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READING, BRACKNELL & WEST BERKS JULY - SEPTEMBER 2013 EDITION 31

The world according

to Joan Fitness for Life

at Bracknell Leisure Centre

Ways to Delay Care Costs Advice from Hewetts Solicitors

Hairy Bikers

Delicious Summer dishes

THE LOCAL MAGAZINE FOR THE OVER 50s

WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

e

CROWN’S KITCHENS

by Jason

Crown Kitchens has been creating beautiful kitchens for over 60 years and get most of our work by referral.

Perhaps it’s because we offer ranges to suit all tastes or maybe its the way we ‘walk’ our customers through the design process which enables us to understand and deliver to meet their expectations.

Whether it’s a traditional, bespoke or a sleek contemporary kitchen, Jason can advise you and help you to get the most from your budget. They also offer a large range of quality appliances from top kitchen manufacturer Crown Imperial and superb worktops in a choice of finishes.

Your new kitchen will be fully overseen by our helpful, friendly staff and we can even take care of the electrical work, gas, plastering, tiling and more to assure a quality end result to your kitchen.

A new kitchen is an exciting project and we are confident that our experience and enthusiasm will help you make the right decisions along the way.

Unit 14, Robert Cort Industrial Estate, Britten Road, Reading RG2 0AU Tel: 0118 975 9366 | jason@crowns-kitchens.com

PUTTING THE HEART IN YOUR HOME

www.crowns-kitchens.com

inside...

Say ‘Aloha’ to Hawaii ...

The ultimate dream destination

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Holidays & Short Breaks by Coach ...

From Barnes Coaches

12-13 Live Stress Free ...

Relaxation Tips

16-17

8-9

6-7

16-17 The World According to Joan ...

Joan Collins strolls through the highlights of her life 21

Win a 5 night break for two ...

With Christian Guild Holidays

22-23 The Hairy Dieters ...

Delicious Summer Dishes!

24-25 Protecting Your Wealth against Care Costs ...

Advice from the Experts 28-29 Dementia ...

Making the Most out of Life

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28-29

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ou y l Al see can www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

Graham Smith...

TWITTERING ON Twittering Pope I could of course make some very irreverent remark about the fact that the Pope has opened a Twitter account. But he’s got something going for him for he picked up over 300,000 followers in the first 24 hours of tweeting putting Stephen Fry and others in the shade.

I have a sneaking admiration for any 85-year-old who takes up social media but note that he has a new media department who will doubtless be handling his tweets before publication. It remains to be seen if congregations dwindle in the light of this innovation or whether many turn over in bed on Sunday morning and reach for their lap top!

The self-titled “bacontrepreneur” has also come up with other pork inspired products such as bacon roses, bacon lip balm and bacon baby formula.

And, for those “who love bacon to death”, he has created a £2,000 bacon-wrapped coffin.

Mr Esch added: “Bacon is delicious, people get excited when they smell it. When you walk into a room don’t you want people to be excited to see you?”

I told you they weren’t all locked up.

Coffin therapy Next time you fancy a lie down try a little coffin therapy!

A Ukrainian man is encouraging people to lie down for 15 minutes in one of his coffins to “prepare for the afterlife”.

Now why would I want to do that?

The coffin maker has been in business for ten years and says the feeling is just like being in a bed. It’s the same sheets and pillows with its own special aura. You can choose from one of ten coffins in a special room with birdsong, falling water and he says you go home in a completely different mood.

Err, no thanks

Little lit up donkey!

Hundreds of donkeys are to be fitted with glow-in-the-dark ear tags in Botswana to stop accidents on rural roads at night.

About 500 of the animals will be fitted with the reflective tags in the north of the country where one in ten crashes is donkey-related.

I think it’s a wonderful idea and also recommend the tags for those barmy joggers who tear around in pitch blackness.

The UK-based Society For The Protection Of Animals Abroad is paying for the Maun Animal Welfare Society, in Botswana, to carry out the project.

Is your man a pig?

A US company has created a gift for the man who has everything - bacon flavoured shaving scream.

J&D’s new product is described as “high end, luxurious bacon-scented shaving cream” and is on sale for about £9.

Inventor Justin Esch said: “There is nothing more powerful than the smell of bacon, nothing. Bacon is the smell of champions.

“Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and bacon is the best part of breakfast. Why not smell like it and be the best?”

Laura Higham, outreach veterinary advisor for SPANA, said: “The people that own working donkeys are some of the very poorest in Botswana’s society and often have no choice other than to let their animals roam freely in search of food in the sparse desert environment.

“This practice is essential, but obviously makes the donkeys vulnerable to accidents and we hope that this simple solution will help reduce the number of collisions caused by the animals every year.”

The charities hope the project will be adopted in other parts of the country, and will be the first step towards making reflective tags a legal requirement for freely roaming livestock.

Isn’t science wonderful?

www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

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50 Plus Travel

sponsored by

SAY ‘ALOHA’ TO HAWAII

By Sally Dowling from Silver Travel Advisor

Kauai © (HTA/Tor Johnson)

Palm trees swaying in the gentle trade winds of the Pacific Ocean, endless stretches of sandy coastline, volcanoes, rainforests and more – the Hawaiian Islands are the ultimate dream destination.

The journey to Hawaii is not to be underestimated – it is a long way. So when you finally get there you need to make the most of this incredible group of diverse and beautiful islands strung out like pearls in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. There are countless itineraries and combinations with each island offering a different holiday experience and its own individual charm.

Arriving into Honolulu on the island of Oahu immediately gives you a sense of anticipation. The warm air greets you as it wafts through the mainly open buildings and the atmosphere is laid back and relaxed. Honolulu is the centre of business and culture and the capital of Hawaii. It is a bustling city with a strong Polynesian influence and is home to museums, galleries and elegant public gardens all steeped in the history of the islands.

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The world famous resort of Waikiki Beach is just a few miles along the coast. At first glance not quite the tranquil tropical resort you would expect but this is a town that welcomes a huge number of tourists each day. Modern skyscraper hotels front the pristine beach set against the magnificent backdrop of Diamond Head volcanic crater. At night Waikiki comes alive with Sunset Hula shows, street performers, lively bars and restaurants. A velvet breeze wafts in from the ocean, mixes with the soft sound of the Hawaiian guitar and beckons the crowds to linger amongst designer boutiques and street markets. As soon as dawn breaks the surfers take to the water to catch the waves that roll in throughout the year. Sit on the beach and be amazed by their prowess or take a lesson and have a go yourself, there are plenty of beach boys happy to give surfing classes and surfboards can be easily rented.

When it is time to move on to another island, a great contrast to Oahu is Maui, known as the Magic Isle.

Although it appears at first glance to be flat and uninteresting, travel away from the airport and you will find the dormant volcano of Haleakala Crater with its lunar landscape, or take the scenic road to the town of Hana through rainforest and waterfalls. The picturesque town of Lahaina was once the heart of the Hawaiian Islands where the whaling ships docked. Today the town attracts the tourists with quaint shops, galleries and restaurants housed in the old wooden shop fronts that were once the

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saloons and brothels of times gone by. Set along a pretty coastline with a dramatic mountainous backdrop and with spectacular sunsets over the small offshore island of Lana’i - the town is picture postcard perfect.

If it is adventure you are after then the island of Kuau’i beckons visitors with a host of exciting activities, watersports, 4x4 land tours, mountain tubing and zip line tours to name just a few.

Take a helicopter tour to appreciate the awesome interior of Kaua’i. The imposing Waimea Canyon is more than 3,000 feet deep and known as the ‘Grand Canyon of the Pacific’.

The Waimea River flows through the canyon and is fed by cascading waterfalls swollen by the almost daily rainfall. When the sun shines through shimmering rainbows appear giving the area a truly magical feel. Hold onto your seat because the experienced pilots know how to get really up close and personal to some of the highest waterfalls and deepest valleys.

Hawaii Island © (HTA/Tor Johnson)

Maui © (HTA/Tor Johnson)

In common with the other islands, Kauai has its fair share of stunning beaches. Holiday makers flock to the eastern and western shores but only intrepid hikers or sailors can access the secluded hidden coves, nestling beneath the dramatic cliffs along the Na Pali Coast on the western side.

With its lush, rainforest interior and above average rainfall Kaua’i is aptly named the Garden Isle and has been the setting for many famous movie locations over the years.

The largest island is confusingly named Hawaii – or Big Island. You could easily spend your entire holiday here as it has an amazing diversity in geography and climate.

Take a drive around the island and you will pass through tropical rain forests, lava fields, volcanic mountains and rolling hills. At Kona on the west coast and you will be amazed by huge expanses of black lava stretching into the sea. The area is famed for diving and snorkelling and a visit to Kealakekua State Park is a must. Further along the coast the land is dotted with coffee plantations, each producing the world famous Kona Coffee and most are happy to give tours to visitors and sell the freshly roasted beans. The active volcanoes for which the island is so well known can be explored at fairly close quarters from the Volcanoes National Park. Check current conditions with the park rangers at the Kilauea Visitor Centre where you can also pick up maps and guides to the area. The island capital is Hilo, situated along the crescent shaped Hilo Bay on the East Coast where frequent and heavy rainfall has created a tropical environment of lush valleys and gushing waterfalls.

Hilo is a commercial centre but does have an attractive ‘old town’ area full of shops, galleries and restaurants as well as museums, parks a cultural centre and a great programme of seasonal festivals and events. It makes a great base for exploring the Volcanoes National Park and the beaches along the coast.

So pick one or pick ‘em all, whichever islands you choose to visit, I guarantee you will want to return to see the rest. www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

© (HTA/Tor Johnson)

My Bronte Book Your autobiography captured in a beautiful, illustrated volume for your family to treasure.

Complete with a web site of your pictures and recordings of your stories. Written in Haworth, home of the Brontes.

Haworth gave birth to the historic novels of the Bronte sisters and it can become the birthplace of your personal story.

Makes a wonderful gift for loved ones.

Bronte Book will publish your personal autobiography, written and published in Haworth, to pass on as a living legacy after making detailed recordings.

Within the four month long process comes your own web site (also available separately) containing recordings, pictures and special stories. Your own living legacy which we know you will enjoy compiling.

You may choose a book and/or a web site and an e-book within the package which starts from £300 ranging to £2,750 for the full process, which can include up to 20 books. A deposit with instalment payments plan is available.

Details from www.brontebook.weebly.com or Bronte Media, brontemedia@outlook.com Tel: 01535 959002, Mobile: 07866 626090

For more information on the Hawaiian Islands contact Hawaii Tourism Europe website www.gohawaii.com or call 44 (0)207 6446 127.

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barnes 2013 Holidays & Short Breaks by Coach FREE Home Pick Up on all tours 4 Days and Over Switzerland, Austria & the Glacier Express

including Interlaken & Mainau Gardens on Lake Constance This year this tour is split between Austria and Switzerland to make the day on the Glacier Express even more special!

Hotel Weisses Kreuz, Feldkirk HHHH Hotel on the outskirts of historic Feldkirk.

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LIFT l BAR l SAUNA

Hotel Paxmontana, Flueli - Ranft HHH

Superior hotel in an entirely wooden building lovingly restored.

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LIFT l BAR

Sunday 14th July 8 Days £749

Moray Firth & the Highlands Elgin is Speyside’s smallest city nestling in the world famous whisky region. The tour offers a wide variety of excursions including a funicular rail trip to the top of the Cairngorms, a Loch Ness Cruise and a variety of Scottish producers.

Eight Acres Hotel & Leisure Club, Elgin

A hotel set in sprawling grounds with full leisure facilities. l

BAR

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POOL

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SPA

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SAUNA

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GYM

Sunday 14th July 7 Days £559

Northumbria on Film & TV Inc. Beamish, Alnwick Castle & Gardens Two characters put this beautiful region of Britain firmly on the film and TV map. The first was Catherine Cookson, who wrote so poignantly about life in the area, with many of her books the source of TV dramas. The second was Harry Potter who was seen flying around Alnwick Castle on a broomstick! Other films include Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Elizabeth and Get Carter.

Caledonian Hotel, Newcastle

Located in the heart of the leafy area of Jesmond

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LIFT

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BAR

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NO SINGLE SUPPLEMENTS

SATELLITE TV

Sunday 21st July 5 Days £339

Scarborough & The Yorkshire Moors Including ride on North Yorks Moors Railway

NO SINGLE SUPPLEMENTS

Britain’s first holiday resort occupies a fine position on the Yorkshire coastline with two magnificent bays and a headland topped by a castle.

The Esplanade Hotel HHH

Hotel that holds a commanding position above the cliffs overlooking the sea.

LIFT

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BAR

Saturday 27th July 7 Days £479

Pennines, Lakes & Hadrian’s Wall including South Tynedale Railway Our hotel sits 700 feet above sea level and commands spectacular views across the Cumbrian countryside. Always a popular tour full of contrasts and viewing wonderful scenery.

Gilsland Spa Hotel

In a beautiful location with 140 acres of park and woodland. l

LIFT

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BAR

Monday 29th July 5 Days £329 8

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Call: 01793 821303 for your 2013 brochure

Edinburgh Tattoo Including the Trossachs The Edinburgh Tattoo is the most spectacular show in the world, enjoyed by an international audience of 100 million. But there’s no substitute for being there as you become part of it.

On the day of the Tattoo we have plenty of time to enjoy Edinburgh, and on the other day in Scotland we enjoy a tour of the Trossachs, the Highlands in miniature.

Holiday Inn East Kilbride HHHH Hotel with full leisure facilities. l BAR

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SATELLITE TV

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POOL

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NEW 4 STAR HOTEL

SPA

Friday 2nd & 16th August 4 Days £349

Where There’s Brass A wonderfully evocative and varied tour blending Yorkshire’s fascinating folk history with stirring brass band music, the lovely scenery of the Peak District and a chance to have a go at making the perfect Bakewell pudding!

NO SINGLE SUPPLEMENTS

Park Inn Hotel, Rotherham HHH

Fantastic 3 star hotel with leisure facilities. l BAR l SATELLITE TV l LIFT l SPA l SAUNA

Friday 2nd August 5 Days £289

Bavaria & Lake Schliersee Including Guided tour of Munich, lake cruise to Herrenchiemsee & Oberammergau

NEW TOUR

Our 4 star hotel is in the pretty village of Schliersee with a large summer terrace. Bavaria has blue skies & crystal clear lakes, small medieval towns and vibrant cities, mystical forests and snow-capped peaks plus Bavarian traditions and warm hospitality.

Alpenclub Schliersee HHHH

Wonderfully situated hotel offering the warmest of welcomes. l BAR l LIFT l SATELLITE TV l SAUNA l STEAM ROOM

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SPA

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POOL

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Saturday 3rd August 8 Days £649

Durham & Beamish Including The Yorkshire Dales & Herriot Country An opportunity to stay at a 4 star hotel in the centre of the beautiful city of Durham. We enjoy fascinating turn-of-the-century history recreated at Beamish, a scenic tour of the Yorkshire Dales with a local guide and a visit to the former surgery of England’s most famous vet.

Radisson SAS Hotel, Durham HHHH

Hotel nested on a lovely bend of the River Weir with views of the cathedral and old city of Durham. l BAR l LIFT l POOL l STEAM ROOM l GYM

Monday 5th August 5 Days £349

Cornwall in Summer St. Agnes Experience all that Cornwall has to offer whilst based in this lovely hotel in the unspoilt village of St. Agnes.

Rosemundy House Hotel HHH

A fabulous 3 star property set in 4 acres of woodland and gardens. l

BAR l GROUND FLOOR ROOMS

Friday 9th August 5 Days £349

Eastbourne & Sussex Coast Eastbourne is one of England’s premier seaside resorts. There is a magnificent Victorian seafront and there are beautiful parks and gardens to enjoy.

NO SINGLE SUPPLEMENTS

Alexandra Hotel HH

Hotel with excellent sea views and cuisine. l

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BAR

Monday 19th August 6 Days £369

PLUS MANY, MANY MORE! www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

For full details visit www.barnescoaches.co.uk

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For theGuild perfect Christian hotelss break Abbot...

Halland Hotel why not South Lakes, Cumbria provide the very bestgrandchildren the too!

015395 32896 in Christian hospitalityy Christian Guild have been welcoming guests for nearly 100abbot@christianguild.co.uk years and our commitment to helping find the best break to suit you and your family in some ofyouthe most Christian Guild hotels has never changed. That’s why so many guests return year after year.

Abbot Hall Hotel provide the very best South Lakes, Cumbria beautiful parts of We have a unique collection of five hotels - all set in gorgeous grounds Christian and of the highest standards. We strivein to make sure thathospitality your stay is 015395 32896 England. abbot@christianguild.co.uk thoroughly relaxing in our superbly appointed hotels. in some of the most For those who prefer a more active holiday, we have used Lindors our extensive Country beautiful parts of Our tofive superb hotels experience produce a fantastic range of themed breaks.

England.

House Hotel Ouro themed combinewelcome a range of activities for all ages and for er abreaks warm

take

individuals or families. So if you have been a new hobby or Wye Valley Ourconsidering five superb hotels want to meet like-minded people during your stay, then our themed erhorizons. a warm welcome breaks are the ideal way of broadeningo your

Lindors Country and are perfect places Hotel 01594 530283House Wye Valley to get away from it all. lindors@christianguild.co.uk and are perfect places

to get away from it all.

01594 530283

lindors@christianguild.co.uk

Sidholme Hotel

Sidholme Hotel Sidmouth, Devon Sidmouth, Devon

01395 51510401395 515104

sidholme@christianguild.co.uk sidholme@christianguild.co.uk

Christian Guild is at its best during the school summer holidays.

Watch your children or grandchildren swim in our delightful pools or play on the beaches, discover new destinations together, then relax over a family meal and discuss all the things you can do tomorrow.

ER I AL OFF

Treloyhan Manor Hotel

St Ives, Cornwall Treloyhan Manor 01736 796240 to C E ER S P D treloyhan@christianguild.co.uk S Hotel A E R E you’ll have access to everything During the Summer P I Rbreaks,

S FOR I N

St Ives, Cornwall nd a s l e t o h Call the INSPIRE to 01736 796240Willersley Castle 3 1 G C treloyhan@christianguild.co.uk e quotDISCOUNTS FAMILY iscount Hotel d % 0 1 a Derbyshire Dales e v We want everyone to enjoy their holiday, and we know that i e g why we offer special n i rec k o o your family holiday canrbe costly.

That’s 01629 582270 you bditions apply discounts o fornfamilies: willersley@christianguild.co.uk con that Christian Guild has to offer - like our four heated indoor swimming pools, arts and crafts, recreational facilities and plenty of themed breaks - as well as the perfect location for the family to explore.

s&

rm *teyears: 0-4 FREE 5-10 years: 75% off 11-15 years: 50% off 16 & 17 years 25% off 18-21 in full-time education: 25% off if holiday taken with parents or grandparents.

Willersley Castle Hotel Whether you’re looking for a high quality hotel

Derbyshire Dales for a night, a weekend or longer, Christian Guild

One child per adult. For rates for additional children please contact the hotels.

The general rule is that children share with accompanying adults. However, it may be possible to allocate separate rooms for older children, subject to availability.

IDEAL FOR holidays, short breaks, s, ays church weekends and group holidays

is ready to offer you a break to remember.

01629 582270

willersley@christianguild.co.uk

Head Office: Christian Guild, 2nd Floor, Building 10, Cromford Mills, Cromford, Derbyshire, DE4 3RQ. tel: 01629 826531 email: mail@christianguild.co.uk

Sidholme Hotel Sidmouth is an ideal base from which to tour some of Devon’s sights. It only takes a 5 minute drive to reach Peak Hill with its magnificent views over the town and seascape. The area abounds with lovely walks and strolls over hills into deep receding valleys.

Further away are the delightful open spaces of Dartmoor and Exmoor with their quaint villages hidden amongst ever-changing scenery. Exeter, with its beautiful Cathedral and museums, is just 16 miles away.

The majestic Georgian mansion of Sidholme Hotel sits in idyllic grounds in the Regency seaside town of Sidmouth.

PLACES TO VISIT

Inside the resplendent building is the jewel in the crown - a stunning Victorian music room, with fine chandeliers and Gothic-style organ.

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As well as welcoming bedrooms and lounges, there is lots to do for the more active guests. There is a heated indoor swimming pool, a snooker room, table tennis and spacious landscaped grounds.

Sidholme Hotel, with its proximity to the Jurassic Coast World Heritage site and East Devon’s charming countryside, is perfect for short breaks and holidays.

Jurassic Coastline World Heritage Site Crealy Adventure Park l Norman Lockyer Observatory l Exeter Cathedral and Underground Passages l Seaton Tramway l Beer Quarry Caves l Forde Abbey & Gardens l Powderham Castle l Branscombe Old Bakery, Manor Mill & Forge. l

REA OFFE DER R DISC 10% on a OUNT ny 2

Themed Breaks this Summer ....

JULY Summer Walking 13th - 20th July (7 nights) During this week there will be a choice of a longer, 8 miles + walk, or a shorter 4-7 mile walk each walking day. An ideal opportunity to stretch your legs in the hilly local countryside.

Package price: £510 Break code: 01148

Car Free & Care Free 22nd-26th July (4 nights) Get yourself to Sidholme Hotel and then let us take you out on one half-day and two full-day coach trips to exciting destinations in the local area, including Exeter Cathedral, Seaton Tramway and Montacute House.

Package price: £342 Break code: 01149

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1 Quo holid ay 3 te & We 50 Plus R . eadi st Be n book rks when g ing

JULY & AUGUST Family Fun Weeks Family Fun weeks are a fun mix of activities for all the family and with sports, quizzes, games and craft activities. As well as this there will be an evening kids club and bedtime story before the evening event.

27th Jul - 3rd Aug (7 nights) Package price: £425 Break code: 01150 3rd - 10th Aug (7 nights) Package price: £425 Break code: 01151

17th - 24th Aug (7 nights) Package price: £425 Break code: 01153

Bank Holiday Fun

10th -17th Aug (7 nights) Including Teen Zone. This week features similar activities to the other Family Fun weeks but there will also be a Teen Zone Time after evening prayers. Daytime activities like Go Ape, paintballing and canoeing will be offered off site at an extra cost.

23rd -27th August (4 nights) Make the most of the August Bank Holiday. There’ll be fun activities organised in house, an afternoon cream tea, entry to Bicton Park Botanical Gardens and a 6 mile guided walk.

Package price: £425 Break code: 01152

Package price: £290 Break code: 01154

For more details about any of these breaks enter the break codes at www.christianguild.co.uk or contact the hotel on 01395 515104

HEALTH

Learning to relax in today’s rushabout, hi-tech, highly stressed world has never been more important.

As heart attack rates soar and stress-related illness becomes common, we owe it to ourselves to factor relaxation into our weekly routine. Even retirement can be stressful. How often do we pack the day with things we “simply must do” and not leave enough time to just chill out and do nothing?

Sometimes we can relax in a hobby – lose ourselves in model-making or crafts, or help our bodies de-stress with a game of badminton, a session of Tai Chi, going swimming or taking a lovely long walk in the fresh air, away from phones and computers.

MASSAGE is a great way to undo those knots in your shoulders and really relax your body. There are many different types of massage available including aromatherapy massage when warmed essential oils are used on the body with a variety of stroking, rubbing and kneading movements.

Marie Hurst from Body Harmony, who specialises in aromatherapy and Bowen Therapy – a very gentle massage for specific problems – says that stress can be a killer.

“The Japanese have an officially recognised condition called Karoshi – death from stress caused by too much work,” she stated

SPA DAYS AND BREAKS are a wonderful way to combine treatments with total relaxation. Usually, they are offered in hotel spas or fitness centres and involve a preplanned day or weekend of treatments like body massage, facials and Indian head massage, with the opportunity to use gym and swimming pool facilities whenever you want.

A light meal at lunchtime is often included in the price.

Stress is also believed to be responsible for a variety of symptoms and illnesses from high blood pressure and heart problems to insomnia and skin conditions. “A regular massage is an excellent way of alleviating stress and promoting relaxation,” she states.

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YOGA, the ancient spiritual, physical and mental philosophy is another useful way to combat stressful lifestyles and promote wellbeing. As yoga teacher Linda Obertelli Roden from Wellbeing For Life explains: “Living with the mind and body relaxed is a natural state for us. It is only the pace of our lives that makes us forget this.

“Yoga is particularly beneficial for relaxation as there are many relaxing breaths to learn as well as postures (asanas). The word yoga means union, a union of mind and body.”

Linda runs vitality and wellbeing workshops and classes, often in wellknown fitness centres like David Lloyd and Virgin, She adds: “Many of my clients say they have the best night’s sleep after a yoga or Pilates class.”

MEDITATION has been practised for thousands of years and was originally meant to help deepen our understanding of the sacred and mystical forces of life. Today it’s more commonly used for relaxation and stress reduction.

It can produce a deep state of relaxation and a tranquil mind as you focus your attention and eliminate the many jumbled thoughts that tend to crowd in. Meditation can enhance physical and emotional wellbeing, offering a sense of calm, peace and balance that helps overall health.

Margaret Walton, who runs meditation and relaxation courses, says that focusing on the body and on our breathing can help to focus the mind, “to bring us to the present moment, to calm us and help us find a sense of inner stillness and peace.”

Margaret points out that we can be so habitually tense, almost without realising it, “that we gradually become accustomed to the sensation of living in a tense state and just think of it as ‘normal.’”

She offers some clues that may help you to spot undue levels of tension, including: tense muscles, heart racing or pounding, hyperventilating or feeling light-headed, persistent tiredness or exhaustion, aches and pains, difficulty with sleeping or gritting your teeth at night, waking up tired, loss of appetite or not eating well, minor ailments like headaches, and a sense of rush and pressure.

She suggests simple exercises for each area of the body.

“Tense up and then relax muscle groups,” she states. “Do each exercise three times. As you get better with time at relaxing these areas, use less tension before relaxing.”

Hands – Hands are commonly one of the first parts of our body to show tension. When they tense up, they tend to either clench up into a fist or to hold tight onto something.

Instead, stretch out your hands so that your fingers are straight and spread out. Hold that position for a moment and feel the tension across your palms and the back of your hands. Then let your hands relax and flop beside you, or on your lap. Resist the urge to hold onto something; just let them hang loosely beside you or let them rest on your lap.

Shoulders – When we are tense our shoulders are commonly raised or hunched. Instead, pull your shoulders

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down, feel the tension down your arms and up your neck.

Hold that position for a moment. Then let them relax and return to a natural position, not hunched.

Head and neck - The neck muscles can only relax when they are not supporting the weight of your head. That is, if you are lying comfortably with your head supported in a straight line with your spine, or if you are standing or sitting with your head balanced and looking straight ahead – neither angled to one side nor looking up or down.

Many of us tend to spend a lot of time holding our head in one position whilst working, for example. Rotate your head to the extent of its movement in each direction, then allow your head to return to the straight ahead, balanced position.

Face – There are many muscles in our face – used, of course, for speaking eating and for facial expression, but this is one of the areas most likely to show tension. As with other muscle groups, it is possible to ten se up and then relax these muscles. You can also let all expression go from your face: let your forehead become smooth, your jaw sag with your teeth just apart (though your lips may still be closed), your eyes looking straight ahead and into the distance and not squinting.

Breathing – When you are tense, your breathing tends to become faster and shallower. So, allow your breathing to come from lower down in your abdomen (this doesn’t mean inhaling a lot of air, rather just a little air but from low down).

This will help you to slow your breathing down a little, but don’t actually hold your breath. Let it become gentle, easy and regular. Once it is comfortable, you may be able to slow your breathing a little more.

Relaxing thoughts – Although this physical relaxation method doesn’t aim for deep relaxation it should still help you to relax mentally, too. Adds Margaret: “It isn’t possible to be really relaxed physically while being tense mentally, or vice versa.”

For more details about: • Linda Obertelli Roden and Wellbeing for Life go to www. wellbeing4life.co.uk • Margaret Walton’s courses at The Wellbeing Farm go to www.thewellbeingfarm.co.uk • Body Harmony email bodyharmonyuk@yahoo.co.uk • The General Council for Massage www.gcmt.org.uk • The British Meditation Society www.britishmeditationsociety.org 13

Fitness for Life is a multi-activity programme at Bracknell Leisure Centre offering a wide variety of fun sports and exercise sessions.

3 Badminton

3 Short Mat Bowls

3 Swimming

3 Forest Spa

3 Short Tennis

3 Table Tennis

3 Keep Fit

3 Splash Fit

3 Yoga

3 Raquetball

3 Squash

3 Zumba/Dance

These sessions are the perfect way to meet new people, socialise as well as get fit and keep active.

Kathy Bradford (Marketing Manager) says “lovely oldies are some of our most regular, committed, valuable and inspiring customers.

In fact, some people have been coming every week since 1974! No wonder we call our Over 50’s programme “Fit for Life”.

Many also manage to squeeze in a coffee and cake between activities (but don’t tell the Keep Fit instructor Michelle!)”.

Our Fit for Life sessions run Monday - Friday throughout the year (except bank holidays) with a range of activities on each day.

Over 50’s £4.30 (member)

£6.25 (non member)

Do as many activities as you wish all for one great price!

Over 60’s £2.90 (member)

£4.30 (non member)

Relax and Unwind...

The Forest Spa has a Sauna, Steam Room and Saunarium as well as a Hot Tub and Jacuzzi.

Perfect for post-exercise relaxation or simply to catch up with friends!

There are many health benefits associated with hydrotherapy so relax and feel great. For those with aching joints, mobility or nasal conditions you may benefit from the high humidity and lower temperatures in the Steam Room. Or if you have circulatory conditions why not take a break in the sauna, the high heat and low humidity setting is ideal for you.

Come and visit us soon.

You will be amazed how much you can do!

Live life to the full In addition to our Fit for Life sessions we also have a fabulous fitness room called

BodyWorks.

BodyWorks is a friendly and sociable fitness facility superbly equipped with machines to help develop cardiovascular fitness as well as tone and conditioning.

Most importantly our gym is supervised at all times by qualified instructors who are approachable, warm and friendly.

They will provide assistance, advice and motivation so don’t worry if you have never stepped inside a gym before .... we’ll guide you all the way.

Don’t convert your home ... convert your body!

Healthy Hearts

Top Tip: BodyWorks can give you some specific balance and posture exercises. These will give you both confidence and overall wellbeing.

Lack of exercise is the highest risk factor for heart disease and yet it is one of the easiest to remedy.

So, turn over a new leaf and try being a bit more physically active to help improve blood pressure, cholesterol and circulation.

Top Tip: book in for a session with one of the BodyWorks team for some personalised advice before you start.

Flexibility

“I used to rely on family & friends to help me with basic tasks but since joining BodyWorks I have started to get my independence back”.

No matter how slow you go, you are still lapping everyone on the couch!

Mobility and range of movement are really important for those everyday tasks such as putting the shopping away.

Weight Loss

Metabolism can slow down as we get older - thus explaining why our favourite trousers are a little tighter! The question is, is it time to get some new trousers or your old waistline back?

Top Tip: Ask a BodyWorks instructor to design you a flexibility & mobility programme so you can reach those tight spaces.

Top Tip: exercise will aid weight loss as well as help to maintain muscle tone which will also improve metabolism thus burning up more of those cakeinduced calories!

“I was always intimidated by gyms until I found BodyWorks. The instructors are very approachable and willing to help”.

Getting Started

Balance & Co-ordination Poor posture and weak muscles can increase the risk of falling over and possibly putting you out of action for weeks. Awful idea.

Bracknell Leisure Centre

The first, and worst step of exercising in a gym is walking in the doors for the first time, why not come in for a tour before coming in? You can speak to our instructors who are qualified to deliver personalised fitness plans around you. We already have people working out in our gym who have replacement hips and knees or other areas of concern. Why not build up some strength in your surrounding muscles to help support your ‘weak’ areas.

Bodyworks Fitness Room

Bagshot Road, Bracknell RG12 9SE Tel: 01344 422288 Tel: 01344 454203 www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/blcgymfacilities Email: blc.enquiries@bracknell-forest.gov.uk www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/bracknellleisurecentre

The World according to Joan

Joan Collins returned to the UK in April with her her sell-out show “One Night With Joan” and this stroll through the highlights of her life brings a touch of genuine glamour into our humdrum lives writes Angela Kelly.

The British actress, writer and columnist who famously turned down Richard Burton and bested Joan Crawford may unbelievably now be 79 but - being Joan - she never misses an opportunity to show real Hollywood glitz at its best and most enduring. As she insists in her down-toearth way: “I’ve often been accused of over-egging the pudding in the costume and make-up department, but that’s one of the illusions that form a part of what this person called Joan Collins is all about.”

To discover the real Joan Collins, though, it’s necessary to go back to her roots and trace her rise to fame and fortune. She was born in May, 1933 in London, to a former 16

nightclub hostess and a successful talent agent. She was one of three children – her sister Jackie is a successful novelist whose books have sold more than 400 million copies.

Joan was a very pretty child and grew up into an attractive dark-haired beauty. She had her first theatre appearance at the age of nine and obviously developed a taste for acting through her teenage years. She became a Rank starlet and appeared in a host of relatively forgettable films, occasional TV appearances and pin-up shoots but, to improve her budding career, she moved to Hollywood in the 1950s. Her first film role was in 1951 in B-movie “Lady Godiva Rides Again.”

For the next three decades, she became a Hollywood fixture, driving her signature pink Thunderbird and keeping the gossip columnists happy with a reported succession of high-profile liaisons with famous men including Dennis Hopper and Warren Beatty.

She impressed, however, in the films “The Stud” and “The Bitch” which were both adapted from sister Jackie’s

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INTERVIEW best-selling novels. In 1978 she published her first memoir, “Past Imperfect” about her life – unsurprisingly, also a best-seller.

In 1981, she went for an audition for struggling primetime drama “Dynasty”, for a part that Sophia Loren had already turned down. Alexis Carrington Colby was the vicious, vengeful ex-wife of family patriarch Blake Carrington, played by John Forsythe. Joan got the part, and was absolutely brilliant in the role.

Ratings immediately started to rise. As the show’s creator Aaron Spelling insisted: “We didn’t write Joan Collins.

She played Joan Collins. We wrote a character, but the character could have been played by 50 people and 49 of them would have failed. She made it work.”

In fact, she made it work so well that Alexis - with her seductive glamour, gorgeous clothes and make-up and great storylines - became the character with whom Joan has become enduringly associated. She was nominated six times for a Golden Globe before finally winning one in 1983.

“Dynasty” ended its run in 1989 but Joan appeared as Alexis in the 1991 mini-series “Dynasty: The Reunion.”

The original series, though, remains warm and familiar in the minds of the public and there are regularly calls for its revival. Speaking on TV’s “Loose Women” programme just recently, British actress Stephanie Beacham - who also went into the series - said she and Joan had been talking about just such a revival, and regular TV watchers know it’s “never say never” when it comes to bringing back successful soaps.

research, and remains a true celebrity in a sea of passing wannabes.

She has always looked after her figure and continues to be as glamorous as ever, taking her own advice on everything from eating meals from a smaller plate to keep her weight down to avoiding sunshine on her face to protect her looks. Her outspoken and witty pronouncements on various subjects have helped keep her in the public eye and she has had a variety of regular opinion columns in newspapers and magazines.

In her 2011 book “The World According to Joan”, she admits that she has “always been extremely frank, perhaps too much so. Often friends say to me sarcastically ‘Oh why don’t you say what you mean, Joanie!’ Well, I’m afraid I usually do which is why I have been called opinionated, stubborn, obdurate, headstrong, prejudiced and politically incorrect.

“Perhaps I am, but I have now reached an age and a stage when I basically do what I like as much as I can, without trying to hurt anyone.”

While being Joan Collins is much about a life lived in the spotlight, it’s plain that not only is she a clever actress and a genuine icon but that she’s discovered the secret of longevity when it comes to engaging with the public.

And audiences from Manchester’s Lowry to London’s Leicester Square Theatre discovered that “One Night With Joan” is also a unique and memorable experience.

Of course, much of Joan Collins’ fame has come from her life away from the film and TV cameras. She married her first husband, Irish actor Maxwell Reed, in 1952 and divorced him three years later. She married British actor Anthony Newley in 1963 and they had two children before she divorced him in 1970.

Joan was married for 11 years to Apple Records’ president Ron Kass, with whom she had daughter Katy. Her fourth marriage was to Swedish pop singer Peter Holm, which ended after just 13 months with a messy divorce. Then in 2003 she married her fifth husband, theatre company manager Percy Gibson, who is 32 years her junior. Here, finally, Joan seems to have found her soul-mate and the couple renewed their marriage vows in 2009.

She says that today’s “metrosexual-looking” actors don’t compare with the stars of yesteryear although she believes that Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio and Jude Law are “wonderful actors.” Joan makes the exception “on the macho front” for George Clooney and she also likes Bradley Cooper and Robert Downey Jr. Her all-time sexiest star, though, is Marlon Brando – “unforgettable” is her verdict.

After “Dynasty” helped give Joan the highest profile of her career, she continued to act and write both romance novels and self-help beauty and lifestyle books. She’s become involved in a variety of charity work, mostly linked to children with disabilities and aiding breast cancer

For more information on Joan Collins’ go to www.joancollins.net www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

17

How to stay living at home and so avoid care costs Future CARE COSTS are one of the biggest causes of anxiety for older people and for their families.

•

•

The cost of residential care for the elderly can cost £500 to £1000 or higher per week and live in care at around £750 a week. It can result in an elderly person losing the only asset they have left, the family home, that may have been in the family for generations.

Each have their legal implications. One of the greatest dangers of a family sharing solution is that the family or caring relationship later breaks down. This can cause huge problems but some at least of them can be avoided if the arrangement is properly legally documented so as to foresee and provide for as many issues as possible.

There are three main ways to stay at home and so save care fees. The last two have legal implications which need to be considered. All enable family members or friends to provide at least part of the care, if not all, and so save costs. These three are:-

1. Adapt your home if that will enable you to stay

there long enough at least to recoup the cost of adaptation – ie installing a downstairs bathroom or merely widening doors for wheelchair access or putting up support rails etc.

2. Share accommodation with wider family.

This could take various forms such as • The parent moving in with the children or vice versa,

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A financial contribution made by the elderly person to purchase a property to house the enlarged wider family Paying or contributing to the cost of a granny flat annexed to the children’s property.

The first of the three scenarios is often the most dangerous as it is often only informally started and then grows into a longer term undocumented arrangement.

Suppose a ‘child’, (usually very adult by that stage!) has put themselves at a disadvantage by giving up their own home to go and care for their parent or parents. They would lose their position on the property market and their protection from later property price rises or, if in rented accommodation, any security of tenure they might have had. This risk can sometimes be met by the parent promising, in return for the child or other family carer having to their detriment given something up, for the property to be given (usually by will) to the family carer when the elder person dies. Or if that is too much, the value of the carer’s loss can be quantified and they can be given a proportion of the value of the property to reflect that. This needs to be covered by a formal Declaration of Trust. If there is no documentation,, the Court can in certain circumstances enforce such promises but only at great risk and expense for those involved.

Such a Declaration of Trust is also essential for the second scenario of buying a bigger house together. In the absence of proper legal documentation there will always be questions. Is the parent’s contribution considered as a loan, a gift, was it in lieu of paying rent, or was it intended that the contribution made was in exchange for a percentage share of the ownership of the property? If there is a trust deed, shares in the new property can be carefully defined and all contributions clearly set out. As with going to war in Iraq you need an exit strategy! There need to be specified trigger events enabling either party to end the arrangement and require a sale. Otherwise, as indeed in scenario one, you are at the very expensive mercy of the Court to provide an exit. All this needs to be carefully thought through.

A ‘Granny’ annexe is a popular solution as it gives a degree of mutual independence. The parent will often have paid for the addition of the annexe. That capital contribution will need to be protected by way of a similar trust document.

This should clearly state ‘before and after’ values, and so justify the parent’s percentage of ownership. Otherwise on the parent’s death, the Revenue might claim that there was an element of gift, which could create Inheritance Tax or pre-owned asset tax complications. Taking full and specialised legal advice at this stage may save a lot of money on otherwise unnecessary legal fees later.

3. Have a live–in carer.

This is a halfway house solution where the stage is reached where the family carers no longer have sufficient resources to give what is needed.

Such a carer may be provided by a care agency in which case there will need to be a contract with the agency.

If outside an agency, ie through private advertising or recommendation, you will need a formal employment contract. This is important so as to prevent the carer acquiring occupation rights and to avoid difficulties with EU working hours directives and so on. It is important to recognise that the live-in carer can’t be on call all the time.

They need clear fixed periods of time off. It is possible that family members would be able to cover these periods but otherwise alternative arrangements may be needed.

ALL these solutions will be considerably cheaper than full time residential care and we at Hewetts will be very happy to guide you through the pros and cons of every option, pointing out all the necessary legal safeguards and choices available to you. Our specialisation in legal care of the elderly makes us well qualified to do this.

Do ring us or email us as shown below. It will be a privilege and pleasure to help you.

Do ring us at Hewetts, on the number below, to discuss any of these issues asking for me Robin Gambles or for Tim Butcher. Our first half hour or so of advice will always be free and will give you a good idea of what you will be able to achieve and at what sort of cost.

Hewetts are an old established firm with a modern and progressive outlook, whose private client department sees an ever growing need to channel their legal energy to identifying and looking after the needs of the retired and elderly.

Anyone over 50 should be anticipating both the opportunities and the problems, and plan accordingly by: • • • • • • • • •

wills to benefit your family in the most tax efficient way wills to protect your children where you may have remarried planning inheritance tax savings and protection of assets benefiting your family in your lifetime lasting powers of attorney both for property and affairs and personal welfare long term care arrangements ascertaining whether the NHS should pay for your care instead of being self funded co-ownership and "live-in" care arrangements with family equity release arrangements

55-57 Lo ndon S Reading treet, RG1 4PS

For further information contact Robin Gambles on 0118 955 9617

Email r.gambles@hewetts.co.uk Website www.hewetts.co.uk www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

19

OUT & ABOUT ... plus YOUR CHANCE TO WIN ...

Highclere Castle Summer Picnic Proms – Berkshire – 3 August 2013

The Battle Proms Concert and its fireworks display take place on the lawns directly in front of the Castle, affording wonderful views of this soaring pinnacled mansion and the surrounding countryside of the Berkshire and Hampshire borders.

‘Downton Abbey’, the major drama series from ITV, is filmed on location at Highclere Castle, and the Battle Proms provides a great opportunity to spend the evening at the venue of this highly successful production.

The Castle was the seat of the 5th Earl of Carnarvon, who in 1922 famously discovered the tomb of Tutankhamun with his colleague Howard Carter.

BUY TICKETS: 01432 355416

RETIREMENT FAIR Wednesday 21st August

10.00 to 1600 hours The Grandstand Ascot Racecourse Admission free for visitors

Reading Family Fun Day Saturday 10th August 2013 from 10am to 5pm Prospect Park, Reading, RG30 2ND Call or Text us on 07591 500 513

21st and 22nd September The Berkshire County Show The Royal County of Berkshire show is undoubtedly Berkshire’s best weekend. Where else can you see everything from chickens to llamas; horse driving to pig showing skills; taste Britain’s finest foods and watch cookery demonstrations; sample the best craft and watch traditional crafts in action or compare your horticultural skills to the expert displays on show? Come and watch the best in show jumping, the wonderful spectacle of the Livestock Grand Parade and the breathtaking Hot Air Balloon flight at the end of each day. Shop ‘til you drop, celebrate agriculture and all your countryside has to offer, meet friends and make new ones, bring the family and you’ll find something for everyone.

Call : 01635 247 111

Call : 01344 626784

Basildon Park

Take the kids to

Lower Basildon, Reading, RG8 9NR

READING MUSEUM

For some fantastic

SUMMER FUN

Make & Takes Pharaoh Masks Teddy Bear’s Picnic Museum Tours Dinosaur Modelling Bug Masks Roman Open Day Bayeux Tapestry Victorian Schoolroom - and more!

Go bug hunting 14 Aug, 11am Dress up as your favourite creepy crawly and go on a bug hunt to discover what’s lurking in the woods at Basildon Park. There will be a prize for the person that comes in the best costume.

Tickets £2 (normal admission applies)

Family outdoor theatre Sherlock Holmes 28 July, 3pm The critically-acclaimed Pantaloons Theatre Company put dynamic detective duo Holmes and Watson through their paces as they tackle their most fiendish case yet in this delightfully inventive and hilarious show for all ages.

Members - Adult £7.50; Child £5 Non Members - Adult £15; Child £9

The Town Hall, Blagrave St, Reading. RG1 1QH. Tel: 0118 937 3400 www.readingmuseum.org.uk 20

Tickets from box office, call 0844 249 1895

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HOW TO LOVE FOOD AND LOSE WEIGHT

delicious summer dishes

MUSHROOM, FETA AND TOMATO BAKED PEPPERS It’s always important for food to look good, whether you’re dieting or not, and these peppers are a delight to the eye as well as the tastebuds. A great vegetarian recipe, this has lots of strong flavours that come together in a beautifully colouful and well-balanced dish.

SERVES 2 4 sun-dried tomato pieces in oil, drained well 2 tsp sunflower oil 175g chestnut mushrooms, wiped and diced 20g blanched hazelnuts, roughly chopped 1 garlic clove, peeled and crushed 50g dry white breadcrumbs 1/2 small bunch of parsley, leaves finely chopped 1 tsp dried chilli flakes 100g feta or soft goat’s cheese, drained 2 smallish peppers, red or yellow freshly ground black pepper 401 calories per portion Preheat the oven to 220°C/Fan 200°C/Gas 7. Roughly chop the sun-dried tomatoes. Heat the oil in a large frying pan and stir-fry the mushrooms over a high heat for 4 minutes.

Add the roughly chopped hazelnuts and fry for a further minute until the nuts are lightly toasted. Season with a good grind of black pepper and remove from the heat.

Stir in the tomatoes, garlic, breadcrumbs, parsley and chilli flakes until thoroughly combined. Break the cheese into small chunks and toss them through the stuffing lightly. Cut the peppers in half from top to bottom and carefully remove the seeds and membrane.

Place the peppers in a small foil-lined roasting tin, cut side up, and fill each half with the mushroom and feta stuffing. Cover the surface of the stuffing with a small piece of foil. Bake for 35 minutes until tender, removing the foil for the last 10 minutes of the cooking time. Serve warm with a lightly dressed mixed salad.

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MAKES 8 KEBABS 700g lean lamb leg (or leg steaks) 2 small yellow peppers 2 small red peppers 2 small red onions 150m1 low-fat natural yoghurt 1 garlic clove, peeled and crushed 1 tbsp finely chopped fresh mint or 1 tsp mint sauce 6 pitta breads 1 romaine lettuce heart, shredded 1 medium carrot, finely grated 3 ripe vine tomatoes, sliced 15cm piece of cucumber, thinly sliced flaked sea salt freshly ground black pepper lemon wedges and hot chilli sauce, to serve Marinade 2 tsp cumin seeds 2 tsp coriander seeds 203 calories per portion 381 calories per portion (with pitta)

LEMONY LAMB KEBABS There’s nothing better than the scent of lemony, herby lamb cooking on the barbecue. It’s a healthy way of cooking too, as much of the fat drips away. We like to eat these kebabs tucked into warm pitta bread, but you can also enjoy them with just a side salad or some vegetables.

1 tsp fennel seeds 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves finely grated zest and juice of 1 unwaxed lemon 1 garlic clove, peeled and crushed 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 1 tsp fine sea salt freshly ground black pepper

To make the marinade, put the cumin, coriander and fennel seeds in a pestle and mortar and pound to a coarse powder. You can use 11/2 teaspoon each of ground cumin and coriander if you prefer, but the flavour won’t be quite as good as freshly ground spices. Add the thyme leaves and crush them into the spices for a few seconds.

Tip the spices and thyme into a large non-metallic bowl and stir in the lemon zest and juice, garlic, oil, salt and lots of black pepper.

Trim as much fat as possible off the lamb, then cut the meat into rough 3cm chunks — you should have about 40 chunks. Add the lamb to the marinade and toss until well coated. Cover with cling film and chill in the fridge for 30 minutes before cooking.

While the lamb is marinating, prepare the vegetables for the kebabs. Deseed the peppers and cut them into 3cm chunks. Cut each onion into 8 wedges with the root intact.

Remove the lamb from the fridge and thread the meat on to 8 metal skewers — these should be about 25cm long — alternating with the pieces of pepper and onion. Season with a little more salt and pepper.

Cook over a hot barbecue or under a preheated hot grill (close to the element) for 6-8 minutes. Turn once or twice until the lamb and vegetables are lightly charred — the meat should be pink in the middle. Mix the yoghurt, garlic and chopped mint or mint sauce together in a small bowl to make the yoghurt sauce.

Warm the pitta bread on the barbecue, in the toaster or under a grill and carefully cut down one side with a sharp knife. Pull the bread open and stuff with shredded lettuce leaves, grated carrot, tomatoes and cucumber. Slide the meat and vegetables off the skewers and into the pittas using a fork. Drizzle a little of the minty yoghurt sauce and serve with some chilli sauce and lemon wedges too if you fancy.

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23

Protecting your wealth against care costs

Preparing for the possibility that you or your partner may need long term care isn’t something most people want to think about but it can be costly.

Therefore, even with new legislation in 2016, the likelihood is that anyone that owns a home will still need to cover all or some of the cost of their care. This is leading to cases of people selling their homes or family members using their life savings to cover the cost of adequate care.

Current law states that anyone with capital assets of more than £23,250, including the value of their property - if it is not disregarded - has to pay for all of their care whether it’s at home or in a nursing home.

However, there are ways to organise and protect your property and cash assets for this eventuality. We have a team that specialises in wealth protection and we recently became one of the first solicitors to offer a dedicated ‘Long Term Care’ legal service.

If a person’s assets are valued under the threshold then they have to contribute a certain amount towards their care costs until their funds reach below £14,250 after which the local authority will carry out a financial assessment to determine how much that person has to contribute from their income.

The Government has proposed changes to the cap so anyone that spends over £72,000 on nursing fees will be entitled to state support. But this cap does not account for actual living expenses such as bed and board. The threshold for state support will also increase to anyone with assets under £123,000. But this doesn’t come into force until 2016, is dependent on whether the current Government remains in power and the value of a property could still be taken into consideration.

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Using our Long Term Care legal services clients can protect some of their assets against care costs through Trusts.

We also work with clients to prepare a Will to safeguard the family wealth against inheritance tax and care fee liability.

Whether clients need long or temporary care, they can get advice on their care fee liability to ensure all available funding options have been explored. For example, the NHS Continuing Health Care funding for people that need care for physical and mental health conditions caused by disability, illness or accident.

Preparing Lasting Powers of Attorney is also an important consideration for the future. This enables you

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to choose up to four people to act as attorneys who will manage and make decisions about your property and financial affairs as well as your personal welfare, including healthcare and medical treatment consent, should age or ill health prevent you from doing so. Should someone no longer have the mental capacity to prepare a Lasting Power of Attorney, an application can be made to the Court of Protection for a Deputy to be appointed to manage your affairs.

lead to people selling their homes or draining their life savings. It’s great that one of our sponsors offers the advice that I know many of our members will value.’

Preparing for the expense of long term care may not be top of the ‘to do’ list and hopefully may never be a cost you need to cover. But putting in place measures now to help plan and protect your wealth against care fees can be reassuring for the future, leaving you, your spouse and your family to get on with enjoying life.

Mary Hansford of Parkinson’s UK, a charity we support recently commented on the cost of care and the services we provide, ‘Gardner Leader’s Long Term Care legal service is a real benefit to anyone that knows the effect that long term care can have on a family. Thinking of ways to cover care costs can be a real worry, especially if someone you love is affected by a long term health condition, and can

For further information, please contact Lucy Butcher, Solicitor in the Wealth Protection and Long Term Care team at Gardner Leader LLP, White Hart House, Market Place, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 5BA. Tel: 01635 508080. Or visit Gardner Leader’s Long term care website - http://www.gardner-leader.co.uk/legalservices-for-you/inheritance-protection/long-term-care/

“The service from first enquiry through to completion was superb. I would have no hesitation in recommending Gardner Leader to family and friends.”

At Gardner Leader, we take pride in offering reassurance and empathy when dealing with sensitive matters.

We regularly advise on: • Wills: ensuring your will is up to date to safeguard your financial affairs • Lasting Powers of Attorney: creating peace of mind by having someone you trust manage your affairs, should you be unable to do so • Court of Protection: managing Court of Protection applications for a Deputy to be appointed, should you no longer be able to prepare a Lasting Power of Attorney • Long Term Care: offering advice regarding your care fee liability, ensuring that all available funding options have been considered

Visit us at www.gardner-leader.co.uk Or contact our dedicated legal specialist Lucy Butcher Email: l.butcher@gardner-leader.co.uk Call: 01635 508080

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25

A Guide to Dentures ....

The Importance of Dentures

Choice of Dentures

The eyes, nose and teeth are the focal points of every face; they give the first impressions of your personality.

There are three main quality standards in denture materials:

Natural teeth grow in proportion and in harmony with your facial features and your dentures should be made accordingly.

Your teeth, or your dentures, have many important functions: to support your facial muscles, to help formulate your speech, and most importantly to chew your food and start the digestive process.

It is very important to chew food properly, as poorly chewed food will take longer to digest, especially for the elderly who could risk problems in the digestive system.

Difficulties in Constructing a Good Set of Dentures Constructing a functional and aesthetically pleasing set of dentures is the most difficult task in dentistry.

We are not only replacing lost teeth, but also lost tissue matter and bone.

In other words, we have to re-create your facial features as they were before the loss of your natural teeth.

In most cases we do not know what your teeth looked like, what size they were or what position they were in originally. We have a few indications but mostly we have to rely on our visual and artistic judgement.

At the same time we have to use our technical expertise in order to make the denture stable and functional.

Denture construction is more art than science.

26

Denture Base Acrylics: standard quality, high impact much stronger non brittle and the latest thermoplastic.

Denture Teeth: 2-layer acrylic very basic and cheap, 3-layer acrylic re-enforced much harder, 4-layer composite extra hard and natural looking.

However, good materials on their own will not make good dentures.

A skilful and experienced clinician and technician are required. The best results are achieved when the whole job is done by the same person.

Removal Partial Dentures It was long thought that removable partial dentures had to be rigid to be effective. The innovation of the Valpast flexible partial denture allows the appliance to adapt to the constant movement and flexibility in your mouth.

The preparation is relatively simple as your natural teeth don’t need to be altered. The Valpast flexible partial denture is virtually invisible, no telltale metal clasps and the material itself blends with the tissue in your mouth so that the only thing that shows is your beautiful smile.

How Long Should Dentures Last?

The question we should ask is, how long will my dentures be functional for? Dentures can last twenty or

more years, but will lose their function (chewing ability, proper fit etc.) probably after two years. This will depend on many factors: 1.

2.

3.

4.

Quality of dentures.

Age of Patient.

General health of patient.

Any drastic change in weight.

Dentures Need Regular Servicing Dentures are in constant use almost 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

They are also in a pretty hostile environment in the mouth, being attacked by strong acid, bacteria, hot, cold and spicy food. Denture material absorbs liquids and food odour.

Daily cleaning is essential as well as professional ultrasonic cleaning in a dental laboratory at least once a year. Due to constant bone resorbtion dentures will become loose sooner or later.

Loose dentures will increase damage to the gums and bone structure, and increase the risk of breakage. Have them re-lined as soon as possible to get a good fit. It only takes a day or two.

Have your dentures inspected by a dentist or denturist at least every two years, or more frequently if necessary.

Your Dentures need Attention 1. When they become loose.

2. When teeth or denture base discolours.

3. When tooth surfaces become flat.

4. When denture base does not fit around natural teeth (in partial dentures). www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

5. When you develop deep lines around your mouth.

6. When your chin sticks out, and the corners of your lips are constantly wet, developing sores.

7. When you stop smiling and feel embarrassed.

Loose Dentures Can be re-lined by adding a thin layer of the new acrylic to fit the surface of the dentures, making them fit better (takes one or two days).

Dentures with worn down teeth Teeth can be replaced with a new set.

Major improvements in Facial Features Padding dentures to reduce lines and fill up sunken cheeks will require a new set of dentures. It is advisable to have a new set of dentures made every 5 to 10 years.

Should I have a spare set of Dentures made?

Yes, it is very important to have

a spare set of dentures for emergencies in case of breakage.

Where do I go to have a good set of Dentures made?

Every dentist can make dentures, but not all of them will specialise in denture making.

Ask your Dental Technician for recommendations of suitable Dentist.

Summary 1. Clean your dentures daily with a denture brush and denture cream.

2. Have your dentures inspected every two years, and re-lined or ultra-sonically cleaned.

3. Have a new set made every 5 years if possible.

4. Keep a spare set for emergencies.

5. Remember, dentures do not have to hurt and do not need to be uncomfortable.

6. With a new set of dentures, you should receive a written guarantee, a detailed prescription of the materials used in your dentures, cleaning and servicing instructions, and a cleaning kit.

7. Dentures so life-like you’d think they were real.

What is a Clinical Dental Technician?

Professional Clinical Dental Technicians are members of the Dental Health Care Team. They have undergone specific training and education in the skills and knowledge necessary to provide a removable appliance service directly to the community.

Equipped with solid technical training as a Dental Technician - plus post-technician training in sciences, clinical skills, and interpersonal skills - the Clinical Dental Technician can design, create, construct and modify (repair and rebase) removable appliances to ensure optimal fit, maximum comfort and general wellbeing of patients.

These skills enable the Clinical Dental Technician, whilst remaining a member of the Dental Health Care Team, to work independently of other Dental Health Care providers.

A fully qualified local Clinical Dental Technician is Paul Moorcroft of Abacus Dental Studio.

Abacus Dental Studio NEW DENTURES DENTURE REPAIRS l

Do your dentures make you look older?

Do they hurt?

Clinical Dental Technician l

While you wait - Express Service One hour Denture Repairs l Alterations, Relines and Cleaning l Home Visits l Appointments arranged as necessary l Friendly l Informal atmosphere with prices guaranteed not to frighten the most nervous patients l l

15 High St, Theale, Reading, Berks RG7 5AH - Just off Junction 12, M4. (0118) 930 3965 The Old Library Dental Practice, Lower Broadmoor Road, Crowthorne, Berks RG45 7LA - Ground Floor, Disabled Access (01344) 777 751

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DEMENTIA – Making the Most out of Life Sufferers of Dementia can still enjoy their later years and can take active steps to lessen the effects of their illnesses with help urges cognitive neuroscientist and ageing specialist Dr Lynda Shaw.

Dementia is an age-related syndrome that affects nearly 600,000 people in the UK, and is now the most common disease in the elderly. Living with Dementia is very difficult for both sufferers and their friends and families, but Dr Lynda Shaw believes it doesn’t have to spell the end of a happy and meaningful life. She strongly upholds that there are steps you can take to help Dementia sufferers enjoy everyday activities and make the most of their later years, despite their illness:

“It is a common misconception that once Dementia has been diagnosed and begins to affect a person’s life, there is little that can be done to help the person. Whilst Dementia can of course at times be frightening, confusing and upsetting for both the sufferer and their carers, many of those with even advanced Dementia can still take great enjoyment from life, and it is a huge mistake to think otherwise.

“As Dementia worsens this will obviously mean a lot of changes in life, and what the sufferer can cope with will undoubtedly change over time. Try varying activities to find what works and what doesn’t, and tailor things to an appropriate level of ability so the person doesn’t get frustrated. Even simple pleasures such as a walk in the park or listening to music can help increase the quality of life of a person with Dementia, so stay flexible in your planning and be creative in thinking of activities the person will enjoy.

Most importantly, always focus on the positives.”

Dementia affects people differently and can have several causes, the most common of which being Alzheimer’s Disease; its symptoms can affect memory, perception, understanding, judgement, emotions and even personality.

Dr Lynda Shaw admits that there is no standard formula for how to deal with Dementia, as it depends hugely on the individual and the stage of their illness, but advises carers to invest time in activities that the person once enjoyed, and incorporate socialisation into daily routine wherever possible.

“When dealing with severe Dementia, it’s often easy to focus on the illness and lose sight of the individual. Whenever you see the person with Dementia treat them with respect and dignity to help them feel confident and valued, however advanced their Dementia may be. Equally, it is important to communicate in a clear and reassuring way to help the Dementia sufferer feel at ease. Even if the person doesn’t understand what you’re saying they may pick up on nonverbal communication, so ensure your tone is warm and

that your body language is open and friendly to avoid unintentionally coming across as stressed or irritated.”

Furthermore, Dr Lynda Shaw urges there are active steps that people can take to slow the rate of mental decline from Dementia, and even to avoid succumbing to the illness altogether. Most types of Dementia are degenerative, but some causes can be stopped or reversed if they are found soon enough, and Dr Shaw believes there are many things you can do to protect yourself;

“Spotting the early signs of Dementia is crucial to being able to reduce the rate of deterioration. With the right lifestyle and guidance, we can help those suffering with Dementia in its early stages – and even those who aren’t – retain their independence and prolong their lives, and live as normally and happily as possible.”

Tips to improve your chances at keeping Dementia at bay:

1. Keeping your brain active brain active is the most important way to avoid succumbing to Dementia.

Challenge your brain daily with crosswords, sudokus, maths puzzles, or even a game of hangman, noughts and crosses or Pictionary with a friend.

2. Use your hands. Gardening, knitting, writing a diary will help improve your coordination and boost brain activity – even practice writing with your other hand to exercise the opposite side of your brain to challenge yourself!

3. Exercise regularly. Even just 10-20 minutes of walking daily can reduce the risk of Dementia through improving cardiovascular health to maintain blood flow to the brain. Not to mention the benefits of some fresh air and a change of scene!

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4. Keep socialising. Arrange a weekly coffee date or phone call with friend or family member, join a book club, take up a new hobby, or volunteer for a charity in your local area.

5. Control high blood pressure by maintaining a healthy, balanced diet, cutting back on alcohol intake and quitting smoking.

Tips to help those with Dementia

1. Find out as much as you can about Dementia and how it is affecting the particular person involved. That way when you talk to other family and friends about it, you are in the best position to be understanding and offer the right kind of support.

2. Let them and their family know you are there for them by making sure you stay in touch. Arrange regular meet-ups or just pop round for a cup of tea and a chat – even a quick text or phone call to let the family know you’re thinking of them can make a huge difference.

3. Be a good listener – those supporting the person suffering with Dementia often need someone to talk through things with, so ask thoughtful questions and listen carefully, and give them time to explore their feelings freely without judgment.

4. Organise a treat or outing to include the person with Dementia. Think of an appropriate activity for everyone to do together, such as a walk in the park or a trip to the seaside, and give everybody a fun day out.

5. Offer practical tips for how to make life easier for the Dementia sufferer. Small suggestions like placing useful telephone numbers by the phone or labeling cupboards and drawers can make a huge difference to daily life.

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Accredited by the Telecare Services Association

Forestcare – Making a Difference

Forestcare is Bracknell Forest Council’s Emergency Response Telecare Service, covering Bracknell and the surrounding areas.

We provide help & support to all members of the community, both young and old, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Forestcare - Making a Difference

www.drlyndashaw.com Forestcare is Bracknell Forest Council’s Emergency Response Telecare Service covering Bracknell and the surrounding areas.

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We demonstrate, install and monitor lifeline alarms in people’s homes. The service allows individuals to remain in their own homes and therefore retain their independence.

However, it provides peace of mind that help is at hand with the simple push of a button, 24 hours a day.

Lifeline Alarms Alarms && Sensors Sensors Lifeline Keeping you you safe safe at at home home Keeping

This service can be specifically used to keep dementia sufferers safe at home. A lifeline alarm can be used in conjunction with a range of sensors to provide a tailored solution to any situation.

A Forestcare lifeline alarm provides you with safety and security when you are at home. It enables you to live an independent life, safe in the knowledge that help is at hand, 24 hours a day. Whether it’s an emergency or just reassurance that you require, simply press the red button on your pendant and we will respond to your call in a friendly and efficient manner.

ForestcareisisBFC’s BFC’sEmergency Emergency Forestcare Response Mike Porter, part of the ForestcareTelecare Team, explainsService, how the Response Telecare Service, Getting a lifeline alarm installed is as easy as 1,2,3! service can be beneficial to both the individual sufferer 1. Contact us to arrange a convenient appointment covering Bracknell and the as well as family members “Forestcare has a number of covering Bracknell and the time. customers suffering from dementia, all with their own surrounding areas.

2. We will visit you to demonstrate and install the specific needs.

For one customer who constantly gets out surrounding areas. equipment free of charge (no obligation). of bed at night, we have installed a bed sensor which puts 3. Your lifeline alarm is then active and ready to use. a call throughWe to us when ever this help happens.&Wesupport also have provide to all provide helpto leave & support a number of We customers who are prone their home to all If you would like to make an appointment or simply and go wandering.

In these instances we have installed members ofthe the community, both members of community, both require more information, please do not hesitate to door exit sensors which alert us to any unexpected attempts us today. young and old, 24 hours a day, to leave the property”. This technology not only protects young and old, 24 hours a day, contact Accredited by the dementia sufferers but also provides family and friends with Accredited by the 365 days year. a cost effective and reliable way safeguarding loved ones.

Telecare Services Association 365 days aaofyear.

“Family and friends are often concerned that individuals with dementia are at increased risk of harm. A lifeline alarm and sensors can provide the peace of mind that help is at hand, 24 hours a day”.

Telecare Services Association

Tel: 01344 786500 Forestcare – Making Difference E-mail: forestcare.enquiries@bracknell-forest.gov.uk Forestcare – Making aaDifference

If you would like to discuss your personal circumstances please give us a ring today.

Web: www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/ forestcareandemergencyresponse

Greyhounds: Great Bet to Perfect Pet The Trust operates a network of over 70 branches across England, Scotland and Wales, run by over 1,000 of the most dedicated and hardworking volunteers you could ever hope to meet.

These volunteers help care for greyhounds, raise funds and find the right home for each dog. You can find your nearest branch by visiting www.retiredgreyhounds. co.uk/branches or by calling the Trust on 020 8335 3016.

The Retired Greyhound Trust is a national charity dedicated to finding loving homes for greyhounds at the end of their racing careers.

Since the Trust was established in 1975 it has found more than 60,000 homes for this wonderful breed, so it’s no surprise that greyhounds are fast becoming one of the most popular pets in Britain today!

Each year approximately 8,000 greyhounds retire from racing in Britain, typically between three and five years of age. They are gentle, intelligent animals who, on retirement, deserve some tender loving care in family home and in return will provide you with wonderful companionship.

Most greyhounds need relatively little exercise – just a couple of short walks on a lead each day. They tend to pick up new routines quickly and are not fussy eaters.

They have short coats so don’t get too dirty and some can live happily with other pets, including cats.

The Trust takes great care to match each greyhound with a suitable home. Prior to taking on a greyhound one of our volunteers will carry out a home check and then arrange follow-up checks to ensure things are working out for both you and your greyhound.

All greyhounds that we rehome are neutered, microchipped, vaccinated, wormed and flea-treated and come with a lead, collar, muzzle, advice booklet and DVD and four weeks’ free pet insurance. Our experienced volunteers and staff are available to provide additional advice as required.

Anything you can do will make a big difference to the hundreds of greyhounds in our care and will ensure that we can continue to find loving homes for thousands of greyhounds after they have retired from racing. With your help we want to tell the world that ‘Greyhounds Make Great Pets’.

To find out more, visit www.retiredgreyhounds.co.uk or call 020 8335 3016.

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www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

Gardening is a life saver for the elderly Gardening is a great way for older people to reduce the risk of illness and increase their physical and mental health. Even gentle spells of gardening can improve cardiovascular function, lower stress levels and enhance feelings of well-being.

According to the NHS, people aged 65 and over are at risk of having insufficient vitamin D2.

Gardening has the added bonus of increasing exposure to sunlight, which is crucial in order to maintain vitamin D levels and to help prevent osteoporosis and lethargy. Sunlight also enhances the production of serotonin in the brain – essential in combating depression or stress. Spending time outdoors accelerates the production of melatonin – the chemical responsible for inducing sleep, ensuring a more restful night and greater reserves of energy.

With a large range of specially adapted garden tools, pads and stools now widely available on the internet, disability need not be an impediment to developing or maintaining green fingers.

Gardening keeps the mind agile, as well as the body. There’s always something new to learn

and this improves cognitive function. The satisfaction derived from gardening can engender a real sense of contentment and achievement. For those lucky enough to grow fruit, vegetables or herbs, their diet can be boosted by organic, home grown produce packed full of nutrients, vitamins and antioxidants at a fraction of supermarket prices.

Whether the mature gardener tends a balcony window box, a small patio or an allotment, the health benefits of gardening can be life changing.

Richard Lloyd Funeral Services Independent Funeral Director

1-2 The Parade, Coppice Road Woodley RG5 3RB

24 Hr Telephone 0118 969 3033

Family-owned, Independent, Funeral Director and Monumental Mason serving all areas in and around Reading.

Maggie Wilson DipFD

Dr Richard Lloyd, Proprietor

Personal attention and no-obligation visits made by us in the comfort of your own home, or in our office in Woodley.

Golden Charter and Age UK pre-payment Funeral Plans and advice.

Telephone or visit Maggie or Richard for free, no-obligation advice at any time. www.readingfunerals.co.uk enquiries@readingfunerals.co.uk

Leave a legacy to support retired greyhounds.

Every year the Retired Greyhound Trust finds thousands of homes for retired racing greyhounds. We have found over 60,000 homes since we were established in 1976.

Our priority as a charity is to look after these wonderful dogs, but we simply couldn’t continue our vital work without your support.

The generosity of those who leave a gift in their Will is particularly important to us.

A gift in your Will can make a difference to the lives of retired racing greyhounds nationwide.

If you could help the Trust’s vital work and make a difference to these noble, intelligent and gentle dogs, please contact us on: tel: 020 8335 3016

greyhounds@retiredgreyhounds.co.uk www.retiredgreyhounds.co.uk Charity no: 269668

2nd Floor Park House, Park Terrace Worcester Park, Surrey, KT4 7JZ