This Laterlife                  May 2006

this later life… 

When one older person goes into residential care

The Relatives & Residents Association has published a report on couples being split up when one of them has to move into residential care.

This timely report looks at the experiences of couples where one of them has gone into care, leaving the other behind to cope with the sense of loss, guilt, financial hardship and loneliness that they often experience. Practical involvement in the physical care of their loved one may have ended, yet the continuing impact on their lives of their mutual relationship can be immense and far-reaching.

Drawing on the experiences of callers to the R&RA advice line, the report describes the emotional and practical difficulties they have faced. It makes clear recommendations for action by government, local authorities and care homes.
The report Moving Stories: The impact of admission into a care home on residents’ partners is by Alison Clarke and Les Bright and is available, price £8, direct from: R&RA, 24 The Ivories, 6-18 Northampton Street, London N1 2HY. Order forms are also available via the website: www.relres.org

Two useful websites for people who have everything and want to off-load: www.readitswapit.co.uk  and www.freecycle.org 

A message from the Ramblers’ Association

As we finally move into spring it's a great time to dust off your walking equipment and get back out into our marvellous countryside. One piece of equipment we would encourage you to take on your walks is a camera! Photos are a great way to convey the wonders of walking – or they can illustrate its frustrations! Either way, we'd like to see any photos you've recently taken of paths in England and Wales. Beautiful paths are great, but we're also on the look out for problem paths, and anything weird and wacky. Simply send your digital photos or scanned images to openpaths@ramblers.org.uk  (jpegs less than 1Mb are preferred). Please send your photos in on individual emails, with a caption or explanation of what the photograph is of and where it was taken.
 

TENA, leading manufacturer of bladder weakness protection, has announced its winners of the Zest for Life Bursary, a nationwide search for women and men harbouring a passion to fulfill a life-long goal. Four TENA Ladies, from Tees, have been given the chance of fulfilling their dream of competing at the Henley Veteran’s Regatta 2006.
 

The women, who are keen rowers, train five times a week and regularly compete in Veteran’s races across the UK. However, until recently, the TENA Ladies did not have a boat of their own to practise or even race in! Gill Stiller, Liz Leigh, Janet Wilkinson and Ester Takacs are now the proud owners of their very own coxless fours rowing boat thanks to TENA. Rowing is low impact and perfect for strengthening core stability and pelvic tone.

The company is working hard to destigmatise bladder weakness and show that the condition does not have to change lives. The TENA Zest for Life Bursary promotes the notion that life is for living, speaking for the one in four women and many men who experience bladder weakness but refuse to let it put their lives on hold.
TENA produce specially designed pads available to suit all needs. Further information on TENA treatment programmes, including pilates-based Kegel exercises can be obtained by visiting www.tena.co.uk .

Don't Break The Elastic!!

In April, Maya Angelou was interviewed by Oprah on her 70+ birthday.
Oprah asked her what she thought of growing older.
And, there on television, she said it was "exciting”. Regarding body
changes, she said there were many, occurring every day...like her breasts. They seem to be in a race to see which will reach her waist first.
The audience laughed so hard they cried.

Maya Angelou said:

• "I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today,
  life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow."

• "I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she
  handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights."

• "I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents,
  you'll miss them when they're gone from your life."

• "I've learned that making a "living" is not the same thing as "making a life."

• "I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance."

• "I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's glove on both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back."

• "I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I
  usually make the right decision."

• "I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one."

• "I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone.
  People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back."

• "I've learned that I still have a lot to learn."

• "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will
  forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them
  feel."

Half a million older people are believed to be abused in the UK at any one time. The charity Help the Aged has issued a commitment aiming to stopping this abuse, and they are asking for help. Pledge your support now at http://www.iwill.co.uk  Website: www.helptheaged.org.uk 

Help around the house

Help the Aged’s new catalogue is full of practical ideas for people who live alone. See such items as a two-way talking doorbell for £20 and a self-charging smoke alarm. Go to www.helptheaged.org.uk/homeshopping  The website also offers various services, such as the Bogus Caller Scheme, run in collaboration with local Help the Aged charity shops.

The Food Standards Agency has published its sixth UK-wide Consumer Attitudes to Food survey. The annual survey reveals that an increasing number of consumers say they are taking an active interest in their food and diet, with more people checking food labels and trying to eat more fruit and vegetables.
The 2005 survey highlights a number of diet and health trends that have emerged since 2000, these include:
• A significant yearly increase in the number of consumers who are aware that we should eat at least 5 portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables each day. An additional one-quarter of consumers are now aware that we should eat at least 5 portions compared to respondents in 20001
• An increase in the number of consumers who say they look at nutritional information on food labels, with an additional third of consumers saying they check food labels for the salt/sodium content
• An increase in the number of consumers who claim to be eating more vegetables, salads and fruit compared to a year ago
• An increase in the number of consumers claiming to never eat ready-made meals
• An increase, from 2003, in the number of consumers who claim to prepare/cook a meal from raw ingredients at least once a day
• An increase in the proportion of consumers claiming to sit down together for a main meal at least once a day

Time for the Nation to Nurture Silver Surfers

Silver Surfers' Day has morphed into Silver Surfer Week. And it’s this month – 22-26 May. You can help people in the UK who are also over 50 to learn about email and the Internet. In less than one lunch-hour you could give someone a glimpse of a kind of
freedom undreamt of a generation ago: ways to learn, communicate, create, be
political, shop, keep families together, maintain health, overcome disadvantage
and manage money.
'It's all about showing people what the Internet can do to make their lives better,'
says Bob Holmes, Silver Surfer Week Co-ordinator for Digital Unite.

They need event-holders by the 1,000s. Absolutely
any organisation can be an event-holder. You just have to be
willing to invite over-50s in for a brief, good experience of the
Internet/email in an unstressful atmosphere.
Register now on http://www.silversurfer.org.uk  whether your event plans are fixed or fluid. Any UK organisation or individual can take part. Free Silver Surfer Week resource packs will be provided.

Making the case for retirement villages

There has been a growing policy emphasis on promoting independence for older people, offering them choices, and improving their quality of life. Retirement villages appear to serve current policy agendas very well.  Read more here

laterlife interest

The above article is part of the features section of laterlife.com called laterlife interest. laterlife interest contains a variety of articles of interest for visitors to laterlife.com written by a number of experienced and new journalists.

It includes both one off articles and also associated regular columns of a more specialist nature such as Healthwise, Talkback, Gardener's Diary, and a beauty section called Looking good in later life.

There's also 'It could be you' by Maggi Stamp laterlife's counsellor on human relationships. 

Also don't forget to take a look at our regular IT question and answer section called YoucandoIT by IT trainer and author Jackie Sherman.

To view the latest articles click on laterlife interest or to view indexes to previous articles click on laterlife interest index. To search for articles about a certain topic, use the site search feature at the top of the navigation.