< Previous50 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY CARING Caring for older relatives It’s becoming increasingly common now for elderly people to stay with their families, at least for the early years before their needs become too great. Transitioning to a carer role, even part-time, can be difficult, however. We lay out some ground rules and advice. LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 51 CARING O ne of the first things you need to do if you’re a carer is to tell your GP that you are caring for someone and ask them to mark it on your patient records. By understanding your circumstances, your GP will find it easier to offer the help and support you need. Don’t avoid speaking to your GP about any new symptoms or changes you’ve noticed. Ask your GP about health checks, immunisation and screening programmes that are available to carers and older people. They can help you protect and improve your health and sharing experiences and getting advice from other carers can be a lifeline. It is also vital to create a safe environment for your elderly 52 Á © stock.adobe.com/Rawpixel.com Securing your financial future: the benefits of re-mortgaging with Ringrose Law In times of financial uncertainty, many opt to fix their mortgage rates to prevent potential interest rate hikes. Ringrose Law is dedicated to ensuring a smooth re-mortgaging transition. Re- mortgaging can lead to significant monthly savings by securing better interest rates or adjusting the mortgage term to match your financial objectives, offering increased flexibility and peace of mind. Professional advice is crucial in navigating re-mortgaging complexities. A qualified mortgage broker, regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), will guide you towards the most beneficial deals. The process involves understanding your new mortgage offer, addressing lender queries, possibly arranging an insurance policy instead of conducting local searches, and obtaining a statement of account from your current lender. You will then sign the new mortgage deed, either in person or remotely, and we'll coordinate the completion date, ensuring the seamless repayment of your old mortgage and the release of any remaining funds to you. The final step is updating the Land Registry with your new mortgage details. Ringrose Law is committed to simplifying the re-mortgaging process, managing all aspects for you and offering fixed fee services for complete cost transparency. For expert advice, contact our conveyancing team today. Call 01522 561020 or visit your nearest office in Boston, Lincoln, Grantham, Sleaford, Grimsby and Newark. Amanda Finn, Head of the Residential Conveyancing Team in Lincoln52 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY CARING Ruckland Court Care Home Respite Offer Get 6 weeks for the price of 4 *Our respite care offer applies only to the first respite stay that you book. Our home has been newly refurbished with a charming bistro, welcoming pub, new lounge dining rooms and more. Call us today 01522 530217 www.countrycourtcare.com Ruckland Avenue, Lincoln, LN1 3TP or email rucklandcourt@countrycourtcare.com relatives if they are to live at home and one which encourages their independence and autonomy, but which also protects them as much as possible against risk of serious injury or harm. This is especially important if their mind is not what it once was or if the onset of Dementia/Alzheimer’s is prevalent. Creating a safe home environment without making it feel impersonal is not too difficult. Just walk around and look objectively at things like how/where medicines are stored. Ditto with matches, sharp objects or tools. Fit carbon monoxide and smoke detectors and regularly check batteries in them. Also consider fitting or placing fire extinguishers and have them inspected regularly. Look for trip hazards such as extension cords and any other clutter, and watch out for any worn carpets/rugs etc. Similarly, you might want to discreetly secure any bookshelves or large wall cabinets to prevent them tipping or being Anyone interested in fostering can contact Affinity Fostering on 01205 632532 or email them at info@affinityfostering.com LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 53 CARING Hundreds of children in Lincolnshire are in need of nurturing homes Could your spare room be the answer? Current data shows that one child enters the care system every 15 minutes in the UK. This startling statistic nestles itself next to another: there is a shortage of over 6,500 Foster Carers to care for these children. This is having a terrible impact on Lincolnshire children. BUT the good news is that there are very few barriers to becoming a Foster Carer. You can help if…. * You are over 21 * You have a spare bedroom * You have a secure tenancy/ landlord’s permission * You are able and willing to nurture a child Affinity Fostering supports you to support them The best fostering experiences happen when Foster Carers are supported by an excellent fostering team. This creates stable fostering households where children can thrive. Affinity Fostering provides: * 24/7/365 support and advice. * Competitive Fostering Allowance. * Children’s engagement team working closely with children. * Foster Carer Nurture Lead to mentor Foster Carers. * Robust matching of children and Foster Carers. * Integrated therapeutic service. * Summer Pot of Gold Scheme, offering all children in the household a sum of money to spend on a summer activity of their choice. * Support for birth children of Foster Carers. * Activity Days for children and Carers. * Regular support groups. * Current, relevant, and varied training and development. * A professional, passionate team offering a sense of family and belonging. accidentally pulled over. As unlikely as this may sound, it doesn’t hurt to be safe. In the kitchen, make sure appliances have an automatic shut-off feature, and keep an eye on your loved one’s lint screens and dryer ducts to ensure laundry equipment works safely when you’re not there. Likewise, in the bathroom, be sure to check that the bath and shower is fitted with grab rails and that there are no slip hazards such as worn rugs. This is by no means an exhaustive list of safety checks, but should help to get your mind in gear, looking out for things that we may take for granted on a day-to-day basis. Last but by no means least, one of the more difficult things to address with a loved one, is of course end of life care, but as that time approaches you will need to prepare yourself to talk with your loved one about the kind of treatment they would like to receive in such a scenario and where they would like to receive it. It may be that your loved one is no longer able to look after themselves, even with further support from you, in which case residential or nursing care may well be a timely, sensible and realistic option. It’s really important to get good advice about how to choose a care home, what to look for and, importantly, how much it might cost. You can speak to social services or © stock.adobe.com/Alexander Raths 54 Á54 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY CARING Age UK. Age UK has guides and information that can help you. Care homes welcome residents’ spouses, partners, relatives and friends and encourage them to continue to enjoy activities together. Tougher still is the reality that your caring role is coming to an end because the person you care for is at the end of their life. Many people want to die at home. Your GP can tell you what support could be available locally to enable this to happen. Marie Curie has useful information to help families appreciate what to expect and about making plans for caring for a loved one at home. It’s important that you get good information and support. Grieving is a very personal thing and each person experiences this in their own way and within their own time frame. If you feel you are not coping, you may find it helpful to contact a specialist organisation like Cruise Bereavement Care. We hope this advice is helpful, but as we cannot hope to cover every possible circumstance, here are a few more organisations that you may find helpful. © stock.adobe.com/Khunatorn Age UK National charity providing information, advice and services to older people at both a national and local level. Website: www.ageuk.org.uk Telephone: 0800 169 65 65 Alzheimer’s Society A support and research charity for people with Alzheimer’s or dementia and their carers. It provides information and support on all forms of dementia. Website: www.alzheimers.org.uk Telephone: 0300 222 11 22 Carers Trust We work to improve support, services and recognition for anyone living with the challenges of caring, unpaid, for a family member or friend who is ill, frail, disabled or has mental health or addiction problems. Website: www.carers.org Telephone: 0844 800 4361 Carers UK National charity that provides expert advice, information and support to carers, we connect carers so no-one has to care alone and we campaign with carers for lasting change. Website: www.carersuk.org Telephone: 0808 808 7777 Cruse Bereavement Care Offers information and counselling to people who have experienced the loss of someone close. Website: www.cruse.org.uk Telephone: 0844 477 9400 Marie Curie Offers information, advice and practical support to people living with any terminal illness and their families. Website: www.mariecurie.org.uk Telephone: 0800 090 2309 MIND A mental health charity providing advice and support. Website: www.mind.org.uk Telephone: 0300 123 3393 NHS Choices NHS website providing information and advice on NHS services, healthy living and a wide range of health conditions. Website: www.nhs.uk Revitalise A UK wide charity providing short breaks and holidays (respite care) for disabled people and carers. Website: www.revitalise.org.uk Telephone: 0303 303 0145 Stroke Association This service is aimed at people who have had a stroke and their family and friends. Website: www.stroke.org.uk Telephone: 0303 3033 100 Turn2us A UK wide charity that helps people in financial hardship to gain access to welfare benefits, charitable grants and support services. Website: www.turn2us.org.uk CARING Knights Care Group recently challenged themselves to raise £1,000 and complete 500 miles in May in aid of Dementia UK. Managing Director, Adam Knights, challenged himself to run 102 miles for Dementia UK, while Engagement Lead, Amy Meade, took on the challenge to walk 102 miles. The Knights Care Head Office Team sought to collectively walk/run 101 miles. Each Knights Care Care Home also took on the challenge, with staff and residents of each home being challenged to walk 32.5 miles in May. Exceeding original goals, overall Knights Care Group raised £4,506 and walked 740 miles in May for Dementia UK. Residents enjoyed completing their miles with walks to local cafes and they even enjoyed an ice cream or two throughout the challenge. The staff of the care homes also took on this challenge completing their own miles outside of work and arranging bake sales and coffee mornings to help fundraising efforts. “Dementia UK is a charity close to our hearts, and we took on this challenge so that we could do our part in ensuring no family has to face dementia alone,” Adam Knights, Managing Director, Knights Care Group said. Dementia UK is the specialist dementia nurse charity. Their nurses, called Admiral Nurses, provide life-changing care for families affected by all forms of dementia. For more information visit www.knightscare.co.uk or, to find out more about Dementia UK, visit www.dementiauk.org Local Care Group raises over £4,500 for Dementia UK A home for your loved ones Our team of compassionate and dedicated professionals provide a safe, comfortable and supportive environment ensuring all residents enjoy the highest quality of life. Book a visit to find our more of what we can offer: LADYSMITH CARE HOME Ladysmith Road, Grimsby North East Lincs. DN32 9ND 01472 254710 WWW.KNIGHTSCARE.COM A place where nothing is too much trouble, and everyone is treated with kindness, empathy and dignity LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 55Lamborghini, renowned for its supercars, has carved a new chapter in its legacy by introducing the Urus SE. This groundbreaking vehicle represents the first PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle) version of the Lamborghini Super SUV and debuted in the UK recently. Boasting a stunning design, refined aerodynamics, and cutting-edge onboard technology, the Urus SE stands as a testament to modern automotive engineering. At the core of the Urus SE lies a muscular hybrid powertrain, heralding a new era of performance, efficiency, emissions, and driving pleasure. The vehicle’s ‘two hearts’, thermal and electric, deliver unmatched torque and power in its category while achieving an impressive 80 per cent reduction in emissions. Delivering an unparalleled driving experience, the plug-in hybrid system amplifies the vehicle’s performance and dynamics. The re-engineered twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 engine produces 620 PS of clout and 800 Nm of driving torque, complemented by an electric powertrain generating an additional 192 PS and 483 Nm of torque. The result is a total output of 800 PS. This merger ensures an optimal power curve across all driving modes and surfaces. Pioneering 100 per cent electric four-wheel-drive capability, the Urus SE - New 2024 Lamborghini Urus SE THE FUTURE OF AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING 56 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY COUNTY MOTORINGhousing a 25.9-kWh lithium-ion battery beneath the load floor - can travel over 37 miles in EV mode. What’s more, with the ability to accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in just 3.4 seconds and on to a top speed of 194 mph, the Urus SE is a game-changer in the world of high-performance SUVs. But it’s not all about muscle and hybridisation; the interior of the Urus SE has undergone a significant refresh. It embraces Lamborghini’s distinguished “feel like a pilot” design DNA, integrates new solutions, and has a larger 12.3-inch screen at the heart of the dashboard. The Urus SE embodies the future of automotive engineering, demonstrating that high performance and sustainability can coexist harmoniously. It will hit the UK market later this year and cost more than £200,000. Fast Facts New 2024 Lamborghini Urus SE: Max speed: 194 mph 0-62 mph: 3.4 secs Fuel economy: 15.8 mpg (est.) Engine layout: 3996cc + electric Max. power (PS): 800 CO2: Below 50 g/km Price from: £211,000 (est.) LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 57 COUNTY MOTORING58 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY COUNTY MOTORING Exciting options New and exciting cars coming onto the market in the latter half of this year, some rarer than others. LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 59 COUNTY MOTORING Aston Martin Valiant Valiant continues a strong lineage of Aston Martins that deliver true driving intensity both on-road and on-track with the ultimate hypercar, Valkyrie, the brand’s most focused sports car, Vantage and its brother in speed, the Vantage GT3 race car and of course the upcoming mid-engine supercar, Valhalla. While both Valour and Valiant take inspiration from the brand’s iconic heritage in their design, they sit firmly in Aston Martin’s modern performance future delivering class leading power, driving dynamics and cutting-edge technology, ensuring Aston Martins appeal to true driving connoisseurs. With Valiant being designed with focused track-use in mind, driver comfort and safety are paramount. To this end Valiant features a built-in half-cage as-standard together with bespoke trimmed Recaro Podium seats. The steel half-cage provides the anchor point to allow 4-point race harnesses to be fitted to the car. Recaro Podium seats provide exceptional lateral and shoulder support, with innovative pads featuring passive thorax ventilation for increased comfort during extreme driving. Aston Martin Valiant Next >