GrumbleSmiles

“Eat More Fruit & Veg 2”

Posted on June 22, 2014 by john graham

This is a continuation of the fruit and veg theme (click on the “EMFV” in the TAG CLOUD for the other posts).

My second easy to eat tip towards “Seven a Day” is baked beans. A can of them counts as two – the beans are one and the sauce another. Don’t eat the can unless you’re Desperate Dan !

Of course you won’t be able to have them for breakfast because “The Full English” is not so high up there on the healthy scale. Certainly not the three rashers of bacon and two sausage. Definitely not the black pudding. The hash browns are also a no-no and eggs are full of cholesterol.

I guess following up the beans with toast and Frank Coopers extra thick marmalade is also not recommended by my new-found health advisers.

“Stay healthy and lead a frugal and miserable life for longer” – could be a new Government slogan.

One other useful money-saving tip with beans, since the tins probably have a sell by date of 2050, would be to buy a years’ supply. Better still if you can find a “buy one, get one free” offer, buy two years supply. Perhaps if you are now more confident about your longer life you could take a calculated risk and invest in say ten years supply.

That should cost around £3,000 (half that for “buy one, get one free”). But think of the saving on inflation. Baked beans will no doubt be a lot more expensive in ten years time, especially when their healthy virtues have been fully appreciated.

Storage of all these cans might be a bit of a problem, but I have thought for that. Andy Warhol made cans of Campbell’s soup an iconic image, so why not decorate your lounge with tins of beans all around the walls. Save on wallpaper – save on decoration. Make chairs, sofas and tables out of the boxes of tins of beans. You could be featured on the “60 minute makeover” programme on TV, or “Grand Designs”.

And who knows, you could win the Turner prize for a new art installation!

Then again this blog could just be a bag of wind 🙂

Posted in HEALTH | Tagged "EMFV" | 1 Comment

“Eat More Fruit & Veg 1”

Posted on June 15, 2014 by john graham

Much has been written recently about the healthy virtues of eating more fruit and vegetables. “Five a Day” has been the slogan for the last few years, although all the evidence is that not many people manage to reach that goal. Now the latest Government advice is that “Seven a Day” would be a better target!

To read more on this subject, click on “EMFV” in the TAG CLOUD.

That’s quite a challenge, but let’s get started:-

An apple a day. Easy to do, easy to buy and does not deteriorate quickly, so a weekly shop will do. Could also be the saving of the Health Service, if an “apple a day keeps the doctor away”. There will be less pills taken and lower admissions to hospital.

Also no cooking involved so helps save the planet in terms of energy conservation. Several virtues into one.

Don’t peel the apple because the skin contains most of fibre and that’s good for you. However, be careful, if you no longer have your own teeth, you may have to chop the apple into little pieces so you will miss the “crunch” of the advertising campaign.

Oh, and don’t eat the Union Jack sticker 🙂

Eating more fruit is already beginning to transform my world.

See what vegetables can do in the next blog.

Posted in HEALTH | Tagged "EMFV" | 2 Comments

“Would you want to know?”

Posted on May 25, 2014 by john graham

Researchers in Italy believe they have found a simple blood test which can predict whether early moments of forgetfulness will turn into Alzheimer’s disease. It is based on detecting levels of free copper in the blood. The study found that people with high levels of free copper have a 50% chance of developing Alzheimer’s within four years.

This is all too late for the 800,000 dementia sufferers already living in Britain.

But could it help, hassle or horrify every other older person, who has a moment of forgetfulness:-

“Where did I put my car keys?”

“Which pocket did I leave my phone in?”

“What day is it today?”

“What did I go upstairs to get?”

Who hasn’t asked one of these questions from time to time?

The blood test won’t give you the answer but it may pose a lot more questions:-

“What is free copper?”

“Can I reduce it?”

“Can I avoid it altogether?”

“If I have a 50% probability of Alzheimer’s how do I prepare for the future?”:-

Blow all my money in the next four years?
Say goodbye to all my family and friends before I forget who they are?
Sell my house and move into residential care while I can still make my own decision?
Label everything in anticipation of the forgetful years to come?
Go off to Dignitas straight away or leave it for a while?

Or do none of the above, stop worrying and:-

Know that I will find my phone and car keys eventually.
If the day of the week is important, now I am retired, I can look at the top of the newspaper.
An whatever it was I went upstairs for, can’t be that important if I have forgotten it so quickly.

Oh, and there is at least 50% chance I have not got dementia!

Posted in HEALTH | Tagged Dementia | 1 Comment

“Food for thought”

Posted on May 18, 2014 by john graham

An interesting idea about food based on the use of hi-tech 3D printing aimed at producing mashed-up food in a visually appealing way to encourage older people to eat more.

An EU performance project – which is not exactly an altogether ringing endorsement – reduces foods to a puree so they are easier to eat, but then reconstructs them to look like their original shape in a more edible form.

Certainly, some older people have difficulty swallowing, particularly stroke victims, and for them this might be a welcome idea, particularly if it makes food more appetising.

The problem comes when we assume lots of older people need mashed up food, when their real reason for not eating is altogether different and remains unaddressed.

Loneliness and depression are two significant factors in older people losing their appetite. So are lack of fresh air and exercise, which must be a common sense reason why so many people in residential care homes have little appetite.

Equally, many older people with dementia need encouragement to eat. So too do people with arthritis or strokes who have difficulty holding a knife and fork. These are issues which do not need mashed up food, just a little care and attention and sometimes some personal support.

Hi-tech solutions are all very well, but cannot be a substitute for care and support.

1 Comment

“Age Friendly City Centres”

Posted on May 17, 2014 by john graham

This is a sequel to the last post “Age Unfriendly Cities”.

An Age Friendly City Centre would start from a different place. It would recognise that many older people have more disposable income and could be the big spenders of the Shirley Bassey years.

They would collect all the would be ” Miss Bassey’s ” in a chauffeur driven limousine directly from her front door. Or at least in an age friendly low step, slow stopping, conductor assisted, luxury seated senior citizen coach.

When she gets to the town centre, Miss Bassey’s first stop is at the senior accredited café, where all the ground floor and pavement front seat and tables are reserved for senior citizens and mothers, babies and very well behaved children. All other adults unaccompanied by a senior citizen must make their way upstairs. Children with attention deficit disorder have to play in the cage full of multi coloured plastic balls in the courtyard at the rear of the café.

The luxury toilets are spacious, staffed, clean as a whistle and perfumed with Chanel No 5, not disinfectant.

There is not time limit on how long you can stay in the café and drink refills are free. A meeter and greeter will introduce you to new friends if you have come alone and don’t want to sit on your own.

When you venture out to browse or buy something, you can ride free on the courtesy golf carts that will stop at any shop you like. All the age friendly shops have special easy to see illuminated signs to show they offer 10% discount to senior citizens. Mature shop assistants will also sit you down and explain things slowly, repeat things several times if necessary.

If you decide to buy something it can be delivered to the luxury coach pick up point or sent directly to your home.

If it is good enough for Shirley Bassey it’s good enough for me.

Tagged "Age Friendly" | 1 Comment

Internet Lifts Depression

Posted on May 11, 2014 by john graham

Very interesting research from the U.S.A. related to the internets impact on loneliness and depression amongst the elderly. It is often suggested that computers increase isolation, but this research contradicts that.

A study at Michigan State University of 3000 Americans over retirement age who spend time online, found that they were 30% less likely to suffer from depression. Using the internet enabled them to stay in touch with social networks and not be left feeling lonely.

Quite a powerful endorsement of how computers can help older people stay connected. Now the challenge is to make it easier for all older people to use computers without having to take a 10 week Digital Inclusion course. Touch screen barrier free, jargon free technology must be the next big step. No keyboards, no gigabytes, no passwords, no crashes —– just talk to the screen and hey presto !

A whole new connected world for older people to explore and enjoy.

Posted in HEALTH | 1 Comment

“Age Unfriendly Cities”

Posted on May 10, 2014 by john graham

Transport planners at Leeds University asked 60 and 70 year olds about their experience of visiting the city centre. They came up with some simple but fairly obvious answers.

Not enough public toilets was a common cry. Did they mention the poor reputation public toilets have these days? Lack of seats and benches was another. No mention of the chewing gum and empty lager cans though?

Important as these things are, I doubt they tell the whole story. There are plenty of Starbucks, Costa Coffee, Café Nero, Cappuccino Heaven Coffee Bars with seats and toilets if all you want is a sit-down and a …………

It is the image of many city centres that has changed. Hustle and bustle; get in, buy one get one free and get out; clothes shops full of clothes for the young; technology shops with assistants whose sales patter about gigabytes will lose you in a nanosecond.

Then there are the pick-pockets and street muggers – real or imagined – who will be off with your handbag in a heartbeat.

Oh and of course there is the problem of getting there in the first place. Even with the free bus pass – will the bus stop be long enough for me to get on and get sat down. If I manage to get on, will I manage to get off? Bus drivers’ timetables were not scheduled by an old person and there are no conductors to help you on and off any more.

If you still have your own car, you have to negotiate multi-storey car packs with endless wind ramps, tight turns, tiny parking spaces, and finally incomprehensible ticket machines.

Now they wonder why older people don’t go into town centres so much any more!

Tagged "Age Friendly" | 2 Comments

My Garden Age – Apple Tree

Posted on April 27, 2014 by john graham

Not to be outdone by the spring flowers, (see my last post) the cox’s apple tree is just breaking into bloom , waking from its winter slumber. How many more years will this grandfather of the garden continue to deliver his bounteous harvest ? “At least one” says the white/pink blossom. Soon to be confetti at the new garden year wedding.

But look more closely and another old friend is back again 🙂 Mr Robin is home again in the apple- flowered branches, singing his early morning call before starting to build another years nest.

Welcome back, you ever cheerful garden companion. That bright red breast is the final colour confirmation that spring has surely arrived.

Posted in SMILES | Tagged "My Garden Age" | 1 Comment

My Garden Age – Spring Flowers

Posted on April 20, 2014 by john graham

Spring just has to be one of the best times of the year in the garden. After the hibernation of colour through the winter months the daffodils in February/March herald the beginning of a rainbow. Now by April/May the picture of a new garden year really starts to unfold.

Starting out on retirement should not be a closing down. We need to change the perception of later life to set it as a new spring. Building on the colour and experience of our earlier life. Society needs to see it that way too —- a new garden age.

Tulips in a shady corner saying “look at us” and an early hosta just ahead of the slugs. Older people need to be allowed to bloom and be valued for the colour they bring to society.

Then the unbeatable bluebells — a cacophony of SPRING ! It is also time for an orchestral celebration of age. A era of opportunity and contribution — mutual respect and support for each other. We should be proud of our elders and see them as a resource not a burden.

The pallet of tulip colour all prepared to paint the year ahead. Anticipate a generation who can help transform society for the better with voluntary effort and ageful wisdom.

Posted in SMILES | Tagged "My Garden Age" | 1 Comment

“Finding Hidden Treasure”

Posted on March 31, 2014 by john graham

This is a continuation of the series of blogs related to the Cheylesmore Good Neighbours Pilot Project and you can find all the posts on this project by clicking on Cheylesmore Good Neighbours in the Tag Cloud.

This blog begins to describe the experience of getting together a group of older people in Coventry.

At the first full group meeting, there were 20 people sat in groups of six tables. As a way of helping them to get to know each other better each group was asked to find an interesting fact about the people at their table.

This is what the very first person I talked to revealed:

She was in the RAF during the war in — 617 Squadron — the Dambusters. Her job was in signals and she decoded messages about all the bombing raids. One of the most famous and daring raids carried out in the Second World War and yet modestly she did not want to have her name mentioned.

The second lady sitting at the table initially said there was nothing interesting about her, but with a little bit of coaxing, she said she had always enjoyed dancing. Tap dancing, sequence dancing, ballroom dancing and line dancing. Oh ! and she had now a lot of Gold, Silver and Bronze medals. How’s that for nothing interesting?

Finally, at the first table was a lady whose son lives in Singapore. Rather challenging the image of older people staying at home and seldom going out, she had been to Singapore 10 times! She also Skype’s him regularly.

Not a bad start .

Posted in Cheylesmore Good Neighbours | Tagged Cheylesmore Good Neighbours | 2 Comments