Elder care guides
Written for families, caregivers and doctors, these guides offer practical steps for care at home — from high blood pressure to pressure ulcers, and from agitation in dementia to recovery after a hip fracture. Every guide says when to contact a doctor or emergency services and lists its sources.
These guides are general information and do not replace a personal health assessment. Talk to your doctor about treatment and medicines.
Chronic conditions
Home monitoring, medication routines and when to contact a doctor or emergency services for conditions common in later life: high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, Parkinson’s, heart failure and COPD.
High blood pressure in older adults: accurate home readings and monitoring
How to measure blood pressure correctly at home, how to keep a log and which symptoms need emergency help. A practical monitoring plan for families and caregivers.
6 min readDiabetes in older adults: low blood sugar signs, foot care and a daily plan
How to recognise and treat low blood sugar in an older relative. Meal routines, daily foot checks, sick days and a diabetes plan to share with the caregiver.
7 min readHome care after a stroke: a family guide to the first months
Coming home after a stroke: home layout, safe movement, swallowing problems, communication and emotional changes. Plus the FAST check for recognising a new stroke.
8 min readParkinson’s disease at home: medication timing, freezing, falls and swallowing
How to support a relative with Parkinson’s at home: taking medicines on time, tips for freezing episodes, fall prevention, swallowing, constipation and sleep.
7 min readHeart failure at home: daily weighing, swelling and warning signs
Monitoring a relative with heart failure at home: daily weight, checking for swelling, salt and fluid plans, medicines and the symptoms that mean calling the doctor.
6 min readLiving with COPD at home: inhaler technique, breathing methods and flare-up signs
For a relative with COPD: correct inhaler technique, pursed-lip breathing, saving energy, oxygen safety and when to call the doctor or emergency services.
7 min readCare skills
The everyday skills of care, step by step: preventing pressure ulcers, caring for someone in bed, swallowing difficulties, hydration, constipation, sleep and mouth care.
Caring for a bedbound person: daily routine, bed baths, eating and dignity
A daily care plan for an older relative who is bedbound: bed bath steps, skin and mouth care, positioning, toileting, eating and drinking, equipment and looking after yourself as a carer.
8 min readSwallowing difficulties (dysphagia) in older adults: signs, safe eating and choking risk
Coughing at meals, a change in voice, repeated pneumonia: recognising swallowing difficulties, safe mealtime routines, texture advice, care when giving medicines and emergencies.
6 min readConstipation in older adults: causes, prevention and when to see a doctor
Constipation is common in older adults and can cause restlessness, confusion and urinary problems. Fluids, fibre, movement, toilet routine, medicines and warning signs.
5 min readMouth and dental care in older adults: cleaning dentures, dry mouth and care in bed
Oral health affects eating, speaking and the risk of pneumonia. Daily care for teeth and dentures, dry mouth, mouth care for someone who is bedbound and when to see the dentist.
5 min readHearing and vision loss in older adults: noticing it, easier communication and safety
Hearing and vision loss can lead to loneliness, falls and being mistaken for dementia. Signs, hearing aid care, communication tips, home lighting and emergencies.
6 min readHow to prevent pressure ulcers (bedsores): a home care guide
Reducing pressure ulcer risk in older people who spend most of their time in bed or a chair: repositioning, skin checks, managing moisture, nutrition and early warning signs.
7 min readUrinary incontinence in older adults: causes, home management and dignified care
Incontinence is not an inevitable part of ageing. Types, treatable causes, a bladder diary, toilet routines, skin care and when to see a doctor.
6 min readSudden confusion in older adults (delirium): signs, causes and what to do
Confusion that starts over hours or days may not be dementia but delirium, which needs urgent assessment. Signs, common causes and what families can do.
6 min readDehydration in older adults: signs, hot weather precautions and ways to make drinking easier
Thirst fades with age. Early signs of dehydration, a drinking plan spread through the day, precautions in summer heat and cautions for people on a fluid restriction.
5 min readSleep problems in older adults: night waking, daytime dozing and evening restlessness
How sleep changes with age and what is not normal. A drug-free sleep routine, a safe night-time environment, evening restlessness in dementia and cautions about sleeping tablets.
6 min readDementia & Alzheimer’s
Guides for communicating with a relative with dementia, keeping home safe and staying calm through agitation and wandering.
Agitation, aggression and wandering in dementia: understanding the causes and staying calm
What can you do when a relative with dementia shows agitation, anger, suspicion, repeated questions or wandering? Triggers, ways to respond, safety and the carer’s resilience.
7 min readCommunicating with a Relative with Dementia: 12 Techniques That Work
Techniques that end arguments, reduce anxiety and protect dignity — with everyday phrase swaps.
7 min readLiving safely at home with a loved one with dementia: a complete family guide
From home setup to daily routine, communication techniques to an emergency plan — everything that makes home care easier through dementia.
9 min readPost-discharge care
The first hours, week and months after a hospital stay, including recovery after surgery such as a hip fracture.
Home care after a hip fracture: the first weeks, movement, pain and warning signs
For an older relative coming home after hip fracture surgery: home layout, safe movement, pain management, signs of a blood clot or infection, and preventing another fall.
7 min readThe First Week After Hospital Discharge: An Hour-by-Hour Checklist
Most readmissions happen in the first 7 days, for preventable reasons. A practical checklist for discharge day, the first 72 hours and the first week.
7 min readPost-Discharge Home Care Guide: The First 90 Days
Coming home from hospital is the riskiest period. Medication routine, measurement habits, home adjustments and staying connected to the physician — a roadmap for a safe first 90 days.
7 min readCaregiver wellbeing
For family members and caregivers: recognising burnout, sharing tasks and finding support.
For professionals
For caregivers and doctors: starting out, building a trusted profile, safe transfers and working with older patients and their families.
Safe transfers for caregivers: getting out of bed, moving to a chair and protecting your back
Safe moving and handling principles for caregivers and families: preparation, correct posture, aids and equipment, what to do when someone falls and protecting your own back.
7 min readHow to become an elderly caregiver: skills, certificates, ways of working and your profile
A complete guide for anyone who wants to work in elderly care: what the job involves, live-out, live-in and hourly work, accredited courses, documents, discussing pay, boundaries and creating a WellFamily profile.
9 min readThe caregiver profile families choose: a 10-point checklist and first interview tips
For caregivers: what families look for in a profile. Photo, introduction, concrete experience, verification, references, clear pricing and behaviour that builds trust at the first interview.
6 min readFor doctors: working with older patients and their families, home visits, online consultations and communication
A practical framework for doctors who care for older patients: key assessment areas, communicating with families and caregivers, preparing for home visits, the limits of online consultations and your WellFamily profile.
8 min readMore guides
Agreeing with a Live-in Caregiver: 10 Points to Settle
Everything beyond the salary: days off, accommodation, task boundaries, trial period and exit terms — the contractual base of a smooth care relationship.
7 min readSocial Security and Insurance for Caregivers in Turkey: A Family Guide
When SGK registration is mandatory, how the simplified Ek-9 filing works, and which insurances protect the caregiver and the family — 2026 summary.
8 min readFall Risk at Home: A Prevention Guide for Older Adults
Understand fall risk at home, plan practical safety changes and know when to seek help. A source-based guide for older adults and family caregivers.
4 min readPflegegrad Explained: Germany's Care Levels for Turkish Families
The concept families in Germany hear most when planning care: Pflegegrad. What the levels mean, how assessment works, and how it connects to organising care for parents in Turkey.
7 min readFinding a Turkish-Speaking Caregiver in Germany
From Berlin to München: how families in Germany can find a Turkish-speaking elderly caregiver, the legal basics, and the questions to ask in the interview.
7 min readArrange elder care in Türkiye from abroad: a family coordination plan
A practical plan for local support, caregiver interviews, shared responsibilities and daily updates when your parents live in Türkiye.
4 min readLate-life depression: the signs families miss and what you can do
Depression in older adults is often mistaken for "just aging". Which signs to take seriously, how families can help, and when to seek professional support.
6 min readAppetite loss in older adults: causes and ways to bring joy back to the table
Appetite loss is common in old age but not inevitable. The underlying causes, practical kitchen strategies, and when to see a dietitian.
6 min read7 ways to improve medication adherence in older adults
Practical methods and reminder systems that reduce missed doses in older adults on multiple medications.
6 min readHome Fall Prevention Checklist: 12 Checks for Older Adults
Check floors, lighting, stairs and bathroom access with this 12-point home safety checklist. Record what needs attention, who will help and when to review it.
3 min read10 questions to ask a caregiver: interview and first-week checklist
Prepare for a caregiver interview with questions about experience, tasks, hours, references and fees, plus a practical comparison and first-week checklist.
5 min readHow to prepare an SOS and emergency plan
Be reachable within minutes with an emergency chain, location sharing and neighbour support.
5 min readRemote care: how technology helps the family
How to use features like location tracking, fall detection and the route guide in daily life.
7 min read