covid-19
Who needs to wear a face mask or covering and who’s exempt
Many of us are now being asked to wear face coverings on public transport, in hospitals, care homes and GP surgeries, and now in retail outlets. It’s a physically and socially odd feeling, but that we, and our family members, must get used to if we want to visit a growing number of facilities. The […]
Read more
How the pandemic is changing the way we manage diabetes
Diabetes is one of the conditions believed to raise the risk level of serious illness for anyone who contracts Covid-19. One in four people who died in hospital in England between March and May 2020 following a diagnosis of the coronavirus also had diabetes. While this sounds alarming, the risk of dying is still very […]
Read more
Can our parents now enjoy some safe retail therapy on the High Street?
With lockdown easing, and people being positively encouraged to get back onto the High Street to save ailing businesses, our older family and friends may be tempted back out if they’re not actively shielding. However, older people, especially if they live with a number of health issues, remain at risk of reacting badly if they […]
Read more
Mental capacity and Covid-19
There have been some changes to the way that people lacking mental capacity are cared for during the Covid-19 pandemic. The UK Government has published guidance on the key points of the Mental Capacity Act (2005) and deprivation of liberty safeguards (DoLS) in England and Wales, and what has changed temporarily. The changes centre around […]
Read more
A visit to the dentist in social distancing times
I went to the dentist today. A few months that really wouldn’t have been worthy of a blog, unless I was feeling particularly self-indulgent. But in these bizarre times, it was another bite of unreality. I actually had no idea dentists were open again for normal appointments. And I hadn’t checked my really empty diary […]
Read more
Will the post-virus world be kinder to the old and vulnerable?
Editorial While living with a pandemic has been strange and difficult, it gives us an opportunity to reset attitudes and behaviours towards the older members of society. But there are many questions with unpredictable answers. The first question of course is when will there be a post-covid world? For those going back to work and […]
Read more
My mum’s self-isolating and I’m worried about her state of mind
Dear Lesley I can’t stop worrying about my mum during this lockdown. She’s 85 so she needs to stay at home, and people locally have been great at getting her bits of shopping and her meds and leaving them at her door. The trouble is, she’s not used to being on her own all day, […]
Read more
Foods to boost the immune system in times of coronavirus
A strong immune system can be key to fighting off the worst of the coronavirus. That’s why people at risk of becoming seriously ill are considered to be all those likely to have weakened immune systems, commonly defined as the over 70s and those with ‘underlying health conditions’, including Type 2 diabetes, hypertension and obesity. […]
Read more
Where to go for government, health and care advice in the coronavirus crisis
This page is devoted to links for official and expert information for everyone with questions about specific health conditions and what we can and can’t do in the crisis. We will be updating the page regularly as more advice becomes available. Government advice and resources The UK government offers advice and requirements primarily for England, […]
Read more
How long does the coronavirus live on surfaces – and is my Amazon package a risk?
Here’s a useful graphic from the New England Journal of Medicine that shows how long the coronavirus can stay on various hard materials. It should be helpful if you or your family members are out and about, using public transport, pushing trollies around supermarkets, or sharing any facilities with other people. The graphic shows that […]
Read more