The problem of pain.
I went with my daughter to visit my son in Berlin this summer. It’s a cool place with lots going on and we had a great time until I slipped in the bath where we were staying and I broke three ribs. The German Health system is brilliant and I was whisked to hospital very quickly and stayed there for two nights. It’s dangerous to bind up broken ribs because of possible injury to the lungs and there is nothing the medical people can do except advise you to rest and wait. It’s painful and hard to sleep. I travelled back to the UK (in a wheelchair) and waited – without sleeping very much! The Health Centre advised codeine and paracetamol but warned that codeine was addictive so I weaned myself off that quite fast. The pain seemed to travel from my ribs to everywhere else in my body for about 6 weeks and I felt very sorry for myself until the ribs began to stop hurting and my body began to feel more normal again although still over-sensitive and misaligned.
I became intrigued and started to wonder, what is pain? How on earth do people cope with chronic pain? And I began to do some research. I found that Wincanton has a Live Well with Pain Café – a ‘drop in’ that serves tea, coffee and kindness. It’s held in the Balsam Close Communal Lounge, BA9 9HW behind the Balsam Centre. People can explore and talk about their pain, share ideas and develop new tools to cope with their experiences. It’s run by the Wincanton Health Coaches.
If you want more information phone them at Wincanton Health Centre (01963 435700 and select option 4) or just ‘drop in’ to the Balsam Centre Communal Lounge between 2 and 3pm on the third Thursday of the month.
What is more, twice a year (in Spring and Autumn) our Rural Practice Network (local GP surgeries) runs a non-medical programme for 12 weeks (2 hours each week) to help people find new and different ways of managing pain and making life easier despite it. When it’s running, the programme happens on Microsoft Teams on the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7 pm.
For more information email sue.crisfield1@nhs.net or call 07749 418850.
Both the drop in Centre and the Course use a ten step programme which explains how pain works and helps to manage it.
Explore this further at www.livewellwithpain.co.uk.
Or watch a TED talk that might help: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwd-wLdIHjs
Or watch a video (that might make you laugh): www.tamethebeast.org/
Or even do a course: https://untanglr.com/
I didn’t manage to do all of this, but what I did helped a lot and I managed to find new perspectives and attitudes toward pain both in general and in my own case. I hope it might help others too.
Stay warm this winter
The Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE) helps anyone who
- Is living in a cold, damp or draughty home
- Is only heating part of the home
- Is not sure how to adjust a heating system or finds it confusing
- Has a broken heating system
- Is struggling to afford gas or electricity bills
- Owes money to a gas or electricity supplier
- Has billing or meter issues, or other disputes with their energy supplier
- Is interested in getting funding for insulation or to upgrade their heating system
- Is trying to access grants and other financial support they are entitled to
- Is struggling with the cost of a water bill
- Has any other energy problems
If you claim Pension Credit or other benefit you could apply for the Winter Fuel Payment Contact CSE in Somerset on 0800 038 5730 and consult their website for lots more advice:
visit the website www.cse.org.uk
email: safeandwarmsomerset@cse.org.uk
Centre for Sustainable Energy, St James Court, St James Parade, Bristol BS1 3LH
Government Financial Assistance Carers
Allowance v. Attendance Allowance?
Two benefits that are often confused.
Attendance allowance: According to the Government website, this helps with extra costs if you have a disability severe enough that you need someone to help look after you. Depending on the severity of your disability you could currently get £72.65 or £108.55 a week provided that you are physically or mentally disabled and you are State Pension age or over. There is no means testing but you need to fill in a form with your National Insurance number, your contact details, details of your condition and of your GP surgery or medical centre. You may also be able to claim other benefits such as help with housing. There is more information on the website www.gov.uk/attendance-allowance, or phone their helpline on 0800 731 0122.
Carers Allowance: Alternatively if you are a carer who cares for someone (a relative, friend or neighbour for example) for more than 35 hours a week and that person is on certain benefits, you could claim £81.90 a week on Carers Allowance. You will automatically be paid National Insurance Credits and be paid weekly in advance or every four weeks and it will be paid into an account (e.g. a Bank or Credit Union account). If your income is over the Personal Tax Allowance, tax is payable. You also have to watch that your weekly income is not currently over £151.00 current limit because the benefits office can demand that you pay back the Carers Allowance for that week. You could get other benefits with this allowance such as Universal Credit or Pension Credit but each benefit or allowance affects others. For help go to www.gov.uk/carers-allowance-unit/ 0800 731 0297.
Other Possible Benefits to Explore
Personal Independence Payments (PIPs).
These are similar to Attendance Allowance but for those BELOW State Pension age and who need help at home because of an Illness or disability. Depending on the severity of your problem you could currently get between £72.65 – £108.55. You could also get between £28.70 – £75.75 if you have difficulty moving around. For more details go to www.gov.uk/pip/ or phone 0800 917 2222.
Direct Payments.
If you’re receiving some level of support from your local council, you can apply for Direct Payments which give you more freedom as to what support services you can buy and who you can buy it from. NHS Continuing Health Care. This is free social care funded by the NHS for people with long term and complex health needs. This is NOT means tested and can cover up to 100% of your care costs.
Employment Support Allowance (ESA).
This is for those with a disability or illness that makes it hard for them to work. You can apply if you are under State Pension Age and if you have a disability that affects how much you can work. You need to have been in work and usually to have at least 2-3 years’ worth of National Insurance contributions or credits. For more information go to www.gov.uk/employment-support-allowance/ or try the new Job Centre Plus new claims helpline on 0800 055 6688
Equipment for free.
Adult Social Care or an Occupational Therapist may be able to assist with the following: Home adaptations, Handrails for stairs, Grab rails for bathrooms, Intercom system, Ramps for wheelchairs, Perching stools for kitchen and bathroom, Toilet surround frames, Walking frames.
Wincanton Cares is very happy to help with filling in any of the benefit forms. Contact: www.wincantoncares.org or 07756 759741
We would love to meet you!
Click the Regular Monthly Meet-up form above to open the Meet Ups page on the website
We aim to connect people with what they need – for care, for support and for information If you are a Carer, whether a ‘micro-provider’ (a paid carer), someone who cares for someone for love, for compassion or neighbourliness or if you are someone who is cared for or you would just like to help, please call or contact us. We have a most helpful Project Officer, professional Carers and volunteers who all want to help if they can. Please reach out to us. And we are always looking for volunteers who can offer their time or talents in a range of different ways but particularly befriending the lonely or the unpaid carers who desperately need a little bit of time to themselves.
Phone Wincanton Cares Project Officer, Annette, on
07756 759741 or email us: info@wincantoncares.org
Or go to the contact page on our website https://wincantoncares.org/contact/ where you can find a form to fill in and submit.
Meet Up with Fellow Carers
Meet In the River Cale Café. If you provide paid care in the Wincanton (BA9) area and you
would like to share help, information and support with others you would be very welcome to come to the River Cale Café on the third Wednesday of the Month at 2.30-3.30 pm.
Alternatively, you may be someone who looks after a family member or friend who has a metal or physical illness, a disability, an addiction or requires additional support as they age. In all these cases you can be described as a Carer. Caring responsibilities can have a huge impact on the Carer’s life, both day-to-day and long term, affecting relationships, health, finances, school and work. In some cases the individuals involved might be unaware they’ve become a Carer as the transition from short-term help to long-term care can sometimes be subtle.
WINCANTON CARES can help in a way that will suit you and the person you care for. Take time to give us a call on 07756 759741. Wincanton Carers Group meets on the second Tuesday of every month at 2.00 pm. It is an information and discussion group for all carers and often includes experts who can chat with carers over tea and cake.
And finally. If you need help right now:
Or contact us on 07834 597893
