“I feel the capacity to care is the thing which gives life its deepest significance.”
Conductor Pablo Casals
(1876-1973)

For local services such as hospitals and the Garda Siochana, click here.

Recently announced:

The Irish Red Cross has just launched a Helping You to Care Handbook, described on their website as a "practical fully illustrated guide for those looking after someone who is ill, elderly or has a disability, with comprehensive advice on all aspects of caring. The information it contains will be useful to every member of the public but in particular Family Carers and those working in the caring profession."

It's €14.99 for 140 pages, which is 50 pages short of a typical Mills & Boon romance, and three times the price... but far more useful, probably. Let's hope the library picks up a copy or two. Click the cover to purchase it from Amazon.co.uk, or call 1850 650 651 Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm.

Help with Transportation:

• Rural Lift provides transportation for people with no access to the main bus routes or private transport, including their Social Car Scheme for local transport in West Cavan. Free Travel Passes are valid for this service. For more information contact Marie at (071) 9643933


• North Leitrim/West Cavan Carers Group Transport Scheme has been made possible through a grant from the Community Foundation of Ireland. Telephone Community Connections (071) 9853321 for more information.
  

Carer's Allowance
If you care for someone full-time and if you qualify financially, you may be entitled to a weekly Carer's Allowance of up to 200 euros plus an extra payment for any other dependents you have. Even if your actual payment turns out to be small, receiving the Carer's Allowance entitles you to several useful benefits, including:
Household Benefits Package, which provides you with a free Television License and help toward your gas, electric, and telephone bills;
Travel Pass, granting you free travel on public transportation throughout Ireland;
Respite Care Grant of 1500 euros, paid annually in June; ...plus you'll also be able to avail of the national schemes for people on means-tested payments, including subsidised neutering for your pets.

Carer's Benefit
You may be entitled to payment if you have left work in order to care for a disabled or ill family member. Don't forget that if your family has lost an income due to illness or disability, there are a host of Social Welfare and Health Service payments that can make all the difference. Check the Citizens Advice website, or ask your Community Welfare Officer, about Family Income Supplement, Mortgage Assistance, Supplemental payments, School Uniform Allowance, Fuel Allowance, Farm Assist, and others.

Domiciliary Care Allowance
If you're caring for someone who lives with you, that person may be entitled to a Domiciliary Care Allowance of €281.30 per month to help with the expenses of their care; if he or she is a minor child, the payment can be made directly to you. DCA also comes with an annual respite care grant of over a thousand euros.

Special Diets
Restrictive diets can be a burden on finances as well as time, but some specialty food is available on prescription: you may be able to pick up some things free from your chemist. In addition, there is a payment you can apply for to help offset the added cost: ask your Community Welfare officer or check the Citizens Advice websiteby clicking the link above. Finally, you can apply for a tax refund on the money spent on special diets during the year: Tesco has a special clubcard feature that will track your special diet spending for you.

Medical Card & GP Visit Card
The Medical Card is means-tested, but if you qualify, you are not only exempt from Doctors' bills and prescription fees, you will also find a few extra benefits from time to time, such as a free school-bus pass each term if you have school-age children.

Home Help
If caring has overwhelmed your ability to keep a clean house and prepare healthy meals, especially if you are disabled yourself, you may be eligible for someone to stop by daily to help you with light housework and meal preparation: ask your Public Health Nurse for more information about this service.

Tax Relief
There are many forms of tax relief available, from the Incapacitated Child Credit to VAT refunds on equipment. Visit the Revenue Service's website by clicking the link above to find out more, or check with Citizens Information at 1890 777 121.

SUPPORT GROUPS & HELPLINES
The following support groups meet regularly in our area, and the helplines listed can be called from anywhere in Ireland. If you know of one that hasn't yet made our list, please send it in.

North Leitrim Men's Group, improving the lives of single rural men.

The Irish Heart Foundation Helpline: 1890 432 787, available Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings from 10am-2pm, or leave a message outside those hours. The nurse will provide information and support on managing blood pressure, cholesterol, or a specific heart condition.

The Irish Cancer Society offers a national helpline at 1800 200 700 for confidential information and advice. The Society can also provide night nursing, counselling, education, and more.

The Alzheimer Society of Ireland sponsors support groups throughout Ireland and offers a helpline: 1800 341 341. They publish a helpful little book, "Your guide to understanding Alzheimer's disease and other dementias", which is available free at the Blacklion health centre.

WAVES is a women's support service in Sligo, Leitrim and West Cavan, providing support, information, and advocacy for women who have or who are experiencing violence and abuse. Telephone: (071) 9141515.

ASSISTANCE ANIMALS AND GUIDE DOGS

Not just for blind people! Now the Irish Guide Dogs in Cork also train and provide dogs to help autistic children. Across North America, specially trained companion animals can:
• remember what time you take prescriptions, and bring you them to you, even when you forget;
• dial 999;
• alert their human companions to imminent seizure
• pull a wheelchair, or brace themselves to help a fallen person stand again
• turn on lights, open doors, fetch objects such as mobiles and remotes;
• ....in fact, nearly anything you can think of.

Besides the very real help they provide, they are good company, and security, especially for those who live alone. In some cases, a good assistance dog combined with daily visits from family caregivers could allow someone to remain in their own home, when otherwise moving in with family members might have been necessary.

These animals are highly trained , but can often be taught by a professional local dog trainer with help from the owner, to perform the specific tasks needed for the individual. These animals should not be confused with therapy dogs, who visit hospitals and care homes to cheer up patients -- although their work is also wonderful!

For more information, see the following links, or google "service dogs", "assistance animals", etc.:

International Association of Dog Partners
Cat and Dog Help website's list of service animal links -- lots to visit!
Guide Dogs Ireland

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There's MUCH more to come! I have pages and pages of resources for you, but can only add so much at a time... check back often as I'm adding weekly.