Lifestyle
What makes an enjoyable, safe and comfortable retirement?
Why and how to enjoy a great social life at any age
While doom and gloom often feature in stories about our older population, the truth is a little different. According to new research* from Royal Voluntary Service, the national volunteering charity, millions of Britain’s older people are refusing to let age get in the way of an active social life and new friendships. Over 80% of […]
Read more
6 common myths about personal alarms
Personal alarms have been designed to help older people remain living independently in the comfort of their own home. They are a great alternative to moving into a care home or having to pay for home care visits. Personal alarms are specifically useful to those who live alone, suffer from long-term medical conditions, or are […]
Read more
Dressing to suit your style personality at any age
Body shapes, skin tones and fashion tastes change throughout our lives, and for anyone who likes to look as good as they can at any age, revisiting personal style can be a great idea. People do care about appearance throughout their lives. The anti-ageing sector current accounts for 42% of total skincare spend, while a […]
Read more
When saving stuff becomes hoarding
This week’s storyteller has chosen to be anonymous. A lifetime’s tendency to keep stuff just in case can reach epic proportions in old age. Is it a problem? When we visit H’s aunt these days, we’re not invited across the threshold to her flat. We were when she first moved in, although even then it […]
Read more
5 tips for preventing falls in the home
Statistics show that falls in the home that mean a trip to A&E are often the first step to losing independence and a move into care. Nursing professional Vince Baiera shares his experiences in helping older people to avoid having those falls. With more than six years’ experience as an ICU Nurse at some of […]
Read more
How to keep cool in hot weather
Written by Rebecca Lenton You wouldn’t think it possible that your parent could be too hot in British weather yet with the rising temperatures we’ve been experiencing it’s good to be aware of the way heat can affect the elderly and how to help them stay cool. Who is most vulnerable to heat-related illness? If […]
Read more
Saving money on your parents’ energy bills
Latest update for June 2020: For information about how to manage bills and get a better energy deal, visit Citizens Advice. This article has been updated in January 2019. Schemes and prices change all the time. For up-to-date information, it is worth visiting the Money Saving Expert’s website. We’ve searched far and wide to […]
Read more
How to manage your parent’s property once they’ve moved out
There comes a time in our lives when we have to start thinking seriously about whether our parents can cope independently in their own home. This can be a stressful stage for both parent and child involving some difficult conversations to try to agree what’s for the best. Not only do families need to determine […]
Read more
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 […]
Read more
Where do retirement living apartments fit into our life plan?
By Kathy Lawrence Retirement apartments are springing up all over the place. In some countries these developments and larger retirement villages are commonplace and even part of people’s normal retirement plan. That’s not yet true in the UK, but do they represent a sensible move for people moving into retirement? At the age of 78 […]
Read more