Tag Archives: carers
Esther Rantzen launches ‘Silver Line’ helpline for lonely elderly
A new helpline for elderly people who struggle with loneliness will be launched across the UK by Esther Rantzen, the founder of ChildLine.
The Silver Line aims to help elderly people by giving them someone to speak to 24 hours a day, and will work like ChildLine by giving support and advice to those suffering neglect or abuse.
Ms Rantzen said a £5m grant means the Silver Line will be able to launch before Christmas – often the loneliest time of year for older people. She said the line aims to tackle the “stigma” attached to being lonely which “makes it impossible” for older people to ask for help and can damage their self esteem.
The Silver Line aims to tackle loneliness for older people and is run by volunteers who will refer callers to activities and organisations that can help them.
NHS patients ‘should not face constant moves’
Patients often face multiple moves around hospital
The era of NHS patients being shunted around hospitals needs to end, an expert group says.The Future Hospital Commission – set up by the Royal College of Physicians – said a radical revamp in structures was needed to bring care to the patient.
This was particularly true for frail people with complex needs, who often faced multiple moves once admitted to hospital, the report said.
It also recommended closer working with teams in the community.
The commission said this could involve doctors and nurses running clinics in the community and even visiting people in their own homes – as is already happening in a few places.
When the carer needs care
mum went and fell down the stairs
Wake up, eat, go out, come back, eat, play, sleep. Simple really.
And then mum went and fell down the stairs.
Kiss it better, put a plaster on it, don’t think about it and it will go away. Simple really.
Stop! Yes, you read that right: mum went and fell down the stairs. This isn’t a kiss it better situation. or a simple plaster affair. This is serious. This involved accident and emergency departments, a splint, bruising, pain killers and crutches. But it could have been so much more serious. And for that I am eternally thankful, despite the pain.
So what happens when the carer needs care?
