Your Later Life Q4 Dec-2019 by Mediaplanet UK&IE

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NIGEL PEAPLE, PLSA Do you know how much you need to save for your retirement? » p4

REBECCA KENNELLY, RVS “Volunteering is proving to be the answer for many retirees” » p4

HELEN WALKER, CARERS UK Find out how technology can give piece of mind and save you time as a carer » p6

Your Later Life “ There are loads of activities out there for older people to try, from dance and yoga to gentle exercises and even walking football.” Wayne Sleep OBE » P6

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Project Manager: Gabrielle Dunn I E-mail: gabrielle.dunn@mediaplanet.com I Business Development Manager: Ross Bannatyne I Content and Production Manager: Kate Jarvis Managing Director: Alex Williams I Head of Business Development: Ellie McGregor I Digital Manager: Jenny Hyndman I Designer: Jess O’Grady I Content and Social Editor: Harvey O’Donnell Mediaplanet contact information: Phone: +44 (0) 203 642 0737 E-mail: uk.info@mediaplanet.com I All images supplied by Gettyimages, unless otherwise specified

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No one should have no one to turn to

Growing older can have its challenges, such as coming to terms with bereavement. Older people need support as they face these challenges. It is up to charity, the government and communities to offer that support.

iving a long time comes with a wealth of wonderful moments. People can see their families grow, make many memories with their loved ones and have more time to visit the places they have always wanted to see. However, one of the downsides of living a long time is that people m ay out l ive t hei r p a r t ner s, siblings and closest friends. Bereavement goes w it h t he territor y in later life but that doesn’t make it any easier. It is not one of those things that we necessarily ‘get better at’ or ever completely come to terms with as we age. Each experience of bereavement is different, and everyone reacts

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in their own way, but even when a death is no real surprise and we think we are as ‘prepared’ for it as we can be, it may still really affect us. This may be more likely when an older couple is separated by the death of one of them; causing an abrupt end to a relationship that has endured for many years and feels so natural that neither can remember what it was like to live without the other. Apar t from t he resu lt ing sadness and grief, there may also be more practical consequences, such as loss of access to a car if one partner was the one that did the driving, or suddenly finding onesel f con fronted w it h jobs that the other always did– like

CAROLINE ABRAHAMS Charity Director, Age UK

Not having someone to share your bed with, have a laugh with, or seek advice from – even argue with sometimes – can feel very lonely. paperwork, finances or cooking. But perhaps, above all it, can be the shock of coming to terms with living alone. Not having someone to share a bed with, have a laugh with, or seek advice from – even argue with sometimes – can be very isolating. It is no surprise therefore that one in six people who are widowed say they often feel lonely. Th is is why, t h is year, Age UK is spotlighting the impact of bereavement as part of our

a n nua l ‘No O ne shou ld have no one to turn to’ awareness raising campaign. How Age UK can help you – or a loved one – in times of need Age UK is here for any older person who needs someone to turn to, every day of the year. Our information and advice line will even be open 365 days a year - including Christmas Day - and, who knows,

perhaps we will receive a call from someone who has been widowed this year – something affecting an estimated 170,000 older people in total in this country. Whether it’s a practical problem or something much more personal, our advisers will listen attentively, respond kindly and do their utmost to help. Please support us so we can continue to make a difference to every older person who needs u s i n t h i s ver y spe c ia l w ay, those with no one else to turn to above all.

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Keeping healthy: Q&A with Wayne Sleep

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At 71, Royal Ballet dancer, choreographer, TV star and all-round national treasure, Wayne Sleep OBE, is as full of life as ever. Currently starring as an Ugly Sister in Panto at Cambridge Arts Theatre and supporting a Royal Voluntary Service and Specsavers eye care campaign, Wayne believes staying busy and active is what keeps him healthy and happy. WAYNE SLEEP OBE Actor, Dancer and Ambassador, Royal Voluntary Service Q: What are your top tips for keeping active in the later years of your life? A: I’m a firm believer in staying active as you grow older and having fun in life. Keeping your sense of humour is absolutely crucial. Dancing still brings me so much joy. It’s the perfect way to combine fun and exercise. Dancing to music lifts the self and gets me feeling positive again. Q: How can people get involved in activities? A: T here are loads of activities out there for older people to try from dance and yoga to gentle exercises and even walking football. I do worry some older people may be nervous to go along to classes and try something new. It can be a daunting prospect at any age! My advice to them would be to encourage a friend, neighbour or relative to go with them the first few times, until it feels more comfortable. You never know whether you will enjoy something unless you have tried it and it’s never too late to try something new! Q: What do you like to do in your spare time? A: I enjoy spending time with the next generation of theatre performers and dancers, via my charit y The Way ne Sleep Foundation. I set it up over 20 years ago and do many fundraising activities as well as meeting with young performers to pass on my knowledge and expertise. Q: How do you like to keep fit and healthy? A: L ike most other 71-year olds, I’ve had my fair share of health scares over the years. I was diagnosed with prostate cancer a few years ago, which came as a big shock. But I’m one of the fortunate ones and have recovered. Being faced with health challenges, just makes me more determined to keep going. It is a reminder of how quickly your life can change. I live a busy life and am not one for lounging around with my feet up. I truly believe staying active is the key to good health in old age. I have no intention of stopping or slowing down. Q: You are an ambassador for Royal Voluntary Service, why is the organisation important to you and how do you support it? A: M y late mother, Joan Sleep was a stalwart of the WVS as it used to be known and it played a big part in her life. I feel I’m continuing a family tradition by lending my support as ambassador. I fully support its purpose of helping people age better and get the best out of life. Since becoming an ambassador in 2016, I’ve been incredibly lucky to meet many of its wonderful volunteers – without which none of its services would be possible. I’ve taken part in dance classes, which were great fun and am currently supporting a campaign the charity is running in partnership with Specsavers which enables vulnerable people to access NHS-funded eye tests in their own homes or care homes which helps them to stay independent. Q: Why is volunteering important? A: V olunteering your time is perhaps one of the most precious gifts you can give. Now more than ever, we need people who are willing to step up and support those many, many people in our communities who need help. Volunteers are unsung heroes, but should be sung about so much more. The difference they make to society, whatever their role, is immeasurable. WRITTEN BY VICTORIA DICKSON

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Five ways technology can help you with caring Our disabled and older relatives are living for longer, thanks to a wider and better range of medicines and treatments. Stepping into 2020, we’re also living through a digital revolution, with numerous digital products, gadgets and technologies that can improve our daily experiences. HELEN WALKER Chief Executive, Carers UK

or m a ny c a rer s, l i fe i s constantly hectic. Assuming the role of project manager, carers make their way through never ending to do lists, sometimes also juggling care with paid work, and often feeling stretched to the limit. But, by making the most of technology, carers can relieve some of the stress. There are apps that can save you time, products that make certain tasks easier, and devices that simply give you peace of mind when you’re not at home with the person you look after. Many of these products also help loved ones with extra needs to live independently for longer. So what technology is out there for carers? Sign up to an online GP service Most GP practices offer online services and access to patient summary records. Sign up for online services to book appointments and order repeat prescriptions, saving time waiting on the phone. Your GP may be able to offer advice through an online consultation, c ut t i ng dow n on v isits to the surgery. Adaptations around the home From the bathroom to the kitchen, find out what equipment might help at home. A bath lift that lowers and raises the bather in

There are apps that can save you time, products that make certain tasks easier, and devices that simply give you peace of mind when you’re not at home with the person you look after. the water can be a great solution if there are problems with getting in and out the bath. S ome t h i n g a s s i mple a s a removable shower head can aid with rinsing. Non-slip mats on the kitchen worktop can stop things from sliding around, and lightweight pots and pans are easier to lift. Managing medication through smart devices There are a range of medication management apps and devices to remind the user to take their medication. They can issue t he cor rect dosage at the right time and many modern devices have safety locks to prevent overmedicating. Alerts can be sent to you (and other contacts) when the medication has not been taken. Environmental monitoring If a loved one has difficult y controlling household appliances, reaching for curtains or using doors, remote controls can be useful. Heating and lighting controls through phone apps or systems

that use voice commands to control electrical items in your home can enable someone with restricted mobility to live independently. Planning apps Joined-up communication and coordination bet ween fam i ly members who help with care can make life much smoother. Apps such as Jointly can allow you to set up a circle of care for the person you are looking after, with everyone able to take notes, manage medication, create lists and organise the calendar.

Info box Want to know more about how technology can support you with caring? Check out Carers UK’s technology guide ‘What can tech do for you?’: carersuk.org/help-andadvice/technology-andequipment/tech-for-you

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Ensuring you stay connected to the people who matter most For many people, their landline remains a vital lifeline that connects them to friends, family and wider community. Unfortunately, phone scams are a serious and growing problem affecting UK business and consumers. Read our top tips for avoiding nuisance calls and recognising scammers.

ith scammers constantly updating their techniques, telecoms companies must be determined to tackle them head on and stop customers from falling victim to them. We know nuisance calls are just that – a nuisance – and we want to put an end to it. Protecting the customer is incredibly important, and landline providers need to be committed to eliminating the disruption that is caused by unwanted callers. Top scammer tactics to watch out for: 1. Pretending to be from a trusted brand Mentioning a well-known company or brand in their introduction means you’re much more likely to believe the call is genuine and less likely to hang up the phone.

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2. Starting with an automated message Some scam calls start with a message claiming that fraudulent activity has been detected and asks you to ‘press one to speak to an agent’ or ‘press two to terminate your line’. Using automated messages is easier for the scammers because they can wait for their phone to ring rather than wait for you to answer. 3. Encouraging you to share personal details: By quoting some personal i n fo r m a t i o n , t h e f r a u d s t e r encourages you to share more personal details that they could use to put you at risk. 4. Creating a sense of panic Scammers may describe a problem that needs immediate action, because adding a sense of urgency means you won’t have enough time to question them.

5. Making the call sound plausible Bringing another person into the conversation, playing the background noise of a busy office or just reminding you of that big brand they – supposedly – represent are all techniques to make the call sound credible. 6. Convincing you to install software That allows them to control your computer remotely. The most common programmes used are Supremo and TeamViewer. If you are asked to install either of these programmes, it could be a scam. N ew tech put s Talk Talk customers back in control of their phone

NICK GUNGA Chief Customer Officer, TalkTalk

straight through to you. New callers, however, will be screened before the home phone rings. The technology will: Check to see if the number is on a list of unwanted callers. If so, it’s automatically blocked, and your home phone doesn’t ring. It will also manage any other callers with an extra step. It will ask the caller to record a short introduction before your phone rings. You’ll hear this message when you pick up your home phone and have the choice to either answer, ignore, or block the call.

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Info box For TalkTalk customers, CallSafe needs no extra kit, simply dial 1472 to turn it on and leave the rest to us. Speak to your friends and family to make them aware of how to spot scam calls and remember if you’re a TalkTalk customer you can activate CallSafe - our free security feature that gives you the power to stop unwanted calls. For more information visit: talktalk.co.uk/ aboutcallsafe

C a l l S a fe f rom T a l k T a l k c a n automatically identify regular callers, such as friends and family, and ensure that those calls go

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There has never been a better time to remember a charity in your Will Leaving a donation in your Will is easy to do, inexpensive — and on the increase. There’s never been a better time to do it, either, thanks to a government U-turn on probate fees.

e l ive in pol it ica l ly uncertain, cashs t r ap p e d t i me s, s o you m ig ht t h i n k t he publ ic isn’t donating to good causes as generously as it once did. And that’s true to a point. A 2019 sur vey by t he Charities Aid Foundation discovered that between 2016-2018 there was a steady decline in the proportion of people g iv ing money to charity, either by donating or via sponsorship. Yet there is one area of giving that is bucking the trend — and that’s charitable donations left in Wills, otherwise known as legacy giving. Scottish charities are raising almost £72 million annually in this way, and legacy income is also on the rise in Wales.

Meanwhile, 40% of the public say they would be happy to leave a gift to charity in their Will, up from 35% in 2008. In fact, legacy donations raised £2.96 billion for good causes in 2017 and are predicted to reach £3.4 billion by 2022. “People realise that leaving a gift to a good cause in their Will isn’t a preserve of the rich — it’s something anyone can do,” says Rob Cope, Director of Remember A Charity. “They also know this type of giving is vital to charities and simple to arrange. If you haven’t got a Will it’s easy and inexpensive to write one with the help of your local solicitor, or make changes to your existing Will if you want to include a charitable donation.”

This type of giving is vital to charities and simple to arrange. If you haven’t got a Will it’s easy and inexpensive to write one with the help of your local solicitor. 8 YOURLATERLIFE.CO.UK

Plans to increase probate fees have been scrapped There has never been a better time to leave a gift to a charity in your Will, notes Cope, because the government recently announced it was scrapping its plans to increase probate fees. If proposals had gone ahead, estates of more than £50,000 would have paid between £250 and £6,000, with the maximum amount reserved for estates worth more than £2million. Thankfully, t h at new fe e s t r uc t u re h a s been abolished. “ We were rel ieve d t he government decided to think again over probate fees because it would have jeopardised an important income stream for charities,” says Cope. “It’s a positive move for the consumer because if they have more in their estate, they’ll feel better placed to leave a donation to good causes.” The government has also retained the 10% discount rate for estates where 10% or more was given to

ROB COPE Director, Remember A Charity

We’re going to start to see baby boomers passing on the biggest-ever generational transfer of wealth in history... If charities can benefit from just a small part of that, what an amazing legacy that will be. charity. That’s welcome news, too, says Cope. “We don’t know what the inheritance tax rules will be going forward. But right now, those that donate over 10% of their estate to charity benefit from a discounted rate of 36% across the remaining value of their estate. So it costs less to give more.” Growing recognition of the importance of legacy giving “Legacy giving enables you to support the charities you’ve cared about your whole life, and even a small amount can make a massive difference to them. It makes people feel good; plus, it’s gratifying to see the positive impact this type

of giving is having on smaller charities that haven’t benefitted from it in the past” explains Cope. So, how does Cope see the next 10 years of legacy donations? “We’re going to start to see baby boomers p a s s i n g on t he bi g ge s t- ever generational transfer of wealth in history,” he says. “If charities can benefit from just a small part of that, what an amazing legacy that will be.” WRITTEN BY: TONY GREENWAY Read more at yourlaterlife.co.uk MEDIAPLANET

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All you need to know about leaving a legacy gift Many people are put off making a Will — but it’s vital if they are to remember their loved ones and leave a gift to charity. There’s no excuse, either, because it’s not difficult or expensive to do.

eaving a charitable gift in your Will is so easy to do, says Rob Cope, Director of Remember A Charity. Of course, in order to do it, you need to actually have a Will. Shockingly, t wo - t h i r d s o f a d u lt s i n t he UK don’t. “Making a Will isn’t expensive,” he says. “It usually costs around £150, which is money well spent because it offers real peace of mind. We’ll pay £150 for theatre tickets or to get our car serviced, but we baulk at the idea of spending that amount on one of the most important legal documents we’ll ever have.” If we don’t have a Will, we die intestate, so the law gets to decide how our assets and possessions are distributed. Cope does, however, understand

the reasons for numbers being so low. “We put it off,” he says simply. “Making a Will is not at the top of our ‘to do’ list, so it gets forgotten about. Plus, this is a subject that some of u s f i nd emot iona l ly d i f f ic u lt , b e c au s e it m e a n s confronting the final chapter of our lives.” Yet it need n’t be a gloomy process, he i n sist s. “When I wrote my Will, I thought that remember i ng my fa m i ly a nd favourite charities was a really nice thing to do,” says Cope. “It didn’t make me sad. It made me feel good.” Hire a professional, don’t do it yourself Perhaps people are also put off because they think that writing

We’ll pay £150 for theatre tickets or to get our car serviced, but we baulk at the idea of spending that amount on one of the most important legal documents we’ll ever have. 10 YOURLATERLIFE.CO.UK

a Will is time-consuming. But it just isn’t. The most popular route is to make an appointment with a solicitor; although some providers offer online or over-the-phone Will writing services. You should never attempt to write a Will yourself, warns Cope. “Always get a professional and reputable Will writer to draw up a properly written document for you,” he says. “No-one benefits from a badly written Will that can be contested — and certainly not your loved ones or the charities that would other wise benefit from it.” When deciding the charities you want to remember in your Will, Cope suggests choosing those organisations that have me a nt somet h i ng s p e c ia l to you during your lifetime. Perhaps they supported you or a loved one in a time of crisis, or represent a cause you feel par ticu larly passionate about. Do your own research into Will-writing

ROB COPE Director, Remember A Charity

When writing your Will, you should always ensure your family and friends are taken care of first. If a charity is new to you, find out about their aims, achievements and how they operate by reading about them on their websites. “I f t h i s i n for m at ion i s n’t obvious, call them direct and say that you’re considering leaving them a gift in your Will, but want more information first,” says Cope. “Ask them to tell you how they spend the donations they receive from the public — and why your g if t cou ld ma ke a d ifference to them.” There’s never been a better time to leave a gift in your Will. Thanks to the UK’s generous system of tax relief, any gift left to charity in a Will is currently exempt from inheritance tax (which is charged at 40%); and when 10% or more of an estate is donated to a charity in a Will, a lower rate of tax (36%) is applied.

Of course, there’s no hard and fast rule about the amount you should leave to your favourite charities; but Cope is at pains to point out that, when writing your Will, you should always ensure your family and friends are taken care of first. “After that, leave whatever is the right amount for you,” he says. “You could leave 99% of your estate to your loved ones and then 1% to your favourite charities. That might not sound like much, but even a small amount can make a big difference.” WRITTEN BY: TONY GREENWAY

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James’s lifesaving legacy

How a lifeboat legacy helped save thousands of lives

ow would you like to be remembered after you’ve gone? It might be the special memories, your personal achievements or the positive impacts you had on others. But what if your legacy could also touch the lives of people not yet born?

A stormy night It’s 1906 and Captain Carbines and the crew of his ship Try Again are fighting a losing battle against the elements. Courageously, RNLI volunteers from St Ives Lifeboat Station launch their lifeboat and bring the crew safely home. It was a gift from James Stevens, an RNLI supporter, that saved Captain Carbines and his crew. James’s legacy paid for not one, but 20 new RNLI lifeboats. These went into service all around the UK and Ireland, saving over 1,000 lives. Saving generations to come James’s legacy is also the reason why lifeboat volunteer, Kirstan Gorvin (pictured left), and his family are alive today. Kirstan is Captain Carbines’s great-greatgrandson. ‘I’m launching to rescue more people like him, in trouble MEDIAPLANET

at sea,’ he says, ‘bringing hundreds of frightened people back to the ones they love. What an amazing legacy.’ Six out of 10 lifeboat launches are only possible because of gifts in Wills. Every gift, large or small is special, helping to fund vital lifesaving training, crew kit and equipment.

Leave a gift Our friendly Gifts in Wills Team is here to help: 0300 300 0124 (UK) email legacy_enquiry@rnli.org.uk RNLI.org/legacy The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea Royal National Lifeboat Institution, a charity registered in England and Wales (209603), Scotland (SC037736), the Republic of Ireland (20003326), the Bailiwick of Jersey (14), the Isle of Man, the Bailiwick of Guernsey and Alderney.