mental health
How can I care for mum with dementia when I can’t cope myself?
Dear Lesley I’ve recently learned my Mum has mixed dementia. She was diagnosed almost two years ago but I’ve only just found out. Since then she has also got septicaemia and pneumonia, although she’s on the mend from the pneumonia now. I have three brothers and I’m the only girl. I’m also the youngest. My […]
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Why you need to ensure travel insurance declarations include mental health conditions
We know we need to declare physical conditions and medications when we’re looking for travel insurance, but how many of us think about notifying insurers of mental health issues? Or are even sure what constitutes such a condition? According to AllClear, a specialist medical travel insurance provider, many older travellers aren’t declaring mental health issues […]
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Experiences in caring for a mum with dementia
Adam Sibley has written an acclaimed book about his experiences of caring for a mother with early onset dementia. In this article he offers advice from someone who has been there to help those who are there now. I cared for my mum for nearly four years after she was diagnosed with early onset dementia […]
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How can we tell if a parent has Alzheimer’s disease? Part 2
Alzheimer’s disease is hard to diagnose and so far there’s no cure. We’ve been talking to Re:Cognition Health, the “brain health experts”, about how we can recognise the signs and what can be done about it. In the second of two parts we look treatments available now and being trialled in the future, and ask […]
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How can we tell if a parent has Alzheimer’s disease?
Written by Kathy Lawrence Dementia is a frightening prospect. How can we tell if our parents have it? Could we get it? Are there any treatments? We’ve been talking to Re:Cognition Health, the “brain health experts”, about diagnosis and drug trials. In the first of two parts we look at how we can know if […]
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How to help your parent live well with Multiple Sclerosis
Written by Rebecca Lenton While more than 100,000 people have Multiple Sclerosis in the UK there are many facts and fictions surrounding the condition that have led to common misconceptions. MS is not a fatal condition but as there is no cure a diagnosis does mean that the disease will slowly affect your parent’s neurological […]
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Helping parents to avoid depression
Written by Kathy Lawrence 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 […]
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Is loneliness now an epidemic among the elderly?
Written by Rebecca Lenton Loneliness among the UK’s ageing population is widely publicised as a health hazard which can increase the risk of depression, dementia and heart attacks. The size of the loneliness challenge The Campaign to End Loneliness reports that 10% of those aged over 65 are chronically lonely while Age UK has found […]
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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 […]
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Is 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 […]
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