We talk with Linda of Happier Later Life about her experiences with supporting ageing parents and how it inspired her to set up her own community.
Linda told us: “For the last five years, I’ve been in a supporting role for my dad. He’s 94 this year and still living independently. People are amazed at that fact and he is remarkable, but it can only happen because there is a lot going on behind the scenes.
At the start of 2025, I realised something important: a lot of what I manage for him was just… in my head. How often do we go for an ENT appointment? Which chiropodist does he use? What size are his slippers? So, I did something simple. I bought a cheap week by week diary (£2.50 from a supermarket) and decided to write it all down, as I went through the year.”
Linda began by jotting down whatever came up: information about appointments, tasks completed and still to do, when he felt unwell etc., much like how we support our clients through our electronic care management system. We log all completed tasks, along with observations and comments from our Care Professionals at the end of each visit. This information is instantly shared with the client’s Care Manager at the office, ensuring they stay fully informed as well as being shared with the clients family, helping them stay connected and up to date on their loved one’s daily well-being. So we agree how helpful this note taking and reference checking is.
Linda also has any emergencies covered by sticking an envelope inside the front cover of the diary. It holds a small amount of paper money, for lunches or haircuts, as her dad doesn’t always realise when he’s running short. Linda has found it helpful to have that emergency cash at hand, just in case.
“I’ve also started making little notes before a visit. Things I want to talk to him about – maybe a birthday card to write, a reminder about an upcoming appointment, or simply some family news to share. If I don’t write it down, I’ll forget then think of it halfway home! And there’s usually a to-do-list for him that I bring home. Items to buy, meds that are running low, household jobs I’ve spotted that need doing soon. I pop it in the book so I don’t forget, and I don’t have to carry it all in my head.”
Image : Linda and her dad, Jim.