Here at Xpress-Yourself Dance CIC, we support carers. In addition to our carer classes on offer, we are also happy to provide resources to help support carers and hopefully make their responsibilities a little easier – we are more than happy to help!
The NHS defines a carer as ‘A carer is anyone, including children and adults who looks after a family member, partner or friend who needs help because of their illness, frailty, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction and cannot cope without their support. The care they give is unpaid.’
Carers can support with:
- Personal care: helping a person bathe, oral hygiene care, hair care and grooming, dressing and undressing
- Nutrition: helping keep the person they’re caring for healthy, food shopping, feeding
- Medication management: collecting prescriptions, reminding to take medication, monitor side effects
- Overseeing changes: weight changes, mood changes, sleep patterns, appetite changes
- Medical Appointments: scheduling appointments, providing transport, communicating with healthcare professionals
- Offering companionship: engage in conversation, encourage hobbies, provide reasurance
- Enabling socialisation: encourage to spend time with family and friends, support involvement in community events
- Ensuring home safety: ensure mobility aids and equipment are used safely, know the emergency contacts, and identify potential hazards.
A lot of people don’t realise that they are an unpaid carer and do not realise the support they can access to help with responsibilities of the person they are caring for. Resources also support carers own personal wellbeing and mental health.
Here at Xpress-Yourself Dance CIC, we want to make it easy for you to access these resources. We have compiled a list of all our carer’s information blogs, resources, and links below.
Blogs
We have specific Carer’s Support Sandwell blog and Carer’s Support Birmingham blog for you to navigate the support you need for your area. In these blogs you can find Wellbeing activities you can join, links for support, places where you can learn more about being a carer and all round extra information you may require.
Keep Dancing for Carers
Inspired by Keep Dancing participants stories of caring for loved ones and Keep Dancing classes being their happy hour of the week and opportunity to look after their own health and wellbeing, we are delighted that Forward Carers CIC has funded our Keep Dancing for carers project.
There are two Keep Dancing for Carers classes a week, in person Tuesdays 11-12 at Shenley Court Hall 200 Green Meadow Rd, Birmingham B29 4ED and online Tuesdays at 9:30 – 10:30. Keep Dancing is a dance class suitable for older adults. . You’ll learn dances from around the world with no need for a partner. This class has been funded by Forward Carers CIC and will support carers to have an opportunity to meet with one another and look after their own health and wellbeing.
We will also implement a downloadable Keep Dancing for Carers class, for those who are unable to make our classes in person. This will be a half hour pre-recorded online class, accessed through a link sent via email.
You can book the Keep Dancing for Carers classes here
Resources for Carers
Here are some examples of useful resources you can access (most of them are FREE):
Carers Emergency Response Service (CERS) – This service is FREE and runs across Birmingham and Solihull, operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can call 0121 442 2960, or email Jane.Cleary@cers.org.uk to arrange an emergency care plan for up to 48 hours (72 hours on bank holidays). Long term care options can also be arranged.
Emergency support for carers in Sandwell – This website provides useful information about how to plan for an emergency, including links to valuable resources. There are also details on the free Carer’s Emergency Card Scheme.
Walsall Carer’s Hub – A hub of important information and resources. You can register for free with the service here.
Bridgit Care – If you want advice, resources or support, you can create your own free self-help plans, as well as access carer support information and speak to advisors.
Birmingham Buddhist Centre – Holding multiple FREE events and getaways for carers (see below), this is a great opportunity to relax, unwind, and meet other carers. For the carers breaks, you must be registered with Birmingham Carer’s Hub.
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Carers IF Card
This information was taken from Birmingham carers hub:
Attention Birmingham Carers!
Great news! You can now get a FREE Carer ID Card through Bridgit. This card helps you get the support you need as a Carer.
Apply for your card here: https://bridgit.care/support/birmingham
Watch our helpful video: https://birminghamcarershub.org.uk/news/free-carers-id-card-for-registered-birmingham-carers/
Need help? Come to our drop-in sessions at the Carer’s Hub, TouchBase Pears, Selly Oak:
– Second Tuesday of the month, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
– Fourth Thursday of the month, 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
If you have questions, email us at carerfriendly@forwardcarers.org.uk
Let’s make Birmingham a better place for Carers! 🌈
#BirminghamCarers #CarerIDCard #CarerFriendlyCommunities
Xpress-Yourself Dance CIC run weekly Keep Dancing classes, suitable for older adults across, Birmingham, Solihull, Walsall, Sandwell and online. Keep Dancing will teach you dances from around the world with no need for a dance partner. Find your nearest Keep Dancing class here.
Xpress-Yourself Dance CIC also runs classes to support carers in Birmingham thanks to Funding from Forward Carers CIC. Find out more about our Keep Dancing for carers here
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Thank you for checking out our Carers information blog. Look after yourselves and Keep Dancing!
