GrumbleSmiles

This is a continuation of the CAFE Horizons survey.  ( Other posts in this series can be found either by clicking on “CAFE Project” in the Tag Cloud or by clicking on  “GrumbleSmiles Trust” in the Topics list).

Interestingly this is completely opposite to the question about wills.   Thinking about your funeral is not an easy or obvious thing to do and most people probably do or say little about it.  At least expressing some element of your wishes before you die would be helpful to others in preparing your funeral and reflecting your preferences.

Footnote:  A YouTube video giving advice about this could be helpful.

This is a continuation of the CAFE Horizons survey.  ( Other posts in this series can be found either by clicking on “CAFE Project” in the Tag Cloud or by clicking on  “GrumbleSmiles Trust” in the Topics list).

It’s good to know that people have made preparations for the future in this way.  It’s equally important to make sure that you’re affairs are left in a tidy order.

Footnote:  A YouTube video explaining some of the issues to be addressed in the event of a death could be a useful resource to have available.

This is a continuation of the CAFE Horizons survey.  ( Other posts in this series can be found either by clicking on “CAFE Project” in the Tag Cloud or by clicking on  “GrumbleSmiles Trust” in the Topics list).

Interestingly, in answer to this question, nobody said they hadn’t got a cluttered house but at least half of the respondents were happy with how things were.  Nonetheless the accumulation of a lifetime possessions can often be a concern to people in later life.  It’s also often difficult to part with things that hold so many precious memories.

However, the advent of TV programmes like Flog It or Under the Hammer, illustrate how things from our past which are no longer of use, can often be valuable in the eyes of other people.

Footnote:  The ability to sell some of these unwanted possessions on eBay might well give people the resource to spend on other things.

This is a continuation of the CAFE Horizons survey.  ( Other posts in this series can be found either by clicking on “CAFE Project” in the Tag Cloud or by clicking on  “GrumbleSmiles Trust” in the Topics list).

This question is already partly covered by the earlier question related to holidays and places in the world people would like to visit.  Beyond that this group no doubt have all sorts of other ambitions which they would to include in their “bucket list”.

At the ExtraCare Charitable Trust, we enabled people to loop the loop in a glider; to go ballooning; to go parachuting; to drive sports cars around Silverstone; to ride on an Harley Davidson; to drive a tank; to climb the Three Peaks challenge; to walk the length of Hadrian’s Wall; to go swimming with Sharks; to act in pantomimes with TV personalities; to perform on stage at Symphony Hall in Birmingham; to make a record; to hold an exhibition of parrot feather pictures; to abseil with one of the “Gladiators” and many, many more.  Not everybody wanted to do these extreme things but there were certainly inspired by the people who did.

Footnote:  It would be good to expand this question and see exactly what peoples’ ambitions are and how they might be fulfilled with the mutual support of other older people.  An APP that matches ambitions with offers of support would be useful.

This is a continuation of the CAFE Horizons survey.  ( Other posts in this series can be found either by clicking on “CAFE Project” in the Tag Cloud or by clicking on  “GrumbleSmiles Trust” in the Topics list).

This is an extremely positive result which is reflected in the success of organisations like the University of the Third Age.  Continuing education and personal development is a valuable opportunity in later life.

Footnote:  In an Age Friendly City perhaps more emphasis needs to be put on learning opportunities for older people.  An APP that identifies the current courses that are available, would be a useful start.

This is a continuation of the CAFE Horizons survey.  ( Other posts in this series can be found either by clicking on “CAFE Project” in the Tag Cloud or by clicking on  “GrumbleSmiles Trust” in the Topics list).

As age catches up with us you might expect more and more people to be answering “frequently” to this question.  To that extent it’s amazing that 14% of people never forget anything and pleasing to think that more than half of the group only occasionally forget things.

Footnote:  Nonetheless as forgetfulness is increasingly seen as a mark of old age, it must be important to harness the use of  already available technology to offer people a “reminder APP”.

This is a continuation of the CAFE Horizons survey.  ( Other posts in this series can be found either by clicking on “CAFE Project” in the Tag Cloud or by clicking on  “GrumbleSmiles Trust” in the Topics list).

With increased leisure time after retirement, many older people have the flexibility to book vacations.  The growth of SAGA on the basis of its specialist holidays for older people is a good example of how the grey market is developing  Almost two thirds of the group had a holiday planned in the year which means they had something to look forward to.

The significance of this question is that it shows that almost all of the participants have an aspirational place they would like to visit.  Whilst we didn’t ask where people wanted to go, not all of the destinations will necessarily be far away.  Helping people to fulfil these ambitions could be a life changing experience.

During my time at ExtraCare Charitable Trust, we sent people to the Commonwealth Games in Sydney; to walk on the Great Wall of China; to go swimming with Dolphins in Mexico; to go gambling in Las Vegas; to sing in a choir in Italy; to watch the Monaco Grand Prix; to fetch the first Beaujolais in France; learning to sail in Greece and to sail a Tall Ship from England across the Channel to Belgium.  Many more of our residents travelled abroad on their own volition.  These are not just trips of a lifetime but also a host of stories and photographs to discuss with family and friends for many years after.

This is a continuation of the CAFE Horizons survey.  ( Other posts in this series can be found either by clicking on “CAFE Project” in the Tag Cloud or by clicking on  “GrumbleSmiles Trust” in the Topics list).

Watching your grandchildren grow must be one of the most rewarding elements of later life and is most definitely something on the horizons of many older peoples’ lives.  In the past as members of an extended family, grandparents often played a key role in looking after grandchildren.  Whilst this is still an option for some grandparents with increased family mobility, it’s not always possible and family connections are more distant.

Nonetheless, grandchildren can be an important teaching resource in terms of enabling grandparents to connect with the computer age.

This is a series of graphs which show the results of our third CAFE group meeting held in the Welcome Centre, adjacent to Coventry University Technology Park, on Friday 21stJune 2013.   The focus of this survey was WEALTH and HORIZONS as perceived by the  “expert” group of older people.   It is representative only of their views of themselves and doesn’t purport to be typical of other groups of older people in Coventry.

The commentary on the graphs is entirely my own personal reflections.    ( Other posts in this series can be found either by clicking on “CAFE Project” in the Tag Cloud or by clicking on  “GrumbleSmiles Trust” in the Topics list).

The good news here is that within this group everyone has a positive view of the horizons in front of them.  63% of the group have a very positive view of the future.  This is quite a contrast with the stereo typical view of older people being a burden on society and not having much to look forward to.  Positive Mental Attitude must be one of the keys to a happier later life which is why it is important to remove as many of the barriers which can lead to negativity.