Helping loved ones live safely and independently

Eldercare can help you provide the support they need and deserve

re you concerned about an elderly A relative living on their own? It can be a worrying time trying to balance their need for independence with your desire to keep them safe.

Caring for our parents, elderly relatives or ourselves as we get older is something we often don’t want to think about. But coping with the effects of frailty, and even dementia, is something that most of us will have to face.

It’s a big issue, and a costly and complicated one. But helping you learn more about it, manage it and get access to services is why we’ve chosen to work with Eldercare. For more than 30 years, Eldercare has been helping tens of thousands of people across the UK with everything from personal alarms to advice, care and practical ways for your loved ones to live safely and independently in their own homes.

Eldercare is an independent specialist in eldercare and one of the country’s leading and longest-established providers of high-quality personal alarms and emergency products and services, dealing with more than one million calls a year at its Emergency Response Centre.

Eldercare’s alarm and expert care advice services are available nationwide and they aim to provide homecare, domestic and handyman services as far across the country as possible, by working with a network of trusted partners and their locally managed teams. If they can’t personally deliver a service for you, they’ll do their best to find a quality local provider that you can choose to use.

Yours has worked with Eldercare to create a guide filled with expert advice and information that we hope you’ll find invaluable in trying to navigate caring for those who’ve always cared for you. The guide covers everything from how to get help with household costs to making the most of modern technology designed to help keep your loved ones safe, and are extremely easy to use, known as ‘telecare’.

There is a wide range of help and support available to help you find the solutions that are right for you.

Eldercare is an independent specialist in eldercare and one of the country’s leading and longestestablished providers of high-quality personal alarms

for the kettle to boil, he enquired jokingly: “How are things, Amy? You are looking very pleased with yourself!” “I’m fine, thanks,” she replied. “You should smile more often – it suits you,” he said, pouring a splash of milk into his mug.

Instead of offering an explanation for her broad grin, Amy thanked him and helped herself to two biscuits.

Harry felt a twinge of envy. She must be in love! It was the only explanation. Sadly, there had been no romance in his own life since his divorce and he was tempted to ask her how she had met the person who had made her so happy, but she’d already returned to her desk.

That evening, Harry tried to watch a film, but all he could think about was Amy and that magical smile. He made up his mind to discover her secret, but he didn’t get the chance. When he got to work the next day, her smile had vanished as though it had never existed.

Curiosity overcame his natural reluctance to pry so when she went to make herself a coffee, he followed her into the kitchen again. “What happened to that lovely smile, Amy? Have you fallen out with your boyfriend?”

She shook her head. “No such luck – it’s ages since I had a man in my life.”

Helping himself to a biscuit, Harry said: “Pam and Susan were worried. They thought maybe you were putting on a smile to hide a problem.”

Amy stared at him in amazement. “Really? They were the ones who showed me an article in a magazine that said if you smile even when you don’t feel like it, it will make you happier. So I thought I would give it a try.”

Harry suppressed a chuckle. He should have known those two were up to something. “And did it work?” he asked.

Amy nodded. “It did, but it was hard to keep it up. I’ll give it another go on World Smile Day.”

World Smile Day? Whatever next, Harry wondered as he made his way back to his office. He Googled it and learned that scientists had found that smiling, even if it was only pretending, made people feel better. He decided to give it a whirl.

For the rest of the day, he beamed at everyone, even the traffic warden he found lurking near his car as he returned from lunch. Weirdly, it worked. He felt happier than he’d done for ages.

Later that afternoon, he overheard Pam and Susan chatting. “Now young Mr T is smiling!” Susan said, rinsing her mug under the tap. “Do you think he has asked Amy for a date?”

“I don’t think so. She’s been sweet on him for ages and she’d be grinning like a Cheshire cat if he had.”

Harry beat a hasty retreat. He had never guessed that Amy might be interested in him in that way. Now that the idea had been planted in his mind, it was all he could think about.

The next morning, he waited until he saw Amy heading for the kitchen, mug in hand. Quickly grabbing his own mug, he followed her and took the opportunity to blurt out the question he had been longing to ask since he first saw her smile. “Would you like to come out for dinner with me one evening?”

“I’d love to!” she beamed – a genuine smile this time.

They might have stayed there all day, grinning foolishly at each other, if Pam and Susan hadn’t walked in.

“Ooops! Sorry to interrupt!” they chorused.

As they walked away, Harry could hear the sisters giggling like a couple of teenagers. He realised that they had been playing him like an old guitar, but for once he was very glad they had stuck their noses into other people’s business. Very glad indeed.

Harry beamed at everyone, even the traffic warden he found lurking near his car

A welcome reception on the Friday so you can meet the friendly Yours team and fellow guests

A complimentary goody bag in your room full of freebies to enjoy

Summer outdoor concert by Alvaston All-stars including a complimentary BBQ

Delicious 3-course meal every night and hearty breakfasts each morning

Complimentary use of the beautiful 9-hole golf course and awardwinning grounds

Fun social events for solo travellers, hosted by singles co-ordinator Janice

...and so much more still to be announced!