YORKS AND HUMBER OLDIES FIVE TIMES AS LIKELY TO EXERCISE TO IMPROVE THEIR SEX LIFE AS NORTH EAST NEIGHBOURS.

SAGA

PRESS RELEASE

September 30, 2011.

YORKS AND HUMBER OLDIES FIVE TIMES AS LIKELY TO EXERCISE TO IMPROVE THEIR SEX LIFE AS NORTH EAST NEIGHBOURS.

Five times as many older people in Yorkshire and Humberside use exercise to improve sex in later life compared to neighbouring North East of England.

That’s just one finding of an independently-conducted study commissioned by over-50s group Saga which also found that five times as many over-50s men compared to women say they’ve embarked on their exercise regime to improve their sex life.

The research, carried out the study in the run up to Older People’s Day on October 1, showed that over-50s are chasing improved fitness levels in later life, with the vast majority of older people citing health improvement or active-life extension as the main reason for pavement pounding and Wii Fit workouts – and Wii Fit has overtaken bowls as a way of staying in shape.

Around 38% of 50-somethings flex their muscles for between two and five hours a week – a level fitness experts say is likely to be life-enhancing – but more people put in the hours the older they get: 44% of 65 to 69-year-olds exercise for up to five hours, with the better-off are even more likely to put in the effort.

“It’s really beginning to dawn on the older generations that the now defunct default retirement age is not a count-down to the nursing home, but the start of the ‘bonus years’ – and to make the most of the opportunities in work and play, they need to have a decent standard of fitness: so more older people are spending more time exercising, and feeling the benefits on many fronts,” said Dr Ros Altmann, Director-General of Saga.

41% of 50 to 54-year-olds did no exercise or “less than an hour” a week compared to 30% of 65 to 69-year-olds; and while 38% of 50 to 54-year-olds did between two and five hours of exercise, 44% of 65 to 69-year-olds committed to the same level of exercise, with 62% doing between two and ten hours exercise a week.

But fitness for older people is not all about tea dances and bowls: one in 25 over-50s, and one in 50 aged 75 use Wii Fit as a way of keeping fit. More admit to using Wii Fit as a means of exercise than bowls, and is equivalent to those who jog.

Meanwhile, five times as many over-50s men compared to women say they’ve embarked on their exercise regime to improve their sex life.

But five times as many older people in Yorkshire and Humberside use exercise to improve their physical relationship compared to the neighbouring North East.

80% of Saga panellists say they are more conscious of the need to exercise and live a healthy lifestyle now than they were in their 30s. A quarter of women say they exercise more now than in their 30s.

Over-50s also believe maintaining their mental fitness is important - 99% agree that it is ‘very important’ or ‘important’ - and crossword puzzles, Sudoku, and TV quiz games were the most popular forms of mental exercises (60%, 40% and 36% respectively doing each). One-in-ten use electronic brain-training games.

Populus interviewed 10,483 Saga customers, all aged 50+, online between 12 September and 15 September 2011. Populus is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules; for more information see www.populus.co.uk.

Ends

For further information:

Saga Press Office
01303 771529.

www.saga.co.uk

Iain Macauley
im@pressrelations.co.uk
07788 978800

DR ROS ALTMANN, SAGA, CALLS FOR RING-FENCING OF GOVERNMENT £400M FOR RESPITE CARE AND MORE SUPPORT FOR CARERS.

DR ROS ALTMANN

DIRECTOR-GENERAL, SAGA

QUOTES

September 12, 2011.

PRINCESS ROYAL TRUST FOR CARERS STUDY: DR ROS ALTMANN, SAGA, CALLS FOR RING-FENCING OF GOVERNMENT £400M FOR RESPITE CARE AND MORE SUPPORT FOR CARERS.

Dr Ros Altmann, Director-General of over-50s organisation Saga, commenting on a study by The Princess Royal Trust for Carers, which says older carers are themselves suffering failing health because of their efforts.

“Saga frequently sees the impact of the caring burden on family carers.
We appreciate the strain - both physical and mental - that caring can place on families struggling to look after their loved ones. Indeed, we have set up a charity specifically to help provide much-needed respite care for older carers,” said Dr Ros Altmann, Saga Director-General and a trustee of the Saga Respite for Carers Trust.

"We urge the Government to take this issue more seriously and, in particular, we call on Ministers to ensure that the £400 million allocated for respite care a few months ago is properly ring-fenced for that purpose.

"Unpaid carers save billions of pounds for society, but they need more support and some respite can massively improve the quality of life of carers. The Report from the Princess Royal Trust highlights some big problems and, as our population of older people is set to vastly increase in coming years, its findings are quietly alarming.

“That so many older carers - some surveyed were reported to be 94 years of age - are reporting failing physical or mental health because of their commitment to loved ones is of absolutely no surprise to those in the frontline of care and those who are trying to drive care reform. It’s only going to become a bigger issue – the number of carers is expected to rise from 6 million to 9 million in the next 25 years.

“Carers need breaks. Respite care will allow carers to continue their
massively valuable role for as long as possible, and this could be achieved, at least in part, by ring-fencing the £400m Government has allocated for respite breaks - but the sad fact is that as it is not ring-fenced, carers are unlikely to see the whole benefit of this investment. This is something which the Government could and should act upon today.

“It is not in the nature of carers to complain, so it is vital that their friends and supporters persist in driving awareness of the plight of carers – and it is absolutely crucial that GPs are vigilant in overseeing the health of carers, doing everything possible to provide them with both screening and support. We also believe that GPs should be able to prescribe respite or even domiciliary care.

“The benefits associated with a trained and supported workforce to provide respite support and a care team to provide cover when the pressures of caring for a loved one become too great should not be underestimated in either social or financial terms.

“Unpaid carers receive minuscule financial support and benefits - yet they are amongst the hardest working people in society; many do not have the option ever to take a break of two weeks – or sometimes even two minutes.”

Ends

Further information:
Dr. Ros Altmann
Director-General, Saga
ros.altmann@saga.co.uk
www.saga.co.uk
07545 504513
Twitter @SagaRosAltmann

Saga Press Office

01303 771529.

Iain Macauley

im@pressrelations.co.uk

07788 978800

TREASURY COMMITTEE CALLS FOR CONSUMERS TO BE PROPERLY CONSIDERED BY THE BIG BANKS

DR ROS ALTMANN 
DIRECTOR-GENERAL, SAGA 
PRESS RELEASE 
  
August 24, 2011.

ABOUT TIME TOO - 
TREASURY COMMITTEE CALLS FOR CONSUMERS TO BE PROPERLY CONSIDERED BY THE BIG BANKS
 
 

• Payments council told to review decision to withdraw cheque guarantee cards and cheque abolition by stealth!

 
 

Saga, the over 50s organisation which has campaigned for the retention of cheques, welcomes recommendations for their future protection.  

The Treasury Select Committee has just released the full report of its inquiry into the decision of the UK Payments Council to abolish cheques by 2018. "The report is a damning indictment of how banks have tried to ride roughshod over the needs of ordinary citizens, especially older people, who simply cannot manage their money without using cheques – and underpins the view that the banks are simply out of touch," said Dr Ros Altmann, director general of the Saga Group. 
 
Saga research shows that more than 70% of over-65s disagreed with the abolition of cheques, and 18% of over-75s did not know how they would manage or definitely would not be able to pay all their bills without cheques.  They will all be delighted that a committee of MPs is standing up strongly for them.

Those who are housebound, disabled or who worry about carrying around large amounts of cash, rely on cheques to pay their bills and many of them have written to Saga pleading for a reversal of this decision. Older people often do not trust electronic cards and pin numbers and would be at risk if they have to give these to someone else to make payments. They manage their finances by the use of cheque books, to keep a record of their account balances and reconcile them regularly, something they’d be unable to do without a written payment record.

Small traders and charities often rely on cheques for payment of their bills or receiving donations. Grandparents send cheques for birthday or other gifts to their grandchildren and would not be able to do this any other way.  

“It is a shame that it took the might of the Treasury Select Committee to force a change of heart. It’s now crystal clear that the UK Payments Council - made up mostly of banks – needs representation from a much wider cross-section of society: those affected by banking policy, not just those affecting banking policy. continued Dr Altmann, 
 
"Saga is delighted to see the treasury select committee flexing it's muscle to protect bank customers.  It's also delighted with the further recommendations to consider the reintroduction of cheque guarantee cards, proper regulation of the UK payments council, parliamentary oversight of decisions regarding cheques and proper consumer representation on the UK payments council itself."


ENDS

LAW COMMISSION AND SOCIAL CARE: THERE’S ONLY SO MANY WAYS TO SAY “THERE’S NO MONEY FOR CARE”.

DR ROS ALTMANN

DIRECTOR-GENERAL, SAGA

PRESS RELEASE

May 12, 2011.

LAW COMMISSION AND SOCIAL CARE: THERE’S ONLY SO MANY WAYS TO SAY “THERE’S NO MONEY FOR CARE”.

A Law Commission report that says the social care system is “out-dated and flawed” has been welcomed by over-50s lifestyle organisation Saga, but labelled as simply highlighting a mess that everybody in care already knows about.

Dr Ros Altmann, Director-General of over-50s lifestyle organisation Saga, said the key is better quality of care in the home not “a home” – but adds the big issue is still the cost.

“There’s only so many ways we can say ‘there’s no money for care’. Savers aren’t saving for it, families aren’t planning for it, local authorities have next to no budget for it, and Government seems blind to it.

“The number of people in their 90s will treble in the next 20 years. Care will become a huge crisis. It will hobble families, cripple the economy and embarrass the Government of the time. The report is simply highlighting a mess that everybody in care already knows about.

“Sure, heads will roll in 20 or 25 years’ time, but by then literally millions of older people, their families and carers will have been forced to endure a final few years of no quality of life.

“The answer is simple and obvious: drive good quality domiciliary care, keep hospital beds available for the sick not the elderly, incentivise saving for later years. The findings and recommendations of the Dilnot Commission on the funding of care will be a vital influence upon the outcome, and the quality of life of millions.”

Ends

Further information:

Iain Macauley

im@pressrelations.co.uk

07788 978800

www.saga.co.uk