Kathy Lawrence
Why you need to ensure travel insurance declarations include mental health conditions
We know we need to declare physical conditions and medications when we’re looking for travel insurance, but how many of us think about notifying insurers of mental health issues? Or are even sure what constitutes such a condition? According to AllClear, a specialist medical travel insurance provider, many older travellers aren’t declaring mental health issues […]
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What does the Autumn 2018 budget mean for older people?
We take a quick look at the Autumn 2018 UK budget to see what is likely to affect older friends and family – and what leading charities and commentators made of it. Didn’t budget statements in the UK used to come round just once a year? Or did we imagine that? Either way, a […]
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When and how do we talk with GPs and hospitals about dying choices?
By Kathy Lawrence Talking about the likelihood of a loved one dying in the near future is always going to be difficult. But if we want to give them the good death that we would like, we and their physicians need to know their preferences. But how can we know if anyone has asked, let […]
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Footwear choices for older people
Feet and the way people walk change as they get older. Some find their balance and mobility are impaired. So is there advice for everyone to help them stay comfortable and stable (as well as looking good!) in later life? We posed some questions we hear regularly to footwear retailer Brantano for their expert advice. […]
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Hospital discharge and getting the right services in place
We often see stories in the media about older people being discharged from hospital without enough care to support them at home. Aleisha White, an independent social worker and founder of The Care Advice Service, explains what services should be available and how you can make sure they are in place. Why patients are discharged […]
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When a loved one loses their sight
Blindness is something that affects the whole family. When a loved one loses their sight the effects can be devastating for everyone involved, making the need for specialist support to help everyone overcome the challenges faced absolutely vital. Currently in the UK, 1.8 million people are living with sight loss in the UK, and 1.4 […]
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Experiences in caring for a mum with dementia
Adam Sibley has written an acclaimed book about his experiences of caring for a mother with early onset dementia. In this article he offers advice from someone who has been there to help those who are there now. I cared for my mum for nearly four years after she was diagnosed with early onset dementia […]
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Treatment and care to slow the progress of dementia
With escalating demands on the care industry fuelled by the growth of dementia, Nicola Mewse, Managing Director at Hales Care, summarises current and potential future treatments for this life-limiting disease. It’s currently predicted that one in three of those born in 2015 will be affected by dementia and 2 million will be diagnosed with dementia […]
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Designing activities for people with dementia and their families
It’s hard to watch family members lose the ability to create and play as dementia takes hold. And it makes finding enjoyable activities to share harder too. One young designer, Ben Atkinson-Willes, has worked with experts to develop activities that are satisfying, doable and promote conversation. Dementia affects not only the patient but those responsible […]
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How can we tell if a parent has Alzheimer’s disease? Part 2
Alzheimer’s disease is hard to diagnose and so far there’s no cure. We’ve been talking to Re:Cognition Health, the “brain health experts”, about how we can recognise the signs and what can be done about it. In the second of two parts we look treatments available now and being trialled in the future, and ask […]
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