AgeAdvisor

Age allowances and other finances: how to make the most of them

2012-05-09T03:54:00.002-07:00

Everyone, particularly those in the squeezed middle, needs to plan ahead. Here independent financial advisor Gordon Tate tells you how to make the most of the allowances available to you

It has been estimated that there are about 29 million tax payers in the UK and of these, nearly 2 million are earners who generate an income of £50,000 a year or more.

This means that 93% of tax payers earn less than £50,000 (Wikipedia).

We can therefore deduce that only a small percentage will be able to find true financial freedom. This kind of freedom is nothing but a dream for the majority; nearly 24% of people have an income of less than £10,000 a year.

The Coalition Government’s ambition to take people on low incomes out of the tax system took a step forward in the recent Budget: the Chancellor increased the income level at which people start to pay tax by £1,100 - another 800,000 out of the tax system.

These measures will surely help the most disadvantaged in the country. Those at the other end of the spectrum - the 7% on income exceeding £50,000 - are relatively comfortable.

The squeezed middle

The media makes much of the squeezed middle, the group that seems to bear a disproportionate burden when a Chancellor has to make unpopular cuts.

Before the Budget there was much speculation as to how the removal of child benefit would operate. The original intention was to remove it from higher rate tax payers (income exceeding £42,000).

Clearly this would have been unfair to families with a single earner: if the income exceeded £42,000 by just £1 they would lose the total child benefit, while families with two earners on £42,000 each would have kept the benefit in full.

The Chancellor's answer has been to raise the threshold so that child benefit is only effectively lost when an income reaches £60,000.

Nevetheless the middle is still being squeezed.

Age allowance for seniors

Another group being pressed further are those who are entitled to what is known as the age allowance.

People aged 65-74 and those 75 or over enjoy a tax free allowance of £10,500 and £10,660 respectively, as long as the level of income does not exceed £25,400.

Where income exceeds the £25,400 the amount of age allowance is clawed back by £1 for every £2 of extra income until it reaches the standard personal allowance of £8,105.

The Budget announced that those who attain the age of 65 after 5 April 2013 will not benefit from the higher tax-free allowance.

Those who are already entitled to the extra tax-free income will retain it but the age allowance will be frozen and replaced by the standard personal allowance when it matches the level of the higher figure.

People who find themselves in these groups therefore have the greatest need to nurture everything that they have accrued.

Benefits of planning

Financial planning can go a long way to improving your financial position. Good financial advice can make do and mend resources that have not received the attention they deserve.

The results are often surprising.

Mary Beard: it's the Romans who are the stars

2012-05-09T03:52:00.001-07:00

Check out this link.
Mary Beard, Oxford Classics Professor, is fresh, unpretentious, over 50, and an example to us all.

All that is needed is a passion for knowledge, an enthusiasm for your subject, and a fresh, enquiring, hands-on approach.

Look no further, whatever A A Gill says - she thinks he is 'faintly silly' about her which is such a good way to approach his disdain.

Here's someone else's comment on his comment, for the record.

She also says
"You don’t need to put Beard in a toga to make a point" - dead right. May there be a great many more such dons cycling through the realer parts of history.

Hi, fibre! it's good for you, especially as you grow older...

2012-05-08T09:27:00.001-07:00

Here are two delicious recipes from Rose Blackett-Ord

There are two kinds of edible fibre, and both are good for you.

As we grow older, our guts can grow weaker. A high-fibre diet can help us to move food more efficiently through our digestive system. It’s also been linked (though not conclusively) to lowering our risk of bowel cancer. However, bowel cancer sufferers undergoing treatment may actually find that a high-fibre diet upsets their digestive system. For more information on this, look here.

Soluble fibre is digestible, and can help to lower cholesterol and control blood sugar levels. It is found in fruit and vegetables, especially apples, strawberries, pears, oats, and citrus fruits.

Insoluble fibre is not digestible, but it helps food to move through the gut, which sometimes relieves bowel problems and constipation. It’s found in fruit and vegetables (especially skins and seeds), beans, pulses, whole grains, and brown rice. It’s important to drink enough water with this type of fibre; otherwise stools can be too hard, leading back to constipation.

The best way to get fibre into your diet is to make sure you eat plenty of beans, pulses and fruit and veg, and replace white bread and processed cereals with their wholegrain alternatives.

Here are a couple of ideas to get you started:

Lentil broth with fresh herbs

Try to get Puy lentils if you can – they hold together during cooking much better than ordinary ones. They don't have to be French and fancy. Lentilles vertes in supermarkets are Puy in all but name!

Ingredients

1 tbsp olive oil

1 small onion, diced

1 small carrot, diced

1 stick celery, diced (optional)

1 clove garlic, chopped small

1 tbsp balsamic vinegar

125g Puy lentils

½ pint water

½ pint chicken stock (homemade if you can manage it – my recipe is here)

Salt and pepper to taste

Lemon juice

Chopped fresh herbs – tarragon, parsley and chives are nice

Method

Cook the onion, carrot, celery, garlic and balsamic in the olive oil over quite a high heat for 10 minutes. The vegetables should start to taste slightly sweet.

Add salt and pepper.

Add the lentils and stir in, then pour over the stock and water. Simmer for 45 minutes or until the lentils are softened but still have a little bit of bite. Top up with extra water if necessary.

Spoon the broth into a bowl, heaping up some extra lentils in the middle. Sprinkle the chopped fresh herbs on top and finish with a little swirl of olive oil and a generous squeeze of lemon juice.

Apple, berry and oat smoothie

You’ll need a blender for this recipe. A hand blender is fine, but make sure you cover the bowl with a cloth, otherwise you’ll have strawberry up the walls!

Ingredients

2 tbsp rolled oats

2 tbsp low-fat live yoghurt

Juice of 1 apple or 3 tbsp bottled apple juice

3 large strawberries

6 raspberries

Handful blueberries

1 or 2 tsp honey

Method

Put the oats in the blender and pulse until they’re nearly a powder. Add the rest of the ingredients and blend until smooth. Enjoy!

Your Consumer Rights - Part Two. Getting Recompense

2012-05-05T08:17:00.000-07:00

Not what you thought you were getting? Don't be beaten into submission. There are ways you can get compensation - with a bit of effort

Here are some of the options open to you if you want to try and claim recompense for faulty or misrepresented goods. Click on the links to be taken to the relevant website.

Through the small claims court

The last resort - for up to £5,000, for a fee based on the size of your claim. In England you have six years from the date of breach of contract to sue.

You can start the ball rolling by filling in a form at www.moneyclaim.gov.uk. This is the first of several, if you decide to take the case further.

Unless the company pays up when they receive your claim, there will then be a hearing.

If you win you may get expenses on top of the claim, but these are unlikely to include solicitors fees.

Through the British Healthcare Trades Association (BHTA)

The British Healthcare Trades Association (BHTA) represents manufacturers and suppliers of assistive technology products - aids and equipment designed for disabled people.

If you are not satisfied with a product or service from a BHTA member, or you are not happy with the outcome of any complaint made to them, contact the BHTAs complaints conciliation service.

They will try to resolve things without going to court. If this fails they can arrange for independent adjudication (arbitration).

Send details in writing, with copies of paperwork, to:

BHTA New Loom House, Suite 4.06
101 Back Church Lane, London E1 1LU
Email : complaints@bhta.com

Legal advice

Citizens Advice

Factsheets and answers to frequently asked questions on some legal subjects.

Community legal advice

Useful factsheets from several organisations.
Free telephone specialist advice to people who are eligible for legal aid. Others can be put in touch with agencies that may be able to help.

Calls on consumer problems are transferred to Consumer Direct.

Helpline 0845 345 4 345
www.clsdirect.org.uk

Consumer Direct

Consumer Direct is a telephone and online consumer advice service, supported by the Office of Fair Trading and local authority trading standards services. Advice and information is free, but telephone calls are charged at 0845 prices. Consumer Direct can help you sort out a problem with a trader or help you make a complaint. They will explain your rights and point you to trade associations or trading standards departments who may be able to help.

Help or advice 08454 04 05 06
Help or advice in Welsh 08454 04 05 05
Textphone 0845 1 28 13 84
Email webmaster@consumerdirect.gsi.gov.uk

Desktop Lawyer

Desktoplawyer.co.uk has free summaries of the law, and their site will generate legal documents (such as requests for a refund or repair) based on information you provide. Charges depend on the complexity of the document.

0845 838 4074

Disability Law Service (DLS)

DLS provides legal advice to disabled people: from guidance, personal consultation to representation in court.

39-45 Cavell Street, London E1 2BP
National Adviceline
Tel 020 7791 9800
Fax 020 7791 9802
Textphone 020 7791 9801
Email advice@dls.org.uk

Natural skincare for older faces

2012-05-02T05:55:00.001-07:00

We all want lovely skin for ever, don't we?

Frances Bodington advises us how to grow older without showing our age

If you cut a garlic clove in half, and rub it on the sole of your foot, you’ll taste it in your mouth within a couple of hours? Try it!

Everything we put on our skin is absorbed into the body and by the time we are in our fifties, we should be thinking about what we put on our skin in terms of natural ingredients. No more chemicals.

In the Antipodes, a company called Nutrimetics has taken the beauty industry by storm. Some 50 years ago its founder discovered a tribe high in the Himalayas with beautiful, radiant skin. The secret to their beauty was found in the kernel of an apricot and the Nutrimetics has developed from there.

The philosophy today remains the same - that we shouldn’t put anything on our skin that we couldn’t eat. The products in the Restore range combine natural ingredients (such as Sauvignon grapes) with scientific knowledge, and the range of skincare and makeup nourishes and nurtures not only the skin, but also our interiors.

The New Zealand-grown grapes provide Vitamin C, which works against anti-ageing, stimulating collagen production to brighten skin tone, reduce pigmentation and plump and firm the complexion.

The grape seeds protect the skin from stress and prevent future damage, by delivering anti-oxidants which are 50 times more potent than Vitamin E, apparently. Peptides from the grapes contribute to reducing wrinkle depth, improving resilience and increasing skin density.

There are many other products in the Nutrimetics skin ranges, available through independent consultants like me. This keeps prices down and allows me to spend time discussing my customers' specific requirements, to be able to tailor programmes for their needs. There is a 30-day money back guarantee on all skincare products.

I practise what I preach. I’ve been using these products for the last 20 years and my skin has never looked better. Please contact me if you would like to learn more.

Power of Attorney - something you may need in older age

2012-05-01T07:07:00.003-07:00

by Lynda King, Dale and Newbery LLP

This is a technical article that makes it clear what each party is signing up to...

Forgive the legalese but it has its place here.

A Power of Attorney is a written document authorising someone to act on your behalf; it can be granted by anyone who is able to manage their affairs.

The person authorising the action is called the donor of the power and the individual authorised to act is the attorney.

The Power can be general, giving authority to the attorney to do anything which can be legally done by the donor or restricted, for example, only to signing paperwork on the sale of the donor’s property.

These documents do not need to be registered at court in order to be valid and there is no third party supervision to ensure that the donor’s instructions are being carried out appropriately.

Powers of Attorney are commonly used

where the donor is travelling overseas, on business or on holiday,

receiving lengthy medical treatment for a physical condition.

In such instances the affairs that can be dealt with include

selling or buying a house,
selling goods such as a car,
operating the donor's bank account so that monies can be deposited and withdrawn for paying bills,
making gifts to family members
and
dealing with queries raised by the HM Revenue & Customs or pension providers.

An attorney has a duty to the donor to act only within the limits of the authority given by the power. If the attorney acts in this way then the donor is bound by actions taken by the attorney.

The terms of the Power of Attorney must be very carefully drawn up so that they are absolutely clear; this is probably best done by a solicitor. The cost starts at about £250, depending on complications.

Lasting Power of Attorney

Mental incapacity can arise through disease, such as Alzheimer’s or through a physical cause, such as a head injury.

If the intention is that the power is to be used irrespective of the donor’s mental capacity, then the donor can grant a Lasting Power of Attorney to deal with their finances and property or personal welfare or both.

These powers must be registered with the court and are, therefore, subject to the court’s supervision from time to time. If an individual has lost mental capacity and is without a Lasting Power of Attorney then an application must be made to the Court of Protection for the appointment of a Deputy to act in relation to his property and finances.

Lasting Power of Attorney is different to Power of Attorney: it takes much longer to set up, and its application is wider-ranging. It will be dealt with in detail next time.

Lynda King is a solicitor who specialises in the affairs of older clients.

Your rights as a consumer - Part One

2012-04-29T03:15:00.005-07:00

It is easy to be blinded with science, or bluff, or hope over experience, and buy something that isn't quite right and want to take it back.

There is a good deal of sensible protection in place for consumers, and we all should know about it.

When you buy goods they must

be of satisfactory quality - free from faults, safe, last a reasonable length of time and do what they're supposed to do
not be described falsely. If they have been, you should report this to your local trading standards service
be fit for purpose - do what they are meant to do. Tell the seller what you are going to use it for, and if they say that's what it will do, get it in writing, in case it does not.

Taking goods back to the seller

You must act fast if you are going to take something back, because there is no specified time in law within which you can do this.
You must stop using it immediately the fault appears.
If there is a fault within six months and you take it back to the shop, THEY have to show that it was fine when they sold it to you. This applies whether or not you take out the manufacturer's or store's guarantee.
After six months, it's YOUR responsibility to prove that it was faulty when you bought it.
If the seller accepts responsibility, they can give you an identical replacement, something similar (charging you the difference if it costs more) or a refund, although they are usually more reluctant to do this.
You can insist on a repair or a replacement. If a repair would be more expensive for the seller, they can choose to replace it, or give you a partial refund, taking the time you have used it into account.
If you have spent £100 - £30,000, and used a credit card to pay, you are protected. If the seller starts being difficult contact your credit card company; they are liable if there is a breach of contract.
If you have to buy something elsewhere then you could claim compensation for this - but grit your teeth for the battle.
If a product is unsafe and causes any personal injury or over £275 worth of property damage, the person affected can make a claim direct against the manufacturer.

Cancelling an order

If you decide to pay on credit, you sign an agreement explaining what you are letting yourself in for. When the agreement is delivered, it comes into force, although you can still cancel within five days after receiving this.

If someone sells you something in person at home, for more than £35, you have seven days to change your mind.

Buying by mail order

If you buy by mail order, by fax, through the internet, through digital TV or by phone you can cancel the order up to seven working days after receiving the goods.

Buying from a private person

You have fewer rights - you will be able to claim only if the product doesn't match its description, if it was misrepresented or if the seller didn't own it.
Some firms pretend to be private sellers to avoid their legal responsibilities towards customers.
This is a criminal offence. If you suspect this has happened to you, complain to Consumer Direct.

In Part Two we explain how to claim recompense if you feel you should.

Internet spam: be alert. Phishing happens to us all

2012-04-26T00:38:00.000-07:00

Here's an old story with a new and personal twist – about internet spam and 'phishing' (fishing for information to steal your identity or money from your bank account).

It's prompted by a report from security firm Sophos that India now gets more spam than anywhere else on Earth.

Sophos estimates that about 9.3% of all junk mail travels through Indian computers, followed by the US (8.3%) and South Korea (5.7%). Some 80% of all junk email is thought to be routed through PCs hijacked by hi-tech criminals who use computer viruses to seize control of the machines. Once a machine is under their control, they use them to send out mail on their behalf, typically relaying it from another country.

Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest are all being hit with increasing regularity by spammers, said Sophos.

But the crooks are not ignoring supposedly sophisticated web users – like me.

Recently I have had a repayment for a transaction via Paypal (a trusted online payment system). In the last week I have received four emails telling me that irregularities in my account meant that I needed to download an attachment to rectify the fault and receive the money. As the email was in the same time-line as an actual refund, it had an air of authenticity.

When I held the mouse over the email address it looked genuine enough. The email even invited me to contact Paypal customer service if I had any questions.

However, two factors made me suspicious:

1) The invitation to download an attachment

2) The email was addressed to 'Dear Paypal Customer'

Here's the text:

Dear PayPal Customer,

You have an incoming payment from us slated for your account regarding your refund.

This transaction cannot be completed due to errors present in your account information.

Please download the form attached to this email and open it in a web browser.

Please do not reply to this message. For questions, please call Customer Service.

We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Please do not reply to this e-mail as this is only a notification. Mail sent to this address cannot be answered.

<<<<

Paypal confirmed that it was a phishing attempt and I forwarded a copy to spoof@paypal.com, to help keep to keep me and others safe from identity

theft.

Always be suspicious of any email which invites you to download an attachment. Have a look at

hoax.com or urbanlegendsonline.com

Hoax lists the following scams:

Credit Card Scams
Internet Scams
Identity Theft Scams
Online Scams
Network Marketing Scams
Money Making Scams
Investment Scams
Business Scams

Spamming is massive, sophisticated and widespread.
Stay on your guard however experienced you are as a web user. Trust no one if you don't know them, especially banks (even if it is your own).
Here's to safe surfing.

Care home shame: appalling revelations on Panorama

2012-04-25T06:34:00.000-07:00

Anyone who saw the appalling revelations on Panorama this week must be stunned by the footage of a 78-year old Alzheimer's sufferer being abused by the staff entrusted to her care, at Ash Court in North Camden.

Maria Worroll's daughter, concerned at the bruising on her mother's upper arms, and that her mother had become increasingly introverted and silent, installed a digital alarm clock with a concealed surveillance camera bought on eBay, in her mother's room.

The footage is utterly damning and enough to make grown men weep.

She was horribly manhandled (no hoist) during her personal care (hence the bruising), food was rammed into her mouth, and she was jeered at and mimicked.

There was never a word of greeting when staff entered her room, or kindness when she was being treated. In response to this brutality, all she could say was 'oh god, oh god'.

Anyone who knows anything about dealing with a dementia patient – indeed anyone who is elderly and infirm – knows that the best possible treatment is love and kindness.

It is horrifying enough that the abuse happened in the first place at a home rated excellent by care watchdog The Care Quality Commission (CQC), but it raises equally horrifying possibilities.

The main perpetrator was a man (her care package stipulated no male carers for personal care) - who is now in jail. Four other female care workers were (eventually) found guilty and sacked.

And this is one room in one care home over two consecutive nights.

Maria Worroll has a loving family who visit her regularly and acted swiftly. She suffered for almost a until her abuse was discovered, and it took another two months (admittedly under 24-hour guard and heavy surveillance) before anywhere else could be found to accommodate her.

So what of all the hundreds of elderly people in care homes who do not have loving families around them? It hardly bears thinking about.

While Forest Healthcare, owners of Ash Croft, came out appallingly badly from this devastating report, the CQC fared no better. They failed to interview Jane Worroll or see the film evidence. The four female carers (eventually sacked) were initially given just four days extra training.

Let's hope that good will come of this – the CQC will be under extremely close scrutiny. It is The Relatives and Residents Association who have supported the Worroll throughout this devastating tale of abuse and mismanagement; they have acted with speed, care and integrity. Thank goodness someone has.

Granny Nav: new SatNav to help older drivers

2012-04-23T04:09:00.000-07:00

Driving a car and the sense of mobility are essential for older people, especially those who live in rural areas. Some older people just don't feel safe on the roads, and so they are stuck at home.

Professor Phil Blythe leads a team at Newcastle University developing new technology aimed at helping older drivers. Called DriveLAB– already dubbed 'Granny-Nav' – the new technology identifies the safest routes, such as avoiding right turns.

Professor Blythe told Radio 4's Today programme on 23 April that many older people planned their route which had only left turns as they feared judging the speed of traffic when turning right.

The work is part of a £12 million "social inclusion through the digital economy (SiDE)" project, led by Newcastle University, which aims to see how technology can improve peoples' lives. Some 20 drivers in their 80s in the north-east of England and Scotland have tried DriveLAB on the road in an electric car which has become a mobile laboratory for researcher.

DriveLAB has navigation tools, night vision systems and intelligent speed adaptations. Glasses which track eye movement monitor concentration, stress levels and driving habits via , and DriveLab can assess where the key stress points are for older drivers. The car also has night vision systems to help driving in the dark.

Pictures of local landmarks – such as a library, a church or a pub – are used as turning cues rather than the usual instruction to 'turn left in 200 yards'.

Professor Blythe says that the aim is to keep people driving safely for longer, which in turn boosts independence and keeps us socially connected. The new technology may be some two years from going into production.

Of course, there are other older drivers who are not safe on the roads, with or without satellite navigation aids.

That is a another question, and a difficult one for sons and daughters with elderly parents.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-17785033

Good fats for health: eating well in older age

2012-04-20T09:33:00.001-07:00

Not all fat is bad, says our food writer Rose Blackett-Ord

Fat provides much more energy per gram than protein or carbohydrate, meaning everybody –particularly those who are over 75 and/or frail – would benefit from including more good fats in their diet.

Unsaturated (good) fat carries fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K) and essential fatty acids, which are good for a healthy heart and immune system. It can help to control your cholesterol levels and risk of heart disease. It’s usually liquid at room temperature and found in vegetables. Both mono- and poly-unsaturated are a good thing.

By contrast, saturated (bad) fats usually come from animal products, are mostly solid at room temperature, and are bad for you because they are converted to cholesterol in the human liver. High cholesterol can lead to clogged arteries and cardiovascular disease, which increase your risk of strokes and heart attacks.

Most sources agree that you should eat unsaturated rather than saturated fat where possible. It’s found in oils like sesame, sunflower, soya, olive and rapeseed, in soft margarine, in avocado, and in oily fish like mackerel, sardines (pilchards), herring and salmon. Grill or pan-fry fillets of any of these fish skin-side down until nearly cooked though, then flip and squeeze over some lemon juice before serving. Perfection with a good salad and some crusty wholemeal bread.

To avoid saturated fat, eat leaner meat and cut off visible fat, and replace butter and duck/goose fat with NON-hydrogenated vegetable oils like olive oil or rapeseed oil. In addition, garlic, corn, soya and oats have all been linked to lowering cholesterol levels.

The recipe here is for guacamole – the best possible use of avocado, in my opinion – and some pitta crisps to dip in it. It serves 4, so get some friends over for a snack!

Guacamole

2 ripe avocados

1 ripe tomato

1 small red onion

1 lime, zest and juice

1 or cloves garlic, crushed

1 tbs good olive oil

1 tbs coriander (optional but delicious)

1 chilli (optional)

Salt and pepper to taste

4 wholemeal pitta breads

The photograph is from here - thank you for allowing us to use it

For the pitta crisps: peel the two halves of the pitta breads apart and heat up your oven to around 100°C (210°F). Slice each bit into strips (or the shape of your choice!) and pop them in the oven until they’ve dried and hardened a bit (can be up to 1 hour depending how hot you put your oven).

For the guacamole: peel and finely chop the onion, deseed and chop the tomatoes and the chilli if you’re using, and peel and chop one of the avocados. Mush up the flesh of the other one with a fork until it’s a paste. Chop the coriander quite finely.

Mash the whole lot together in a big bowl with your trusty fork. Season to taste (not too much salt if you’re watching your blood pressure).

Alternatively, you can whack the whole lot in the food processor and pulse until the texture suits you (much easier...).

Either way, cover with clingfilm directly on the surface of the guacamole to stop it oxidising and set aside in the fridge until you need it.

Then dip in your pitta chips and enjoy!

Mobility scooters: independent again

2012-04-20T04:51:00.000-07:00

A TGA vita mobility scooter

Freedom, independence, the joy of the open pavement– there is much to be said for investing in a mobility scooter. For those who have become less able, who don't want to be dependent on others to get about, this could be the answer.

To gain confidence before buying a mobility scooter join Shop Mobility (see box) - found in many town centres. When I broke my left leg and was on crutches for six weeks, I borrowed an automatic car, joined Shop Mobility – and never looked back.

There are two basic categories :

Pavement Scooters come in three-wheel and four-wheel versions. The four-wheeler is more stable (though top speed is only 4mph) but the three-wheeler has more legroom – better for those who can't straighten a leg. The pavement scooter will travel up to 25 miles before recharging. Pavement scooters, dismantled, fit in the car. From £1,200 new.
The larger Class 3 Scooter can reach 8 mph and is perfect if you have further to go. More comfortable than a pavement scooter, but remember heavier versions need to be registered for road use they can't be easily dismantled. From £2,200 new.

You can find good second hand scooters. Many people trade theirs in quite regularly. They should be fully reconditioned and come with a history and warranty.

Beware however:

Scooters may be found at bargain prices on the internet but do check on the warranty details.
If they need to be returned for any reason check on the return cost details.
Check if the scooter comes flat-packed – if so, can you put it together?
People who come to your door are paid on commission: be very careful.
Shops should offer good personal service, delivery and assembly, and follow-up if you need it.
Wherever you buy your scooter, get thorough tuition. They are simple to operate and most people drive them like a pro. But if you are in any doubt about your eyesight, spacial awareness, or concentration – seek advice. There is no test because they are not licensed.

Our advice is to find a dealer you like local to where you live- mine is Crest Care.

The jazzy yellow number at the top of this post is available through Mobility Experts.

Alzheimers - coconut oil may give you back your brain

2012-04-20T04:42:00.001-07:00

Pure coconut oil is full of healthy ketones. And healthy ketones help keep your brain functioning.

Ketones got a bad (breath) press because of the Atkins Diet, but that's not all there is to them.

It is now known that cholesterol can be good or bad. Coconut oil has the good stuff.

Alzheimers has an effect on the brain that prevents the cells accepting glucose, without which they die. If the brain can't accept glucose it can accept the vital high potency ketones, available in coconut oil.

And this, according to users, is where the magic starts. Research - prompted by the healthy sleek bodies of Pacific islands who positively wallow in the stuff - suggests that it has

good effects on the heart,
can boost your thyroid,
helps with weight loss (no, honestly),
and support your immune system.

Dr Joseph Mercola writes persuasively on this issue in the Huffington Post. While there are obviously two sides to any argument, his are worth reading.

Balance the diet to balance the scales

2012-04-16T10:57:00.003-07:00

Parsley for fresh flavour

An Introduction to our regular series
by creative cook

Rose Blackett-Ord

Most people nowadays recognise the role of a balanced diet in a healthy lifestyle. What some don’t realise is that as we grow older, our bodies’ nutritional needs change: what is a balanced diet at the age of 20 or 30 may be lacking in essential nutrients for the older generation.

Below you’ll find two lists of what to increase and what to avoid in your diet as you age. As the series develops, I’ll go into more detail about each, as well as hopefully providing some quick and delicious recipes which will give you the necessary vitamins and so forth without compromising on taste!

Every year after the age of 40, the human metabolism slows down. This can mean you’ll put on more weight even if you’re eating the same amount of calories, or that you lose your appetite to such an extent that you don’t eat enough to keep you going. The best way to avoid this paradox is probably to ask your GP about the number of calories you should be aiming for.

There’s also a handy little general guide here.

A really excellent guide to all the main vitamins, their uses, and how to eat more of them is here.

Garlic for zing

A good article on fibre is here, with links at the bottom to a number of other useful pieces on protein, carbohydrates, fats, and so forth. These are not aimed specifically at older people; more of a good general introduction.

Add taste with spices

A major effect of ageing is that our bodies find it harder to absorb important vitamins and minerals, so we need to eat more of them – and the things which help the body to absorb them – in order for our bodies to take in the same amount. Hence:

Things to eat more of

Complex carbohydrates
Vitamin B
Vitamin C
Vitamin D
Folic Acid
Potassium
Fibre
Water
Calcium
Zinc
Unsaturated fat

Looks good, tastes good,
has fibre, vitamin C and calcium too...
what's not to like?

Note that in general, it is recommended that we eat foods that are highly concentrated as many of the above nutrients as possible, in order to get the maximum nutritional benefit without exceeding our daily calorie allowance. So, for example, broccoli is great because it contains lots of vitamin C and calcium and is also a source of fibre.

On the other side of the equation, things like too much salt, certain types of fat and carbohydrate, sugar and cholesterol can all lead to illnesses such as high blood pressure, heart problems, and type 2 diabetes. Again, it is very possible to avoid all these by making a few simple changes, so:

Things to eat less of:

Refined sugars (refined simple carbohydrates)
Cholesterol
Saturated fats
Trans fats
Salt

This is a brief introduction to this series, with more information to come on each element, as well as some great recipes and tips on how to improve your diet without losing out on the enjoyment that comes with eating really great food.

Rose has her own blog, Please don't kiss the cook, with recipes and food-related chat and information.

Feast your eyes on watercolours by her mother, artist Sarah Blackett-Ord and feed your senses!

Rose is a Cordon Bleu cook who knows what tickles the tastebuds and keeps you wanting more! She has an English degree from Oxford and an ambition to combine life, writing and cooking.

Incontinence: hold on! It's not that bad

2012-04-16T10:14:00.000-07:00

Wonderful! Fiona from Clapham is the very first person to contribute to the AgeAdvisor forum. And, even better, she has written about her mother's incontinence which is such an issue for so many people.

The NHS estimates that between 3 and 6 million people in the UK suffer from some degree of urinary incontinence. Many women suffer after childbirth and think it is just their lot. But it needn't be – more often than not there is a medical or surgical route that will relieve the problem. There are different forms of the problem – stress incontinence, urge incontinence, and total incontinence – so we have put together a list of useful websites at the bottom of the page.

Here we're concerned with age-related incontinence.

Interestingly my research tells me that incontinence isn't necessarily a consequence of old age, but I also read that two-thirds of the residents in care homes suffer from it. It is always worth discussing the matter with your doctor, because at any age there is often some intervention that can help the situation. It may be embarrassing for you, but it truly won't be once you have broached the subject and you will be SO relieved (sorry!) to find out whether or not something can be done – or whether you have just have become a Tena Lady – or Man - (nb there are many other brands available).

When my own mother bemoaned the fact that she was “having to wear nappies” (I prefer to call them pull-ups) I said: “I bet if you asked a group of your friends if they had the same problem, more than half of them would be in the same boat as you.”

She was astounded at the thought, but I was pretty confident and it seems I am right. The truth is that, being 88, she would never dream of asking her friends such a thing. She now regards her pull-ups as 'absolute lifesavers', so we have got round the problem.

A friend of mine's mother hasn't been so easy and frequently discards her pull-up - often with dire consequences, especially for those around her. A problem, but the biggest one is that she flatly refuses to discuss it.

This silence is not unique.

Statistically, it is impossible to know how many people suffer from incontinence because many won't even tell their doctor, let alone anyone else.

The truth is that as people get older sometimes the muscles around the bladder and the nerve endings down there often do start to fail. Drinking less liquid is the worst thing you can do because a) extraordinarily, the more you drink the less you pee (except of course during the two hours before bedtime), and b) not drinking enough fluid can lead to urinary tract infections, to be avoided at all costs.

Pull ups - the answer to everything!
Pull-ups are marvellous, discreet and incredibly absorbent. Tena is good, as are Boots' own, and there are many other brands. The NHS provide free pads (not pull-ups) and net pants which hold the pads in place for true incontinence sufferers.

Advice
Your doctor will have a Continence Nurse attached to the practice who will help you.

Disposal
Ring your local Council - continence pads should be disposed of in yellow bags, which are provided and collected by every Council.

Useful websites
Bladder Advice Control
The Continence Foundation
NHS Incontinence Advice

And please share any experiences or advice that you may have with us - always welcome!

Twiggy: the power of a name

2012-04-16T10:06:00.000-07:00

Twiggy's new range - The Twiggy Collection - for Marks & Spencer, launched 3 days ago, has already sold out of this £79 sequin jacket!

But there are plenty more garments to tempt you. Check out these two different looks:

The range looks great and is aimed, Twigs says, at any age. Much better than the term I read 'age-appropriate clothes' - what on earth does that mean!

The clothes look fun, fashionable, well cut and comfortable and while she says they aren't meant to be co-ordinated - they will work well together. Evening and day wear at really good prices, which won't make anyone look mutton-dressed-as-lamb.

Well done Twiggy! She says she always wanted to design a collection and now, at 62, her dream has come true.

Eating for energy and health: complex carbs are the simple answer

2012-04-16T09:53:00.001-07:00

More from Cordon Bleu cook Rose Blackett-Ord on deliciously sensible eating

Complex carbohydrates

Like fats, carbohydrates can be good and bad. Essentially, they are the body’s best energy source: they can be converted more easily than fat or protein into glucose, which the body uses as fuel.

The slower the carbohydrate is converted to glucose, the better. This will provide a more consistent and regular source of energy, avoiding sudden spikes and drops in blood sugar which can leave you tried and irritable. As we grow older, we can feel short of energy sometimes: one of the best ways to avoid this is to eat plenty of complex carbohydrates. Try to include a different one in each meal.

Naturally occurring complex carbs are released the most slowly of all. They are sometimes known as starch, and occur in all wholegrain foods (brown rice and bread, wholegrain pasta and so on), and in root vegetables, lentils, nuts, grains and beans. The processed (white) versions of these foods contain a refined version of this natural starch which is converted to glucose more quickly and is therefore less good for you.

Don’t despair!

If you think can’t stand wholegrain foods, don’t despair! Try introducing one at a time, and find out the ones you like best.

Here are a couple of quick recipes. One’s for delicious brown rice which you can eat as part of a balanced meal. The other’s for a brown bread bruscetta which is great as a zingy snack, light lunch, or starter.

Brown Rice

Cooks slightly differently to its white cousin.

100g brown rice

Plenty of water (AT LEAST 4x as much water as rice)

Bay leaves

2 cloves garlic, crushed to a puree

½ a lemon

Low-sodium salt and ground pepper

Bring the water to a boil and add the rice. Stir once, then leave to boil for half an hour (really). Drain in a sieve like pasta for 10 seconds.

Return to the pan and add the bay leaves (remove before eating), garlic and a good squeeze of lemon juice. Put on a lid and leave the rice to steam in its own moisture for 10 minutes.

Season sparingly. Add a little blob of butter if you’re feeling naughty. Fluff up with a fork and enjoy!

Brown Bread Bruscetta

Full of vitamins as well as complex carbs. Garlic and tomatoes are both said to help reduce cholesterol levels. Spring onions are high in vitamin K. Olive oil contains plenty of unsaturated (‘good’) fat.

2 slices best quality wholegrain bread (the nicest you can afford)

Olive oil (extra virgin is best)

2 cloves garlic, halved

2 ripe tomatoes

3 spring onions

Ground pepper

Cut up the tomatoes, spring onions and all except one half of the garlic into small pieces, mix together, and season with pepper. Grill the bread on both sides (use a grill pan, electric grill or oven, whichever’s easiest). Rub it with the cut side of the garlic clove and drizzle with olive oil. Heap the tomato mix on top of the hot bread.

Happy munching!

You need a mobile phone: even if you never dial a number

2012-04-12T02:31:00.002-07:00

I don’t trust people who say they never use a mobile phone. They may not own one themselves, but I bet they use the convenience of calling other people on theirs!

The most basic reason for owning one is independence. To be able to contact people on the go. Remember all that business about telephone boxes, pressing button A, not having enough money for a call, reverse charges and irritated people at the other end?

If you think you will use it only in an emergency or to receive calls, it is probably best to get one on a Pay As You Go deal, but if you are going to use it a good deal, investigate contracts, and remember, negotiate, negotiate, negotiate. They want your business, and they want to keep it. If you are new to the game, ask someone who isn't to help you. I am not suggesting this is because you are too stupid to be able to speak for yourself, but it takes a bit of practice.

If you have a hearing aid, get one with an inductive coupler or use ear hooks or a neck loop, or go for Bluetooth - you don’t have to speak into the telephone itself when you don't have your hands free.

Some phones have memory buttons you can preprogramme: press just one number instead of the whole one, and some work with voice commands.

An emergency call button is useful - it will call up to five numbers you have stored in turn if you press it, and send a text message.

Contact a mobile phone supplier (02, Carphone Warehouse, Orange, 3, T Mobile) and find out what they have to offer. Or click here for a very useful factsheet from the RNIB.

Choosing a Care Home

2012-04-11T11:58:00.000-07:00

Depending on you or your relative's level of independence, there are three main categories of care away from home to choose from:

sheltered housing
residential care
a nursing home

All homes must be licensed by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and their website and printed material will confirm that.

There are lists of care homes available from your County Council and there are several websites listing care homes in your area, but there is very little informed and objective opinion available.

Do as much research as you can. It can be the most traumatic moment in an elderly person's life to decide to give up their home and go into residential care. Equally, if it isn't their decision, it can be just as harrowing if their relatives have to decide for them.

You need to be realistic and face the evidence: an elderly person can be reluctant to accept their situation, or a relative can refuse to recognise that the person they are trying to help has changed.

Talk to the person who needs the home about what they really want and, if they aren't able to express this clearly (possibly because they don't know themselves), discuss it among the family if you can.

Things change. Someone who was once the life and soul of the party may choose to stay in their room and not eat in the dining room, or join in with the activities offered. The staff should gently encourage them to join in, but the decision must always be theirs.

Often the most independent and private people who have never appeared to socialise much can surprise you by enjoying the company of others.

How much will it cost?

The cost, for anyone with means of more than £23,250 is from £500 - £1,200+ per week for a nursing home. We will be writing various posts about this, and will of course let you know when or if things change.

Some practical questions to start with

is the home in a rural or urban setting?
what is the basic cost? If a nursing home, does that fee include nursing time?
does it specialise - in dementia? or short-term post-operative care?
does it take palliative care patients?
Then there are the less specific questions

what does the place feel like?
are the staff interested in their patients or is it just a job?

When you visit

what is the atmosphere of the home?
Do the residents appear content and well cared for? Spend a few minutes in the resident's lounge and use your eyes. Some of the resident's will have dementia, but you have to see past that. Are they as happy as they can be?

Is it clean? fresh? are there flowers about? does it smell? Ii it does and you don't like it, don't go there.

what's the food like? Does the chef care about food or just doling out cheap sustenance to residents? Ask to see the menu and meet the chef – have a good look at the kitchen.

see the laundry – it should be busy, and daisy fresh.

Make sure you meet the owner or manager and then check the practicalities:

ask how long the home has been in operation, and how long under the present management.
check their credit/financial rating. You don't want the place to go bust just as you get settled in.
do they offer respite care? This can be a good way of trialling a home. Even if they don't, most homes accept the need for a trial period. What is the legal/financial commitment if you decide not to stay?
what is the ratio of care and nursing staff to residents?
ask about staff turnover. do they employ agency staff? if so do they have a problem keeping permanent staff?
what is the policy on employing staff? you are entitled to ask if it matters to you. are they locally employed or largely foreign staff? Some of the best caring/nursing staff come from overseas but it can be distressing if language is a barrier

what are the minimum qualifications for carers? NVQ2? (minimum requirement) NVQ3? do they offer on-going training?
always remember that staff are the most important aspect of care for the elderly.

When you visit a care home talk to the staff and watch them with the residents.
Is their manner gentle and kindly?
Do they look clean and crisp with smiles and tidy fingernails?

The move that you or your relative makes into residential care is a crucial one.

It can go either way. With serious research about the practicalities, and listening to your inner voice when you get there the move may turn out to be the best thing for everyone involved.

Please contact Age Advisor if you would like to recommend a care home.

We would be delighted if you would include

the home's name
address
telephone number
web address, and your relationship to them – ie you live there, or a relative lives/lived there. Please send in only current information, ie not somewhere you knew some years ago.
the name of the proprietor/manager.

Please write a maximum of 200 words about the home, excluding the above information.
Say how you feel about the place – the atmosphere, little touches that you feel make it special: the gardens, the staff - not the number of residents it has, or facts that can be seen on the website.Submit your review to the home and tell them where you are sending it.
AgeAdvisor will contact the home to check your relationship to them before posting it.

Please note: AgeAdvisor is not a guide to care homes – we want to promote positive, personal feedback. If you have important negative feedback you should send it urgently to: CQC or The National Care Association.

Simple pleasures: later life is more fun than being young

2012-04-11T03:49:00.001-07:00

Dame Joan Bakewell, Age Czar, published a list of things that warm the hearts of septuagenarians in The Times of April 10. She includes:
Being tidy
Baking a cake with the radio on
Knowing that I have worked out the best way to make coffee
Swimming very slowly
Reading during the day
Performing with a singing group
Putting together photo albums...

To this I add:
Sitting on a deckchair on the grass, possibly listening to the thwack of leather on willow, and knowing you need not open your eyes
Staying up as late or as early as you like
Watching whatever you like on the television, at whatever time of day
Reading about gardening, and actually taking cuttings and making them grow. Seeds too...
Taking a picnic to a park and reading a book in the sunshine while chomping through an egg sandwich (or whatever flavour you feel like). Inviting your friends to join you.

Do you have any others? For any age? Do send them to us and we can publish our own catalogue of cheer.

Kitchen gadgets: peeling potatoes can be fun

2012-04-11T01:34:00.000-07:00

A new and well-designed gadget I have just come across is by Chef'n. Available at Sainsbury's, and also on the web, the Palm Peeler fits on one hand, and peels away like a pro. It slides on to your finger, tucks into the palm, and gets peeling. It has a potato eyer at the tip too. In red, avocado and orange, it is dishwasher safe.

About £4 - prices vary.

Chef'n have lots of other gadgets that might appeal - take a look at their collapsible colanders, pinch and pour bowls, avocado slicers - bright, tough and smart. Someone has obviously thought about this, and produced stuff that does the job.

Travel Insurance for the Over 50s: covering your wanderlust

2012-04-10T05:50:00.000-07:00

Just because you are over 50, over 60 or over 80, there is no reason to stay at home if you don't want to. Even if you are of sound mind and body, however, there are insurance pitfalls to be aware of.

My mother, for instance, planning a six month stay in New Zealand, did not realise (hidden on Page 8 of booklet) that RBS travel insurance is only for trips up to 31 days. After that, you're on your own…

Always good to check.

Asking isn't always enough - she asked the nice young person on the phone if it was valid for a year and was clearly told 'Yes'. Oh well…

The words Small Print come to mind.

Up to 65 there are still good buys to be had, but over 65s start having higher costs and possibly greater restrictions. Insurers think people older than 65 are more likely to claim, which may or may not be true, but there it is.

Visit KnowYour Money.com, where you will see that there is no limit from M&S or VIrgin travel insurance for a single trip, but 80 and 74 respectively if you want to gad about.

Companies to check

Elect Travel Insurance

Avanti

Castle Cover

Happy travelling, secure in the knowledge that your homework has paid off.

Private health: are you getting what you pay for?

2012-04-05T05:37:00.000-07:00

The Office of Fair Trading has referred the market for privately-funded healthcare services in the UK to the Competition Commission .

Following a previous market investigation, the OFT still believes that the private healthcare market could work better for patients, and that there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that there are features of the market that prevent, restrict or distort competition.

The features identified by the OFT are:

It is not always easy to compare quality and cost.
The full costs of treatment are not always clear.
Too few private health care providers and larger health insurance providers around the country.
Private patients may in some place be limited in their choice of hospital.

Barriers to new competitors entering market and thus being able to offer patients greater choice. New entrants may be set conditions by larger private healthcare providers, who may also offer incentives such as loyalty payments for treating private patients in a specific place.

Watch this space – we will keep you posted.

For information:
In 2010, approximately 78 per cent of private healthcare funding from privately funded patients came from private medical insurers and 22 per cent from self pay patients, based on figures supplied by Laing and Buisson and adjusted by the OFT.

Rotherbank Residential Care Home

2012-04-03T06:58:00.001-07:00

Rotherbank Residential Care Home is a small residential home with some nursing care. I visited it to see if it was suitable for my mother – it may well be, but she is not ready for the move yet. It is privately owned and operated by Christine Hillyer and her son James. They pride themselves on keeping staff – and having only local, no agency carers. The location is quiet and there is a charming garden.

Most of the patients have some degree of dementia but there are no patients with advanced alzheimers. The atmosphere is warm and friendly – when I visited they were getting ready for a keep fit session in the main lounge, and there was a lot of friendly banter. There is a second, quieter lounge. Gladys was reading the paper – she is a voracious reader, James said, and reads every paper from cover to cover. Someone else was being wheeled through to the hairdresser.

The rooms I saw were not very big, but adequate. I liked the fact that outside each room there is a glass-fronted memory box framing a few photographs or trinkets identifying the resident – and helping them identify their own room.

I also like the fact that James told me that two ladies shared a room. They had started in single rooms, but both had wandered in the night. The staff thought it best to try putting them together to see if they were lonely, before resorting to sedating them. Neither of them have wandered since...

Rotherbank Farm Lane
Liss Forest
Hampshire GU33 7BJ

GK

100 and rising - more than a million to reach and pass their centenary

2012-04-03T06:40:00.000-07:00

More than 10 million people - 17 per cent of the population - in the UK today can expect to live to see their 100th birthday.

Three million are currently aged under 16, 5.5 million are aged between 16 and 50, and 1.3 million are aged between 51 and 65. Around 875,000 are already aged over 65.

Pensions Minister Steve Webb said:

“These staggering figures really bring home how important it is to plan ahead for our later lives. Many millions of us will be spending around a third of our lives or more in retirement in the future.”

In 2066, there will be at least half a million people aged 100 or over.

The 2066 centenarians will include nearly 7,700 super centenarians: those aged 110 or over.

Number of people currently alive who can expect to see their 100th birthday,
by age in 2010

Projected number of centenarians in the UK