Category Archives: Health & Wellbeing

Caring Moments: Donations, Alterations and Potting….

by
Our new space has had a splash of colour added. Myrna altered the batak, made by members, so we can eventually get it up on the wall. She also brought in some brightly coloured plant pots. It is lovely to see it slowly but surely coming to life.
 
 
We have also been donated some second hand books, CD’s, DVD’s and Hello magazines too. if you would like some call 07436 530073 or email: lisa@caringtogether.org.uk

Today’s lockdown changes

by

As everyone will be aware today marks some further easing of lockdown restrictions:

Lockdown rules graphic - What's changing in England from 17 May?

Meeting up

Social distancing guidance is also changing. Contact with close family and friends is described as a matter of personal judgement, but people are asked to remain cautious around close contact, like hugging.

Leisure and entertainment

  • Pubs, bars, cafes and restaurants will be allowed to serve customers indoors
  • Indoor entertainment such as museums, cinemas and children’s play areas can open
  • Theatres, concert halls, conference centres and sports stadiums can all reopen
  • Organised adult sports and exercise classes can restart indoors
  • Steam rooms and saunas may reopen
  • Hotels, hostels and B&Bs can reopen

Education

  • Face coverings no longer recommended for pupils in secondary schools
  • All remaining university students eligible to return to in-person teaching

Travel

Full details are on https://www.gov.uk/guidance/covid-19-coronavirus-restrictions-what-you-can-and-cannot-do

(Summary and image from BBC News)

Dying Matters Week 10-16 May 2021

by
Dying Matters Leeds
This year the Dying Matters Awareness Week theme is focusing on the importance of being ‘in a good place to die‘. Where people die is changing. More people than ever are dying at home, and the pandemic has accelerated this trend. In 2020, 28% of people in the UK died at home.
With gaps in support structures for people when they die, and for those that are left behind, people are dying without being in the right place. Often, people don’t feel prepared and they haven’t fulfilled their wishes or communicated them to loved ones.
Dying Matters Leeds want to raise the profile of the care that does exist and the benefit that it gives to dying people and their families. And to raise our voices to highlight what needs to change for people at the end of life.

There are a number of events happening this week around the theme- see below, and there is always lots of advice information and sources of support on the Dying Matter Leeds website: http://dyingmattersleeds.org/

Leeds Bereavement Forum
Leeds Bereavement Forum is holding a virtual Death Café on Tuesday 11 May at 2pm. For more details please visit their website. http://lbforum.org.uk/…/leeds-bereavement-forum-dying…/
Full Circle Funerals
Tuesday 11 May at 11am and Thursday 13 May at 6.30pm

Full Circle Funerals is hosting two Facebook Live events called “Time to Remember and Light a Candle” – people can send in poems to be read, or simply join us at the time and ask for someone to be remembered – https://fb.me/e/6YtLN9omB

For further details, please visit their Facebook page
Friday 14 May at 11am.
“I am a mum of four, but only two walk beside me.”
Guest speaker – Natalie Dimelow – Natalie shares her personal experience of bereavement and how the work she is now doing to support others is part of her girls’ legacy. To join the webinar, please go to https://fullcirclefunerals.co.uk/learning-together/webinars/
Friday 14 May at 1pm
‘ Live instrumental “Golden Oldies” performance for people living with Dementia’ – details here https://www.facebook.com/events/352553276090768/ 
MESMAC
Thursday 20 May at 5.15pm and Sunday 20 June 11am
MESMAC are hosting a Death Café to encourage an open conversation about death. This is not a bereavement group, this group is to talk about death, anything from your experiences and thoughts on death to practical advice about death. There is no agenda and where the conversation goes is down to the participants. The link on the death café website for the first one is https://deathcafe.com/deathcafe/13293
Swan Song Project
Thursday 13 May at 7.30pm
The Swan Song Project invites you to join them for a Dying Matters special edition of their virtual singing group. The group meets virtually every Thursday evening on Zoom to share the joy of singing. All participants are muted (Due to time lagging issues with Zoom), the songs are taught using a vocal loop pedal meaning you can hear all of the harmonies and simply choose which one you would like to sing along with. As part of Dying Matters week their session on Thursday 13 May will be reflective in nature. Beautiful songs that can help us remember those we have lost and bring us closer to those with us.
The session is free to attend and you can register via eventbrite – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/…/the-swan-song-project…
Leeds Museums and Galleries
Friday 14 May at 10am
“All that Remains: Death and Dying in the Museum” will go live on Leeds Museums and Galleries’ YouTube channel on Friday 14 May from 10am – link to be confirmed.

Legal challenge to inequality for ‘legacy benefits’

by

This may apply to you if you are getting ESA or JSA or have been during the pandemic – since March 2020.

We will be keeping an eye on the outcomes and sharing information as we get it.

DWP court battle means millions could get £1,000 benefits back pay.:
People on older ‘legacy benefits’ could be in line for a payout as the Government faces a court benefits battle.
The legal fight centres on the £20 a week uplift given to people on Universal Credit at the start of the pandemic, The Mirror reports.
The payment didn’t go to those on older benefits, like employment support allowance (ESA), income support, and jobseekers’ allowance (JSA).
Many of those still claiming the older benefits are disabled, sick, or carers. According to Disability Rights UK, over 1.9million disabled people are still claiming ESA payments.
And this week, two recipients of ESA challenged this decision at the High Court for judicial review.
They argued it was discriminatory and unjustified to exclude people from higher payments just because their benefits were administered under an old system. On Thursday, the High Court agreed the issue could be arguably unlawful and will decide the case later this year.
The claimants have asked for the trial to be heard before the end of July 2021.
William Ford, of Osbornes Law, which is representing the claimants, said: “We are pursuing this legal challenge based on the proposition that the pandemic means those dependent upon basic allowances are facing higher basic living costs, and yet despite their very similar circumstances, only some of them receive a Covid-specific uplift to help meet those costs.
“This unfairness calls for a properly evidenced justification, particularly as almost 2 million disabled people are disproportionately affected by this decision and the pandemic generally. Thus far the Government has failed to provide any objectively verifiable reason for the difference in treatment of people in essentially identical circumstances.”
A DWP Spokesperson told The Mirror: “It has always been the case that claimants on legacy benefits can make a claim for Universal Credit if they believe that they will be better off.”
Helen Barnard of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, said “everyone should have access to a strong social security system that protects them from harm when they are struggling to stay afloat.”
She added: “Disabled people and carers already face a greater risk of poverty, so there can be no justification for offering them less support than people claiming Universal Credit simply because they are in a different part of the system.
“Discrimination has no place in our social security system and every day we fail to act undermines public trust and intensifies hardship. Ministers must right this injustice by urgently extending the £20 increase to legacy benefits.

Helping yourself to feel safe when out and about

by

As lockdown eases and we start thinking about getting out more, it’s natural that some people may be feeling anxious or unsure about going out.  British Red Cross have some really helpful advice about making a personal risk judgement and building your confidence here: https://www.redcross.org.uk/get-help/coronavirus/judging-risk-when-going-out

Consider your own needs, and those closest to you
Acknowledge the source of stress, and how it impacts upon you
Listen to how you’re feeling mentally and physically
Manage ways to manage your stress and regain control
Enable – what has enabled you to cope with stress in the past?
Resource – what do you need to put steps in place?