..WE HAVE MOVED!

Carers Coffee Pot can now be seen on the new 'refreshed' site.

Go on over and have a look around. See what you think about the new Forum! 

A new era and good times ahead.

 

http://carerscoffeepot.com

A PRESENT FOR YOU.x

I was going to go all out and send a big Merry Christmas but I paused a while...

Of course I wish merriment, love, warmth, good health...  however, I would like to think it is something I would do on any day.

Right now, I just want to bear a thought for those who struggle with the heightened emotion surrounded by this time of year. Loss, ill health, loneliness,  any kind of struggle which  doesn't stop for one day because it is Christmas. It can and does carry on.

I recall staying longer within a visit on one Christmas. Simply because she was on her own, family too far away (all of about a half hour car trip) . She was in her nineties and sat with a withered tree, one present and to be honest she was revisiting Christmas past as best she could.
It was lunchtime and I asked when would she usually open her gift...the morning, but today she couldn't do it,not on her own.
I stayed, and together we sat and I watched her open her present. A tin of sweets. She talked, I listened and between us we recalled Christmas's from different eras and shared festive memories.
By the time I left, she appeared brighter and ready for the traditional Queens speech.
Sadly, it turned out later in the year, it had been her last Christmas.

The ironic thing was, at the time I too was living on my own but quite happy to spend Christmas on my own. I still cooked a meal, set the table, had a cracker and loved having the Christmas lights on and soft music in the background. I always phoned family and everything..for me.. was a happy time.

Yes, I would work over the Christmas period and like many would strive to bring a little bit of happiness into each visit.

I have seen the struggles and heartache many go through and I know happiness...so it just remains for me to now wish you  all love and say thank you to those who carry on,  to those who support and especially to YOU. x

YOU CARE FOR OTHERS, BUT WHAT ABOUT YOU? Compassion Fatigue.

I have always believed that people you meet through life appear for a reason, at the right time.You see, I feel there is always something new to learn and try to take from each situation insight,understanding and new awareness.

Quite recently, I found myself chatting to a lady in America (via a forum which has nothing to do with care).Cutting a long story short, I mentioned to her the Carers Coffee Pot and the reasoning behind it. She had a read and got back to me. Oh my, she hit the nail on the head!!!

So, before I begin, I want to thank her for 'appearing at the right time'......and share with you an excerpt from her reply....

...' Being a caregiver myself as a Social Worker for 30 years in different settings (now Private Practice Counseling) I think your blog is trying to address something I've seen getting increased discussion among professionals here =

1. "Compassion Fatigue"... which is when caregivers and helping professionals get worn down and give so much compassion that it starts to drag them down and wear them out.

2. "Vicarious PTSD" ... which is when a caregiver or helping professional is exposed to something pretty awful through trying to help the person it happened to. The caregiver/professional begins to have similar, but lesser symptoms of PTSD because we are so closely involved in the trauma.

I agree very much that these are real issues for all of us who provide care in any way, professionally or as family. I'm glad it's starting to get looked at. I think when we are not physically well our own selves that's just one more layer of being drained that we have to deal with.'


Does this ring a bell or two for you?

Carers Coffee Pot is for all of us who are, or have been, involved in care from whatever level. It is about you the carer. The ups and the downs but more so, how events affect you. I can only go on my own experiences which I have no problem in sharing with you.

In particular, a post I made last year, explains a situation I found myself in.
http://carerscoffeepot.blogspot.com/2012/06/stress-where-did-that-come-from.html

As ever, I look back,and knowing what I know now...It makes me wonder...Compassion Fatigue eh?! seams to make sense, now I can give it a label!

Seek and you will find...Google it! 

There is so much information out there but here are a few sites I have looked at...

http://www.compassionfatigue.org/index.html

 Compassion Fatigue Awareness Project explains what it is all about in a way you can relate to. Looking at what the symptons are,showing a way out of it, a wellness plan and resources available to you.

What caught my eye was this.. 

'When Compassion Fatigue hits critical mass in the workplace, the organization itself suffers. Chronic absenteeism, spiraling Worker's Comp costs, high turnover rates, friction between employees, and friction between staff and management are among organizational symptoms that surface, creating additional stress on workers'.



Once again, I thought Yep, that sounds so familiar. As an outsider looking in, it really does give a clearer picture.

These are some of the symptons recognised within an organisation,

'Organizational symptoms of Compassion Fatigue inlcude:

• High absenteeism

• Constant changes in co-workers relationships

• Inability for teams to work well together

• Desire among staff members to break company rules

• Outbreaks of aggressive behaviors among staff

• Inability of staff to complete assignments and tasks

• Inability of staff to respect and meet deadlines

• Lack of flexibility among staff members

• Negativism towards management

• Strong reluctance toward change

• Inability of staff to believe improvement is possible

• Lack of a vision for the future'

I really do suggest you take a look at what they have to say. It certainly makes alot of things fall into place.

 And I would like to end this post with the following quota I came across the other day.xx

 

AWARENESS DATES FOR NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER 2013

AWARENESS DATES FOR NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013

NOVEMBER
•   06/11/2013 - 06/11/2013 National Stress Awareness Day
•   01/11/2013 - 30/11/2013 Movember - Men's Health Awareness Month
•   08/11/2013 - 08/11/2013 World Radiography Day
•   11/11/2013 - 17/11/2013 Food Allergy and Food Intolerance Week
•   14/11/2013 - 14/11/2013 World Diabetes Day
•   20/11/2013 - 20/11/2013 Universal Children’s Day





DECEMBER
•   01/12/2013 - 01/12/2013 World AIDS Day

JUNE AWARENESS MONTH FOR......

June is a very special month for the following causes. A link to each site and an extract from their pages have ben added.

MOTOR NEURONE DISEASE  

The following extract is taken from the mnd association site.
You will find so much information and support here..please visit...

http://www.mndassociation.org/

"...Motor Neurone Disease (MND) is a progressive disease that attacks the motor neurones, or nerves, in the brain and spinal cord. This means messages gradually stop reaching muscles, which leads to weakness and wasting

MND can affect how you walk, talk, eat, drink and breathe. However, not all symptoms necessarily happen to everyone and it is unlikely they will all develop at the same time, or in any specific order.
Although there is currently no cure for MND, symptoms can be managed to help you achieve the best possible quality of life..."

EVERYMAN MALE CANCER

To find out more and what you can do please make a visit,

http://everyman-campaign.org/ 

(Taken from their site..)

"The Everyman appeal was launched in 1997 to raise funds for prostate and testicular cancer research at The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR). Since then 25,000 supporters have contributed nearly £12million through the appeal towards our mission to make the discoveries that defeat cancer. Thank you if you have already played a part. 
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in British men with almost 41,000 new cases diagnosed each year, while testicular cancer remains the most common cancer in men aged 15-44. 
With our supporters’ help ICR scientists have made significant breakthroughs in the diagnosis and treatment of male cancers, including discovering and developing the revolutionary prostate cancer drug abiraterone. The drug was shown to extend life for men with advanced prostate cancer and has been approved for use on the NHS and throughout Europe and the US. 
Our scientists are also leading the way in uncovering the genetic causes of cancer, having discovered more cancer-related genes than any other organisation in the world. In prostate cancer, we have so far found almost 50 genetic alterations that can increase a man’s chances of getting the disease. In testicular cancer, we discovered the first eight genetic variants and a new team is in place to seek out even more. "

SANDS - STILL BIRTH AND NEONATAL DEATH SOCIETY

You are not on your own please visit their site, they are there for you when you need them.
http://www.uk-sands.org

"Sands is an organisation which can offer you support when your baby dies during pregnancy or after birth.

The death of a baby is a devastating experience. The effects of grief can be overwhelming and parents, their families and friends can be left feeling dazed, disorientated, isolated and exhausted.

It can be hard to take in information, to make decisions or to imagine how you are going to cope.

At Sands there are people who understand what it's like because many of us have been through this experience ourselves, and we are here to help offer support and information when you need it.

Support for all

The death of a baby can happen to any one of us. What brings us together in Sands is the common experience of this painful loss.

Your baby may have been stillborn or died during or soon after birth. He or she might have spent some time in a special care baby unit. It may be that your baby died at an earlier gestation or that you had to make the difficult decision to end your pregnancy. We offer support whenever a baby dies.

As well as supporting mothers and fathers, we are also able to help other members of your family, especially grandparents and other children. Many people may be touched by your baby's death, including friends and health professionals, and all are welcome to contact us for support and information.

You may not want anything from us right away. We are here to help whenever you feel you need it. That may be now or in a few weeks months or even years.

Our core aims:

Sands is a national charity, established by bereaved parents in 1981.

We have 3 core aims which are to:

• Support anyone affected by the death of a baby;
• To work in partnership with health professionals to improve the quality of care and services offered to bereaved families; and
• To promote research and changes in practice that could help to reduce the loss of babies' lives"

Please show your support in any way you can.
Thank you in advance.x

FOR ALL THE FUNDRAISER'S.....YOU ARE WONDERFUL.

This is the thing...there are so many wonderful and inspiring people out there and YOU are one of them.

It is true, and you probably don't hear it very often, you probably don't expect it or you probably don't know what to do with such a compliment because you're not used to it!

If you are about to embark on any kind of fundraising venture please, please, please feel free to post it over on our facebook page,https://www.facebook.com/CarersCoffeePot it's for your charitable cause and we recognise the importance of your chosen charities are very personal to you.

Whether it is to gain awareness or help towards funding research or enabling young,elderly and their families for respite , whatever the need, then please post your info there.

Here at Carers Coffee Pot,we will be getting together with Vintage Norah who will soon be making available vintage awareness pins/jewellery very soon.

 ABOUT VINTAGE NORAH

Think it's best to let Vintage Norah tell you about it. Here is their post from http://vintagenorah.wordpress.com/........

RECRAFTED VINTAGE AWARENESS

So, what to do with all the oddments?

AN EARRING WITH NO CLASP, FAUX PEARLS FROM A BROKEN NECKLACE, PINK LACE ALSO IN THE ‘ODD BOX’!

 It was  inevitable that there were going to be the ‘odd’ earring here and a lonesome button there, even the broken pieces without clips or clasps!!!! I have a boxful...and this is the plan everyone…!

A HATPIN. FLOWER IS AN ODD EARRING. BEAD IS ANOTHER LONER!

There is going to be a little recrafting going on. WhereverI can, I’m going to give these items the new lease of life they all deserve and continue their destiny of adornment!!! (Ooo,that sounded good!!!)

 However, there is a twist…. you see, alot of Norahs gatherings have already gone towards many and various good causes. One of which (in keeping with her faith) was to help a local church raise funds for a trip to Lourdes….something which she would have loved as she took part in one of their parades when she was just a young girl.

CUSTOM ORDER MADE FOR .'LUNG AWARENESS

So, ‘Awareness’ pins/ jewellery will soon be with us. Recrafted Vintage Awareness. It goes without saying that there will be a donation to a chosen charity by ourselves.

There has already been interest by a golf club here to raise funds for their annual chosen charity, which is for Lung awareness.
 Small & large pins, Bag charms even spectacle chainOf course, numbers are limited to the ‘oddments ‘ available, which on the plus side makes them a little more unique.
Keep a look out for more on these over the next couple of weeks.




You can also follow Vintage Norah on facebook https://www.facebook.com/VintageNorah and have a browse around the shop on Etsy.https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/VintageNorah

A LITTLE DIGNITY??? A LOT OF DIGNITY!

If you haven't seen it already on the facebook page  https://www.facebook.com/CarersCoffeePot, one of my pet hates is 'lack' of dignity.

It amazes me , that even now, you hear that something ( which to me is common sense and respect) can be overlooked.

I always took the approach; when caring; that I was a guest in their home. Invited to help at what would be a sensitive time for that person and their families. Manners and respect, always. Surely, this goes hand in hand with maintaining a persons dignity at 'all' time?

 It must be such a soul searching decision to have to make and accept outside care. What concerns or worries would you have? How many 'strangers' would be coming into YOUR home, what if I don't like the carer...what if they don't like me....what about the personnal care, toiletting, feeding....my personal space, me, my home!!!! It goes on doesn't it...and if you are in this profession or find yourself caring for your own, please, please be aware of the concerns or anxieties this person may have.

 Over the years there were those who would do as much as they could before the carer arrived, or they would insist that they had 'managed' to wash/cook/taken meds. Sound familiar? Did you ever question why they may have decided that they could do it. Were they able to or could they have just been too embarrassed to let an 'outsider' assist them to shower and dress.

It takes time to trust, especially with something so personal. By showing respect, maintaining their dignity and 'remembering your manners', will all help for trust to be instated.

Now, I would like to highlight 'DIGNITY CHAMPIONS'....have you heard about it or know how to become one ?

This is their link and this is what they are all about...promoting dignity in care...

http://www.dignityincare.org.uk/Becoming_a_Dignity_Champion/

"Becoming a Dignity Champion

A Dignity Champion is someone who believes passionately that being treated with dignity is a basic human right, not an optional extra. They believe that care services must be compassionate, person centred, as well as efficient, and are willing to try to do something to achieve this. So far over 40,000 people have signed up to be Dignity Champions, all pledging to challenge poor care, to act as good role models and, through specific guidelines issued by the campaign, to educate and inform all those working around them.
A Dignity Champion says:
"I have handed out Dignity Challenge Cards to all staff in my care home - each time we have a team meeting we focus on one of the 10 Dignity Challenges and discuss what we can do to meet that challenge. Each meeting results in us making
changes to the way we provide care."
Dignity Champions are willing to:

• Stand up and challenge disrespectful behaviour
• Act as good role models by treating other people with respect, particularly those who are less able to stand up for themselves
• Speak up about dignity to improve the way that services are organised and delivered
• Influence and inform colleagues
• Listen to and understand the views and experiences of citizens.

Dignity Champions are all committed to taking action, however small, to create a care system that has compassion and respect for those using its services. Each Dignity Champion's role varies depending on their knowledge and influence and the type of work they are involved in. There are many small things that you can do that can have a big impact on people's lives, as well as taking on a more active role if you have the time to do so.
Dignity Champions include health and social care managers and frontline staff. They also include doctors, nurses, dieticians, porters, MPs, councillors, members of local action groups and Local Involvement Networks (LINks), and people from voluntary and advocacy organisations. People who use care services, their relatives and carers, as well as members of the public, are becoming Dignity Champions."


WHAT COULD YOU DO? HAVE A THINK ABOUT IT, THEN DO IT.


On that note I shall finish off with a poem I have put on here before by Emily Dickinson. For me it captures the moment I would meet a new gentleman or lady who required our help.

This Quiet Dust was Gentlemen and Ladies

This quiet dust was gentlemen and ladies
And lads and girls;
Was laughter and ability and sighing,
And frocks and curls;

This passive place a summer's nimble mansion,
Where bloom and bees
Fulfilled their oriental circuit,
Then ceased like these.

Emily Dickinson