When someone close to you has had a stroke, they may need help and support after they return home from the hospital. The Stroke Association’s guide to caring for a stroke survivor outlines some ways you can support a stroke survivor, and explains what help and support is available for carers.
The CEA Card is a national card scheme developed for UK cinemas by the UK Cinema Association (UKCA).
The Card enables a disabled cinema guest to receive a complimentary ticket for someone to go with them when they visit a participating cinema.
The Card is also a way for cinemas to make sure they look after their disabled guests. If you require an adjustment to visit a cinema because of your disability, cinema staff should make them for you whether you have a CEA Card or not.
The Card is developed by UKCA’s Disability Working Group, whose members include film exhibitors and distributors, and national disability charities such as RNID, RNIB, Dimensions and Whizz Kidz.
To apply for a card, visit the website.
Heads Up provides Day Services to individuals experiencing Mental Health issues, including Dementia.
In recent years they have developed an Outreach service with a team who are community based. Through creative activity workshops, Head Up provide support to enable individuals to establish links to their local community and through learning, gain new skills, develop self-knowledge and tools for personal wellbeing. This enables them to access opportunities, spend time with others and build social networks and to build an awareness of a broad range of social, educational, employment and life choices.
Heads Up are based in Wells and day care costs £35.00 per day.
For more information, visit their website or get in touch using the details below.
Caring for another person is very rewarding but it can be overwhelming and lonely at times. Somerset Carers, a part of the Community Council for Somerset, provide support in the day-to-day life of unpaid carers across the county – including peer support and friendship in the form of their free Carers Groups.
The Burnham-on-Sea Carers Group meets on the 4th Tuesday of the month from 10am – 11.30am at the Burnham-on-Sea Community Centre. Feel free to pop along and meet and chat with other carers in your area.
For more information on the Burnham-on-Sea Carers Group, please use the contact details below.
Caring for another person is very rewarding but it can be overwhelming and lonely at times. Somerset Carers, a part of the Community Council for Somerset, provide support in the day-to-day life of unpaid carers across the county – including peer support and friendship in the form of their free Carers Groups.
The Bridgwater Carers Group meets every Monday from 1pm to 3pm at The Hub in the Angel Place Shopping Centre. Feel free to pop along and meet and chat with other carers in your area.
For more information on the Bridgwater Carers Group, contact Cath on the email address or phone number below.
The Hope Programme is a range of face-to-face and digital courses, respectively, which empower people to manage their health and wellbeing and to flourish in their working and personal lives.
The courses are based on positive psychology, mindfulness and cognitive behavioural therapy and rooted in research evidence.
The Hope Programme provides the people you support with the knowledge, skills and confidence to cope with many of life’s challenges, frustrations, fears and isolation.
For more information on courses for the Sedgemoor/Somerset area, view the website below.
Stoma Heroes are a group of ostomates who seek to enrich the lives of people with a stoma. They offer lifestyle and emotional support to anyone who has or connected to someone with a Stoma. They do this in a variety of ways on the internet using Twitter, WhatsApp, and Facebook, and also hold locally organized meetings in the Somerset area.
For more information, visit the website or get in touch.
Caring for another person is very rewarding, but can be overwhelming and lonely at times.
You can receive support from Somerset Carers for free if are over 18 and you look after someone in an ‘unpaid’ caring capacity (not employed or self employed as a Carer).
The person you look after could be a loved one, friend, partner, parent or child (it doesn’t matter if they are under or over 18) on a regular or irregular basis.
Somerset Carers will do their utmost to ensure you receive the right support you need in your day-to-day life, by working with healthcare providers, and other local services to create a tailored, integrated package of care that works for you.
If you or someone you know are worried about or affected by dementia, we are here for you. You can speak to friendly experts on our helpline. We have information to help you understand dementia and what to expect, and practical advice and support to help you to live as well as possible with the condition.
Carers of people with mental health problems (this includes dementia) who are registered as a patient/client with Somerset NHS Foundation Trust can request a carers’ assessment and access specialist carers’ services and ongoing support provided by the Trust.
This service supports unpaid carers and family members to ensure that they feel valued and supported, empowering them to begin to take control of their lives. We provide a comprehensive range of services for carers which include Carers Assessment Workers, Carers Employment Support Officer, Carers Education Courses, Carers Support Groups, Carers Website, Carers Newsletter, Carers Info Packs, Carers Participation Group, Information and Advice about Carers Breaks and Carers emergency cards. Carers can be referred or self-refer for a Carers Assessment providing the person that they support is registered with Somerset NHS Foundation Trust. Contact – Caroline Mead, The Bridge, Glastonbury Road, Wells, BA5 1TJ
The Royal British Legion work in partnership with Dementia UK to provide Admiral Nurses – a specialist service helping the Armed Forces community and their families living with dementia.
When you’re caring for someone with dementia it can be hard to find the time to look after yourself. Admiral Nurses are there to support you, and those you’re caring for, to get the help you need.
Freephone 0808 802 8080 or email ANsupport@britishlegion.org.uk for help looking after a loved one with dementia.
DeafPLUS’s mission is to empower deaf people to take control of their own lives, by developing their potential and supporting them to achieve independence and removing barriers that can make the world inaccessible for those who are deaf or hard of hearing.
They provide a DeafPLUS Mobile Advisory Service (MAS) – a vehicle that goes out into the community to raise awareness, give equipment demonstrations and provide information on hearing loss issues.
The MAS provides a wide range of information on all aspects of hearing loss including:
• General information on sensory loss
• Information and advice on how to use or adjust a hearing aid
• General sensory loss awareness advice
• Information about lip reading, BSL, low vision services and other relevant classes
• Information on Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Visual Impairment clubs
• Information on local hearing and sight services
• Information about tinnitus, Meniere’s, Cochlear implants and other common problems
• Information and referral to Sensory Services Team, Hearing Therapy and sight services and the Deaf Services Team
• Information on education services
• Signposting to other organisations such as Age Concern, Carer Support, CAB etc.
• Advice for carers and families
For more information on where the MAS will be stopping in Sedgemoor, get in touch with DeafPLUS using the details below.
The Social Care and Health pages of the Somerset County Council (SCC) give you links to contacts and resources across a range social care and health topics, including Adult Social Care, Children’s Social Care, Help to Live At Home and Carers.
Somerset County Council (SCC) provides support, advice and respite breaks for children and young people under 18 who have substantial caring responsibilities at home.
SCC can:
• Answer your questions and give you advice on anything you need to know
• Give you useful information, which can help you and your family
• Introduce you to other young people who are in similar situations to you
• Speak out for you, making sure that your feelings and wishes are heard
• Run regular groups, where you can take part in exciting and new activities, have a break from home life, and have fun with friends
• Provide trips and activities during the year that can also give you a break and support from your caring role
• Talk to your school about what being a young carer means for you
• Signpost you to other organisations that can support you
For more information on what resources are available, visit the website.
An acquired brain injury can happen to anyone and happen at any time, from trauma such as a blow to the head from assault or accident, strokes, haemorrhage, aneurysms, tumour, meningitis/encephalitis and oxygen deprivation.
If it happens, Headway Somerset is here to help.
Founded 30 years ago by the parents of a young woman following her brain injury acquired in an accident, Headway Somerset exists to support all individuals with acquired brain injury (ABI) and their families.
From hospital admission, through to discharge home and at every stage of your recovery Headway Somerset is with you.
They offer a range of services across Somerset, including Sedgemoor where we have a rehabilitation centre, provide outreach support and many other services.
To find our more take a look at their website or contact them via email or phone using the details below.
The Card enables a disabled cinema guest to receive a complimentary ticket for someone to go with them when they visit a participating cinema. The Card is also one way for cinemas to make sure they look after their disabled guests. If you require an adjustment to visit a cinema because of your disability, cinema staff should make them for you whether you have a CEA Card or not.
Are you looking after someone? Jointly can help make caring a little easier and less stressful.
Jointly combines group messaging and to-do lists with other useful features, including medication lists, calendar and more. It makes communication and coordination between those who share the care as easy as a text message.
To download, simply search for “Jointly” on your chosen app store.
