World Alzheimer’s Month

World Alzheimer’s Month takes place every September to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia.  Organised by Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI), World Alzheimer’s Month unites opinion leaders, people with dementia, their carers and family, medical professionals, researchers and the media from all around the world.

The ADI says ‘Having a globally coordinated awareness Month and Day (21^st September) sends a strong message to governments and policy makers alerting them of the fact that dementia is a serious health issue which will have serious implications on services and health systems around the world as the world’s population grows older.’  For example, did you know that every 3 seconds someone around the world develops dementia and that this year, over 50 million people globally have dementia.

The MyLiferaft team are passionate about getting people talking about Alzheimer’s and dementia – to understand what it is and what it isn’t – and for people to see the person behind the disease. We believe it is important to build on what people with dementia can still do and the contributions they can still make. The tools and resources within MyLiferaft enable people who suffering with dementia or Alzheimer’s to have more control over their life and share this information with family, friends, carers, medical professionals who are involved with their care. Using MyLiferaft, people can record and track information on their progress, meetings they have had, what they have been doing, how they have been feeling; reducing the worry and stress of not being able to remember things as well.

What is Alzheimer’s Disease?

According to Alzheimer’s Society, there are more than 520,000 people in the UK with the disease and for those less aware of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, they explain that: “The word ‘dementia’ describes a set of symptoms that may include memory loss and difficulties with thinking, problem-solving or language, and often changes in mood, perception or behaviour.”

There are many different types of dementia, with Alzheimer’s disease being the most common cause. It’s a physical disease that affects the brain, as proteins build up in the brain that result in the loss of connections between nerve cells, leading to the death of nerve cells and the loss of brain tissue.  Although there is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, medication is available to help relieve symptoms.

How can Alzheimer’s Disease impact family life?

The diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease can be shocking, distressing and emotional for both the individual and their family and friends. Unfortunately, as Alzheimer’s Disease International argues, there is still a stigma associated with the disease, not to mention a great deal of misinformation surrounding it, particularly in less educated areas around the world.

So, it’s understandable that caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease, whether newly diagnosed or not, can be extremely difficult.

As a carer, your focus is to keep things as normal as possible for your loved one, so they can remain as independent as they can for as long as possible. For example, this can involve simplifying tasks and chores or establishing a daily routine at home for all to follow.  Alzheimer’s Disease International have put together a list of tips that have worked for other carers.

Support available for those with Alzheimer’s disease and their families

From community nurses, to online forums and financial advice, there is support available for those who need help caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease. Take a look at these sources below for helpful information:

• The NHS dementia help and support guide – A list of online and nursing resources
• Alzheimer’s Research UK – Tips on how to find local support
• Age UK – Legal and financial help
• World Alzheimer’s Month
• Alzheimer’s Society
• Alzheimer’s Research UK

The MyLiferaft website also has an extensive list of resources available to you which specialise’s in Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Carer’s Groups

Carers’ groups can be a good way to get support from other carers who understand what you’re going through and can share their own experiences. Most groups meet regularly and may offer speakers, leisure activities, trips, or simply time to sit and chat. Ask your dementia adviser or social services about local groups or contact the Alzheimer’s Society, Dementia UK or Carers UK for details.

Online Groups

Online groups can also be a great source of support, especially if you can’t get out and about or if you need someone to talk to when no-one else is around. Try the Talking Point forums on the Alzheimer’s Society website or the message boards on the Carers UK website.

Memory  Cafés

Memory Cafés also offer information and support in an informal setting where people with dementia and their carers can attend together. There are often professional carers available to talk to in confidence. More and more Memory Cafés are opening up across the county, to find out where your local Memory Café is, ask your dementia adviser or local Alzheimer’s Society group.

Day Centres

Some carers feel mixed emotions about day centres, but a variation in routine can benefit both you and the person you are caring for whilst allowing you to have some time to yourself. There are some specialist dementia day care centres, while others may cater for people with mild dementia.

MyLiferaft Supporting Alzheimer’s & Dementia

As carers of those with additional needs, we know how useful MyLiferaft can be in supporting people with Alzheimer’s or Dementia. By bringing together information about the individual’s condition and medication, tracking their progress, health, mood and sharing this information with different healthcare professionals involved in their care, MyLiferaft can be a valuable support tool. Using MyLiferaft to manage all the healthcare information can help to:

• Avoid repeating yourself to different people in your extended care network
• Find information quickly, easily to fill in forms, and be prepared for meetings and assessments
• Keep your care network up to date on your loved one’s needs and how they are doing
• Support your loved one to lead a fuller life and stay well
• Manage the changes that happen throughout your loved one’s life
• Share information with people who are part of the care / support circle
• Engage the wider support teams including health, social care and medical professionals to ensure continuity of care

If you think that MyLiferaft could support you and your family through Alzheimer’s Disease or dementia, then try it for FREE today by signing up for your Premium Account.

Back to School – Tips For Parents

You will probably know already that several of the MyLiferaft team are parents and like you, are spending the last few weeks of the precious summer holidays having their children’s feet measured for new school shoes, hunting down that elusive last piece of uniform and hurriedly filling pencil cases and rucksacks!

Starting school for the first time, moving into a new class, transitioning from primary school to secondary, or secondary school to higher education, is a scary and stressful time for parents and children alike.  Will they find new friends? How will they react to new environments and new levels of authority?

In the MyLiferaft team, our children are all at different stages within the education system, but we still sit over a cup of coffee having the same worries! All these worries can be multiplied if your child has special educational needs (SEN) or a long-term condition. As parents we want to support them the best way we can and the team here recognise that, so we’ve put together a list of our favourite Top Tips that have helped us and many others along the way. We cannot promise that you won’t need extra tissues on that first day, but hopefully a few of these tips will mean less of those tissues!

Top Tips

1. Make a big deal out of buying a new lunch box and water bottle. Whether it be pink, blue or has extra sparkles, if it is dishwasher proof, go with the flow.
2. Are you able to get your child involved in making the packed lunch the night before so they won’t be shocked or surprised the following day? This will head off any lunchtime traumas and hopefully they will come home with a full tummy and an empty lunch box.
3. Remember to pack the homework the night before or immediately before you walk out of the door if the homework is done in the morning. You do not want to go to all that effort and then leave it at home.
4. Work out how much time the whole family needs in the morning. Do you and your partner need to get through the bathroom first? Work backwards from the time you need to be in the car on the way to school allowing 20 minutes each for getting changed/teeth brushing etc. and then eating breakfast. Then add another 10 minutes for back-up time in case someone is a little behind that morning.
5. If the new school requires a new journey by either car or bus, this could cause stress to all involved in the school run, so try and do a couple of ‘dummy runs’ in the weeks leading up to the first day to alleviate any negative feelings.
6. Your child’s age will direct you to how much sleep they need a night, but those first few weeks at school may mean a slightly earlier bedtime whilst your child gets used to a new school routine.
7. For children with special educational needs, the school may be able to arrange a visit for you and your child before the start date so that new classrooms etc. have a familiar feel when your child officially starts and you can note any need for specialist equipment or aids.
8. Even if you take your child into the playground in the mornings, going those final few metres on their own can be daunting. If you know of another child (or parent!) who is also worried, agree to meet up a few minutes early so that the two children can walk in together. So far, one of our children has been walking in with the same friend for two years!
9. If you have any additional needs or a long-term condition, talk to the university disability advisors and have a student support plan in place.  It’s important to make the university aware of your condition – they will suggest ways they can help.
10. Email each of your lecturers personally, explaining in your own words how your condition may affect their classes and what they can do to help.

Where to find additional information

There are lots of websites available that can give you additional help and support for you and your family:

BBC Back to School 

Special Needs Jungle

The School Run

Autism Network

MyLiferaft also have a Back to School section in their Resources

Try Liferaft for FREE:

If you think that MyLiferaft could support you and your family, not only in starting or transitioning through school, but in managing other aspects of your life then sign up for a FREE account today.

Tips for SEN Teachers

Even though we are only a few weeks through the school Summer holidays, many teachers, teaching assistants and parents will be thinking about school starting in September and the needs of the many children that will need additional support.

Talking to parents or carers is not always straightforward – and difficult conversations with parents of children with additional needs can sometimes become fraught for both sides. Nicola Murgatroyd, CEO and founder of MyLiferaft, knows how difficult these conversations can be as she cared for her daughter Faith, who had many complex medical and care needs, for over 20 years.

Know the needs

SEN teachers have regular conversations with parents and carers. Several say that they can find parents’ evening difficult, because some teachers do not seem to know or fully understand their child’s needs.

Understandably, it can get parents’ backs up when teachers say things like, “he needs to work on his spellings” when the child has a diagnosis or dyslexia. Equally, give, “she needs to learn to concentrate more”, a miss when speaking to the parent of a child with ADHD.

Parents are well aware of their child’s diagnoses, difficulties and differences. What they want to hear is what actual progress has been made and what strategies could help their child to progress further.

Watch your wording

Be mindful of your language. Avoid using words such as “slow” or “behind”, as these can have negative connotations. Replace them with “needs additional thinking time” or “is catching his peers up”.

Be positive

Parents of children with additional needs can, unfortunately, be used hearing a lot of negative feedback. So, try to start with something positive if you can – and be genuine as there is nothing worse than a disingenuous compliment. A good mantra to try and remember is “always start with what the child can do, not what they can’t”.

Keep the ‘teacher voice’ in check

Teachers are used to having to make quick judgements about situations and exerting authority which is mostly fine in the classroom. However, it helps to not apply the same approach when talking to parents. Some parents may have had very bad experiences of school and could be apprehensive about meeting you. It is essential for the child, the parents and the school that you get these parents on side – and quickly.

Be sensitive

Remember that parents of children with SEND may be facing all kinds of challenges. Some will have had a battle in securing provision for their child and therefore may be more sensitive to any changes in that provision. A few may have taken time to accept the fact that their child has additional needs or even still be grieving for the child they thought they were going to have. The bottom line is that you do not know what it is like to be in their shoes (unless you have a child with additional needs), so the best thing you can do is be prepared to listen and to offer supportive ways of working together.

How can MyLiferaft Help?

As Nicola said “My personal experiences gave me a first-hand insight into the problems and challenges faced by parents in caring roles. I realised that gaps in knowledge between parents, carers, education and medical professionals became huge issues, and wished there was something I could use to hold everything we as a family knew in one place. Nothing can ever really prepare you for parenthood, and caring for a child with additional needs carries extra challenges. However there are ways to make life easier for everyone whatever their circumstances, and that’s what we have created with MyLiferaft – a tool which helps to manage all aspects of modern day living.”

If you are a parent carer, then read the dedicated page we have on our website to find out more about how MyLiferaft can help you.

If you are a teacher, watch Sophia’s Story to see why Nicola Murgatroyd feels so passionately about MyLiferaft

Sign up for a FREE MyLiferaft Premium Account today!

Resources for SEN Teachers

National Autistic Society

Sky Badger

TTS Group

TES

SEN Teacher

Early Years Resources

Twinkl

Teaching Ideas

Primary Resources

Teaching Resources

Summer Holidays!

In the infamous words of Alice Cooper…..schools out for Summer!!  No more school run, no more missing pencil cases, no more cry’s of ‘where is my sports kit / recorder / packed lunch / homework’ – tick as appropriate!

Activities

You’ve made it through the school year and now you have a long, hot (hopefully!) Summer trying to think up activities to keep everyone happy – including you!  Whether you are a working parent, or a stay-at-home parent, it pays to plan ahead if you can.  Lots of the activities we talk about are suitable for children with additional needs or learning difficulties.  Be led by your child’s imagination – and of course the weather!

MyLiferaft have a great section in their Resources for ideas and suggestions to help you through the next few weeks, however here are a few more to add to the list!

• Have a Mini-Masterchef competition and make sure you include tidying up as part of the end result!
• Create some puppets out of old socks and let the children make up a puppet show for you
• If the weather is not so great, pull the curtains, get out the pop-corn and have a movie afternoon at home
• If you have a garden, vegetable plot or allotment, get the children to help with the digging, weeding and collecting your harvest
• Use the internet to find what you have in your kitchen to make up science experiments (this one is a favourite with one of the Dad’s in the MyLiferaft team!)

Keeping Cool

Hopefully the sunshine that we experienced in June and July will continue into the school holidays….!  There have been lots of Top Tips on the television, radio and in newspapers about keeping cool, however here are a few more from the team here:

• Half fill children’s water bottles with ice-cubes so they stay cooler for longer
• Use freezer ice sachets in picnic and packed lunches to keep food cold if freezer blocks are too large
• Keep sun-tan and after-sun in the fridge (this is a favourite of the team!)
• Join your children in the paddling pool, even if you just dip your feet in! The water can also be used for watering plants, so you are even recycling as well as staying safe!
• Fill a hot water bottle……wait for it……….with ice cubes & cold water!

Other Activity Resources

The Imagination Tree 

Henry Organisation 

Money Saving Expert 

Change For Life 

The Mum Educates 

Be A Fun Mum 

About MyLiferaft

MyLiferaft is a way to stay on top of all the information that comes with caring for your child – and share it with the people who need it.  It’s a secure place online where you can keep and update all the details about your child’s health, care and well-being. Using a tablet, laptop or phone, you can keep your care network up to date, on screen or on paper. You decide who gets what information and when.

MyLiferaft was created by technology entrepreneur Nicola Murgatroyd. Her eldest daughter had complex special needs and Nicola faced real problems managing her care effectively.  “My personal experiences gave me a first-hand insight into the problems and challenges faced by parents in caring roles. I realised that gaps in knowledge between parents, carers, education and medical professionals became huge issues, and wished there was something I could use to hold everything we as a family knew in one place.  Advances in technology mean that there are now ways to make life easier for everyone, whatever their circumstances, and that’s what we have created with MyLiferaft – an online tool to manage all aspects of modern day living.”

To try a MyLiferaft Premium Account for FREE, click here

MyLiferaft

MyLiferaft is a way to stay on top of all the information that comes with caring for your child or loved one – and share it with the people who need access to that information.  It’s a secure place online where you can keep and update all the details about your child’s health, care and well-being. Using a tablet, laptop or phone, you can keep your care network up-to-date, on screen or on paper. You decide who gets what information and when.

MyLiferaft was created by technology entrepreneur Nicola Murgatroyd. Her eldest daughter had complex special needs and Nicola faced real problems managing her care effectively.  “My personal experiences gave me a first-hand insight into the problems and challenges faced by parents in caring roles. I realised that gaps in knowledge between parents, carers, education and medical professionals became huge issues, and wished there was something I could use to hold everything we as a family knew in one place.  Advances in technology mean that there are now ways to make life easier for everyone, whatever their circumstances, and that’s what we have created with MyLiferaft – an online tool to manage all aspects of modern day living.”

How can MyLiferaft help a Parent Carer?

Parent carers are on their feet all day every day and have to keep endless amounts of information about their child to hand, usually on bits of paper, in notebooks, in their head, in care files and many other places, including on the fridge door!  Keeping track of everything and updating information with changes and progress is hard work. MyLiferaft is a simple, easy to use, online tool, that can help parent carers store, organise and manage all the information they have about their child – personal information, medical history, likes/dislikes, and much more.

By storing key information about your child in MyLiferaft, you instantly benefit from:

• No longer needing to repeat yourself to multiple people in your child’s care network
• Finding information quickly and easily to fill in documents, forms, assessments
• Being better prepared for meetings and assessments
• Keeping your child’s care network up to date with their health and wellbeing progress and changes
• Supporting and enabling your child to lead a fuller life

With MyLiferaft, parent carers have more control over the information about their child and can be involved in key decisions about their care. The child will benefit by feeling looked after and supported by people who understand their needs, likes and dislikes. Features within MyLiferaft can ensure consistency in your child’s care and support them when transitioning. As the parent carer, you can decide who to share information with about your child; enabling you to work with carers, support workers and professionals so that you can determine together what goals and targets to set.

How can MyLiferaft help individuals?

Individuals who are living independently and/or managing their care themselves are likely to have information about their health and care needs stored in files, pieces of paper, notebooks to name a few. They are trying to manage their daily life, keeping up with appointments, filling in endless forms and repeating their needs and medical history to multiple healthcare professionals.

By storing all this information in MyLiferaft, the individual has all their care, health and well-being information (current, historical and future) in one place. With MyLiferaft they:

• Are prepared with up-to-date information that can be accessed before, during and
  after assessments and meetings
• Have consistent, timely, accurate information that can be shared amongst their care team to ensure the best quality of care
• Decide what information they share, with whom, and when; either online or in a report
• Can communicate with their care and social network and help them to understand their needs better
• Record, track and monitor changes in health, mood, activities
• Set their own goals and monitor progress

Key Features of MyLiferaft

MyLiferaft is a secure, online filing system for organising, managing and tracking personal, health, well-being and care information about an individual or a person being cared for. Once stored in MyLiferaft, this information can be accessed from home, whilst in a healthcare meeting or out with a friend, using a pc/desktop, laptop, tablet, phone.

Health and well-being information is constantly changing, and by using MyLiferaft, you can ensure information about your needs or the person you are caring for, can be continuously updated and added to. But MyLiferaft is more than a static filing system, some of the features include the ability to:

• Create Care Circles and Social Circles – enabling you to share information with the people who support and care for you or your child
• Create Goals, Actions and Reviews to manage progress and achievements
• Easily access information to complete documents, assessments, and pre-populate forms (such as the DLA)
• Share contact information between your care team through messaging, alerts and notifications
• Set data Trackers to monitor repeat measurements (mood, blood glucose, peak-flow, calories etc.)
• Share information and reports with your Care and/or Social circles in real-time or by email
• Enter information using Voice Dictation on tablet or mobile devices
• Share Calendar information to ensure everyone is aware of appointments and events
• Lookup upcoming Events and use our online Resource database to help you get the best out of your life
• Add social media accounts and they will update automatically

MyLiferaft is continually developing. Some of the features coming soon include …

• Mobile access and document management on the go – upload documents wherever you are so you can organise, update, track and manage your paperwork
• Access and record information with Alexa – giving you and your care team easy access to details and a simple way to keep information up to date
• Enhancements to Social and Care Circles including shared To-Do and Task Lists

For more information about MyLiferaft and to see if it can help you, watch Sophia’s Story on our website.

You can try MyLiferaft for FREE – just click here.

Click here to contact a member of the MyLiferaft team if you have any questions.

BARNET AND SOUTHGATE COLLEGE PARTNERS WITH ‘MYLIFERAFT’

Barnet and Southgate College is pleased to announce a new partnership with ‘MyLiferaft’ as part of its on-going development of the Centre of Excellence for Technology Enhanced Care (CETEC), which opened in September 2017.

MyLiferaft has created a work and study area within the College’s ‘Living Lab’ to demonstrate how their online application can support those with long-term care needs. The ‘Living Lab’ is based at the Southgate campus and offers stakeholders the chance to ‘come and play’ within the fully-furnished flat, which is equipped with all the latest assisted technology equipment.  The Living Lab is where much of the teaching and assessment happens for current health and social care students. It’s also available to use by local authorities and carers to further understand assisted living technologies, to help maintain the independence of their patients. The facility at the College is also used to showcase new and evolving technologies to support innovation within the industry and provides specialist training to incorporate assisted living telehealth and telecare into patient care pathways.

Firas Sarhan is the Director and lead academic for the Centre of Excellence for Technology Enhanced Care (CETEC) at Barnet and Southgate College, he said:

“Our aim is to deliver tailored assistive technology which can support the needs of individuals with long term conditions who are living in the community, our new partnership with My LifeRaft will do this. Or ultimate aim is to ensure safe, high quality care to improve the quality of life of a patient; through a better understanding of their medical condition to assist with their integration into society or living more independently. The CETEC team at the College is continually developing new working practices with the support of partner organisations and educational research programmes to support the delivery of technology enhanced health and social care services.”

About MyLiferaft

Created by technology entrepreneur Nicola Murgatroyd who faced real problems managing the care of her daughter who had complex special needs, MyLiferaft was designed to support those within a care circle.  It offers a way to stay on top of all the information that comes with caring for a child or loved one, and to share it with the people who need it.  It’s a secure place online where all the details about your loved one’s health, care and well-being are stored. Through a tablet, laptop or phone, you can keep your care network up to date, on screen or on paper. You decide who gets what information, and when.

Nicola Murgatroyd, Founder & CEO of MyLiferaft said:

“This is a very exciting time for assistive technology within the social and care environment.  New ways of supporting those in need and those that care for them are being designed and launched almost weekly and we are delighted to be working with Barnet and Southgate College through their Living Lab to drive this change forward.”

http://www.barnetsouthgate.ac.uk/cetec

http://www.myliferaft.com

MyLiferaft and UKTelehealthcare

MyLiferaft are excited to become a member of UKTelehealthcare and to work with them and other members to bring assistive technology into the wider market.

Matthew Haigh, CTO at MyLiferaft said “In working with UKTHC, we can help ensure suppliers of care technology work together to advance assistive technology in the healthcare arena”.

See MyLiferaft at the UKTelehealthcare Smart Care Technology Marketplace Event at Hackney Town Hall on 12^th July.  For details, click here.

About UKTelehealthcare

UKTelehealthcare is the independent and impartial membership organisation for Telecare and Telehealth professionals, service providers, Clinical Commissioning Groups, Registered Social Landlords, suppliers and organisations with a related professional interest.  Our mission is to support health and care professionals and suppliers to deliver the widest choice and range of appropriate Technology Enabled Care Services (TECS) to patients, service users and their carers, and to raise awareness and encourage the use of technology.

For more information, click here.

About MyLiferaft

MyLiferaft was created by technology entrepreneur Nicola Murgatroyd. Her oldest daughter had complex special needs, and Nicola faced real problems managing her care effectively.  MyLiferaft is way to stay on top of all the information that comes with caring for your child – and share it with the people who need it.  It’s a secure place online where you can keep and update all the details about your child’s health, care and well-being. Through a tablet, laptop or phone, you can keep your care network up to date, on screen or on paper. You decide who gets what information, and when.

For more information, click here.

Learning Disability Week

Supported by the charity Mencap, Learning Disability Week is running from 18 to 24 June with this year’s campaign focusing on health and their campaign, Treat Me Well.

This week is a brilliant opportunity to raise awareness about the problems and issues people with a learning disability can face when having to spend time in hospital and what we can all do to help change this.  If we can work together with NHS staff, we can:

• Raise awareness of disabilities
• Share good practice
• Make improvements where needed

Who are Mencap?

Mencap are one of the leading charities supporting and raising awareness for those that experience learning disabilities.  Everything they do is about valuing and supporting people with a learning disability, and their families and carers.

Their vision is for all people with a learning disability to be valued equally, listened to and included.  Right now, people with a learning disability face inequalities in every area of life.  Mencap feel that by tackling the issues head on through ongoing campaigning and the delivery of high quality support and services to the people who need us, they will be able to make a difference

To find out more about Mencap, click here.

Treat Me Well

Did you know that 1,200 people with a learning disability die avoidably in the NHS every year? This shocking fact is from Mencap and highlights the poor healthcare that many people face.  They are hoping to make a real change so people with a learning disability always get the treatment they need in hospital.  Sometimes, it can even be as simple as medical staff making reasonable adjustments in their care of patients:

• Better communication between medical staff and patients
• Clearer information given between patients, medical staff and vica versa
• More time being spent on understanding patient needs

You can support Mencap’s Treat Me Well campaign by signing up on their website

How are Liferaft supporting Treat Me Well?

The Hospital Passport is an NHS initiative to help those with learning difficulties and is designed to give hospital staff helpful information that isn’t only about illness and health. It can sometimes be given a different name, like “personal record” or “my biography”, and may look different from hospital to hospital, but it is the information in it that is key to supporting the individual.

It’s about giving individuals who find it difficult to let others know how they like to be supported, what their likes and dislikes are, what help they need/don’t need, and generally have their voice heard, making their time in hospital more comfortable for the individual and their family.

When using a Liferaft Premium Account, you only need to add all your critical information once and update it when something changes.  This same information can then be used to create different reports, of which the Hospital Passport is one.  You can then either download the Hospital Passport and take it with you as a printed copy or email the Hospital Passport to the person who is helping you.

Liferaft is proud to be supporting Learning Disability Week by offering the first 50 people to sign up to receive the Liferaft newsletter and type “Learning Disability” into the comment box a Premium Liferaft License free for 6 months.

To find out more about Liferaft’s Hospital Passport, click here.

If you want to try a Liferaft account you can sign up for a no obligation trial.

Carers Week

Did you know that 6.5 million people in the UK are carers?  That is 1 in every 8 adults.  Did you also know that every day, another 6,000 people take on a caring role?

What is Carers Week?

Carers Week is an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring, highlight the challenges carers face and recognise the contribution they make to families and communities throughout the UK.

The campaign is brought to life by thousands of individuals and organisations who come together to organise activities and events throughout the UK, drawing attention to just how important caring is.

The focus for this Carers Week is to help and support carers to stay Healthy and Connected as the impact on caring for someone should never be under estimated.  Caring can be a hugely rewarding experience, but sometimes carers find it challenging to take care of their own well-being whilst caring.  So this Carers Week is looking to share examples of good practice from supporters who have helped carers to stay Healthy and Connected.

To find out more, click here

How can you help?

The team at Carers Week would like you to pledge your support for carers around the UK by recognising and celebrating the huge amount of work that carers do every day.  Whether you are an individual, an organisation, a carer, someone from the within the health care profession or even a politician, click here to shout about your pledge.

Carers Week and Liferaft

Liferaft are thrilled to be supporting Carers Week this year and are offering the first 100 carers that sign up for our Newsletter, a FREE Premium Account for a year.  Visit our website and type the keyword CarersWeek into the comments box.

About Liferaft

Nicola, the founder of Liferaft, was a carer for her daughter Faith as well as being a wife and a working mother to two additional children.  She understands the world of being a carer and set about designing a tool to support you, your child or the person that you care for.

“I realised that gaps in knowledge between parents, carers, education and medical professionals became huge issues, and wished there was something I could use to hold everything we as a family knew in one place. Nothing can ever really prepare you for caring for a loved one with additional needs.  However, there are ways to make life easier for everyone whatever their circumstances, and that’s what we have created with Liferaft – a tool which helps to manage all aspects of modern day living.”

Liferaft allows you to:

• Be more in control
• Avoid repeating yourself to different people in your care network
• Find information quickly and easily to fill in forms to be prepared for meetings and assessments
• Keep your care network up to date on what your loved one’s needs and progress
• Worry less about what would happen if you weren’t there
• Have more time for your own activities, and feel supported
• Support your loved one to lead a fuller life and stay well
• Manage the changes that happen throughout your loved one’s life

Additional Resources

Liferaft Resources for Carers

Carers Week – https://www.carersweek.org/

Carers UK – https://www.carersuk.org/

Carers Trust – https://carers.org/

The Hospital Passport

Going into hospital is a worrying time for any of us. It can be even harder for someone who has a learning disability.

The Hospital Passport is an NHS initiative to help those with learning difficulties and is designed to give hospital staff helpful information that isn’t only about illness and health. It can sometimes be given a different name, like “personal record” or “my biography”, and may look different from hospital to hospital, but it is the information in it that is key to supporting the individual.

It’s about giving individuals who find it difficult to let others know how they like to be supported, what their likes and dislikes are, what help they need/don’t need, and generally have their voice heard, making their time in hospital more comfortable for the individual and their family.

What information is included in my Hospital Passport?

You will often find that you repeat the information a Hospital Passport contains over and over when talking to a member of your care circle or support team, with information including:

• Emergency contact details
• Your likes and dislikes
• The amount of physical contact you’re ok with
• What you liked to be called
• How you communicate and like to be communicated with
• What distresses you and how to avoid being distressed
• How I move around
• How I let you know when I’m in pain

The passport helps people know how to make you feel comfortable.  It doesn’t do away with conversations, but it does go a long way to making sure those conversations are more meaningful and focused.

What other names can a Hospital Passport be called?

 You may also hear the Hospital Passport referred to as:

• A Personal Record
• All About Me
• My Biography
• Get Me Better

What does it look like?

Below are two examples of what a Hospital Passport could look like.  It is always best to ask the hospital you are attending if they have their own version.  In some cases, specific charities also have their own dedicated Hospital Passports, like the National Autistic Society here.

Don’t forget – it is not about what the Hospital Passport looks like, but the information that is in it.

How does using Liferaft help me complete my Hospital Passport?

When using a Liferaft Premium Account, you only need to add all your critical information once and update it when something changes.  This same information can then be used to create different reports, of which the Hospital Passport is one.

Below is for an example of the Hospital Passport that has been created using Liferaft:  Hospital Passport

You can:

• Downloaded the Hospital Passport and take it with you as a printed copy
• Email the Hospital Passport to the person who is helping you

If you want to try a Liferaft account you can sign up for a no obligation trial.  If you are a parent carer, first set up an account for yourself and you will be guided on how to set up and manage an account for your child.

Other Useful Links:

NHS Choice – Going into hospital with a learning difficulty – https://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Childrenwithalearningdisability/Pages/Going-into-hospital-with-learning-disability.aspx

Royal Free London – Patients with a learning disability –  https://www.royalfree.nhs.uk/patients-visitors/disabled-facilities/patients-with-a-learning-disability/hospital-passport/