Care Guides topic
Carer wellbeing
Recognising your role, taking breaks and finding support when caring feels like a lot.
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Carer burnout: ways to reduce the organisational loadIf caring feels unmanageable, you do not have to carry the admin alone. Share specific tasks, make space for breaks and seek support from your GP…More in Carer wellbeing
What is a carer's assessment and how do I get one?
A carer's assessment is a conversation with your local council about your own needs as an unpaid carer. Contact adult social care and ask how to…
5 min read
Respite care for elderly parents: options for family carers
Respite means arranging temporary support so an unpaid carer can take a break. Options depend on needs and local availability; ask the council or a…
5 min read
Going on holiday when you care for an elderly parent
Plan cover early, ask your parent what support they want, confirm each arrangement in writing and give the person stepping in a concise handover. A…
5 min read
Anticipatory grief: grieving while you're still caring
Many carers feel grief before a death — for changes in the person, their relationship or plans they'd made. It's a common experience, and support is…
4 min read
Grief support in the UK: where to find help
You can talk to your GP, contact Cruse Bereavement Support, or call Samaritans any time on 116 123. If you are in danger or thinking of harming…
4 min read
Supporting each other as a family after a death
Family members often grieve differently and at different times. Sharing practical tasks, being clear about who is doing what and making room for…
4 min read
What to do when someone dies: the first steps
In the first days, a doctor confirms the cause of death where possible, the death is registered, and you can begin to arrange the funeral. You don't…
6 min read
Registering a death and using Tell Us Once
You register a death with a local register office, usually after receiving the medical certificate of cause of death. The registrar gives you the…
4 min read
Arranging a funeral: practical steps and help with costs
Check whether the person left funeral wishes or a pre-paid plan, then decide whether to use a funeral director. If money is tight, you may be able to…
4 min read
LPA vs executor: what's the difference?
An attorney under a Lasting Power of Attorney makes decisions for someone while they are alive and lack capacity (or, for property and finance, with…
4 min read
Being an executor: what the role involves
Executors find out what the person owned and owed, apply for probate if needed, pay debts and taxes, and pass on what's left as the will sets out.…
4 min read
Applying for probate: a plain-English overview
Probate is the legal right to deal with someone's estate. In England and Wales you apply to the probate service, usually online, after estimating the…
4 min read
Talking with a parent about their will and wishes
Choose a calm moment, explain why you're asking, and let your parent lead. The aim is to understand what matters to them and where important papers…
4 min read
Why the good days matter when you're caring
When care fills the diary with appointments and problems, it's easy to lose sight of the person and the ordinary good moments. Noting some of those…
4 min read
Capturing everyday memories with an ageing parent
Ask before you photograph or record, keep it relaxed, and let your parent choose what's shared. Short, natural moments tend to mean more than staged…
4 min read
Celebrating small wins while caring
Small wins might be a family day out that went smoothly, a sibling taking over a job, or simply getting through a hard week. Noticing them can help…
4 min read
Ordinary moments you may one day treasure
Sunday lunches, the way someone laughs, the songs they hum while cooking. Everyday details are easy to overlook and often the ones families say they…
3 min read
Birthdays, anniversaries and traditions while caring
Traditions can adapt. A smaller gathering, a favourite cake at the care home or a video call with distant family can keep an occasion special when a…
4 min read
Questions to ask your parents and grandparents
Asking about childhood, first jobs, how they met their partner or what they're proud of can spark wonderful conversations. Let the person choose what…
4 min read
Preserving family stories in their own voice
A short voice recording of someone telling a favourite story keeps not just the words but the way they tell it. Keep recordings short, private and…
4 min read
Creating a family memory collection together
A shared collection lets everyone add photos, stories and recordings over time. Agree who can see it and how you'll organise it, then let it grow…
4 min read
Remembering a really good day
If you had a day that felt good — a trip, a visit, a laugh — you might like to note it. It's simply a family memory, not a measure of health or how…
3 min read
Personal milestones without turning care into a score
A new grandchild, a wedding anniversary, finishing a jigsaw together. Personal milestones are about the person and the family, not about ticking off…
3 min read
Why everyday memories can matter after a bereavement
After someone dies, some families find comfort in photos, stories and recordings of everyday life. Others need time before they can look at them.…
4 min read
Private digital memory box ideas
A digital memory box can hold photos, short videos, voice notes and written stories. Keep it private to close family, give each item a title and…
4 min read
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