My elderly mother is needing more care. Can I get any support?

I CARE for my elderly mother and, as she becomes more frail, I am having to do more. Can I get any support with this?

It is good to think ahead and plan for some support now rather than waiting for things to become unmanageable. The first to do would be for your mother to chat to her GP to rule out any medical condition that could be contributing to her frailty.

Care services are available to help people who need support because of illness, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction.

Don’t forget to think about your own health and needs. So please ask what support is available to you as a carer. To find out what help your mother needs, ask for an assessment of your care needs, also called a care assessment or care needs assessment.

As a carer, you should also ask for a carer’s assessment to assess what help you might need. Your local council’s social care department provides both free.

If you visit the Care Information Scotland website www. careinfoscotland or call the team on 0800 011 3200 you can find out your local council’s contact details. They will also be able to signpost you to other organisations such as Carers Trust Scotland, Carers Trust and Age Scotland.

These organisations offer a range of support and advice, which can include, emotional support, training, and help for carers who work or study.

As you provide care for your mum, you may also be eligible for the flu vaccine, which is available from October to March. Speak to your GP or nurse for more information.

I’VE recently been told I have low blood pressure. I was just looking to find out what normal blood pressure is for an adult.

As a general guide, low blood pressure is a reading of 90/60 or less. However, it is not necessary for both your systolic and diastolic readings to be in this range for it to be considered low blood pressure.

For example, a reading of 80/65 would be considered low because the systolic number is in the low range, and 100/55 would also be considered as low because the diastolic number is in the low range.

If you have low blood pressure, you do not need to worry.

Having low blood pressure is considered healthy as it protects you from the risks and diseases associated with high blood pressure. You will only need to have treatment if you are experiencing symptoms because of your low blood pressure.