Caring for an older relative at home
Clear, practical guidance written by a retired district nurse — for the husbands, wives, sons and daughters who find themselves looking after someone they love, and don’t quite know where to start.
Most of us come to caring with no training and very little warning. This is a plain-English guide to the things families ask me about most — from making the house safe to sorting benefits and power of attorney — with the practical detail you actually need and honest pointers on where to get proper help. Start anywhere.
First steps
Getting started
Where to begin when a relative first starts to need help, and how to arrange a free care needs assessment.
Everyday care
Home safety & falls
Spot the common hazards and cut the risk of a fall — mostly in an afternoon.
Washing & dressing
Helping with personal care while keeping the person’s dignity at the centre.
Managing medication
Dosette boxes, blister packs, repeat prescriptions and what to do about a missed dose.
Eating well
Keeping appetite up, spotting unplanned weight loss, and easy nourishing meals.
Staying mobile
Why a little movement matters so much, plus walking aids and physiotherapy.
Continence care
Common, often treatable, and far easier to manage with the right help and products.
Extra support
Dementia care
Day-to-day skills for caring for someone with dementia at home.
Respite care
How to take a proper break — and why every carer needs one.
Looking after yourself
Spotting burnout, protecting your health and claiming your own support.
Money, legal & info
Benefits & support
The main benefits for older people and carers, and where to get a free benefits check.
Power of attorney
Why to sort it early, and how the rules differ across the UK and Northern Ireland.
Home adaptations
The aids that keep people safe at home, and how to get them assessed and funded.
About this guide
Glenmachan Care Guide is an independent information resource, written and edited in Belfast by a nurse who spent a career on the district. It is not a care provider and sells nothing. Read more about who we are and why this exists, or get in touch.