As an avid reader of Mature Times over the last few years and being a Senior Citizen, it is nice to know we are seen to be useful, by, for example, looking after grandchildren. But everyone seems to go on about how much longer we live and how much this costs.

Yet has anyone worked out the value of the contributions of all those people who paid into a state pension and didn’t quite make it, or survived only a couple of years? It must equate to a large amount. Are these people going to be forgotten?

Hopefully, this money goes to help the ones who survive to live a long and healthy life?

 

C. Paddock by email

Campaigns & Issues

Betrayal of the innocents: One third of authorities closing Day Centres

charleshExpert Warns a Return to Institutionalisation for the Learning Disabled. Charles Henley, ex-day centre manager and author of "Learning Disabilities:The Rise and Potential Demise of Structured Day Services for People with Learning Disabilities. 1955 – 2005", in response to news that one third of authorities are closing strucured support services such as day centres today warns that one-size-fits-all doctrines for the vulnerable will result in a return to the dreaded institutions of the 50's.

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News

Millions being lost to sophisticated new card fraud phone scam

pay your_wayA sophisticated type of fraud – where people are telephoned by fraudsters and duped into revealing their PIN and handing over their bank card to a courier – is on the rise.

Pay Your Way, the Payments Council’s education campaign, is working with The UK Cards Association and Financial Fraud Action UK, to raise awareness of how to avoid becoming a victim of this type of crime.

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Competitions & Fun

Win a bundle of Little Miss goodies including Little Miss Princess and the Very Special Party

Little miss_princess_bookHang out the union jack bunting, roll out the red carpet and sound the trumpets for the arrival of Little Miss Princess and her canine friend at this very British street party.

She made her debut in time for the Royal Wedding last year, now, to coincide with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations, she stars in Little Miss Princess and the Very Special Party.

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Reader Offers

You could win one of three superb weekend breaks in Silver Travel Advisor’s “Best of British” Diamond Jubilee celebration this month

STAhotel j_peg_169Silver Travel Advisor is a friendly website packed with advice, tips, information and honest reviews written by and for silver travellers (aged over 50).

A team of advisors are on hand to answer queries (for free), and you can share your own experiences too.

It’s time to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee this month with an amazing British prize draw:

Win a two night stay for two people at Flackley Ash Hotel , Rye, East Sussex

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Health & Wellbeing

New pill gives hope on strokes

The first one-a-day pill for patients with an irregular heartbeat has been given the green light for use on the NHS.

Rivaroxaban is as effective as warfarin - the popular 1950s drug based on rat poison - but has fewer side effects.

Doctors say 900,000 patients with atrial fibrillation, known as AF, could qualify for rivaroxaban - causing a change in stroke prevention options.

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Property & Finance

Falling Inflation Is Good News For UK Savers

Moneysupermarket.com logoThe announcement by The Bank of England that inflation has fallen to 3.0 per cent, from 3.5 per cent in April, is a welcome boost for UK savers as 46 saving accounts now on offer beat inflation, according to MoneySupermarket.com.

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Lifestyle

Learn how the internet can make life easier for you

Learning internetStocking up on the heavy grocery essentials was a full day out for Sheila, age 82. “I could see the advantages of doing the supermarket shop on the internet: having the groceries delivered, saving the taxi fare and not relying on others to shop for me if I’m ill,” said Sheila.

“But although I used the internet for emails, I didn’t really enjoy or trust it. My daughter suggested that Pearson Love to Learn’s Internet Basics online course might give me confidence and when she offered to try it out with me, I decided to give it a go.

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Travel & Leisure

Bletchley Park brings the 1940's to life

Bletchley Park_tea_ladiesThe World War Two Home Of The Codebreakers Goes Back In time With Its Annual Forties Family Festival

Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 May

Join in the family fun at Bletchley Park on for its annual ‘Forties Family Festival’. In 2011, the event attracted over 3,500 visitors and over 250 World War Two (WW2) re-enactors who had Bletchley Park teeming with Forties activity.

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I have received a copy of you paper from our Community Centre for the last two years and really look foreword to reading it.  Thank you!