Health
How can you help your parent stay well for as long as possible and find their way through a complex health system?
What can a pharmacist do for your parent?
Written by Rebecca Lenton Pharmacists can do more for our parents now than ever. Whilst they don’t offer the same expertise as a doctor they can certainly ensure that our parents are living well and managing their medication successfully. We explore the ways in which pharmacists can help our parents with their pills and prescriptions. […]
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Will the “Friends and Family Test” make a difference to hospital care?
Written by Kathy Lawrence Patients now have the opportunity to rate their hospital experience. Kathy explains how the survey works and wonders if it will give the right answers to improve our parents’ experiences. At the beginning of 2013 the UK Government announced that it would be making more use of a “Friends and Family” […]
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In praise of district nurses
This week’s storyteller has chosen to be anonymous.When the chips are down, district nurses can be relied upon to take the time and effort to care for our elderly and ill parents at home. At 25 minutes to 1 on Monday we received a phone call from a district nurse to say that dad was […]
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Tips on extracting your parent from hospital
Written by Kathy Lawrence If you’re new to parents as in-patients in hospital, then here are a few tips from those who’ve learned from experience. Every hospital trust and private group has its own structures and systems, but here are some pointers to help you get out of the building calmly with most of the […]
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What to do when a parent dies
Losing a parent is an emotional time. Yet there are numerous practical tasks to be undertaken – some quickly, some over time. Here’s a step-by-step guide to what you need to do when a parent dies, written by Louise Pearce from her own experience and her work as a family solicitor at Morrisons. This article […]
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Safe walking in winter for older people
Dressing in layers, adding grip to footwear and using a stick that’s the right height are all helpful ways to make going out in cold weather safe and enjoyable. The chilly bite of winter is on its way and the drop in temperature and icy conditions can pose a challenge to those who are more […]
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Mobility scooters: a guide for the beginner
A mobility scooter is likely to be a one-time acquisition and one that we’ve never been involved with before, so it can be hard to know where to start. Here’s a quick guide to some of the areas to consider when you’re finding the right vehicle for your parent. The decision to purchase a mobility […]
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Tips for helping older people overcome mild depression
Depression can affect anyone of any age, but as people age, they can become more susceptible to feeling down. We look at ways that friends and family can help support older people. As we get older, our lives naturally change – and many of these changes are ones that people welcome with open arms. Many […]
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Could animal assisted therapy improve your parent’s health?
Written by Rebecca Lenton We explore the potential benefits of pet therapy as a way to relax and encourage our parents wherever they reside. As our parents get older, and perhaps begin to lose their friends and loved ones, they could start to feel lonely. With recent figures suggesting that loneliness is fast becoming an […]
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How to make household tasks easier for elderly parents
Andrew Atkinson, Managing Director of Mobility Smart – an online independent living store – advises us on tools to help your parent manage at home if they have strength or mobility issues. Here are a few simple gadgets to help make independent living that much easier. Cleaning For an older parent cleaning tasks can take […]
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