When the Grandparent Becomes Ill

Where to start

• Tell the children: “Granny’s unwell. Some things will be different.”
• It also helps to ask for the kind of help that doesn’t feel like failing. There is an advice line for practical questions about your parent’s care, open every day. Age UK, 0800 678 1602. Daily 8am-7pm, 365 days a year. Help is free. And there is a line for anyone caring for an elderly parent while still bringing up children. Carers UK, 0808 808 7777. Email enquiries@carersuk.org. Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, including bank holidays. Outside those hours the line is closed. Samaritans answer at any hour on 116 123, and Shout answer if you text the word SHOUT to 85258. Help is free.

The rest of the tip, with more to try and why it works, is in the library.

It goes with

• When a Child Is Grieving. For parents whose child has lost someone, or something, that was there last week.
• The Conversations Parents Avoid. For parents who need to tell their child something hard and don’t know how to start.

The first chapter you open here is free to read in full.

Free on this subject

• Family stress. What to do first, what helps, and who else can help. Free to read and to print.
• Parent wellbeing. What to do first, what helps, and who else can help. Free to read and to print.