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MEDIAPLANET TAKES FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR ALL CONTENT IN THIS INDEPENDENT SUPPLEMENT DISTRIBUTED WITHIN THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

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Live life to the full: Michael Parkinson on making the most of your golden years.fe to the full: Michael Parkinson on making the most of your golden years.

ENJOY YOUR RETIREMENT

5STEPS

Amanda Lamb talks Find your perfect place in the sun today

Home improvement The small changes that can make a big difference

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No.2/March ’10

2 · MARCH 2010 AN INDEPENDENT SUPPLEMENT DISTRIBUTED WITHIN THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

The golden influence

Retirement is far from the quiet autumn it once was, with the UK population aged 50 and over enjoying better health and enriched opportunities than ever before - and a diminishing of activity only if desired. Today, it is a time to be welcomed.

The power and impor-tance of the years after 50 have in some ways long been recognised but still often fail to be both acted upon and acknowledged, says

Janet Kiddle, founder of Steel Magno-lia, the marketing consultancy spe-cialising in the 50-plus market. The over-50 age group accounts, she says, for “at best” 10 per cent of marketing expenditure – a powerful symbol of the neglect often apportioned to the demographic.

“I set up Steel Magnolia when I had just turned 50 and, like many people my age, I was at a crossroads - do I stick with corporate life or do I start up on my own and be my own boss? I chose the latter and never looked back,” she says.

“Recognition of the power of this group is increasing but there are still barriers that need to be overcome,” says Janet. She points out that in atti-tudes to the over-50 age group, the chal-lenges are often “emotional” ones –

the negative stereotypes are wide-spread, she says. “Most important-ly, the marketing belief that is most widely held says if you have a brand with an ‘old’ profile, that is over 50, you have a dying brand -and I believe that this latter belief needs to be re-framed so that marketers see this as a positive opportunity.”

“Reframing” and reidentifying an ageing population in a positive light is a concept that mirrors much of the work being done elsewhere – and which by many accounts needs to be pushed even further, from care home reform to increased awareness of a range of factors from medical needs to social issues. A poll carried out for Help The Aged and Age Concern earlier this year revealed how six out of ten people think politicians are not doing enough to work together to improve the care and support system for older people.

And the progress already made in both campaigns and products says much about the potential power of the ageing population. In healthcare, Sir Michael Parkinson has energeti-

cally campaigned for the improve-ment of the provision and quality of care services after witnessing the sub-standard care endured by his mother. Meanwhile, the previous incarnation of the retirement home takes on a dy-namic new form in retirement villag-es, where activity is encouraged more than ever and where a wide range of levels of care is offered and where life can be whatever you wish to make it.

And in medicine and technology, progress continues apace to present a hefty challenge to the conventional hindrances that have so often stood in the way of the freedom of living. New developments in technology particu-larly ensure that independence is sus-tained, and gained, for longer than it ever has been – bringing with it all the privileges previously enjoyed.

There are now more reasons than ever why the years after 50 should be enjoyed and embraced. As Sir Michael Parkinson puts it – after a long and vig-orous working life, the experience of an active retirement brings endless “pleasures and rewards”.

“All that has surprised me about retirement is that it’s a busy time and I never seem to get a day off.”

Michael ParkinsonThe grandfather of chat talks nursing home care, enjoy-ing your retirement and growing old with dignity.

WE RECOMMEND

PAGE 06

Stay active, stay happy p. 091. How small changes can help keep you as mobile as possible.

A place in the sun p. 122. Amanda Lamb reveals her best tips for retiring abroad.

SENIOR LIVING, 2ND EDITION, MARCH 2010

Country Manager: Willem De GeerBusiness Developer: Darren ClarkeEditorial Manager: Danielle StaggLayout: Triin Voss

Responsible for this issueProject Manager: Elizabeth McCallionPhone: 02076654403E-mail: [email protected]

Distributed with: Sunday Telegraph, 28th March 2010. Print: Telegraph Media Group

Mediaplanet contact information: Phone: 02076654400Fax: 02076654419E-mail: [email protected]

We make our readers succeed!

Janet KiddleFounder of Steel Magnolia

Learn to adaptThe population of the UK is living longer than ever before,

accounting for a third of the adult population, 80 per cent of the coun-try’s wealth and 40 per cent of over-all consumer expenditure.

More than anything, says Jan-et Kiddle, it is very clear that to-day’s population of the over-50s is markedly different to that of twenty years ago. Those turning 50 today have had, and in retirement and later will continue to have, very different experience to earli-er generations.

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Question: What’s the best solution to living with both maximum support and enjoyment? Answer: Retirement villages offer both help when it’s needed – along with countless opportunities to socialise, explore and have fun.

Retired headteacher Jim Beaumont and his wife Betty, both 77, have spent the last 53 years of their lives in Leeds. But just over two years ago, they moved to North-ampton - and haven’t looked back.

An independent decisionBetty is in good health, though Jim has lived with a heart condition for the last 17 years which does restrict his activity. So why the move south?

“We have twin sons”, says Betty. “One lives in Belgium and one in Japan, so they are never going to be on our doorstep. In spite of the distance, we are a close fam-ily and they visit as often as they can. We also have our wonderful daughter Susan who has lived in the Northampton area for some time - it’s a long way for her to travel to see us in Leeds so we thought why don’t we move to be nearer to her and her family?”

A new lease of lifeThe Beaumonts have been in residence at their chosen new home of the North-

ampton branch of the retirement village Richmond Village since November 2007 and say that they still feel like they are on holiday, although they feel they’ve set-tled very quickly. “The friendliness of the staff has helped enormously,” says Betty. “Nothing is too much trouble for them.”

Retirement villages such as the Beau-monts’ offer varying levels of care from independent living to assisted living to a 24-hour care home, with a central core of services for use by all residents - such as a restaurant, a library, an IT room and so-cial nights and extensive grounds.

“Because of our daughter, Susan, we’ve had long associations with the Mid-lands”, says Jim. “So it wasn’t as if we felt like strangers when we got here and not so much of a wrench to leave Leeds. And we can still keep in touch with our friends in any case.”

After Susan noticed the new Richmond Village being built, she liked what she saw and discussed it with her twin brothers before putting it to their parents. They visited as a family while it was still a building site, says Jim – and liked what was offered.

The Beaumonts’ home comprises two larges bedrooms, one with en-suite bath-room; there’s also a separate wet room with a walk-in shower, a spacious living room and good-sized kitchen. There is also a wide entrance hall with extra storage in fitted cupboards. “It looks very stylish and yet it’s also very functional,” says Betty. “It’s nice to be the first people in to a new home and not have to worry about maintenance any more.”

An easy transitionThe Beaumonts found that most of their existing furniture worked well in their new apartment - one of their biggest ex-penses was the new curtains, says Betty. “I didn’t want to compromise on the quality and the window overlooking the gardens is very big. They are made of heavy cotton and fully lined. I used Rothwell’s, the company that Richmond Villages use themselves and I’m very pleased with the result.”

Broaden your social circleSocialising in retirement villages is in-tended to be as little or as much as resi-dents desire. The Beaumonts are partic-

ularly keen to take advantage of village life and involve themselves in many of the activities on offer - eating at the vil-lage restaurant at least once a week and regularly using the café . “It’s one of the best ways to meet up with the neigh-bours” says Betty. “That’s another thingwe like about living here. There is plenty of opportunity to socialise with people ofa similar outlook without having to trav-el very far.”

And despite the fact that Jim’s heartcondition means that he doesn’t real-ly drive any more, the Beaumonts feelless restricted than ever: “It’s not had such an impact on us here”, says Betty. “I can just go on any of the regular shop-ping runs on one of the two new peoplecarriers the village operates. Although what’s so nice about having my daughter around the corner now is that I often geta call saying ‘Mum, I’m off to the shops,can I get you anything?’ - those are the little things I love that would never havehappened if we had stayed in Leeds.”

Get the best of both worlds

EMILY DAVIES

[email protected]

CHANGE

“The friendliness of the staff has helped enormously”Jim and Betty Beaumont

INSPIRATION

EXPLORE ALL YOUR OPTIONSEXXPLPLPLLPLOROROROROROREEEEEE AAAAALLLLL

YOUR OPTIONS

1STEP

MARCH 2010 · 5AN INDEPENDENT SUPPLEMENT DISTRIBUTED WITHIN THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

ENJOYING THE MOMENTAssisted living is an ideal way to enjoy the benefits of life, without all the hassle.PHOTO: ISTOCKPHOTO.COM

FINDING THE RIGHT HOME

4

Location, location, location:

1Not just yours but those of your family and friends. You

might be still mobile but in the fu-ture that may change. Knowing friends and family are close can be very comforting.

Be prepared to downsize:

2You no longer need a family-sized home. Take advantage

of being able to live in a smaller home that needs less maintaining – and leaves you more time to do what you enjoy.

Future proof:

3Don’t just buy for now, buy for life so that you can settle down,

safe in the knowledge you won’t have to endure moving again soon. Con-sider what support you might need in the future – both domestic and care – and make sure it’s available.

Buy a lifestyle not just a home:

4It’s time to enjoy life. Choose a community or neighbour-

hood where there’s plenty of ‘your kind’ of activities.

PHOTO: ISTOCKPHOTO.COM

SUZANNE OSTLER

[email protected]


Be more dynamic than ever

Sir Michael Parkinson’s retire-ment has been, to put it mildly, a rather busy time. As well as his in-volvement with the Department of Health’s Dignity in Care initiative he has been writing his autobiogra-phy, touring Australia with his one-man show, becoming Chancellor of Nottingham Trent University and a member of the Council of the Royal College of Music – not so much keep-ing occupied as turning every cliche of retirement firmly on its head.

“My retirement has been much busier than I expected,” says Sir Michael, 74. “I imagined a time when I might put my feet up and only put them back on the ground when I needed a game of golf - this has not happened and to be frank if it had I doubt I would have enjoyed the experience. I don’t have any re-grets about leaving television and radio nor do I intend to stop appear-ing when I am tempted, as I have been with several ideas.”

It is, he says, very much a work-ing retirement – with a newfound element of freedom: “All I have giv-

en up is having to be in a certain place at a certain time for a certain number of weeks of the year: more of a blessing than a loss!

The pleasures and rewards of my retirement have been rather like the feeling you get after a vigorous workout in the gym and relax after-

wards with a gentle massage.”Sir Michael’s passionate involve-

ment with Dignity In Care was prompted by what he saw his moth-er endure during her care at home, in a nursing home and in a hospital.

“What I saw disturbed me,” says Sir Michael. “The home service was

patchy and often delivered by peo-ple who, while willing, seemed quite unable to deal with the require-ments of an old lady with dementia. The care in nursing homes was ade-quate but we found pills hidden un-der my mother’s bed and on one oc-casion she was dressed in someone else’s clothes, while on another she had been grotesquely made up by a visiting make-up artist, or so we were led to believe.”

It was, as Sir Michael points out, nothing deliberately or wilfully negligent but a lack of imagination and understanding of what was re-quired for a woman in her condi-tion. In his year as Dignity Am-bassador Sir Michael witnessed, he says, a system struggling to come to terms with the increasing problem of care of the elderly: his findings are now in a report published by the Department of Health.

“All that has surprised me about retirement is that it’s a busy time and I never seem to get a day off,” he says. “The best advice I can offer is to find something else to do - and to keep as fit as possible. Nothing rad-ical – it’s just plain common sense, which after all we are supposed to have in abundance in our twilight years.”

The best advice I can offer is to find something else to do - and to keep as fit as possible”

Sir Michael ParkinsonChancellor of Nottingham Trent University and a member of the Council of the Royal College of Music

EMILY DAVIES

[email protected]

Question: What has Sir Michael Parkinson’s experience of retirement been?

Answer: Far from giving up work, Sir Michael has embraced the opportunity to campaign, write – and tour Australia

STRIVE FOR QUALITYThose in care should not suffer the loss of their dignity, says Michael ParkinsonPHOTO: ISTOCKPHOTO.COM

INSPIRATION

FACTS

In April 2007 420,000 people in the

UK lived in care homes. This is a decline

of 49,000 people since 2000 and 84,000

since 1992.

199,000 (63%) of people aged 65

and over living in care homes are council

supported in England.

It is estimated that 35% of all council-

supported residents are required to find

third party payments to top up the rate

paid by the council.

In 2006, net spending by public au-

thorities in England on care services for

older people was £5.69 billion. Total pri-

vate payment is estimated to be £5.89 bil-

lion (including personal contributions to

services partly funded by the state).

In 2006, 150,000 older people were

purchasing care at home privately while

118,000 older people were purchasing

places in care homes privately (NB: figure

is for England).

What is important to know about private healthcare over 50?

!Private medical insurance can be far more affordable

than often realised. There are poli-cies with cover specifically de-signed for the over 50s starting from £12 per month. There’s a wide range available - from those that limit cover to certain conditions or hospital treatment only, to those that cover everything from diag-nostics to dentistry. It’s vital to be clear about what you buy and to speak to someone who can tailor your policy to meet your needs and your budget.

Why should people consider private healthcare if they have not done so previously?

!For many, retirement and the years leading up to it can be a

time to do more than ever before, from travelling to sport. And it’s not only serious medical problems that have an impact – minor prob-lems are sometimes the most diffi-cult to get treated promptly on the NHS and yet can have the greatest effect on the ability to live how you want.

Those who have never had or considered private medical insur-ance before tend to become more aware of its benefits once over the age of 50, precisely for the above reasons – in addition, there are many others at retirement age who may already appreciate and enjoy the benefits of private healthcare but who have to address the issue of finding cover for themselves as a result of having to come out of schemes previously paid for by their employers.

What are the chief benefits of private healthcare as a supple-ment to the NHS?

!Private medical insurance is designed to provide prompt

access to private treatment in com-fortable surroundings at a conven-ient time and place. It isn’t de-signed to cover accident and emer-gency treatment - an area that the NHS covers extremely well. Private healthcare supplements the NHS especially for non-life threatening conditions where NHS wait lists can be longer.

Q/A ON PRIVATE MEDICAL

INSURANCE

Graeme SainterHead of products, Saga Health

STRIVE FOR THE BEST

SSTRTRRRTRIVVIVIVIVIVEEEEEE FFOFOFOFOFORRR THE BEST

2STEP


Question: How can you main-tain mobility and all the independ-ence and experience it provides?

Answer: There are many aids and assistance that enable you to stay on the go, wherever you are.

The freedom of movement both in and out of the home is perhaps the free-dom most frequently taken for grant-ed earlier in life. The restrictions that sometimes arrive with age can be dis-tressing – but new research and devel-opments, from charity initiatives to highly sophisticated wheelchairs, mean that many of the traditional hin-drances to physical freedom and mo-bility are no longer the obstacles they once were.

The Motability Scheme, from the charity Motability, enables disabled people to obtain a car, powered wheel-chair or scooter simply by using their government-funded mobility allow-ances. Customers exchange their al-lowance for a freedom-granting pack-age, including a car, powered wheel-chair or scooter, insurance, servicing, tyres and breakdown cover. Adapta-tions and wheelchair accessible vehi-cles are also available.

Namik Ozturk, an artist from Hert-fordshire, is one of over 530,000 disa-bled people in the UK enjoying a brand new car and newly found independ-ence via the scheme. After suffering from heart disease for seven years, Namik’s life was saved by a heart trans-plant at Harefield Hospital - although the transplant saved his life, complica-tions from heart disease left with walk-ing and mobility issues. Now, thanks to his Motability car, Namik has re-gained his independence. “Motability has made a huge difference,” he says. “Before joining the scheme, it was dif-ficult to get around but now I am able to do a lot of things I was struggling to do before, such as taking the children to school or even going to the hospi-tal for regular appointments. Without Motability it would be very difficult to have a normal life and I would have to rely on other people’s support.”

“Disability shouldn’t hinder disa-bled people from making the most of what life has to offer,” says Dec-lan O’Mahony, director at Motability. “A reliable and suitable car can make a world of a difference in the lives of disabled people. It can determine whether they can live independently, find a job, attend school or college, see friends and family and take part in a range of other activities – and simply enjoy the benefits of freedom and in-dependence”.

Wheelchairs have also become more user-friendly and more afford-able than ever before, points out Jac-qui Jones, executive director of Mo-bility Choice, the charity responsible for the Mobility Roadshow which has been showcasing wheelchair-acces-sible and adapted vehicles for over 25 years: “The market has seen tremen-dous advances - new technologies have meant that conversions have be-come much more sophisticated and offer the wheelchair passenger, or in-deed driver, far more comfort, safety and accessibility options.”

Declan O’MahonyDirector of Motability

GET MOVING, STAY MOVING

EMILY DAVIES

[email protected]

NEWS

1/3 262 x 110mmTHIRD PAGEFULL WIDTH

SEE WHAT’S AVAILABLESSEEEEEEEE WHWHWHWHWHWHAATATATATAT’S’S’SAVAA AILAVV BLE

3STEP

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MARCH 2010 · 9AN INDEPENDENT SUPPLEMENT DISTRIBUTED WITHIN THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Maintaining mobility at home for as long as possible is vital for mind, body and soul. More than ever be-fore, there are aids and myriad forms of assistance that can support an ac-tive life – not simply enabling mobil-ity but enabling the freedom to enjoy life as you choose.

Stay activeKeeping mobile at home is the key to an independent life, says Michelle Mitchell, charity director of Help The Aged and Age Concern – and the foundation of mobility is keeping fit and healthy. “It is never too late to change your diet or take up some form of exercise to improve your suppleness, strength and stamina,” says Michelle. “Whatever your age, regular, safe and enjoyable physical activity is an essential part of main-taining a healthy way of life - there are many benefits, from strengthen-ing bones to making sure that your

heart and lungs stay in their best condition and you will feel better in-side and out.

Take small steps“You don’t have to try to become su-per-fit; it can just be a question of do-ing more of what you do already. Al-though if you do want to take up a new sport or activity, age should be no barrier. There is something for eve-ryone from walking, cycling or swim-ming to classes and clubs, including those especially for people with med-ical conditions such as heart disease and arthritis. If you don’t usually get much exercise it’s a good idea to start gently and then build up – and al-ways speak to your doctor first before starting exercise, even if you are not having medical treatment.”

Investigate your optionsA mobility aid could help – it’s cru-cial to find one that best suits you, to regain much of your independ-ence, points out Michelle. A walk-ing stick is the simplest mobility aid – this can be helpful if just one of your legs needs extra support but if both your legs need support, then you may need to use two walking sticks, a walking frame, a rollator, or a wheelchair.

Michelle MitchellCharity director of Help The Aged and Age ConcernTAKING IT EASY

Mobility aids can improve quality of life and ensure you can keep doing the things you lovePHOTO: ISTOCKPHOTO.COM

Keep it up at home

EMILY DAVIES

[email protected]

3

Modify your surroundings

1Bath lifts of varying designs make it easier to get in and out

of the bath. These consist of a seat or platform that can be raised or low-ered to support your weight and al-low you to sit in the bath to wash.

There are also baths with a door so you can enter without having to climb over the side. It’s possible to install a ‘wet room’ or level-access shower with a wall-attached seat to avoid standing.

Adapt your fixings

2A wall-mounted sink may al-low you to get closer and wash

more comfortably if you are a wheelchair user and can be set at the right height.

Find out what’s available

3“Hands-free” lavatories are available that include a wash-

ing and drying function while you are still seated.

Exercise and good health are the best starting point for stay-ing active in your own home.

BEST TIPS FOR STAYING

MOBILE IN YOUR BATHROOM



The UK has one of the oldest hous-ing stocks in Europe. Much of it has been around for 100 years and will have to survive another century to help meet the housing demands of our burgeoning population.

Out of the nation’s total of 26 mil-lion existing homes, nearly 8 million are non-decent in England alone and 6 million of those are in the private sector. Over many decades we’ve failed badly to maintain the fabric of our homes or improve their ener-gy efficiency and consequently they generate about one third of the na-tion’s total carbon emissions.

For the sake of the planet, we are faced with the colossal task of mak-ing all existing homes zero-carbon by 2050. So from now on we must se-riously consider the conservation as-pects of our homes and that means all improvements should be carried out against the background of ener-gy saving and water conservation.

It’s very important to know how your home is built so you can appre-ciate what requires to be done. Ed-wardian and Victorian properties, and other homes built before these

periods, need a different approach compared to homes built in subse-quent years up to the turn of last cen-tury.

One leading UK association has produced a substantial guidance on domestic refurbishment, highlight-ing the steps that householders liv-

ing in a whole range of different properties can take to improve the energy efficiency.

If you are planning a new kitchen or bathroom it’s essential to make sure that they incorporate every-thing that’s efficient not only to help reduce the levels of carbon emis-sions but also to save on running costs in the face of ever increasing utility bills. A high-tech heating and hot water system is crucial.

It’s only when your home has all the basic energy efficiency ingredi-ents taken care of that you can reap the benefits of renewable energy technologies, which can include so-lar thermal, photovoltaics, wind tur-bines and combined heat and power.

Photovoltaics and wind turbines can create the additional bonus of being able to generate electricity that’s surplus to your requirements and can be ‘sold’ to the national grid under the feed-in tariff terms that come into effect next month.

This incentive is aimed at small and medium-sized systems generat-ing up to 5MW of electricity. In very simple terms that means they will receive 41.3p per kWh for surplus en-ergy generated. This means that a normal 2.5 kW PV system could earn the homeowner in the region of £900 a year for an equipment investment of £15,000.

Know how to get the best from your home

MAKING CHANGES. Small alterations around the home can make your life easier, and your house more cost-efficient . PHOTO: ISTOCKPHOTO.COM

ANDREW LEECH

Director, National Home Improvement Council

Question: What is the current situation with housing in the UK and how can it be improved?

Answer: Many of the nation’s homes could be maintained bet-ter, saving costs and conserv-ing energy – knowledge of your home’s needs is key.

NEWS

UTILISE YOUR ASSETS

UTTILILLILISISSISISISEEEEEE YOYOYOYOYOYOUUURUR ASSETS

4STEP

FACTS: ENERGY-SAVING

With the exception of new homes

built in the last 10 years, less than 20

per cent of our homes are insulated to

the recommended standard, which is

270mm in lofts. And where there are cav-

ity walls, these also should be filled. New

interior insulation solutions are emerging

for homes without cavity walls.

If you live in a house with an inte-

gral garage this, too, can soak up heat

like a sponge so fit a door with all round

weatherproof seals and PU foam double-

skinned sections.

If you add together all the gaps

around doors and windows in the aver-

age semi-detached it can add up to a

hole the size of nine bricks. Therefore, it’s

crucial to have efficient draught proofing

and, better still and more permanent, is

to install modern, sealed exterior doors

and double-glazed windows with heat-

retaining glass.

Grow freedom and funGardening is one of the few activities that can provide the opportunity to be simul-taneously creative, produc-tive, mentally stimulated and active

Whether you want a garden with maximum display or simply some-thing neat and tidy, and whether you want something that grows with time or something that is more in-stantly pleasing – Age Concern and Help The Aged suggests first evaluat-ing what you most want.

Consider whether certain tools and mobility aids could support your effort. For instance, a trowel which is extra long or light enough to manage, or an arm support attached to a gar-den fork. It is also possible to reduce the amount of physical work neces-sary, for instance by bringing the soil to a height that suits you by creating raised beds.

Optimise accessibility and min-imise obstacles, Age Concern and Help The Aged point out, and bear in mind the issue of security in mind: hedges, fences and lighting can help to protect your home from intrud-ers but make sure garden tools are locked away in a shed or inside – they can be used by burglars to break into a home.

A garden can of course be enjoyed as much from inside as from outside - planting accordingly for visibili-ty from inside can be very reward-ing and wildlife can be encouraged through plants or a birdtable.

EMILY DAVIES

[email protected]

1/1 266 x 365 mm

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Seek the sun - and the fun

LIVING THE DREAMOur golden years offer as the perfect opportunity to set up home in the sunPHOTO: ISTOCKPHOTO.COM

Buying a property abroad when you retire can give you a whole new lease of life – says Amanda Lamb, property expert and presenter of A Place In The Sun. “A new country, a better climate, a different culture and new faces can bring excitement and vitality,” Aman-da points out. “Living in a warmer cli-mate also brings health benefits that you don’t get in damp, grey British cli-mate”.

Florida looks a good place to buy right now because Brits recognise a decent exchange rate coupled with market-bottom prices, says Amanda – but cautions that it is wise to check the process required by the US immi-gration system before embarking on anything.

Age Concern advise considering the advantages and disadvantages of moving abroad, including the reasons why you want to move, whether you will have to return to the UK frequent-ly to visit relatives or for medical ap-pointments, and the cost of living as well as the cost of property, including the effects of any fluctuation in the ex-

change rate. They also suggest visiting the country of your choice at different times during the year to feel the differ-ence in the climate across all seasons and to consider your daily life and its requirements: for example, if you use public transport, are there good trans-port links in your chosen area, and if

you had to give up driving, would you still be able to get around easily? Are there any different rights or responsi-bilities you may face, in law or social-ly? In regions where there are a high proportion of expatriates, voluntary associations may have been formed to assist new and existing non- nation-

als to settle that often provide support services in response to local needs - the British Consulate will normally have details of local activities.

Back in the EU, Amanda points out, the Euro/sterling exchange rate is edging back in our favour (helped by recent positive signs that unemploy-ment could be falling): should it hit 1.2 Euros to the pound then it will further boost interest as buyers move to bene-fit from the combination of depressed markets and a stronger pound.

Another popular destination is Cy-prus – certainly favoured by the 50,000 Brits who live on the island, says Amanda: “The sun-baked beaches and friendly locals, driving on the left and wide-use of English combined with a tax system that favours retirees, make it one of the most popular places to es-cape to from Britain”.

Cyprus has been experiencing some financial turbulence and prices have been affected by the plummet-ing pound/Euro exchange rate, but the good news for prospective buy-ers is that to counter this, many prop-erties in Cyprus (particularly new-builds) are being offered at discounts of up to 40 per cent, Amanda points out – and that there have been issues with title deeds there but your lawyer should check this for you.

“A new country, a better climate, a different culture and new faces can bring excitement and vitality.”Amanda LambProperty expert and TV Presenter

EMILY DAVIES

[email protected]

Question: Why do so many people choose to spend their retirement abroad?

Answer: From Florida to Cyprus, a warm climate, lower cost of living and higher quality of life create a tempting choice for many

NEWS

SEEK NEW SHORES

SESEEEEKEKKEKEKEK NNNNN NEEWEWEWEWEW SHORES

5STEP

FACTS

Figures published by the Foreign and

Commonwealth Office this month show

that nearly half (42 per cent) of British

people over 55 would like to move abroad

- and four in ten (38 per cent) are thinking

of upping sticks within the next five years.

There are four different options for buy-

ing abroad on retirement, depending on

your situation:

You sell your UK home, buy a cheap-

er property abroad and invest the bal-

ance for regular income;

You buy a home abroad but keep

your home in the UK (with no mortgage

on it) and let it out for rental income;

You sell your home in the UK and with

the proceeds buy a home abroad and a

buy-to-let, also abroad;

You sell your home in the UK and with

the proceeds purchase a buy-to-let in

the UK and a home abroad (with no mort-

gage on it).

!Source: A Place In The Sun/Amanda Lamb

MAKE THE MOST

OF MOVING

If you are considering retiring to Florida, talk through your visa op-tions with a qualified migration agent as the US immigration system is one of the most complex and there is no such thing as a retirement vi-sa there,” says Amanda Lamb. “For many Brits their best option of get-ting a green card is via an EB-5 visa, which requires you to invest a lot in government-approved schemes. “

Retiring abroad presents a bright future– and to make the most of the opportunities, preparation is all.

Researching as much as possible is the best way to ensure you’re prepared for an exciting change abroad

The single most important thing is to get independent legal advice, says Amanda. Get a good solicitor - ask for testimonials - and don’t be afraid to push back at any stage if you don’t understand or think something does not sound right.

“Another point to consider is the value of state pensions: in some non-EU countries like Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa your state pension will not be automatically updated with in-flation as the years pass and will be frozen,” she says. “In EU countries, the US and Turkey pensions are in-dex-linked to inflation.

You’ll also need to research the healthcare and benefits available to you in the country you’re head-ing for, points out Amanda: if you intend to split your retirement be-tween the UK and overseas anoth-er important consideration is tax-ation. A change to the definition of tax residency and domicile by HM Revenue & Customs made on 6th April last year means that people who previously fell outside the Brit-ish tax regime under the “90-day rule”, may now fall within the Brit-ish tax system. “Ask your account-ant what the most tax-efficient way of selling up in the UK and moving money is – you’d be amazed how much you can save simply by tim-ing it right and following a few bits of advice,” says Amanda.



The brilliance you deserve

Dentistry is fast-moving and more accessible and helpful than ever before with the provision of treatment in the UK and abroad – and smart technology and innovation that enables improvement for everyone.

The dazzling smile has be-come a holy grail - with modern dentistry pos-sessing a unique posi-tion bridging the medi-cally essential and the

cosmetic. And with innovation and research moving forward daily, healthy, attractive teeth are more ac-cessible than ever – regardless of age, says Dr Bela Batorfi, a dental surgeon based in London and Budapest.

An evolution in treatmentImplantation, Dr Batorfi points out, is now suitable for almost everyone and frequently has a life-changing impact. Furthermore, the latest de-velopments make them greatly ac-cessible. While most dental im-plants are made from titanium, which is biocompatible with the body there are also now zirconi-um dental implants aravailable for those who not wish to have metal implants.

Where additional surgical proce-dures are required for insertion in-to the bone to gain better stability, such as sinus lift surgery or bone augmentation (where synthetic bone grafting material is used), tech-niques and recovery are also now vastly improved. For instance, in

those who have been wearing den-tures for a long time and in whom bone has receded but who neverthe-less would like a fixed solution with dental implants, bone block surgery can be employed, where bone can be taken from the patient’s own chin or their hip. This provides hope partic-ularly for those who have previous-ly been rejected for dental implant procedures, says Dr Batorfi – and six months after the bone replacement it is possible to provide dental im-plants and crown or bridgework on top of the implants.

Dentures are the last possible resort – used ideally, Dr Bator-fi says, only if there is no possibil-ity of performing dental implant surgery or as an alternative for fi-nancial reasons. Dr Batorfi rarely ad-vises dentures at present, as with a minimum number of implants (for instance, four implants in the upper jaw and a minimum of two im-plants in the lower jaw) an overden-ture (an implant-retained denture) can instead be fitted which stays in place – it does not, he points out, wob-ble, nor need glue, and is great to eat and sleep with and only requires need to be taken out once a day to clean.

The rise in impressive improve-ments in dentistry has meant that

cosmetic dentistry is far more acces-sible and more effective than previ-ously.

Look after yourselfDr Batorfi highlights the importance of the quality of the raw materials – from the best and most aesthetical-ly-pleasing crow and bridge materi-als to the methods of tooth whiten-ing, such as Zoom. He points to the crucial role now played by compu-ter-aided design and computer-aided manufacture (known as CAD/CAM) technology in the dental laboratory, where crowns and bridges are now perfected by computerised image and tailored by design to patients’ own smiles using photos made prior to starting the treatment, ensuring an attractive but naturalistic effect.

The choice is wider than ever be-fore, empowering patients to make the most of their budget and maxim-ise the results - patients can choose from the latest technology such as zir-conium, full porcelain crowns such as those by Procera and as well as the now regularly found porcelain-fused metal crown/bridge. Tooth whiten-ing is always advised before the pros-thetic works to match the color of the whitened teeth to the crowns/bridges.

Dr Bela BatorfiDental surgeon

INNOVATION

PROFESSIONAL INSIGHT

Do your research

1When seeking any treat-ment abroad, it is vital to

check both the experience of the clinic itself and the quality and track record of the overall experi-ence in the country as a whole. For instance, some European-dentists have to spend six years in college and then four to five years working in dentistry before they are a fully qualified doctor and able to set up their own prac-tice.

Know before you go

2Check first how many pro-cedures a surgeon performs

Also, check what equipment a clinic has.

DR BATORFI’S TOP TIPS

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