Care homes
Looking for respite or long term care in a residential or nursing home
What will it take for care homes to open their doors again?
When will we be allowed to get back into care homes to visit our loved ones? While some homes are clearly working hard to find solutions to what is an incredibly difficult question, others are said to have pulled up the drawbridge and are implementing draconian measures to keep visitors out, and to isolate residents […]
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Visiting family members in care homes during the Covid-19 pandemic
Of all the challenges facing people during the coronavirus pandemic, being able to visit family who live in care homes has been one of the most confusing and heart-breaking. While we do hear reports of homes where visiting, at least in gardens, has been going ahead without problem, there are also many stories of families […]
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Home or away for care and nursing homes?
Joan is about to move to her third home in two months – and that’s not counting the flat she left behind following a fall and a spell in hospital. The first, a care facility in her home town, decided she needed nursing care, which they couldn’t offer. The second was nearby and very amenable, […]
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Choosing a home for respite care
Just days after Christmas we received a message from a local care home offering “3 weeks for 2” respite care. A bit startling, but actually not at all a bad idea. After the pleasures and stresses of any festive season, carergivers may well be feeling in need of a break to recover their energies. And […]
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How to choose the right care home for your loved ones
Collaborative Post One of the hardest things you’ll have to do as an adult is making the decision as to whether or not it’s time for a loved one to move into a home. Although it may be something you don’t want to think about right now, one day the time will come. In order […]
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An insider’s guide to asking the right questions when choosing a care home
There’s plenty of advice about choosing a care home available on the internet. But does it go far enough? As a registered nurse John has spent years working in care homes for the elderly and knows what’s important to ask. Now he’s used his experience to write a guide to the questions that will really […]
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How to spot a good care home for your loved one
Collaborative post No one wants to be put into a care home, and no one likes the responsibility of picking one. The thought of it is worrying for both parties, but there are plenty of establishments out there that provide high-quality care and a loving environment for those you love dearly. Here is how to […]
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What to do when you become an accidental landlord
Sometimes you can find yourself the manager of a rental property without meaning to do so. You might be helping out an older relative who is struggling to manage their own tenants. Or you might have a relative who wants to let their home to fund care home fees and needs someone to organise the […]
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Local authorities and paying for care
A recent report has uncovered what the authors call a “postcode lottery” around how local authorities across England, Scotland and Wales fund care. The report has prompted us to take another look at how care is funded by local authorities in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It’s slightly complicated, but here’s what the situation […]
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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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