Chard Carers work with Spark and attend Numatic Fun Day

Cath is a regular visitor and works with carers’ support groups throughout the county providing information and advice as well as training and social opportunities for the group leaders.

Spark are currently promoting the ‘Carer Aware’ scheme, which would work a little like the ‘Dementia Friendly’ schemes a lot of transport, business and shops support.

Cath is currently looking at the carers’ hubs at Musgrove Park and Yeovil Hospitals to bring them back into being.

At the August meeting, there was a good discussion about the pros and cons of meetings to include those cared for, separate from the carers’ support meetings (which are carers only and concentrate on carer support, information, spotting and averting carer breakdown and providing an opportunity to relax and chat).

Volunteer-led respite – e.g. someone to take the cared for on walks, tea, trips out – was also discussed although we came across the usual issues of insurance and training.

A quick round-up of the group was done to see if members felt they were getting enough respite – interestingly, to very mixed reviews.

Members of the support group gathered at English Martyrs Parish Hall for National Carers Week in June. Picture: Steve Richardson

Most importantly, the question of loneliness came to the forefront.

Put bluntly, it is not only the ex-carers who feel the loneliness, many carers feel a sense of loneliness because their lives have altered beyond all expectations and, although they are still in their caring capacity, they can feel excluded and isolated.

On Thursday, August 18, carers and cared for enjoyed a cream tea at Hornsbury Mill.

We scoffed the excellent scones and were left fit to bust, then four members (who shall not be named!) discovered that a departing group, coincidentally a teacher of one of the members, had departed and left some sandwiches and cakes in the wooden pavilion next to the lake.

Apparently these four didn’t need any dinner that evening.

On Saturday, August 20, Pat, Kate and John attended the Numatic Fun Day at Chard Rugby Club.

Numatic are sponsoring us this year and we attended, not really in expectation of recruiting new members but just to let people know what we do.

We had a lovely day, supported by a couple of our members Jean and Chris, and did talk to a number of people about carer support and signposted some people to organisations in the area who could help their particular problems – but mainly there was a lot chat with the passers-by.

Thank you to Numatic for making us so welcome.

Next month’s Chard Carers’ Support Group meeting is on Monday, September 12, 10.30-12.30 in the hall behind English Martyrs Church, East Street, Chard TA120 1EP.

We are hosting the Alzheimer’s Society - we have a number of members who care for dementia sufferers – and AS have promised us some in-depth discussion about new research and treatments, plus valuable general information about caring for a dementia sufferer.

If you would like to find out more about Chard Carers’ Support Group, then please contact Pat on 01460 220026 or Kate on 10460 394331/chardcarers@aol.com

Written by Kate Jarvis
Chard Carers’ Support Group