eldercare
How activity monitoring technology can keep people safe at home
While there are always exceptions, it’s accepted that most people want to stay in their own homes for as long as they can. Sometimes it can become tricky though as ageing erodes the facilities that help us to stay safe. If we can’t see or hear so well, or our balance or mobility aren’t as […]
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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 […]
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Keeping track of your relative’s mental health after lockdown
The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the way that the world has been functioning over the past few months. As we try to head out of lockdown and get our lives back to some semblance of ‘normal’, it is just as important that we look out for our older family and friends as much as when […]
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Practical ways to encourage older people to drink more fluids
Ever been in one of those conversations where you’re trying to encourage your older relative to drink more water? But they don’t want to because they’re not thirsty, or they’ll be getting up in the night even more often than they already do? Or they won’t be told by their children what to do? Getting […]
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How to make an elderly relative feel safe when you’re looking after them at home
Looking after an older relative means plenty of plate juggling, ensuring they attend doctors’ appointments, take their medication, eat well, and so on. But one of the most important parts of caring for an elderly loved one is making them feel safe, especially given the current coronavirus pandemic. There are myriad ways you can help […]
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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 […]
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Life changes during lockdown for eldercare
Our latest roundup of news affecting our older friends and family is here. This week we feature: Accessing cash and managing money in an increasingly online world Worrying times for the care sector Doctors urge suspected stroke victims to get to hospital fast Can robotics help relieve loneliness? Living with dementia during coronavirus – some […]
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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, […]
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Age as a risk in the coronavirus pandemic
The subject of risk is as confusing as anything else around the coronavirus. With new knowledge being gleaned every day, the advice given to the public can change as fast. The risk we’re talking about here is not the likelihood of catching the disease, but the probability of being severely affected by it. All older […]
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What to do if you think your parent is self-neglecting
Signs of some degree of self-neglect is common amongst older people. Sometimes there’s a simple explanation that can be addressed through practical help. Perhaps a friend or relative that’s not visited for a while notices that your relative has lost weight. That could be a health issue, which needs checking out sooner rather than later. […]
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