Long-term newsletter readers may just recall that we helped researchers at the University of Hull to recruit distance carers for a study of the particular issues affecting people who live a long way from those they support. 

The project has now been completed, with far more respondents than initially anticipated. 

You can read more about the findings here

 

You might think of cycling in the Peak District as an occupation only for the fittest and most hard-core among us. A new e-book by power chair user Thea May Lewis will change your mind.

"Explore the Peak District by Bicycle" is a great guide to accessible cycling in general, and majors on 50 carefully described routes through this beautiful part of Britain. The author has ridden them all in her reclining wheelchair with add-on powered wheel.

For the first week of February, you can buy the e-book for just 99p, before it goes back to its normal price of £5.99.

More information here

 

I wrote in a recent newsletter about the great benefits being brought to the workplace by assistive technology. Access to Work, which helps with the additional costs encountered by disabled employees, has a Tech Fund dedicated to this aspect.

However, all is not rosy in the technology garden if you have a disability. A recent report by Ofcom shows a wide disparity between disabled and non-disabled people when it comes to using tech.

More details here

 

The Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) has been investigating some of the dubious practices found in the care home market.

As a result, three care home providers (Care UK, Hallmark Care Homes Group Holdings Limited and The Fremantle Trust) have made changes to the charges they make following the death of the resident, and the way their possessions are treated.

Separately, Care UK has been ordered to pay more than £3 million in compensation for failing to treat customers fairly.

Read about consumer rights in care homes here

  

World Cancer Day is coming up on Monday, and aims to raise awareness of cancer in a positive and inspiring way. 

‘I Am and I Will’ is the new theme, calling for personal commitment and action taken now to save lives.

There can't be many of us whose lives haven't been touched by cancer, either directly or through affecting someone we care about.

Raising awareness is an essential first step to early diagnosis and treatment, which can save millions of lives around the world.

Read more here

 

Our friends at MASIS (Mobility and Support Information Service) have a bright and shiny new website, where you can find information and advice, notably about topics such as motoring, education, health and travel.

Visit the new site here

 

Don't forget that you can apply to join the Independent Living Facebook group, if you would like to spend more time discussing these themes with other interested people. 

There are various ways you can get in touch with us: email me; visit our Facebook page and leave a message there; or if it's short and sweet, Tweet!

Previous newsletters are archived here.

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Until next time, best wishes,

Frances