Foundations, the umbrella group for Home Improvement Agencies (HIAs), is inviting entries to their National Healthy Housing Awards.

These are replacing the annual HIA Awards, and the name reflects the fact that they are now more extensive in scope, recognising a diversity of contributions to keeping people living independently and safely in their own homes.

You can read more here

 

A new report from the Global Council on Brain Health, an independent international group working on brain health issues, has found that mental wellbeing is related to better brain health among older adults.

It can even reduce the risk of dementia and cognitive decline later in life.

And the good news is that it is never too late to take steps to improve the way we feel mentally and emotionally.

Read more here

 

...It's not just Telecare. 

Maggie Ellis, occupational therapist and past chairman of the British OT Association (now RCOT) and the European OT Committee, wants everyone to pay a lot more attention to what assistive technology could contribute to independent living.

She will be talking about the possibilities, as well as the considerable barriers to adoption, at Naidex later this month.

Read more here

 

A really interesting new showcase page on Independent Living for The Pool Lift Company. 

They do what it says on the tin: providing a range of access solutions so that people with impaired mobility can enjoy the therapeutic benefits of water. 

Whether it is an indoor or outdoor swimming pool, hot tub, Jacuzzi or therapy spa, there is a fixed or portable lift to suit.

See more on their showcase page

 

I come from a long line of procrastinators, and always find myself up against deadlines to get tasks completed, or just allowing annoying situations to drift along unchecked.

There are plenty of people in the same situation, even though most of us know how much better we feel when we do finally get one of those essential tasks completed.

The Cyber Aware campaign is trying to motivate us to do better (installing security updates and changing passwords also figure on the list of things we haven't got round to yet...)

Read top tips to stop procrastinating here

 

Long-term site subscriber, Terry Lifts, are launching a new fully enclosed ‘through the floor’ Home Lift this month.

It requires much less space than a conventional lift, with no shaft or structure required, and the footprint is so compact that it can be placed almost anywhere in the home.

More details here

 

Coming up next time, among other things, an update on personal wheelchair budgets, and what happened on Disabled Access Day

 

Don't forget that you can apply to join the Independent Living Facebook group, if you would like to spend more time discussing these themes with other interested people. 

There are various ways you can get in touch with us: email me; visit our Facebook page and leave a message there; or if it's short and sweet, Tweet!

Previous newsletters are archived here.

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Until next time, best wishes,

Frances