March 2007: <<< back to Downloads
In this issue:
Momentum around issues of older people, their health and their role in the workforce is definitely building. On 23 April, a one day conference - AGEACTION - Changing Expectations of Life is to be hosted by the Institute for Ageing and Health at Newcastle University. The conference will be a unique bringing together of the work of expert sector panels in the areas of Medicine, Biology, Social Science, Technology and Finance with the aim of focusing on the opportunities that exist to improve health, independence and quality of life for Europe’s older citizens.
Of more immediate impact was another important and timely conference in London on February 27th. Developing a new mindset on age and retirement was jointly hosted by the TUC and CIPD and marked the launch of their new publication Managing Age - a guide to good employment practice.
Several hundred delegates from public and private sector employers, academic institutions and advisory bodies attended the conference with speakers including government minister, Alistair Darling; Brendan Barber, General Secretary of the TUC; and Trevor Phillips, Chair of the new Commission for Equality and Human Rights. Chaired by Joan Bakewell, the programme covered a wide-ranging and thought-provoking range of topics and provided a forum for debating what it will really take to dramatically change the culture of the UK workplace and abolish age discrimination.
Of particular interest were case studies from both large and small employers on how they have approached the challenge of managing and developing an ageing workforce. Perhaps the overall theme of the day was best summed up by Duncan Brown, Assistant Director General of the CIPD who stated ‘It’s easy to put the age and retirement issue into the ‘problem’ category when what it actually represents is a fantastic opportunity’. At in my prime, that echoes our sentiments entirely. And as in my primers we’re proud to be part of a new trend which we believe will ultimately result in a vastly different approach to ageing by society as a whole.
Bungee jumping, skydiving, abseiling, and swimming with sharks are just some of the adventures that the over 50's are enjoying on their holidays - but the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) warns at the same time of an upsurge in cases of over 50's needing consular assistance abroad.
Over 50's now represent 35% of all trips abroad and the new research from the FCO reveals that nearly 70% of over 50's say they are more adventurous with their trips now then ten years ago. Almost a fifth of those questioned have taken part in adventure activities like bungee jumping or abseiling on recent holidays, with 25% looking to swim with sharks. With that in mind the FCO is advising the over 50's to start making better preparations for their adventurous travels.
Cases of over 50's approaching Foreign Office consuls have increased over the last few years - from lost passports to cases seeking help with hospital costs due to a lack of travel insurance. The FCO believe the majority of the problems are due to over 50's not making proper preparations before they leave.
The FCO's advice to travellers is:
1. Take out travel insurance
2. Check medical requirements
3. Record important documents e.g. photocopy your passport
4. Research your destinations at www.fco.gov.uk/travel
These concerns have prompted the FCO to join forces with Lonely Planet to launch 'World Wise', an advice book aimed at older travellers.World Wise is available to download at the FCO website www.fco.gov.uk/travel
The opportunity to travel alone seems a very appealing prospect. You get to choose everything yourself – travel, hotel, activities, eating: the whole lot. And if you're reading this and nodding in agreement then you have my sympathies, but bear in mind the other man's grass and all that.Speaking as a veteran globetrotter who has travelled extensively in all manner and methods, whether for business or leisure, accompanied or alone, I can proclaim that holidaying alone is the toughest category of all.
The choice for a single traveller is either a dedicated singles holiday for people seeking new partners (which then excludes 'normal' couples and families) or there is the standard package where couples and families are the norm, and are therefore given priority. Where does that leave the single traveller? read more>>>
In case it slipped under your radar, this week (19 – 25 March) was Prostate Cancer Awareness Week when hundreds of individuals and groups across the UK joined forces with The Prostate Cancer Charity’s Real Man campaign.
So, why do we need to do something about prostate cancer? Quite simply because:
The simple message is that if you detect it early enough it can usually be treated successfully, so finding out about prostate cancer could save your life, or the life of someone you love. For more information see the Prostate Cancer Charity's new ‘Real Men do’ website
Thinking about changing your job? – Read our new fact sheet
If you’re looking for a new job, or thinking of doing so you may find that things aren’t quite as simple as they were –particularly if it’s been some years since you were last in this situation. Hopefully it’s something you actively want to do, perhaps you feel that it’s time to spread your wings and go for a more challenging and fulfilling post or possibly you’d like to get back into the workplace after a period of non-working or retirement. But maybe it’s a situation that you’re being forced into through redundancy or lack of prospects with your current employer.
Whatever the reason, three basic questions will no doubt be occupying your mind:
- What do I want to do?
- What do I believe I can do?
- What do I have to do in order to achieve my desired outcome?
They sound deceptively simple, but for many of us in mature years, they provide a tremendous challenge in terms of clarifying our thoughts, achieving focus and maintaining self-belief. These are things which we all know really should get easier as we get older. But… somehow they just don’t. To help you focus on how to go about we’ve produced a new fact sheet, Where next to work? The importance of ambition, aptitude and application. We hope you find it useful and would welcome your feedback on your experiences of job seeking in your prime.
New research has discovered that drinking a glass of purple grape juice each day could help to protect the body against heart disease and cancer. A scientific analysis of fruit juices at the University of Glasgow found that juice from purple grapes contained the highest and broadest range of polyphenols - naturally-occurring chemicals with positive antioxidant properties. (Antioxidants are thought to protect the body from harmful free radicals linked to chronic diseases.)
Published in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, the study examined cloudy apple, pomegranate, cranberry, grapefruit, clear apple, pineapple, orange, tomato, red grape and white grape juice. The levels were said to vary "markedly" between the juices studied but other juices highlighted as having high antioxidant levels included cranberry and cloudy apple juice.
The Glasgow University findings follow the recent Kame project, which found a link between long-term fruit juice consumption and a reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease.
Join the lobby for an end to age discrimination
Research has shown that Ageism is the most common form of discrimination in the UK. On 18 April, Help the Aged are holding a mass lobby in Westminster to press for the equal treatment of older people It will be an opportunity to campaign for an end to age discrimination and to seek to ensure that the rights of older people are protected in UK law. All are welcome to participate.
This event falls within the window of opportunity for members of the public to lobby the UK government on their new proposals on discrimination before the final set of laws are drawn up for the Single Equalities Bill.
The mass lobby will begin at 11.30 a.m. with training on how to lobby effectively followed by speeches and information about the Just Equal treatment campaign. The lobby itself will begin at 2 p.m. when MPs will come across Parliament Square to meet with their constituents. Click here for more information.
The Good Non-Retirement Guide
Rosemary Brown, Kogan Page Ltd, 3rd edition, 2006
“Just as there are some people who become engaged within three hours of meeting and live happily ever after, there are others who without any apparent planning enjoy a totally fulfilled retirement, clearly relishing everything it has to offer. But for most of us life does not work like that. Important events require some preparation if we are to make the most of them, and arguably this is more true of retirement that of any other stage”.
This comprehensive guide is an indispensable mine of useful information dealing with all aspects of retirement from pensions, tax, wills and investments, to leisure activities, paid and unpaid work, health and holidays. 'Invaluable for those who want to take their retirement seriously' - Financial Times. Click here for more details of this and similar guides