mental health
Is loneliness now an epidemic among the elderly?
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 that almost a million […]
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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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The health benefits of plants for your parent
This week’s storyteller is Clare Long. Clare, founder of Granny Dodo’s Gardens, shares how flowers can be more than just gifts for our parents, they can also bring enjoyment and brighten up daily life in a care home. My grandparents had a wonderful garden, full of flowers that my grandmother (affectionately nicknamed Granny Dodo) created […]
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Enjoying nature and the outdoors with a family member with dementia
Being out in nature and sharing activity outside is something which brings immediate benefits to people living with dementia and we believe is a crucial part of “living well”. The outdoors is the original multi-sensory environment and we don’t need to be taught or learn how to connect with it. It is free and on […]
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The 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 […]
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Tips for caring from a distance
Helping parents who don’t live just round the corner is more complicated, but there are many things that we can do to ease their situation. Sally offers some tips gleaned from her experience of supporting a mother with physical needs and a father with mental challenges, both at the same time. It is possible to […]
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Christmas gifts for our parents
Written by Kathy Lawrence Buying presents for our parents that they’ll really appreciate can get difficult. Do you go for the tried and trusted or take a risk with something new? You’ve landed on our 2013 gift list. For our new and improved 2014 gift list please click here! We’ve put together a few ideas […]
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Will I inherit mum’s Alzheimer’s?
Dear Lesley My mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s a couple of years ago although it was clear for several years before then that she had dementia. I’m 52 years old and worried I’m going down the same path. Mum’s memory was terrible and so is mine. Sometimes it’s big things – I visit somewhere I […]
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