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A SUPPLEMENT BY MEDIAPLANET DISTRIBUTED WITHIN THE INDEPENDENT PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK SENIOR LIFE CAMPAIGNING FOR BETTER CARE Sir Ian McKellen highlights the need for further support for the elderly as he shares his experience of caring for his elderly stepmother BEING PREPARED Making plans to support your loved ones HEALTH CHALLENGES Keeping healthy and active in later life A spotlight on seniorlifenews.co.uk

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Page 1: Senior Life PDF

A SUPPLEMENT BY MEDIAPLANET DISTRIBUTED WITHIN THE INDEPENDENT

PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

SENIOR LIFE

CAMPAIGNING FOR BETTER CARE

Sir Ian McKellen highlights the need for further support for the elderlyas he shares his experience of caring for his elderly stepmother

BEING PREPARED Making plans to support

your loved ones

HEALTH CHALLENGES Keeping healthy and

active in later life

A spotlight on

seniorlifenews.co.uk

Page 2: Senior Life PDF

2 · seniorlifenews.co.uk A SUPPLEMENT BY MEDIAPLANET DISTRIBUTED WITHIN THE INDEPENDENT

Ageing isn’t something to be frightened of — it’s something to embrace. It is, however, good to enter your senior years equipped to deal with some of the challenges you may face.

Enjoying life in our senior years

According to the most re-cent statistics from the char-ity Age UK, there are now 11 million peo-

ple aged 65 or over in this coun-try — and 3 million of us are aged 80 or over. Proof, if it were need-ed, that we are now living longer, healthier lives thanks to advanc-es in medicine and a deeper un-derstanding of diet, exercise and what’s good for us generally. In fact, at age 65, men can expect to live on average another 10.1 years in good health; and women can expect to live another 11.6 years.

So forget the OAP stereotypes: many of today’s senior people are fitter, more active and want — and demand — more out of life than previous generations ever did at their age. Retirement is no barri-er, either. In fact, it’s often a new beginning. Many older people are volunteering, fundraising, men-toring, and home visiting and generally making a difference at all levels in their communities. In the 12 months to June 2012, for ex-

ample, there were over 2.5 million volunteers aged 65 or over in Eng-land. And, naturally, people in lat-er life are carers, too, for both the old (a partner with health issues, for instance) and the young (help-ing out with the grandchildren). Age really is a state of mind.

Health challengesAgeing isn’t without its chal-lenges, of course; and we ex-plore some of these in this sup-plement. Dementia, for example, is one of the main causes of dis-ability in later life, and it’s also a

condition which is affecting in-creasing numbers: it was esti-mated that there will be 850,000 people with dementia in the UK in 2015, rising to over 1 million by 2025. Dementia doesn’t only af-fect the sufferer — it’s something that all family members have to come to terms with. Angela Rip-pon, an ambassador for the Alz-heimer’s Society, tells us about her own experiences after her late mother was diagnosed with dementia; and why she feels that the condition is now at last be-ginning to receive the attention

it deserves. Plus, staying with health, we investigate the latest treatments for bones and joints — a subject that’s particularly acute during cold winter weather.

Planning aheadIn his Autumn statement, Chan-cellor George Osbourne signalled new tax breaks for married pen-sioners, which means that plan-ning for your future is now more relevant than ever.

One way to plan ahead is, of course, by making a Will; yet, in-credibly, many of us don’t have one. Here, we look at Will plan-ing, and we also engage with the festive spirit of giving by explor-ing how to make a donation to a charity in your Will, and so leave a lasting legacy. It’s easy to do — so why aren’t more of us doing it?

Getting older isn’t something to be wary or frightened of. It’s something to aspire to. By tack-ling some of the issues we face in later life, this supplement aims to celebrate something that — if we’re lucky — we’ll do, and do well: age. It’s time to embrace senior living.

CHALLENGES

Angela Rippon shares her family’s experience of dementia

p8

EDITOR’S PICK

SENIOR LIFE2ND EDITION, DECEMBER 2014

Managing Director: Carl SoderblomContent and Production Manager:

Faye GodfreyBusiness Developer: Alex Williams

Responsible for this issueProject Manager: Sam Ayerst

E-mail: [email protected]

Mediaplanet contact information: Phone: +44 (0) 203 642 0737

E-mail: [email protected]

P9: CARE FOR CARERS Finding support for those caring

for family and loved ones

FOR EXTENDED,

INTERACTIVE,

AND EXCLUSIVE

CONTENT VISIT

MEDIAPLANET UK#seniorlife

seniorlifenews.co.uk

P10: PLANNING FOR THE FUTUREWhy having a Will is as important

now as it has ever been

With over

4,000 health information pages, we’ve got all your health needs covered

Page 3: Senior Life PDF

SHE HAS HER MOTHER’S EYES, HER FATHER’S NOSE.

SHE CAN INHERIT HER SMILE FROM YOU.

LE AVE A GIF T THAT LIVES ONBy including a gift to Unicef in your Will, you will be helping to make the world safer for future generations of children.

TALK TO US IN CONFIDENCESpeak to the Legacy team today and find out more about making a gift in your Will. Call 020 7375 6208 email [email protected] or visit unicef.org.uk/legacy

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Unicef UK is a Registered Charity No. 1072612 (England and Wales) SC043677 (Scotland)

– – – – – – – – – – – – –

In 2012, legacy gifts amounted to 16% of our total income and allowed us to work hard protecting species that are threatened with extinction.

Our world is worth safeguarding, now and forever and even a small gift in your will can help us reach our goal.

or to request our Living Himalayas pack, please call Maria Dyson in our supporter care team on 01483 426 333 or email [email protected]

CAN YOU LEAVE A LITTLE FOR THE WORLD THEY LIVE IN?To lose a species forever is to deny our world and our future generations of something so special.

work in the Living Himalayas: wwf.org.uk/generations

© M

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Page 4: Senior Life PDF

4 · seniorlifenews.co.uk A SUPPLEMENT BY MEDIAPLANET DISTRIBUTED WITHIN THE INDEPENDENT seniorlifenews.co.uk · 5A SUPPLEMENT BY MEDIAPLANET DISTRIBUTED WITHIN THE INDEPENDENT

which, six weeks later, can be re-im-planted. The other technology robs Peter to pay Paul, as it were, when the surgeon takes healthy knee car-tilage from where it isn’t needed and moves it to an area where it is need-ed.” Transplanted cartilage from a do-nor can also be eff ective; while vis-cosupplementation — the artifi cial manufacture of joint fl uid — can re-duce pain for people with arthritic knees, improve function and help car-tilage heal.

Stem cellsMoyes says that stem cell technol-ogy is moving at a fast and exciting pace and mentions one treatment in particular which can be used to improve various types of cartilage problems. “There will shortly be a system where stem cells can be tak-en from your own fat and injected into your knee,” he says. “We know that this can produce an 80 per cent

reduction in arthritis symptoms in 80 per cent of patients.” Stem cells are the future, believes Moyes — but he admits that the injection treat-ment is incredibly expensive, run-ning to thousands of pounds, and he can’t envisage it being available on the NHS. “The flip side is that if the NHS could treat someone with injection treatment rather than a knee replacement, then it does start to become cost-effective for the Government,” he says.

Restorative techniques are more involved than routine keyhole sur-gery, and the patient is out of action for longer, admits Moyes; but, he says, they are ultimately more benefi cial to the suff erer. “For years, dentists have been in the business of restorative dentistry. We need to get into the busi-ness of restorative orthopedics.”

TONY GREENWAY

[email protected]

patientuk@patientukSearch ‘Arthritis’ on Patient.co.ukfor Arthritis symptoms and more!

Rheumatoid ArthritisAbout 1 in 100 people develops RA at some stage in their life. It can happen to anyone. It is not an hereditary disease. It can develop at any age, but most commonly starts between the ages of 40 and 60.

INSPIRATION

Sir Ian McKellen talks about the important work of charities in the support of the elderly PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

Question: Is cartilage damage a common problem in older people?Answer: It is — but the latest restorative treatments can be incredibly eff ective. However, suff erers do need to be made aware that they are available...

The age old problem of cartilage damage

“There will shortly be a system where stem cells can be taken from your own fat and injected into your knee”Simon Moyes, Consultant orthapaedic surgeon

Simon Moyes — a London-based Con-sultant Orthopaedic Surgeon spe-cialising in arthroscopic surgery for knee, shoulder, foot and ankle prob-lems — sees many patients with dam-aged cartilage in their knees. “I think this is for a number reasons,” he says. “We’re all living longer, and there are more of us. And people are often larg-er now, and load their joints more. Al-so people are exercising to keep fit — which is a good thing, obviously — but it does mean we’re seeing a lot of cartilage damage in joints.”

There are two types of cartilage in the knee: hyaline cartilage which covers the bones, and the meniscus, which acts as a shock absorber. If this becomes torn, it results in an injury which can be extremely debilitating and painful. The issue, says Moyes, is that most meniscus tear surgery will remove the damaged cartilage rath-er than repair it. “We should be do-ing far more in the way of restorative

surgery,” he insists. The problem with resections (cartilage removal), says Moyes, is that they can increase chances of arthritis down the line. Yet the latest restorative technology is becoming more and more available — and patients should know it exists, be it in the public or private sector.

TreatmentsRepairs to torn menisci can be car-ried out with a combination of stitch-ing and the use of stem cell technol-ogy; while damage to hyaline carti-lage can be repaired with a technique called microfracture surgery (tiny drill holes expose bone marrow stem cells which, in turn, generate neocar-tilage to cover the bone).

“Surgeons can also use a range of cell treatments or cartilage grafting,” says Moyes. “A small amount of car-tilage stem cells are taken from the knee, multiplied in a laboratory and turned into a sheet of new cartilage

Actor, Sir Ian McKellen, highlights the need for better care for the elderly, as he shares his experience of caring for his elderly stepmother.

“She was entirely dependent on other peo-ple’s help,” he says. Aged 100 and still living at home, Sir Ian was a big support to her. However, not everyone is lucky enough to have strong family network they can rely on. He highlights the importance of know-ing that support is available. He says some-times “you need someone like a big organ-isation to come along and say, ‘It’s alright, there’s things we can do, and here’s some-one you who can talk to and think of as a friend,’ and so on.” Sir Ian McKellen is a proud supporter of the charity Age UK.

Sir Ian, 75, has not only experienced look-ing after an elderly relative but now must consider what is next for him. “You think about dying, and how you’re going to die. The response to that is probably to try and do something about your health, to take things easily and carefully. But you know there’s going to come a moment when you’re going to be utterly dependent on other people. And that’s not much fun, par-ticularly for someone like me who’s single and doesn’t have kids.

“We all know some, and are aware that increasingly old people can be very isolat-ed, and if they don’t have families close by then they need a family substitute.” That’s where charities such as Age UK come in. Read more online at ageuk.org.uk

ALEXANDER WILLIAMS

[email protected]

Support is at hand for all

Simon Moyes specialises

in keyhole - or arthroscopic -

surgery. This is a highly

sophisticated, minimally

invasive technique which

means you spend less time

in hospital and you are more

likely to have a quick recovery.

Simon Moyes Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon

www.simonmoyes.comTelephone number: 0207 323 0040

31 Old Broad Street and The Wellington Hospital

MERRY CHRISTMAS From everyone at Mediaplanet

Page 5: Senior Life PDF

6 · seniorlifenews.co.uk A SUPPLEMENT BY MEDIAPLANET DISTRIBUTED WITHIN THE INDEPENDENT

Make a difference this Christmas

When asked, 35 per cent of us say we would be happy to leave a charitable donation in our Will. Unfortunately, not many of us ac-tually do. So this is a good time of year to reassess that promise, plan for the future — and make it happen. “Christmas is about giv-ing to those we love the most,” says Rob Cope, Director of Re-member a Charity, a charity co-alition that works to encourage more people to consider leaving a charitable gift in their Will. “At the same time, we have to think that most of us in our lifetime will benefit from services funded by charities.”

Leaving a donation in a Will to good causes — or legacy giv-ing as its known — is growing; but slowly and steadily. When Re-member a Charity was founded 14 years ago, just over 5 per cent of the UK population left a char-itable gift in their Will. In 2013, the figure had risen to 7.3 per cent. However, this kind of do-nation is essential — for exam-ple, a third of all cancer research

is paid for by legacies, as are six out of 10 lifeboat launches — and even a small amount can make a big difference.

Think differentlyYet too many of us believe that if we leave money to a charity, we can’t leave it to our family; so we need to start thinking different-ly, says Cope. “We want people to consider the role that charities play in their lifetime and imag-ine a world where those servic-es weren’t available for the next

generation,” he points out. “Be-cause it’s only through the good-will of the public that the work of those charities can continue.

“So, yes, you should absolutely think about providing for your family first in your Will. But then consider your favourite charities — ones you have supported in your lifetime, or ones that you or your family have benefitted from.”

Christmas spiritThe people of the UK are supreme-ly generous — you only have to look at the totals for, say, Children in Need or Text Santa to see that —

and three-quarters of us will sup-port a charity during our lives. “Yet when people write their own Will, there is a disconnect,” says Cope. “You should have a Will because it protects your family and it’s a very easy thing to do. And if you haven’t got much cash now — and at Christmas, people don’t have a lot of money — you can still do something amazingly charitable. It’s an investment for your family’s future. And what a great Christmas present for the charities.”

FACTS

■ 75 per cent of the UK support

a charity in their lifetime but only

7 per cent leave a gift in their Will.

■ Gifts in Wills raise more than £2 billion a year for good causes

— the equivalent of more than 19

Comic Relief appeals a year.

SOURCE: REMEMBER A CHARITY

INSPIRATION

New figures released by the ONS show that there were 18,200 excess winter deaths last year from cold-related illness, such as heart attacks and strokes. Age UK recommends the following actions that older people can take to protect their health in cold weather:

■ Stay active and when you

are indoors try not to sit still

for more than an hour, if you

can get up and walk around

or make a hot drink.

■ Eat well. It’s important

to eat well, especially in the

winter. Have at least one hot

meal a day and regular hot

drinks, as they help to keep

you warm. Also stock up on

basic food items in case of a

cold snap.

■ Keep warm at home. Keeping warm is vital for your

health, so aim to heat your

living area to 70F (21C) and

your bedroom to at least 65F

(18C); being cold can increase

the risk of heart attacks,

strokes and breathing

difficulties. You should also

close your bedroom window

at night.

■ Keep your hands, face and feet warm. Also

remember that, several layers

will keep you warmer than one

thick layer as layers trap warm

air. Wool or synthetic fleece

will keep you warmest.

■ Get your annual flu jab. Flu can develop into

pneumonia so it’s important

to protect yourself. Some

people, including those over

65 can get the jab for free.

■ Keep in touch. It may be

hard to get out in the cold

weather, but make sure you

keep in touch with people.

Pick up the phone or use

Skype to contact friends and

family or contact your local

Age UK to see if they offer a

befriending service.

TONY GREENWAY

[email protected]

LEAVE A LASTING LEGACYLeaving a donation in your Will can make a real difference for the future of a charity and the people that it helpsPHOTO: THINKSTOCK

Question: How complicated is it to leave a charitable donation in a Will?Answer: It’s very easy, but not many of us do it — yet charities badly need financial support if they are to continue.

“We want people to consider the role that charities play in their lifetime and imagine a world where those services weren’t available”

Take care of yourself and your loved ones this winter

Page 6: Senior Life PDF

The special relationship between humans and dogs can help people make so much more of their lives whatever their challenges. We have over 25 years’ expertise in training dogs to provide support and companionship to adults and children with physical disabilities and autism.

Please consider leaving a gift to Dogs for the Disabled in your will. With your help we can transform many more lives. Thank you.

Registered Charity Number in England and Wales 1092960 Registered Charity in Scotland SC039828

Dogs are good for us

Find out more at www.dogsforthedisabled.org/legacy

Call us on 01295 759809 or [email protected]

Contact the Elderly. Imagine living a life with the television as your main form of company. A life trapped inside your four walls because you can’t get out by yourself. A life with little to mark the passing of each day and nothing to look forward to.

National charity Contact the Elderly is dedicated to tackling acute loneliness amongst isolated older people. Through our 560 friendship groups we organise free monthly Sunday afternoon tea parties for small groups of older people (aged 75 and over), in local communities across England, Scotland and Wales, providing a regular and vital friendship link.

Each older guest is collected from their home by a volunteer driver and taken to a volunteer host’s home. The group is warmly welcomed by a different host each month, but the drivers remain the same which means that over the months and years, acquaintances turn into friends and loneliness is replaced by companionship.

As older guest Maud, 87, says: “After years of being housebound with no family or friends to take me out, Contact the Elderly has given me the courage and confidence to face the world again. The friendship I receive is priceless.”

We rely on voluntary donations to continue our invaluable work. By leaving us a gift in your will, you will be helping us transform the lives of some of the oldest and loneliest people, for generations to come.

Tel: 0207 240 0630 Web: www.contact-the-elderly.org.uk Email: [email protected]

Contact the Elderly is a registered charity in England and Wales (1146149) and in Scotland (SC039377). Company Number (07869142) Registered office: 2 Grosvenor Gardens, London SW1W 0DH

Arthritis. Why should it tell me what I can’t do?

Please include a gift in your will and help us beat arthritis.Call 0300 790 0402 or visitwww.arthritisresearchuk.org

Registered Charity England and Wales No. 207711, Scotland No. SC041156.

We can change the future for people living with arthritis with a single word.

Research.

Page 7: Senior Life PDF

8 · seniorlifenews.co.uk A SUPPLEMENT BY MEDIAPLANET DISTRIBUTED WITHIN THE INDEPENDENT seniorlifenews.co.uk · 9A SUPPLEMENT BY MEDIAPLANET DISTRIBUTED WITHIN THE INDEPENDENT

“I heard a wonderful quote recent-ly from a 12-year-old,” says broad-caster and journalist, Angela Rip-pon. “She was reading from a book of sayings about dementia and said: ‘When my gran was diagnosed with dementia, we all got it, because de-mentia is a team event.’ That was so perceptive, because it sums up what dementia actually is. It affects eve-ryone — as well as the person with the condition.”

Rippon knows this only too well because her late mother, Edna, was diagnosed with dementia in 2004. It didn’t only rob Edna of her mem-ory: it changed her character, too. “It’s important to see the person and not the illness,” says Rippon. “I had to get to know someone who was not the woman who had been my mother for all those years. Yet

she was still the same person be-hind the symptoms. And I didn’t stop loving her.”

Supporting othersRippon is a long-time supporter and ambassador of the Alzheimer’s So-ciety and co-chairs the Dementia Friendly Communities Champions Group as part of the Prime Minister’s Challenge on Dementia. “When my mother was diagnosed, I did my job as a journalist to find out as much as I possibly could about the symptoms,” she says. “But I’m more than aware that many people who suddenly find themselves as carers of someone with dementia have no idea about it or where to go to for help.

“That’s why we aim to estab-lish dementia friendly communi-ties throughout the country so that people are being supported, wheth-er they are patients or carers. De-mentia Friends are a wonderful

safety net, because these are people who will offer respite to a carer. Car-ers are always at the forefront of our minds — and just as important to us as the patients.”

Many affectedRippon believes that dementia is now starting to receive the attention it deserves from the government, broadcasters and the public. And so it should, she points out. According to figures from the Alzheimer’s Soci-ety, around 23 million of the UK pop-ulation have a close friend or family member with dementia. “It’s that big in the community,” she says. “We can’t ignore it anymore.”

Anyone experiencing symptoms of dementia — or have a loved one experiencing symptoms — should consult their GP. They should also contact the Alzheimer’s Society and Carers Trust. “Both are experts in the condition and they can give you advice, help and support to ensure that you are not on your own,” says Rippon. “There’s a whole network out there — so tap into it and use it.”

Angela RipponBroadcaster, Journalist and Alzheimer’s Ambassador

ANGELA RIPPON: DEMENTIA AFFECTS CARERS TOO

TONY GREENWAY

[email protected]

■ Question: Is dementia

receiving the attention that

it deserves?

■ Answer: It’s starting to —

and it should, because many of

us have a close family member

or friend with the condition,

says Alzheimer’s Society

ambassador, Angela Rippon.

alzheimers.org.uk

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Esmond Saqui returned from Spain to care for his elderly mum when she was diagnosed with advanced dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease and could no longer care for herself.

His mum Melita, 90, was living in an almshouse until two years ago, but when her condition began to gradually grow worse, Saqui decid-ed it was time to return to the UK after 28 years away.

“I was ringing her from Spain to help her take her medication and fly-ing back every two months to see her, but in the end I decided I needed to come home. She could no longer take care of herself and was burning pans and forgetting things, so I decided that I needed to come home to take care of her,” said Saqui, 64.

He rented a bungalow in Great Cheverell, near Devizes, Wiltshire and moved his mum in with him and is now her full-time carer. He cooks, cleans and helps her in and out of the bath.

Life-changing moveThe thought of becoming a carer or retiring had never crossed Saqui mind. He had worked in the food and wine industry and was enjoying the role. He initially found the care system difficult to navigate, having

lived out of the country for such a long time.

“I was really out of touch with how to get some help. Sometimes you don’t know what exists until you find it, so finding help took some time,” he said.He also said it can be a little isolating where they live. Because they haven’t lived there very long, they haven’t es-tablished the sense of community they would have done had there been living there for many years.

“I sometimes get mum to do a lit-tle ironing, which is more for exer-cise, but she is quite fragile. I bought her a wheelchair so we can get out sometimes, weather permitting .The garden we have is very nice to sit out-side as well.

“The saddest thing is to have a con-versation as she doesn’t remember things. Occasionally I show her old photos and talk to her about them. She does enjoy and appreciate food,

so that is one thing that we can share in,” said Saqui.

Finding supportSaqui now receives help from a Car-ers Trust supported charity, Carer Support Wiltshire, along with a num-ber of other charities, which pro-vides funds for him to purchase res-pite care. This comes from an elderly neighbour, who although she is 80, knows his mum well and is able to sit with her, should he need to go out.

He said: “The main person who could help change the situation is your GP, as they are the person be-ing cared for is most in contact with. They could have information avail-able for carers in their surgeries or have a mailing list to help people make their contact with others.”

Support is key for those caring for loved ones

CASE STUDY PROVIDED

BY CARERS TRUST

Sick, injured and homeless pets have relied on us since 1897.

www.bluecross.org.uk

NEWS

SUPPORT NETWORKIt’s important to know where to find support to help you care for your loved onesPHOTO: THINKSTOCK

PHOTO: © CARERS TRUST. PHOTO IS POSED BY MODELS AND IS NOT OF NAMED INDIVIDUALSPHOTO: © CARERS TRUSTPHOTO: © CARERS TRUST

Page 8: Senior Life PDF

10 · seniorlifenews.co.uk A SUPPLEMENT BY MEDIAPLANET DISTRIBUTED WITHIN THE INDEPENDENT

A Will defines how you (the testator) would like your estate distributed after your death, and having a Will is as important now as it ever has been says Thomas Stansfield of the Society of Will Writers.

If you pass away without a Will this is known as dying intestate. If this happens your estate will pass according to a defined set of rules known as the law of intes-tacy. This may mean that your es-tate or a specific gift may not pass to those that you had intended or wished.

The Will, as a legal document, has many uses. It isn’t just about gifting. A will allows you to ap-point guardians for your (minor) children should anything happen to you. It also allows you to provide a structure for the upbringing of your children. Without this they may be taken into care.

If you support a charity and would you like to leave money for them, but worry that it will simply be consumed by administration, costs you might want to consider using professional trustees to man-age a trust fund to help set up pro-jects that will leave a lasting legacy.

You could also ensure that a disa-bled child, friend or relative is cared for. If you have family members or friends that you would like to leave

money to but worry that it will be frittered away your estate plan-ner can help you set aside money that can be put in trust, and given to them on attaining a specific age. It could also be drip fed to them as and when they need it.

All these thing can be done through a Will, without which there is no guarantee that your wishes will be carried out.

Don’t put it offMany put off writing a Will, or think that it is a task to consider at retire-ment but the truth is that no one knows when we will pass on and we need to ask ourselves whether we

can afford to overlook it.The probable answer is no. If you

have just purchased your first house, had your first child or if you are near-ing retirement, you all probably need a Will. No matter the size of your estate writing a Will, will give you peace of mind.

Common thoughts we hear are; “it wasn’t a morbid experience, as I had anticipated”, “I feel better knowing that my family will be pro-vided for”, or “I learned things that I didn’t ordinarily know”.

There is more to future plan-ning that simply making sure that you have a valid Will in place. You must consider the likely im-

plications of the decisions you make with your estate planning consultant, to ensure that they can be carried out realistically.

Other important factors to con-sider when having your Will draft-ed are that it is being done by a professional. This simply means someone that knows what they are doing as there are no qualifi-cations needed to be a Will writ-er. Having it done professionally though ensures that your estate can be dealt with according to your wishes as effectively as possible.

It is common knowledge that you could buy a DIY Will pack off off the high street. We at The So-

ciety of Will Writers don’t advise the public to write their own Will unless they appreciate the risk that it may be held invalid.

There are lots of reasons it could be held invalid. For instance; there are rules as to how it must be signed and witnessed in order that it will not fail when executed (the attestation process).

The purpose of this article is not to cause fear, but simply to make you aware of the pitfalls that some go-getters come across. The sad fact is that more often than not it is too late.

Future planningPlanning for the future isn’t simply about writing a Will leaving sim-ple gifts and defined cash amounts to your family and friends. There is more to it than that and any good professional will be able to assist with advice to give you the peace of mind you need, knowing that your family are going to be provided for when you are not around.

Planning for the future

THOMAS STANSFIELD

SOCIETY OF WILL WRITERS

Registered charity number 222377 (England and Wales); SC041079 (Scotland) 2014.174

020 7696 6915

[email protected]

www.mencap.org.uk/legacies

A gift for the futureMencap values and supports people with a learning disability and their families and carers to help them achieve what they want in life.

200 children born each week in England are likely to have a learning disability. Mencap provides high quality, flexible services in areas like education, leisure, employment, housing and personal support to ensure that we are there to support everyone that needs us throughout their lives.

Learning disability will always exist. You can transform lives with a single gift to Mencap in your will.

For a free information booklet, please contact Ruth on:

NEWS

BE PREPAREDWriting a Will can give you piece of mind that your estate will be left to those you care for PHOTO: THINKSTOCK

“No matter the size of your estate writing a Will, will give you peace of mind”

Page 9: Senior Life PDF

Each year the British Museum welcomes over 6 million visitors to be inspired by its collection of over 8 million objects, dating from over two million years ago to the present day.

Remember the British Museum in your Will, and you can help protect and conserve this astounding collection that will tell the story of human civilisation for generations to come.

For more information:

+44 (0)20 7323 8421

[email protected]

britishmuseum.org/legacy

Who will tell your story?

Statue of Ramesses II, the ‘Younger

Memnon’. From the Ramesseum, Thebes,

Egypt, 19th Dynasty, about 1250 BC.

HERE’S TO THOSE WHO CHANGED THE WORLD

Dr Elisabeth Svendsen MBE Founder of The Donkey Sanctuary

(by Mike Hollist)

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RETURN FORM TO:

THE DONKEY SANCTUARY Legacy Department (IS), Sidmouth, Devon EX10 0NU.

A charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales No. 264818

Name: Mr/Mrs/Miss

Address

Postcode

Email

www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk/legacy

WHAT WILL YOUR LEGACY BE?Help protect and care for abused donkeys by remembering us in your will.

To receive a copy of our Leaving a Legacy guide ‘Your questions answered’ or to speak directly with our Legacy Team please contact 01395 578222 [email protected]

of nationalspend

on cancer

Receivesjust

1%

CALL:01296 733011

eMAIL:[email protected]

GIVE:www.braintumourresearch.org/legacy

Remember Brain Tumour Researchin your Will and your gift will

leave a legacy of hope.

1 in 50people who die(under the age of 60)

die of abrain tumour

Registered charity number 1153487 Please tell us where you saw this advert when responding

Page 10: Senior Life PDF

The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), a charity registered in England and Wales (209603) and Scotland (SC037736). Charity number CHY 2678 in the Republic of Ireland.

If you would like to know more about helping the RNLI’s courageous crews with a gift in your Will, please contact Nicky Comber on 01202 663204 or email [email protected]

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A gift in your Will could save more children like Cordelia.Something to think about.When baby Cordelia was born with congenital heart disease,

her family was terrified she would die. But thanks to our

research, surgeons were able to use an advanced technique

to operate and save Cordelia’s life. Now she has grown to be

a happy, healthy 7-year-old with her whole life ahead of her.

Gifts in Wills are crucial in helping babies born with

congenital heart disease survive. They account for almost

half of the British Heart Foundation’s entire funding.

CALL 0800 955 55 55, VISIT BHF.ORG/THINK OR RETURN THE COUPON FOR MORE INFORMATION

X

Please send my FREE Guide to leaving a gift to the British Heart Foundation in my Will.

Title

First Name

Surname

Address

Postcode

Telephone

Return address: Sarah Dalling, FREEPOST

RRZJ-LCHX-EKCR, British Heart Foundation,

Hampstead Road, London NW1 7AW.

Registered charity in England and Wales (225971) and in Scotland (SC039426)

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