We support carers

Join our Carers in Touch and Forget Me Not groups and you’ll find a whole new world of friendly support

Loneliness is something that can happen to anyone at any time. You don’t have to live alone to be lonely and you don’t have to be old. You might be lonely as a carer or you might have recently lost a loved one. Maybe you just live alone and don’t have anyone to talk to?

There are more than six million carers in the UK – Yours supports carers and anyone who has lost a loved one.

Thousands of readers belong to the Carers in Touch and the Forget Me Not groups and many of them have made life-long friendships. Some members write to one another, others are in touch by email or phone. Some meet for coffee, some go on holiday.

The groups have been running for many years now and offer a lifeline to anyone who would like to make some new friends. Lists of new members are sent out to existing

QMy daughter, Anne, is 52 and has Down’s syndrome. She has lived with me all her life and her father, my husband, died two years ago. I’m 85 and I worry what will happen to Anne when I either can’t care for her any more or when I die. We manage well, but I miss my husband’s support. I don’t have anyone else to discuss this with and I can’t talk to

Write to

For both groups complete your details below

Please sign to confirm that you are happy for these details to be shared with other members of the group you are fit and able to do so, rather than to wait for a crisis to arise. Supported living allows people with special needs to live in their own home with support. Sometimes it is better if the person who needs support leaves home and moves into independent living while their parents are alive so that when difficult

Rosie Sandall, Media House, Peterborough, PE2 6EA rosemary.sandall@bauermedia.co.uk

Or email:

Anne about it as she gets very upset. Do you have any suggestions?

Peggy Wilmot, Barnsley

Amembers every two months along with a newsletter including letters, information and poems.

The service is free – just fill in the form (right) and we will do the rest. Please include a full postal address, phone number and your full name.

Yours Reader Care Editor, Rosie Sandall, who runs the groups says: “Yours is the only magazine which regularly supports carers and those who have lost a loved one. The Carers in Touch and the Forget Me Not groups provide friendship and support. You can be sure of a warm welcome from people who really understand how you feel.

I look forward to hearing from you!”

Reader Care Editor

The first thing to say, Peggy, is that you are not alone in worrying about your situation. Most older carers with dependent adult children worry about what will happen in the future. It’s better to make plans while

■ To join either Carers In Touch or Forget Me Not groups simply complete this form Please tick and complete the relevant details for the group you’d like to join and return it to Rosie at the address below

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■ times come, they are settled and well supported. The Down’s Syndrome Association www.downs-syndrome.org.uk has a helpline for supported living queries 0333 121 2300.

■ Do you have a question for Rosie? Write to her at the address (left) marking your envelope ‘Q and A’

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