helping seniors live well in later life

033 3014 7053

Tag: Life Admin

  • Community help in retirement

    Community help in retirement

    Not everyone has friends and family nearby to help them in retirement.  However, there are other resources available to help:

    • Age UK  https://www.ageuk.org.uk/ is a UK-wide charity which has various support options available including footcare, shopping, handyman, driving, lunches and activity centres.   All these services differ from area to area so check with your local Age UK office.
    • u3a  https://www.u3a.org.uk/ gives you opportunities to develop your interests, make new friends and have fun with special interest groups; they differ area to area.
    • Your local areas will also have other specific community groups.  Two such in Wandsworth are:
    1. Furzedown Project https://www.furzedownproject.org/ which is an activity and social hub for anyone over 50.
    2. WOPF – https://www.wopf.org.uk/ who have speakers once a month and campaign for older people in the borough.

  • Get your boiler serviced in the summer!

    Get your boiler serviced in the summer!

    It’s July, and your heating system is probably far from your mind.  But now is a good time to get your system serviced.  Find out why:  

    • Boiler companies are less busy from April through to August and they are able to book you in at a time of your choosing.
    • Many (not all) charge less to do the service in the summer, offering discounts because they are less busy and want to keep their work force on the road.
    • If they find something that needs replacing, there will be more availability to book the work to be done over the summer.  This not only gives you flexibility on dates, but it gives you the chance to save up and spread the cost of getting the work done, if you need to.
    • If you’ve had the service done in the summer, it is more likely to work for the winter when you need it.

    So don’t delay, book your service in today!

  • Going on holiday as you get older

    Going on holiday as you get older

    As you get older there is the sweet irony that you have more time to go on holiday but actually going might be becoming more and more difficult.  So here are some tips to get the best from your holiday:

    • Make sure you get insurance that covers any illnesses or conditions that you have had.  It doesn’t pay to scrimp on insurance.  As you get older there is more chance you might need it and you don’t want to find you’re stuck abroad without the ability to sort out any issues.
    • Make sure one company books the whole of your holiday.  That way it’s all covered if something goes wrong.
    • Ensure the company you use will be available to help with questions or conundrums whilst you are away and that you know how to communicate with them.  
    • You can take a travelling companion who is over 40 on a SAGA holiday, whether they’re family or not – they don’t have to be 50.
    • Pay for airport assistance (which your travel agent can arrange).
    • Ensure you take all your medication with you and prescriptions in case you are asked for proof of what you are carrying by customs in other countries.
    • Remember to stay hydrated (see our previous blog).
    • On longer car journeys, don’t be afraid to stop regularly to stretch your legs and use the facilities.
    • Enjoy yourself!

    If you need an introduction to a reputable travel agent to guide you through this, get in touch with us.

  • Why might you want to move in later life?

    Why might you want to move in later life?

    We help many different types of people move home, not just older people. Most of our older people are downsizing because they recognise their home is the wrong size or type for them and their lifestyle. But we do get older people who move to a different area and they don’t always downsize when they do that. Just because you are older doesn’t mean you have to downsize when you move. You can take everything with you to another home the same size but in a different location, or one that is laid out in a different way.

    So what are the reasons to move area later in life?

    ·       To see more of your children and grandchildren

    ·       To get help from your children and grandchildren

    ·       To be less isolated, if you are currently living somewhere with poor infrastructure

    ·       To access medical treatment that isn’t available where you live

    ·       To live somewhere you have always wanted to live (e.g by the sea)

    ·       To be close to other family members

    ·       To be nearer a specific friend or hobby

    Whatever your reason for moving and whatever your age we can get you started on the journey!

  • Driving as you get older

    Driving as you get older

    As you get older you may find that you use your car less, but want to keep hold of it to maintain your independence.   Your loved ones might be trying to persuade you to give up the car and you don’t want to. 

    When friends and family suggest giving up driving it’s because they are worried about you and also about other road users.   There may be a medical reason that means you have to give up driving, but if there isn’t one, it might be that your family have noticed a decline in your reactions and attention to detail. 

    There are still ways you can stay independent.  Keeping a car can be very expensive, and you may find that if you are still mobile you can get about as easily on trains and buses whilst getting a bit of exercise and movement in.   If you’re using your car less and less, using a taxi service to and from the station or to your destination might well be a cheaper and safer option.

    Age UK have some great information about this topic here:  https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/travel-hobbies/driving/worried-about-someones-driving/

  • Decluttering for Hoarders

    Decluttering for Hoarders

    Decluttering is difficult for anyone and it’s even harder for hoarders.  Hoarding is related to difficult experiences and feelings and it is not possible for a hoarder to ‘just get rid of things’.  

    Counselling is recommended before commencing any decluttering otherwise the anxiety and pain for the hoarder will be very high and it will be difficult to make any progress towards the end goal.  

    We have found that having a very specific reason to take a step to declutter and, in conjunction with counselling taking things very slowly, makes the end goal possible.    If a hoarder needs to move home and downsize due to the home being inaccessible or finances becoming difficult, then this is a good reason to start the process.  But it will need to be taken slowly.  We recommend that the counselling starts first but if that isn’t possible, then beginning with a small room for just an hour or two to understand the process can be beneficial too.  Often we have found that hoarders will take much of their belongings with them, but seeing it in a new home can have a positive effect in helping them to gradually part with things.

    Support can be found at:
     https://hoardinguk.org/support/services/

    https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/hoarding/helping-someone-who-hoards

  • Internet banking

    Internet banking

    Most of us do internet banking these days, but if we are older we may not have got into that, or we might distrust it and feel that it is too difficult to learn now.  However, if you have set up internet banking it makes it easier to pay people and to check your balances.  You can also move money around and review standing orders and direct debits more easily. It can of course make you more vulnerable to scams, but these can happen even when you just have a credit or debit card to hand. Banks are very helpful in advising their clients how to avoid scams, so speak to them if you can.

    If you have a power of attorney set up, one of your attorneys can help with your banking and other financial affairs. Each bank will have their own way to set this up.  However, lesser known is the ability to set up a 3rd party mandate which you can do with anyone, whatever your relationship is with them, as long as the correct forms are filled in and signed by each party.  This means that you can both have

    access to a bank account and make payments and check it on a regular basis.  Each bank will again have their own way of doing this, but it is a good way of allowing your loved ones to help you.

  • Stay hydrated

    Stay hydrated

    As you get older you need to drink more water to keep hydrated to compensate for your body’s decrease in its ability to retain water, and to prevent various health issues that become more common with age such as constipation, UTIs, and cognitive impairment.

    Here are a few ways to do this:

    Drink water throughout the day:  Sip it regularly even if you don’t feel thirsty and try and aim for 2 litres of water a day by breaking it down into small glasses.

    Include hydrating foods in your diet like cucumbers, watermelon, strawberries, oranges, tomatoes and lettuce.  Consuming soups will also help.

    Choose hydrating beverages like water, herbal teas, decaf coffee, and milk.  Sugary and caffeinated drinks can have a diuretic effect so should be avoided. Try flavoured water if you don’t like plain water.

    Set reminders via your alarm clock, mobile phone or smart speaker device, like Alexa or have a chart on the fridge to remind you.

    Remember to monitor your urine colour and if it isn’t clear or pale yellow, you need to drink more! Also remember that some medications can increase the risk of dehydration by increasing urine output or causing dry mouth. If you take medications that affect your fluid balance, talk to your healthcare provider about strategies to stay hydrated safely.

  • Attendance allowance

    Attendance allowance

    Have you heard of Attendance Allowance? 

    It is a government benefit that helps with extra costs if you are over state pension age and need someone to help look after you.

    It might be that you feel you don’t need financial support now, but it is a non-means tested benefit, and it might be something that you could be very pleased you have in the future if you need to pay for carers or a stair-lift, for example.  Or it could be something you could use now to pay for taxis if you can no longer drive or get public transport, or if you need help with cleaning or meal preparation.

    Most importantly, Attendance Allowance helps you remain independent for as long as possible.  Our friends at Grey Matters Consultancy are experts in claiming this.  Why not head over to their website and find out more, or we can put you in touch with them.

    https://www.grey-matters-consultancy.com/services/attendance-allowance

  • How to file!

    How to file!

    This is a repost of our video from 2022, how to file!

    1. Keep your filing system simple – avoid using folders where you need to punch holes to file.
    2. Use different colours for different types of paperwork to help make it easy to find things.
    3. Do your filing either as you get it or save it all in one place and do it once a quarter or so.