story
When a heart attack leads to angioplasty
This week’s storyteller has chosen to be anonymous. An angioplasty unblocks arteries and puts a stent in place to keep the artery open. It can be a swift solution to a heart attack. But what exactly happens? Here’s one experience. I had a heart attack. The strange thing is that I wasn’t absolutely sure that […]
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What happens during a cataract operation?
Operations to remove cataracts and improve eyesight are carried out every day across the country. Knowing that doesn’t necessarily lessen the fear of what exactly is going to happen. John Harrison, owner of the Allotment Garden, describes his experience to help others about to go through the same procedure. I was sitting in the car […]
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In praise of district nurses
This week’s storyteller has chosen to be anonymous.When the chips are down, district nurses can be relied upon to take the time and effort to care for our elderly and ill parents at home. At 25 minutes to 1 on Monday we received a phone call from a district nurse to say that dad was […]
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We chose to sell medals for Branse’s benefit
Written by Rebecca Lenton Image provided by Dix Noonan Webb This week’s exclusive story is told by Sarah. Sarah Guthrie, the daughter of Wing Commander Branse Burbridge, talks about her family’s choice to sell her father’s WW2 medals in a bid to cover the cost of his on-going care. She explains that they were not […]
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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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Adjusting to life in a wheelchair
Older parents can find themselves in a wheelchair for all sorts of health reasons after which life can change significantly from the norm. Katherine Pyne, creator of online disability shop designed2enable, found herself in this unexpected position at a younger age but her experience gives us an insight into the impact disability has on many […]
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Mum 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 […]
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No more digging
My dad has always loved his garden, and I’ve always assumed that he will be tending it to the end. So it took me a long time to realise that despite all the treatment and care he’s received for problems large and small over the last few years, he’s not going to get back out […]
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Caring for a dad with dementia, blindness and hearing loss
Written by Rebecca Lenton This week’s storyteller is Jacky. Another urgent call from mum but fortunately this one is less of a crisis than many others. Dad has walked unaided and sat himself in a low chair from which neither he nor mum can move him. When I arrive dad is singing a hymn at […]
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Finding good care for older relatives
This week’s storyteller is Andrea Sutcliffe, Chief Executive of the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE). At some point we may well need to find carers for our parents in their own homes, or a residential home elsewhere. Andrea talks about her personal experience of care choices for her family and how the SCIE’s new […]
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