mental health
Official advice on reducing the risk of dementia
There isn’t a cure for dementia, yet. But the World Health Organisation (WHO) has drawn up guidelines to help us reduce our risk of dementia. Focusing on those who are not showing any or little sign of congnitive decline, the organisation has taken a look at the evidence of what may or may not help. […]
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Can we delay the symptoms of dementia?
When They Get Older reader Roger Burgess has been looking at some suggestions around the causes of, and possible ways of delaying, the symptoms of dementia. Here are some of the ideas he has discovered. Roger is at pains to emphasise that he is not a physician or academic – but he has been affected […]
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What you need to know this week
Here’s our regular roundup of news around the UK that affects you and your older friends and relatives. This issue we’re talking about pensions, NHS Continuing Healthcare Funding, potential treatment and preventions for Alzheimer’s and memory loss, hip and knee replacements, finding missing vulnerable people, and avoiding falls. The downside first Mixed age couples are […]
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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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