UK....

 

Age UK….

…is the registered charity formed from the merger of the former Age Concern and Help the Aged.  Age UK works to “improve later life for everyone by providing life-enhancing services and vital support”.

I have mentioned Age UK several times during the A-Z Blogging Challenge so I thought it really ought to have a post all to itself. It is such a fantastic source of information and advice on anything relevant to older people. It provides services, advice, products and training as well as carrying out research and campaigning to improve older people’s lives (see my S post about the Still Waiting campaign).

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are represented by Age Scotland, Age Cymru and Age NI, all of which are merged with the umbrella organisation of Age UK.

Age UK has a brilliant website that covers a huge range of topics, from money to health to lifestyle and travel and much, much more. If you scroll down the right hand side of this page you will see a link to the Age Scotland blog under “Blogs I am Following’.  By visiting the Age UK website you can also sign up for newsletter, download podcasts or just make contact with your local branch.

If you are thinking about how to Age Proof your life, I cannot recommend Age UK too highly.

Follow this link to their website to find out more:

http://www.ageuk.org.uk/

Tai Chi Tuesday...

 

 

Tai Chi

Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese martial art that combines deep breathing and relaxation with gentle physical movements. It is widely practiced by people of all ages in Eastern countries and is becoming increasingly popular in the West.

Tai Chi has received a lot of attention in the press with claims being made that it can do everything from reducing heart disease to preventing falls in older people. There have been numerous research studies carried out looking at these claims and sometimes the results have been exaggerated in the popular press.

Research has clearly established that improved strength and balance reduce the likelihood of falls and Tai Chi is certainly a form of exercise that will develop your strength and balance. Research continues to investigate the benefits of Tai Chi.

Tai Chi does not involve contact or fast physical movements so can be an ideal form of exercise as you get older. Joining a class also gives the benefits of meeting new people and learning in a safe environment with an instructor to guide you. If you are interested in Age Proofing your life, some form of exercise is recommended, and Tai Chi might be the very thing for you.

Follow this link to the NHS “Livewell” page that will give you more information to help you decide if Tai Chi could be for you:

http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/fitness/Pages/taichi.aspx

Still Waiting...

 

 

Still Waiting…

If you are aged over 60 in Scotland you are entitled to a free bus pass that can be used on local and long distance services under the ConcessionaryTravel Scheme. Many older people however live in rural areas where buses are few and far between. Even in urban areas public transport often does not meet the needs of older people. Being able to travel within the community is an important factor in maintaining independence for older people and allows participation in many of the social and leisure activities that are now recognised as so important for health and wellbeing. 

Age Scotland’s ‘Still Waiting’ campaign urges the Scottish Government to extend the Concessionary Travel Scheme to include Community Transport services. These are often run by local charities, are not for profit and help to fill the gaps where public transport does not provide an adequate service. Commercial bus companies may withdraw unprofitable routes and at present, Age Scotland believes that the funding provided to Community Transport services is dwindling due to current financial constraints. The Still Waiting campaign argues that extending the Concessionary Travel Scheme to include these local initiatives and ensuring they are reimbursed for fares would help ensure their survival and support the travel needs of older people in local communities.

As for the previous post (Ready for Ageing…) this campaign is an example of action that can be taken to Age Proof the lives of older people at a community and policy level.

To find out more or to support the campaign follow this link:

http://www.ageuk.org.uk/scotland/travel-lifestyle/still-waiting-campaign-for-a-better-bus-pass-scheme/

Ready for Ageing...

 

R

Ready for Ageing…

…is a report recently published by the House of Lords Select Committee on Public Service and Demographic Change. It applies to England specifically but the issues it covers are relevant in the rest of the UK, and indeed, in any country in the developed world.

The committee took a holistic approach and the report highlights key issues and aims to encourage public debate. It focussed on the implications of the ageing population for the near future, specifically the decade from 2020-2030. It is expected that there will be:

• 51% more people over 65 than in 2010
• 101% more people over 85 than in 2010
• more than 50% more living with 3 or more long term conditions
• over 80% more with dementia
• And- over 10 million people in Britain can currently expect to have inadequate retirement incomes.

What age will you be in that decade?

The report emphasises that longer lives can be a great benefit, but that the Government and society are ‘woefully underprepared’. The contribution of older people to society includes the voluntary services, whether formal or informal, performed by older people who are also significant providers of care for younger children and for other older people.

The report calls for changes in society’s attitude and in Government policy to support and encourage this. Among other things, it covers employment practices, pension regulations and NHS & social care provision. It is recommended that to enable older people to live independently and well, health and social services need to be transformed and need to function 24/7.

The report states that:

“The Government must set out the framework for radically transformed healthcare to care for our ageing population before the general election in 2015. All political parties should be expected to issue position papers on the future of health and social care within 18 months, and address these issues explicitly in their manifestos for the 2015 election.”

We can all do a certain amount individually to Age Proof our lives, but arguably the big changes need to take place at a policy level. If you are interested in Age Proofing your life, perhaps this is something to ask your local MP about when they appear on your doorstep looking for your vote…

To read the report, follow this link:

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201213/ldselect/ldpublic/140/140.pdf

The Queen

   The Queen is an example to us all of someone who has successfully age proofed her life. Anyone over the age of 80 who can walk up and down a flight of stone stairs, wearing heels and without holding onto a rail (or anyone's arm), as the Queen is regularly seen to do, has to be admired.
 

P is for Pledge

  -->

P

Physical Activity Pledge

Physical activity is increasingly being shown to be one of, if not the, most important thing that almost everyone can do to improve their health. More importantly, the benefits will stay with you and help to maintain good health and avoid problems as diverse as dementia, heart disease and diabetes- all of which become a higher risk as you get older.

The great thing is that doing more physical activity does not have to mean that you have to do high impact sports if you don’t enjoy them. Walking the dog, making short journeys on foot instead of taking the car, playing with the grand children, taking the stairs instead of the lift can all add up. Better still the amount of exercise being recommended to get all these benefits is only about 30 minutes a day, and that can be made up of 3 x10 minute slots if you prefer.

Occupational therapists are one of the Allied Health Professionals in Scotland who have signed up to the Scottish Government Pledge to get Scotland more active. You can read more about the Pledge by following this link

http://www.cot.co.uk/news/calls-action/ahps-pledge-increase-physical-activity-scotland

An occupational therapist looks at a person’s whole lifestyle and can help find ways to incorporate health promoting activities- such as exercise- into daily routines. They work with you to find ways of being more active that are manageable and enjoyable.

For a fun presentation that is under 10 minutes long follow this link- you won’t need any further persuasion!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUaInS6HIGo

Occupational Therapy

 

O

Occupational Therapy- what exactly is it?

The College of Occupational Therapists in the UK give the following definition:

‘Occupational therapy provides practical support to people with physical and mental illness, disability, long term condition, or those experiencing the effects of ageing, to do the things they need or want to do. It enables people of all ages to carry out practical and purposeful activities (often referred to as 'occupation'). This could be essential day to day tasks - such as dressing, cooking, going shopping, to the things that make us who we are - our job, interests, hobbies and relationships.

Occupational therapy considers all our needs - e.g. physical, psychological, social and environmental - and helps to increase people's independence and satisfaction in all aspects of life.’

Occupational Therapists (OTs) have traditionally worked in rehabilitation and recovery situations, but their training and focus on the whole person and on occupation or activity mean they are ideally suited to work in health promotion and preventative settings too. As health care increasingly moves towards a preventative approach, this is an area that more OTs may begin to focus on. OTs are ideally placed to help you Age Proof your life...

For information on how to find an OT follow this link to the College of Occupational Therapists website. Similar professional bodies exist in most countries.