Kathy Lawrence
How to cope with bereavement
Written by Rebecca Lenton Grief is something no one is ever really prepared for. Learning how to live with loss can be difficult and bereavement affects everyone differently but finding the right support can sometimes feel like an uphill struggle. We share where to find help, your rights to workplace leave and tips on how […]
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Ageing parents – who cares?
The number of people aged 85 and over in the UK has shot up in recent years and it’s predicted to double in the next two decades. As they get older, people often need more care and support. But social services are struggling, communities are less cohesive than they used to be and families are […]
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Balancing dementia care with a full-time career
This week’s storyteller is Marianne Talbot. Marianne, Director of Studies in Philosophy at Oxford University, shares how she managed to care for a Dad with dementia and later a Mum with Alzheimer’s whilst working as a full-time academic. I was expecting people for supper when the phone rang. Dad had been rushed into hospital. I […]
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Fresh ideas on balancing work and eldercare
Written by Rebecca Lenton Women in their 50s and 60s are working longer whilst taking the lion’s share of care for ageing family members. As career opportunities begin to slim with care responsibilities often over spilling into working hours it’s clear that older women can have a tough time of it in the work place […]
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Tips to continue business as usual when your parent needs you
Written by Rebecca Lenton Taking time out from work to support your parent because they need you to visit isn’t easy. If you’ve deadlines to meet and you have to be available to colleagues and clients, it gets even harder. Here are a few tips for keeping in the loop wherever you are – in […]
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Tackling all those to-dos
Work, home and play can keep us busy enough. But when we add supporting ageing parents into the mix, our to-do lists can start to look overwhelming. Personal and professional development coach Rhiannon Ford takes us through the 3Ds technique to lighten the load. Most of us feel a little overwhelmed at times with what […]
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I am ham. Or jam
Written by Kathy Lawrence Today we’re having children later and seeing our parents live to a greater age. It’s bound to affect our lifestyles – perhaps more than we were expecting. One day you’re running around after your children, rushing to open evenings or sports and after school clubs, and playing taxi to a burgeoning […]
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Slowing down
Written by Kathy Lawrence The changes that our parents are undergoing can be frustrating for everyone concerned. Understanding what’s happening and being patient is important for our relationships. It’s really hard to do. Slowing down to the speed of ageing parents. For most of us life is a rush. We’ve probably rushed to find the […]
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Supporting dementia carers at work
As a full-time Project Manager at the Met Office, Mary Sherwood was inspired by Radio Devon’s commitment to make Devon a dementia-friendly county. This is how she worked with her employer to create an office that supported working carers of people living with dementia, and how she is spreading the word to other organisations around […]
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How I coped with my mum’s dementia
This week’s storyteller is Lesley Trenner. Lesley, an Ageing Parent Coach, describes how she learnt to deal with her mum’s advancing dementia while making career decisions. She talks about how she now offers support to others facing similar challenges with their parents. Looking back, we aren’t entirely sure when mum’s mental condition started to decline […]
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