throughout the year at the Penny Collard Centre. If you'd be interested to find out more please contact Varsha Thakrar on 024 7663 2972- Option 1
Boost your mood this New Year
Battle the January blues this new year by picking up a book from our Reading Well Mood Boosting collection.
Reading Well Mood Boosting books have been recommended by readers as being uplifting and are perfect when you’re feeling in need of a boost.
Titles in the new collection include memoirs, poetry, novels and more. There’s something for everyone in this great new collection so why not start the year by picking up a pick me up.
To find out more about books in this collection pop in to your local library, search our online catalogue online catalogue, or visit our e-books page to download titles for free.
Coventry Libraries support Readers' Groups
Do you love reading and long to discuss the books you have read? Whether you loved or loathed a book, why not join one of Coventry Libraries Readers' Groups to share your opinions.
Readers' Groups are great places to meet other people who love to read, talk about books and discover new authors and genres that you may not have thought of trying. Our groups across libraries in Coventry are friendly and informal. New members are always welcome. You do not need any literary knowledge to join a readers' group, you just need to enjoy reading! There is no need to worry if you haven't finished the book or didn't like it, you can still come along and join in.
To find out more about joining a Readers' Group, ask at your local library or see information on our readers group page.
Coventry Home Library Service
In partnership with Age UK, Coventry Libraries and Information Service offer a home library service that delivers books to people who are unable to visit the library themselves. This is a free service with regular deliveries.
More information about the Home Library Service and how to request the service.
Would you like to find out more about your family tree?
Get support to find out how to use the e-resource Ancestry-Library Edition, so you can get started discovering your family history:
- Allesley Park - Thursdays 4pm - 6pm
- Bell Green - 11 January 10.30am - 12noon (every four weeks on a Saturday)
- Central - 11 January 10.30am - 12noon (every four weeks on a Saturday)
- Willenhall - Mondays 11am - 12noon, booking required
It’s simple! Just add your email address in the top right hand corner and click GO!
You can also sign up or view previous bulletins from our Carers' website.
If you have any comments or wish to contribute something to the next bulletin, please let us know by contacting us at carers@coventry.gov.uk.
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