Health
How can you help your parent stay well for as long as possible and find their way through a complex health system?
What to look for in mobility aids for your parents
Katherine Pyne, creator of online disability shop designed2enable.co.uk, shares her advice for finding the right mobility aids to suit your parent’s needs as well as personal style. As our parents get older, their mobility may start to become affected. Becoming less mobile can lead to a loss of self-esteem and confidence. They may need support […]
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Adjusting to life in a wheelchair
Older parents can find themselves in a wheelchair for all sorts of health reasons after which life can change significantly from the norm. Katherine Pyne, creator of online disability shop designed2enable, found herself in this unexpected position at a younger age but her experience gives us an insight into the impact disability has on many […]
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Independent living with hearing loss
It can be a worry if your parent has significant hearing loss. Do you worry if they don’t answer the phone, and even rush round or send a neighbour to check if they’re all right? Or maybe they don’t hear the doorbell because the television is on too loud to hear. Today there are many […]
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How do I help my elderly parent bathe?
For anyone with limited mobility, enjoying a bath and shower can be difficult. We asked Annette Greenwood of family business Bath-Knight, inventors of the belted bath-lift, for some tips on choosing and funding bathroom aids so that parents can continue to enjoy bathing with dignity and confidence. Many elderly people struggle to bathe and sadly, […]
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Enjoying nature and the outdoors with a family member with dementia
Being out in nature and sharing activity outside is something which brings immediate benefits to people living with dementia and we believe is a crucial part of “living well”. The outdoors is the original multi-sensory environment and we don’t need to be taught or learn how to connect with it. It is free and on […]
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Travelling with a parent who has dementia
There are over 100 different types of diagnosable dementia, from Alzheimer’s to vascular dementia. Each individual will face differing symptoms which means their care will have to be tailored to meet their individual needs. Despite the challenges, a holiday can be a rewarding experience for you and your parent as well as other family members. […]
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How to choose the right mobility scooter
Written by Rebecca Lenton When a parent begins to have issues with their mobility it can be a hard thing for them to accept and adjust to. If they’re having trouble getting out and about unaided it may be time for them to invest in a mobility scooter to help them on their way. If […]
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Caring for a dad with dementia, blindness and hearing loss
Written by Rebecca Lenton This week’s storyteller is Jacky. Another urgent call from mum but fortunately this one is less of a crisis than many others. Dad has walked unaided and sat himself in a low chair from which neither he nor mum can move him. When I arrive dad is singing a hymn at […]
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Caring for a father with Parkinson’s
This week’s storyteller is Chris. Chris tells the sad story of his brilliant father’s degeneration due to Parkinson’s, and how the family managed his care with love and respect. My father at 83 started to become very slow, and slightly doddery, and for him that was not normal. He was a very smart, neat and […]
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Expectations in dementia care
This week’s storyteller has chosen to be anonymous. It’s hard to know what to demand from a care home or how to achieve it. A daughter rates her mother’s experience. Alzheimer’s Society chief executive Jeremy Hughes told the BBC recently: “Society has such low expectations of care homes that people are settling for average. Throughout […]
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