A Private Doctor for Elderly Parents in London. What a Proper Review Covers, When to Act Fast and How Families Stay Informed
Caring for an older parent from a distance, or around a full working week, usually comes down to one question, whether anyone has looked at the whole picture recently. The risks in later life are common and often preventable. NICE reports that around a third of people over 65 and half of those over 80 fall at least once a year, and 31% of people who break a hip die within a year. An estimated 982,000 people in the UK live with dementia, and more than 1 in 3 have no formal diagnosis. Many older people take 5 or more medicines, and some of those medicines cause dizziness, confusion and falls. A thorough review by a doctor with time, ideally at home, addresses all of this at once. It covers medicines, falls, memory, mood, blood pressure lying and standing, eyesight, hearing, weight and the right blood tests, with a written plan shared with the family when your parent agrees. At The Wellness a doctor visits your parent at home anywhere in central London, from £495 in the daytime and £695 in the evening or at weekends, with a second parent seen in the same visit from £195, and ongoing oversight is available through membership and our Continuous Care Programme. Fees appear further down this page.
Reviewed by the medical team at The Wellness. Last updated 2 October 2026.
Arrange a home visit for a parent on WhatsApp or email team@thewellnesslondon.com or call 020 3951 3429.
Key facts for families
Around 1 in 3 people over 65 fall each year, and exercise focused on strength and balance reduces the rate of falls by around 23%.
Sudden confusion in an older person is a medical emergency until proven otherwise, often caused by infection, dehydration or medication.
Memory problems have reversible causes, including low B12, an underactive thyroid, depression and side effects of medicines, which is why assessment matters.
A structured medication review often finds medicines that can be reduced or stopped safely.
A Lasting Power of Attorney can only be made while your parent has the capacity to make it.
When should you call 999
Call 999 for signs of a stroke, such as a drooping face, weakness in an arm or slurred speech. Call 999 for chest pain, severe breathlessness, collapse, or a fall with a head injury, particularly in someone taking a blood thinner.
Seek a doctor the same day for sudden confusion, drowsiness or agitation that is new, a high temperature, a fall without obvious injury, not eating or drinking, or a rapid change in mobility. In older people, infection often shows itself as confusion rather than fever.
What does a proper review for an older parent cover
Time first. A visit at home allows a full history from your parent and, with their permission, from you, and shows the doctor how they actually manage day to day.
Medicines. Every medicine, including those bought over the counter, is reviewed against your parent's current health. NICE guidance on medicines optimisation sets out how a structured medication review identifies drugs that are no longer needed, interact, or raise the risk of falls and confusion.
Falls and mobility. Blood pressure measured lying and standing to look for a drop on standing, a check of walking and balance, feet, footwear, eyesight and hazards at home.
Memory and mood. A brief, validated memory assessment, and questions about mood, sleep and loneliness, which affect health as much as many physical conditions.
Blood tests. A full blood count, kidney function, B12, folate, thyroid function, calcium, vitamin D and HbA1c are the usual starting point, chosen to answer the questions the visit raises.
A written plan. What was found, what changes are recommended, what to watch for and when the next review is due, shared with the family when your parent agrees.
Ask what a review would cover on WhatsApp or email team@thewellnesslondon.com.
How can falls be prevented
Falls have several causes at once, so prevention works best when each one is addressed. NICE guideline NG249, published in 2025, recommends a multifactorial assessment for older people who have fallen or are at risk.
Exercise is the most effective single step. A Cochrane review of 108 trials found that exercise programmes focused on balance and function reduced the rate of falls by around 23% in older people living at home.
Medicines that cause dizziness, drowsiness or a drop in blood pressure are reviewed. Eyesight is checked and glasses updated. Bone health is assessed after a fracture or a fall, since treating osteoporosis reduces the chance that a future fall causes a break.
What if you are worried about memory
Memory changes are common with age, and most do not mean dementia. Some causes are treatable, including low B12, an underactive thyroid, depression, poor hearing and medicines with anticholinergic effects, so these are checked first.
Where a memory problem is confirmed, a referral to a specialist memory assessment service is arranged. A diagnosis gives access to treatment, support and planning, and allows your parent to take part in decisions about their future while they are able to.
How do families stay informed
Your parent's medical information belongs to them. With their agreement, we update you after every visit, by phone, video or a written summary, wherever in the world you are.
If your parent has made a Lasting Power of Attorney for health and welfare, the attorney can be involved in decisions within the scope of that document. If you are concerned about your parent's ability to make a specific decision, a doctor can assess capacity for that decision under the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
What does a private doctor for an elderly parent cost
Membership practices in central London charge annual retainers running into thousands and then £400 to £600 or more per visit, and visiting doctor services commonly charge £195 to £350 in the daytime and more at night.
At The Wellness each appointment is a single fee, with prescriptions, referral letters and a written plan included. All figures are from prices.
Continuous Care Programme, 12 months of physician oversight with regular reviews, interval blood tests and coordination of specialist care, from £24,995.
Platinum Membership, from £17,450 a year. Signature Membership, from £6,950 a year or £610 a month.
Home visit, evenings and weekends from £695 and daytime from £495, with a second household member seen in the same visit from £195.
Comprehensive Blood Panel with consultation and interpretation, from £495.
Extended 45-minute consultation, from £395.
In-person consultation, 30 minutes with examination, from £220. Video follow-up for families, from £150.
Home visits are available across central London, with appointments at our London clinics, including Marylebone and Belgravia.
Why families choose The Wellness for their parents
Because the doctor comes to your parent, and sees how they live as well as how they are.
Because there is time. A full review of medicines, falls, memory, mood and blood tests in one visit, rather than one problem at a time.
Because families are kept informed, with your parent's agreement, wherever you are in the world.
Because both parents can be seen together, in the same visit.
And because care continues. Follow-up, specialist referrals and repeat prescriptions are arranged by the same team, with one record.
Related reading
Private urgent care in London covers when a same-day doctor is faster than A&E, private prescriptions in London covers repeat medicines, private GP membership covers ongoing care with one doctor, our doctors introduces the team who will see your parent, and moving to London covers healthcare for families arriving from abroad.
Book a home visit today on WhatsApp or call 020 3951 3429.
Frequently asked questions
Can a private doctor visit my elderly parent at home in London
Yes. At The Wellness a doctor visits at home across central London, from £495 in the daytime and £695 in the evening or at weekends, with a second household member seen in the same visit from £195.
What should a health review for an older person include
A full review of medicines, falls risk, blood pressure lying and standing, memory, mood, eyesight, hearing, weight and nutrition, with blood tests such as full blood count, kidney function, B12, thyroid, calcium, vitamin D and HbA1c.
What causes sudden confusion in an elderly person
Sudden confusion, known as delirium, is often caused by infection, dehydration, constipation, pain or medicines. It needs a same-day medical assessment, and a call to 999 if your parent is very drowsy, unwell or has had a fall.
How can I reduce my parent's risk of falling
Strength and balance exercise reduces the rate of falls by around 23%. A medication review, an eyesight check, attention to footwear and hazards at home, and treatment of bone health after a fall all help further.
Can you update me if I live abroad
Yes. With your parent's agreement, we update family members after every visit by phone, video or written summary, wherever they are.
What is the Continuous Care Programme
Twelve months of physician oversight with regular reviews, interval blood tests and coordination of specialist care, from £24,995, for families who want one doctor overseeing a parent's health throughout the year.
The Wellness is a doctor-led private healthcare group providing medical care from our London clinics, including Marylebone and Belgravia, and at home across central London. All doctors are GMC-registered. Prescriptions are issued only following a consultation and clinical assessment. Blood analysis is performed by accredited laboratories. In an emergency call 999. This article is general information and not a substitute for medical advice about your own health.
Enquire now on WhatsApp or email team@thewellnesslondon.com or call 020 3951 3429.
