HIGHWAY VOLUME 3
Transition from working to retired TAPE AIDS: Not soley for the blind F REE COPY:
Kindly Read & Pass on
2
WELCOME Senior Living Friend).
to another issue of SENIOR LIVING Magazine
(Previously
Pensioners
Administration, Advertising and submissions
We hope you enjoy reading this issue as Charmain much as we have enjoyed putting it to- Jansen van Rensburg Email: gether. admin@seniorlivingmag.co.za Tel: 033 8151031 It has been good to see the interaction that LETTERS TO THE EDITOR has The views expressed in SENIOR generated, sadly no readers have made LIVING are not necessarily those submissions for this issue hence it has of the Editor, Senior Living, or its advertisers. had to be omitted. This issues also features an article on TAPE AIDS FOR THE BLIND which has been an incredible NON PROFIT ORGANISATION to focus on and we hope to include more information on their work in future issues. Information on getting involved can be found on page 9. Lastly and in line with the professionalising of the magazine, we will be unveiling our new branding next month and hope you find the article under BUSINESS IN A BOX of interest.
In this Issue Pg 4 Pg 8 Pg 10 Pg 12 Pg 14 Pg 15 Pg 17 Pg 18
Publication of advertising material does not imply any endorsement in respect of goods or services described therein. While reasonable precautions have been taken to ensure the accuracy of the contents of this magazine, SENIOR LIVING cannot accept responsibility for any bona fide errors therein. Š Copyright of material (including photographs) published in this magazine is vested with SENIOR LIVING and the authors/originators of the material, and may not be reproduced without permission.
Tape Aids Discounts and Special Offers Remarkable Senior Transition from working to retired Business in a Box Cooking Corner Puzzle Corner Poets’ Corner
3
Tape Aids Avid Readers’
1.
Audio Library
Tape
Arriving at Tape Aids House in Greyville, I was greeted in the parking area with the words embossed onto Aids the wall “Expect the Spoken Word to Open Whole New Worlds” and my visit did indeed open up a whole new world - a world alive with creativity, and a hive of activity that goes into this much-needed service for the disabled members of our community, and indeed our nation. Like many other people, I was erroneously under the impression that Tape Aids for the Blind is exactly that tapes for blind people only and a means of assisting a certain sector of our society - but how terribly wrong I was! Tape Aids does not refer to the cassette tapes of yesteryear, but also embraces new digital forms (e.g. CDs and MP3 website downloads). Furthermore, it is not only blind people who benefit from this amazing service. It is available to anyone who cannot hold a book, read a book or has reading difficulties (such as dyslexia). One of the most memorable introductions I’ve had, was when ElzaLynne Kruger, National Executive Director of Tape Aids handed me her braille-embossed business card and asked if I could read braille. I had to sadly admit that I could not, to which she responded, “Never mind, I’ve also had it printed for the braille-impaired!”
Elza-Lynne has a huge passion for children with reading handicaps, and this was evident in the time I spent with her. According to her, there are four types of dyslexia and recognising a child is affected by it, is the first step in combating it. She is a firm believer that that the use of tape aids can assist children to overcome this learning challenge and help them to grow into adults who achieve their maximum potential. With over 60 000 titles in their library, made up of various genres (both study and recreational), Tape Aids dispatches approximately 2 000 audio books per day to their members nationwide.
CONTINUE TO PAGE 6
4
5
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 Members receive up to six audio books at a time in the post, delivered and returned free of charge by the SA Post Office. 600 volunteers narrate and proofread books into the spoken word and educational text, and the process that takes place is no small feat. According to Elza-Lynne, the quality of the recordings is of an international standard, even being recognized for what they are by the Library of Congress in America. Volunteers come in for two hours at a time to read the book assigned to them, this recording then goes for proofing where various errors are picked up and marked for a process called ‘patching’. When the narrator returns for their next session, they re-record the errors highlighted in the patching process, before proceeding with where they left off. Post-production involves overlaying the corrected recording pieces over the wrong parts of the recording. Much effort goes into selecting narrators that match the book, and that are qualified and willing to read the book. Kruger explained that when volunteers sign up, their application form stipulates what they are comfortable reading. Where possible, Tape Aids also matches up a volunteer’s professions with the relevant educational manuals i.e. engineers to read for engineering literature. A humorous anecdote shared by Elza-Lynne was the request by some of the senior fraternity requesting that “50 Shades of Grey” be recorded. This required one of Tape Aids more gifted narrators, who is also a stage performer, having to read the entire series of three rather steamy books in a very tight time frame, due to a pending trip abroad. However, she experienced no objections from her spouse, who was rumored to have had accompanied her on every recording, wearing with the biggest of smiles. As part of their outreach campaign to provide taped books to all blind and print- handicapped South Africans, Tape Aids supply mini-libraries of audio books to homes for the aged, hospitals, hospices and schools for the mentally and physically disabled. The audio books are perfect for individual or group listening, and the mini libraries can be customised to suit particular groups, according to specific needs, language and age.
CONTINUE TO PAGE 9
6
7
2. Discounts & Special Offers Tuesdays
Circus Circus Makro Hillcrest Kwik Spar Superspar Richdens Village Pick n Pay Hillcrest/Christian Village Pick n Pay Watercrest Wimpy Kloof Village Mall Knowles Superspar People’s Pharmacy Knowles Centre Pick n Pay Caversham Glen
Please confirm all discounts beforehand as they are subject to change, furthermore please advise us if you encounter any changes. If you know of any discounts or other special offers for pensioners and would like them included please contact us directly. Email: admin@seniorlivingmag.co.za
Burgers and Pasta's less 50% Less 10% on certain non food items, less 5% on food excluding specials 5% discount, excluding promotions on Tues days and Thursdays 5% discount 5% discount plus tea, cake or sandwich 5% discount 5% discount on a Tuesday 5% discount 5% discount 5% discount
Wednesdays Clicks
double points every Wednesday 10% on the first R1500, not applicable to cell phones, airtime or grocery Items The Saddle Inn [Shongweni Club] 20% discount on the total bill [food & drink] all day Montagu Dried Fruits and Nuts 10% discount Builders Express, Bevis Rd Pinetown 10% discount Game
Every Day
Bargain Books Hillcrest The Barber Hillcrest Sole Base Hillcrest
10% discount on purchases Special price for pensioners 10% discount
Property rates rebate between 40% and 100% for pensioners. SABC TV license rebate for 70 years and older can apply for a rebate on TV license. Under 70 years who are eligible for SASSA or disability grant can also apply. Mango flights come with a 10% discount for over 60s on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. 8
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7 How Can You Pay It Forward? •
Assist those you know who have difficulty reading to become members of the Library.
•
Donate your pre-read or unwanted print books to Tape Aids for the Blind.
•
Volunteer to become a narrator or proofreader at one of their branches nationwide.
•
Consider Tape Aids for the Blind when making your annual taxdeductible donations and drawing up your will.
To become a paying or free member, or simply to find out more about Tape Aids, please call 031 – 309 4800 or email director@tapeaids.org.za or visit www.tapeaids.com.
Written by Bruce Jackson on behalf of Senior Living Magazine
9
3. Remarkable Senior
We have many inspirational seniors – individuals who don't see themselves as seniors, are remarkable achievers and who don’t allow their age to deter them from continuing to enjoy life. If you know such an individual, we encourage you to nominate him/her for inclusion in the magazine, giving your reasons that you see them as remarkable. This can be done by e-mailing Charmain on admin@seniorlivingmag.co.za no later than the 18th of the month and we will e-mail you if your article is chosen. In addition to featuring on the front cover and in the magazine, they will receive a gift hamper, courtesy of Oakleigh Funeral Home.
DESRAE COVENTRY; TENACIOUS ENTREPRENUER In December 2006, Desrae Coventry, as a single KZN parent, moved with her children to Johannesburg where her son and daughter wanted to pursue careers in professional tennis coaching and ballet respectively. A few years after moving there, she fell terribly ill rendering her unable to work. It was during this time that she became very aware of how her mental and emotional well-being was so important in carrying her through this very trying time. ROUND ONE For 5 months she was unable to leave her flat except to see her doctor, who at this point finally allowed her to start working for a maximum of 3 hours a day. The next 5 months saw Desrae doing some au pair work, running a lift club service getting school children to their extra-mural activities as well as some secretarial work. By now she was ready to get back into full-time work again and took the plunge and bought a Florist Shop which she successfully ran for 3 years. It was during this time that her son was offered a job as a farm-manager in KZN which he accepted and shortly thereafter, her daughter got engaged and along with her fiancé also decided to move back to KZN. With all of her immediate and extended family living in KZN, she decided to also move back. In 2013 she sold her florist business as a going concern and moved to Howick in the KZN Midlands. ROUND TWO It was now time for Desrae to follow another dream that she had had from many years previously- COACHING! She applied for and 10
completed her training and through a serious of events found herself at a BNI (Business Network International) Breakfast where she was introduced to the world of business networking. It wasn’t long before Desrae had accumulated quite a few Durban clients through this model and realized it would be make more business sense to move to Durban. She had hardly settled there when the local BNI Franchisor spotted the potential in Desrae and very soon, in addition to running her own business, she was championing the BNI cause as a Director Consultant before being promoted to Area Director. The Networking chapters under her wings blossomed and Desrae developed a reputation as one of the top Director Consultants who achieved results. Another significant achievement was when she was reached the #1 position in the world for having completed the most courses in a single month on BNI University, an online educational platform that BNI offers its members. The following month, she was once again in the Top 10 globally where she finished in 7th position. ROUND THREE In 2018 tragedy struck with the expected passing of her dad. Desrae opted to go back to Howick, where she moved in with her aged mom to become her full-time care-giver as her mom was unable to live alone and care for herself. This meant that Desrae could not leave the house to work unless another family member relieved her. Her business which involved face-to-face coaching sessions came to an abrupt halt, impacting heavily on her finances. Most people at this point would have despaired but Desrae knew she had to reinvent the way she did business and her course called “DISCOVER YOUR TRUE VALUE” was born. This virtual coaching course is currently done through electronic mediums and with Desrae’s knack for tenacity, she intends having a fully automated online business by the end of this year where she will also be able to accommodate an international clientele.
CONTINUE TO PAGE 13 11
Top Tips to Help You Transition from Working to Retired
5
4. Transition
Retirement is something you have worked long and hard for, it would be a shame for you stumble at the final finishing line.
to retired
To make the transition from working to retired easier, here are my 5 top tips:
from working
1. When you resign or retire from your job, never opt to pay the full amount due to you into your bank account. You could inadvertently be paying a lot more tax than you should be. This will deplete a large amount of your retirement savings. 2. Seek out a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) to advise you on a way forward. CFP® professionals are held to strict ethical standards. What’s more, a CFP® professional must acquire several years of experience, related to delivering financial planning services to clients, and pass the comprehensive CFP® Certification Exam before they can call themselves a CFP® professional. 3. Find an Independent CFP®. If your advisor is contracted to only one product provider, then they can only offer you that provider’s products! An independent CFP® will have contracts with a number of product providers, and therefore is able to offer unbiased solutions. This ensures that the client will get the best solution to meet their individual needs. 4. Make sure you have a financial plan. The most important thing to know is when your money will run out, so plan from the beginning and ensure you know how long your money will last. 5. Review your financial plan yearly. Markets and circumstances change all the time, so it is vitally important to review your financial plan annually. The worst thing that could happen to you, is that you run out of money in the middle of retirement. If you are already retired and you don’t have a financial plan, or you have not done an annual review, then it is vitally important to see an Independent CFP® sooner rather than later! Article supplied by Ben Charlton, CFP with ADVICEWORX (ben.charlton@adviceworx.co.za)
12
Contact us by 31st March 2020 regarding your insurance requirements and stand a chance to win 1 or 2 personal planners.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11 Speaking to her at her Howick residence, Desrae termed her latest reinventing, as “re-framing.” She explained that “Most people work all their lives with the hope of eventually being able to stay at home and earn a living. I had it handed to me, albeit in a tragic manner, but had to look at it from a different angle to recognize and appreciate it for what it was. Once I had done that, I could leverage it. This month is my birthday but I certainly don’t feel like I’m a senior at all, but rather on the brink of success in achieving my dreams.”
Written by Bruce Jackson on behalf of Senior Living 13
5. Business
in a Box
SENIOR LIVING is excited to introduce this new section to the magazine. Over the next couple of editions we will be featuring established business models that are currently in use and allow readers to supplement their existing income.
The Future’s So Bright! Senior Living Magazine is on a journey to elevate our brand and have therefore enlisted the services of a Consultant Editor to streamline our processes. We are serious about our seniors and are determined to offer you a first-rate publication. To date we’ve been totally blown away by the response we’ve had to our rather rudimentary efforts and are aiming at bigger and better things going into May 2020. Firstly, we will be producing a full colour magazine that will appeal to both our readers and advertisers. We will also be increasing our print run from 1000 copies to 5000 copies, per area. We have three different editions, catering for the different geographical areas i.e. Pietermaritzburg, Durban Highway and Durban South, all featuring the same content, but featuring different advertisers to service those areas. This is no small dream and cannot happen without the input of our readers and advertisers. We will therefore be launching a focus group, and seeking to enlist the commission-based services of advertising reps. Focus Group This group will be made up of individuals (aged 55+) who have joined our mailing list. The idea is that we actively communicate with this group regarding future content ideas, and who in turn supply us with feedback and suggestions of ideas of what appeals to readers of a similar age i.e. these individuals will provide a readers’ perspective and keep us in tune with our intended audience.
CONTINUE TO PAGE 16
14
6.
Did you know:
Cooking Corner
Adding salt to egg white will stiffen the egg white faster
“Soos net ons Oumas kon doen” is an old Afrikaans Recipe book that I found on my shelf at home and was compiled by Mrs A Potgieter. A couple of Senior ladies from the Loeriehof Old Age Home in Knysna got together and compiled a lot of their old favourite recipes with the intention to benefit the new bride who doesn't know how to cook, nor know the meaning of a “Doekpoeding” or “Jan in die Sak” pudding. It certainly brought back quite a few memories when I showed it to my mom earlier and I had to share one of the recipes from that book.
SAGO PUDING DRY INGREDIENTS Half a cup Sago Cinnamon stick Quarter to half cup Sugar
WET INGREDIENTS 3 cups Water Half a cup Raisins
METHOD: 1. Wash the Sago and cook in water with Cinnamon stick until Sago is transparent and soft. 2. Add the Sugar and let it boil again. 3. Add the Raisins and cook for 1 minute 4. Pour into bowl and refrigerate. Serve with Custard. 15
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14 Focus group members can also earn a 5% commission on referrals adverts e.g. you’ve discussed the possibility of an advert with your pharmacist who is very eager, then simply pass the contact name and number of the person you have chatted to, and if we get an advert booked you’ll earn 5% commission on the first advert placement. Ideally, focus group members will also join us on our soon-to-be-launched Facebook group. Advertising Reps
Senior Living is also actively seeking six individuals (two per magazine/ area) who ideally have experience in selling advertising space in print publications. This will work on an external consulting basis, whereby you’ll set your own hours and work purely on targets. This is ideal for recently retired individuals who wish to supplement their income. Dependent on your productivity, commission will range from 10% - 20%. You will also be offered a small retainer in return for a small mutually agreed distribution route, as the main distribution is outsourced.
The dream that we have is that this will become a magazine compiled by seniors for seniors! •
Should you wish to join our mailing list, please send an email to admin@seniorlivingmag.co.za with “Senior Living Focus Group” in the subject line. Your full name, birthday, contact numbers and which area you reside in, are to be included in the email body. Once this group becomes active you will receive an email from us.
•
Should you wish to be sent information regarding our Advertising Rep posts, please email bruce@seniorlivingmag.co.za.
16
7. Puzzle Corner Money comes like a turtle and goes like a rabbit
1
6 2
9
9
6
3 9
2
6
4
7 6
5
8
3
7
8 5 1
5
4
9
3 6
PUZZLE BY WEB SUDOKU.COM 17
8. Poets’’ Corner
Two Mothers Remembered written by Joann Snow Duncanson and submitted by Ruth Sanderson
I had two Mothers – two Mothers I claim Two different people, yet with the same name. Two separate women, diverse by design, But I loved them both because they were mine. The first was the Mother who carried me here, Gave birth and nurtured and launched my career. She was the one whose features I bear, Complete with the facial expressions I wear. She gave me her love, which follows me yet, Along with the examples in life that she set. As I got older, she somehow younger grew, And we’d laugh as just Mothers and daughters should do. But then came the time that her mind clouded so, And I sensed that the Mother I knew would soon go. So quickly she changed and turned into the other, A stranger who dressed in the clothes of my Mother. Oh, she looked the same, at least at arm’s length, But now she was the child and I was her strength. We’d come full circle, we women three, My Mother the first, the second and me. And if my own children should come to a day, When a new Mother comes and the old goes away, I’d ask of them nothing that I didn’t do. Love both of your Mothers as both have loved you. 18
19
“ Walking A longside You� At Oakleigh we offer affordable funeral insurance and once off prepaid options for the post 65 individual. Contact us for further information
24 HOUR CALL CENTRE 086 111 1380 info@oakleigh.co.za In proud association with www.oakleigh.co.za Affordable funeral insurance for those post 65 Registered Financial Services Provider FSP46957 20 Underwritten by Liberty Life