Author Archives: Maureen

Elderly want home care but don’t discuss needs

December 26, 2013   Carers, Older care

Pensioners end up going into care homes or hospitals because they leave decisions on their long term care until they are facing a crisis situation, experts say

 

Three quarters of those questioned had not discussed their care needs with their loved ones
7:40PM GMT 26 Dec 2013
Nine in 10 people would prefer to be cared for in their own home, new research shows, but three quarters do not discuss their desires with their loved ones.

The over 50s find it easier to talk about money and funeral plans than where they want to be looked after in their old age, a study has found.

This is because there is a lack of understanding of the options available, experts say, which means decisions only take place when the situation reaches crisis point.

More than half of the UK’s over 50s have had to organise care for a relative, but a third of them never even asked what their loved one wanted.

Of more than 11,700 people questioned, 87 per cent would prefer to be cared for in their own homes if the need arose, while less than one in ten, 8 per cent, would want to go into a residential care.

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Santa’s special detour to see young Shipdham boy

December 22, 2013   Carers, Norfolk

The annual Dereham Round Table Santa Sleigh made a special detour to bring a present to young Matthew Saunders, who suffers from Cystic Fibrosis (CF)

Sunday, December 22, 2013 12:21 PM

The annual Dereham Round Table Santa Sleigh made a special detour to bring a present to young Matthew Saunders, who suffers from Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Hundreds of children in the Dereham area have been given an early Christmas present with the arrival of Santa on his sleigh, thanks to the town’s Round Table group.

And he took a special detour ahead of his visit to Shipdham to see a poorly eight-year-old boy who feared ill health might force him to miss out on his annual visit.

Matthew Saunders, from Saham Toney, suffers from cystic fibrosis and normally stands by the roadside in Shipdham with his mum Chantal to see Santa. But this year he has been suffering from a lung infection which meant he could not leave the warmth of his home for very long.

However Santa was able to get Rudolph to take a slight detour to stop right outside Matthew’s house, and the youngster emerged with a massive smile across his face.

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Heartache of seeing husband with dementia slowly dying

December 20, 2013   Alzheimer’s, Carers, dementia

Valerie Davison of Long Sutton Valerie with pictures of her and and husband, whose in dementia care.

20th December 2013

A Long Sutton woman who is watching her husband “slowly dying before her eyes” has welcomed a global commitment to find a cure for dementia by 2025.

At the first ever G8 dementia summit in London last week, leading nations vowed to fund research to combat the relentless brain destruction that strikes so many.

The global number of dementia sufferers is expected to treble to 135 million by 2050 and Prime Minister David Cameron has promised to commit £132million for research, to be doubled by 2025.

However, for Valerie Davison (72), the promise of help has come too late.

Mrs Davison thought her husband, Jack, was just getting forgetful when the early signs of dementia began six years ago. She said: “He started forgetting things and I thought it was just old age, but then it got worse.”

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