carer
What is Carer’s Allowance and how can I claim it?
If you’re in the UK you could get £76.75 a week in Carer’s Allowance (March 2024) if you care for someone at least 35 hours a week. That makes it a pretty full-time job, although some people do fit part-time working into their day as well. There are rules. You can’t share a Carer’s Allowance […]
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What can a caregiver expect when caring for someone with dementia?
Caring for someone living with dementia can be a challenging task. The more we know of what we may face, the more prepared we can be with our responses. Here are some of the situations caregivers may find themselves experiencing, and suggestions for navigating the journey. It can be hard, and we’re not all heroes, […]
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Working, caregiving – and menopause too? Trying times
The effects of the menopause on women in their middle-ish years is finally being recognised as an important issue that needs to be addressed. At last policy makers and employers are beginning to understand the challenge for many. Some effects are well-known – hot flushes, mood swings and energy fluctuations are all talked about. But […]
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Supporting the unpaid caregivers in your family
Do you have unpaid caregivers in your family, looking after older relations perhaps? How are they doing? A recent survey has found that unpaid carers are struggling to make ends meets, with long-term lack of support compounded by the rising cost of living. The survey by the Carer’s Trust of 2,675 of the millions of […]
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What help is available for unpaid carers?
Are you one of the estimated 13.6 million unpaid carers in the UK? The people who voluntarily provide support for family members and friends who are unable to live completely independently? If you are, then you’re contributing to saving the government around £132 billion a year, which is the value of the care that would […]
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How can we help our seniors keep their homes clean?
When it comes to housework, some people do a better job than others. However, you should be on the lookout if your older relative’s or friend’s home suddenly starts looking disorganised. Difficulty in doing housework is one of the common signs that your loved one might be having health issues, such as fear of falling or […]
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How can I go back to the office when that means leaving Mum on her own?
Dear Lesley I moved in with my elderly mother at the height of the pandemic as this made it easier to keep an eye on her. Plus I didn’t have to tell anyone at work how much she’d gone downhill or ask for time off for hospital visits etc. which felt a bit ‘career-limiting’. I just log on in the […]
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Financial, legal and lifestyle news for older citizens April 2021
Our regular round-up of news and views affecting seniors and their families. This issue includes High street banking Job losses Landline phones Scam alerts Risky investments Life after dementia diagnosis Alcohol and the lockdown Vitamins, exercise and Covid-19 Vaccine side-effects Care award winners Managing chronic pain Getting banking back into the high street Here’s a […]
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Who gets the Covid-19 vaccination in the UK when?
We’ve been seeing a priority list for vaccination against Covid-19 circulating for a few weeks. Most of it works simply on age, but with those groups shielding and with ‘underlying health conditions’ added in. What hasn’t always been clear is that people receiving carer’s allowance, or those who are the main carer of an elderly […]
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Where are we with shielding the most vulnerable?
After the strict guidelines of shielding the most vulnerable during lockdown, government advice across the UK became much lighter, suggesting that everyone could make their own decisions about going out – and stopping deliveries of emergency supplies as a result. England Following the announcement of the three-tier Covid alert system on 12 October, the government […]
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