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'Does Anybody Care' Campaign Update

Clare Duffy, The Carers Association presenting An Taoiseach Enda Kenny with a portfolio of personal messages submitted by Family Carers as part of the Associations Virtual Election Campaign.

On September 28th a delegation from the Carers Association met with An Taoiseach Enda Kenny to deliver on our promise of making the voice of Carers heard in Election 2011. In the run up to the Election we invited Carers from across Ireland to make their voice heard by joining in our virtual election campaign and sending us their personal photo message. The campaign saw us receive in over 300 photographs from Carers and each one of these photos was hand delivered to An Taoiseach.

During the meeting, John Dunne, Acting CEO of the Association reminded the Taoiseach of the sacrifices already made by Family Carers and urged him to protect Carers from further cuts in Budget 2012. He highlighted the urgent need for the publication of the National Carers Strategy and offered the Associations ongoing support in ensuring that the strategy serves as an effective, comprehensive and meaningful roadmap for Family Carers in Ireland and one that plans for a future beyond the economic challenges that we now face.

The delegation presented to the Taoiseach a number of cost minimal interventions that if adopted by Government would greatly improve the lives of many Family Carers. Interventions included reducing waiting times for Carer payments, reviewing the habitual residency condition for Irish citizens returning from abroad to provide fulltime care and to provide a ‘step back’ welfare payment for long term carers whose caring comes to an end after they reach age 60.

Restructuring of Local Services

As many of you are aware the Carers Association, in common with every organisation in receipt of public funding, has had its income reduced over the past few years – in our case by more than 10% since 2010. So far we have managed to avoid any reduction in the number of respite hours we provide, which family carers consistently tell us is their most valued support in terms of their own health and welfare. We have done this by making savings in every other part of our work including across-the-board pay cuts for all staff and even a small number of redundancies. Faced with the prospect of further cuts in income over the coming years we are now turning our attention to how the delivery of local services to family Carers can be made more efficient. Amongst the key changes that are being implemented:

• Our current Centres will be reorganised into a network of different types of centre (strategic, administrative and community) to deliver services to carers locally in the most efficient way possible;
• The job title of Centre Managers will change to ‘area’ Managers and their job description will be changed to reflect broader developmental and outreach priorities across a defined geographical area;
• New Respite Co-ordinator posts (3) will be created to streamline the administration of respite and home care services; and
• A New Information Co-ordinator post will be created to improve the quality and consistency of local information services across the network.

Details of how these will impact on individual local centres are currently being worked through with centre managers amongst others, but it is our hope and expectation that the restructuring will not result in significant loss of service in any location.

• Support groups
• Home visits
• A local contact person to assist with problems
• Carer appreciation events (for e.g. Pamper days)
• Local lobbying and advocacy

Pre-Budget Forum - Budget 2012

Family Carers have been hit hard by the economic crisis. The number of Carers struggling to make ends meet has risen dramatically. 82 percent have been affected by cutbacks in State services, 68 percent have had their carer payment cut and 23 percent say that an overburden of caring work has led to their own physical disability. Many Carers are now forced to live in poverty, cut back on food, heating and clothes, give up their jobs, and sacrifice pensions, savings and visits to the doctors in order to make ends meet. Despite this, Irelands 161,000 Family Carers continue to provide vital, unpaid support for their elderly, sick or disabled relatives, making a contribution worth €3 billion a year to the Irish economy.

The Carers Association will host our annual Pre-Budget briefing on October 12th in the Audio Visual Room in Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2 beginning at 9.30am. The briefing will once again remind Government of the sacrifices already made by Irelands Carers and to call on Government to ensure Carers are protected in Budget 2012. The Associations pre-Budget Submission sets out two single priorities for Budget 2012

1. PUBLISH THE NATIONAL CARERS STRATEGY

Publish the National Carers Strategy, setting out Governments commitment in relation to income supports, healthcare, training, the labour market, transport, housing and information services for Family Carers.

2. NO MORE CUTS FOR FAMILY CARERS

No More Cuts to Carers Payments

• No cuts to Carers Allowance, Half Rate Carers Allowance, Carers Benefit, or Domiciliary Care Allowance.
• Respite Care Grant to be retained at its current level.

No More Cuts to Community Care Services

• No more cuts to home help, respite and community care services.
• Increase funding for Home Care Packages.
• Provide a non means tested medical card and annual health check to all fulltime Carers.
• Abolish the 50 cent prescription charge.
• Increase respite services including emergency, residential and in-home respite.
• Families in receipt of Carers Allowance must NOT be excluded from receiving home care supports.
• Ensure the Single Assessment Tool for Older People includes a Carer Needs Assessment.
• Government made a commitment to prioritise the interests of Family Carers and to ‘refocus efforts to ensure Carers are cared for’. The Carers Association call on Government to honor this commitment by increasing the core grant funding provided to organisations operating in the caring sector, helping to ensure current service levels are maintained.

World Down Syndrome Day

A United Nations Resolution for World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD) to become an official Observance day will be voted on in October 2011. “Down Syndrome International is supporting this initiative which will make such a difference for people with Down syndrome, and we ask you to help us by signing our petition which will be presented to the UN 3 rd  Committee on 17 October 2011”.  

To sign the petition please visit
http://www.ds-int.org/news/wdsd-petition

Membership News

Join The Carers Association and support family Carers.

A strong membership is vital to achieve our vision of a better life for family Carers. We ask Ireland’s family Carers and invite all those interested in the issues family Carers face to join our Membership and have your voice heard by helping us campaign for better supports, equality and a better quality of life for family Carers. By joining The Carers Association, you will become a member of an organisation dedicated to advocating for the rights and interests of family carers. By becoming a member you will add your voice to ours in advocating for Family Carers in Ireland.

Your subscription of €25 gives you a 5 year membership representing excellent value for money at €5 per annum.  

As a member, you receive: Information from your closest Carers Resource Centre about services, meetings, support groups, training courses and activities. Take Care Newsletter posted or emailed every two months with information on upcoming events, conferences, training courses and other news around the country and in your area. Communication on progress made in advocacy, upcoming forums, annual pre-budget submission and opportunities to give your input. An invitation to our A.G.M. sent to members every year. A Members Privilege Card - a full year renewable card with special offers and discounts on useful and popular goods and services all around Ireland.

To request a Membership Form contact Lee Anne Greville, Membership Officer, on 057-9322920, or Freefone the Care Line on 1800 24 07 24. Membership Forms are also available at your local resource centre, and in participating pharmacies, and doctors surgeries. www.carersireland.com

Renew your Membership Discount Card

If you are an existing Member and you would like to renew your Membership Discount Card please contact our Membership Officer, Lee Anne Greville. Your discount card is valid for one year from date of joining and costs €10 to renew. Once you have received your discount card, log onto www.countdown.ie, register your card and view more special offers available in your area.

The Carers Associations’ Online Communities

Our Online Channels are open to all members of The Carers Association. ‘Like’ us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/carersassociation, and ‘follow’ us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/CarersIreland

New Offers for Members

Free Motor Rescue & Legal Expenses cover with every Motor Insurance policy purchased by Members.

First Ireland is delighted to be working in partnership with The Carers Association. We can offer exclusive special rates on Home & Motor Insurances for all Members and their families.

In addition to discounted rates, as a special offer for the month of October, we can offer FREE Motor Rescue & Legal Expenses cover with every Motor Insurance policy purchased by members.

Please mention this article and that you are a member of The Carers Association (quoting your membership number) when you phone and we will make sure to get you the best cover at the most competitive price we can offer. From our extensive panel of underwriters we’ll select the best option for you, saving you both time and money. When you call us, we do the shopping around.

Don’t renew your existing policy without phoning us for a quotation – a few minutes on the phone could save you money. Even if you’re not due for renewal, call and register your details and we’ll contact you before renewal date with our most competitive quote.

New Offers from O2

Line Rental €16.94 (VAT inclusive) per month Includes calls to all national landlines and all domestic mobiles (excluding premium rate calls); national standard text messages (excluding premium rate text messages).  All other calls, roaming etc. will be charged at standard call charges.

Handsets All O2, Vodafone, Meteor and 3 Pay-As-You-Go customers can avail of discounted handset and can keep number when porting. 

All Vodafone, Meteor and 3 Bill-Pay customers can avail of a discounted handset and keep number when porting.  

Contact for Customers other than O2 Bill Pay Customers Carers availing of this offer must pay by Direct Debit and contact Toni Ryan from Totterdells on 086 3889911 or at toni@totterdells.ie

Contact for existing O2 Bill Pay Customers All bill pay O2 customers must contact Anne Kavanagh anne.corporatecare@o2.com to change to this tariff.  If requiring a handset upgrade should contact Toni Ryan first to see if you will be entitled to an upgrade before contacting O2.

Contract Must enter into an 18 month contract and pay by direct debit.  Upgrades must be purchased through Totterdells contact - Toni Ryan on 086 3889911 or at toni@totterdells.ie

Smartphones When you move to the above tariff if, you will be using a Smartphone or IPhone etc. you must ask O2 to add the data bundle to your account.  Otherwise unit download charges will apply.

Extra Options

• IPhone If using an IPhone a 1GB data bundle is recommended which costs an additional €12.10 per month.  
• Smartphones & email etc. Extra charge of €7.50 per month incl VAT for a 250MB data bundle.
• Modem 15G Data for €14.52 per month or 2G Data for €12.10 per month

For information on handsets, accessories etc. go to www.totterdells.ie

Fundraising News

Please vote for The Carers Associations’ Young Carers Project

Please take a second to vote for The Carers Association's Young Carers project to benefit from the Coca-Cola 125 Thank You Fund. We've been shortlisted, so we could receive €10,000 if we have enough votes.  It's through Facebook so please share with all your contacts.

The deadline for voting is October 7th! Please visit http://www.coca-cola.ie/125-thank-you-fund/ to vote.

The Volunteer Ireland Ireland Involved Awards

The Ireland Involved Awards aim to honour and acknowledge the work of individual volunteers around Ireland. People around Ireland are encouraged to nominate a person in their life – relative, friend, colleague, neighbour – whom they think is a wonderful volunteer.

Say thank you to an outstanding volunteer you know and nominate them for an Ireland Involved Award 2011 @ http://www.irelandinvolvedawards.ie/nominate-a-volunteer/

The Awards highlight the huge contribution volunteering makes to society and a lovely way to thank individual volunteers, the very people who rarely look for it. Volunteer Ireland is organizing the fourth annual Ireland Involved Awards 2011 taking place ant Dublin Castle and hosted by Claire Byrne on The International Day of the Volunteer, December 5th.

Santa Swim

12th & 13th November 2011

What lengths would you go to for St. Michael’s House and The Carers Association? Make a splash this Christmas for Charity!! Dive in, have fun and support good causes!!

What is Santa Swim?

The Santa Swim is floating Santa’s sleigh from the North Pole to Ireland in time for Christmas! We are asking our volunteers to buddy up with one of Santa’s reindeers and swim as many pool lengths as they can to contribute to Santa’s arrival. It will take 80,000 lengths in a 25m pool to get Santa Claus from the North Pole to Ireland.

Taking Part is Easy!!
ONE Select a Reindeer Buddy
TWO Select a Length you wish to swim
THREE Select a Participating Pool
FOUR Slect a Fundraising Project
FIVE Have Fun!

Contact St. Michael’s House
T: (01) 8840200
E: fundraising@smh.ie
W: www.smh.ie
Charity Number: CHY5692
Contact The Carers Association
T: (057) 9322920
E: fundraising@carersireland.com
W: www.carersireland.com
Charity Number: CHY10962

Register on www.santaswim.ie TODAY!

Thrill The World DUBLIN 2011

A global celebration of Michael Jackson’s Thriller for world records and charity

Sat. Oct 29th 3pm The Point Village

Register online free www.carersireland.com/Thrill-The-World.php

Learn the Dance……Thrill The World

In support of The Carers Association CHY 10962 for voluntary family carers in the home

Dates For Your Diary

Voting for The Carers Association Young Carers Project

Please take a second to vote for The Carers Association's Young Carers project to benefit from the Coca-Cola 125 Thank You Fund. We've been shortlisted, so we could receive €10,000 if we have enough votes.  It's through Facebook so please share with all your contacts. The deadline for voting is October 7th! Please visit http://www.coca-cola.ie/125-thank-you-fund/ to vote.

Pre-Budget 2012 Submission

The Carers Association will host our annual pre-Budget briefing on Wednesday October 12th in the Audio Visual Room in Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2 beginning at 9.30am and 12pm. The briefing will once again remind Government of the sacrifices already made by Ireland Carers and to call on Government to ensure Carers are protected in Budget 2012.

Local Marathons

The Kerry 10k mini-marathon and the Clonmel 10k mini-marathon take place on Sunday 16th October, and Sunday 23rd October respectively.

Carers of the Year Awards 2011

The annual Carers of the Year Awards will be launched in late November. Be sure to check the website in the coming weeks for full details and updates.

Santa Swim

This years Santa Swim event will take place on Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th of November with a number of pools around the country taking part in the initiative, which aims to raise vital funds for family carers’ essential support services along with new and innovative educational and sporting equipment for people with intellectual disabilities. For full details and to register please visit www.santaswim.ie

Thrill the World

Thrill the World takes place in Market Square, Tullamore and this year for the first time a second venue in The Point Village, Dublin City Centre on Saturday October 29th. Thrill the World is a global world record attempt for the most Zombies dancing to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”. Registration is free at http://www.carersireland.com/Thrill-The-World.php Street party starts at 2pm.

Dublin City Marathon

This years’ Dublin City Marathon kicks off at 10am on Monday 31st October. A huge thank you to all those taking part in aid of The Carers Association For full details and to register for any of these marathons please visit http://carersireland.com/localmarathons.php

The Carers Association AGM

The Carers Association A.G.M. will take place on Saturday, 3rd December 2011 at 11am. The A.G.M. will be held in the Ashling Hotel, Parkgate Street, Dublin 8.

Contact Your Nearest Resource Centre