MobHelp, Author at MobilityOffers.co.uk

Beware of Pension Scams.

MobHelp — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 01:42:03 +0000

If you have saved money into a pension scheme, you may be a target for unscrupulous companies or individuals. So how can you be certain to stay clear of a scam?

It is heart breaking to hear stories of older people who have been the victim of a pension scam. Some have literally lost all of their pension savings due to one unfortunate lapse of judgment. In most cases nothing can be done and all their money is lost forever.

With this in kind, here are some tips designed to help ensure your hard-earned pension savings are not taken away from you by scammers…

1. Cold callers should be a red flag.

If you are contacted out of the blue by someone who talks about pensions, beware! Legitimate companies never do this and will only contact you in response to an enquiry you raise. Government advice is to end the call immediately and alert the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

2. Watch out if you’re asked to access your pension pot before age 55.

Taking money out of your pension fund before you are 55 is rarely a good idea, apart from in a few special circumstances. (The two main ones are in the case of serious illness, and if you have a ‘protected retirement date’ in your pension plan, but these are very uncommon.) Most of the time, you will incur substantial charges and could face a hefty tax bill when taking money from your pot before 55.

3. Don’t be hurried.

Scammers often create a false sense of urgency in order to bamboozle people into handing over their money. Take your time, look into everything carefully, get independent advice, and never feel rushed to make a decision.

4. Carry out a check on any company you deal with.

Visit the Financial Conduct Authority’s Financial Services Register to check that anyone you deal with is FCA-authorised and has the suitable ‘permissions’ for activities they offer to carry out. If they are not authorised, you won’t have access to the Financial Ombudsman Service or the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.

If after checking the Register you feel confident in dealing with a company, contact them using the contact details listed on the Register. Many scammers pretend to be a firm on the Register, so using only the contact details on the Register will ensure you are dealing with the genuine firm.

5. Contact the government’s Pension Wise service if you need help.

This service offers ’free and impartial government guidance about your defined contribution pension options’ to anyone over 50. If you have a defined contribution (DC) scheme, such as a personal or workplace pension, contact them if you need some help to understand your options.

For more information, visit the Financial Conduct Authority’s ScamSmart website.

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Gardening with Restricted Mobility.

MobHelp — Thu, 29 Aug 2024 01:35:00 +0000

As avid watchers of Gardeners’ World every Friday evening, we have been pleased in recent years to see Monty and the team look at gardening with restricted mobility. It’s proof, if it were needed, that having mobility issues doesn’t mean an end to gardening.

It’s a trend seen elsewhere, too. Garden designers are increasingly focusing on designs that ensure access for everyone. Manufacturers are constantly bringing out new tools to make life easier for gardeners who require something to meet their individual needs. Also, a number of charities and other organisations offer support including Thrive, Arthritis Research UK and Assist UK.

Here’s our quick look at a few ways to maximise your enjoyment of gardening, followed by a link to a great source of further information.

Weeding while sitting down

Most weeds can be tackled with a long-handled fork, trowel or hoe. Weed pullers and grabbers can make things easier still. Obviously, lightweight versions are easiest to use, but there needn’t be a compromise on quality or performance. Manufacturers including Wilkinson Sword, Lasher and Pedigree Tools all have products to choose from. Long-handled tools also make light work of pruning, hedge trimming, raking and so on.

Raised beds

There is an initial investment in money and time to create raised beds, but of course the long-term advantage of better access will be very welcome.

Sowing seeds

One of the great joys of gardening is raising plants from seeds. This is of course very well suited to being done from a seated position. Set up a potting bench at a suitable height, or use existing garden furniture. Using a plastic compost tidy or washing up bowl will keep compost from spilling onto the floor, minimising mess and waste.

Narrow beds

If raised beds aren’t possible, simply reconfiguring your garden to feature narrow beds is a good alternative. The narrower the bed, the easier it is to access from a chair.

Container gardening

Like raised beds, containers bring the garden up to your level. But containers tend to be smaller and even easier to maintain. They can also be very cost effective. Recycle old buckets, plastic tubs, dustbins, wooden crates, saucepans, tyres, wheelbarrows and so on to create homes for your plants.

More information…

A great source of more information about gardening with restricted mobility is carryongardening.org.uk, which is all about helping people with all kinds of disabilities and challenges to carry on gardening.

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Keeping Fit in a COVID world.

MobHelp — Sat, 04 Jul 2020 01:37:00 +0000

Although gyms are opening up again post-lockdown, many older people in particular are wary of using them. Getting around in general is still restricted for lots of people. But you can of course do a lot at home to stay active, with benefits for your physical health and mental wellbeing.

The experts in fitness for older people recommend doing a mix of aerobic and strength exercise. There are excellent cardiovascular benefits from doing aerobic exercise. The usual advice for older adults is to aim for at least three hours of aerobic activity per week, mixing up moderate and vigorous exercise. What is classed as ‘moderate’ or ‘vigorous’ will of course depend on your health, mobility and current level of fitness.

Also known as ‘resistance’ exercise, strength training is increasingly seen as having positive benefits for older people. Experts suggest doing muscle-strengthening activities at least two days a week. Try to mix up exercises that target the legs, hips, arms, back, shoulders, chest and tummy.

So, let’s look at some examples of exercises that you can do, even if you can’t get out to a gym or organised exercise class. First of all, there’s walking. Yes, it’s as simple as that. Walking has been found to have multiple benefits, including reducing the risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes. If you are able to walk, even for just small distances and periods of time, do what you can.

Next – and this can be fun as well as beneficial – why not get dancing? You don’t need any organised groups to get dancing. Just put on suitable records or tune the radio into a music station and away you go.

If your mobility makes walking or dancing impossible, there are lots of great standing exercises to consider. There’s a great selection of exercises on the Age UK website to look at, including simple but beneficial chair squats and wall push-ups.

For more significant mobility restrictions, chair exercises are also of great benefit. Check out this selection of chair exercises on the NHS website and see if there’s something you would like to try.

Finally, a reminder to exercise safely:

Push yourself a bit but stop if you start to feel any pain or are lightheaded.
Get plenty of rest after exercise.
Stay hydrated.
Warm up and cool down.
If you haven’t exercised for a while, and especially if you have health conditions, consult your doctor before starting a new exercise lifestyle.

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