helping seniors live well in later life

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Tag: Planning Change

  • Christmas made easy – part 2

    Christmas made easy – part 2

    Here is part two of our Christmas made easy tips!

    1. If you are hosting people over Christmas, start making a menu and a shopping list now. You can just jot down menu ideas and google recipes here and there, saving them by bookmarking them on your phone or desktop.
    2. Know and diarise when you are going to put in an online shopping order or go to the shops.   Lots of online supermarkets have a day when they release their Christmas slots, so do check online if you want one of those.
    3. If you are buying specific Christmas food, some shops have catalogues and order cut-off dates.   Most of these ask you when you would like to collect the items.  Make sure you get your orders in before the cut-off.
    4. We always make sure to pick things up / get them delivered with a shopping day or two to spare so we can pop out and get anything that was missing.
    5. If catering makes you stressed, ask people now to make and bring something so it’s less stressful for you.  Make sure you know what it is so you don’t double up.
    6. Prep as much as you can the day before – you can peel veg and store them in containers or bags in the fridge the day before.  You can even pre-roast potatoes and other root veg, so you can then pop them back in the oven to crisp up when the meat (if you have meat), is resting.   We love a Delia Smith Parsnip Roulade, but we still cook a bird for the rest of the family!
    7. Get other people to help with the clean-up so you can rest and enjoy the remainder of the festive season!

    If you need help making a Christmas plan, let us know, we’d be happy to help.

  • What is a superconnector, and why do you need one?

    What is a superconnector, and why do you need one?

    A super-connector is someone who knows the right people to help you, when you need help.  These are people who have access to a wide network of people to call on to assist where necessary.  Super-connectors are people that when you say ‘X happened to me today and I think I need to do Y’, they know just the right person to put you in touch with. As you get older there are many different people and professions out there who can help you, but the great news is you only need one as they can usually refer you to others.  Examples of super-connectors are:

    • Healthcare professionals
    • Financial adviser
    • Private client lawyer / will writer
    • Estate agent
    • Care agency
    • Social care consultant
    • Someone like us!

    But just because someone is one of those professions, it doesn’t make them a super-connector.   Super-connectors are generally helpful people who go out of their way to help others.  If you’re reading this you already know a super-connector – us!   So reach out if you need anything and we’ll connect you to the correct person!

  • Retirement Villages

    Retirement Villages

    Choosing to live in a retirement village / assisted living can be a fantastic solution for many older people who are looking to downsize, but it’s not right for everyone.  Here are some of the benefits:

    1. Community and Social Interaction:  If you live far from friends and family, there are built in social networks and plenty of other people ‘in the same boat’.  Regular social activities and clubs help build the sense of community.

    2. Safety and Security: Enhanced security measures such as gated entrances, 24-hour security personnel, and surveillance systems, making it a safe living option. Many villages also offer emergency response systems and medical staff on call, providing peace of mind for both residents and their families.

    3. Maintenance-Free Living: Maintaining a home can become physically demanding and stressful.  If you buy within a retirement complex they will usually have a handyman on site, and if you choose to rent, you have even fewer worries about any repairs that are needed.

    4. Financial Predictability: Although there is a wide range in the cost of retirement village options, there should not be any unforeseen costs as residents often pay a monthly fee that covers maintenance, amenities, and sometimes even utilities.

    5. Freedom and Independence:  Contrary to the misconception that retirement villages limit freedom, they are designed to promote independence. Residents can maintain their own schedules, come and go as they please, and continue engaging in activities outside of the village. At the same time, they benefit from having support and care available when needed. This balance between independence and assistance makes retirement village life appealing to those who want to maintain control over their day-to-day activities while having access to help.

    So if you are looking to simplify your life and live in a community-focused, maintenance-free environment, choosing a retirement village can offer an improved quality of life as you get older.

    If you need help with downsizing, we can help.

  • Making Broadband Simple

    Making Broadband Simple

    If you want to have access to the internet you need a device and to make the device work well and fast in your home, you need broadband.   But what if you haven’t had it before?  We come across clients regularly who don’t have it, so it’s not as uncommon as you might think.

    Broadband bamboozles us all, but imagine if you haven’t had it before.  There are so many technical terms so how do we explain what they all are?  And of course we want to make sure our older clients are not picking a provider who is going to make things even more confusing if they have to call for any technical assistance.

    This is why we work with UW.  Not only can we help explain things to our clients, but the technical and customer services look after our clients very well.  We always make sure to put our clients on the Priority Services Register, so they are attended to quickly especially if they have a Careline device or need the phone to connect to family (they may not have a mobile device). 

    If you would like to talk to us about how UW can help you get connected with broadband (or to change supplier), please let us know.

  • Get ready for winter

    Get ready for winter

    As we head into autumn it is important to get yourself ready for the winter and make sure you are ready for the arrival of any cold snap:

    1. Check your heating works (which we first advised in August).
    2. Make sure you have lots of thin layers that you can wear on top of each other.   You can also get an ‘Oodie’ which is a giant over-blanket that you can wear to keep you warm inside your home.
    3. Get a really warm hat, scarf and gloves.  If your heating breaks down you can always wear these inside.
    4. Drink lots of hot drinks, and have soups and stews for lunch and dinner.
    5. If you are tempted to use a hot water bottle, be sure to check it for holes as they can perish over time and you don’t want boiling water leaking on you.   They have a daisy on them to determine when it was made.  The inside number is the year and the outer segments represent the month.  If you’ve had it for more than three years you should consider replacing it.
    6. If you are mobile, keep moving, as that always keeps you warmer.
    7. Some Age UK offices run a Warm Homes programme.  See if there is one in your area here
    8. If you are on the Priority Services Register (for those over 60, those with young children and those with disabilities) and you have no heating due to a power cut or gas emergency, they can help you remain warm and able to cook with temporary appliances.  Find out more here.  
    9. Don’t suffer from the cold; contact your energy company or social services for more help.
  • Be part of a community

    Be part of a community

    So you’ve retired!  Many people look forward to this so that they can spend time with their grandchildren, go on holiday, visit art galleries and enjoy more of their hobbies.

    For others, the thought of giving up work is stressful and they worry about the lack of interaction with others and how to spend their time. 

    Of course it’s a good idea to have a rest and some relaxing time immediately after retiring, but if you don’t have a purpose or specific things to do, your health, both mental and physical, will suffer.

    It’s really important to have a purpose, be part of a community and have a schedule.   Some people get a dog as it means they have to get up and walk it!  That gives them a purpose and a schedule.  Others volunteer for charities or at schools, giving them purpose, community and a schedule.   You’ll find many local groups for retired people and some even start for the over 50s.   You could begin a hobby that you have always been meaning to do.

    If you fancy joining our online group for those retired, from 10am on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month, get in touch and we’ll book you in!

    Or meanwhile, have a read of our piece about community written for AfterCloud, here. 

  • 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.   

  • 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.

  • Deciding to move into a care home

    Deciding to move into a care home

    Making the decision to go into a care home is never an easy decision.  In-home care is a great alternative, but it doesn’t work for everyone.  If you need to go into a care setting these are some things to look for when assessing the options:

    • Activities –  if you love singing, but they don’t do this, will they add it?  If you love art and can no longer get to exhibitions, do they do something to cater for this?  Have a look at the breadth of activities and whether they suit you.
    • CQC rating – the Care Quality Commission is the independent regulator of health and social care in England.   You should look for a good or outstanding rating. 
    • Is it close to the people who will visit you the most? If those people travel by public transport, is it near a station or bus route?
    • Does it look and smell clean? Or is it rather utilitarian?
    • Does it seem like a place you could call home, or just somewhere for a temporary stay?
    • Are the staff friendly when you visit?
    • Do you have specific care or nursing needs, and can they meet those needs?
    • Can you afford it?  Don’t forget to have a talk with a financial adviser or eldercare consultant to see if there is anything you haven’t thought of which would help you with the cost.   

    Ultimately, if you need help to decide where is best for you, then we can put you in touch with an eldercare consultant who can help.

  • 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!