Engage medway Autumn 2013 by Lance Media Group

AGE UK MAGAZINE AUTUMN 2013

Medway

Grandparenting

and the Art of Negotiation

Leading Charities Highlight Inadequacies in Care Bill

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27 Contents List Autumn 2013 Up at the 02............... 6

Rural Communities........ 16

Age UK Medway staff attempt to summit the O2 arena, London.

There is a large part of the Medway area that is to an extent, unreachable.

Day Services .............. 7

A long way from Fanny Craddock............ 17

Age UK Medway offers a traditional Day Service for our customers.

Within three of our services, we have fully trained kitchen staff...

Homecare Services ........ 7 Ensuring Dignity, through care in peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s homes.

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More Retirement Homes need Buiilding.. 24 The Government has been urged to back a massive drive to build more retirement properties.

Gillingham Shop............ 17 preparing to undergo a major refurbishment.

Powers of Attorney ...... 11 Lasting Powers of Attorney for Property and Financial Affairs

Grandparenting and the art of negotiation.. 20 Be the kind of grandparent that fits,..

Bid News........................ 18

Retirement Savings Shortfall Revealed. ..... 24 According to a new survey, people in the UK expect to spend 19 years in retirement...

Puzzle Page............... 26

Top 10 Tax Mistakes... 27 Are you paying the wrong amount of tax?

Leading Charities Highlight Inadequacies in Care Bill................... 29 Care home and care agency bosses should face criminal charges if they preside over a culture of abuse and neglect

Lets get Cooking......... 30

www.ageuk.org.uk/medway

Welcome,

Medway

from the CEO Welcome to the second edition of your customer magazine, Engage.

Cover Image © Age UK

Meet the team… Editor John Norley Tel: 01634 572616 Email: johnnorley@ ageukmedway.org.uk

Age UK Medway The Mackenney Centre Woodlands Road Gillingham, Kent ME72BX

Designer Mukesh Randev Email: mukesh@ lancepublishing.co.uk

Sales Laurence Rowe Tel: 01536 526662 Email: laurence@ lancepublishing.co.uk

Publisher Lance Publishing Ltd 1st Floor Tailby House Bath Road Kettering NN16 8NL Tel: 01536 512624 Fax: 01536 515481 Email: mike@ lancepublishing.co.uk www.lancepublishing.co.uk

Printer Lance Print Ltd Tel: (01480) 492183

This magazine is produced on behalf of Age UK Medway by Lance Publishing Ltd. All rights are reserved by the charity and no part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part without the written permission of the charity. Age UK Medway will accept no responsibility for, or necessarily agree with, any claims made or views expressed in this publication, nor does the mention of any product, service or advertisement imply a recommendation by Age UK Medway. Reg. Charity No. 1133023

suppor ting older people for over 50 years

ngage. I hope you found the last edition useful, informative and that it provided some insight into your local charity and the work we do to improve the lives of older people across Medway. Your magazine is created through a very effective partnership with Lance Publishing and is brought to you without cost to Age UK Medway, so none of the funds raised for our charitable purposes are diverted to the magazine. And in fact, the partnership with Lance Publishing ensures that local advertisers cover the costs of production in full, so the only input from Age UK Medway is the content. We are continually looking for new ways to reach our customers and keep people informed of

the work happening within the charity, and I hope you will agree that Engage has been hugely successful in doing that so far. If I can take this opportunity to direct you toward the back of the magazine, to the ‘Engage with us’ section, and remind you that if any of the articles prompt any questions, or if you have something to contribute to the magazine, we would love to hear from you. Finally from me, a huge thank you to all of the staff and volunteers across the Age UK Medway charity, who have worked extremely hard through what has been a very warm summer to ensure that our services continue to be of a very high standard and continue to reflect the needs and aspirations of our customers.

AUTUMN 2013 | 5

Up at the O2 Date: Saturday 20th July Time: 10:00hrs Mission: Age UK Medway staff attempt to summit the O2 arena, London. Outcome: Mission completed.

n a slightly overcast, fairly warm Saturday morning in July, a group of 13 intrepid Age UK staff and volunteers gathered at the entrance to the O2 arena in London, steeling themselves for the task ahead. They had decided to try to raise funds for our charity by being sponsored to walk up and over the iconic London landmark. After a stiff coffee, the group made their way to the training and briefing area, to be schooled in the art of putting on a rather large jumpsuit, safety harness and to be trained to use a safety device that would prevent any nasty falls to curtail the adventure.

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Watched by a group of supporters, the group began to climb at 10:00hrs on the dot. Slowly and purposefully, the team set out, climbing steadily on the very strange, bouncy, surface of the dome. Steeper and steeper as the angle of the dome grew towards the summit, legs started to get tired, but onward the team pressed, out of sight of the waiting photographer, onward, to the grand viewing gallery at the summit. And what a view. The summit was reached at approximately 11:00hrs, and the team took a short break on the summit, to enjoy the 360 degree views of our capital city, before commencing the most precarious stage of the expedition…walking back down.

The angel of the domes sides dropped away at 30 degrees, making standing and walking increasing difficult, but none the less, the team pressed on, walked on and returned to base camp safely for 12:00hrs. “It was a great experience” says John Norley, the charities CEO, “to see staff and volunteers from across the organisation, pulling together for an event which couldn’t be further removed from our everyday roles. Everyone who took part, thoroughly enjoyed the experience, it was a great morning out together and a real shared experience.” During the climb, our online fundraising partner was able to update the group on the

total funds raised. “I think the challenge of walking over the Dome really appealed to those taking part, and more importantly to those choosing to support us through sponsorship” says Simon Baker, a day service manager for the charity, and dome climber. “Before the event we were able to gain quite a few sponsors, and the sponsorship just kept coming in!” “People made incredible donations, and the team were really spurred on by the total of funds raised as it went up and up.” A few weeks after the event, the funds from sponsorship were still coming in, but the final total raised for the event now stands at over £1000.* (as of the end of August 2013).

www.ageuk.org.uk/medway

Homecare Services

Ensuring Dignity, through care in people’s homes

Day Services In Gillingham and Strood, Age UK Medway offers a traditional Day Service for our customers.

oth centres are open from 9:30 until 3pm each day of the week, offering a great way to get out, meet new people and have access to a range of services and information that will help take the pressure off growing older. We find that many of our Day service users rely a great deal on the social aspect of the centres, meeting friends and chatting through the issues of the day with like-minded people, and taking the opportunity to enjoy lunch together as well as taking part in a range of activities. Activities at the centres are structures to provide an interesting and interactive alterative to being at home alone, and include quizzes, bingo, arts and crafts, flower festivals, seasonal celebrations and event excursions. This year, both centres have taken part in theatre trips to Medway theatres, trips to London productions, pub lunches and boat trips. We try to listen carefully to our customers and shape the activity agenda according to the most popular requests. Both centres have a traditional sweet shop where

customers can stock up on their favourite sweets before being safely transported home in one of our purpose designed minibuses. The cost of attending the centre is held at a minimum, to ensure that as many people that need and want to use the service can do so, and we always try to offer good value for money. The daily charge covers transport to and from home, a two course, freshly cooked hot lunch, as much tea, coffee and juice as anyone might need and a range of biscuits and sweets to satisfy the most peckish. Also based with our centres are additional services such as hairdressing, foot care and personal bathing, so many of our customers take advantage of a new hairdo or a foot pampering during the day too. There is a small charge for the additional services. If you are feeling isolated or lonely, and think that joining a day centre might suit you, then please get in touch with either of the day centre managers to chat about the service we can offer and the cost of the service. Strood: The Chris Ellis Centre, Brompton Lane, 01634 724745 Gillingham: The Mackenney Centre, Woodlands Road, 01634 572616

suppor ting older people for over 50 years

Age UK Medway provides person centred care to people living in their own home.

hrough our dedicated team of carers, team leaders and managers we are able to offer a wide range of services to meet the needs of older people living in Medway. Our care team deliver a host of services including; basic domestic duties, assistance with shopping, bathing, personal care and dementia outreach support. Our team work with over 300 customers every week, ensuring that the help people need is there, when they need it, and is of a very high standard. Homecare services are probably one of the most demanding and challenging roles that the charity undertakes, covering a wide geographical and rural area logistically it can be and it can be extremely challenging. We work hard to ensure that our carers are well prepared to care for people in their homes, carrying out the care tasks required, but also to ensure that care staff are continually vigilant and sensitive to people’s changing needs. For many of our customers, contact with their regular carer is the only social contact they might have on a daily or weekly basis. Often, it is Age UK Medway community carers that are best placed to detect deterioration in people’s medical conditions,

improvement in mobility and changes in people’s general wellbeing. The government of the day seeks to ensure that older people are cared for with dignity, respect and supported to make choices about their care provider, our staff are increasingly placed at the front line of some of the most difficult services in the sector, with an increasing responsibility. Age UK Medway community carers, supported by their team leaders and managers, effective training and careful regulation provide our community care to a very high standard indeed. In a recent survey of our customers, we were pleased to see that over 95% of our customers were very satisfied with our service and rated our carers as good or excellent. Our recent Care Quality Commission inspection (August 2013) rated our Homecare services as fully compliant. If you would like to find out more about receiving care in your home, or indeed would like to become one of Age UK Medway’s community carers, please contact Tania Muscat, Community Services manager on 01634 401099, or email to Enquiries@ageukmedway. org.uk for more information about our services.

AUTUMN 2013 | 7

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Powers of Attorney Lasting Powers of Attorney for Property and Financial Affairs – who would you trust to look after your affairs? When people talk about ‘getting their financial affairs in order’, most are referring to meeting with their financial advisor to ensure that they have sufficient life insurance in place or seeking advice from their solicitor in relation to making a will to ensure that when they die, their estate is administered by individuals or professionals whom they trust and passes in accordance with their wishes. However, many people do not consider entering into a Lasting Power of Attorney for Property and Financial Affairs to appoint individuals or professionals whom they trust to look after and make decisions in relation to their financial affairs while they are still alive.

Why do I need a Lasting Power of Attorney for Property and Financial Affairs? If a person becomes unable to manage and look after their financial affairs due to either physical or mental incapacity, they will look to family, friends or professionals to assist them. However, there is a limit to the assistance that can be provided by these third parties if there is no formal authority given to them. They usually find that no institution, whether it be a bank, building society, utility company, benefits agency or pension provider will speak with them, release any information to them or take any instructions from them unless they have been formally appointed to act on behalf of the incapacitated person. This is where the existence of a Lasting Power of Attorney for Property and Financial Affairs is invaluable.

suppor ting older people for over 50 years

What is a Lasting Power of Attorney and why should I put one in place now? A Lasting Power of Attorney for Property and Financial Affairs is a legal document which lets you appoint another person or people (your ‘attorneys’) to make decisions on your behalf in relation to your financial, administrative and property affairs. It can be used to cover periods of physical incapacity (not being able to get to the bank or sign documents). In these cases, the person gives instructions to the attorneys in relation to their financial affairs and the attorneys carry out those instructions. However, a Lasting Power of Attorney will also cover periods of mental incapacity (where a person may still be able to sign paperwork but cannot make the decisions required or manage their own affairs). In these cases, the attorneys will

be able to make decisions on behalf of the person. A Lasting Power of Attorney should therefore be able to be used by the attorneys to look after the person’s affairs indefinitely. The attorney’s role will include managing and making decisions in relation to: • bank and building society accounts (including opening and closing accounts, withdrawing and transferring money, setting up direct debits and standing orders and issuing and signing cheques) • investments (shareholdings, deposit accounts) • utility bills (gas, electric, telephone, water and council tax) • pensions (state pension and occupational pensions) • state benefits • tax affairs • selling or renting out property • setting up payment of care fees

AUTUMN 2013 | 11

When should I make a Lasting Power of Attorney? Even if you do not anticipate needing assistance with the management of your financial affairs for many years, it is still very important to consider putting a Lasting Power of Attorney into place as soon as possible. In order to enter into the document, you must have the mental capacity to understand the Lasting Power of Attorney and the scope of the authority that you are giving to your attorneys. It gives you the opportunity to choose the people who you wish to look after your financial

affairs while you are still able to make this decision. How do I make a Lasting Power of Attorney? There are two steps: 1. The preparation of the Lasting Power of Attorney (when the document is completed and all people involved sign the form). 2. The registration of the Lasting Power of Attorney (certain people must be notified, and the Lasting Power of Attorney document, an application form and the fee (currently ÂŁ110) must be sent to the Office of the Public Guardian). The document must be registered before it can be used. Preparation of the Lasting Power of Attorney â&#x20AC;&#x201C; what is involved?

friends to act, a professional person can be appointed, for example a solicitor or an accountant. More than one attorney can be appointed. They can be appointed jointly (where all attorneys must sign all documents) or jointly and severally (where only one attorney would need to sign each document). Replacement attorneys can be appointed to stand in the event that the original attorney(s) are unable to act (due to death, illness or incapacity).

Appointing attorneys Any person aged eighteen or over can be appointed as an attorney. Most people appoint family members or friends. If there are no family members or

1 2 | AUTUMN 2013

www.ageuk.org.uk/medway

The attorneys must act in the best interests of the person appointing them and may be called upon by the Office of the Public Guardian to justify their decisions if there is evidence that the attorney is not acting in the best interests of the person. Restrictions and guidance and the payment of attorneys It is possible to restrict the type of decisions that an attorney can make by stating this within the Lasting Power of Attorney. It is also possible to specify that the attorney is only to act when the donor lacks the mental capacity to make their own decisions. The person making the Lasting Power of Attorney can also choose to make payment to the people when they act as attorneys (usually only when professionals are appointed). How is the person making the Lasting Power of Attorney protected? When the Lasting Power of Attorney document is completed, there are a number of safeguards in place for the person making the document. People to be notified The person can specify up to five people they wish to be notified when an application to register the Lasting Power of Attorney is made. People told can raise objections if they are concerned regarding the Lasting Power of Attorney. It the person does not wish to notify anyone, two certificate providers must sign the Lasting Power of Attorney. Certificate Provider The person making the Lasting Power of Attorney must choose a “certificate provider” who is required to confirm that: the person understands the purpose of the document and the scope of authority under it; no fraud or undue influence has been used to induce

the person to create the lasting power of attorney; there is nothing else which would prevent the lasting power of attorney from being created by the completion of the form (for example, the bankruptcy of an attorney). The certificate provider must be someone who has known the person for at least two years and as more than an acquaintance, or a professional who has the relevant skills to form the opinion and complete the certificate (for example, a GP or a solicitor). If people are to be notified, only one certificate provider is required. If no notices are to be given, two certificates providers are required. Registration of the Lasting Power of Attorney – what is involved? The Lasting Power of Attorney can be registered at any time after it has been signed. However, it cannot be used until it has been registered and the registration process can take up to three months. The ‘people to be notified’ are sent a notice which sets out the details of the person making the Lasting Power of Attorney and the attorneys. These people have a specified period of time in which to raise any objections they may have. The completed Lasting Power of Attorney document, the application form and a fee in the sum of £110 must be sent to the Office of the Public Guardian. If no objections are received, the Office of the Public Guardian will stamp the document on every page to confirm that registration has taken place. Can I revoke my Lasting Power of Attorney? The person making the Lasting Power of Attorney can cancel the document at any time, even after registration, as long as they have the mental capacity to do so.

suppor ting older people for over 50 years

How do the attorneys go about using the Lasting Power of Attorney? Once the registered document has been received back from the Office of the Public Guardian, the donor or the attorneys should take a certified copy or office copy of the document to the bank or building society, or send it in the post to the financial institutions and organisations. This will notify them of the existence of the Lasting Power of Attorney and they should then amend the details on the account to show that the attorneys are authorised to act on behalf of the person. What happens if I do not make a Lasting Power of Attorney? You can only enter into a Lasting Power of Attorney if you have the required mental capacity to do so. As well as being able to decide upon who you wish to appoint as your attorneys, how they are appointed, whether you wish to notify anybody of your intention to enter into the Lasting Power of Attorney, and who should stand as your certificate provider, you must also be able to fully understand the provisions of the document itself and the scope of the authority which you are giving to your attorneys. Unfortunately, if you become unable to manage your financial affairs but are also mentally

incapable of entering into a Lasting Power of Attorney, an application to the Court of Protection for the appointment of a Deputy to act on your behalf may need to be made. The family member, friend or professional who wishes to act on your behalf would need to make the application. The Court of Protection has to approve and make the appointment and will only do so if the person is seen to be suitable for the role. The Court Order appointing the Deputy will also set out the scope of their authority. Non-professional deputies are rarely given unrestricted authority to manage the financial affairs. They will be required to make additional applications to the court to make certain decisions. All deputies also have to provide an annual account showing the income and expenditure made during that period. Take action now! As a private client solicitor, I advise all clients to enter into a Lasting Power of Attorney for Property and Financial Affairs, whatever their age. I believe that the document is just as essential and important as a will and life insurance and you never know when it might need to be used.

Further Info It is sensible to obtain legal advice and guidance when you are making and registering a Lasting Power of Attorney. However, you are able to obtain the forms and complete and register the Lasting Power yourself. On the website for the Office of the Public Guardian you are able to fill in the forms online, download the forms or ask for the forms to be posted to you.

Jane Scott is a solicitor in the private client department of asb law LLP. She is a member of the specialist team that focuses on the needs of vulnerable people, the elderly, and their families and carers.

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Rural Communities Age UK Medway currently has its service locations within each of the main Medway towns, and reaches out to the communities around those towns, covering almost all of Medway. But the organisation has been acutely aware that there is a large part of the Medway area that is to an extent, unreachable.

he rural communities on the Hoo Peninsula have for many years voiced concern that they are isolated in a number of ways. The Isle of Grain and villages of Hoo, Stoke and the other ME3 postcodes are all within the most rural area of our unitary authority. There are limited shops, no major supermarket, no leisure facilities and very little in the way of community services. The population on the Hoo

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Peninsula is, like everywhere else, getting older. Age UK Medway would like to ensure that if older people in the rural areas need to access our services, that they can do so with minimal effort. The difficulty is and has always been, establishing exactly which type of service that people need and want, and how best to provide them. During the summer, we carried out a three month piece of research and development work, specifically

targeted on the Hoo Peninsula. Our staff worked hard to contact as many residents as possible, spoke to community group leaders, churches, parish councillors, emergency services and health professionals to build up a picture of the needs of the communities on the Peninsula. Following the research, a detailed report has been written, setting out those identified needs, and making recommendations for the trustee board of Age UK Medway, to begin provision of services in the rural communities of Medway. The Trustee board will receive the report during October, and we hope that a decision to support the

recommendations will be taken, which will allow the gradual provision of targeted relevant services on the Hoo Peninsula from the start of the new Financial year in April 2014. Toward the end of the research period, our Campaign staff held a surgery in Stoke village hall, which was attended by the MP for Rochester, Mark Reckless. Over 15 local people attended the surgery and helped us ensure that Mark, as the local MP for the area, had a clear understanding of the issues that older people in Rural England face, and we hope that Mark will represent those views in the House of Commons, as part of the National Age UK campaign to raise awareness of the issue.

www.ageuk.org.uk/medway

A long way from Gillingham Shop Fanny Craddock Within three of our services, we have fully trained kitchen staff that provide hot, two course meals to our Day Service customers.

ach team, take time and care to plan the daily menus, ensuring that the food offered to customers is healthy and tasty in equal measure. The reality of cooking for large numbers is a long way from the cooking programmes we see on television, whether you were a fan of Fanny Craddock, or are an avid follower of Master Chef, the work involved in the Age UK Medway kitchens puts them all to shame. Our centres provide meals from between, 35 and 50 people per day, and every meal is cooked from scratch, starting at 9:30 in the morning. Meals are served at 12:30. In that 3 hours each day, our staff can be seen preparing the vegetables, making desserts, carving roast meats, making pastry and of course, taking in deliveries and restocking the larders. It is a blur of activity every day, and no matter what the circumstances, our kitchen teams rise to the occasion and deliver a very high standard every day. The kitchens are a

very busy, very hot and pretty stressful environment on a normal day. In additional to the preparation and cooking of course, there is a wealth of other tasks that have to be completed in the day, including ordering, temperature checks, cleaning, washing up, more washing up, and the occasional celebratory cake to make too. Age UK Medway is extremely proud of the kitchen staff teams, who are to an extent, the unseen engine drivers of our day services. We were delighted to receive the 5 star environmental health award for two of our kitchens, inspected this summer, and have every reason that we will make it three out of three when our third, newest kitchen is inspected later in the year. I would encourage all of our customers, using our kitchen services, to make suggestions of menus that you would like to eat in our day services, and if anyone has a secret recipe for a favourite cake that you would like us to make, let us know and we will ask kitchen staff to oblige.

Age UK Medway has had its charity shop in Skinner Street, Gillingham for nearly 20 years.

ur small shop is responsible for a huge amount of income for the charity, and allows us to subsidise some of our other services. Our shop has only two paid staff, but has a large team of volunteers who help make up a very dedicated and hardworking team. We are always amazed at the achievements that this team bring to the charity. The shop is very small and often very cramped, but despite these challenges, the team deliver very positive results month upon month, and have created a really friendly and welcoming culture at the shop. We accept donations of Bric-a-brac, clothing, toys, books, games and even small items of furniture and electrical goods. We currently use our storage facility located at our headquarters to store, sort and price donations, before transporting them to the shop for display and sale. At the time of writing, the shop is preparing to undergo a major refurbishment. The shop will have all new shelving and internal storage provided, new lighting and a new window display, as

well as improvements to the layout, floor coverings and a re-paint throughout. When it is finished, the shop will be fully re-branded to ensure it upholds the Age UK Medway branding, and offers our customers a bright new environment to enjoy while browsing our donated goods. If you would like to support the work of Age UK Medway, and at the same time, clear out that loft, garage or cupboard, bring your unwanted items to the Skinner Street shop, where staff and volunteers will be pleased to receive it. Alternatively, you can deliver donations to the MacKenney centre, Woodlands Road, Gillingham. We also arrange collections of larger amounts of donations, or individual items of good quality furniture, so again, if you need to make room at home and have goods to donate, call the Gillingham head office to arrange a collection. All of your donations will be re-sold in the shop, making a direct contribution to the work of the charity through the funds raised. Last year the shop generated a huge ÂŁ50,000 which was spent on replacing two minibuses for our day service projects.

Further Info Contact the MacKenney Centre to arrange collections on 01634 572616, or drop off your donations at; 19 Skinner Street, Gillingham Kent, ME71HD or the MacKenney Centre, Woodlands Road, Gillingham, Kent. ME72BX

suppor ting older people for over 50 years

AUTUMN 2013 | 17

Bid News The Positive Beneﬁts of the ‘Silver Song Music Box’™ at the Capstone Centre In May this year, Age UK Medway staff at the Capstone Centre, in Chatham, were successful in bidding for a donation from the Medway 100 Club towards musical equipment suitable for our members’ needs

his enabled us to purchase a Silver Song Music Box™ for use as a therapeutic tool to engage our members with dementia and other memory conditions, in the activity of singing. Singing brings people

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together and the Silver Song Music Box™ provides an inclusive activity that delivers excellent cognitive stimulation therapy and an effective reminiscence experience. The Silver Song Music Box™ displays the words of familiar songs onto a simple colour

background with a piano accompaniment and requires no formal musical training to operate. Staff and members can engage in a variety of ways according to members’ choice, be it singing, dancing, clapping, the use of instruments or simply listening. Results of using the

Silver Song Music Box™ at the Capstone Centre have already shown a real improvement in alleviating symptoms associated with dementia. We all agree that we could not be without it! Jill Williams Occupational therapist

www.ageuk.org.uk/medway

Going Digital

As a charity, we are reliant on fundraising as part of a range of income sources to ensure that we can keep running year on year. As well as the money raised through charges, and statutory grants, we often bid to charitable trusts and grant making organisations for additional support.

his normally takes the form of a bid, written about a specifi c piece of work or project. During late august, we wrote a bid to the Tesco charitable foundation, for an amount of money to support our digital inclusion projects at the Gillingham and Strood centres. In today’s world, it is increasingly diffi cult to be part of everyday life unless you can somehow access the internet. We recognise that for many of our customers, that simple expression, ‘getting online’ is providing much more diffi cult than it sounds. Almost everything that is now for sale, or services that are on offer, or even information you may need, is placed onto the internet, with an expectation that you the consumer, are able to go and fi nd it. But for many older people, that presents a real challenge. Getting online involves a number of expensive and complex pieces of kit, which are not freely available of accessible

to everyone. A home computer for example will cost an average of £400, the antivirus software you need costs a further £90, and that is before you pay to have your internet line of fi bre optic cable installed at a cost of at least £15 per month. It’s an expensive business. Then of course, you need to know how to switch the thing on, and learn to use the ‘Mouse?’ ‘Keyboard?’ and learn a range of other mumbo jumbo so you don’t look or sound daft when you phone a helpline because you got stuck. Age UK Medway hopes to leap the gap between digital exclusion, and create social inclusion by bringing accessible internet tablet devices into the day Services for our customers to use free of charge. We hope to be awarded enough money to buy a number of Apple iPads, and extend our business broadband, so that we can offer free internet access, using portable, user friendly devices.

suppor ting older people for over 50 years

We hope that by doing so, many of our customers might be empowered to buy their own tablet devices, or at least be given a fi ghting chance of having a conversation with grandchildren without feel so old and out of touch. Age UK Medway hopes that these iPads will help customers learn just how easy it can be to access the internet, then demonstrate the range of information, goods and services available through the digital world. With any luck, this means that our customers will be able to do the same kind of shopping around for goods and services that so many of us do every day, ensuring that they too can get better value for money, better access to information, and of course reduce the feelings of isolation or

loneliness by keep in ‘virtual’ touch with family and friends who may have moved away, using face time and Skpe as platforms for social interaction. We hope to fi nd out the results of our bid towards the end of November, and if successful, will be installing the equipment we need from January 2014. So fi ngers crossed, and we can soon all be tweeting each other, face booking and blogging for the benefi t of older people in Medway.

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Grandparenting

and the Art of Negotiation Being the kind of grandparent that ﬁts what you, your children and your grandchildren want, involves compromise concession and conciliation on all sides.

ecoming a grandparent can offer the best of both worlds – all the love and fun, without the ultimate responsibility of raising the kids. Yet it can also trigger a minefield of emotions. First all, you can’t choose precisely when you’ll become one. This is an almighty life change, which confers on you a new status and role in your family.

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Here are some of the more common issues that sometimes arise when you become a grandparent for the first time. Everyone’s situation is different, but if things get a little tricky, maybe this will help. Do we offer advice? ‘We’re involved with our grandchildren but would like to do more. Our daughter and son-in-law have a six-

month-old baby. We love spending time with them but whenever we offer advice, it’s rebuffed. What can we do?’ It’s understandable that you’re keen to pitch in, but new mums and dads are bombarded with advice – from friends, from fellow novice parents, health visitors, even strangers in the park. It can be overwhelming. Plus, unfairly or otherwise, your daughter and son-in-law may feel that

times have moved on and that your suggestions are out of date. The best thing to do is to make sure they know you’re on hand, so if they do start to feel overwhelmed, they know they have somewhere to turn. Should we move closer? ‘Recently, we suggested moving nearer to our son and his partner so we could see more of our grandchildren. So far, their reaction had been decidedly lukewarm.’ If there’s been physical distance between you for some time, this is probably due to a fear of change. They could be worrying that, having arrived in a new town and being far away from your friends, you’ll fill your time by constantly dropping in uninvited. An honest chat

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really can allay their fears. Make it clear that you would continue to lead your own lives, respect their boundaries (for instance, that you’d always phone before popping round) and simply wish to enjoy your grandchildren while they are still, well, children. Hopefully, your son and his partner will realise what an asset you could be to his young family.

Fishing There is a Chinese proverb that says, ‘Days spent ﬁshing don’t count against your lifespan.’

Divorce is causing a problem ‘Our son and his wife divorced last year. He has limited access to his children and we have virtually none. What can we do?’ This is unquestionably a tough situation. Sadly, grandparents don’t have an automatic right to apply for contact and taking a legal route can be stressful and costly. The first port of call should be your son who, hopefully, will want – and try – to ensure that you remain an important part of the children’s lives. Could you see them during part of his access times or offer to babysit? Whether their mother is amenable to you visiting occasionally depends on your relationship with her. In an ideal scenario, she will understand that the relationship between children and their grandparents is special and that they have lots to gain from spending time with you. If it’s too difficult at present, keep in touch by sending letters and photos or by chatting to them online. Too many is too much for us ‘We enjoy seeing our grandchildren, but not necessarily all at once. Having one of our grandchildren to stay at a time is fine, but sometimes we’re asked to have all three at once, which is just too much of a handful.’ Naturally, you dont want anyone to assume that

favouritism is at play. A quiet word might be all that’s needed to explain that three little ones are rather a lot for you to manage. Try suggesting that, with just one child to stay at a time, you’re able to give them undivided attention as well as a breather from their brothers or sisters, and what could possibly please a child more than that? Taken for granted ‘We’re a bit overwhelmed by our amount of involvement. Our daughter-in-law has taken to dropping off our granddaughter whenever she’s meeting friends for lunch. She doesn’t even phone to check if it’s convenient.’ No one likes being taken for granted. Try to tackle this diplomatically before it erodes your relationship with your daughter-in-law and possibly even your son and granddaughter. Explain that casual drop-offs aren’t in your granddaughter’s best interests. What if you’re busy and can’t give her your full attention, or if you happen to be out when they descend on your doorstep? Your daughterin-law would be faced with one very disappointed little girl. It’s reasonable to expect that these visits are prearranged for times that suit all of you.

suppor ting older people for over 50 years

Worried about the holiday ‘Our son has asked us to go on holiday with his family. We imagine they’ll expect lots of babysitting but we need a break too!’ Your son and his partner are likely to be desperate for a breather – so yes, you’ll probably find youself babysitting for the odd evening. But, before you step on that plane, make it clear that you’re looking forward to having time out as well. If you’re staying in a hotel, there may be babysitting services, so all of you can enjoy an evening or two out together. Nervous around newborns ‘Our son and his girlfriend have just had a baby boy. While we are more than happy to help with chores, we’re not so sure about holding and handling a tiny newborn.’ When several decades have elapsed since you raised your own babies, it’s natural to feel nervous around a small wriggling bundle. But remember that babies are pretty robust – the more you pick him up for cuddles and songs, the more relaxed he’ll be in your arms and you’ll all start to feel less anxious. Happiness is infectious! Don’t feel pressured to cradle him for hours – little and often works best. You’ll soon find it’s more rewarding than doing the cleaning.

ith fishing now amongst the most popular sports in the UK, this seems to be a view held by increasing numbers of people. In addition to the health benefits of the physical exercise involved, the sport can also be very relaxing. Being close to water and complete concentration on a single, simple task can mean your worries vanish for hours on end. Some people are such fans, they believe fly-fishing should be available on prescription! A popular sport Fly-fishing became widely popular during the Victorian era, when trout were exported around the world so that the gentlemen of the Empire could spend their days fishing. Nowadays, this hobby is no longer the preserve of middleaged men, with increasing numbers of women and younger people taking up the sport. You can get information about where to fish and a licence to do so from your nearest Environment Agency office; rest assured, every county has plenty of well-stocked lakes. For tuition, you can contact the Association of Advanced Professional Game Angling Instructors, who run courses throughout the country. And of course, you can always rely on other anglers to offer you their own top tips on how to improve your technique!

AUTUMN 2013 | 21

More Retirement Homes Need Building Retirement Savings The Government has been urged to back a massive drive to build more retirement properties.

study found that many people aged over 60 live in homes that are too big for their needs but would give them enough equity to move if they could. Over half (58%) of those surveyed by think tank Demos said although they’d like to move into a smaller property they felt restricted by a chronic lack of suitable alternatives. Not enough retirement homes for sale

Supported by the Home Builders Federation (HBF), the research found that while 3.5 million people aged over 60 were interested in buying a retirement home, just 100,000 were for sale. And it found there was a particular need for more accommodation to cater for Britain’s growing number of over-85s, many of whom need on-hand care. Communities secretary Eric Pickles has asked councils to encourage the construction of more bungalows to house older people. But Demos says that does not go far enough, as the buildings are often located too far away from shops and other amenities and fail to provide the facilities and support needed by many. It says if all those who wanted to were all able to move it would free up more than three million homes, including two million three-bedroom houses. New homes must be ‘high quality, affordable and attractive’ Michelle Mitchell, Charity Director General at Age

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UK, said: ‘We certainly badly need more retirement housing in this country and this could help to free up more family sized properties. The problem is the numbers of new retirement homes coming on stream are woefully inadequate for today’s older people, let alone tomorrow’s. ‘With an ageing population the gap between demand and supply for retirement housing is bound to grow unless something changes quite quickly. ‘But we don’t just need more retirement homes, we need them to be of consistently high quality, affordable and attractive, and in the right places.’ The HBF’s Housing In Later Life campaign, backed by broadcaster Esther Rantzen, is calling for planning rule changes to ensure older people’s needs are met. Demos’s Top of the Ladder report says helping them move to more suitable homes would breathe new life into all parts of the housing market, including the lower end where many would-be first-time buyers are thwarted by soaring prices. The report adds that releasing the equity held by older people could ease the poverty and financial problems many are facing, which would increase their spending power and boost the economy. The think tank believes the move would contribute to an improvement in people’s health and wellbeing, helping health and care services make significant savings. Retirement housing provides older people with their own home and front door while providing communal areas and facilities, as well as round-the-clock support.

Shortfall Revealed

According to a new survey, people in the UK expect to spend 19 years in retirement, but believe they will only have enough money to last them for seven.

ritish workers are less optimistic about their savings lasting them through retirement than people in other countries, with many predicting they’ll never be able to fully retire. Workers in 15 countries - including the US, China, Australia, Canada, France and Hong Kong - were surveyed for the report commissioned by HSBC. People generally expect their savings to see them through the first 10 years of retirement, with the typical American worker predicting they won’t run out for 14 years. The Future of Retirement report also found the downbeat expectation among UK workers was at odds with those who have already stopped working and expect their savings to last an average of 13 years. The six-year generational gap in UK expectations was the largest found, with workers in China, India, Brazil and Taiwan expecting to eke out their retirement savings for longer than their parents.

Meanwhile, nearly a fifth (19%) of the UK workers polled believe they’ll never have enough savings put by to enable them to stop working altogether. Government aiming to avert retirement ‘savings crisis’ Among Britons who are divorced or separated, over a third (36%) said they thought they’d never be able to afford to fully retire, compared with an average of 20% of those taking part in the global survey - which also covered Egypt, Mexico, Singapore, Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates. Almost a third (31%) of widowed UK workers are similarly pessimistic compared with the overall global average of 23%. HSBC’s head of wealth management, Christine Foyster, said: ‘People want to slow down in later life and, while some welcome the chance to stay economically active, many may not.’ The Government is aiming to avert a potential retirement savings crisis, caused by people living longer and private pension saving falling to a record low, by automatically enrolling employees in workplace pensions. The process began last autumn with larger firms. So far, around a million people have been placed into workplace pensions.

www.ageuk.org.uk/medway

Puzzle Page

Quick Quiz

Solutions to all three puzzles can be found on page 30

7 6

5 9

Suduko The Game of Logic Place each of the digits 1 to 9 in each row, column and 3x3 box. There is only one solution.

6 4

1 3

Which One is Missing? Can you ﬁnd which one of these Christmas Words from the list below is missing?

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Centre, Woodlands Road, Gillingham, ME7 2BX. We look forward to hearing from you next time… the next edition will be the Spring edition so if you have any thoughts, concerns or stories to tell please write in and we will feature it in our next magazine. It could be about your summer holiday, new years or Valentine’s day.

3. In the Bible, what were the names of The Three Wise Men?

5. During the festive season, on which date does St Stephen’s Day fall?

e are looking to create a ‘Engage with us’ page where readers write into the Magazine with their thoughts, views on topics raised in the magazine or support they have received from Age UK Medway or your story. Please write to the editor at Engage Magazine, Age UK Medway, The Mackenney

2. List the three traditional colours of Christmas.

Engage with us…

1. Which country annually donates the Christmas Tree that stands in Trafalgar Square?

4. The poinsetta is indigenous to which country?

Wordsearch

PUDDING CRACKER CAROL PRESENT TREE TURKEY ROAST STAR PLAY

Test your Christmas knowledge in our Quick Quiz.

6. What was the name of Ebenezer Scrooge’s underpaid clerk in A Christmas Carol? 7. Maureen O’Hara, John Payne, Natalie Wood and Edmund Gwenn appeared in which festive film released in 1947? 8. Which monarch broadcast the first Royal Message in 1932? 9. Christmas Island is a territory of which nation? 10. Franz Xaver Gruber composed which popular Christmas carol in 1818? 11. Which celebrity will be switching on the Rochester Christmas lights this year on 16th November? 12. In which year did Good Friday fall on Boxing Day?

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Top 10 Tax Mistakes Are you paying the wrong amount of tax? Many people are, and even Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (HMRC) sometimes slips up.

o, whether it’s having the wrong tax code, not submitting your tax return or other errors, read our list of 10 common tax mistakes below to ensure you’re not giving the taxman more than you should be. 1. Missing out on allowances If you were born after 5 April 1948, the amount of income you can have tax-free for the year 2013/14 is £9,440. This is called your personal allowance. Until this year, there was a higher personal allowance for people aged 65 and over, but this will no longer be available for people turning 65 after 5 April 2013. If you’re 65 or over and have been getting a higher allowance due to your age, this will now be frozen at £10,500 for people aged 6574 this year, and at £10,660 for people aged 75 or over this year. 2. Not claiming Blind Person’s Allowance You get an extra allowance of £2,160 if you are registered blind, or if you live in Scotland or Northern Ireland and your sight is too poor for you to do any work for which eyesight is essential. You can claim for the year before you were registered, providing that you have evidence of blindness for that year. 3. Not working as a team Couples can save tax by giving investments to the partner who pays the lower rate of tax – but it has to be a real gift, not a gift in name only. If you are married or a civil partner and one of you was born before

6 April 1935, you also get Married Couples’ Allowance, cutting your tax bill by between £304 and £791.50 a year. 4. Not transferring unused allowances If your income is too low to use up all your Married Couple’s Allowance or Blind Person’s Allowance, you can transfer the unused part to your husband, wife or civil partner. Contact your tax office for more information. 5. Paying tax when you don’t need to Income tax at 20% is taken off the interest on your savings account at a bank or building society before you get it. If your total income – including pension, earnings and interest – is less than your allowances, fill in form R85 to get your interest paid with no tax taken off. Your bank or building society can provide this form. 6. Not claiming back overpaid tax If you’ve paid too much tax because you’ve failed to claim an allowance or tax relief, or because too much tax has been deducted from your income, you can usually claim tax back within four years of the end of tax year in question. Ask your tax office for form R40. 7. Not checking your tax code Your tax code tells your pension company or employer how much pay you can be paid free of tax – tax is taken off the rest. Your tax office will write to you

suppor ting older people for over 50 years

from time to time explaining how the code was worked out. Check they have given you the right allowances, that the amount of pension or other income shown is correct, and query anything that you don’t understand. 8. Not informing HMRC when your working hours change If you change your hours, tell HMRC. They may need to adjust your tax code. Be particularly careful if you have a job as well as a pension - you get a code for each source of income, but it’s common for the wrong amount to be deducted. 9. Forgetting to tell HMRC that you’re soon to retire Make sure your tax office knows in good time if you expect to start receiving a pension in the next few months so that they can sort out your tax code.

Why Don’t More Older People Cycle? People approaching later life (50-59) and those aged over 60 in Bristol, Oxford, Reading and Cardiff will be the subjects of the study.

hey will be interviewed about their cycling history, and observed as they make familiar journeys by bike. In addition, there will also be a study of those given new electric bikes to measure whether their usage improves health and independence. It is thought that the major barriers to cycling for older people are fear of injury and the physically demanding aspect of the activity - which could be overcome by improving infrastructure and developing assistive technology. The results of the research will be used to create a short documentary video and toolkit for policymakers and practitioners advising on how built environment and technology can be designed to support and encourage cycling among current and future older generations.

10. Putting off your tax return If you are sent a tax return for the 2012-13 tax year, you must fill it in by 31 October 2013, or by 31 January 2014 if you do it online. The tax must be paid by 31 January 2014. New, tougher, penalties make missing the deadline expensive – there’s an automatic £100 penalty, plus higher penalties after a further three months. All figures are for 201314 tax year, which started on 6 April 2013.

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Leading Charities Highlight Inadequacies in Care Bill Care home and care agency bosses should face criminal charges if they preside over a culture of abuse and neglect, three leading charities working with vulnerable people said on Wednesday.

n the day that a cross-party group of MPs meet Prime Minister David Cameron to discuss their concerns around the inadequacy of safeguarding measures in the Care Bill currently going through Parliament, Age UK, Action on Elder Abuse and Mencap call on the Government to strengthen legal powers to ensure that all older and disabled people are protected from abuse.

Inadequacies highlighted The three charities are highlighting inadequacies in several areas of the Bill: Although the Care Bill imposes for the first time a legal duty for a local authority to investigate if it believes an adult is being abused or at risk of abuse, there’s no duty on care providers to inform the local authority if they suspect an adult is at risk. There is currently no offence of neglect covering vulnerable adults judged to have mental capacity. This is likely to leave the frail and isolated, but not mentally-incapacitated people, at risk of abuse and neglect. It has also previously meant

that charges of neglect were unable to be brought against suspected abusers because doctors were unable to ascertain the victim’s mental capacity at the time of the abuse. If the owner of a care home or care home agency is found to have presided over a culture of abuse and neglect – like that at Winterbourne View – there is currently no sanction that can be brought against them. Currently even if a local authority reasonably believes that a vulnerable adult is being neglected or abused in their own home, they have no legal right to enter the home.

access to that person. This would only be able to be used as a last resort and would need to be applied for through the magistrates’ court. A similar power already exists in Scotland. • A new offence of Corporate Neglect should be introduced to sanction care home or care agency managers who allow a culture of abuse and neglect to continue in their organisations. • A new offence of ill treatment or neglect should be introduced to extend protection to vulnerable adults who have mental capacity.

Charities call for additional safeguards

Michelle Mitchell, Charity Director General of Age UK, said: ‘The Care Bill presents the ideal opportunity to ensure that vulnerable adults living in our community are given the best possible protection from neglect and abuse. ‘We welcome the advances that the Bill already makes in safeguarding older and disabled people but with these additional changes, that protection could be so much more effective.’ Gary FitzGerald, Chief Executive of Action on Elder Abuse, said: ‘While we have made progress over the last few years in protecting older

Age UK, Action on Elder Abuse and Mencap call upon the Prime Minister to ensure that the new Bill gives vulnerable older and disabled people the protection they need by introducing: • A duty on care providers and other relevant partners to inform the local authority when they suspect an adult is at risk. • A power of access to allow local authorities to carry out a confidential interview with a vulnerable adult believed to be at risk of abuse or neglect, when a third party is denying

suppor ting older people for over 50 years

An ideal opportunity to protect vulnerable adults

people from neglect and abuse we must do more. Too many very vulnerable older people suffer dreadful treatment at the hands of abusers who simply get away with it. ‘The Care Bill gives an opportunity to strengthen the law, ensure justice for victims and their families, and send a message to those who abuse, or make profit from abuse, that their actions will not be tolerated and will have serious consequences.’ Jan Tregelles, Chief Executive of Mencap, said: ‘We must not miss this opportunity to make sure the law around safeguarding is robust enough. ‘Time after time we have witnessed how gaps in safeguarding provision have been one of the factors in serious abuse scandals involving people with a learning disability, most recently Winterbourne View. While we welcome the proposals set out in the Care Bill to strengthen safeguarding, we believe they must go further.’ The delegation is led by Paul Burstow MP and includes Sarah Rochira (Older People’s Commissioner for Wales), Nick Smith MP, Sarah Wollaston MP, Baroness Greengross and Gary FitzGerald (Chief Executive of Action on Elder Abuse).

AUTUMN 2013 | 29

Let’s get Cooking Christmas Cake What you need

How to make it

12oz Plain flour 1 Teaspoon mixed spice 4oz Ground almonds 8oz Currants 8oz Sultanas 8oz Raisins (stoned) 4oz Cherries (halved) 8oz Butter 8oz Soft brown sugar 6 Eggs, beaten with 8 tablespoons of milk 1 Tablespoon black treacle

1. Mix flour, spice and ground almonds together. 2. Clean and mix fruit. 3. Beat butter and sugar to a cream. 4. Beat the eggs and milk together.

5. Mix all these ingredients together. 6. Add the fruit last. Bake for about 4hrs.First hour in a moderate oven 180°C (Gasmark 4), then slow oven at 150°C (Gasmark 2).

Answers&Solutions 1. Norway 2. Green, red and gold 3. Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar 4. Mexico 5. 26th December 6. Bob Crachit 7. Miracle on 34th Street 8. King George V 9. Australia 10. Silent Night 11. James Argent 12. 1899 (it was a horse in the King George IV Stakes)

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