My Life as a Carer When her mum was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, Lesley Brackenridge had no hesitation about deciding to become her carer.  Don Parton reports on how Lesley coped as a carer for six years and how she eventually found the right care home for her.  To read Lesley’ story click here... Are Your Elderly Relatives Being Ripped Off? Shacklocks, a Midlands-based law firm has saved families more than £97,000 in overpaid care fees and is urging people with elderly relatives to look into their care home fees more closely.  The care funding system is complex and many people may be unaware that they are entitled to some contribution towards their care costs. To read more click here... Carers on the Brink of Exhaustion As many as 4 million carers in the UK could be on the brink of exhaustion Carers who dedicate their time to looking after older relatives or partners are not just providing essential support for their loved ones, they are also giving a valuable service that saves the taxpayer billions of pounds a year.  Yet it seems the carers themselves are not receiving the support they deserve and that they are suffering financially, physically and emotionally. Click here... to read more. Divorce and the over 60s   Although the national divorce rate is at its lowest level since 2000, divorce among the over 60s is on the increase.  The decision to decide to divorce is a very difficult one to make irrespective of age and should not be taken without careful consideration of all the consequences both financial and emotional.  Keith Doherty of Thackray Williams Solicitors in Bromley points out that there are a number of factors that need to be considered when deciding to end a long marriage. Click here… to read more Choosing a care home for your parents Many Baby Boomers are faced with the issue of putting either one or both of their parents into a care home. This can be a very difficult and upsetting time as many older people try desperately to cling to their  independence. If a home becomes the only solution then you want to ensure that the place you choose is safe, secure and caring. Find out more by clicking here...

Help the person you care for to a little independence If someone you care for struggles to manage the everyday task of getting dressed, you may be interested in an innovative range of clothing from Adaptawear which has taken conventional designs and made them so much simpler to put on, take off and wear. For more information click here... Coping with the unthinkable Dementia Caring for someone can often be a sudden, life-changing experience and many people find it difficult to cope. Britain has an army of more than four million carers that live largely unnoticed by the rest of society,  One of those carers is David Holton whose life was turned upside down when his 45 year old wife Carole was diagnosed with early onset dementia.  Andrew Chilvers, from www.bettercaring.com, writes about how Carole’s tragic illness has affected the lives of David and their teenage son and the difficulties he  has had to overcome. Click here... to read more. 1 In 3 Golden Oldies Use Technology to Find Love Over 50s e-Flirting on the Rise According to a recent survey 6.8 million of the UK’s silver surfers are as tech savvy as their younger, digitally-aware counterparts, according to research published today, with a third now using the internet and mobile messaging to find true love. Click here... to read more. Building Confidence If you have experienced the end of a relationship a lack of confidence may be stopping you from moving on to the next phase of your life. Find out how to start building your confidence by clicking here... Self Confidence & Body Image After a relationship breakdown you may feel you have somehow failed and as a result become depressed or disheartened. In order to progress with your new life you need to feel self-confident and believe in your worth. To start that self belief click here...  Relationship Healthcheck There is strong evidence that people live longer and happier lives in supportive and loving relationships. To keep these relationships in good health they need to be assessed so check the strength of yours by clicking here...  These articles are in association with www.armchairadvice.co.uk