Pastimes
We share tips, ideas and tools for making home and garden care easy and enjoyable
How your parent’s garden can help butterflies make a come-back
This year we’re seeing a surge of ‘Painted Lady’ butterflies in parts of the UK. But it’s big news because butterflies are actually in decline. So when we’re helping our parents re-plan their gardens to be more manageable in later life, or start a new garden, why not invite the butterflies back with these tips? […]
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Preparing to travel with a relative who has a kidney condition
Collaborative Post It’s no secret that as people get older, the chances of developing long-term medical conditions increases. When it comes to travelling, this doesn’t put an end to dreams of exploring the world, but it does require an extra bit of planning and preparation. This is especially true of kidney conditions. Anyone who suffers […]
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5 tips for creating a dementia-friendly garden
Nicky Roeber is the Online Horticultural Expert at Wyevale Garden Centres. Here, he shares his top tips for creating a garden in which someone living with dementia can feel safe and happy. There are currently more than 850,000 people with dementia in the UK, and that number is expected to rise above one million by […]
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Travel insurance, pre-existing medical conditions and Brexit uncertainty
It’s tempting to believe that travel insurance is an optional extra when you’re fit and healthy. But as soon as you or your older relative develop chronic conditions that need long-term medication, travelling without insurance could cause expensive problems. While many of us may know what and how we need in the way of travel […]
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Gifts for grandparents 2018 – travel and holidays
By Kathy Lawrence Days out, trips and holidays are a welcome gift for many. Here are just a few ideas. Just one in our series of articles of ideas for older friends and family. We haven’t experienced them ourselves, but we could be tempted! If your family are enjoying watching the likes of Timothy West […]
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Gifts for grandparents 2018 – hobbies and pastimes
By Kathy Lawrence In this article in our series of gift ideas for older friends and family, we look at ideas that we can work on together as well as individually. If you’re spending time with someone who’s struggling a bit with dexterity or understanding new concepts, then trying out these ideas together could be […]
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Why you need to ensure travel insurance declarations include mental health conditions
We know we need to declare physical conditions and medications when we’re looking for travel insurance, but how many of us think about notifying insurers of mental health issues? Or are even sure what constitutes such a condition? According to AllClear, a specialist medical travel insurance provider, many older travellers aren’t declaring mental health issues […]
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Are films a form of reminiscence for ageing parents?
Written by Rebecca Lenton Eleanor Bryson, from Memory Bank, shares how watching archive footage of the past has helped older people and those with dementia recall memories and communicate with their loved ones about the lives they once led. Memory Bank, an innovative series of films spanning six decades, was created as a resource to […]
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Autumn outings soothe mum’s dementia
This week’s storyteller is Hannah Davies. Hannah shares how she’s learnt to embrace the changes in her mum’s health as her dementia progresses. Autumn has arrived for my seaside town, and whilst we still get a sunshine filled morning or afternoon there’s no mistaking that the temperature is dropping along with the leaves. I notice […]
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Why regular walks are good for you and your parent
Written by Rebecca Lenton If you read certain newspapers or visit the BBC’s news website regularly you’ll know there’s a constant stream of studies reporting on the efficacy of various lifestyle regimes. We’ve gathered a few together that suggest that taking time out for a walk every day is a very good idea. Preventing dementia […]
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