Tag: older people

Which? – We need a Pensions Dashboard

Which? is calling for the urgent introduction of a comprehensive pensions dashboard after an investigation exposed how the current system leaves workers struggling to track down and understand their retirement pots.

The consumer champion challenged 12 volunteers to track down key pieces of information about each of their 38 pension schemes, to see what difficulties they faced.

Of the volunteers, nine (75%) encountered gaps in their data, while only three (25%) were able to find all the requested information via paper statements, online accounts and phone calls.

Some volunteers struggled to find the value of their pension or projected entitlement under a defined benefit scheme. One was told by their provider that they had to wait 40 working days – almost two months – for a new statement to give the information.

Several participants discovered worrying errors. Among the top concerns consumers had was missing information – particularly when it came to pension charges and investment strategy, with some unable to find anything at all about either.

Which? also found that even where information was available, it wasn’t always correct.

One participant, 36, from London, had a shock when she started looking at her pension with her last employer, a US-based marketing agency using a UK payroll provider.

For a period of eight months, pension payments had been deducted from her salary, but neither this money nor any company contributions had found their way into her pension account – potentially breaking the law through non-payment of contributions.

Other volunteers found that pension company mergers and takeovers can add to the sense of confusion, with one having historic correspondence from three different providers for the same scheme. This was after her pension company was first taken over by another provider and then her employer switched its nominated firm.

The new research was published as Westminster debated the Pension Schemes Bill, which legislates for the introduction of a pensions dashboard.

In a separate survey, Which? asked more than 300 members across the UK whether they would use a pensions dashboard to manage their retirement and what they most wanted to see included in it.

More than three quarters (77%) said they would be likely to use the dashboard to find out about their pensions.

Among the top requests for inclusion on the dashboard was an update on the state pension, with nearly three quarters (74%) wanting to know how much they’d get at state pension age.

Almost two thirds (62%) were keen to have a projection of their future retirement income, while more than half (55%) wanted to know their current pension value and a similar number (54%) wanted to see charges.

Which? has long called for the introduction of a pensions dashboard to ensure that savers can see all their pensions in one place.

The consumer champion has pressed the government to ensure that a dashboard provides people with relevant information about all of their pension pots in one place – including the state pension. The dashboard must also publish key information such as charges and income projection figures, to ensure savers are equipped with the information they need to plan for their future.

The pensions dashboard project was first announced in the 2016 Budget and the government originally promised to ensure that it was designed, funded and launched by 2019. But a prototype version won’t probably be available until 2021 at the earliest.

Gareth Shaw, Head of Money at Which?, said: “A pensions dashboard could be a game changer for consumers who have struggled for too long with a complex, fragmented pensions system.

“For the millions of pension savers to get genuine benefit from a dashboard, the government must use this opportunity to ensure that it delivers all the information consumers need to see including their charges, income projection figures and state pension entitlement.”

Which?’s Pensions Planner checklist:

  • Get to grips with the basics: ask for an up-to-date statement if you haven’t had one in a while and make sure any online log-ins still work.
  • Update your details: if you haven’t updated your address since moving, your pension statements may end up with someone else.
  • Nominate a beneficiary: after your death, most pension schemes will allow anyone to inherit your pension.
  • Find lost savings: the Pensions Tracing Service is a free service that searches a database of more than 200,000 workplace and personal pension schemes.

More than two-thirds of all fire fatalities were over 50-years-old

MORE than two thirds of people who died as a result of fire in Scotland in the last five years were over 50-years-old, according to the latest statistics.

Figures also show that almost a third of all fire casualties for the same period were aged 60 or over.

The stark numbers are revealed as the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service launches a national Older People Month of Action, aimed at keeping Scotland’s most vulnerable and elderly residents safe in the home.

As part of this, firefighters are ready to offer potentially lifesaving Home Fire Safety Visits.

Between 2015 and 2019, 218 people sadly lost their lives due to often preventable fires in Scotland – 149 of whom were aged 50 or over.

And for the same period, there were a total 5,862 people who became casualties after being affected by fire or smoke – 1,600 of whom were more than 60 years old.

Now, SFRS is launching a wide-ranging appeal which will run through the month of March, and reaching out to families, friends and neighbours to help ensure that older people in Scotland’s communities remain safe from harm.

Assistant Chief Officer Ross Haggart is the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s Director of Prevention and Protection. He said: “It is heart breaking when a life is lost in any fire, particularly when they are often so preventable.

“It’s easy to think that fire won’t happen to you, but statistically there is potentially a house fire in Scotland every two hours.

“And it is clear to see that people who are around the age of 60 or over are most affected by serious house fires.

“As a service, we believe any fatality because of fire is one too many and our thoughts remain with every single person affected by such tragedy.

“While we will continue our prevention efforts across Scotland I think we all need to ask ourselves, is there more I could do?

“The time to take action is now.”

In 2018-19, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service visited almost 70,000 homes across Scotland to offer free Home Fire Safety Visits.

During these visits, which prioritise the homes of those deemed most vulnerable and at risk, SFRS can help spot possible fire hazards, sort out a fire escape plan and provide information about smoke, heat and carbon monoxide alarms.

Trained staff can also help by suggesting other agencies who can help make sure residents are safe and protected in the home.

ACO Haggart added: “We have dedicated personnel across Scotland – operational firefighters, community firefighters and community safety advocates – ready to offer potentially lifesaving Home Fire Safety Visits.

“If you are 60 or over please contact us now.  If you have a friend, relative or neighbour in this age group, talk to them about our free Home Fire Safety Visit service.

“You can even offer to contact us on their behalf.

“We want to reach every older person in Scotland – but we can’t do that without your help.

“Together we can prevent fires happening and protect older people across Scotland.”

Over 65s – tell us your meningitis story!

LEADING meningitis charity Meningitis Now is after your stories about the disease – if you are over 65-years-old.

As part of a new campaign to better understand the effect of the illness on older people, the charity is keen to hear from anyone in this age group who had meningitis after they turned 65. They also want to hear from the children or even grandchildren of people in this age group if they can tell their stories for them.

It is all part of a new strategy to try and reach as many people in the country as possible who have had the devastating disease and offer ongoing support. While most people usually associate meningitis with babies and students, older adults are also very vulnerable.

According to Meningitis Now CEO Dr Tom Nutt, many people in this age group don’t realise they are at risk from the disease. 

“When you have a baby you are told about meningitis and what to look out for, all the signs and symptoms,” he said.

“And then you get the same message when your children leave home for university or college when again they are in an at-risk group.

“But the third group who are more vulnerable to meningitis often don’t even know they are at risk – and that’s older adults.

“We realise that people in this age group are already having to deal with an increasing risk of different illnesses so we are just one of many – which makes it hard to get the message out.

“But meningitis can hit so fast and be so devastating we really believe it is worth older people, as well as their relatives and carers, being aware of the signs and symptoms of the disease and seeking urgent medical advice if concerned.”

As well as wanting older people to be aware about how the disease might affect them, Dr Nutt said Meningitis Now was keen to understand how the charity could best support them.

“We are looking for ways to reach more people who are affected by the disease so that we can offer them our support,” he said.

“As well as talking to them about the after-effects of meningitis we have lots of ways we can help them including with funds for things like therapies and specialist equipment.

“So, if you or anyone you know is in this age group and have had meningitis please get in touch and tell us your story – we would love to hear from you and we would also love to offer you our support.”

To share your meningitis story with Meningitis Now and help improve the charity’s support to older people please visit the website here: https://www.meningitisnow.org/support-us/news-centre/share-your-story/

Case Study

Barbara O’Meara, 75, thought she had caught a cold when she first started to feel ill aged 71 but what happened next was the start of a very scary journey. Her daughter, Lucy O’Meara, from Grimsby, told her story to Meningitis Now:

“We had been away on holiday and my partner and I got engaged. I rang my mother to tell her the news, she sounded very croaky on the phone but said she just had the start of a cold. I told her to rest up, and we exchanged texts. Everything seemed okay.

“Two days later we arrived home and that evening my mother’s friend rang to tell me she had been admitted to intensive care with a suspected stroke. Hospital was 1.5 hours away from our home, so we drove off after receiving the news at about 10pm.

“When we got to intensive care at Pilgrim Hospital in Boston, Lincolnshire, my mum was unresponsive apart from a few coughs and groans. We hadn’t been told it may be meningitis and I spent hours resting my head next to her on her pillow, hugging and talking to her.

“My brother arrived in the early hours from Bristol and the doctors then came to talk to us. They told us it was meningitis and the chances of her surviving were very low. That morning she was intubated and put into a coma. The next day there were no improvements, but she bit through her breathing tube so she had a tracheostomy fitted.

“Doctors tried to wake her but had no success – we were then told the likelihood was she would not survive and at best may be in a vegetative state for the rest of her life. A week and a half went by, and they managed to wake my mum. After two says she started to speak. The first thing she was look at my engagement ring and grin.

“Mum was moved on to a general ward where she suffered with hallucinations at night and was extremely distressed. She had to learn to walk again. Mum has been left completely deaf in one ear, but continues to live independently on her own. She works two days a week in a charity shop and is an inspiration to everyone who knows her.

“Mum has always led a healthy, active lifestyle and even now continues to walk her dog for miles every day. She never expected anything like this to ever happen to her”.

Don’t Sit Still!

Young at heart get active with chair-based exercise

Active Communities March 2019

Edinburgh Leisure’s Ageing Well programme, working in partnership with Steady Steps, an NHS community-based health referral programme, has launched a new chair-based exercise class in a new locality at the Queensferry Sports & Community Hub. 

Running every Monday, from 11.45 am – 1.00 pm, the class launched on Monday, 3rd February with eight people attending and more participants expected over the coming weeks.

The Ageing Well Project, run by Edinburgh Leisure in partnership with NHS Lothian, delivers a range of city-wide activities which support people to become, and remain, active in later life.

The emphasis is on meeting new people and making physical activity accessible and enjoyable. Each session is followed by refreshments and time for that all-important chat and a cuppa.

Steady Steps is run in partnership with NHS Lothian and delivers group exercise sessions to people who have had or are at risk of having a fall with the aim of preventing future falls and injury.

There is scientific evidence that the exercise used in the sessions help to increase endurance, strength, flexibility and balance. The classes are delivered in a safe environment and can be adapted so no exercise is too easy or difficult for any individual.

Michael McLaughlin, Specialist Health Instructor at Edinburgh Leisure said: “These classes will act as a pathway for those attending Steady Steps, so they have a class to continue on to.  It will mean that they don’t undo all the hard work they have put in when they have been attending the 16-week Steady Steps programme for 1.5 hours each week.

“We’re also hoping to welcome any other older adults in the community looking to be active.  No specialist equipment or workout gear is required.  Just wear lose, comfortable clothes and trainers or soft-soled shoes.  It’s such a great opportunity to make new friends too and of course, socialise over tea and biscuits afterwards.”

A donation of £2 is welcomed for the class.

Interested?  Just turn up at the Queensferry Sports & Community Hub, 30 Ashburnham Road, Queensferry, South Queensferry EH30 9JN

Kirk Loan residents celebrate walkable pathways

Corstorphine residents will be celebrating success later today with lunch in the residents lounge following the completion of a succesful partnership project.

Kirk Loan Residents Association have been working with Living Streets Scotland and the city council to get improvements made to local streets, enabling residents to walk more for everyday, local journeys.

Kate Joester, Project Coordinator (Walking Connects) explained:  “Living Streets Scotland worked alongside Kirk Loan residents to conduct a street audit, detailing the problems with the road.

“We then helped the residents’ group contact the correct councillors and other elected officials in order to work with the roads teams at Edinburgh Council, to help them understand the impact that the damaged pavements and lack of drop kerbs had on Kirk Loan residents.

“Edinburgh Council agreed that these concerns were valid, as the street had so many residents with mobility problems. Summer 2019 saw the council undertake and complete all the street repairs identified by the residents in their audit – the result being that many residents are now able to reach the local shops and bus stop, instead of feeling isolated in their accommodation.

“There is still some work that Kirk Loan residents would like to see done, such as shop fronts being more accessible for those who use wheelchairs and walkers.

“They are hopeful that, with the contacts they have made and the success they have had so far, they will be able to work with both the council and shop owners to make residents even more regular customers on St John’s Road, enriching the local community and encouraging a sense of belonging once more.”

Ditch yer auld baffies at Big Slipper Event!

Older residents in Edinburgh are being encouraged to trade in their old slippers for a brand new pair, free of charge.

Big slipper event!

As part of a community initiative in Leith, a ‘Big Slipper’ social day is taking place this Monday (18 November) at Easter Road stadium. Continue reading Ditch yer auld baffies at Big Slipper Event!