13 Aug August 2015 Carers Corner

August 2015

Applewood homecare want to take opportunity this month to raise the important topic of Caring for the Carer. Tending to your loved ones needs at times of illness or accident is a huge responsibility and can become all-consuming – you might not even realise fully the impact because you ‘never get a minute’ to reflect.

A temporary situation can often develop into a total dependency scenario and without being mindful of the impact on their own lives, carers can be put under terrific mental and emotional strain. This can manifest in high levels of stress, reduced time for rest and exercise and can culminate into symptoms of depression.

Caring for a loved one with dementia can be especially challenging –your relative may not remember who you are or may have behaviours that are very difficult to deal with. In such cases you have to remember the person is not being difficult – they cannot help their behaviour they might be acting from a place of fear, isolation or sadness. Some tips:

• A sense of humour and laughter with the person is a tension release for both
• Try joining a support group (http://www.carersireland.com/ )
• Timing is everything when you have to undertake challenging tasks Although every care situation is different our advice to carers is the same – be mindful of yourself, be kind to yourself.
• Some tips:
• Get out and about as much as you can
• Make time for yourself and your interests
• Maintain regular contact with your friends and family
• Share any issues you have as not asking for help leads to problems in the long run
• Avail of any practical help available for day to day activities e.g. home adaptations, appliances, incontinence services and help with transport
• Know your entitlements and avail of them (Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Respite Care Grant, Disability Allowance, any Tax Reliefs that apply when seeking additional help)There are FETAC level 5 Courses such as Care of the Older Person if you wish to undertake formal training to assist with skills in the delivery of safe care in the home, topics include Health promotion, Nutrition, Exercise, Medication management, Safety and Prevention of Elder Abuse. All of our care staff in Applewood Homecare are formally trained and qualified in this area and also trained in areas of specific needs. Upcoming Events for Evergreen Club28^th of August 2015, the Tea Dance returns with our favorite band “THE PAST TIMES”.   Menshed ActivitiesWe have computer classes starting in late September for the Menshed, new members always welcome, meeting every Wednesday at 3pm in the Evergreen.Men on the Move  August About Town:  
• 22^nd to 30^th of August – National Heritage Week This years theme is Ireland’s Industrial and Design Heritage – with a number of exhibitions in the National Gallery, open historic buildings available nation-wide. New events are added all the time guide available at http://www.heritageweek.ie .
• Thursday 6^th, 13^th, 20^th and 27^th August Dublin City Council with the French Embassy present French Opera in the Open 1-2pm, Civic Office Amphitheatre ph (01) 2225455 or www.dublincity.ie
• Aug 15^th – Aug 23^rd 13th International Tango Festival – Celebration of Argentine dance, music and culture. This years theme is Bollywood Extravaganza. There are free and paid events available with workshops from professional dancers www.tangofever.net/festival.html for more information.
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• A great men’s health initiative FREE HEALTH CHECKS the Evergreen club 1^st Sept 2015 from 9.30-1130am
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• Lunches and normal schedule back from September 1st
• Great fun to be had from 2pm-4 pm, tea and cake served on the day

History Societies this month

Saturday 22nd – Sunday 30th August 2015: Dun Laoghaire Historical Society– Photographic exhibition in the DLR Lexicon, “Trading Places, the story of shopkeeping in Dun Laoghaire”. Free event for Heritage Week continues until the end of September.

Wednesday 26th August 2015Dun Laoghaire Historical Society– “A Town & Coastal Walk of Dalkey”. A walk through the town of Dalkey. Meet at Dalkey Heritage Centre at 7.30pm. The walk is guided by Alice Cullen and takes about 1 hour. Free Event.

Wednesday Aug 12th: Irish Georgian Society:Afternoon Tour of Dublin’s City Centre East led by Arran Henderson, art historian and Dublin Decoded guide.

Leaving from City Assembly House, South William Street at 2.15 pm, this tour will visit Powerscourt Townhouse, the Old Parliament including the interior of the House of Lords then on to Trinity College including Parliament Square, Exam Hall, Chapel and Dining Hall going on to Kildare Street, St. Stephen’s Green finishing at the Royal college of Surgeons. €15 www.igs.ie

Security Alerts

A phone scam targeting people in relation to bogus fraud with their cards being used in a “well-known high-end” store has been occurring over the past two weeks in which fraudsters contact on landline numbers to inform that someone has tried to use their card in the store and advises them to either call their bank or, in some cases, their local garda station. The fraudster stays on the line when the person rings to make the follow up call and pretends to be a bank employee/garda and encourages the person to disclose their bank information – people have been scammed of amounts ranging between €7,000 and €38,000 in one case.

Gardai advice the following:

• Treat all unsolicited calls with scepticism.
• Never provide your bank details to an unknown person over the phone or otherwise.
• Be sceptical and never transfer funds to other accounts unless 100% satisfied that the transaction is genuine.
• If you receive a suspicious phone call of this nature, ensure you have a dial tone before making another call.
• The next call you make on the landline should be to a person known to you and ensure that you speak to that person to terminate the contact with the fraudulent caller.
• Never use contact numbers provided by unknown persons.
• Get your bank contact details independently, establish you have a dial tone and commence the call yourself.
• If you think you may have received one of these bogus calls please monitor your bank account transactions closely.
• Report the matter to your local garda station.