Author Archives: john graham

“The Cost of Dementia”

Posted on October 13, 2011 by john graham

The cost of dementia is worn on the faces of the thousands of sufferers and their relatives.  It is also a worry in the back of most older people’s minds in terms of how they might cope financially if one … Continue reading →

Posted in Dementia, HEALTH | Tagged | 1 Comment

“The Penny Post”

Posted on October 4, 2011 by john graham

A good few years ago, I remember being told a story by an elderly gentleman about the wonders of the postal service during the First World War.  He was injured in a battle at the Somme and sent back to Blighty to … Continue reading →

Posted in GRUMBLES | 3 Comments

“Fruitful Research” 6

Posted on October 2, 2011 by john graham

Back in May I wrote about the virtues of carrot juice following some research from Baylor University in Texas – see “Fruitful Research” 4 dated 15th May 2011. Here is another thing to add to your daily diet, only this … Continue reading →

Posted in HEALTH | Tagged , | 5 Comments

“Early Dementia Test”

Posted on September 29, 2011 by john graham

An early diagnostic test for signs of dementia has been developed by Cambridge University, and is currently being trialed in GP’s surgeries.  The test is based on people’s ability to recall lists of items and the location of objects.  A bit … Continue reading →

Posted in Dementia | 2 Comments

“A Poem for Early Autumn”

Posted on September 27, 2011 by john graham

Now is the time of stubble fields, Grain given up for food. A brief respite from farming toil, The ground unploughed before winter.   No more upright be-suited harvest, Time to reflect on a year of growing. Memories forgotten of … Continue reading →

Posted in SMILES | 4 Comments

“Do-it-yourself Healthcare”

Posted on September 25, 2011 by john graham

When measuring blood pressure, the “white coat” effect is not a new phenomenon – it’s been known about for almost a century.  When patients go to see their doctor, many are understandably anxious and this raises their blood pressure.  Hence … Continue reading →

Posted in HEALTH, SMILES | Tagged | 1 Comment

“Left in the Dark”

Posted on September 22, 2011 by john graham

In this “World Dementia Month” the Alzheimer’s Society have again highlighted the fact that the majority of people in this country with signs of dementia still go undiagnosed. Here are their estimated figures for Britain:- 766,000 people thought to have … Continue reading →

Posted in Dementia, HEALTH | Tagged | 2 Comments

“My Garden Age” 2

Posted on September 20, 2011 by john graham

It’s a windy apples-off-the-trees blow-away day.  Signs of summer fading fast.  Early autumn breeze wrestling with the browning leaves. Yet the garden still has much to give in its green old age.  The last flush of the roses as beautiful … Continue reading →

Posted in SMILES | Tagged | 3 Comments

“Sugaring the Pill”

Posted on September 18, 2011 by john graham

When I was a child and not very well, my mother used to give me a spoonful of jam to get me to swallow any tablets or take any nasty medicine.  Most children have an inborn dislike of pills and potions.  … Continue reading →

Posted in HEALTH | Tagged , | 1 Comment

“Dangerous Road” 3

Posted on September 13, 2011 by john graham

Three articles on successive pages of The Times last week (5th September 2011) made for an uncomfortable juxtaposition.  They were entitled “prosecutors clear the way for assisted suicides“, “MPs given poll warning on abortion” and “jails to help ageing prisoners die … Continue reading →

Posted in Assisted Suicide, ELDERLY UK POLICY | 2 Comments