Senior Life December 2016

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HOW TO AGE WELL Insight

from the Chief Scientist, Age UK P4

THE NEW NORMAL Rob Cope encourages legacy giving P6

FIONA WILLIAMS The growing role of home care P10

Senior life Dame Barbara Windsor “When all’s said and done, why would we not want to help someone else if we can?”

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Do you want to know more and help? 'Ğƚ ŝŶ ƚŽƵĐŚ͗ enquiry@wrvsbt.org.uk Žƌ ĐŚĞĐŬ ŽƵƌ ǁĞďƐŝƚĞ ĨŽƌ ŵŽƌĞ ŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ͗

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IN THIS ISSUE

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READ MORE ON SENIORLIFENEWS.CO.UK

Turn off the telly!

Words of wisdom from John Starbrook, the oldest runner of the London Marathon 2016 – and he’s running again next year P4

Wellness in winter Dr Mathias Toth on what to look out for and how to keep your body and soul healthy in the winter months P12

Ladies – and gents – who lunch Rae Wilson, a volunteer with the Royal Voluntary Service, on the incredible things it can achieve

No one should have no one

Age UK is calling on people to remember those facing Christmas alone by pledging their support, for no one should have no one at Christmas

F

or many of us life is increasingly dominated by the anticipation of treats to come as the big day approaches.

But unfortunately, there are many older people for whom Christmas Day will be much like every other – above all rather lonely.

Overall we are living longer than previous generations would have thought possible, but they would perhaps also be disappointed to learn that these extra years are often characterised by ill-health and other problems too, including loneliness.

And because there is a cultural expectation that everyone will have a marvellous time at Christmas, it can be all the more depressing if that’s Follow us

not how it is for you.

Loneliness is a big problem in our hectic society and affects people of all ages, but for various reasons older people are at particular risk: disability makes it harder to get out and stay connected; a long-hours culture at work means younger relatives may lack time to pop in; and many families in any case live far apart.

In addition, increasing numbers of people are ageing without any close family at all.

A long life is a great gift, but it also requires guts and resilience since it is bound to include repeated experience of loss – the penalty of outliving your peers. Some of the most lonely older people are bereaved after many happy years with their husband or wife. Others are

Caroline Abrahams Charity director, Age UK

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lonely while not alone, most poignantly when caring for loved ones; in particular we are seeing more and more men in their eighties and nineties caring for their wives with dementia. Their dedication is inspirational; however, privately, many will also admit to feeling lonely and alone.

There are no easy answers for the difficulties that life throws at us as we age. But we can all do something to help, most obviously by supporting older relatives and neighbours – and not only at Christmas. You might be surprised what a difference a laugh and a chat on the bus can make, or saying hello to an older person you pass on the street.

And for those able to do more there are lots of opportunities to join forces with Age UK or with other local @MediaplanetUK

charities to help older people who badly need it in your area.

This year Age UK’s ‘No one should have no one’ campaign is focusing on the power of a phone call and on raising awareness, support and funds for its weekly telephone befriending service, which is of special value to older people who feel isolated and alone. If you or any older person you know feels a weekly chat could be a lifeline please get in touch with Age UK, and to everyone please do pick up the phone to an older relative or friend – they will appreciate it more than you know.

Find out how you can sign up to Age UK’s telephone befriending service, donate or volunteer at ageuk.org.uk/no-one or call 0800 169 6565 Please Recycle

Project Manager: Charlotte Platt E-mail: charlotte.platt @mediaplanet.com Content and Production Manager: Henrietta Hunter Designer: Juraj Príkopa Business Developer: Jake Crute Managing Director: Carl Soderblom Digital Content Strategist: Chris Schwartz Social Media Coordinator: Jenny Hyndman Mediaplanet contact information: Phone: +44 (0) 203 642 0737 E-mail: info.uk@mediaplanet.com

Fitness club with the 30-minute full body workout designed for women

Get stronger mentally and physically!

Join Curves!

You’ll find that community of women that you can connect with.

Visit our website for more information: www.curves.eu/uk/seniorlife

COMMERCIAL FEATURE

Volunteers standing Side by Side with people with dementia Alzheimer’s Society’s Side by Side service is reconnecting people with dementia with their communities and favourite activities, using a new approach to volunteering

By Tree Elven

A

lzheimer’s Society is rolling out an innovative service to pair volunteers with people living with dementia in a move to tackle isolation.

Side by Side helps people with dementia to keep doing the things they love, or try something new, with the support of a volunteer.

A third of people with dementia lose friends after a diagnosis and nearly twothirds who live on their own feel lonely. Sadly, this loneliness is often caused by anxiety and a loss of confidence which can lead to depression, poor health and speed up the progress of dementia. By enabling someone to get out and about and stay connected with their community, volunteers can help them maintain a good quality of life and can give carers time to themselves.

“By doing things like going for a walk, to a football match, or joining a local class together, volunteers can support people with dementia to take up hobbies and get out and about. What they do together is entirely based on what the person with dementia wants,” says Lisa Beck, Programme Lead of Side by Side.

“The service is really built around the individual personality of each person with

dementia,” explains Beck. “We have Side by Side coordinators who talk to the individual to build up a profile of what they require. They chat about what they used to do, what they’d like to be doing, and the coordinator then shares profiles of our volunteers who are interested in similar things.”

The typical profile of the volunteers themselves is changing – whereas it used to be largely women in their forties and fifties, ‘we’re now getting more men and lots of young professionals,’ says Beck. “It’s all about empowering individuals and getting them involved again, so instead of asking volunteers about time availability, we ask about their interests.

If a volunteer enjoys golf, they could go for a round of golf with a person with dementia.”

Freda Ward, now in her eighties, used to be a swimming instructor. Swimming had been an integral part of her life for more than 70 years, but when she was diagnosed with vascular dementia, her symptoms made it very difficult to get to the pool on her own. “What she most wanted was to be back in her workplace, talk to colleagues, not feel she’d been shut out,” says Beck.

Side by Side paired Freda with Liz, a volunteer interested in swimming who accompanied her to the pool. “The lifeguard there recognised Freda immediately because

Lisa Beck Programme lead of Side by Side, Alzheimer’s Society

she’d taught him to swim!” The activities don’t have to become a set routine: Liz and Freda go out for coffee and cake, or walk along the coast, as well as swimming together.

“Sometimes it’s about reintegration. For example, someone who used to love going to the pub on a Thursday for Quiz Night. A Side

by Side volunteer may go along with them a few times, but then others who go to the pub quiz may say they live close by and can pick them up or accompany them home.”

Volunteers and the people with dementia they visit form friendships that can last for years. “A number of the volunteers coming through are students and it’s really good because they share skills and knowledge across the generations,” says Beck. “It’s how society should be, but it isn’t always the case.”

Certain times of the year like Christmas and summer holidays can be particularly difficult for those with dementia, says Beck, “because their usual activities can stop and the family may be away. We’ve started a phone service to suit volunteers who are travelling or might be housebound themselves, or young parents who are available once the children are in bed. We’re making the scheme really flexible so that anyone can volunteer.”

If you’re interested in becoming a Side by Side volunteer or would like to access the service, visit alzheimers.org.uk/sidebyside or call 0330 333 0804

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INSPIRATION

EXPERT TIPS

John Starbrook 85-year-old marathon runner

“Turn off the telly!”

At 85, he was the oldest person to complete this year’s London Marathon and he’s running again in 2017. John Starbrook chats to us about food, training and his only drug.

“Back in 1983 I heard on the radio that it was the last day to sign up for the London Marathon,” recalls John. “Being a Cockney lad, I said, I’ll do that! My wife laughed and said, ‘You’ll never do it, you don’t even like walking.’ That was a challenge.”

John not only completed the marathon, he’s run 50 more since in Europe and beyond. “I’d never have travelled so much without the running. New York was good fun, and when I did Barbados, I took the wife and we had a lovely three weeks there.”

In the process, he’s raised more than £45k for various charities, bringing him recognition from, and the chance to meet, Prince Charles.

He runs three or four miles nearly every day. “I don’t want to sit about, I get bored watching TV; I just have to get out and do a run. I swim four times a week too. Running’s like a drug.”

It’s the only one he’s on – “The doctor offered me statins a couple of years ago, but I said nah” – and he doesn’t take any vitamins. “I like plain food, nothing fancy. I’m told I eat too many biscuits and cake, but I keep my weight round 73 kilos.”

Advice for other seniors? “No sitting about indoors. Turn off the telly! Get out and do a run or a walk: get a bit of a sweat on.”

A lot of John’s social life revolves around the running club where he is mainly interacting with people in their sixties.

“Age is only a number,” he laughs. “I don’t think about it.”

Read more on seniorlifenews.co.uk

How to age well: the link between brain and body health By exploiting the link between exercise and brain health, it’s entirely possible to reach 100 in good mental and physical shape, says Professor James Goodwin, Chief Scientist at Age UK

By Tony Greenway

T

here’s a fascinating connection between our physical and mental health, says Professor James Goodwin, Chief Scientist at Age UK, the charity working with older people. “They have a reciprocal relationship,” he says. “Scientists have known for many years that there is a link between brain and body. So, for example, people who experience trauma, war or

extreme events can see their health decline very quickly. That’s because the brain is transmitting perceived stress to the rest of the body. And, equally, what is going on in the body is communicated to the brain.”

For many older people, losing their mental sharpness is one of their biggest fears — yet there remains much confusion around brain ageing and dementia. “We experience cognitive decline with age which varies hugely from one individual to another,” says

Goodwin. “The skills we have learned over many years actually improve as we get older; but reaction time, speed of processing and reasoning declines. This is a normal part of ageing, but it need not be debilitating. It only becomes debilitating when it becomes Mild Cognitive Impairment, the symptoms of which include constant difficulty in remembering numbers, names and/or faces.” Only one in six people who are identified with Mild Cognitive Impairment go on to develop dementia.

Beneficial changes

Ultimately, anything that can be done to slow down the rate of ageing will improve our physical and mental health; and, as a 2016 report by the Global Council on Brain Health notes, exercise plays a big part in that.

For example, it highlights that people who participate in “purposeful exercise” show beneficial changes in brain structure and function. “People go to the doctor and want a pill for everything,” says Goodwin. “What I would prescribe instead is physical activity. From a biological point of

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view, the human body was meant to be stressed physically. It was not meant to sit down all day.” Whatever exercise you take, you can expect to feel more mentally positive afterwards.

Across our lifespan, says Goodwin, we are susceptible to various ‘modifiable risk factors’. Some are obvious and include smoking, drinking, being overweight, eating the wrong things and not exercising.

“But sleep is one that no one talks about,” says Goodwin. “Lack of sleep can have devastating effects on the rate of ageing.”

Social engagement

James Goodwin Chief scientist, Age UK

Then there’s social engagement. A relatively new science called social epidemiology looks at the effects of an individual’s social environment — friends, family, neighbourhood, community, social support and loneliness — on their health and wellbeing. “We know that social isolation is exceptionally bad for you — as bad as smoking 15 cigarettes a day,” says Goodwin. “So if you get your social environment right, you can make a big impact on your mental and physical health.”

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This is why Goodwin is a great believer in ageing well. “I’m an optimist,” he says. “In this day and age, it’s entirely possible to reach 100 in good mental and physical shape. If you exercise, sleep well, have a good social life and avoid chronic longterm illness — such as diabetes and hypertension — you’ll go a long way towards living well, both mentally and physically.”

Read more on seniorlifenews.co.uk

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74%

of the UK population support a charity during their lifetime

16%

of the UK population claimed they have included a charitable gift in their will. This is the highest level to date

MEDIAPLANET

2 out of 3

£2.5 billion

Only 6.3%

a year of gifts to charities in wills.

This is the equivalent of almost 25 Red Nose Days

dogs trained by Guide Dogs are made possible by gifts in wills

6 out of 10

new life boats launched by RNLI are made possible by gifts in wills

1/3

of Cancer Research's UK’s life-saving work is funded by gifts in wills

of the UK population went on to leave a charitable gift in their will when they died SOURCE: REMEMBER A CHARITY

Many charities were founded by a legacy and many could not continue to exist without this vital source of income

Why legacy giving should be ‘the new normal’

Charities rely on legacies — gifts in wills — for their survival. And while this kind of funding has increased in recent years, more of us need to think about leaving money to good causes in our wills

L

eaving a gift in your will to a good cause is a wonderful thing to do, says Rob Cope, Director of Remember A Charity, a coalition of charities set up in 2000 to encourage legacy giving. “It’s an opportunity to support an organisation that you really care about,” he says. “By writing them into your will — and even a small amount can make a big difference — you can leave them with an incredible parting gift. It’s a great way to say ‘thank you’ for what they’ve done for you over your lifetime. And it’s good to know that it will be the ultimate Christmas present for their beneficiaries — people who are often living in very difficult circumstances.”

The legacy market is now worth almost £2.5billion to charities across the UK, with figures showing that legacy donations were included in 37,261 wills that went to probate in England, Scotland and Wales in 2015 (up from 34,908 in 2014).

But there is a challenge. While £2.5billion is certainly a significant amount of money, more is needed.

That’s because legacy donations are the lifeblood of charities, particularly in these financially uncertain days, when many are cash-strapped, operating in an increasingly crowded marketplace, and struggling for survival. The services they provide, however, are essential to individuals and communities up and down the land. That life-saving research carried out by some cancer charities? That’s down to legacy income. The work of many arts organisations? That’s funded in the same way.

Rob Cope Director, Remember a Charity

So more of us need to leave a charitable gift in our wills and to start thinking of legacy giving as ‘the new normal’. It wouldn’t take that much of a shift to make a startling difference, either: just a four per cent change in behaviour among the public would generate an additional £1billion for good causes in the UK every year.

Benefiting from services “We would like numbers to increase more quickly,” says Cope. “And we know that they could, too, because there are lots of people who tell us they would be happy to leave a legacy in their wills — but are not currently doing so, for whatever reason.”

Despite being a wealthy and generous nation (just look at the latest 2016 Children in Need total, for example: £46million and counting), many of us take the charity sector for granted. It’s tempting to presume that our favourite charities and good causes will always be there for us in the future, because they’ve always been

“Legacy donations are the lifeblood of charities... we need to start thinking about legacy giving as ‘the new normal’”

there for us in the past; but, cautions Cope, that’s no guarantee of their long-term survival.

“As a society, we have been very fortunate since the Second World War to benefit in many different ways from fantastic services in any number of different areas,” he notes. “Take arts and cultural experiences, or healthcare and medical research. We’ve lived through a golden age where we’ve been able to access these things easily... and so we’re blasé about them.”

Continuing their work We might be more charitably minded, Cope argues, if we really understood how much money it takes to keep these services going — or if we realised how perilously close some have come to not existing at all. “Charities are only able to keep open through the generosity of others,” he says. “So we need to think about the organisations that really matter to us and ensure that, by remembering them in our wills, they can continue with their work and so benefit the next generation.”

We can muse about how society would suffer if we lost the services that charities provide, says Cope; and that’s a sobering enough thought. “But there’s another more positive way to view it,” he insists.

“What would society look like in 50 years if we could improve the services they offer with better financial support? For example, we recently looked at issues around homelessness. Now, if homeless services could be improved, might we be able to live in a world where no one slept rough on the street? At Christmas time in particular, I think that’s at the front of many people’s minds.”

Change for the better

Where the legacy giving message is getting through to the public, it’s making a change for the better — and a big one, too.

Cope highlights that many of the UK’s largest charities still benefit from legacy income; but he also says that there has been a significant increase in the number of charities who have benefited from gifts in wills for the first time (statistics from Remember A Charity show that 200-300 new charities receive legacy donations every month).“People are also giving gifts to more than one good cause,” he says.

“They might leave something to one big organisation and also to a local charity, say, or to a hospice or museum.”

It’s true that, in recent years, some charities have faced criticism in the press, but Cope says the majority do an incredible job and are constantly under pressure to account for every penny. They are also more transparent than ever, with information about their work available on the Charity Commission’s website and on their own individual websites or their annual reports.

And to those people who are still not convinced about leaving a legacy donation in their wills — either because they think it’s too difficult to arrange (it isn’t) or too morbid to think about (it needn’t be) — Cope has this message.

“It’s difficult to think about our mortality because we view it as a closure,” he says. “But, really, leaving a gift in your will is the opposite of closure. It’s the next chapter of your life. By writing a charity into your will, you can make sure you make a difference to a good cause after you have gone.”

EVERY GIFT PROTECTS OUR NATURAL WORLD By remembering the Natural History Museum in your Will, you’ll enable visitors to continue to enjoy the Museum you know and love, and inspire the next generation of conservationists, environmentalists and natural scientists.

A young girl examines a specimen at the Natural History Museum at Tring.

To find out more, or order a free gifts in Wills booklet, please call Carla Dormer on 020 7942 6044 or email legacies@nhm.ac.uk

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NEWS

Jargon buster

Administrator: Has similar duties to an executor, acting for estates where there’s no will or executor, or the named executor is unable or unwilling to act.

Beneficiary: A person or organisation to whom you leave a gift.

Bequest: A gift in your will to a person or organisation. There are different types of gifts: pecuniary bequest; residuary bequest; specific bequest. See below for further details.

Codicil: A document that amends your will.

Conditional legacy: A legacy that is conditional upon a particular event happening (for instance, “to my son if he should become a doctor”).

Demonstrative legacy: Pecuniary legacy payable out of a specific fund.

Estate: Deceased’s possessions, property and money. Debts and gifts are paid out of the estate.

Executor: Person(s) appointed by you to ensure that the wishes in your will are carried out.

Guardian: Named person(s) in your will who is responsible for your children until they become 18 in the event they are orphaned.

Grant of probate: A document issued by the court confirming both the validity of a will and the executor’s right to administer the estate.

Inheritance tax (IHT): Amount paid when you die on the proportion of your estate over the tax threshold (which varies every tax year). Gifts to charity are free of IHT. Visit hmrc.gov. uk/cto/iht.htm to find the current inheritance tax rates.

Intestate: Person who dies with no will. Certain relatives can apply for your estate. If you have none, your money will go to the Crown.

Issue: Your children, their children and so on down the family tree.

Joint property: Under joint tenancy the property passes to the survivor(s) following a death.

Legacy: Gift to a person or organisation.

Letters of administration: Issued instead of a grant of probate by a court to an administrator.

Life interest: Granting a right, often under a trust, to someone which lasts only for the lifetime of the person who benefits by it.

Mirror will: One containing almost identical terms to yours.

Usually used by spouses or partners where the beneficiaries are largely the same.

Noncupative will: A will made orally before witnesses.

Pecuniary bequest: A fixed sum of money.

Probate: Official proof of a will’s validity. If the value of the estate is more than £5,000, probate may have to be applied for by the executors, who can then administer the will and distribute the estate according to your wishes.

Residue: Remainder of your estate after other gifts are made and debts are cleared.

Residuary bequest: A gift made from the residue. It can be a share (percentage) of the remainder, or all of the remainder.

Testator: The person who has made a will.

Trust: A written arrangement whereby an appointed trustee is given money or assets to hold and manage for the benefit of those defined in the deed or will that created the trust.

Trustee: Individuals or an organisation named in a trust deed to take responsibility for the trust assets and manage them.

Will: A list of instructions telling your executors what to do with your estate when you die and, if relevant, appointing guardians for your children.

Read more on seniorlifenews.co.uk

“With just a few kind words you can help us” Faye, Sue Ryder nurse

Leaving the right gift in your will — and how to do it Everyone should have a will, but not many of us do. Yet it’s quick to draw up and easy to include a much-needed gift to the charity — or charities — of your choice

T

here are a huge number of charities operating in the UK alone, and they all need funds and donations to survive. So how do you choose which one — or ones — to support?

This is where you have to consider which issues have touched a chord with you in your life, or have affected you or your loved ones. For example, it might be a research charity, a poverty charity or an animal charity. It’s a very personal decision and different people will have different ideas. You don’t have to support just one good cause, however. You can leave a gift to any number of charities, be they big international organisations or small local ones.

Most people who leave a charitable gift in their wills divide donations between approximately three charities. “If you’re considering who to leave a donation to, ask yourself which three charitable services — the ones that benefited you and your family over the course of your lifetime — would you vote for?” says Rob Cope, Director of Remember A Charity.

“Who would you give that special gift to so that their services can continue to do good in the world?”

considering leaving a legacy donation, but want more information about them. That should give you a much clearer picture.

The other issue is the size of your gift.

When weighing this up, it might help to think of your estate like a cake. “Make sure you take a big slice for your loved ones, friends and those people who have been important to you in your life,” says Cope. “You can then donate that last slice of cake — whatever size it is — to your favourite charities, knowing that your gift can help make a real difference to people’s lives.”

Get a clearer picture

The importance of a will

Try to also do your own research and read up about the charities you are thinking of supporting. What are their aims?

What have their achievements been over the years? How do they operate? If this isn’t clear from their websites, then call them direct and tell them that you are

Of course, none of this can be achieved if you do not have a will.

Making a will is a supremely sensible thing to do. That’s because if you die without one, you will have died intestate, and the law will determine how your assets and possessions are distributed.

“If you have no living family members, all your property and possessions will go to the Crown,” says Cope. “If you have children under 18, other people can make decisions about who looks after them, and how their finances and education are managed. People lead complicated lives these days: they remarry and have different family structures, so it’s even more important to get your affairs in order. This is important stuff. A will is not a nice-tohave. It’s a must-have.”

Rob Cope Director, Remember a Charity

Please help ensure that in years to come, people who are dying have the hospice care they need.

Remember Sue Ryder with a gift in your will.

It only takes a few kind words.

For more information please call: 0845 050 1953* visit: sueryder.org/Donate/leave-a-legacy * Calls cost 5p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge.

Sue Ryder is a charity registered in England and Wales (1052076) and in Scotland (SC039578). Ref. No. 04194. ©Sue Ryder. July

Easy and inexpensive

It’s therefore surprising to discover that, according to a YouGov survey, nearly twothirds of British adults have not made a will. What’s putting us off?

Cope thinks there are two main reasons.

First, making a will forces people to think about the biggest issue of all: death. Nevertheless, it means that the loved ones they leave behind won’t have to undertake a difficult and protracted legal process to sort out their affairs. Secondly, he says, there’s a misconception that it’s a complicated business that’s expensive and timeconsuming to arrange. “Actually, it’s easy to do and inexpensive,” he says. “You don’t have to go into a solicitor’s office these days — you can write your will over the phone. Some people even offer the service online. But so long as it’s done with a creditable organisation — a member of the Law Society or the Institute of Professional Will Writers (IPW) — then it will give you peace of mind.” Do ask a professional, however, and don’t attempt to write your will yourself.

Ensure the places you love, are never lost

Until there’s a home for everyone Registered charity in England and Wales (263710) and in Scotland (SC002327) RH8440

Please remember Shelter in your will

Shelter helps millions of people every year struggling with bad housing or homelessness. For many, this means the difference between being forced to live in squalor and living in a safe, secure home.

Remembering Shelter in your will is one of the most important and lasting ways that you can help people to keep a roof over their heads.

Irreplaceable moments happen at National Trust places. Like a quick stroll that becomes an epic climb to the very top, or a paddle on the beach that turns into an unexpected swim. They aren’t always perfect or planned, but they’re our memories and they’re priceless.

By leaving a gift in your Will, big or small, you’ll be directly protecting historic buildings, gardens, wild spaces and coastlines – keeping them safe for memories yet to be made.

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For your guide to including Shelter in your will: call Kate McGrath directly on 0344 515 2062 or email kate_mcgrath@shelter.org.uk Visit www.shelter.org.uk/legacy for more information.

© National Trust 2016. Registered charity number 205846. Image © National Trust/John Millar

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Q&A WITH BARBARA WINDSOR

The growing role of home care Dame Barbara Windsor TV star and Age UK ambassador

1. Why do you think loneliness amongst older people is an important issue to raise awareness of?

I believe Christmas is a time that, from childhood, we all associate with family and a sense of belonging; it’s special time of the year. For older people not fortunate enough to have their own family or friends left, it can feel terribly lonely as everything we watch on TV is family-related. TV adverts, films, chat shows. They highlight the loneliness that the individual people may be feeling already. It’s so important we all take the time to look around us and think about who may be less fortunate than us in terms of being alone. Maybe ask a neighbour if they have everything they need or something as simple as asking them how they are? It takes no time and means such a lot.

Society tends to think that you’re either at home or in a home, but there are many options in between

By Tree Elven

T

My parents always taught me to be respectful and nice to people and try not to hold grudges. Remember that all of us can mess up at times and to have an open mind to forgiveness. As an actress the best advice I ever received was to always know my lines, be on time and disciplined, and respect the public who watch our shows. After all I chose to enter showbusiness and there is a sense of duty to the people who keep you in work.

he United Kingdom Homecare Association (UKHCA) is a memberled professional association encompassing private and state-funded entities, both large and small. Both the NHS and UKHCA wish to see the most effective use of home care, explains Fiona Williams, a non-executive director at UKHCA, who also works at a private home care provider.

“There is big pressure on the NHS and home care is a great opportunity to alleviate that,” she says. “Integrating health and social care is vital. For example, someone with dementia who has a home carer and needs to go into hospital can take that same carer into the hospital environment; the carer can provide support on getting the person out of hospital as soon as possible and comfortably back in their own home. After all, we hear that most people don’t want to be in hospital, or in residential care – we know this from our parents and grandparents, and ourselves.”

4. What do you do to keep yourself busy?

Plans not crises

I am very fortunate that I still get asked to work although I am turning 80 years old in 2017, so I tend to be on the go quite a lot. In between work I like to keep up with what’s going on the world so I read five newspapers a day (real papers and not digital screens) and watch my favourite TV shows (and of course that includes Eastenders). Also I like going to the theatre and seeing shows as that is my first love.

Williams is quick to stress that there is a lot of negative press about the care sector, but that “thousands of visits every day go really well, and that gets missed out in the media.

Home care is a great alternative for staying independent. I see home care as not just about care, but enablement and community engagement – it’s different from what people think. We need to make everyone aware earlier so that they’re doing their research and not just thinking about home care at a point of crisis.”

She’s keen to see the work force acknowledged and rewarded. “It can be a very challenging profession: a

2. What do you think are the important ingredients that are needed for someone to have a great quality of life, no matter what their age?

I have always tried to remain as positive as I can and to laugh and think of others. There are the obvious things like eating well and exercise, however a happy and resilient outlook always helps. Even through the very dark times in our life, we can still remain upbeat and determined to overcome the challenges that life throws at us. And if you can remain smiling through those times I’ve found it has always helped me. And having time for others.

3. What is the most valuable piece of advice you’ve been given in your life?

5. Why do you think it’s important to volunteer for a good cause in your spare time?

Because it is very rewarding to help other people. So many people now give up their time in various ways to try and make a difference to others.

It is very rewarding to the volunteer as well as the people you are helping.

I have always tried to be involved in charities throughout my life and for actors it’s a wonderful way to pay back if your presence can help a cause in some way. It is always a great way of meeting a diverse mix of people you may never have known. And when all’s said and done, why would we all not want to help someone else if we can?

Fiona Williams Non-executive director, United Kingdom Homecare Association

home carer may be visiting people with dementia, or providing end-oflife care – this is skilled work. I want to see carers properly paid and recognised for the highly skilled work that they do.”

Which brings us on to the financial aspect for those requiring care services in older life.

“In terms of financial planning, I think we need to face the fact that we’ll need to pay for some of our own care,” says Williams. “Should we pay into an insurance policy? I don’t know. Equity release is one of the options, and there are now legal and financial teams looking specifically into a system for ethical equity release. There are many good approaches being worked on.”

Tech shaping the future Technology is an important part of progress, she says.

“There’s some amazing stuff out there, and it will only get better. One example: there are apps now so that a care provider can check their worker has arrived at a home visit and access live-stream updates about

falls or changes in medication. All the information goes straight back to the office and they can help the carer shape the best action.

“It’s also great for people who live abroad and have parents or relatives here in the UK. With their parents’ permission, they can log into the system and see what’s going on, which keeps the family informed and involved. Tech is the future.”

Another key element for Williams is professionalisation of the sector.

“I was in the House of Lords this week with a group discussing challenges such as getting qualifications recognised by government. The introduction of the Care Certificate has helped, and home care managers are registered, like nurses. I am developing a new enhanced carer role that will provide more complex care services in our homes and creates a career journey for our care teams. Demand for home care is big – how can we meet it? Society tends to think that you’re either at home or in a home, but there are many home care options in between.

“We need new recruits of all different backgrounds. I’m a great one for the idea of educating young people about home care as a career.

It’s a terrific career based on core values and empathy, where you can really make a difference.”

Although we are living longer and healthier lives, Williams points out that more complex care is involved for the many people living with several conditions by the time they become very elderly. “Home care can provide that complex care,” she says. “It can support elderly couples, keep people independent, ease conditions and enable seniors to stay engaged – it’s a great solution.”

Brits leading the way in home healthcare monitoring

Find those misplaced items In seconds

Everyone wants to stay in their homes for as long as possible, but reassurances are needed that all is safe and well. Now the latest technology can give that comfort and support.

Loc8tor is a unique locating device which guides you exactly which way to walk to find your lost valuables.

British manufacturer Wellwise has unveiled the next generation of home healthcare monitoring technology and is looking for families and carers to take part in a pilot ahead of a 2017 launch.

With an aging population, a worrying rise in conditions such as diabetes and dementia, pressure on health services is becoming overwhelming. Hertfordshire-based business says its Wellwise solution will significantly improve the quality of life and the care families receive at home by looking out for various aspects of their safety, wellbeing and health.

“With hospitals at capacity and big concerns about social care, governments across Europe are looking for technological solutions to help lp manage what is becoming a crisis,” says Wellwise founder Anthony Richards. “The tele-health / care market has been complex, x x, expensive and has lacked innovation.”

“In simple terms we just want to know if someone we care about is OK. If not, greater insight as to what’s actually happening i.e. whether there’s been a fall, no visitors for days or anything else materially affecting wellbeing. Wellwise allows families and carers to be proactive rather than reactive, because they are warned about potential impending problems.”

As an established technology company, Wellwise will offer a superior product at a better price than is currently available, making this type of solution available at long last, to the mass market.

To find out more information, get details on prices or to register your interest, visit us at wellwise.co.uk. Spaces available to participate in pre launch pilot.

Simply attach homing tags to your TV remote, glasses case, keys – anything you don’t want to lose.

Working with pin-point accuracy and up to a range of 100m, even through doors and walls you’ll be reunited in no time at all.

Also suitable for use by those with sight or hearing impaired Supplied with a handset and two homing tags.

Now only

£54.99 Quote discount code Loc8 to qualify*

* 10% discount code valid until 31 January 2017

Phone: 0208 207 0880

www.wellwise.co.uk uk k

www.loc8tor.co.uk/find

Find more advice on living life to the full in your senior years online at seniorlifenews.co.uk

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FACTS

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Wellness in winter The cold can bring a number of difficulties for seniors, including reduced mobility and social life. Here’s what to look out for and how to keep your body and soul healthy

By Tree Elven

Dr Hilary Jones Health editor, Good Morning Britain

Loneliness is an insidious problem in our society We can all step up to help elderly people who — particularly at this time of year — feel chronically lonely, isolated or vulnerable, says Good Morning Britain’s Dr Hilary Jones.

“Human beings are social animals,” says Dr Jones. “We all need human interaction.” Unfortunately, many elderly people don’t get enough of it. Recent figures from the Campaign to End Loneliness show that 17 per cent of older people are in contact with family, friends and neighbours less than once a week — and 11 per cent are in contact less than once a month. In the UK, over a million elderly people are chronically lonely, isolated or vulnerable, and Christmas can make things worse.

“It’s a time of year when people are engaged in their own little world, with families and parties, and they’re distracted from thinking about elderly neighbours,” says Dr Jones. “Meanwhile, people who are left on their own are increasingly marginalised. It can exacerbate the depression they may already feel.”

Indeed, loneliness is associated with medical health issues, particularly depression and anxiety, Dr Jones points out. “Research also suggests it can contribute to the acceleration of dementia. On top of that, people who are lonely have a tendency to eat badly. Malnutrition is common, as is hypothermia in colder weather. Loneliness is an insidious problem in our society.”

Making a difference We can all step up to protect the lonely, says Dr Jones. And we can make a difference simply by knocking on an elderly person’s door and asking them if they need anything, or engaging them in conversation in the street. Anything that stops them from feeling invisible and neglected. “Take your kids and take your pets,” says Dr Jones.

“Lonely people often like to stroke a dog or talk to children. They love the sound of children’s laughter and to hear about what they’re doing.

It takes them back to their own childhood.”

And don’t imagine that chatting to a lonely older person is a oneway street. “Yes, you’re giving them your time,” says Dr Jones, “but they’ll give back to you. Lots of patients come out of their shell when they chat to the doctor, and they’ll share stories that are really interesting and often funny. These are people who still have so much to give, and all they need is someone who can sit down with them and have a cup of tea and a biscuit. I find it very rewarding.”

Read more on seniorlifenews.co.uk

Seniors are more vulnerable over the winter months, with hypothermia the biggest risk whether people are in good health or have existing conditions,” says Dr Mathias Toth, a General Medicine consultant specialising in ageing and health. “Exposure to the cold can be very dangerous because it increases the risks of lower respiratory tract infections and the formation of blood clots, which in turn increases the risk of strokes and heart attacks. Wrap up warm, especially your face and head, and breathe through your nose.”

With Britain’s excess winter death rate estimated at 25,000,1 it’s vital to keep your home warm too, he says.

Lower temperatures can also affect blood pressure. “I’ve seen patients whose blood pressure goes up in winter but drops to such low levels in the summer that patients end up passing out,” says Dr Toth. “We don’t fully understand the underlying mechanisms yet, but it’s one to be aware of.”

He says that some seniors are often fending for themselves, and can lose interest in social engagement, so it helps if we all keep an eye out for each other. “Relatives should be alert to changes in behaviour too: cognitive impairment increases the risk of all kinds of problems. Don’t ignore or play down someone’s memory lapses – let the alarm bells ring.”

Osteoporosis not just a female problem Falls are much more common over the winter months, and causes include wet or slippery surfaces, shorter days and reduced activity. Dr Toth says it’s “a disaster” not to exercise though, as this leads to an increase in adverse outcomes. “We all need to keep muscles strong, and to keep warm. Even if you can’t get out because of the weather or some other reason, mobilise as much as you can indoors.”

Dr Mathias Toth Consultant physician specialising in ageing and health, BMI Fawkham Manor Hospital

Hip fractures cost the NHS a staggering £3 billion a year.

“Back pain shouldn’t be ignored as it could be a sign of osteoporosis,” says Dr Toth. “Initially believed to be a condition only affecting females, caused by an accelerated loss of bone density during menopause, we now know that about a third of osteoporosis occurs in men. The condition is nowadays highly treatable. In the Kaiser Permanent Program in California, a ten-step process using information technology and care managers to identify, risk stratify, treat, and then follow up patients allowed for a 40+ per cent reduction in the anticipated number of hip fractures, attributed to a large extent to the increase in DXA screening followed by appropriate osteoporosis treatment – that is a huge success.”

Hidden dangers Less overt threats which can severely affect a senior’s life in winter include depression and urinary infections.

The former often goes undiagnosed, whereas the latter tends to be overdiagnosed and treated with unnecessary antibiotics, says Dr Toth.

Winter can mean reduced mobility and less social interaction. “This, combined with the darker days, can lead to depression. Many people dislike the term depression, and to some it feels like an insult. But it’s

important to be aware that the condition is very common and estimated to occur in up to 40 per cent of community-dwelling senior citizens.”

Even though urinary tract infections have a seasonal peak during the summer when looking at all ages, they are actually very common throughout the year, says Dr Toth.

When a UTI is suspected, we will often perform a dipstick urinalysis, but abnormal findings on urinalysis are common and not predictive of positive urine cultures. “Women are much more affected by this than men, and reasons for this include impaired local defence mechanisms such as atrophic vaginitis and a shorter urethra.” Sadly we make little use of prophylactic adjunct therapies, such as topical oestrogen creams, cranberry juice and probiotics, meaning that preventable conditions will often culminate in hospital admissions.

Top tips

We can help ourselves stay well over winter by wrapping up to go out, keeping mobile, maintaining social connections, being aware of health risks, and making sure the home is comfortably warm. Pendant alarms are available from some local councils, and Age UK can help with this and other concerns, like staying warm on a low budget – “they’re fantastic,” says Dr Toth. “Call for help when you need to – delay in reporting problems is what raises risks and costs.”

And finally: “If you can, cook for yourself and use fresh ingredients.

Frozen or ready-made meals just don’t contain the same nutrients.

Eat and drink regularly, in small amounts to avoid all your energy being diverted from keeping you warm to digesting. “Looking after yourself is important for your mental and physical health.”

Reference: 1. AGE UK

YOUR GIFT FOR THE FUTURE

A WORLD WITHOUT BLOOD CANCER Have you or a loved one suffered from leukaemia or another blood cancer? Then please remember Leuka in your Will and support leading leukaemia research. Thank you.

Visit: www.leuka.org.uk/leave-a-legacy to find out how Registered Charity no: 1154856 | Part of REMEMBER A CHARITY

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Ladies – and gents – who lunch Older people

over 55 years old give

1.4 billion hours a year to volunteering with

6.2 million volunteering in total

Nearly half of

55-74 year olds currently volunteer.

The Royal Voluntary Service runs

486 lunch and community clubs across Britain

Voluntary work is increasingly vital as cashstrapped councils struggle to provide for a population that is living longer. One Scottish community is benefitting from a lunch club

By Tree Elven

A

fter an “adventurous life” of teaching in various countries, Rae Wilson, 76, took retirement about 15 years ago and got involved in volunteering, which she had always been interested in. She set up a mealson-wheels service in her village, Balfron in Stirlingshire, and went on to form a local lunch club because she saw a need for that kind of social gathering.

“People wanted somewhere to meet and chat and enjoy food together,” she says. “We have between 30 and 50 people coming to the Thursday lunches now, and there are about 30 volunteers, including six drivers to bring people in. Everybody chats away and we have a great laugh. It’s so rewarding that people are so grateful – not that we are looking for rewards, but what we do is very appreciated. One widower who’d moved here to be closer to his daughters said that the lunches were a lifeline for him as he got to know the new community. And the volunteers enjoy meeting new people and hearing their stories.”

The service is supported with training by the Royal Voluntary Service (RVS), and the church provides rooms for the lunches. The pool of younger volunteers is small because most households need two salaries to raise a family, while people in their fifties who might previously have volunteered now have to, or want to work on until they are 65, says Wilson.

“We’re so fortunate because we do have a few younger volunteers. We have some young mothers, and they’ll sometimes bring their

Rae Wilson Volunteer with the Royal Voluntary Service

children in; we all eat together then the children can play and the older people are delighted to see the kids.

The inter-generational interaction is excellent.”

She’s hoping that they’ll be able to have young volunteers from the local high school again next term. “We used to, but it became difficult to fit around the classes.”

Wilson herself does all the ordering and cooking, and organises the rotas.

“I’ve always loved cooking, a skill I learned from my mother and honed bringing up my own family.

I can always whip up a tasty, nourishing meal! It’s very rewarding to see people enjoying what you’ve made. People in the club will share recipes with their family and they like trying new things.”

Wilson and her husband, a lecturer, worked in Bahrain, Nigeria, Kenya and Zanzibar as well as Scotland, giving her both life and professional skills which stand the community in good stead now. “I’ve seen so much,” she says. “And I’ve had good organisational skills throughout, because as a teacher you have to prepare for each

day. I’m used to working as part of a team to do what’s necessary.”

Her husband, who passed away last year, was very supportive of the lunch club. “He used to come along to enjoy the food. The club’s very important to me. I’ve got to know the people who come as friends; it’s so beneficial for me, especially now, to have them around. I’d encourage anyone with a bit of spare time to volunteer, because helping someone else helps you.”

There are many different ways of volunteering, she points out. “If you’re not the chatty type, you can still be a driver, take people to hospital appointments, for example. It helps your own health and attitude.

“So many people retire and then go downhill! We have to make the most of every day that we have. If you go out and help other people, it’s so stimulating. You won’t get a life by sitting at home alone.”

Recently, the lunch club team has started providing meals for local residents who are housebound – a concept that the councils are keen to extend into other villages.

“The voluntary sector is becoming more and more important as the government is more cash-strapped and it’s harder for the councils to find money for total care packages,” says Wilson. “I’ve been invited to meetings because they realise they can’t provide everything, and they’re consulting with us. The Stirlingshire council is going ahead with the Dutch model of care within communities, they’re doing more joined-up thinking.”

Read more on seniorlifenews.co.uk

COMMERCIAL FEATURE Trevose Head, Cornwall

© NATIONAL TRUST IMAGES - JOHN MILLER

Gifts in wills are saving our coastline Our coastline is constantly under threat, from natural forces and developers, but the gifts being left in people’s wills are helping to conserve hundreds of miles for future generations to enjoy

I

t would seem that as a nation, we do all love to be beside the seaside.

In a recent survey by the National Trust in partnership with YouGov, 76 per cent of people agreed that ‘being by the coast really makes me feel alive’, and 94 per cent that ‘it’s important to me that Britain’s coast is kept beautiful for future generations to enjoy.’

However, the coast is in need of help.

As Rob Joules, general manager for the National Trust North Devon Countryside and Coast, explains, “our coastlines are increasingly under threat from erosion, rising sea levels, loss of wildlife habitat and over development.”

He continues, “the coast is important, it gives people a place to reconnect with nature, to find peace and solitude, or be active walking or running. It’s the canvas people can paint their experiences onto.”

As the nation’s largest coastal landowner, with over 775 miles of coastline in England, Wales and Northern Ireland currently under its care, the National Trust is working hard to conserve and protect ever greater areas.

It takes a lot of time and resource to do this. “Every mile of coastal footpath costs the National Trust £3,000 a year to maintain.

And that’s just the footpaths!” notes Joules.

“Caring for the coastline and countryside is about more than just fences and paths.

We want people to know they’re on National Trust land by the quality of the experience they have, the accessibility, how natural it

feels, the richness of the wildlife they see and the sounds they hear.”

Game changers As with most charities, the challenge is finding the money. But Joules thinks that with gifts in wills and donations to our coastal projects, there is hope for the future. “Gifts in wills are game changers. More than 90 per cent of donations to the coast (between 1965 and 2015) came from people leaving a gift in their will. Gifts come in all sizes, as do the projects we tackle, so every gift helps.”

Joules gives some examples of where gifts in wills have made a difference. “Take Trevose Head in Cornwall Thanks to gifts left in wills and other donations, the National Trust was able to buy this famous stretch of coast, a once in a lifetime opportunity to protect and manage this beautiful headline for wildlife to flourish and people to enjoy. But buying it is just the first step, now we need to raise funds to start the work needed to permanently protect this area for people and wildlife for ever – doing bio-surveys, managing habitats and creating environments where coastal wildlife can flourish. And of course, caring and repairing footpaths and fencing so that everybody can enjoy the stunning views.”

One of the challenges Ensuring access to the coastline is an ongoing challenge. “The award-winning beach at Woolacombe is an incredibly popu-

We could push the buggy, with my fivemonth-old baby, all the way to the top without having to clamber over stiles. It was amazing to be able to experience the view all together.”

Rob Joules National Trust general manager, North Devon Countryside and Coast

lar spot,” says Joules, “it can have 15-20,000 visitors on a summer’s day. We recently used a gift to create a new ‘Tramper’ vehicle route, replacing steps with a sloped path so that everyone can enjoy this beautiful part of the world.”

Another example is Golden Cap in Dorset: England’s only world heritage site, and the highest point on the south coast. Joules picks up the story, “one of our supporters loved the view from the top so much, she left a gift in her will to be used there. Her generosity meant we had the £1,000 needed to replace the last stile with a new kissing gate. Last Saturday we went for a walk with friends, up to Golden Cap from Charmouth.

All kinds of gifts “We rely on gifts of all kinds,” explains Joules. “From gifts in wills to gifts of time from our volunteers. We have a Bunkhouse in Exmoor that sleeps up to 18, where volunteers on working holidays can stay.

A donation from one kind supporter’s will meant we could improve the Bunkhouse facilities, making it more comfortable for the volunteers donating their time to help the local wildlife habitat.”

Asked for a final word, Joules sums up, “our coastlines are forever changing. Gifts in wills enable us to be able to react to natural circumstances, protecting and conserving these special places and their natural habitats for generations to enjoy.”

If you’d like to know more, or are considering leaving a gift to the National Trust in your will, visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ gifts-in-wills

Hearing Loss: Cochlear Implants vs Hearing Aids Treating hearing loss can affect every aspect of your life - enhancing your confidence and performance at work and restoring your ability to communicate with family and friends. Being able to hear throughout your life is crucial. Even a moderate reduction in hearing has a profound impact. It reduces a person’s ability to listen, comprehend and communicate, potentially leading to social isolation and other health issues1-2. This not only affects the person with a hearing loss but also those loved ones around them.

Under treatment of hearing loss in adults Hearing loss affects approximately a third of people 65 years and older, yet only a small proportion seeks help3. This can be because people don’t notice that they are gradually losing their hearing, or because they make adjustments to adapt, or because they accept it as simply being part of the ageing process. In fact, many people struggle with hearing loss for up to 10 years before they seek help4-5.

It is important to have your hearing assessed as soon as you notice a change.

Timely detection of hearing loss and early intervention is associated with improved hearing outcomes and benefits to overall health and wellbeing6.

The most common solution to help people with hearing loss are hearing aids. Hearing aids pick up sound and increase loudness so they are both audible and comfortable to the listener. There are different types of hearing aids - some are worn behind the ear, some in the ear and some in the ear canal.

Why seeking help for your hearing is important Research has shown that hearing loss has far-reaching health and social consequences. Hearing loss is a significant contributor to not working – unemployment amongst those with hearing loss is dramatically higher

than the national average, and studies also indicate that employees with hearing loss receive less pay than people without hearing impairment7.

Hearing loss is also associated with an increased risk of developing other serious health issues, including dementia, depression and anxiety8-9. It also has a negative impact on physical and social wellbeing.

Because hearing loss is a health issue most associated with old age, it can be difficult to acknowledge that you may need a hearing solution.

Treatment options There are treatment options for every type and degree of hearing loss. Hearing aids are the most common option to help people with hearing loss as they have been around for over 100 years. Hearing aids pick up sound and increase loudness so they are both audible and comfortable to the listener.

But what happens when your hearing aids are no longer helping. There is a significant number of adults over the age of 65 where hearing aids are no longer sufficient. Although hearing aids can help most people with hearing loss, they can’t help everyone. This is because even the most powerful and advanced hearing aids simply make sounds louder, not necessarily clearer. By directly stimulating the hearing nerve, cochlear implants allow for clearer sounds and better overall hearing than is possible with hearing aids.

What are cochlear implants?

References:

Cochlear implants are a good solution for people with moderate to profound hearing loss in both ears who no longer get much or any benefit from hearing aids.

A cochlear implant is a medical device, available on the NHS for over 25 years that mimics the natural hearing function of the inner ear. There is over 250 000 recipients benefiting of Cochlear Implants.

Cochlear implants can help when hearing aids are no longer enough, and they also deliver fast improvements. A Cochlear-funded study showed that adult cochlear implant users demonstrated, on average, more than 60 per cent improvement at three months and more than 70 per cent improvement at 12 months in quiet post-implantation when compared to their pre-operative hearing aid performance.9 Another user study showed that adults with cochlear implants understand sentences on average almost seven times better than they could with hearing aids.10 Cochlear implants can help people of all ages, twelve months and older, who have moderate to profound hearing loss. The oldest patient in the UK received her implant at the age of 99 years. Cochlear implants are an established, long-term treatment option, which can restore your ability to communicate and help you live a fuller life, whatever your age.

1

Is a Cochlear implant the correct solution for you?

TIME Wednesday,

25 January 2017, 2:00 – 5:00pm VENUE Centre for Life, Times Square, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4EP REGISTRATION Please register your FREE place to attend: • visit www.surveymonkey.com/r/NewcastleInfoDay • telephone 01932 263 605

TIME Wednesday

22 February 2017, 2:00 – 5:00pm Mercure Sheffield St Paul, 119 Norfolk Street, Sheffield S1 2JE REGISTRATION Please register your FREE place to attend the day: • online www.surveymonkey.com/r/SheffieldInfoDay or • telephone 01932 263 605 VENUE

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5

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8 9

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Mosnier I. Cochlear Implant Outcomes in the Elderly.

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