carer
Why my parents never came to live with me
This week’s storyteller has chosen to be anonymous. We’ve asked many people about their experiences of living with their parents in later life. In our latest story, our storyteller explains why she didn’t make that offer. Why didn’t my parents move in with me when they needed help? I didn’t invite them and they wouldn’t […]
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Gaining new freedom by moving in together
This week’s storyteller has chosen to be anonymous and names have been changed. It was a tough decision, but Sally’s move to the UK from her native South Africa to live with her son and his fiancée has given her renewed independence. I live with my fiancée Carter and his mother, Sally, who’s in her […]
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And Fred came too: the struggle to care for a grieving step-parent
This week’s storyteller is Barbara. When Barbara’s mother passed away, Barbara was left to care for her mother’s second husband who stayed on in the granny flat. Despite Barbara’s best efforts, it was hard to make the relationship work. My father died 33 years ago, and eventually Mummy met and married Fred, who was some […]
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Bridging the distance between us
This week’s storyteller is Sally.When Sally’s parents both became ill and dependent on others, Sally resisted the pressure to turn her life upside down and go home to help. She tells us about the struggle to help from a distance and relieve the load on family who stayed nearby. At the young age of 49, […]
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How to successfully request flexible working hours
From June 30th this year, anyone who has been with the same employer for at least 26 weeks is legally entitled to make a written or verbal request for flexible working hours. For many who’re juggling work, family and caring commitments this is a welcome move forward. If you’re considering applying for flexible working hours […]
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How can flexible working hours help me look after my elderly parent?
As our parents get older they may start to face various health challenges. It can be difficult to fit their hospital and GP appointments into a full-time work schedule but with recent changes to flexible working legislation you can now apply to amend your contracted hours in order to help your parents without having to […]
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Ageing parents – who cares?
The number of people aged 85 and over in the UK has shot up in recent years and it’s predicted to double in the next two decades. As they get older, people often need more care and support. But social services are struggling, communities are less cohesive than they used to be and families are […]
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Balancing dementia care with a full-time career
This week’s storyteller is Marianne Talbot. Marianne, Director of Studies in Philosophy at Oxford University, shares how she managed to care for a Dad with dementia and later a Mum with Alzheimer’s whilst working as a full-time academic. I was expecting people for supper when the phone rang. Dad had been rushed into hospital. I […]
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Fresh ideas on balancing work and eldercare
Written by Rebecca Lenton Women in their 50s and 60s are working longer whilst taking the lion’s share of care for ageing family members. As career opportunities begin to slim with care responsibilities often over spilling into working hours it’s clear that older women can have a tough time of it in the work place […]
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I am ham. Or jam
Written by Kathy Lawrence Today we’re having children later and seeing our parents live to a greater age. It’s bound to affect our lifestyles – perhaps more than we were expecting. One day you’re running around after your children, rushing to open evenings or sports and after school clubs, and playing taxi to a burgeoning […]
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