loneliness
Could animal assisted therapy improve your parent’s health?
Written by Rebecca Lenton We explore the potential benefits of pet therapy as a way to relax and encourage our parents wherever they reside. As our parents get older, and perhaps begin to lose their friends and loved ones, they could start to feel lonely. With recent figures suggesting that loneliness is fast becoming an […]
Read moreIs a pet for your parent a good idea?
Written by Rebecca Lenton Pets are often recommended as good companions for the lonely or housebound. What are the pros and cons of pet ownership as your parents grow frailer, and how can you help them to ensure their pet continues to be cared for, however circumstances change? For parents who are lonely or socially […]
Read moreRetiring to the country – 8 things to discuss before your parents decide
Written by Kathy Lawrence Moving to a rural area can be a cherished dream for retirement. But what are the pitfalls and how can they be avoided? We asked for advice from the team behind the “Over the Hill” campaign, which aims to tackle rural isolation. Retiring to green fields after a life in the […]
Read moreWould a homeshare scheme suit your parent?
According to the UK Office of National Statistics the number of people aged 85 and over is projected to reach 3.5 million by 2035, 2.5 times larger than in 2010. If the population continues to age at this rate the number of elderly who’ll need support will increase significantly. Programmes are growing around the country […]
Read moreMum refuses help – what can we do?
Written by Rebecca Lenton This week’s storyteller has chosen to be anonymous. Our storyteller talks about the dilemma of a mother who lives in a home that’s no longer suitable for her needs, but refuses to move out, move nearer or get help. When my parents moved from London to their cottage in a remote […]
Read moreThe benefits of care over the phone
John Wilson, Project Director of Link Line London, shares his expertise in the field of telephone support and talks about the benefits of care over the phone. I was active in my local community, and realised there were many older people living on their own, feeling lonely and isolated from their friends and neighbours. There […]
Read moreComing home – or at least nearby
This week’s storyteller has chosen to be anonymous.When’s the right time to move a parent to be close to you? Does removing some parental challenges mean introducing new ones? My mum is a healthy lady in her early 70s. She and dad moved away from our home town some years ago, building a full and […]
Read moreHow tea parties help to ward off loneliness
Written by Rebecca Lenton This week’s storyteller is Gemma. Gemma tells us how she became a volunteer driver for Contact the Elderly. She describes the benefits of attending the charity’s free monthly tea parties for everyone involved. I’d decided that I wanted to give something back to my community. I saw a poster advertising the […]
Read moreDo meals on wheels actually mean tea and company?
Written by Rebecca Lenton This week’s storyteller has chosen to be anonymous. Ever wondered what a meals delivery means for your elderly relative? Is it a friendly face and a welcome chat to brighten their day or is it much more than that? Is it a break from the norm of spending their day in […]
Read more