 |
Poems |
 |
|
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.
~~~~~~~~~~~
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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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!!!!!
|
“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
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Life after Death |
|
|
Life after Death
Now I''m retired
And lost my wife
What shall I do
With the rest of my life?
I''ve been thro'' the mill
And suffered the pain
I''ve learnt about stress
Frustration and strain.
I''ll use the knowledge
Now I''ve passed the test
To help all those
Who are lost and bereft.
My love has flown
To her celestial nest
My beloved spouse
Is now at rest.
My heart was dead
My brain distraught,
Full of sorrow
I cared for nought.
But then a voice
From deep inside
Said "Love one another"
Let me be your guide.
My heart is now full
Of the joy I can give
To those who have suffered
And need a reason to live.
So lift up your hearts
Do not despair
Spread happiness and live
Show the world that you CARE.
Don Smith |
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
 |
Site News |
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
 |
Old Articles: Help for carers in Scotland in Scotland |
 |
|
Posted by wendy on Monday, July 26, 2010 @ 12:00:14 BST
|
Help for carers
26/07/2010
Plans to identify and support carers of all ages across Scotland have been revealed, including investment in respite and short breaks.
Backed by £5 million over five years for the voluntary sector to support respite for carers of all ages, the strategy was unveiled today by Public Health Minister Shona Robison as she met adult and young carers at the Lanarkshire Carers Centre in Hamilton.
The adult strategy - Caring Together - lays out a ten-point plan with specific commitments to help carers, including:
- Creating a Carers Rights Charter
- Investing in carers training, building on an existing £281,000 investment
- Improving the identification of carers by health and social care services
- Making carers' own health and wellbeing a priority
- Promoting carer-friendly employment practices and encouraging income maximisation
- continued....................
In a Scottish and UK first, it includes a separate strategy on young carers - Getting it Right for Young Carers.
Ms Robison said:
"Carers of all ages make a huge contribution to their families and to society. Their efforts help their loved ones to continue living independently - and their contribution as unpaid workers to health and social care is worth an estimated £7.68 a year.
"Caring Together makes clear that we rely on carers. Our commitments in areas such as training, carer participation, health, rights and employment signify a new deal for them. They are equal partners in the care of their loved ones, and their needs must be acknowledged and met by our NHS and social work systems. This strategy has been compiled with help from carers themselves and it's clear that this is hugely important for them.
"What is also clear is that a short break and some respite from caring duties can make all the difference. The 5 million pounds respite funding over five years will help the voluntary sector to sustain and support carers, help carers continue the life-sustaining work they do and develop innovative short breaks and respite.
"We will explore how this money might best be used - for example, short breaks for families with children who have disabilities would be a priority. We hope to see innovative proposals from the voluntary sector that will break new ground.
"Getting it Right for Young Carers is clear that there are many positive aspects to being a young carer, but they should not suffer the burden of inappropriate caring. Young carers deserve to be children and young people first and foremost, and this strategy lays out how we expect services to help them achieve that."
Pat Begley, Director of Carers Scotland, said:
"Unpaid carers sustain the health and social care system in Scotland. This new strategy should be viewed as a statement of intent, a down payment investing in the future of a caring society.
"The strategy has many good things to commend it. It now requires a clear action plan to implement it in a way that will make a material difference to the lives of unpaid carers.
"We recognise that there are difficult financial challenges ahead but we must not shift more of the burden of care onto unpaid carers. Carers are not volunteers - they are part of the largest unpaid workforce in Scotland and must be supported and resourced if health and social care services are to be maintained.
"We commend the Scottish Government for their continued commitment to unpaid carers, welcome the significant additional funding for short breaks and training and look forward to working with the Government to develop a clear timetable with specific objectives and outcomes."
Paul Weddell from Uphall in West Lothian cares for both his wife and his daughter, and was involved in drafting the strategy. He said:
"The two strategies together represent an important step along a long road for carers.
"Adult carers save the public purse a great deal of money and contribute a great deal to society. We are equal partners in the care of our loved ones and this strategy makes clear we should be treated as such.
"The money being invested by the Scottish Government is very encouraging. It's vital that carers get a break and can look after their own health, as we know that isn't always their top priority. We also know that some carers and families benefit from very valuable support - what we need to see now is that same high standard extended to all carers."
www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2010/07/26103338
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
| Help for carers in Scotland in Scotland | Login/Create an Account | 0 comments | | The comments are owned by the poster. We aren't responsible for their content. |
|
|
|
No Comments Allowed for Anonymous, please register |
|
| |
|
Article Rating |
|
|
Average Score: 3.66
Votes: 3
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Parliament |
|
|
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.
____________
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.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
Old Articles |
|
|
| Saturday, June 19, 2010 | | · | End of life care improves for Norfolk children | | Tuesday, June 15, 2010 | | · | Lynda Bellingham opening Carers week in Norwich | | Thursday, May 27, 2010 | | · | Hosted chat with Norman Lamb for Carers Week | | Saturday, May 15, 2010 | | · | Putting People at the Heart of Care | | Friday, April 30, 2010 | | · | Which Political Party Will Look After Carers? | | Monday, April 26, 2010 | | · | “We must remove this stain on our nation’s character” | | Sunday, April 11, 2010 | | · | Please vote for Better Support 4 Unpaid Carers | | Tuesday, March 30, 2010 | | · | LAUNCH OF THE NATIONAL CARE SERVICE | | Tuesday, March 09, 2010 | | · | Government concedes to pressure from carers | | Sunday, March 07, 2010 | | · | Millions of pounds promised for carers has been diverted to plug NHS debts | | Monday, December 14, 2009 | | · | Day care services: Have your say | | Wednesday, November 18, 2009 | | · | Personal Care at Home Bill: Full details | | Saturday, November 14, 2009 | | · | Who cares for the carers of gifted and talented children? | | Monday, November 09, 2009 | | · | WE CANNOT KEEP FAILING OUR CARERS | | Sunday, October 18, 2009 | | · | Thousands of overs 65s denied mental health services | | Saturday, October 17, 2009 | | · | Carers 'need greater NHS investment' | | Wednesday, October 07, 2009 | | · | Listen to carers | | Tuesday, October 06, 2009 | | · | Autism May Be More Common Than Thought | | Tuesday, September 22, 2009 | | · | We must respect those who care | | Sunday, September 20, 2009 | | · | Campaigners say no to green paper's proposal for attendance allowance | | Tuesday, September 15, 2009 | | · | Sebastian Fischer: Show unpaid carers the respect they deserve | | Thursday, September 10, 2009 | | · | English Councils to benefit from new guide to help carers of vulnerable people | | Monday, August 31, 2009 | | · | Response by Chill4us.com to the Government's Green Paper | | Friday, August 21, 2009 | | · | People with dementia offered new support scheme | | Tuesday, August 11, 2009 | | · | RNIB steps up campaign to protect attendance allowance | | Thursday, July 23, 2009 | | · | Norwich bid to change care law | | · | New vision to make mental health everyone’s business | | Tuesday, July 14, 2009 | | · | Government launches the Big Care Debate | | Saturday, July 04, 2009 | | · | Celebration of carers' rights as new legal guide is launched | | Thursday, June 18, 2009 | | · | Changing Places Consortium Toilets Campaign |
Older Articles |
|
|
|
|
|
