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Dare to Believe
By: Author Unknown
EVERYBODY KNOWS ...
You can''t be all things to all people.
You can''t do all things at once.
You can''t do all things equally well.
You can''t do all things better than everyone else.
Your humanity is showing just like everyone else''s.
SO ...
You have to find out who you are, and be that.
You have to decide what comes first, and do that.
You have to discover your strengths, and use them.
You have to learn not to compete with others,
Because no one else is in the contest of "being you."
THEN ...
You will have learned to accept your own uniqueness.
You will have learned to set priorities and make decisions.
You will have learned to live with your limitations.
You will have learned to give yourself the respect that is due,
And you''ll be a most vital mortal.
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DARE TO BELIEVE ...
That you are a wonderful, unique person.
That you are a once-in-all-history event.
That it''s more than a right, it''s your duty, to be who you are.
That life is not a problem to solve, but a gift to cherish.
And you''ll be able to stay one up on what used to get you down.
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I love my job, I love no pay!
I love it more and more each day.
I love making tea and biscuits galore,
Social workers, I simply adore.
I love my house and its location; I never get to have a vacation.
I love my furniture, drab and grey, and piles of paper that grow each day!
I think my job is really swell, there's nothing else I love so well.
I love to work with other carers, I love their leers, and jeers, and sneers.
I love my computer and its software; I hug it often though it won't care.
I love each program and every file. I’d love them more if they worked a while. I’m happy to be here. I am. I am.
I'm the happiest carer in the world, I am. I love this work, I love these chores. I love the meetings with deadly bores.
I love my job - I'll say it again - I even love those friendly men.
Those friendly men who've come today, in clean white coats to take me away!!!!!
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“Imagination”
Imagine a new understanding
We’ve waited patiently now for years
The pain we’ve suffered through STIGMA
Has created a river of tears
Imagine holding our heads up high
No more whisperings-secrets or lies
Lets bare the soul of Mental Distress
No more need for it’s meagre disguise
Imagine that Carer’s talk openly
We don’t hide behind assumed names
We talk about loved ones with pride and respect
Long gone are the feelings of shame
Imagine a new understanding
Equal amounts of compassion
Get well cards-flowers-comforting words
Will never again be on ration
Imagine that reporters change the way that they write
Words like Schitzo and Psycho are finally kept out of sight
Imagine a new understanding
No more alienation from the norm
Imagine that new generations
Are educated from the day they are born
Imagine our neighbours welcoming us
No more protests as to where we reside
Social inclusion won’t be an illusion
Imagine the lift to our pride
It’s time 4 change it’s time for the truth
To relieve decades of painful frustration
Imagine we make this a reality
Not a figment of IMAGINATION.
Georgina Wakefield
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SHE DIDN''T MEAN IT
She didn''t mean to spill that drink
She didn''t mean to choke on it
It doesn''t matter what you think
Compared to yours her life''s just sh**
She didn''t mean to wet the bed
The signals just don''t reach her head
She didn''t mean to get annoyed with you
With her MS you''d be annoyed too
If you ever think YOUR life''s a mess
REMEMBER
SHE DIDN''T MEAN TO GET MS.
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Do join us.
Our forum is about information, humour, fantasy and fun, but most of all support and concern for one another. One of the biggest challenges facing a carer today is a sense of isolation and social exclusion. Our members have experience in all aspects of care needs. If they can't answer your questions or solve your problem they will know someone who can. Our community is for adult carers who look after a family member, partner or friend in the UK.
Our aim is to highlight examples of bad practice and contrast these with examples of good practice in order to demonstrate what can and should be done to promote a carer's genuine inclusion in society.
The board is completely free.
Chill4usCarers is a window to the outside world for Carers.
Anyone can become a Carer at some point in their life and it can happen in the blink of an eye. A Carer is like a snowflake - each one is different and has different needs.
Our chat room is open 24 hours a day and is accessible through the forum.
Please go to our forum to register then we will send you an email.
We look forward to you joining our forum.
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Michael Jackson RIP |
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Posted by wendy -
on Saturday, June 27, 2009 @ 10:27:56 BST |
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A fitting tribute to Michael Jackson. RIP
continued....................
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'Huge gap' in care service for young people |
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Posted by wendy -
on Thursday, June 25, 2009 @ 13:34:43 BST |
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Huge gap in care service for young people
Shillingstone mum warns of 'huge gap' in care service for young people
9:29am Wednesday 24th June 2009
By Laura Kitching »
A MOTHER whose daughter has severe autism and learning disabilities is campaigning for better services for young people and their families.
Maree Webb, of Shillingstone, aims to highlight the ‘huge gap’ in provision and options for 19 to 25-year-olds, once they leave special schools and transfer to adult services.
Mrs Webb said: “I know only too well the struggle that many families face when battling for services, while also balancing caring for their young person with bringing up other children or just trying to live a decent life.”
Her daughter Lindsey is now 18 and will be leaving the special school she attends in Poole next year.
continued........................
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£40,000 blow to carers' lifeline |
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Posted by wendy -
on Thursday, June 18, 2009 @ 10:54:03 BST |
£40,000 blow to carers' lifeline
10:44am Wednesday 17th June 2009
Andy Rutherford
CARERS and patients across Blaenau Gwent are losing precious respite services after the council slashed a charity's funding by more than a quarter.
A £40,000 cut in money provided by Blaenau Gwent council to Crossroads Caring for Carers has forced the charity to close or scale down several projects which provide the only break many people get from the demands of 24-hour caring responsibilities.
One such is 56-year-old Wendy Angell, from Peacehaven, Tredegar, who cares for her mother Edith May Lewis, 89, who has Alzheimer's Disease.
Mrs Lewis attended Ysbyty'r Tri Chwm, Ebbw Vale, for several hours every Sunday, through Crossroads' time-out service, allowing Mrs Angell a much-needed break.
But last Sunday's was the final session, and Mrs Angell and other Crossroads users in Blaenau Gwent have received letters from the charity detailing this and other cutbacks it says it must make.
continued..........................
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I have a full time job caring for my family |
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Posted by wendy -
on Wednesday, February 11, 2009 @ 13:32:50 GMT |
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I have a full time job caring for my family
During twelve solid years of providing seven-day a week care for her disabled daughter and elderly mother, Maureen Oakes has had just one week's break when she was able to snatch a quick holiday with her sister.
STACIA BRIGGS spoke to Maureen about the intolerable strain of being a carer struggling to look after the people she loves.
Maureen Oakes never feels as if she's off duty.
During the day, she provides essential care for her daughter Louize, 32, who has primary progressive Multiple Sclerosis - the most common disabling neurological disease affecting young adults in the UK - and for her mother, 89-year-old Joan Dick, who is diabetic. Both live independently, but need considerable help to remain living on their own.
continued...............................
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The impossible Dream |
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Posted by wendy -
on Monday, November 24, 2008 @ 09:41:46 GMT |
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For Carers everywhere.
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Meeting with Stephen O'Brien MP Shadow Minister for Health |
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Posted by wendy -
on Sunday, October 26, 2008 @ 12:09:55 GMT |
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Moira Goodey Manager of Norwich Mind. Moira came with us to meet Ivan Lewis MP and Norman Lamb MP.
Stephen O'Brien MP The Shadow Minister for Health
Wendy Maxwell from Chill4Us Carers
Gordon Conochie has taken on the newly created role of policy and parliamentary officer at partner organisations Crossroads Caring for Carers and the Princess Royal Trust for Carers.
Trevor Ivory Conservative Candidate for North Norfolk
At our meeting in Westminster on 23rd October 2008 with Stephen O'Brien MP, The Shadow Minister of Health for the Conservative Party, he raised these topics.
click 'read more' to continue................................
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Our recent meetings |
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Posted by wendy -
on Wednesday, June 04, 2008 @ 19:15:56 BST |
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Wendy, Moira Goodey Manager of Norwich Mind, Rach, Pam,
Philippa Russell Head of the Standing Commission on Carers. Ivan Lewis the Care Minister.
continued...................................
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Parliament |
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1.On 16th October 2007 a member spoke in the Houses of Parliament at the All Party Parliamentary Group for Carers.
Carers are in crisis and want actions to be taken urgently. Here are some proposals.
Do away with the overlapping benefits rule
Carers allowance to be increased
More respite to be available and when it is arranged it is not cancelled at the last minute.
Free prescriptions and glasses for carers
A heating allowance for carers because they dread the cold weather and the subsequent bills.
Care in the community is suitable for majority of people but each case should be assessed individually to ensure each person is treated for their needs. Health professionals should not go by the cheap option.
Elderly citizens need care and respect but they don’t get it because they are classed as unprofitable. Yet they gave us the society we have today.
We need a realistic TV documentary to be shown to raise awareness, something like the Cathy Come Home programme shown many years ago.
Carers are the forgotten ones and yet as you all know they save the country £87billion. It may seem easy to say these words, but when you see the reality, I’m sure it would upset you as much as it does me. From the last census we can assume there are carers who have not been included in these statistics, the hidden carers of our society, because they do not think of themselves as carers.
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2.Westminster trip highlights carers woes
KIM BRISCOE
15 June 2008 17:00
A woman from Norfolk has been to Westminster to try and highlight the plight of a carer who was told she needed to go back to work just 10 days after her husband died.
Wendy Maxwell, who founded the carers' website Chill4us in 2006, led a delegation of members of the site to meet MP Ivan Lewis, who is the government minister for care services.
Now North Norfolk MP Norman Lamb has taken up their cause and said he was appalled to hear of the case of a carer from Nuneaton who received a letter just 10 days after her husband died.
It referred to her “change of circumstances” and asked her to visit an office so they could discuss her return to work
Mr Lamb, who is also the Liberal Democrat spokesman on health, said: “It's traumatic enough to lose someone but to then be told in a cold and clinical way that your allowance is coming to an end and you have to travel somewhere to talk about getting back to work is awful.
“That person suffered a lot of distress as well as anxiety of losing a financial concession.
“We are asking that in these circumstances there is some financial cushion following the death of their loved one, and some time lag so that they can help an individual get back on their feet.”
Mr Lamb said the feedback he had from carers, particularly during National Carers' Week last week, was that more respite care was needed.
Mrs Maxwell, who is a carer herself, is now hoping to meet the shadow Conservative spokesman on health, so that the three main political parties are aware of the issues faced by carers.
She said: “I felt angry that this member of our site, who is from Nuneaton and does not want to be named, was sent this letter in January, just 10 days after her husband died. That's why I wanted to speak to Ivan Lewis.
“I think carers should be listened to and valued. We were lucky to meet Mr Lewis and I think we made an impact. He normally speaks to carers en masse or to carers' groups so he found it useful to meet a small group of carers themselves.”
The carers were accompanied by Moira Goodey, the manager of the carer support department at Norwich Mind, on their trip to quiz the minister on what he would do to provide more help for people in their position.
Mrs Goodey said: “Carers can become ill, severely depressed and stressed resulting from issues because of their caring role.
“There has been legislation to improve the rights of carers but that needs to be followed up with funding.
“I'd like to see some tax credit for carers, many of whom are not able to work full-time because of their caring roles and so are not eligible for tax credits.”
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Old Articles |
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| Tuesday, April 14, 2009 | | · | 2009 Budget: Autism Campaigners call on Chancellor Darling for help | | Thursday, April 02, 2009 | | · | CARER DISCRIMINATION LAWS WELCOMED | | Monday, March 16, 2009 | | · | Campaigners fight mental health stigma | | Tuesday, March 10, 2009 | | · | EBay-style feedback for services | | Friday, February 27, 2009 | | · | Individual budgets can benefit carers | | Wednesday, February 11, 2009 | | · | I have a full time job caring for my family | | Tuesday, January 27, 2009 | | · | 'Long way to go' for social care | | Sunday, January 18, 2009 | | · | Learning disabilities who also has Early age Dementia. | | Friday, January 16, 2009 | | · | Call to include carers in plan | | Sunday, January 11, 2009 | | · | Free Computers for Carers | | · | Fiona Phillips condemns Government over Alzheimer's failure | | Tuesday, January 06, 2009 | | · | music | | Saturday, January 03, 2009 | | · | Where's the care in today's NHS? | | Monday, November 24, 2008 | | · | The impossible Dream | | Thursday, November 20, 2008 | | · | Someone who Cares | | Tuesday, November 04, 2008 | | · | Britain is facing a crisis in Social Care | | Sunday, October 26, 2008 | | · | Meeting with Stephen O'Brien MP Shadow Minister for Health | | Saturday, July 26, 2008 | | · | Thoughts from a carer on Community care | | Wednesday, July 09, 2008 | | · | The distress of the business of caring | | · | MS guidelines 'are being missed' | | Saturday, June 21, 2008 | | · | Fears as disabled children start to outlive parents | | Tuesday, June 10, 2008 | | · | £255 million boost for Carers | | Wednesday, June 04, 2008 | | · | Our recent meetings |
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