Mature Times - The voice of your generation

Fund to help older patients leave hospital

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 12:55:24 +0000

The government has launched a £170m funding boost for councils to help improve care and support for elderly people leaving hospital.

Each council will be given an average of £1 million to stop elderly patients occupying beds longer than necessary.

New Year must address scandal of inadequate social care

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 12:23:55 +0000

Britain’s biggest pensioner organisation, the National Pensioners Convention (NPC) has entered the debate on social care to call for the creation of a National Care Service, funded through general taxation and based on care needs rather than ability to pay.

The average Brit will spend over two hours glued to a phone or computer screen this Christmas Day

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 12:52:03 +0000

Nearly half of the 2,000 Brits questioned will check their emails on the big day, while time on Facebook, surfing the web and shopping online will feature heavily amid festivities.

Going on iTunes to use gift vouchers, downloading apps instead of watching endless repeats on TV and even looking up the value of gifts will also be commonplace, it emerged.

Almost half of elderly live alone

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 14:03:19 +0000

Almost half of pensioners live by themselves, according to a shock survey that has raised fresh concerns about older people being left alone at Christmas.

A poll by The Centre for the Modern Family found that many over-60s who do not live with anyone else have no relatives living close by, while some have no family at all.

Welcome to 2012 and a very Happy New Year to all Silver Travellers.

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 15:24:27 +0000

There’s a prize to be won every day during January including a week’s holiday in sunny Cyprus.

Government sets up Working Group on frozen pensions

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 00:01:10 +0000

After continuing pressure from the public and MPs, coordinated by the International Consortium of British Pensioners, the government has decided to set up an official Working Group to look into the issue of frozen pensions.

The Working Group has a number of members including officials from the Treasury and the International Consortium of British Pensioners.

Consumer Focus response to the Payments Council research on the Cheque Guarantee Card Scheme

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 16:42:03 +0000

In response to the Payments Council research on the impact of the closure of the Cheque Guarantee Card Scheme, Sarah Brooks, Director of Financial Services at Consumer Focus, said:

‘Although the majority of people surveyed said they have not been affected, there has been an impact for some consumers from the removal of the cheque guarantee scheme. One in eight people using a guaranteed cheque said a business has now refused to accept a cheque from them.

Closure of Cheque Guarantee Card Scheme has minimal impact on over 65s

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 11:46:59 +0000

Today (20 December), the Payments Council published independent research to show that the closure of the Cheque Guarantee Card Scheme has had little impact on the over 65s.

The results echo findings from before the scheme was closed that showed 86 per cent of people aged 65 and over had ‘little or no concerns’ about the closure of the Cheque Guarantee Card Scheme and that the Scheme was often misunderstood.

Christmas at home?

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 11:23:24 +0000

A third of British mums don’t enjoy Christmas if they go to their children’s house for the day, it was revealed yesterday.

The findings emerged in a study of 739 mothers with grown-up children, and shows that many would prefer to host the big day themselves, believing they could do a better job.

Elderly patients need more care

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:09:54 +0000

Elderly patients are being released from NHS trusts up to four times later than others because of the delay it takes for a specialist to see them, according to newly released research by the Foundation Trust Network (FTN).

The figures come after a report attacked the standard of dementia care in hospitals, with staff accused of ignoring patients suffering from the condition.

Women facing pension trauma

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 16:54:02 +0000

Pensions experts have claimed that women face a rough ride in old age unless they bridge the gap with men and start saving more for retirement.

Researchers discovered that 59 per cent of women were not saving for a pension, compared to 52 per cent of men, during a recent study.

Campaigners criticise Warm Home scheme for failing to reach those in need

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 11:53:43 +0000

Campaigners criticise Warm Home scheme for failing to reach those in need

Britain’s biggest pensioner organisation, the National Pensioners Convention (NPC) has warned that the government’s new Warm Home Discount (WHD) scheme needs urgent reform to prevent hundreds of thousands of older people missing out on much needed support with their energy bills.

Share a joke and spread a little happiness this Christmas with Age UK

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 11:01:36 +0000

We all love that warm fuzzy feeling you get from sharing a laugh with others, and now it’s official: 91 per cent of people agree laughter infectious and 88 per cent agree it usually makes them feel happy to hear someone else laugh’.

Age UK releases these figures today in a bid to spread laughter and happiness as Christmas approaches.

Funding allows pioneering stroke charity to deliver its service over the Christmas period

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 16:11:42 +0000

InterAct Reading Service are pleased to announce that generous support from The Ernest Hecht Charitable Foundation will enable the charity to deliver it’s award-winning service in ten hospitals over the Christmas period.

InterAct Reading Service was founded in 2000 on the basis of an innovative idea: using professional actors to deliver live, witty and inspiring short stories to people who have had a stroke.

Last chance to take responsibility to combat loneliness this Christmas

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 12:59:10 +0000

With only days before the last Royal Mail posting date for Christmas, the Campaign to End Loneliness is calling on us all to reach out to older neighbours or family who might be isolated or lonely over Christmas.