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Energy - confusing?

Do you find your energy bills confusing?  You are not alone.    There is far too much jargon involved so we thought we would explain a few things that might help simplify things.Fixed price v variable tariffsDeciding whether to go for a  fixed or variable is like betting on the horses and taking out insurance at the same time.  It’s a gamble, but it gives you peace of mind.   The variable may go up or down in the time you are in the contract but with a f...

Christmas made easy - part 2

Here is part two of our Christmas made easy tips!If you are hosting people over Christmas, start making a menu and a shopping list now. You can just jot down menu ideas and google recipes here and there, saving them by bookmarking them on your phone or desktop.Know and diarise when you are going to put in an online shopping order or go to the shops.   Lots of online supermarkets have a day when they release their Christmas slots, so do check online if you want one of those.If you are b...

Christmas made easy - part 1

This is a repost of our blog in November 2022, because we think it’s worth repeating.  Part 2 will be next week.It’s all about making lists.  So get a pen and paper ready, or a note section on your mobile phone and make some lists.Make a list of all of those presents you want to buy, and who for.  If you haven’t started ordering yet, we recommend doing so right away!  Leaving anything to the last minute is always stressful.  Mark off when you have bought something,...

What is a superconnector and why do you need one?

A super-connector is someone who knows the right people to help you, when you need help.  These are people who have access to a wide network of people to call on to assist where necessary.  Super-connectors are people that when you say ‘X happened to me today and I think I need to do Y’, they know just the right person to put you in touch with. As you get older there are many different people and professions out there who can help you, but the great news is you only need one as the...

Retirement Villages

Choosing to live in a retirement village / assisted living can be a fantastic solution for many older people who are looking to downsize, but it’s not right for everyone.  Here are some of the benefits:1. Community and Social Interaction:  If you live far from friends and family, there are built in social networks and plenty of other people ‘in the same boat’.  Regular social activities and clubs help build the sense of community.2. Safety and Security: Enhanced security mea...

It's not too late to start using Zoom!

Remember those heady days before the pandemic?  The days when hardly anyone was using Zoom.  I admit, I had the app, and had done some meetings, but I didn’t really know what it was capable of.  Now that the pandemic has passed, I spend a lot less time on Zoom and it’s transformed the way a lot of businesses run. Does it still have a place in the lives of those who aren’t working?   It can be very useful to have meetings with a travel agent, a will writer, a financ...

Making broadband simple

If you want to have access to the internet you need a device and to make the device work well and fast in your home, you need broadband.   But what if you haven’t had it before?  We come across clients regularly who don’t have it, so it’s not as uncommon as you might think. Broadband bamboozles us all, but imagine if you haven’t had it before.  There are so many technical terms so how do we explain what they all are?  And of course we want to make sure our older ...

Get ready for winter

As we head into autumn it is important to get yourself ready for the winter and make sure you are ready for the arrival of any cold snap:Check your heating works (which we first advised in August).Make sure you have lots of thin layers that you can wear on top of each other.   You can also get an ‘Oodie’ which is a giant over-blanket that you can wear to keep you warm inside your home.Get a really warm hat, scarf and gloves.  If your heating breaks down you can always wear the...

Be part of a community

So you’ve retired!  Many people look forward to this so that they can spend time with their grandchildren, go on holiday, visit art galleries and enjoy more of their hobbies.For others, the thought of giving up work is stressful and they worry about the lack of interaction with others and how to spend their time. Of course it’s a good idea to have a rest and some relaxing time immediately after retiring, but if you don’t have a purpose or specific things to do, your health, both ...

Silver Sunday

It’s Silver Sunday on 6th October.  Silver Sunday is a national day where people of all generations can come together by hosting fun and free activities for older people. It is a day to meet new people, visit new places, try new activities and connect with local communities and other generations.As last year, we are hosting an event on Saturday 12 October at St Mary and St John the Divine, Balham, SW12 9BS, with board games and lunch.  It’s free to join in and there will be a chanc...

Got that 'back to school' vibe?

September is a time for new beginnings, just like January, as it has the back-to-school vibe that is inescapable even if you don’t have children or grandchildren in the education system.   It’s a time to start on things you have been putting off and generally just get going on your own home projects.So, if you would like to start decluttering, now is a good time!  If you are looking at it and wondering where to start then we recommend the following:Start small, one cupboard or...

Test your heating!

If you read our blog last month about getting your boiler service done in the summer, you are well ahead.  Assuming you got it serviced last month, you should be good to go.  But it’s still good to test your heating before you need it, in case you have any radiator or leak issues you weren’t aware of, or if you didn’t get your boiler serviced over the summer.  Last year we didn’t follow our own advice for the first time ever, and then had a problem with the thermostat conn...

Dealing with your loved one's possessions after death

When someone passes away it can be a very traumatic time for family and friends, even if the death was expected, and dealing with a loved one’s possessions can be a very emotional task.   Once any items in the will have been distributed, you can ask other family and friends if there is anything they want.  If there are more valuable items in the property they may fall into the estate to be valued, and so it is important that you follow the solicitors’ instructions for disposin...

What is Careline?

Careline is a personal alarm service used throughout the care industry to help people live independently.  Most people have a pendant or watch device which is remotely attached to a phone line and can dial when you press the pendant to alert loved ones, or call a carer or the emergency services, depending on how it is set up.  There are also more sophisticated versions which can be worn as watches, and can detect automatically if you fall. This is also the case with certain versions of...

Top tips for WhatsApp as you get older

If after last week’s blog you decided to get WhatsApp, you might need some lessons in how to use it.  We have some tips for you to make it easier.If someone sends you a message that you want to find again you can star it (by tapping and holding the message and then selecting 'star').  And then in the chat for that person you can click on the three dots at the top of the screen and go to view contact where you’ll find the starred messages.Sometimes you know someone sent you a link a...

Using WhatsApp to Keep in Touch

Why is WhatsApp good to use to keep in touch? If you have a mobile and you’re not using WhatsApp, then it might be an idea to think about using it, especially if you have grandchildren and even more so if they live abroad.  Why is it a good idea?Send and receive photos and videos easily using WiFiTalk to your family and friends abroad free over WiFiUse the groups feature to get lots of people’s news or discussions in one go, for instance with all the different members of your famil...

Community help in retirement

Not everyone has friends and family nearby to help them in retirement.  However, there are other resources available to help:Age UK  https://www.ageuk.org.uk/ is a UK-wide charity which has various support options available including footcare, shopping, handyman, driving, lunches and activity centres.   All these services differ from area to area so check with your local Age UK office.u3a  https://www.u3a.org.uk/ gives you opportunities to develop your interests, make ne...

Deciding to move into a care home

Making the decision to go into a care home is never an easy decision.  In-home care is a great alternative, but it doesn’t work for everyone.  If you need to go into a care setting these are some things to look for when assessing the options:Activities -  if you love singing, but they don’t do this, will they add it?  If you love art and can no longer get to exhibitions, do they do something to cater for this?  Have a look at the breadth of activities and whether the...

Get your boiler serviced in the summer!

It’s July, and your heating system is probably far from your mind.  But now is a good time to get your system serviced.  Find out why:  Boiler companies are less busy from April through to August and they are able to book you in at a time of your choosing.Many (not all) charge less to do the service in the summer, offering discounts because they are less busy and want to keep their work force on the road.If they find something that needs replacing, there will be more availa...

Going on holiday as you get older

As you get older there is the sweet irony that you have more time to go on holiday but actually going might be becoming more and more difficult.  So here are some tips to get the best from your holiday:Make sure you get insurance that covers any illnesses or conditions that you have had.  It doesn’t pay to scrimp on insurance.  As you get older there is more chance you might need it and you don’t want to find you’re stuck abroad without the ability to sort out any issues.Mak...

Why might you want to move in later life?

We help many different types of people move home, not just older people.  Most of our older people are downsizing because they recognise their home is the wrong size or type for them and their lifestyle.    But we do get older people who move to a different area and they don’t always downsize when they do that.   Just because you are older doesn’t mean you have to downsize when you move.  You can take everything with you to another home the same size but in...

Driving as you get older

As you get older you may find that you use your car less, but want to keep hold of it to maintain your independence.   Your loved ones might be trying to persuade you to give up the car and you don’t want to. When friends and family suggest giving up driving it’s because they are worried about you and also about other road users.   There may be a medical reason that means you have to give up driving, but if there isn’t one, it might be that your family have noticed...

Decluttering for Hoarders

Decluttering is difficult for anyone and it’s even harder for hoarders.  Hoarding is related to difficult experiences and feelings and it is not possible for a hoarder to ‘just get rid of things’.  Counselling is recommended before commencing any decluttering otherwise the anxiety and pain for the hoarder will be very high and it will be difficult to make any progress towards the end goal.   We have found that having a very specific reason to take a step to declutt...

Internet banking

Most of us do internet banking these days, but if we are older we may not have got into that, or we might distrust it and feel that it is too difficult to learn now.  However, if you have set up internet banking it makes it easier to pay people and to check your balances.  You can also move money around and review standing orders and direct debits more easily. It can of course make you more vulnerable to scams, but these can happen even when you just have a credit or debit card to hand...

Stay hydrated

As you get older you need to drink more water to keep hydrated to compensate for your body’s decrease in its ability to retain water, and to prevent various health issues that become more common with age such as constipation, UTIs, and cognitive impairment.Here are a few ways to do this:Drink water throughout the day:  Sip it regularly even if you don’t feel thirsty and try and aim for 2 litres of water a day by breaking it down into small glasses.Include hydrating foods in your diet li...