Articles from our Blog

The 4 Rs of dementia care – reassure, reconsider, redirect and relax – are helpful in coping with difficult situations that arise when caring for someone with dementia.

The importance of lifelong learning   We normally associate learning with going to school or university, or training for a career. But we need to embrace the concept of lifelong learning, especially as we get older. Because, maintaining an active and stimulated...

Laughter really is the best medicine - especially as you get older   As we get older, maintaining a sense of humor and finding joy in laughter becomes not just enjoyable but also crucial for overall well-being. Here are 5 compelling reasons why laughter really is...

There’s no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end. Kindness doesn’t exist in isolation. Instead, it creates a domino effect where recipients of kindness are themselves moved to do something kind for someone else.

The liver is a vital organ which provides a wide range of functions crucial to your overall health and well-being. Located on the right-hand side of your abdomen, just beneath your diaphragm and above your stomach, it’s the second largest organ after the skin.

Based on a 2022 estimate by the United Nations, there are more than half a million centenarians worldwide, and the numbers are growing. Why are we living longer, and what are the secrets to longevity?

Suicide Prevention – what to do if you suspect that a loved one may be thinking about taking their own life.

Care work is often under-valued and underpaid – if there is any pay at all. And yet what could be important than to care for someone who is sick, disabled, or elderly?

Intergenerational activities can be incredibly enriching and offer unique opportunities for people of different age groups to connect and learn from each other.

Winter ailments – how to keep elders healthy   While many of us suffer from colds and flu during winter, these ailments are more serious in older people. Here's a rundown of common winter ailments that affect elders, and how to avoid or treat them. Influenza...

Nearly 150 000 South Africans will be diagnosed with cancer in the year ahead. We offer some tips to help you face the disease with hope and courage.

Our checklist of Christmas gift ideas for the over 70s comprises consumables and useful items rather than trinkets and gadgets.

At just R1 980 per month, the SASSA old age grant is clearly not sufficient to live on. And the extra R20 you get if you are 75 years or older makes very little difference.

World Alzheimer’s Day, on Wednesday 21 September, shines the spotlight on this frightening disease.

Thinking of hiring a carer to look after an elderly relative (or yourself) at home? Apart from professional qualifications, a good carer has natural qualities that can’t be taught. What are they and why are they so important?

Who will care for me when I get old? And will I be able to afford the cost of elder care, if I suffer from demenita, Parkinsons, crippling arthritis or a stroke?

When you live alone – as many elders do – cooking for one can seem like too much bother. Here are some ideas for quick and easy … and nutritious … meals for one.

Family matters – support for elders living alone In some cultures, extended families still live together. Or at least in the same neighbourhood – supporting one another throughout the various stages of life, from childhood to old age. But in Western society, it’s less...

If you see your parents or parents in law on a regular basis, you will be aware of any gradual loss of mobility or cognitive function. Not so for other relatives who haven’t seen the older family members since last Christmas or even longer, owing to Covid-19 restrictions.

While social distancing is accepted as crucial to stop the spread of the disease, isolation from loved ones and work colleagues carries its own deadly risk to our health.