Upcoming Events › Illnesses and disabilities

Losing a loved one is difficult but it is a reality that many carers, family members and friends will eventually face. Whether death is expected or sudden there will be lots to deal with. This short course helps carers to prepare for some of the decisions and arrangements they will have to make. Carers attending the course will build a personalised file to refer to when someone dies. Duration: 4 weeks (24th September - 15th October) Who is this course…

Do you have questions about recovery but feel too afraid to ask? Duration: 1 week Who is this course for? Carers caring for someone in long term recovery from drug and alcohol problems. Weekly Breakdown This one-off event offers an opportunity for family members to spend some time with people who have successfully managed to recover from their addiction/problem with drugs and alcohol. You will hear each speaker’s own unique story and experience of recovery and what worked for them.…

Becoming a carer can be a sharp learning curve for many of us. We can find ourselves in the position where we want/need to learn about lots of new things. This course helps carers answer some key questions. Duration: 1 week Who is this course for? This course is ideal for carers who are supporting someone who has had a stroke. Weekly Breakdown This course will provide information about strokes, treatment, communication and mobility what you may expect in the…

Caring for someone with mental health difficulties can mean learning a whole new set of language, law and rights. This seminar aims to explain some of the terms, processes and law. Duration: 1 week Who is this course for? Carers supporting someone with a mental health difficulty. Weekly Breakdown Join us to learn more about the relevant law, your rights, those of the person you care for and role of the hospital, police, social work and others. What carers will…

This course provides information from nurses in week one about what dementia is, treatments and coping strategies. A VOCAL trainer takes the group through the rest of the course talking about practical aspects such as money matters and accessing support and also looking at how caring affects you and the relationships you have. Duration: 5 weeks (2nd - 30th October) Who is this course for? This course is tailored specifically to carers supporting someone with moderate dementia. Weekly Breakdown Week…

This course aims to provide information on key aspects of Dementia and how it can affect the people we care about. Duration: 1 week Who is this course for? This session is ideal for carers who are supporting someone who has recently been diagnosed with dementia Weekly Breakdown The focus of the session is to inform carers of people with dementia about the illness,treatment and support available. Understanding dementia Treatment The home environment Support in the community Support from VOCAL…

Practical information and advice for family members and friends supporting someone who has Parkinson's. Duration: 6 weeks (21st October - 25th November) Who is this course for? This course is tailored specifically to carers supporting someone who has Parkinson's. Weekly Breakdown This course will offer - Information on the drugs that may be prescribed. The role of the Parkinson’s Nurse Specialists. The role of the Parkinson’s Local Advisers and the help they can offer. Information from multidisciplinary therapists, i.e. Speech,…

Caring for someone with dementia can sometimes mean dealing with behaviour we find challenging, confusing or hard to live with. Perhaps someone has become stubborn, aggressive, confused, has hallucinations or is just very different to before. Duration: 1 week Who is this course for? Carers who want to understand more about what triggers the behaviours we find challenging and how to lessen them or cope with them better. Weekly Breakdown Delivered by a Specialist Nurse this course explores why some…

Parents of children with additional support needs often tell us they are not sure about what support is available to them and their families. This course explores the formal and informal types of support and how to ensure your voice is heard. The course also explores the impact of caring. Duration: 2 weeks (22nd & 29th October) Who is this course for? This course is designed for parents/carers of school age with Additional Support Needs. Weekly Breakdown Week 1 The…

Feelings of guilt can be difficult for us to understand and manage. Carers often report feeling high levels of guilt which are hard for them to process. Duration: 1 week Who is this course for? Carers who would like to think about guilt, the impact of guilt and the role it plays in our actions. Weekly Breakdown Many carers tell us they feel guilty about the care they provide, leaving the person they care for at home, having fun, going…

Many carers supporting someone who is using substances are very concerned about what would happen if their loved one overdoses. This session supports carers to understand and use the Naxolone take home kit. Duration: 1 week Who is this course for? Family members and friends concerned about someone who is using substances and may overdose. Weekly Breakdown Join Stuart to learn more about the kit, how it works, and when and how to use it. What carers will get from…

It can be hard to help someone with dementia to engage in conversation and activities. This workshop supports carers to develop techniques to make this easier. Duration: 1 week Who is this course for? Carers supporting someone with dementia. Weekly Breakdown A workshop designed to support carers to learn tips and techniques to engage someone in activities using poetry, stories and photos. What carers will get from this course Practical skills to enable carers to interact with someone with dementia.…

Many family members and friends of people using drugs or alcohol find it hard to know how to respond to and cope with the situation. This short informal course helps to understand concerns others have to understand substance use, the law, services to support people to reduce or stop drug or alcohol use. Duration: 4 weeks (6th - 27th November) Who is this course for? Anyone concerned about a loved one’s substance use. Weekly Breakdown Week one – Understanding substances…

Parents of children with additional needs often tell us that they find some of the accompanying behaviour difficult to deal with. This course explores methods of coping with this behaviour and how to develop personal coping strategies. Duration: 3 weeks (7th - 21st November) Who is this course for? This course is designed for parents/carers of someone under 16 with additional support needs. Weekly Breakdown Week 1 - How Do We Feel About the Behaviour Unpredictable or challenging behaviour can…

Caring for a loved one may lead to feelings of guilt, sadness, confusion or anger, however, it can be difficult to share these feelings with someone with dementia, leaving carers feeling very isolated. Duration: 1 week Who is this course for? Carers who want to explore their feelings and stay well while caring for someone with dementia. Weekly Breakdown This workshop led by Heart and Minds has been designed to help carers build their emotional resilience, strengthen and develop coping…

Becoming a carer can be a sharp learning curve for many of us. We can find ourselves in the position where we want/need to learn about lots of new things. This training day helps carers answer some key questions. Duration: 1 week Who is this course for? This day is ideal for carers who are supporting someone who has recently been diagnosed with dementia. Weekly Breakdown This one day event delivered by a Nurse Specialist will provide information about dementia…

Many carers are caring for someone with an addiction or have an addiction themselves, find out more about what happens in the brain when someone is addicted to something? Duration: 1 week Who is this course for? Anyone who has dealt with or is dealing with the addiction of another person. Weekly Breakdown Come along to hear a Talk by Dr David McCartney, Clinical Lead at The Lothians & Edinburgh Abstinence Programme (LEAP) on “Addiction & The Brain”. What carers…