Health
How can you help your parent stay well for as long as possible and find their way through a complex health system?
Why eating well is important in dementia
We’re seeing new advice almost every day on how to prevent or delay dementia. It’s hard to know what to do for the best. A new review has taken a look at a wide range of current research to see if there is knowledge that we could use to help our parents – and ourselves […]
Read more
Stocking the cupboards
Written by Kathy Lawrence Stuff happens, and sometimes your parents won’t be able to get out to the shops as often as they’d like. Here are a few ideas of items worth keeping stocked up in their cupboards and freezers for the difficult days. In the cupboards Tins and tins of soup Long-life ready meals […]
Read more
Food for thought – healthy eating tips for ageing palates
Written by Rebecca Lenton Home-style catering expert and fresh food advocate Janice Caluori offers advice on preparing nutritious meals that appeal to the changing tastes that come with age, and choosing ready-made meals tailored to our parents’ needs. I’m a firm believer is using fresh, local ingredients in home-style meals. As people age their tastes […]
Read more
How online pharmacies can help in elder healthcare
If it’s difficult for your older friends or family to get out of the house then using an online pharmacy for certain medications and to fulfil prescriptions can be a useful option. This article is provided by Doctor Fox, an online medical clinic and pharmacy registered with the Care Quality Commission. Sometimes bad weather or […]
Read more
What does a hospice do?
Written by Rebecca Lenton When a parent reaches end of life or has a terminal illness it can be difficult to care for them full-time at home. Hospitals are not an ideal place to end one’s days, but a hospice can provide the care and peace to make for a good end in a hospice […]
Read more
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 […]
Read more
Can an Admiral Nurse help in dementia care?
Written by Rebecca Lenton With dementia fast-becoming the most talked about condition in the UK, a disease which David Cameron describes as the ‘greatest enemy of humanity’, it’s important to know who can help should your parent or relative receive a diagnosis. Admiral Nurses have long been supporting families affected by dementia and continue to […]
Read more
How can I coordinate my parent’s care?
Written by Rebecca Lenton As our parents get older their health issues can become complex. At one level hospital consultants are experts in their field but can be focused on the one issue without reference to anything else your parent is being treated for. At the local level your parent may be seeing a variety […]
Read more
When a heart attack leads to angioplasty
This week’s storyteller has chosen to be anonymous. An angioplasty unblocks arteries and puts a stent in place to keep the artery open. It can be a swift solution to a heart attack. But what exactly happens? Here’s one experience. I had a heart attack. The strange thing is that I wasn’t absolutely sure that […]
Read more
What happens during a cataract operation?
Operations to remove cataracts and improve eyesight are carried out every day across the country. Knowing that doesn’t necessarily lessen the fear of what exactly is going to happen. John Harrison, owner of the Allotment Garden, describes his experience to help others about to go through the same procedure. I was sitting in the car […]
Read more