Working with homes
How can we support homes to give our loved ones a high-quality experience?
John’s Campaign: supporting family and friends to provide care in hospitals and other care settings
The dementia support group John’s Campaign has recently had to change its website and email addresses to overcome what we’ll call technical difficulties with its web server provider. That’s a real nuisance for the group, but a good opportunity to remind carers about the purpose and activities of this UK-based organisation. What is John’s Campaign? […]
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How can you support a loved one into a care home?
It would be lovely if there was a straightforward path to choosing and getting the best out of a care home for our loved ones. But in reality it’s a complicated business, and often frustrating for all concerned. Those with experience suggest patience, kindness and firmness are important, together with a determination to ask questions […]
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Gloria’s Law and the demand for a right to a Care Supporter
Lockdown created a new crisis for the eldercare system, especially in care homes and hospitals. In an effort to protect the vulnerable from COVID-19, establishments instigated strict rules on visiting, often with families and friends being shut out altogether if any cases were detected within the care setting. This became a very long-term issue, as […]
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6 Tips for Preparing to Move to a Retirement Home
Collaborative Post Retirement homes offer seniors a comfortable, safe, and social environment with easy access to medical care and assistance. However, the transition to a retirement home can be challenging for both seniors and their families. First, you must recognise your need to live in one of these facilities. Then you and your family will […]
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Safeguarding Children Visiting Relatives in Care
The special attention and care that many grandparents provide can make a real difference in a child’s life. But more than that, children can make their grandparents feel needed and appreciated, especially if they are in care. Research suggests that elderly people in care are less likely to suffer from loneliness by interacting with children. […]
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What to take when you’re visiting a care or nursing home?
If you’re visiting a friend or family member who’s moved into a care or nursing home, you could be wondering what you can take with you to cheer their day. Everyone is different of course, so making general suggestions is a little tricky. Not only are tastes different, but individuals will be living different lives, […]
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What to say when they are never coming home
Sometimes it’s incredibly difficult to know what to do for the best. Dr Lesley Trenner offers advice to a reader who’s stuck between kindness and honesty when her mum asks when she can go home from nursing care. Dear Lesley, Gosh this is hard to start. Long story short. Mum caught Covid, went to hospital, […]
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We couldn’t have asked for a more caring nursing home
Reader story We’ve heard a great deal about difficulties visiting loved ones in care homes during the pandemic, and even before then it seems it’s as ever the bad experiences that makes the headlines. A long-time friend of When They Get Older recently had to find a nursing home fast for her mother, and she […]
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Visiting care homes in England from April 2022
Here’s a summary of the current guidance to care homes on visiting arrangement in England, applicable from 4 April 2022. The full text can be found in the ‘Covid-19 supplement to the infection prevention and control resource for adult social care’ published on 31 March. It’s worth checking this if you have a problem with […]
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Visiting care homes and other social care settings
In February 2022 much of the UK has started getting back to ‘normal’, but families of care home residents and people in other care homes settings are experiencing very different attitudes and actions about visiting their relatives. While many families are reportedly delighted to be visiting loved ones again as restrictions ease, others are still […]
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