Tips and Guides

Help and support at home following the arrival of a newborn

Are you balancing the needs of a newborn with running a household and could do with an extra pair of hands? Here’s how Close to Hand can help.

What is home help and who is it for?

Home help is for anyone who needs an extra pair of hands at home to assist with practical tasks or to provide companionship. Close to Hand recognises that there are many reasons people look for help at home at certain times throughout their lives.

10 ways you can be part of Close to Hand’s #onemorecard campaign

This Christmas we have launched our #onemorecard campaign. In this blog we share a few simple ways that you can join us in raising spirits. See the difference a small act of kindness can make to somebody's day.

Introducing Home Helper ratings and reviews

First and foremost, Close to Hand is a community and as such we want to encourage people to share information and communicate with each other. That’s why we’ve enabled registered members to leave recommendations and reviews of Home Helpers.

Why older people lose their appetite and what you can do to help

It is important for older people to consume adequate calories and protein to help maintain energy and muscle mass. The optimum amount of calories and protein help their bodies fight infection and maintain energy levels, so they can stay active.

How can a Home Helper make a positive change to your ageing parents

Watching your parents gradually slowing down can be difficult and accepting the ageing process is hard for the best of us. Read our blog about how Close to Hand Home Helpers can offer a gentle introduction to having support at home.

Taking extra care of older people during a heatwave

We love it when the sun comes out in this country and there’s no sign that the recent heatwave is abating any time soon, but it’s important to remember that soaring temperatures can be dangerous

Caring for very elderly parents in your retirement years

If you’re a pensioner looking after your elderly parents, you’re not alone. There has been a sharp rise in elderly people being cared for by their children, themselves at an age at which they might have expected care.

Help at Home following surgery

Our latest guest blog is from the Independent occupational therapist, Jo Dufton who offers some tips that will help aid recovery at home following joint surgery.