Senior Life PDF
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The document discusses challenges faced by elderly people such as dementia and mobility issues, highlighting the experiences of Sir Ian McKellen caring for his elderly stepmother. It also promotes the importance of planning for the future, such as making a will, and considering leaving donations to charities through legacy giving which can help organizations continue providing important services for elderly populations. The supplement aims to celebrate aging and embrace senior living by addressing some common issues faced in later life.
Senior Life PDF
- 1. A SUPPLEMENT BY MEDIAPLANET DISTRIBUTED WITHIN THE INDEPENDENT PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK SENIOR LIFE CAMPAIGNING FOR BETTER CARESir Ian McKellenhighlightstheneedforfurthersupportfortheelderly asheshareshisexperienceofcaringforhiselderlystepmother BEING PREPARED Making plans to support your loved ones HEALTH CHALLENGES Keeping healthy and active in later life A spotlight on seniorlifenews.co.uk
- 2. 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. Itis,however,goodtoenteryoursenioryearsequippedtodealwithsomeofthe challengesyoumayface. Enjoyinglifeinoursenioryears A ccording 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 challenges Ageing 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 ahead In 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 LIFE 2ND EDITION, DECEMBER 2014 Managing Director: Carl Soderblom Content and Production Manager: Faye Godfrey Business Developer: Alex Williams Responsible for this issue Project 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 FUTURE Why 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
- 3. SHE HAS HER MOTHER’S EYES, HER FATHER’S NOSE. SHE CAN INHERIT HER SMILE FROM YOU. LEAVE A GIFT THAT LIVES ON By 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 CONFIDENCE Speak 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 ©UNICEF/HQ12-1850/Bindra 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. ortorequestourLivingHimalayaspack,please callMariaDysoninoursupportercareteamon [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 ©MARTINHARVEY/WWF-CANON
- 4. 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 effective; while vis- cosupplementation — the artificial manufacture of joint fluid — can re- duce pain for people with arthritic knees,improve function and help car- tilage heal. Stem cells Moyes 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 beneficial to the sufferer. “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@patientuk Search ‘Arthritis’ on Patient.co.uk for Arthritis symptoms and more! Rheumatoid Arthritis About 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:Iscartilagedamageacommonprobleminolderpeople? Answer:Itis—butthelatestrestorativetreatmentscanbeincrediblyeffective. However,sufferersdoneedtobemadeawarethattheyareavailable... 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. Treatments Repairs 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. “Shewasentirelydependentonotherpeo- ple’shelp,”hesays.Aged100andstillliving 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.Hehighlightstheimportanceofknow- ingthatsupportisavailable.Hesayssome- times“youneedsomeonelikeabigorgan- isation to come along and say,‘It’s alright, there’s thingswe 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 proudsupporterofthecharityAgeUK. SirIan,75,hasnotonlyexperiencedlook- 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 probablyto tryand 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 otherpeople.Andthat’snotmuchfun,par- ticularlyfor someone like mewho’s single anddoesn’thavekids. “We all know some,and are aware that increasingly old people can be very isolat- ed,and if theydon’t have families close by thentheyneedafamilysubstitute.”That’s where charities such as Age UK come in. Readmoreonlineatageuk.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.com Telephone number: 0207 323 0040 31 Old Broad Street and The Wellington Hospital MERRY CHRISTMAS FromeveryoneatMediaplanet
- 5. 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 differently Yet 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 — onesyou have supported inyour lifetime, or ones that you or your family have benefitted from.” Christmas spirit The 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’saninvestmentforyourfamily’s future.Andwhat 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 LEGACY Leaving a donation in your Will can make a real difference for the future of a charity and the people that it helps PHOTO: THINKSTOCK Question: HowcomplicatedisittoleaveacharitabledonationinaWill? Answer: It’sveryeasy,butnotmanyofusdoit—yetcharities badlyneedfinancialsupportiftheyaretocontinue. “We want people to consider the role that charities play in their lifetime and imagine a world where those services weren’t available” Takecareof yourselfand yourlovedones thiswinter
- 6. 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 [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 visit www.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.
- 7. 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 ofsayingsaboutdementiaandsaid: ‘Whenmygranwasdiagnosedwith dementia,we all got it,because de- mentia is a team event.’Thatwas so perceptive,becauseitsumsupwhat dementia actually is.It affects eve- ryone — as well as the person with thecondition.” Rippon knows this only too well because her late mother,Edna,was diagnosed with dementia in 2004. It didn’t onlyrob 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 knowsomeonewho 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 others Rippon is a long-time supporter and ambassador of the Alzheimer’s So- ciety and co-chairs the Dementia Friendly Communities Champions GroupaspartofthePrimeMinister’s Challenge on Dementia.“When my mother was diagnosed,I did my job asajournalisttofindoutasmuchasI possiblycouldaboutthesymptoms,” she says.“But I’m more than aware thatmanypeoplewhosuddenlyfind themselves as carers of someone with dementia have no idea about it orwheretogotoforhelp. “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 whowillofferrespitetoacarer.Car- ersarealwaysattheforefrontofour minds—andjustasimportanttous asthepatients.” Many affected Rippon believes that dementia is nowstartingtoreceivetheattention it deserves from the government, broadcasters and the public.And so it should,she points out.According tofiguresfromtheAlzheimer’sSoci- ety,around23millionoftheUKpop- ulation have a close friend or family member with dementia. “It’s that biginthecommunity,”shesays.“We can’tignoreitanymore.” Anyone experiencing symptoms of dementia — or have a loved one experiencing symptoms — should consult their GP. They should also contacttheAlzheimer’sSocietyand Carers Trust. “Both are experts in the condition and theycan giveyou advice,help and support to ensure that you are not on your own,” says Rippon. “There’s a whole network outthere—sotapintoitanduseit.” Angela Rippon Broadcaster, 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 Will to Remember Save money on the cost of writing your Will The thought of choosing the right solicitor, the uncertain costs and having to make decisions about making your Will can be daunting. However, by using our Will to Remember voucher scheme, you can confidently choose a local solicitor from our list of approved solicitors and receive a discount of up to £150* off the cost of the planning and writing of your Will. Sign up today for your Will to Remember voucher call 0845 306 0898 or visit alzheimers.org.uk/willtoremember *Legal firms bear the cost of the £150 voucher. The voucher has no cost to Alzheimer’s Society *Will to Remember scheme operated in partnership with SFE Alzheimer’s Society Devon House, 58 St. Katharine’s Way, London E1W 1LB 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 helphertakehermedicationandfly- ingbackeverytwomonthstoseeher, but in the end I decided I needed to comehome.Shecouldnolongertake care of herself andwas burning pans and forgetting things, so I decided that I needed to come home to take careofher,”saidSaqui,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 move The thought of becoming a carer or retiring had never crossed Saqui mind. He had worked in the food andwineindustryandwasenjoying the role. He initially found the care system difficult to navigate, having lived out of the country for such a longtime. “Iwas reallyout of touchwith how togetsomehelp.Sometimesyoudon’t knowwhat exists until you find it,so findinghelptooksometime,”hesaid. He also said it can be a little isolating where theylive.Because theyhaven’t lived there very long,they haven’t es- tablished the sense of community theywould have done had there been livingthereformanyyears. “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 gardenwehaveisverynicetositout- sideaswell. “Thesaddestthingistohaveacon- 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, sothatisonethingthatwecanshare in,”saidSaqui. Finding support Saqui now receives help from a Car- ers Trust supported charity, Carer SupportWiltshire,alongwith 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 mumwell and is able to sit withher,shouldheneedtogoout. 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 maketheircontactwithothers.” 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 NETWORK It’s important to know where to find support to help you care for your loved ones PHOTO: THINKSTOCK PHOTO: © CARERS TRUST. PHOTO IS POSED BY MODELS AND IS NOT OF NAMED INDIVIDUALS PHOTO: © CARERS TRUSTPHOTO: © CARERS TRUST
- 8. 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 thatwill 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 andwhen theyneed it. All these thing can be done throughaWill,withoutwhichthere is no guarantee that your wishes willbecarriedout. Don’t put it off ManyputoffwritingaWill,orthink that it is a task to consider at retire- ment but the truth is that no one knowswhenwewillpassonandwe need to ask ourselves whether we can afford to overlook it. The probable answer is no.If you havejustpurchasedyourfirsthouse, hadyourfirstchildorifyouarenear- ing retirement, you all probably need a Will. No matter the size of your estate writing a Will,will give youpeaceofmind. Common thoughts we hear are; “it wasn’t a morbid experience, as I had anticipated”, “I feel better knowing that myfamilywill be pro- vided for”,or “I learned things that I didn’tordinarilyknow”. 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 dealtwith according toyour 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 simplyto makeyou aware of the pitfalls that some go- getters come across.The sad fact is thatmoreoftenthannotitistoolate. Future planning Planning 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 whenyouarenotaround. Planningforthefuture 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 future Mencap 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 PREPARED Writing 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”
- 9. 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) 0014_14_DS 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 national spend on cancer Receives just 1% CALL: 01296 733011 eMAIL: [email protected] GIVE: www.braintumourresearch.org/legacy Remember Brain Tumour Research in your Will and your gift will leave a legacy of hope. 1 in 50 people who die (under the age of 60) die of a brain tumour Registered charity number 1153487 Please tell us where you saw this advert when responding
- 10. 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] IS/12/14 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) IDS14