Parkinson's - News you can Use

 

This page is going to change often, but will always contain items of interest like changes to your rights and entitlements, either as a person with a disability - that grim day of reckoning seems to be in the process of being pushed back further and further with each new clinical trial that proves successful.

 

Recognising Carers - respite care grant increased and extended.

This grant is being increased to 1000 euro, and for the first time it is being made available to all full time carers. The carer will receive this once a year, regardless of his or her means. You don't need to apply if already being paid a Carer's Allowance or Carer's Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance, Constant Attendance Allowance or Prescribed Relative Allowance; you will get the Respite Care Grant automarically.

 

Age Action Ireland, and the Carers Association both run practical support and training courses for carers.

The Carers Association run several types of training courses for carers, one being Manual handling - skills to help with lifting or moving a relatively immobile person. One such course is starting shortly, places limited to 40. Contact Jacqui Hillman at 01 811 95555 or email carerblanchardstown@eircom.net (copy this email address into the address bar of a new email). If you are a family carer there is no charge for this course.(date of posting: June 17) Their website: http://www.carersireland.com

The Training Course for Carers from Age Action Ireland will hopefully provide you with the practical skills necessary for caring in the home.
To contact Age Action Ireland, phone 4756989, or they have a website http://www.ageaction.ie - just highlight the web site address, copy and paste it into your address bar!

They also have a carers' support group programme in Dalkey, SCR, Tallaght, Clonskeagh, Ballyfermot, Arklow, Kildare Town, Mount Merrion and Lucan - contact details as above.

With thanks to Ann Davis of the Dublin branch of the PAOI for this information.