Go to Age uk link to find out more.
15th Elder Abuse Awareness day
http://www.ageuk.org.uk/
Friday, 15 June 2012
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
JUNE 2012
Motor Neurone Disease Awareness Month
http://www.mndassociation.org/
10th -16th Diabetes week
http://www.diabetes.org.uk/
11th -17th Huntingtons Disease awareness week
http://hda.org.uk/
11th -17th National Glaucoma awareness week
http://www.glaucoma-association.com/
16th - 24th Herbal Medicine week
http://www.nimh.org.uk/
18th -24th Carers week
carersweek.org/
18th-24th Learning Disability week
http://www.mencap.org.uk/
18th-24th Falls Awareness week
http://www.ageuk.org.uk/
15th Elder Abuse Awareness day
http://www.ageuk.org.uk/
18th -24th Breathe Easy week
http://www.blf.org.uk/Home
Motor Neurone Disease Awareness Month
http://www.mndassociation.org/
10th -16th Diabetes week
http://www.diabetes.org.uk/
11th -17th Huntingtons Disease awareness week
http://hda.org.uk/
11th -17th National Glaucoma awareness week
http://www.glaucoma-association.com/
16th - 24th Herbal Medicine week
http://www.nimh.org.uk/
18th -24th Carers week
carersweek.org/
18th-24th Learning Disability week
http://www.mencap.org.uk/
18th-24th Falls Awareness week
http://www.ageuk.org.uk/
15th Elder Abuse Awareness day
http://www.ageuk.org.uk/
18th -24th Breathe Easy week
http://www.blf.org.uk/Home
Wednesday, 13 June 2012
What colour tabard are you?
It's wonderful how colour can have an effect on how you feel and how others react towards you. Do you think the colour of your tabard or uniform reflects this.
Below is a description of what a few colours represent....pick one.....look at your tabard....did you get a match?
A Pink
B Green
C Red
D Blue
E White
Below is a description of what a few colours represent....pick one.....look at your tabard....did you get a match?
A Pink
Calm feelings
Neutralise disorder
Relaxation
Acceptance
B Green
State of balance
A need for change or growth
Protection from fears and anxieties connected with demands of others
C Red
Increasd enthusiasm and interest
More energy
Action and confidence to go after your dreams
Protection from fears and anxieties
D Blue
Calm and relaxation to offset chaos or agitation
Open communication
Open to gaining new information
Solitude and peace
E White
To clear clutter and obstacles away
To start a fresh beginning
Mental clarity
Purification of thoughts and actions
Sunday, 10 June 2012
My friend, 'Bad Back.'
Its well known that back injuries, among many others come hand in hand with being a carer. When it happens it is an instant turn around in your usual day to day routine.
There have been many back incidents during my time. Sadly, each time it happened, the recovery period got longer, the good times in between got shorter.Until eventually I was deemed unfit to do the job.
Hard news to swallow when you absolutely love the job you do and think you are set up for quite a few years. There is a period of recalling all those you have met and helped and the knowledge gained over time....what now??!! It is because of all of this, the Carers Coffee Pot has come to light. I have my Back to thank for it!
I would like to share with you how I eventually became friends with my Back.... Painkillers,anti-inflammatries,hot water bottle, tens machine, heat rub,physio,rest,sleep, bag of frozen peas.They have all played a part.But so has'acceptance'.
You see, when it first all kicked off I was so angry. In my mind I was able to jump up and run around but my body didn't respond that way.I couldn't lift a kettle up for myself, I had to use walls and furniture to get about. I couldn't do my shopping because I couldn't drive let alone push a trolley up and down the aisle's. Then to add insult to injury I found I had a problem pulling my knickers up!!!!AAAArrrgh!!! Alot of negativity and can't do's! It had to change.
First off I decided to seperate from my back and its troubles...(keep with me)....by doing this I would take care of it better, give it time to recover and together work towards little goals and achievements. I accepted there was pain and restriction however, instead of the 'can't do's' they would become the 'can do's-but not how you would normally do it!!!'
Housework would be broken down to daily chores. Dusting one day, laundry the next etc. Shopping would be done daily-ish, it would involve a walk to the shop and only buy what I could carry, keeping it light.Cooking would be something quick and easy (but tasty!)and the washing up would be done with my foot resting on the bottom shelf of the cupboard under the sink, to help out with posture(still have trouble after being at the sink for ten minutes or more). In general I made sure everything was within reach to reduce any possibility of over stretching(still do that one too!)
By setting these tasks it meant I was at least moving (one way or another)and it gave me something to get up for each day, I had something to do! I would have a little chat with 'Back' each day...how are you doing?...on scale of 1-10 whats the pain like today!
Of course, I had exercises to do from physio too.Sure enough, each time it worked.
Today,'Back' is as good as its going to get.There are limits in ability,but,if I sit down and swing my knickers over one foot the rest is sure to follow!!!
There have been many back incidents during my time. Sadly, each time it happened, the recovery period got longer, the good times in between got shorter.Until eventually I was deemed unfit to do the job.
Hard news to swallow when you absolutely love the job you do and think you are set up for quite a few years. There is a period of recalling all those you have met and helped and the knowledge gained over time....what now??!! It is because of all of this, the Carers Coffee Pot has come to light. I have my Back to thank for it!
I would like to share with you how I eventually became friends with my Back.... Painkillers,anti-inflammatries,hot water bottle, tens machine, heat rub,physio,rest,sleep, bag of frozen peas.They have all played a part.But so has'acceptance'.
You see, when it first all kicked off I was so angry. In my mind I was able to jump up and run around but my body didn't respond that way.I couldn't lift a kettle up for myself, I had to use walls and furniture to get about. I couldn't do my shopping because I couldn't drive let alone push a trolley up and down the aisle's. Then to add insult to injury I found I had a problem pulling my knickers up!!!!AAAArrrgh!!! Alot of negativity and can't do's! It had to change.
First off I decided to seperate from my back and its troubles...(keep with me)....by doing this I would take care of it better, give it time to recover and together work towards little goals and achievements. I accepted there was pain and restriction however, instead of the 'can't do's' they would become the 'can do's-but not how you would normally do it!!!'
Housework would be broken down to daily chores. Dusting one day, laundry the next etc. Shopping would be done daily-ish, it would involve a walk to the shop and only buy what I could carry, keeping it light.Cooking would be something quick and easy (but tasty!)and the washing up would be done with my foot resting on the bottom shelf of the cupboard under the sink, to help out with posture(still have trouble after being at the sink for ten minutes or more). In general I made sure everything was within reach to reduce any possibility of over stretching(still do that one too!)
By setting these tasks it meant I was at least moving (one way or another)and it gave me something to get up for each day, I had something to do! I would have a little chat with 'Back' each day...how are you doing?...on scale of 1-10 whats the pain like today!
Of course, I had exercises to do from physio too.Sure enough, each time it worked.
Today,'Back' is as good as its going to get.There are limits in ability,but,if I sit down and swing my knickers over one foot the rest is sure to follow!!!
Thursday, 7 June 2012
Show me again!
You have gone on your manual handling training and done all the safety stuff and correct procedures. Signed all the relevant forms and helped yourself generously to the 'buffet' provided on the lunch break!
It doesn't stop there. Each service user is an individual, their needs are individual, their whole care package is individual.
You may have used a hoist many, many times but each persons level of mobility varies. This is why there is even more training you have to go to, so you can be 'signed off' and be put down as part of the team to carry out the care.
Very often it will take place of an afternoon after your morning visits and before t-time starts. You are usually starting to feel tired by now after your early morning start and just want to get home, BUT it is neccessary to get trained for a forthcoming visit.
My advice, make sure in the session you do actually have a go. Its worth it because (and it really does happen) when the time comes to do it for real, there is usually something that can be forgotten.
With all this in mind and advising the 'have ago' approach, I came across some video clips which I thought you might like to have a peek at. Even if it's to shout at the screen 'But we don't do it that way....where's your gloves!' at least it shows , you took onboard more than you thought in your training sessions. See, it is worth it and you are as good as you think.
Click on the 'How to...see how its done' at the top of the page. Enjoy.
http://astore.amazon.co.uk/carerscoffeep-21
It doesn't stop there. Each service user is an individual, their needs are individual, their whole care package is individual.
You may have used a hoist many, many times but each persons level of mobility varies. This is why there is even more training you have to go to, so you can be 'signed off' and be put down as part of the team to carry out the care.
Very often it will take place of an afternoon after your morning visits and before t-time starts. You are usually starting to feel tired by now after your early morning start and just want to get home, BUT it is neccessary to get trained for a forthcoming visit.
My advice, make sure in the session you do actually have a go. Its worth it because (and it really does happen) when the time comes to do it for real, there is usually something that can be forgotten.
With all this in mind and advising the 'have ago' approach, I came across some video clips which I thought you might like to have a peek at. Even if it's to shout at the screen 'But we don't do it that way....where's your gloves!' at least it shows , you took onboard more than you thought in your training sessions. See, it is worth it and you are as good as you think.
Click on the 'How to...see how its done' at the top of the page. Enjoy.
http://astore.amazon.co.uk/carerscoffeep-21
Warning 1961
When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat which doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals, and say we've no money for butter.
I shall sit down on the pavement when I'm tired
And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells
And run my stick along the public railings
And make up for the sobriety of my youth.
- Jenny Joseph
When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat which doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals, and say we've no money for butter.
I shall sit down on the pavement when I'm tired
And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells
And run my stick along the public railings
And make up for the sobriety of my youth.
- Jenny Joseph
Friday, 1 June 2012
Don't forget your toothbrush!!
I'd arrived at the visit and straight away I had to get into action. I'd let the paramedics in, the warden was on their way and I was trying to not get in the way but be helpful where I could be.
It's very strange when this kind of thing occurs.Which is why I always had the attitude of not taking each visit for granted. You never knew what was going to happen and when it did, it happened quickly.
So instead of the usual duties required, I hear the words from the paramedics saying 'we are taking her in....Could you get some things together?'
Packing! You don't find details of this in the notes! Health and safety and duties etc are all covered, but packing a hospital bag at short notice ? Nah! Nothing to say what a service user would require in such an event.
On a personal note, I always found packing for myself would take a lot of preparation, a few weeks beforehand. Lots of 'packing lists'.Sorting out your toiletry bag because you always came across something in there you'd forgotten you had. Planning your laundry schedule so that everything you want to take is clean and dry to pack in good time. Oh, and then there's all the stuff for 'just in case' (pardon the pun)!Books,crosswords, music,extras. The list goes on! ( Talking of 'cases', its also nice to get a new bag of some kind whenever you go on a trip, don't you think???!!!!)
Back to the hospital bag. I decided to go down the route of having enough to get by for a day or two. It went something like this:-
Nightie's
Cardigan
Slippers
Underwear
Specs
Wash bag..Including toothbrush!
Medication had already been dealt with by the paramedics.
Handbag
Housekeys
This would obviously, vary slightly for the gentlemen,but you get the gist!
On reflection I think it would help if this kind of thing was recorded somewhere in each persons notes.At the very least you would be able to make sure they had the bare essentials and be as comfortable as they could be in such an eventuality.
http://astore.amazon.co.uk/carerscoffeep-21
Franklin D. Roosevelt
It is common sense to take a method and try it. If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something.
It's very strange when this kind of thing occurs.Which is why I always had the attitude of not taking each visit for granted. You never knew what was going to happen and when it did, it happened quickly.
So instead of the usual duties required, I hear the words from the paramedics saying 'we are taking her in....Could you get some things together?'
Packing! You don't find details of this in the notes! Health and safety and duties etc are all covered, but packing a hospital bag at short notice ? Nah! Nothing to say what a service user would require in such an event.
On a personal note, I always found packing for myself would take a lot of preparation, a few weeks beforehand. Lots of 'packing lists'.Sorting out your toiletry bag because you always came across something in there you'd forgotten you had. Planning your laundry schedule so that everything you want to take is clean and dry to pack in good time. Oh, and then there's all the stuff for 'just in case' (pardon the pun)!Books,crosswords, music,extras. The list goes on! ( Talking of 'cases', its also nice to get a new bag of some kind whenever you go on a trip, don't you think???!!!!)
Back to the hospital bag. I decided to go down the route of having enough to get by for a day or two. It went something like this:-
Nightie's
Cardigan
Slippers
Underwear
Specs
Wash bag..Including toothbrush!
Medication had already been dealt with by the paramedics.
Handbag
Housekeys
This would obviously, vary slightly for the gentlemen,but you get the gist!
On reflection I think it would help if this kind of thing was recorded somewhere in each persons notes.At the very least you would be able to make sure they had the bare essentials and be as comfortable as they could be in such an eventuality.
http://astore.amazon.co.uk/carerscoffeep-21
Franklin D. Roosevelt
It is common sense to take a method and try it. If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something.
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