An older woman standing at a window at night

Stories / Care at home

She looks after him. Who looks after her?

Mrs Chua, 76, cares for her husband, who has Parkinson's.

“We only ever worried about Dad.”

Joanne, their daughter

What happened

Everyone asks about him. If she falls ill, he can't call for help.

  1. A quiet kitchen at night, one light on
    9:40 pm

    Mrs Chua faints in the kitchen. Her husband is in the bedroom.

  2. 20 seconds later

    Kevin's and Joanne's phones both show an alert.

  3. Two older women talking on a sofa at home
    9:55 pm

    Kevin calls an ambulance and the neighbour, who sits with her.

What you can do

  1. Ask the carer how she is too, and keep her own check-ups on the calendar.
  2. Look into day centres or respite care so the carer gets real breaks.
  3. Make sure both parents can reach a neighbour quickly.
Read the guide Longer Lives, Everyday Choices: Supporting Independence as Parents Age

More stories

All stories
A smiling older man at home

At night

I work night shifts. Who is there for Dad while I’m at work?
An older woman walking slowly with a cane

Helper's day off

Our helper has left and the new one arrives next month. Who looks after Mum until then?
An older woman with grey hair, drinking from a cup

Memory loss

Mum has early dementia and forgets to eat. What if she faints while we are at work?
An older man cooking at a stove

Kitchen

Grandpa cooks his own supper late at night. What if he leaves the pot on the stove?
SORVA SGD 800 · ships Fall 2026
Buy now