Events

• A day for brain tumour carers

  We've teamed up with The Brain Tumour Charity to bring you the first ever day dedicated to brain tumour carers. 

  The day, on the 27th February, is for people who are looking after someone with a brain tumour. The programme is carefully designed with the carer at heart, and aims to:

  
  

  • Inform carers
  • Provide insight into the patient/carer journey
  • Provide opportunities to establish a supportive network
  • Support carers so that they feel valued by everyone
  • Enable carers to care well
  • Build resilience and a sense of well being in carers

  
  This is a national first, and is a much needed event for the brain tumour carer community, who we know needs help and support as much as the patient themselves. Read on to find out more, and see the informative workshop based programme for the day...
  
  

  brainstrust and The Brain Tumour Charity's 'Day for Carers 2013' - 27th February

  
  The event is free for carers to attend and takes place in Birmingham, which we believe to be more cost efffective and more accesible than Central London. And the programme has been especially developed to help carers to care effectively whilst making sure that their own needs are supported. After all, caring for a brain tumour patient is a job that nobody choses, but it is one we want to do well.
  
  

  • For the full programme and overview of each session, click here. 
  • For venue details click here
  • To register for the day simply click here.

  
  We want every carer to be able to attend. If you don't feel able to come along due to caring for your loved one, or if the cost of travel means you cannot make it, then give brainstrust a call on 01983 292405. We might be able to help.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  A Day for Carers - the Programme

   

  9:30 – 10:00	Coffee and registration
  10:00 – 10:15	Welcome to the day Aims of the day, who are The Brain Tumour Charity and brainstrust Kate Kershaw and Helen Bulbeck
  10:15 – 11:00	How to have a voice when you’re a carer Claire Goddard
  11:00-11.15	Coffee and rest break
  11:15 – 12:00	Workshops: 1 a. Communicating well Pam Bateson 2 b. Dealing with depression Dr Ally Rooney 3 c. Hypnotherapy Louise Baker
  12:00 – 12:15	Coffee and rest break
  12:15 – 13:00	Workshops: 1 a. Communicating well Pam Bateson 2 b. Dealing with depression Dr Ally Rooney 1 d. Palliative care Dr Anne Arber
  13:00 – 14:00	Lunch
  14:00 – 15:00	Workshops 1 d. Palliative care Dr Anne Arber 2 e. Developing strategies to care well Dr Andy Hawkins and Dr Andrew Worthington 3 f. Managing pain at home Anna Crofton
  15:00 – 15:30	How do you create a supportive community? Kate Kershaw and Helen Bulbeck
  15:30 – 16:30	Afternoon tea and socialising

  
  

  Description of talks and workshops

   

  How to have a voice when you’re a carer

  Claire Goddard

  As a carer, you bring a unique knowledge base to consultations: you often know the patient better than all of the clinicians put together; you are likely to have done extensive research on the brain tumour diagnosis; you may be managing and co-ordinating the patient's many appointments and scans. It is very important that your voice is heard in consultations and that you feel comfortable bringing your knowledge and questions to appointments. It is important that, if you and the patient wish, you are involved in the patient's care and feel part of the decisions.

   

  This session focuses on putting the patient first without putting the carer second.

  
  Workshops 

  a. Communicating well

  Pam Bateson, Zinnia Consulting

  “Much unhappiness has come into the world because of bewilderment and things left unsaid.” Fyodor Dostoyevsky

  
  

  Honest communication is crucial yet is understandably difficult when a loved one has a brain tumour. The patient may be in denial; children may need an explanation as to what's going on; and if necessary, how do you broach the concept of end of life care? This workshop will address ways to help encourage useful communication so that the elephant in the room stays small.

  
  

  b. Dealing with Depression

  Dr Ally Rooney, Neuro-Oncology Research Fellow, University of Edinburgh

  How do I know whether the person I am caring for is sad or depressed? And whether it is sadness or depression, what is the difference, what can I do to alleviate to lift spirits, and how can I keep my own high?

  
  

  c. The role of hypnotherapy in supporting a sense of well being in both the patient and the carer

  Louise Baker, Clinical Hypnotherapist

  There is plenty of evidence that hypnotherapy can help people with a brain tumour, no matter where they are on their journey. It can be used for a number of different purposes, all of which can be beneficial for both the carer and the patient. For the carer it can reduce stress and relieve anxiety, building confidence. And for the patient? It can do all of these as well as help with preparation for surgery and reduce side effects of adjuvant therapies

  
  

  d. Palliative Care

  Dr Anne Arber, Senior Lecturer in cancer and palliative care, University of Surrey

  Palliative care is not the same as end of life care. It should be a phase on the journey where provision of care is not determined by diagnosis, but by the impact of the illness on the patient's overall quality of life. Palliative care can last for months, even years and the patient can be active during this time and leading a full life. This workshop will focus on how the carer can manage this phase, by active information-seeking strategies, by social support and by coping, including positive reinterpretation of the situation.

  
  

  e. Developing strategies to care well

  Dr Andy Hawkins, Consultant Clinical Neuropsychologist and Dr Andrew Worthington, Director/Consultant in Neuropsychology and Rehabilitation

  It is well known yet often forgotten that you can only care well if you care for yourself. As well as discussing ways to look after yourself, this workshop will focus on the distressing fact that a brain tumour can produce symptoms akin to a progressive neurological disease. Forgetfulness, changes in behaviour and personality can make caring practically more demanding and emotionally traumatic. A neuropsychologist will work with you to consider strategies to face those daily challenges which can so easily wear the carer down.

  
  

  f. Managing Pain at home

  Anna Crofton, The Walton Centre, Liverpool

  People who have cancer don't always have pain. Everyone is different. But if the patient does have cancer pain, they don’t have to accept it. Cancer pain can almost always be relieved and managed. The key is to control pain so that it doesn’t start, or at least, doesn’t get any worse.

  
  

  Register for the 2013 'Day for Brain Tumour Carers'

  
  

  Registering for the day is easy, and taking part is free. All you have to do is call us on 01983 292405 to reserve your place, or click here to email us on hello@brainstrust.org.uk. You can also contact The Brain Tumour Charity on 0808 800 0004 to book directly, or email 

  info@thebraintumourcharity.org
  
  
  

  Now, we want every brain tumour carer to be able to attend. If you don't feel able to attend due to caring for your loved one, or if the cost of travel means you cannot come, then give us a call at brainstrust on 01983 292405. We might be able to help.
  

  
  

  Venue Information

  
  The 2013 Day for Brain Tumour Carers is taking place at: 
  
  

  Holiday Inn Birmingham (M6 Jct. 7)

  Chapel Lane,

  Great Barr

  Birmingham,

  B43 7BG

  
  Tel: 0871 942 9009
   

  
  View Larger Map
  

  
  
  Directions
  
  

  By train

  
  Station Name: Birmingham New Street

  Distance: 13.4 MI/21.57 KM SOUTH to Hotel

  Taxi Charge (one way): £15.00 GBP

  The hotel is north from Birmingham New Street Station. 

  
  
  

  Using Birmingham's Subway
   

  Subway Station Name: Route 51 Walsall - Birmingham via Great Barr

   

  
  

  
  
  
  
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