Safety at home
What can be done to ensure peace of mind for older people and their supporters?
Home hacks for your elderly parents
Collaborative Post It’s natural for the elderly to want to stay in their own homes as long as possible to maintain some independence. It’s also natural to worry about elderly parents coping at home alone, but there are some changes you can make to make their home safer for them. This gives you peace of […]
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Advice on keeping cool in a heatwave
As we approach another promised British heatwave, the UK government will be publicising its advice to protect the vulnerable, and ideas to keep everyone well in hot weather. Care homes and hospitals are advised to provide cool areas and monitor indoor temperatures to reduce the risk of heat-related illness. GPs, district nurses and social workers […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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How to keep your elderly parent 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 […]
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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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Making homes safe from carbon monoxide poisoning
How dangerous is carbon monoxide (CO) and what can you do to help protect against a leak of this deadly gas? Expert lawyer Gavin Evans of Simpson Millar Solicitors offers explanation and advice. In winter many of us are turning the central heating on more frequently and lighting gas fires, open fires and wood burners. […]
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Tips on avoiding electrical danger in the home
Electrical Safety First’s report, “A shock to the System”, found that more than a million people aged over 75 live in homes which fail the UK Government’s Decent Home Standard – with electrical safety a particular concern. Here, Phil Buckle, Director General of the charity, gives the details and offers some tips to help you […]
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Who are occupational therapists and how can they help our family?
Many of us meet occupational therapists for the first time when we have an older relative preparing to leave hospital. It’s not a job title that gives much away but occupational therapists are there to help people carry on their lives as well as possible. So who are they and what do they do? Occupational […]
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