Pastimes
We share tips, ideas and tools for making home and garden care easy and enjoyable
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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Improvements in accessibility in public transport
Public transport becomes more important to people who give up driving or can no longer walk far. How are public transport providers meeting the challenge of supporting older passengers and those with disabilities? The team at Britain’s largest bus operator, Stagecoach, describe changes for the better. Using public transport when you are getting older or […]
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Practical projects bring people together in Men’s Sheds
Workshop spaces where people can work side by side on personal and community projects are growing fast around the country. Men’s Sheds are a great opportunity to share and learn new skills, enjoy new achievements and make new friends. What are Men’s Sheds? Men’s Sheds, or Men in Sheds, are opening up at more than […]
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10 good reasons for older people to get into social media
Despite its overwhelming popularity and impact on everyday life, many older people still find the thought of using social media very intimidating. By helping parents take those first tentative steps to get online, you can play a key role in combating the appalling trend of loneliness that exists among the over 65s. Care home operator […]
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Tackling the emerging loneliness crisis for older men
Written by Kathy Lawrence The number of older men living alone is set to increase by 65% by 2030 according to a report published in October 2014. Andrew Kaye, Head of Policy and Campaigns at Independent Age, one of the organisations behind the report, discusses whether loneliness is inevitable. Hardly a week seems to go […]
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How to enjoy the benefits of compost in your garden
Productive gardening is a joy for many reasons. But success depends greatly on the quality of the soil in which plants grow – and creating great compost is hard physical work. Or are there short-cuts that we can all use without that heavy spadework? The people at Mantis have provided this short guide. Gardening is […]
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Tips on enjoying the garden at any age
As the weather warms up it’s time to get out in the garden. But as the years pass ambitions change and bodies need more help, so we’ve put together some tips for getting the most out of time outside safely, at any age. This article is provided by House of Bath. Getting older can make […]
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The health benefits of plants for your parent
This week’s storyteller is Clare Long. Clare, founder of Granny Dodo’s Gardens, shares how flowers can be more than just gifts for our parents, they can also bring enjoyment and brighten up daily life in a care home. My grandparents had a wonderful garden, full of flowers that my grandmother (affectionately nicknamed Granny Dodo) created […]
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Gardening tips for older people
Written by Kathy Lawrence Gardening can be a joy. It’s satisfying, can be productive and it’s very good exercise. Age makes some tasks harder – the digging, mowing and pruning – but with a bit of thought there’s still plenty that can be done at any age. The Horticultural Trade Association in the UK has […]
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No more digging
My dad has always loved his garden, and I’ve always assumed that he will be tending it to the end. So it took me a long time to realise that despite all the treatment and care he’s received for problems large and small over the last few years, he’s not going to get back out […]
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