depression
How can I help dad who’s become pessimistic and dependent after his stroke?
Much as we would love to help overcome all the challenges of ageing, we do have to accept that some situations can’t be completely fixed. David’s dad is struggling after a stroke but is resistant to change. Dr Lesley Trenner offers advice on supporting older parents who are facing unwelcome changes in their lives. Dear […]
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The first signs of loneliness in friends and family
There is no doubt that people in the UK are now living longer than ever before. While increased life expectancy is a good thing overall, it can lead to issues such as loneliness. This often happens as people become less agile and able to socialise. Of course, loneliness is not restricted to the elderly but […]
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How to cope when your parent has a stroke
Suffering a stroke is a danger at almost any age, but it’s our parents who are often most at risk. It can be terrifying when a parent has a stroke but making sure we’re aware of the warning signs, as well as the risk factors, can help to prevent permanent damage to our parent’s memory. […]
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Helping parents to avoid depression
With depression known to be a real risk in an ageing population, there are many ways that we can help our parents to keep active and independent to stave off the gloom. Our parents can become depressed for many reasons. Losing friends and loved ones is an obvious cause, but loneliness through lack of human […]
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Living with blindness
Written by Rebecca Lenton Blindness affects almost 2 million people in the UK and as our parents get older there’s an increasing chance that they may experience some degree of sight loss. 1 in 5 people aged 75 and over are living with sight loss and for those with a service record accepting their blindness […]
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Tips for helping older people overcome mild depression
Depression can affect anyone of any age, but as people age, they can become more susceptible to feeling down. We look at ways that friends and family can help support older people. As we get older, our lives naturally change – and many of these changes are ones that people welcome with open arms. Many […]
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Are sex and love taboo topics for you and your parents?
Don’t be afraid to talk to your parent about love and sex, advises Relate counsellor and author, Barbara Bloomfield. They’ve got the same hopes and dreams as you have, but are probably just a bit shyer of talking about it. After my mother was widowed in her sixties, I used to see quite a bit […]
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