Caring Counts - summer 2023

Mon 5 June Tue 6 June Wed 7 June Thu 8 June Fri 9 June

5-11 June 2023

Cream Tea

10.30am –12pm The Bow Cafe in Elgin

Coffee and a Fancy Piece 10am – 11.30am Christies Garden Centre Fochabers

Coffee and a Fancy Piece

1.30pm – 3pm Coffee House Forres Community Centre

Virtual Dementia Tour, Elgin Morning and afternoon sessions booking required

Dufftown to Keith Railway Trip Meet at 10am; train departs 10.30am sharp Limited wheelchair access - please state requirements at time of booking

Booking required by 26 May Refreshments - please bring your own packed lunch or visit the Sidings Cafe at Dufftown station when you return.

Notes for me:

My plan:Attend as many activities as possible and get a break from caring.

Carers Week is an annual campaign to recognise the contribution of unpaid carers in the UK.

all

what a person living with

Glenn Knight, CEO Training2Care

This course does NOT train people to be mental health workers. It offers basic general information about mental health problems. The knowledge presented and understanding developed in the course helps to remove stigma and fear, and gives participants confidence in approaching a person in distress.

Mental Health First Aid is an initial response to distress and all participants on the course understand that this help is given only until other suitable or professional help can be found.

Brief course outline:

• attitudes to mental health issues

• equalities

• the recovery message

• the impact of alcohol and drugs on mental health

• introduction to suicide intervention

• listening skills

• understanding depression, anxiety, psychosis

• how to offer first aid to someone experiencing depression, anxiety, a psychotic episode

This gave me the confidence to help my brother. Highly recommend to anyone wanting to better understand mental health issues.

You must attend all four sessions to receive your certificate. This course requires eight people to run. We will have to cancel if there is lack of demand.

Upcoming dates:

7, 14, 21, 28 June from 6-9pm 13, 20, 27 Sep and 4 Oct from 10am-1pm

Currently Elgin based

Book now

01343 556031

carersmoray@quarriers.org.uk

Alison’s transformation

Alison provides care for her elderly mum who has a heart condition and is also very frail. Scared of bringing the virus back to her mother, Alison had become reluctant to go out much due to the Covid pandemic. The natural deterioration in mum’s wellbeing and resulting increased caring role also meant that Life was becoming a struggle. Alison was becoming ever more isolated and overwhelmed. When restrictions eased it was difficult to find the motivation to put her own needs first and, as such, she found herself stuck in a rut, wanting to make a change but lacking the motivation and knowhow to do so.

A phonecall to her Family Wellbeing Worker (FWW) identified she was lonely. Therefore, it was suggested she come along to a cream tea the Support Service was running, similar to those you’re able to access during the upcoming Carers Week in June this year. With a bit of encouragement Alison was persuaded to sign up. She duly attended and found it really enjoyable. “I’d forgotten just how nice it is to sit and chat with someone new.”

A couple of hours out of the house lifted the dark cloud that had been following her around. She felt recharged. Her good spirits rubbed off on mum too and for a few hours Life was good. Taking that first step helped Alison realise she could go out. By taking the necessary steps to stay safe she could stop worrying so much about bringing Covid home.

Full of confidence and renewed energy, Alison signed up for another group this time taking mum with her. Along with about 20 others, they took a lovely relaxing train ride through the beautiful countryside. Even though still caring for mum, the change of scenery had a hugely positive impact on her mental wellbeing.

The transformation didn’t end there. Alison had connected with Jean at the initial cream team and as a result they exchanged contact details. They now regularly set aside time for themselves for a catch up over coffee.

We know it can seem awfully daunting to join a group. When you’re already struggling, the thought of organising things so you can get away is just too difficult to contemplate. However, taking that first step can make such a difference. Alison felt just like that but look at how much better she felt afterwards. She now has a new friend and something to look forward to on a regular basis meeting up for a coffee.

Use this Carers Week to join some of the activities and experience for yourself how you can make life better, even if it’s just for a wee while.

How support helps

Who

James is an elderly gentleman who was caring for his ex-partner, Janice. Due to the circumstances, he ended up leaving his own home so that he could be close at hand as Janice’s condition caused her to fall regularly.

Within a year, James was running Janice’s house and life.

He felt like he was doing everything, which at his advanced age was a significant challenge. Caring had become his whole life. He got no breaks, and was experiencing pain from all the moving and handling getting Janice up off the floor when she fell.

Feeling overwhelmed, James agreed to a referral to the Carer Support Service.

What

He completed an Adult Carer Support plan with a Family Wellbeing Worker (FWW). It highlighted he felt lost, had nowhere to turn, was stressed, couldn’t go out for fear of Janice injuring herself at home, and didn’t know how he’d cope longer term.

With help from the FWW, James learned how to reduce his stress with relaxation exercises and was able to make arrangements for increased cover through Janice’s community alarm and telehealth arrangements, which allowed him to take longer breaks without worrying what was happening at home. He was offered training in moving and handling, and help to complete an Emergency Plan, so if he couldn’t be there, others would know how to look after Janice.

Why

Providing feedback on why the support he got was so important to him James said, “I didn’t know where to start but you’ve been brilliant. I can’t thank you enough.

“Made me realise I need my time as well, away from Janice at times.

“Through the Adult Carer Support Plan I’m getting OT support for Janice and hopefully physic support. Also, a referral to the Access Care Team will hopefully resume care for her by Moray Council.

“I will go into my weekend worrying less now and having another positive plan in place to move forward with this issue (which has been a concern for some considerable time) - that means so much, thanks again.”

Sources of support

Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB)

Whatever your issues, CAB can point you in the right direction. From advice and information on day-to-day issues, through to detailed support and specialist topics, they can help - benefits, housing, work, debt and money, health, family, consumer, law and courts, immigration.

Call 01343 550088

Moray Wellbeing Hub

Helping people live mentally well lives via Discover Pathways Moray and the Wellness College - a gym for the mind covering such topics as mental health and awareness skills, suicide prevention, self management tools, parenting, nature connection and creative connection.

Call 01343 576219

Social Security Scotland - SSS

SSS is an Executive Agency of the Scottish Government responsible for managing the benefits devolved to Scotland. Currently responsible for the young carer grant, carer’s allowance supplement, funeral support payment, adult+ child disability payments among others.

Call 0800 182 2222

The Access Team

The Access Care Team is the single point of contact for all initial enquiries about adult care and support, making it easier and quicker for people to get the right information and services they need.

Call 01343 563999

Out of hours emergency 03457 565656

NHS Inform

NHS inform is Scotland’s national health information service providing the people in Scotland with accurate and relevant information to help them make informed decisions about their own health and the health of the people they care for.

Call 0800 22 44 88

ALISS: Connecting you to your community. Put a postcode, town or city into the search box to find services, groups and activities for health and wellbeing across Scotland.

www.aliss.org

MORINFO your community information database. Find information about groups, clubs, organisations, etc, and view the related events calendar to find what’s on in Moray.

www.moray.gov.uk/moray_services/ page_565 34.html

01343 562616

morinfo@moray.gov.uk

Cost of living support hub

We’ve all seen the cost of fuel, food and other essentials go up this year. It might be making us anxious for the future or we may already be struggling with bills. This hub helps find the support that’s right for you and your family in Moray.

www.moray.gov.uk/moray_standard/page_144747.html

Spotlight: an online version of the magazine that drops through your letterbox every month. Find out what’s happening in your local community - clubs, groups, events www.spotlighton.co.uk

Facebook’s local community pages and what’s on or events pages are a great place to keep abreast of what’s happening in your neck of the woods. Our own Quarriers Carer Support - Moray page has lots of useful information on it and you can even access local support groups.

www.facebook.com

The thought of accessing the internet for security reasons can be scary. We understand. But, it really is the quickest and often simplest way to find out what you need to know. As you can do it yourself there’s no waiting! If you need to improve your internet skills let us know and we’ll help get you back in the loop.

www.google.co.uk

Carer Cafés

Pop the dates in your diary now

I’m too busy, I don’t have time

• Make time and get out of the house for a bit

• Forget about your caring role for a while

• Take some time for yourself

• Relax with a cuppa and some chat

• Have fun

• Meet new people

Elgin

First Friday of the month

The Bow Café

2-3pm

Forres

Third Wednesday of the month

The Coffee House

Community Centre

2-3pm

Fochabers

Third Tuesday of the month

Christies Garden Centre

10-11.30am

Drop by and chill out