helping seniors live well in later life

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Tag: Parents

  • Silver Sunday

    Silver Sunday

    It’s Silver Sunday on 6th October.  Silver Sunday is a national day where people of all generations can come together by hosting fun and free activities for older people. It is a day to meet new people, visit new places, try new activities and connect with local communities and other generations.

    As last year, we are hosting an event on Saturday 12 October at St Mary and St John the Divine, Balham, SW12 9BS, with board games and lunch.  It’s free to join in and there will be a chance to find out how to organise your photos with www.clearbubble.co.uk and get your photo taken with www.rosalindfurlong.com  To find out more and to book, click here.  

    If you want to find what else is on in your area have a look here https://silversunday.org.uk/calendar/

  • Get that ‘back to school’ vibe

    Get that ‘back to school’ vibe

    September is a time for new beginnings, just like January, as it has the back-to-school vibe that is inescapable even if you don’t have children or grandchildren in the education system.   It’s a time to start on things you have been putting off and generally just get going on your own home projects.

    So, if you would like to start decluttering, now is a good time!  If you are looking at it and wondering where to start then we recommend the following:

    1. Start small, one cupboard or corner at a time
    2. Schedule the decluttering into your diary
    3. Put on a rousing music track to keep you moving and stop you getting distracted
    4. Do it with a friend (you can help each other) or tell a friend you are doing it, to remain accountable
    5. Always remove items from your home for the waste or charity when you’re done, so you can see the results quickly.

     If you’d like a bespoke declutter plan, or you need some professional help, get in touch with us, we can help.   

  • Dealing with your loved one’s possessions after death

    Dealing with your loved one’s possessions after death

    When someone passes away it can be a very traumatic time for family and friends, even if the death was expected, and dealing with a loved one’s possessions can be a very emotional task.   Once any items in the will have been distributed, you can ask other family and friends if there is anything they want.  If there are more valuable items in the property they may fall into the estate to be valued, and so it is important that you follow the solicitors’ instructions for disposing of or sharing out those items.  Once that is done you may still be able to sell items, and so we recommend contacting auction houses and / or antique dealers who you know and trust, to help get you the best price.  After that we recommend looking at things in the following order:

    • Other furniture to sell, either on Ebay, Gumtree or through Facebook groups or marketplace
    • Furniture to give to charity or give away.  If a charity won’t take items you may be able to give them away using Olio, Gumtree or again, local Facebook groups or marketplace
    • Small items are best to go straight to charity, but not all shops take everything so check individually
    • Specialist items from hobbies may be of value to a collector even if they have no monetary value, so you might find someone online
    • Keep papers aside to be shredded if not needed for the legal process.  Get a shredding company to collect, or you can drop off
    • Use a waste collector or skip at the end.

    Or, if you want to save time, you can engage a house clearance firm to do all of the above for you.

  • 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/

  • 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

  • Having a community around you

    Having a community around you

    Many things I’ve read and heard recently herald the importance of having a community around you as you get older.  Those living in isolation tend to live shorter, less happy lives.  A community can be friends and neighbours or people you see all the time.  Here are some examples of community or places where you can find communities in your local area:

    These places will keep you smiling and ensure you are keeping your brain active and, in several of the above, your body too.

    If you don’t know where to find a community near you, your local council should have a list so get in touch with them.

  • Choosing a mobile phone

    Choosing a mobile phone

    Do you need to choose a mobile for yourself as an older person or for an older loved one?  Here are our top tips:

    1. Is this the first time you’ve had a mobile phone?  If so, consider a phone with just a few apps so it is not overwhelming.  Doro https://www.doro.com/en-gb make phones specifically for seniors and we’ve helped a number of clients get these phones.
    2. Don’t like the idea of a Doro phone? Who is the person that will help you get to grips with a mobile?  Get a phone similar to theirs.  So if your son / daughter or grandchild has an iPhone, get one of those, or if they have a Samsung, get one of those.  They will much more likely be able to help you as they know what you’re asking about.
    3. Do you have a hearing aid that should be smartphone compatible?  Check with your audiologist if the phone you want will be compatible.
    4. Consider getting a second hand phone on a monthly sim contract to start with in case it isn’t used much.  You can always get a more fancy phone later on.

    Once you have your new phone we can help you set it up and give you some regular lessons in how to use it.  We suggest getting to grips with one function at a time.  And remember, once you have one, carry it everywhere and make sure it’s always charged. No point in having one that is at home if you have a fall in the street!