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It might be interesting to give this a go, what makes it special for carers? The University of Strathclyde is looking for carers in Scotland who would like to do more physical activity from home to test a new app for 3 weeks. This app has been designed with help from carers, to support carers at an early stage of physical activity. Please read and share the attached flyer. Interested carers can get in touch with carefit-project@strath.ac.uk 
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Fife Carers Befriending service is now recruiting volunteer befrienders and telephone befrienders. There are many unpaid carers in Fife who are very lonely and isolated who would just like someone to talk to. Can you spare 1-2 hours a week? Do you know anyone who would like to help? For more information or to join please do get in touch on 07736909692 or sylwia.nadolny@fifecarers.co.uk  More than 100,000 people have signed up to take part in future NHS trials of a coronavirus vaccine - but more volunteers are needed, researchers say.
They want as many people as possible to enrol, to speed up their efforts to find a safe and effective jab. And they are particularly looking for more volunteers from the "high-priority groups" disproportionately affected by the virus - those belonging to ethnic minorities or aged over 65. Volunteers can register online. Kate Bingham, who chairs the UK's vaccine taskforce, said: "These trials are safe, please sign up. "The quicker we get the clinical trials enrolled, vaccinated and get the results, the quicker we can get a vaccine." We have worked with Fife Contemporary for a few projects and now we are looking at how we can carry on during the restrictions imposed by Covid -19. Following on from a successful stage 1 of the project, Fife Contemporary are back to recruit some carers for future jewellery workshops. Due to Covid 19 we have been re thinking how we can continue to offer creative sessions in a safe way, whilst providing opportunities to learn new skills and contribute to the larger project. The plan is to send out material packs to your home with all you need to make a few pieces of jewellery. We are proposing 2 sessions that can be carried out over September and October in your own time, with additional support if necessary. Wax carving or moulding a pendent or charm and have it cast into bronze. Design and make a brass badge, brooch or set of earrings using saw piercing technique. We will provide printed instructions along with video links and online support (which could be via teams/zoom…etc) or a simple telephone call. Wax carvings would be sent to us in a pre paid envelope (provided by us) to be sent for casting into metal then returned on a chain for to the participant to keep. Brass brooch, badge or earrings would need to be photographed and shared with us. From the designs produced we could select some to be reproduced for making into products for collection no 2. Participants would be free to keep all the jewellery produced and materials once done to continue experimenting or return if its not something they wish to take further. To be eligible to take part you must be an adult carer (over the age of 18) and caring for someone in Fife. You should also be registered with Fife Carers Centre. If you meet the eligibility criteria and would like to register your interest please email Lesley.Childs@fifecarers.co.uk or message this page. To find out more about the previous projects take a look at the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/FifeCarersCollection/ Scottish Parliament’s Health and Sport Committee has launched a call for views on how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted on social care services at home. MSPs on the Committee want to hear about people’s experiences of social care at home during the pandemic, whether people felt safe and supported and what lessons should be learned should there be a second wave or future outbreaks.
Specifically, they want to hear from:
The call for views is also available in an easy read version. https://yourviews.parliament.scot/health/covid19-social-care/ Another lovely treat time snack picked out by Claire Cornflake & Malteser Rocky Road (from Janes Patisserie.com) Ingredients – 500g Milk Chocolate, chopped – 200g Golden Syrup – 200g Unsalted Butter – 125g Cornflakes or Crunchy Nut Cornflakes – 2x 103g Pack Maltesers – 125g Mini Marshmallows Method 1) Line a 9×9″ square baking tray with parchment paper, leave to the side. 2) Melt the golden syrup and butter gently in a pan on a low heat – when the butter and syrup have melted fully and started to bubble slightly, turn the heat off and add the chopped chocolate and stir until the chocolate has melted – if it doesn’t quite melt then turn the heat back on to a very low setting so that the chocolate doesn’t split. 3) Pour the cornflakes, maltesers, and mini marshmallows into a large bowl and pour the chocolate/syrup mix on top. Mix the ingredients together thoroughly until its all coated well. Pour into the tin and press down very firmly. Leave to set in the fridge for 3-4 hours, or a bit longer if it still feels too soft. 4) Once set, carefully remove from the tin and cut into your pieces. I do 4×4 so I get 16 large pieces, or 5×5 for slightly smaller but still delicious sized pieces. Dust with Icing Sugar or give it an extra drizzle of chocolate for show.  With the increase of stress in our daily lives it’s important that we take time to disconnect from the outside world and reconnect with ourselves and go within. To help with this Fife Carers Centre are currently able to offer some Fife carers the opportunity to benefit from one to one or group online sessions to develop their meditation techniques with Nicola Duncan. Meditation has many benefits some of these are; Reduced levels of stress and anxiety Helps reduce physical pain and boost immune system Lowering blood pressure and increased blood flow to the brain Encourages deep relaxation and feelings of peace Focuses the mind and promotes deep sleep Increased concentration Enhances creativity and opens the mind to new ideas Identifies and balances emotions Can create a deeper understanding and awareness of other people Can help to connect you to your spiritual purpose/direction Can help with creating your day and making grounded decisions Sometimes we can feel a little bit lost in life, the ordinary becomes the mundane, feeling stuck in a rut, on auto pilot or not fully present as we repeat the same tasks over and over. Meditation has the power to change your perception of that and reconnect you with your heart reminding you what your heart desires and finding your inner peace. Meditation sessions are available via the carers centre, please come and join me in either a group meditation or if you would prefer 1 to 1 with me. These sessions are available on line and can be suited to your needs in terms of time and availability. Sessions can range from 20 mins, 30 mins, 45 minutes. They can be held on various days and at a range of times. If you would like to find out more please email Lesley.childs@fifecarers.co.uk or message our facebook page.  For carers who may be anxious about themselves or the person they care for being challenged about not wearing a mask this may be useful. Many of the larger stores will supply the sunflower lanyard as will the airport.
https://hiddendisabilitiesstore.com/hidden-disabilities-face-covering.html We have seen a lot on the TV and in the media about the difficulties of care home visiting but it has been focused most often on older people. In this article Shona, a parent carer of a young woman tells us about the effects of the restrictions on her and the family.
As lockdown eases for most of society care home residents remain indefinitely in lockdown. There is no information available to families to tell us what parameters have to be met before care home residents can leave the building and rejoin their families and their communities. I have tried to get a risk assessment to allow a home visit. I have been told take her out if you want but she can't come back until guidance changes and the provider has no idea when that might be. My daughter has received excellent care during this period, staff have worked tirelessly to provide activities and entertainment and have facilitated phone and video calls. They are working under blanket policies so that fact she is in her late 20's and enjoys good health (but has a learning disability) is irrelevant. We have to mourn the loss of those who have died in care homes and work to prevent further deaths but we cannot stop advocating for the living while doing so. This is the letter I wish I could share with my daughter that I wrote after our first garden visit. I have anonymised it deliberately. (The visit was conducted in accordance with Scottish Government Guidelines for Stage 2 of the staged approach to visiting and communal activity in care homes.) Dear <daughter's name>, A garden visit sounded better than a window visit but do you think it was? I saw you twisting the neck of your t-shirt, jiggling your leg and avoiding eye contact; all the things you do at review meetings when you are anxious. You also wanted to get a letter to show me but you were not allowed to do that. I had a tissue in my pocket but would have broken the rules if I had given it to you to wipe your chin when you drooled. That made me sad. The whole visit felt like that day almost 19 years ago, you were 10, when you were going for major heart surgery. Leaving the house in plenty of time so we arrived well before the appointment time. Filling in forms, although yesterday it was my details that were required for the Visitor Booking Form. Today it was me who had to have my temperature recorded before the visit could proceed and you could be allowed out. I wasn't allowed to have Dad there to support me today though - one designated visitor, for 30 minutes once a week is all that is allowed. Like that day once everything was checked I began to dread seeing you being led away again. I tried to keep talking to you just as we would normally but your responses were not the same as they usually would be. I mentioned <sister's name> and <brother-in-law's name> new house but you didn't ask when you could go and see the house or them. You knew <other sister's name> had been on a train but didn't ask when you could go on one. You seem resigned to life as it is now because you didn't once mention "the bloody bug" or ask when you could come and stay with us for the weekend. In the early days of lockdown you asked every time I spoke to you. When you were being taken down to the operating theatre I was able to kiss you, tell you I loved you and that I would see you soon but today I could only blow you a kiss while wearing a face covering (kisses are magic they can get through). It felt wrong on so many levels. We were told the time was up and you were led away, hand firmly held in case you tried to break the social distancing rules. I then had to get up and walk to the car but didn't reach the it before the tears started to fall just like that day so long ago when we had to leave the hospital ward. It was at least 20 minutes before I could drive away, breathing and heart rates returned to near normal. The outcome of your surgery was never one hundred percent certain so the 6-7 hours of waiting was hard for Dad and I. The phone call afterwards then the rush to be by your side - people moving in the corridors to let us pass - and the relief that everything had gone to plan. We could then both stay by your side day and night if we wanted to. Today when you were led away I knew that the rules would have to be followed so it would be 6 days, 23 hours and 30 minutes before I could be two metres away from you again. Love Mum x |
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September 2020
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