Hospitals
How to get the best out of hospital visits
How to Help an Older Person Settle Back Home After Surgery
Collaborative Post Recovering from surgery can be challenging no matter how old you might be, but an older person can need a lot more care, and their recovery might be longer. There could be physical problems afterwards as well, and all of this needs to be taken into account so that you can ensure they’re […]
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Neglect of the elderly in hospitals: is this a real problem?
Collaborative Post In this article, we’re looking at neglect of the elderly in hospitals and investigating the real extent of this problem. Medical negligence is a growing concern and issue in the UK for many GP practices and hospitals. It’s a sad fact that, in UK hospitals, a considerable number of elderly patients are abused […]
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How can I get my parent home from hospital?
‘Bed blocking’ has become rampant in NHS hospitals. Latest figures suggest that more than 13,000 (13,179) beds a day were taken up on one week in November 2022 by patients who no longer needed one. That is an increase of a quarter compared to the first week of December in 2021. This is worrying for […]
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The Next of Kin Myth
There’s a strong belief that if someone loses capacity to make decisions for themselves for some reason – perhaps an accident or dementia – then the next of kin can take responsibility. But actually both the concept and the rights of next of kin are not as clear cut as we might think. Here are […]
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How technology is improving hospital visits and treatment
If you are support older relatives or friends, you will inevitably find yourself visiting hospitals, either to see then when they are in-patients or accompanying them to clinics and routine check-ups. The way that treatments are delivered is changing constantly. And new technology is shaping how we use hospitals. So what is happening now that […]
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Hospital discharge changes during Covid-19
In August 2020 the UK government promised a £588 million fund to cover adult social care or the immediate costs of care for people in their own home after discharge from hospital. Here’s a run-down on the latest guidance for those leaving hospital, their family and their carers. (If you click on the links for […]
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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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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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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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How can you complain about or praise care?
Sometimes it can feel like we have no voice in eldercare. Yet there are opportunities to give your opinion to people who will listen and can act on your feedback. If not that, they will at least share your experiences for the benefit of others. Talking about the NHS The NHS appears to be becoming […]
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