Kathy Lawrence
Funerals during the coronavirus lockdown in the UK
Update 28 May 2020 As the UK starts to come out of lockdown, the government has published new guidance for England. The advice is much the same as we’ve outlined below. Funerals are still limited in numbers attending and social distancing must be observed. Online books of condolence are one of the ways that are […]
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Help at home after hospital from the Royal Voluntary Service
What help is available to older people leaving hospital? If your parent has been in hospital for a while, they may need help to get back into life at home. When they’re ready to go home they should be connected to a number of healthcare and care professionals to get the right services in place. […]
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Age as a risk in the coronavirus pandemic
The subject of risk is as confusing as anything else around the coronavirus. With new knowledge being gleaned every day, the advice given to the public can change as fast. The risk we’re talking about here is not the likelihood of catching the disease, but the probability of being severely affected by it. All older […]
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Tips for making occasional use of a wheelchair a good experience
Accepting the help of a wheelchair when you can actually still walk is rather like giving up your car keys when you can actually still drive. You know it makes sense for all sorts of reasons, but it’s a huge admission that you’re getting older and frailer. It’s not surprising then that many of our […]
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Avoiding loneliness during the coronavirus pandemic
Updated September 2020 Loneliness amongst older people was a growing crisis before the arrival of COVID-19. Even though some services have been re-opened, the path of the virus means that we are likely to see the likes of community centres, libraries, restaurants and coffee shops providing limited if any services for some time to come. […]
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Where to go for government, health and care advice in the coronavirus crisis
This page is devoted to links for official and expert information for everyone with questions about specific health conditions and what we can and can’t do in the crisis. We will be updating the page regularly as more advice becomes available. Government advice and resources The UK government offers advice and requirements primarily for England, […]
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How the worldwide healthcare industry has responded to the Coronavirus outbreak
While ordinary citizens have been wondering how best to keep themselves and their families safe in the era of the Coronavirus, it’s the medical industry that is on the frontline, battling this new and unprecedented global threat. In a time of chaos of anxiety, the NHS has been called on to respond quickly. But what […]
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How to get food to your parents in times of coronavirus
This article has now been superseded by the latest advice on food and essentials shopping announced on 23 June 2020. You may still find some of the ideas here helpful, although many delivery services set up during lockdown of essential foods and cooked meals may be wound down now. With instructions to stay in […]
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How long does the coronavirus live on surfaces – and is my Amazon package a risk?
Here’s a useful graphic from the New England Journal of Medicine that shows how long the coronavirus can stay on various hard materials. It should be helpful if you or your family members are out and about, using public transport, pushing trollies around supermarkets, or sharing any facilities with other people. The graphic shows that […]
Read moreStaying fit when you’re socially distancing
A key difference between self-isolating and socially distancing is that you can still get out of the house and get some fresh air and exercise while you’re socially distancing. What’s important is to be as far away from other people as possible. Having taken a walk along the river today, I’ve found that’s pretty […]
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