Our carer support officers provide tailored advice and practical help to people making decisions about care for themselves or a loved one. With backgrounds in nursing, health and social care, they each bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to their role, ensuring that everyone who contacts us receives the support they need.

Cathy Mackle (left) Sara Buswell (centre) Mary Jane Gunn (right)

Cathy originally trained as a Registered General Nurse and worked in the NHS for 13 years. She came to CABA after completing a Social Welfare degree and specialises in offering advice and guidance on accessing care and maintaining independence.

Sara previously worked as a Benefits Training Officer for the Department for

Work and Pensions and as a Welfare Rights Officer for carers in a social care setting. She specialises in offering advice and guidance on both home and residential care funding issues.

Support Manager, Mary Jane Gunn, oversees the work of CABA’s in-house support team and the relationships with our partners, who offer support on our behalf. Coming to CABA from a large housing association, Mary Jane has an extensive background in managing advice teams and client centred services.

CARERS WEEK 201712-18 June carersweek.org

This year CABA is joining forces with organisations around the UK to raise awareness of the challenges carers face and the ways in which local communities, businesses and services can help make things a little easier. Join us on 15 June at 12:30 GMT for a live webinar with CABA’s Support Manager, Mary Jane Gunn and find out how occupational therapy services can help you, or the person you care for, stay independent. Find out more on page 6.

CABA’s carer support team

CARE

MAT

TERS

1 CARE MATTERS ISSUE 6

Meet the people at the end of the phone

2 CARE MATTERS ISSUE 6

Your physical healthAs a carer you may find yourself helping someone with physical tasks such as getting in and out of bed, moving around the house and washing or dressing. Providing this physical support without the correct training and specialist equipment can affect your physical health, for example, by placing strain on your back.

In the Carers Week 2016 report, a third of carers stated that they had physically injured themselves through caring.

Stan’s storyAfter surgery to replace his hips and shoulders Stan was told it would be unsafe for him to use his bath or shower at home due to the risk of injury. He contacted CABA and we were able to arrange and fund the adaptations he needed.

“The wet room is a tremendous success and I can now bathe safely at home. It has meant that I can continue to live independently in my own home. CABA’s assistance has given me back my independence and my dignity.”

Stan

Read more about Stan’s story at caba.org.uk/stans-story

The experience of caring is different for everybody. Your relationship with the person you care for, the reasons they need support, the tasks you help them with or the amount of time spent caring varies from one person to another. But one thing always remains the same; it’s important to take care of your own physical and emotional wellbeing too. That’s where we come in. Here we look at some of the ways being a carer can affect your wellbeing and how CABA may be able to help.

Care and your wellbeing

How we can helpAids, adaptations and specialist equipment such as wheelchairs, grab rails and wet rooms can make day-to-day tasks much easier and safer, for both you and the person you care for. We can arrange for an experienced Occupational Therapist to visit you at home to discuss your specific needs and explain the options available. We may also be able to fund recommendations.

Don’t miss our live webinar on retaining independence on 15 June, when CABA’s Support Manager, Mary Jane Gunn, will be discussing how occupational therapy services can help people maintain and improve their independence. Turn to page 6 for more information.

Financial pressure Money worries can be a huge source of stress and the Carers Week 2016 report showed that half of carers have struggled financially. Not only can the cost of care add up, but you may need to give up work or reduce your hours to care for a loved one, which can mean a reduced income.

How we can helpDid you know that 35% of carers miss out on state benefits because they didn’t know they could claim them?* We can ensure that you’re maximising your income by helping you identify and apply for the benefits you’re entitled to. Find out more on page 5.

We can also provide means-tested grants and donations to help pay for things like adaptations and specialist equipment. We may also be able to help cover the ‘top-up’ element of residential care fees.

Your emotional wellbeingCaring can be rewarding but it can also be emotionally exhausting. It can place a strain on the strongest of relationships and feelings of anxiety are common. Many carers also experience isolation or loneliness as a result of their caring role. Not only can it be a 24/7

job, leaving little time for social activities, but according to the Carers Week 2016 report, 3 in 4 carers feel that their role isn’t understood or valued. This can make it difficult to connect or find common ground with friends and family.

How we can helpRemember, you’re not alone. Our carer support officers are on hand to talk things through or simply just listen. They can also help you find local carer support groups; talking to people who are in a similar situation can be invaluable.

It’s also important to take time away from caring. Taking a break might seem impossible but with CABA’s support you can find time to rest and feel refreshed. We can help you find respite care and we may be able to help cover the cost so that you can relax with complete peace of mind.

CABA’s telephone friendship service, run in partnership with Age UK, is available to anyone aged 60 or over who feels lonely or isolated. We can put you in touch with someone who shares your interests who you can chat to on the phone every week. Turn to page 4 to read more about the difference this service is making to the people we support.

To find out more about how we can support you and the person you care for, call +44 (0) 1788 556 366 or email carers@caba.org.uk. Our advisors are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. So there’s always someone you can talk to.

3 CARE MATTERS ISSUE 6*Carers Trust, 2017

4 CARE MATTERS ISSUE 6 5 CARE MATTERS ISSUE 6

Staying c nnected with Age UK

Carers allowance You may be eligible for a Carers Allowance of £62.70 per week if:

You provide care for someone for 35 hours a week or more (you don’t have to live with or be related to the person you care for)

The person you care for receives Attendance Allowance, the middle or higher rate of Disability Living Allowance or the Daily Living component of the Personal Independence Payment

You earn less than £116 per week

Financial support for carers

As well as reading, Sylvia also enjoys writing poetry. Here’s one of her most recent compositions.

SPRINGDawn has broken spring is here at last Dewey footsteps in the green, green grass The pear and apple blossom shining in the sun Midday meadow where the lambs skip and run The beautiful red sunset now the day is done Breathing in the stillness Hush my heart they say Happiness is here and it will always stay.

by Sylvia G from West Sussex

After working closely with one of CABA’s support officers, Sylvia decided to try CABA’s telephone friendship service, run in partnership with Age UK. Read her story to find out what a difference it made…

When her husband Colin was diagnosed with MS, Sylvia became his carer, managing until additional nursing support was needed. Sadly, Colin passed away 13 years ago and since then Sylvia has experienced her own health issues. She had a hip replacement last year and is currently undergoing hydrotherapy treatment (which she loves!) to help with pains in her leg. She’s also taking medication to help her sleep.

Although she has family and sees her sister and daughter regularly, Sylvia was also spending many days without general conversation, so she was eager to give telephone friendship a try.

She was quickly matched with Jo, one of the volunteers and they hit if off straight away. From the books they’re reading to the adventures Jo has with her little boy, they’re never short of conversation.

“I’m very lucky to talk to someone each week. I look forward to each Thursday afternoon, eagerly waiting for Jo’s call so we can put the world to rights. We have lots of laughs together, she makes me feel happy.”

Sylvia

Attendance allowanceIf you’re aged 65 or over, are physically or mentally disabled and need support to stay independent at home, you may be entitled to Attendance Allowance. This benefit isn’t means-tested so it doesn’t matter what you earn or how much you have in savings.

You could receive:*

£55.65 per week if you need help during the day or at night

£83.10 per week if you need help during the day and at night

This money can be spent on anything that helps you stay independent and safe in your own home, including specialist equipment and adaptations.

If you think you may be entitled to claim Carers Allowance, Attendance Allowance or any other benefits, we can help you check your eligibility and apply.

Call us on +44 (0) 1788 556 366 or email enquiries@caba.org.uk.

Some carers don’t claim the benefits they’re entitled to because they don’t see themselves as a carer; caring for a loved one is just something that they do. But it’s important to recognise your contribution and to make sure you’re receiving the help you need to carry on caring, including the right financial support.

Our support officers can help you maximise your income by making sure you’re claiming everything you’re entitled to. Call +44 (0) 1788 556 366 to discuss your individual circumstances in confidence.

In the meantime, here’s some useful information about 2 common benefits you, or the person you care for may be entitled to…

*Rates correct for April 2017-2018

And it’s not just Sylvia who benefits from their weekly conversations.

“I’ve been speaking to Sylvia for 2 years now and in that time we’ve shared some hilarious stories and experiences and I can honestly say it’s the highlight of my week to call her. We have a mutual love of baking and reading and constantly share tips and recommendations for the coming week. Not having my own grandparents to talk to means the advice that I receive from Sylvia is invaluable. She’s an absolute pleasure to speak to and I have come to recognise her as one of my closest friends - she’s awesome and some of the stories she tells have me laughing for ages.”

Jo

The telephone friendship service, run in partnership with Age UK, is open to anyone aged 60 or over who feels lonely or isolated. To learn more call us on +44 (0) 1788 556 366 or email enquiries@caba.org.uk.

Did you know..As well as funding for respite care, aids and adaptations and helping you navigate the benefit system, CABA offers support with the ‘top up’ costs of residential care, in some circumstances.

6 CARE MATTERS ISSUE 6

Live webinar: retaining independence

Join us on 15 June, at 12:30 GMT for a live webinar with CABA’s Support Manager, Mary Jane Gunn.

Retaining independence webinar

We’ll be discussing how the services of an Occupational Therapist can support people to remain independent in their own homes and get out and about more easily.

Mary Jane Gunn

Support Manager at CABA

Mary Jane has an extensive background in managing advice teams and client centred services. She came to CABA from a large housing association and oversees our in-house team of support officers as well as the relationships with our partners, who offer support on our behalf.

For more details and to register for our webinar, visit caba.org.uk/OT-webinar

Did you know?

CABA can arrange for an Occupational Therapist to visit you at home to carry out an assessment and discuss the options available to meet your individual needs. Grants and donations may also be available to help you pay for recommended home adaptations, specialist equipment and mobility aids such as wheelchairs or adapted cars.

7 CARE MATTERS ISSUE 6

Reci e Corner

Ingredients:

For the herby mash topping

• 1lb potatoes

• 2oz cheese

• 4 tbsps fresh herbs (parsley, chives and dill go well with this dish)

• 3 tbsp milk

For the filling

• 8oz leeks

• 2oz frozen peas

• 2 tbsps cornflour

• 1/2 pint milk

• 1lb fish

• Salt

• Pepper

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 190°C/375°F/Gas Mark 5

2. Peel and chop the potatoes. Cook in boiling water until tender

3. Trim and thinly slice the leeks. Cook in boiling water for 5 minutes. Add the frozen peas and cook for a further 2 minutes. Drain thoroughly

4. Mix the cornflour with a little milk to form a thin paste

5. Heat the remaining milk until boiling. Add the cornflour paste. Stir well over a medium-high heat until thickened

6. Remove any skin from the fish and cut into bite sized pieces. Place in a pan with 3 tbsp of milk (or water), cover and leave to steam for 5 minutes

7. Add the thickened cornflour and milk sauce, leeks and peas to the fish and stir well

8. Spoon the fish mixture into a shallow oven proof dish

9. Drain the boiled potatoes and mash together with the cheese, a little milk, fresh herbs, salt and pepper. Spoon over the fish mixture to form a topping

10. Bake in the pre-heated oven for 25 minutes until piping hot

FISH PIE WITH HERBY MASHCook up something delicious with CABA(Serves 4 adults)

The Light Years – Elizabeth Jane Howard

This is the first book in a marvellous 4 novel saga chronicling the lives of the Cazalet family. Set against a backdrop of 2 world wars and the temporary peace of the years in between, this is an enthralling read. And if you enjoy it, there are 3 more to get lost in!

The Fatal Englishman: Three Short Lives – Sebastian Faulks

Faulks is perhaps best known for his novels, but this book contains the biographies of 3 men, all of whom died young and in tragic circumstances; the artist Christopher Wood, airman Richard Hillary and spy Jeremy Wolfenden. Writing in The Spectator just after it was published, playwright David Hare said ‘The book is on a great theme; how the failures of Britain in the 20th century have seeped into the soul of its countrymen.’

Wolf Hall – Hillary Mantel

This book delves into the lives of the great and powerful in the court of King Henry VIII, focusing on the rapid rise to power of Thomas Cromwell who can ‘draft a contract, train a falcon, draw a map, stop a street fight, furnish a house and fix a jury.’ This is the first in a trilogy of novels with the third instalment, The Mirror and the Light, being published this year. The second book, Bring up the Bodies, was published in 2012.

The Cuckoo’s Calling – Robert Galbraith

Robert Galbraith is a pen name for JK Rowling and following the success of Harry Potter, The Cuckoo’s Calling is her adult crime debut. This is the first book in a series featuring the private detective Cormoran Strike and it’s a great read; funny, believable with good characters and an intriguing plot.

PROVIDING LIFELONG SUPPORT TO PAST AND PRESENT ICAEW MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES

Call CABA +44 (0) 1788 556 366CABA 24 hour helpline 0800 107 6163 (UK only)Talk to us 24 hours a day caba.org.uk/letstalkEmail enquiries@caba.org.ukAll calls are strictly confidential

8 Mitchell Court Castle Mound Way Rugby Warks CV23 OUY UK

caba.org.uk

8 CARE MATTERS ISSUE 6

Book CornerThere’s nothing better than sitting down with a good book. Here are some of our recommendations for a great read…

CABA

8 Mitchell Court

Castle Mound Way

Rugby

CV23 0UY

Business Reply

Licence Number

RRLE-JYAR-GBYE

AFFDTTDAAADAAFDFFDTTAAAFFDDDATFTDDFA

Tell us what you think:We hope you’ve enjoyed reading this issue of Care matters. We’d love to hear what you think about our newsletter. To let us have your feedback simply answer the questions below and send them back to us in the post using this detachable freepost form.

1. Did you find the information in this issue of Care matters useful?

Yes No

2. What did you enjoy the most (please state)?

3. Is there anything we could do to improve Care matters (please state)?

4. What would you like to read about in future issues (please state)?

5. Would you like to receive future copies of Care matters?

Yes No

(Optional)

Name:

ICAEW no: