Alison decided it was time for living life to the full by swapping stability for excitement. From corporate office to exotic beaches…

What does ‘normal’ mean anyway?

“I gave up ‘normal life’ in a big corporation five years ago, after taking a Tantra journey and retraining as a sex coach. So pre-pandemic, my unusual normal was living in Hebden Bridge making a small living as a sex coach for one-to-one clients, and running events called The Sex Lectures in Manchester. I lived alone with no mortgage and had a fantastic group of friends. In 2019 I’d been to Bali and written a memoir which I was editing.

“I was living fairly comfortably and with a sense of stability. Excitingly, I had a writers residency in Sri Lanka lined up; I was already following my heart. As well as holding together financially, I had a small amount of savings for back-up.

While he was in love and thought he was ‘helping me’, I was dying of boredom, entrapped in conventional housewife mode

“At the end of 2019 I’d had a date with someone who was visiting the UK from Australia. He came back to visit in January 2020. I’d realised our hearts, minds, and personalities were incompatible, but as the first lockdown happened, he asked to stay. Overriding my instincts, I agreed.

“Although sex was a brilliant coping mechanism – as was my Tantra teacher’s advice about kindness and patience – by May I felt imprisoned in my own home with an older man who loved looking into the fire, telling repetitive yarns about bygone days in the marines and his childhood. While he was in love and thought he was ‘helping me’, I was dying of boredom, entrapped in conventional housewife mode.”

Taking a leap and travelling the world

“The pivotal moment during the pandemic for me to change my life was when a friend bailed me out of my metaphorical jail and took me to Corfu for a week. I came home, told the guy to leave, then decided it’d be better if I used this time to follow my instincts to live abroad in my fifties. So the ex turned into one of my two lodgers – both of whom are ex-lovers.

“My life looks so much better now; I’ve lived simply and cut down on spending. I went back to Corfu before heading to Italy for five months, to housesit with a friend I met on the beach. Unfortunately, I didn’t like the house or the location for the second winter lockdown, where I edited my memoir for the sixth time. I started an online Sensual Salon with a Tantric poet from Berlin: a speakeasy for sex-positive people to share experiences, vulnerability, and honesty. At the time, I was also on the teaching team for the UK Sexological Bodywork training in 2021.

“In spring, I moved to the Albanian riviera for three months. It was a revelation to be in an open country, and a time to enjoy living alone by the beach. From there I went back to Corfu for 90 days, before heading to Mexico for 90 days to work at a Tantra festival and live at the beach. I then lived in Oaxaca in an artist’s studio.

Read more: Reclaiming the rail. Why older people are interrailing and backpacking 

Living life on my terms

I’ve refused to let my attention be hijacked by the COVID narrative

“I’ve refused to let my attention be hijacked by the COVID narrative; I’ve ignored much of the news and just got on with creating what I wanted to create. I’ve lived life on my terms, which largely involved travelling when my 90-day visas ran out. And I’ve mostly been in the sunshine, learning to enjoy solitude.

“I’m becoming curious about living in intentional communities in the future. I’m currently here in a creative one in Colombia called Arte Sumapaz, as I would like to explore setting one up.”

Accepting losses

“The biggest loss is in the close friends I miss and the chances to be in relationship. While I am enjoying being single again and following my own path, I miss love, intimacy, kissing, being close.

I know my choices mean I’ll be something of a pleasure nomad for a while, so it’s hard to create something lasting

“I’ve had occasional erotic dalliances but as my body has changed and I discovered that sex is painful, then I’m wary. In the absence of a medical system to explore the prospect of HRT, my tantra and sex coach training mean that I can still have sensual choices in the moments of connection. I know my choices mean I’ll be something of a pleasure nomad for a while, so it’s hard to create something lasting. A brief foray into Tinder didn’t help.

“I’m in a sex positive community so emotionally-connected friendships – if not physical intimacy – has been a valuable constant. Although I’m alone, I rarely feel bereft. I’m flirting with polyamory knowing that when I’m back in the UK for the summer, there will be friends and former lovers that I can be intimate with, as well as new possibilities for love.”

Breaking even

“Financially, I’m just about breaking even with the rent, mentoring, and government grants of 2021. While there are no luxuries, I’m recognising that I’m in a fortunate position of living like a barefoot hippy while following ideas and impulses that – if I hadn’t broken out of the UK when I did – I’d have been a lot more vexed by restrictions.

“I haven’t touched a tax bracket in years which is a huge contrast to my successful corporate life. Letting go and becoming truly happy has a price, but when you make a living from teaching that involves touch, you’re unable to find the energy to create a new business beyond sex therapy and coaching.”

Appreciating the unknown

“Mentally, I’m mostly steady, though I have the occasional periods of homesickness, anxiety about the future, and regular outbreaks of ‘what the fuck am I doing with my life?’. Whenever I find myself in those natural moments of doubt, I acknowledge how grateful I am for my choices, the sunshine, and the freedom I’ve had in the last two years to live freely in beautiful places meeting like-minded people.

I know I need to go home at some point and do a bit of life admin, but for now, I’m enjoying Colombia and the discovery of a more beautiful world

“Having a spiritual practice, however patchy, allows me to feel a trust in this transition. I have no answers or certainty about the future, but the chance to experience this uncertainty in new places allows me to understand how much I value feeling safe, loved, and free.

“I know I need to go home at some point and do a bit of life admin, but for now, I’m enjoying Colombia and the discovery of a more beautiful world and myself; three years ago, I wouldn’t have imagined this was possible.”

Are you thinking of travelling abroad this year, or are you going play it safe with a staycation? Here’s our top tips for staycationing safely.

Carly Pepperell

Carly gets to do everything under the sun, including writing, editing, taking photos, creating stories, and swanning around at launches. She can down a glass of Prosecco without pausing for breath, and aims to be the youngest Pulitzer winner ever.

The post I’m over fifty and finally living life on my own terms appeared first on Silver Magazine.

Dr Max Gowland

Since 1900, the average life expectancy has risen from 47 to 79, with women living around two to three years longer than men. Improved hygiene combined with better nutrition are two significant contributing factors of longer life, alongside advances in medicine. Now that we’re living longer, we’re noticing some health changes as we age.

As we reach our fifties, we tend to notice a decline across a range of health areas. The four main areas we should turn our attention to include:

• Cardiovascular system
• Cognitive function
• Gut and immune health
• Body composition

Cardiovascular health

Our heart beats 100,000 times every day, pumping five litres of blood through 60,000 miles of capillaries. It’s an extraordinary organ, but one that is prone to disease as we age.

What happens?

Coronary Heart Disease is the most common problem we deal with, affecting around 7.6 million people in the UK alone. It occurs when the large coronary arteries of the heart become narrowed due to a build-up of atheroma, a complex fatty deposit that increases over time.

What causes it?

It is far more complex than just ‘eating too much cholesterol’. Around 80% of cholesterol found in a typical lipid panel blood test is a result of one’s tendency to produce it ‘endogenously’. In other words, the cholesterol is produced within the body rather than as a result of eating fatty foods.

Pain from this fatty plaque blockade can manifest itself as angina – chest pain caused by reduced blood flow to the heart muscles. If a full arterial blockage occurs, this can become a myocardial infarction, which is a type of heart attack.

Unfortunately, the biggest risk [to our hearts] is age itself.

Other risk factors of poor cardiovascular health include smoking, a poor diet, stress, obesity, and lack of activity. Unfortunately, the biggest risk is age itself.

How can we manage this?

Exercise is the magic silver bullet. Combined with healthy eating, this will ensure your heart will stay as healthy as it can be for as long as possible.

On the supplement front, Omega 3 fatty acids (which are found in fish oil and krill oil) contain the most important active ingredients: DHA and EPA. Both of these are essential for not only heart health, but vision and brain health, too.

These nutrients exist naturally in fish oil, though data from Public Health England (PHE) has shown that the average intake of oily fish is only a third of the daily recommendation.

Other supplements that can aide in good heart health include Thiamin (Vitamin B1) which has been proven to promote the normal functioning of the heart, and Vitamin K2. Vitamin K2 is known for its contribution towards bone strength, which is does by depositing calcium into the bone by ‘stealing’ that calcium from the inside of our arteries, which lessens the risk of heart disease caused by fatty plaques.

Cognitive function

The brain makes up 2% of our overall body weight, yet it requires 20% of the energy available to the whole body. It’s a nutrition-greedy organ composed primarily of fat.

What happens?

After the age of forty, our brains decline by around 5% every year. A lot of this damage is what scientists call ‘oxidative stress’. This is where reactive biochemicals from the energy-making processes in our bodies create damaging ‘free radicals’, which attack our cells.

According to the Prime Fifty White Paper Market Research (2014), most people interviewed said they were worried about their brain health and cognitive abilities as they aged. They were keen to avoid dementia, particularly the devastating Alzheimer’s disease which, as we know, robs us of the ability to think logically.

What causes it?

Alzheimer’s is caused by the presence of protein deposits that have become insoluble and disrupt the brain’s ability to function properly. Lack of quality sleep has also been shown to contribute to Alzheimer’s disease, so sleep is a massive priority as we age.

How can we manage this?

Exercise and good nutrition is the best way to stave off dementia, as well as quality sleep and a no smoking mindset. Staying mentally active and maintaining social interactions has also been shown to help with extending cognitive ability into older age.

Again, Omega 3 fish oil is a well-proven brain health supplement, but there are many other nutrients that support the same benefits. These include: iron, zinc, iodine, calcium, magnesium pantothenic acid, and co-enzyme Q10. It would be beneficial to find a UK-manufactured product which has been specifically formulated for brain health, to avoid buying all of these nutrients individually.

Gut health and immunity

Scientists are now In agreement that our gut plays a significant role in our overall health and wellbeing. One of the better-known gut health connections is the gut-brain axis of influence. The latest science is showing that our gut health influences many more aspects of our health, including our weight and body composition, our cardiovascular health, and more.

There are around 10 trillion human cells in our body, yet our gut and colon contain near 100 trillion bacteria cells, making us technically more bacteria than human! It’s easy to see how this huge amount of biochemical ‘soup’ has such an influence on our overall health.

What happens?

One of the issues with ageing is that we tend to exhibit what is called dysbiosis, which is where the balance between ‘good’ or healthy bacteria and ‘bad’ or pathogenic bacteria becomes out of balance. This makes the gut more prone to various issues such as IBS, constipation, and bloating. In turn, this can reduce the protection offered by our immune system. This is known as immune-senescence, which is when the immune system becomes less affective and is less able to protect us against infections.

What causes it?

Keeping our gut healthy is essential. With time, our gut tends to undergo structural changes which can give rise to constipation. Other factors that can influence our gut health and immunity include lack of exercise, not drinking enough, medications, poor diet, poor sleep health, stress, and perhaps most importantly, not eating enough fibre, which is so important for regularity.

PHE data shows clearly that the vast majority of older adults are not getting the recommended daily intake of many essential nutrients, which in turn will lead to a weakened immune system.

How can we manage this?

There are some gut and immunity supplements that have been formulated specifically for older adults. Typically, these products will contain all the important immunity vitamins and minerals, including Vitamins C, D, B6, B12, folate, copper, and selenium. Consuming these nutrients is key to keeping our immune systems healthy.

These supplements should also consist of a multi-strain probiotic blend of various live bacteria such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, usually in a protective hard-shelled capsule to ensure their safe and protected transit to the gut. There are some single strain products, but it has been shown that multi-strain products are by far the better supplement, as they are more effective in bringing bacterial diversity to the gut.

Immune attack explained

Weight and body composition

Most people will recognise that as we age, we tend to put on additional weight, which tends to be fat instead of muscle.

What causes it?

We tend to be less active as we grow up, thus burning less calories. We also have a slower metabolism, which means the calorie burning is much slower. Most of this is due to the aforementioned loss of muscle mass, as the muscle tissue is the key factor in burning calories. In short, the less muscle we have, the fewer calories we’re burning.

Another cause for weight gain is due to hormonal changes. For women, the menopause brings around the decline in oestrogen, progesterone, and sex hormones. For men, it’s all about their testosterone levels. Lower testosterone and growth hormones in men causes muscle loss, and encourages fat to be deposited more easily.

How can we manage it?

We have to exercise daily and ensure we eat healthily, while avoiding high calorie meals that are notoriously full of fat and sugar, and typically low on healthy micronutrients. It’s also fair to say that there is no quick fix. Ultra-low-calorie dieting is not advisable, despite its short-term effectiveness. Admittedly, weight loss is usually rapid during this fasting process, but in most cases the ‘diet rebound’ can cause even more weight gain as the body’s metabolism adjusts to the previous starvation diet.

There are also no magic supplements that can help. Don’t believe all you read in the press or on the internet. There are also large numbers of products advertising themselves as effective ‘fat burners’, but the science clearly tells us that these simply do not exist.

Things to take away

Whether it’s your cardiovascular health, your immunity, your gut health or your overall brain health, there is no mistaking that there are four basic pillars of health and longevity, that if managed well, will yield a long and healthy life.

1. Managing your nutrition

Manage your nutrition with a healthy, well-balanced diet with plenty of fruit and veg, protein and fibre too. Avoiding high sugar products and high sugar sodas is essential.

Supplements are also a useful addition to a normal diet to ensure that all the necessary vitamins and mineral requirements are met on a daily basis.

2. Incorporating regular exercise

Exercise is key. There are now so many high-calibre scientific articles on this subject, demonstrating the significant effect that regular exercise can have on all facets of your health, including your mental health too.

3. Establishing a sleep routine

We know from many sleep studies that lack of sleep is clearly linked to a raft of disease states, including cardiovascular disease and surprisingly cancers too. It’s also imperative for a healthy mind. Getting that eight hours every night is key.

4. Handling stress

We all have stress of various types in our lives and each time we feel stressed, a cascade of unhealthy biochemical effects occurs which can do long term harm to our health in general. Stress is known to exert negative effects on our cardiovascular health and of course our psychological wellbeing too.

Some manage stress better than others and if possible, you should find ways of dealing with stress as a failure to do so can produce negative consequences on our overall health and general wellbeing.

Carly Pepperell

Carly gets to do everything under the sun, including writing, editing, taking photos, creating stories, and swanning around at launches. She can down a glass of Prosecco without pausing for breath, and aims to be the youngest Pulitzer winner ever.

The post Four health changes we experience as we reach 50 appeared first on Silver Magazine.

We went along to see it at Brighton’s Theatre Royal, and our hands were red from the applause by the end. The play, the cast, and the fantastic breaking down of age barriers made for a riveting evening. Here’s our Private Lives review…

Breaking expectations

Patricia Hodge as Amanda and Nigel Havers as Elyot

If you’re looking for someone well-versed in Noel Coward’s fanatical plot to critique an adaptation, you’re in quite the wrong place. I honestly had no idea what to expect, though I didn’t imagine I’d laugh quite as much as I did. I was so pleasantly surprised with how well everything and everyone worked together.

We all love a middle-class comedy drama – Absolutely Fabulous is a household gem – but I did have a moment of ‘will this been an archaic, droll take on an overdone storyline?’ The answer, it turns out, is no. Thankfully, my suspicions were incorrect. From the physical design of the set to the absolutely incredible vocal notes from Patricia Hodge, the two hours spent watching this adaptation could not have been better spent.

Patricia Hodge as Amanda and Nigel Havers as Elyot

Despite being written almost a century ago, I found the sentiments of the storyline quite relatable to the modern era; it was ahead of its time. This adaptation cancelled out any of the potential risks of mediocrity or monotony that sometimes come with aged works of art. It was quite conceivable that this story could have been written recently.

The plotline was sometimes predictable, and it wasn’t completely unique, but it was a solid story that stuck to what it knew, and gave us more than we expected. There’s nothing quite as bad as going to see a film or TV show that has tried to out-perform every other member of its genre, and in doing so has lost all sense of what it set out to do.

Age is but a number

Dugald Bruce-Lockhart as Victor and Natalie Walter as Sibyl

The playing around of stereotypes made the storyline enjoyable, and the actors were so well cast. They played up to their character’s comedic tropes – the misogynist, the insecure new woman – in a way that allowed us to laugh at the people these tropes represent, rather than the perceived victims of the jokes.

In fact, the female characters were much more likeable than they are usually represented in these sorts of stories – generally shrill and scornful, unable to have a good time – and the strength in the portrayal of these characters made for enjoyable watching as the drama unfolded. It was hard to decide on a ‘villain’ and hate any of them; though Havers’ character was the playboy pig, the charm that Havers brought to the role made for unwitting likeability.

The cast played their parts so well, it seems foolish to imagine anyone else in these roles. Some talk online suggested that perhaps the cast could have been younger, but I heartily disagree. The cast members’ ages added a certain wisdom and authenticity to the roles that I just don’t think would have been present otherwise.

Patricia Hodge as Amanda and Nigel Havers as Elyot

The credibility these actors brought to the play made it relatable and original, which only adds to the humour of realising your ex-spouse is honeymooning with their new spouse in the hotel room next to yours.

While the first act laid the groundwork, the second act brought the drama. The bickering was so highly amusing, and the reactions that certain scenes got from the audience made it almost seem scripted. The unanimous gasp at the blatant sexism, the squeal of delight at a slap, the rambunctious chuckling… To be united as one laughing at a fantastically created production was the chicken soup for the soul we needed after the past two years.

Check the tour dates and locations here.

Carly Pepperell

Carly gets to do everything under the sun, including writing, editing, taking photos, creating stories, and swanning around at launches. She can down a glass of Prosecco without pausing for breath, and aims to be the youngest Pulitzer winner ever.

The post Noel Coward’s Private Lives: a review appeared first on Silver Magazine.

General Knowledge

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Carly Pepperell

Carly gets to do everything under the sun, including writing, editing, taking photos, creating stories, and swanning around at launches. She can down a glass of Prosecco without pausing for breath, and aims to be the youngest Pulitzer winner ever.

The post Silver general knowledge quiz No.2 appeared first on Silver Magazine.

FutureYou Cambridge’s Dr Max Gowland tells us everything we need to know about managing our musculoskeletal health, which includes our bones, muscles, and joints.

Dr Max Gowland

Muscle mass

What happens?

We tend to lose a significant amount of muscle mass as we age. Scientific data (Breen et al, 2007) shows that we lost around 1-2% of our muscle mass each year once we reach our mid-forties. This means that by the time we’re in our mid-sixties, we will have lost around 25% of our total body muscle.

This process is scientifically named ‘sarcopenia’, and it is a completely normal – albeit unhealthy – part of ageing. This muscles loss speeds up as we age, and can become a real health issue if we don’t do something about it.

To put this into perspective, recent clinical trials show that, when immobile for 28 days, a middle-aged person may lose around 400 grams of muscle tissue from their legs. This compares to a shocking kilogram of muscle being lost from a seventy-year-old’s legs when inactive for just three days. This shows how prone we are to losing valuable, healthy muscle tissue as we age, especially if we fail to exercise.

What causes it?

Many of us cease to exercise regularly once we reach 50, and this sedentary behaviour therefore gets worse, causing a reduction in muscle mass. Another factor affecting this is our intake – or lack thereof – of protein in our diet.

How can we manage it?

Muscle is largely protein-based in nature, and so it needs a daily influx to rebuild lost muscle protein. The latest science shows we need around 100 grams of high-quality protein per day in order to combat the accelerated loss of muscle as we age.

Exercise has been proven time and time again to significantly improve our overall health, so it’s important to incorporate regular activity into your routine.

Left: muscle mass of a 25-year-old
Right: muscle mass of a 63-year-old

Bone density

What happens?

Our bones encounter a significant loss of density – which equals strength – as we age. Our maximum bone strength occurs just after we reach 30 years old, so those of us who have failed to maximise our bone strength by this time will be more prone to problems later in life. Osteoporosis is loss of strength and bone density, as the bone becomes more porous.

What causes it?

Women are much more prone to losing bone density as they enter the menopause, as their oestrogen and progesterone levels fall quickly. Around 50% of women will suffer from osteoporosis at some time. Weakened or ‘brittle’ bones leads to a higher risk of fractures, particularly in the hips.

How can we manage it?

Avoiding low calorie diets is key – it’s important to consume plenty of protein and calcium. Partaking in weight-bearing exercises is also a good idea for building healthy bones. Vitamin D and collagen supplements are also recommended for strengthening our bones.

Bone density loss

Joint health

What happens?

Our joints play a significant part in what causes us pain and slow us down. According to NHS data, 50% of adults have already sought medical attention for a variety of joint problems. This is an area which can cause incapacitation in so many people, especially if the individuals struggle to keep their joints moving.

What causes it?

Our joints can sometimes be stiff and sore due to inflammation, which in turn can result in us becoming sedentary. In turn, if we fail to keep moving, we can enter the vicious cycle in which we fail to exercise enough, causing our joints to become worse. This can lead to losing healthy muscle tissue. There are people who give up on their joints and fail to stay active, leading to early onset frailty.

Our muscles require daily protein to just maintain existing muscle tissue – a failure to consume enough protein a day will speed up muscle decline.

How can we manage it?

Exercising is the key to maintaining our musculoskeletal health as we age. It is the ‘silver bullet’ to all-round health and wellness, but it does take some effort.

Ensuring we eat enough protein is key. One of the main problems with this is actually trying to eat enough protein. The recommended daily intake is 100 grams, which is the food equivalent of around four chicken breasts or 18 eggs. This is why supplementation is a good idea.

Osteoarthritis explained

Significant supplements

Supplements like these below from FutureYou Cambridge containing Vitamin D are also beneficial for muscle health, though we are virtually all failing to get enough Vitamin D from both our diet and sunlight at the moment.

Zinc and magnesium are also needed for protein synthesis, so these are worthwhile supplements to maximise your muscle health.

Carly Pepperell

Carly gets to do everything under the sun, including writing, editing, taking photos, creating stories, and swanning around at launches. She can down a glass of Prosecco without pausing for breath, and aims to be the youngest Pulitzer winner ever.

The post Managing our musculoskeletal health appeared first on Silver Magazine.

Rutger Bruining, founder of biography-writing service StoryTerrace, is this year urging families to swap reading books to children and instead share family history stories and anecdotes. Bruining strongly believes books can be a secret portal to the past, with a focus on sharing family stories.

Over a third of Brits say that they’ve learned more about their family history from discovering possessions and overhearing discussions than they get directly from their parents themselves.

It seems, however, that grandparents play a much more vital role in passing down history than may be obvious.

29 per cent of people believe that the history and heroes of their family line will become forgotten memories in the near future. And less than a quarter of people being aware of some family legacies.

So is it time to share the family stories?

Carly’s story

Spending time together

Carly and her Grandad

I can remember being very young, sat on my Grandad’s knee at the breakfast table each morning while he read his newspaper. I was waiting for the inevitable turn to the puzzle section. It was routine for Grandad to spend his mornings filling out the puzzles cigarette in one hand, pen in the other.

My job was to help with the wordsearch. Even if I didn’t know what the word meant, I was able to find the letters in the grid, and Grandad would circle them neatly. In hindsight, I think he’d let me find a lot of them, but in my mind, I was in a serious competition that surely meant I was as clever as a grown up if I could find the words before him. As I grew up, this turned into afternoons watching Countdown together.

It’s important to take the time here to say that I spent a lot of time with my Grandad when I was a child, whether it was because he was on babysitting duties, or because I’d been sent there as punishment* for being naughty.

*My parents thought I’d be in for a boring time at Grandad’s, but these ‘punishments’ often involved him taking me ice skating, or to the park.

Exchanging stories

Over time, as my book collection grew, so did my fondness of writing stories myself. Grandad would give me the paper and pens, I’d write a story, and he’d read through it after. These stories often involved things like fairies at the bottom of the garden, or talking animals, but he entertained it all the same. Nothing made me feel prouder than when he’d comment on how neat my handwriting had gotten.

As I grew up, my works of fiction turned from childish fantasies to ‘grown up’ things I’d learned at school. For example, the war. My grandad fought in the Korean War from 1951-1953, and while this was common knowledge in the family, so was the fact he didn’t really speak about it. We’d seen the letters and medals – which I’d proudly taken into school for show and tell; my grandad had a letter hand-signed from the Queen­ as he was unable to collect his British Empire Medal in person – but that was basically as far as it had gotten. As I child, I obviously didn’t think about the fact that these subjects are often approached sensitively.

Well, in order for me to produce my compelling works of fiction, I needed some top insider information from a former army man. I’d ask my grandad questions about his time in Korea, and he’d answer. He’d sit there telling me anything I wanted to know – nothing too graphic, of course – and then some. I’d sit cross-legged surrounded by my pens and paper, listening in earnest to his personal tales of the war, watching the ash of his cigarette burn so low I couldn’t believe it hadn’t fallen off yet.

He’d mention names of his comrades, tell me about games they may have played on the quieter days, and people he’d met during those years. He’d even talk about what the weather was like, and how beautiful Korea as a country was.

Of course, I didn’t realise this was a unique situation, until I’d casually talk about some anecdote of his regarding the war, and have my Nan stare in astonishment, wondering how I knew such things that she had never known. This sharing of family stories was beneficial for everyone.

Uncovering family history

Carly with her Grandad

The stories went beyond the war, too. I distinctly remember Grandad telling me he had a sister, who died when she was just a baby. I didn’t think this was news, as I assumed it would be common knowledge in the family. It wasn’t until one day – after my Grandad’s death – that I asked my Nan where Grandad’s sister was buried.

I knew where his parents and brother were laid to rest, but I’d never seen his sister’s name there.

“Grandad didn’t have a sister, just a brother,” my Nan had said.

“No.” I was adamant. Hadn’t he told me himself? “He had a sister who died when she was a baby. She was called Annie.”

Unbeknownst to me at this point, my Grandad’s mother was also called Annie, and so it actually made total and complete sense. They admitted that Grandad had never ever told them about it, but they didn’t disbelieve me.

I recently found a record of someone with the same name who had lived around the right time, but we’re piecing together our family tree on ancestry.co.uk, so we’ll know for sure soon enough.

The magic of grandparent-grandchild relationships

We often forget that as children, we spend a lot of time with our grandparents, whether it’s a treat or a matter of babysitting. And often, our grandparents don’t do an awful lot else, meaning they’ve got the time to talk until the cows come home. If it wasn’t for my conversations with my Grandad, I may never have known certain things about our family history, as some facts were unknown to my father and grandmother.

Whether it was telling me about his three-mile walk to school, the farm he lived on when he was younger, or the meaning behind his 60-year-old tattoo, I’ll forever be grateful for my grandad’s stories. While people die, stories don’t, and it’s up to us to keep them alive. Keep sharing your family stories.

Sam’s tale

Dad’s passion for family history

My dad died last year – a reasonably good innings, but unexpected, and a real shock. But one of the things that made his loss slightly more bearable was the time I’d spent with him in the past few years getting to know him better.

Not just him, though. He and I had taken an endearing little pilgrimage to the streets where he’d grown up in Teddington. Driven through the huge park where he and his brother and mates had  pranked drivers in the snowy weather by lying on the roadside as if they were hit. Little sods. We went past his old school, Hampton. And had lunch in a pub where he’d had his first pint – albeit now a fancy gastro place, very different to how it had been in the 60s.

Apart from this trip, I learned a lot about my family background in chit chat with him, as we both grew older. And in his latter years, he’d developed a fierce interest in knowing his roots. DNA samples had been sent, genealogy explored. He’d been nagging me to go on a road trip to Germany where he’d found some ancient links to the past. I’d kill to do that with him now, of course. But the pandemic got in the way, and then he died. But when I went though his house, I found all his records, neatly filed and labelled, and I brought them home. I will pick that up at some point.

Learning from my grandmother

But the real meat and bones of my familial understanding came from my grandmother, his mother. Through my childhood, each summer, for as long as I can remember, me and my sister and my two cousins spent at least two or three weeks at my grandmother’s. Our parents, probably desperate for a bit of time without the kids, coordinated it so we were all there together and we adored it. Grandma was almost rule-free, wanted to actually spend time with us, and was endlessly tolerant of our nonsense. Happy days in Hastings, whilst we roller-skated and fancied the bloke in the chip shop, and made her spend hours on the beach and in the little boutiques buying us sparkly headbands. It was the 80s, ok?!

But the real treasure, I think now, was the time with her.

But the real treasure, I think now, was the time with her. Time to just hang about. Time to spend listening and not doing much. When do we get that sort of time now? And during that time, one of the things we did (at length) was watch our glamorous grandmother prepare for the day and talk about life.

She was beautiful, always dressed to the nines, and during the endless toilette each day she would talk to us non-stop. Talk about her childhood, about family, about her marriage, her life. About uncles, aunts and great cousins we’d never met. Her own parents. Even my father’s previous wife before my own mother. We knew more about our family than any of our parents. And I carry that collection of memories now carefully, because we are last few in a long line.

When my daughter – who is currently 21 and not really interested in family history – is older, I will do my best to pass this stuff on. To tell her about her family, our history. Because otherwise it becomes lost. A name on a family tree from Ancestry dot com.

For more anecdotes about Sam’s glamorous grandma, see here.

Importance of storytelling

We’ve told our stories to you, as our parents and grandparents did for us. And when you read our stories, perhaps you’ll remember tales of your own. Without these tales, family history gets lost. Keep the magic alive by sharing your anecdotes, speak to other family members, and find out as much as you can while you can. Share your stories.

Carly Pepperell

Carly gets to do everything under the sun, including writing, editing, taking photos, creating stories, and swanning around at launches. She can down a glass of Prosecco without pausing for breath, and aims to be the youngest Pulitzer winner ever.

The post Keep history alive by sharing family stories appeared first on Silver Magazine.

She’s famously sober these days, so her skin will benefit from increased hydration, and there’s no doubt she can afford great skin care. But if you’ve been using the same makeup forever, it’s time for a change. Makeup for mature skin requires a different routine and products. Our skin is simply different, and it’s important to recognise this before we attempt to replicate a makeup look we’ve seen on YouTube.

Aim for dewy and fresh, not cake and bake

Using the right primers, foundations, and concealers can make a world of difference. Less is more. Heavy makeup accentuates pores and creases; and too much powder dries out skin and makes it look flaky. Aim for dewy and fresh, not cake and bake.

Preparing the skin

Prepare your skin with a light and lovely primer, and it’ll help soften open pores, fine lines etc. We love the Pro-Collagen Insta-Smooth primer from Elemis, £58.

Once your skin is prepped, aim for a light concealer. The Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Wear All Over Concealer, £25, is a really flexible option. It can act as a primer too, meaning one less layer, and less chance of caking and creasing.

Foundation: pick something light with a dewy sheen, rather than a heavy matte finish. We love the Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation, £33.

For blush, go for a light liquid, like the Armani Neo Nude, £32, and just pat a small amount on the apple of your cheek. A light dusting of very fine powder will do to finish.

Making your eyes pop

Chanel Les 4 Ombres Douceur et Serenite

Naomi’s colouring and brown eyes make it possible for her to go for black eyeliner, but those with fairer skin should swap for browns. Stick to ONLY the top lid, with just a sweep of eyeshadow colour along the lower line. Mascara; again, brown is less harsh for more mature fair skin, but for some real pizzazz or a night out, don’t shy away from some false eyelashes to make your eyes pop!

For eyeshadow, Naomi has some lovely warm russets fading to palest lilac on her lids here. Accentuate the outside of the top lid with the darker colours, and bring lighter colour closer to the nose. We found this gorgeous little Chanel palette, Les 4 Ombres – 378 Douceur et Sérénité, £47, had a really simple range of colours to create a similar look. Beware of too much sparkle though – it can travel around your face and settle into creases.

VB Beauty Posh lip pout

Accentuating your lips

Finally lips. Warmer nudes will work better than garish brights for this look. Use a slightly darker lip pencil around the outside edges, and blot to help avoid bleeding. A softer glossy type lipstick always brings the glamour. We’ve fallen in love with Victoria Beckham’s Posh Lipstick – shown here in ‘Pout’, £34.

Carly Pepperell

Carly gets to do everything under the sun, including writing, editing, taking photos, creating stories, and swanning around at launches. She can down a glass of Prosecco without pausing for breath, and aims to be the youngest Pulitzer winner ever.

The post Naomi Campbell – a makeup masterclass for mature skin appeared first on Silver Magazine.

There’s currently an upward trend in people aged 50 and over opting to rent through a home share – both house and flat – whether as the landlord or tenant.

Boom, a TV production company who produce films for BBC One’s The One Show, are creating a piece exploring this trend, which involves speaking to real life people currently in this situation.

Whether you’re currently living in a type of home share, or you’re looking to do so, Boom would love to speak you.

Daniel Jones, assistant producer at The One Show, said: “We are looking to interview anyone aged 50 or over that are currently living as part of a house share. They may be the landlord of the property, or they may be a tenant renting a room in a shared house/flat.

“Either way, we would love to speak to as many people as possible that would like to feature in the film and share their experiences of renting/house/flat sharing in later life.”

Is this you? Would you like to feature on in the film and share your experiences?

How to get involved

If you meet the above criteria and would like to get involved, you can get in touch via any of the methods below:

Call/text: 07884 749128

Email: casting@boomcymru.co.uk

You can contact Daniel directly on: daniel.jones@boomcymru.co.uk

Have you seen lockdown comedy Dun Breedin?

Carly Pepperell

Carly gets to do everything under the sun, including writing, editing, taking photos, creating stories, and swanning around at launches. She can down a glass of Prosecco without pausing for breath, and aims to be the youngest Pulitzer winner ever.

The post Silver sharers – the rise in home shares over 50 appeared first on Silver Magazine.

Based on a number of factors, such as the weather, the month, people’s financial situations and the comedown from Christmas, the third Monday of January earns a spot as the day most people are likely to feel depressed. Yep, it’s Blue Monday. The charity Samaritans are raising awareness about the importance of talking by promoting ‘Brew Monday’, campaigning for people to reach out and have a conversation over a cup of tea, whether in person or virtually.

The impact of reaching out

Our story

*Name(s) have been changed for privacy

Last week, I was sat on my sofa having my weekly Facetime catch up with a family member. While we were deep in conversation, I heard an almighty crash from outside, which was also heard by my sister-in-law on the phone. Concerned, I whipped open my curtains and witnessed a hit and run.

A van had reversed into a parked motorbike on my street, before immediately driving off after he realised what he’d done. Unfortunately for him, my sister-in-law (who had witnessed the scene through the magic of Facetime) had screenshotted the incident, while I managed to nab the details of the van as it drove away.

I saw the owner of the motorbike rush out just as the van drove off, as well as her elderly mother and a few other neighbours. I went outside and let the woman know that I’d caught the details of the offender, and she thanked me and asked me to keep the pictures on my phone.

She was understandably upset, and wanted to focus on her poor motorbike, so I let her know I’d keep the evidence and that I’d be a witness to the event should they require one for insurance purposes.

An unusual turn of events brings a new friend

The next day, I normally would have been at work, but weirdly, there ended up being some sort of traffic incident that led to my usually-20-minute-drive to work looking like an hour long. My editor and I agreed it was best for me to go back home and work from there. And try again in a couple of hours once the traffic had died down. This was the only reason I ended up being at home on a Wednesday morning, and is the reason I have a new friend.

Not ten minutes after arriving back home – and in a bit of a mood about the half an hour I’d wasted sat in traffic – my doorbell rang. Very unusual for nine o’clock in the morning. When I opened it, I found the elderly mother of the motorbike owner at my door, with a bunch of flowers in her shopping trolley.

She introduced herself as June*, and thanked me profusely for my help the night before – not that I felt I’d done much. She also gave me her daughter’s mobile number, and asked if I wouldn’t mind sending the pictures of the incident to her. I agreed, and thanked her again for the gorgeous flowers, before I watched her walk back to her house, not a 10 second walk from my own, and smiled at the coincidence that had allowed me to have this conversation with her this morning. I put my flowers in vase, feeling as though my day had perked up slightly from my stressful morning.

It made my day when she said ‘you’re such a lovely girl, I can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve done.’

Another coincidence

By the time I’d finished a Zoom meeting and had made myself a coffee, it was about an hour later. I attempted to send the images and details of the van to June’s daughter, but I kept being met with an ‘unknown number’ notification. Only then did I realise June had given me the wrong number – she’d only written down 10 digits instead of 11.

I popped over to her house to let her know about her mistake and to note down the actual number. When I got there, June immediately invited me in. We had a little discussion about the events of the night before, I got the correct number, and then I made to leave. June walked me to the door, where we ended up continuing our conversation for a further five minutes, her stood in the doorway, me stood outside on the doorstep.

“June,” I said, “would you like me to come back in? I’m worried you’re letting all the heat out!”

“Oh yes, do come in! Have a seat,” she ordered.

Cementing the friendship

45 minutes later, after a full tour of June’s home, an introduction of all her family members via their photographs on the wall, and the story of how her and her husband had moved her in the 80s – the conversations speckled with little bits of neighbourly gossip – I left June’s home. I asked her if she would like me to leave my phone number with her, in case she wanted to keep me updated about the motorbike, or just fancied a chat.

“I’d love that, ducky. Do you mind putting it in my phone for me? My daughter usually does stuff like that – I haven’t a clue how to do those things!”

I happily obliged, and made sure to let her know that if she ever needed me to pop to the shops for her, help around the house, or drive her anywhere, she just had to let me know.

“Or, of course, if you just fancy a cup of tea and a natter, you know where I am!” I said as I walked out the door.

“Oh no, I don’t drink tea.” June responded seriously. “Only black coffee or a gin and tonic for me!” She giggled and gave me a tap on the arm.

“That suits me!” I said.

The emotional impact

I knew I’d made her day by spending that time with her, letting her talk about her grandchildren and her marriage. While her daughters visit often, and she has a few friends on the street, the fact is she spends most of the day alone in her home watching the television. She must have valued having someone else over to while away a bit of the time, and it made me feel good too, hearing another’s life stories.

The next day, I was off to do a big shop, so I popped over and asked if she needed anything. She assured me that she’d already been out and picked up some bits, but thanked me all the same. After a 10 minute chat – in which she gushed over my Mini Cooper and laughed about how much bigger it is compared to the one she owned in the sixties – June looked at me sheepishly.

“Do you think I could give you a cuddle, ducky? You’re such a lovely girl, I can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve done.” Of course I obliged, and since then we’ve spoken almost every day.

If I happen to speak to her around 5pm, she’ll let me know she’s just about to have a gin and tonic and that she’ll be thinking of me when she drinks it.

She often thanks me ‘for all I do’, but in reality, I’m not doing much. A five minute phone call here and then and a chat outside her house takes no effort and barely any time from me, but for her, it means the world.

Make the effort

You never know your neighbour’s circumstances, and you can’t ever truly know how someone is feeling. It is imperative to make an effort with people, both friends and strangers, as you just might make their day. I would like to think someone would do the same for me – in fact I’m lucky to have friends and family that do.

Of course, I never intended to make a 84-year-old friend last week. But through unprecedented circumstances, I’ve gained one, and it’s been valuable for us both.

A wave, a smile, a cup of tea (or gin and tonic) can do the world of good for someone. Every person has different experiences of life and you can gain so much through a conversation. Lightening someone’s load while learning new things seems to be a win-win situation to me.

Check on your friends, check on your family members, and check on your neighbours. Likewise, reach out to people if you need to. You don’t have to spill your woes, but simply knowing someone is there to chat over a brew can inject that much needed serotonin in your life.

A cup of tea can make a huge difference!

According to the Samaritans website, “we know there’s no such thing as ‘Blue Monday’ – we all have our good days and our bad days, and those aren’t for the calendar to decide.” They’re encouraging people to connect with people to share how they feel over a nice warm cup of tea. It’s partincularly important as friendships have changed over lockdown too.

Why is Brew Monday important?

Thankfully, mental health awareness is increasing over time, but some of us are still a bit uncertain when it comes to openly discussing our emotions. Now, we’re not suggesting a cup of tea will solve your problems, but having a conversation with someone can truly start the powerful journey of healing.

A cup of tea is not always just a cup of tea. It can be the difference between a good day and a bad day, particularly if you are sharing the time with someone.

It’s not a substitute for therapy, and if you feel you are suffering and would like to seek professional help or support, we have provided helpful links at the bottom of this page to help you.

Get the most out of your cuppa

On top of the emotional advantages to sharing a brew and some time with someone, there are physical benefits to be had to drinking tea too.

According to dietician Dr Carrie Ruxton at the Tea Advisory Panel, data shows that: “eight in 10 British adults say drinking tea helps them to combat stress, with a third (35%) get comfort from a cuppa that helps to reduce frustration. Even the act of putting on the kettle creates a feeling of relaxation, according to six in 10 (58%) adults in the research poll we reviewed.

“Tea is nature’s de-stressor thanks to compounds in the tea plant which are released when we make a brew. Firstly, black, and green teas contain plant polyphenols which relax and open up the blood vessel which supply the brain, leading to an influx of nutrients and oxygen. Secondly, black tea uniquely contains a substance called L-theanine which makes us feel calm and focussed at the same time. It’s probably that which delivers the feeling of calm we enjoy when we sit down with a warming cuppa.”

Going forward

Why not make Brew Monday a weekly or monthly activity? You could play card games, do some crafts, or just sit and watch the TV for half an hour. You don’t have to sit and talk the whole time.

Don’t forget the plethora of teas available now. For the price of your PG Tips you could try fruit teas, or even decaffeinated teas if you’re on a caffeine detox. Have a look at the health benefits to each tea and pick ones that seem beneficial to you.

You could make a bit of a plan out of it, trying a different flavour each time you see your tea buddy. Your options are limitless!

If you are being affected by any negative thoughts or feelings, or would like some additional support, follow the resources below and contact your GP.

• Samaritans
• MIND
• MIND Coping Methods
• NHS Mental Health Services

Carly Pepperell

Carly gets to do everything under the sun, including writing, editing, taking photos, creating stories, and swanning around at launches. She can down a glass of Prosecco without pausing for breath, and aims to be the youngest Pulitzer winner ever.

The post Brew Monday not Blue Monday. Stick the kettle on, it’s time to talk appeared first on Silver Magazine.

By November of last year, the number of long COVID sufferers globally stood at a staggering 100million. In research published by the University of Michigan, which took in 40 studies from 17 different countries, the most common symptom is fatigue. But the list includes shortness of breath, insomnia, aching joints, and brain fog.

Anecdotally, it’s clear that there is an even more vast range of symptoms associated with long COVID, and this aftershock effect is something that most health authorities were unprepared for. Unpredictable and unavoidable, there is a slight increase in the chance of developing it in Asia, and certainly it’s more likely if you were hospitalised with COVID. It’s also slightly more prevalent in women. But largely, it’s indiscriminate, and can be very serious.

For Cheryl Jones, 62, the aftercare has been a let-down

Cheryl Jones

Cheryl caught COVID during Christmas 2020, before being admitted to hospital on 30th December. She didn’t come home until 5th February.

The Jones family tested positive on Boxing Day. Both Cheryl’s husband and eldest son were ill, but her youngest luckily avoided symptoms. Cheryl’s experience was different.

“I was okay to begin with, just experiencing a slight cough. Then I went downhill quickly, resulting in my son calling for an ambulance. I had COVID pneumonia and was taken in [to hospital] straight away, as my oxygen levels were very low.”

Despite the scary situation, Cheryl described the hospital staff and ambulance crew as second to none. She felt she received great care and attention despite the hospital being short-staffed.

“We had been so careful with where we had been and who we saw, but we still ended up getting COVID. I have Crohn’s Disease and fibromyalgia, so I wasn’t surprised that I got so ill with it. I had to come off my medication for Crohn’s, but I was lucky that it didn’t flare up.

“Long COVID is very much like fibromyalgia with the fatigue and sore muscles, but it is the breathlessness that’s hardest to cope with. I was unable to get out of the bath or climb the stairs without getting out of breath.”

Cheryl felt the aftercare was not of the same standard she received at the beginning of her illness.

“The aftercare has been really bad. I didn’t receive any follow-up until I insisted on seeing a doctor in March/April when I wasn’t getting any better. Here, I was told I should have received a follow-up X-ray six weeks after I left the hospital, which I didn’t have until April.

Long COVID is very much like fibromyalgia with the fatigue and sore muscles, but it is the breathlessness that’s hardest

“Again, I heard nothing, and had to insist on seeing a doctor again. They diagnosed me with long COVID and referred me to the long COVID Clinic, where I would undergo more in-depth tests. In fact, it wasn’t a clinic at all, just someone at the end of the phone, asking questions and referring me to other people. When I went back to see my GP, I was told that they were unaware of all of this. They referred me back to the hospital to the Respiratory Support Unit, by whom I am still waiting to be seen.

“The only good thing to come out of the aftercare was my referral to the ENO (ENO Breathe is a programme that has been specifically developed for people recovering from COVID) for breathing exercises which I have started this month. I was informed that I was suffering from PTSD and needed to talk to someone, which I am still waiting for.

“I feel very let down by the follow-up services and the ‘clinic’, whom I’m still waiting to hear back from since the initial telephone call. I don’t think there is any support out there at all.

“My family have been great, and supportive, particularly since my anxiety levels have been getting higher as I worry about catching COVID again. I am lucky enough to be able to go and see a brilliant Osteopath who has helped me with getting my diaphragm and body back to how it was before I caught COVID, but this is privately funded.

I feel very let down by the follow-up services. I don’t think there is any support out there at all.

“A positive outlook of my experience has been my joining of a wellbeing club set up by Crawley Council, which I found through my own means. I go once a week which helps me get my fitness levels back up.

“I really do feel that a lot of people have just been left to try to cope alone, essentially left to ‘get on with it’.”

Thomas Jepsen, 29, took every precaution, but it wasn’t enough

Thomas Jepsen

“I’m the CEO of an architecture company. I thought I was invincible. I thought I was taking all the precautions necessary. At one point, I virtually had more hand sanitizer in me than water. I got COVID 14 months ago, in October 2020.

“I lost my sense of taste very early on and developed a strong cough, unlike what I ever get if I get a fever. I felt extremely fatigued and could barely walk up a

flight of stairs. I got tested, but it was pretty obvious what it was, as I had others around me that got it as well. I kept getting worse but didn’t want to seek out medical help in fear of infecting others. It kept getting worse until the day before I had intended on seeking out a doctor, at which point I started feeling better. I was sick for two weeks before I started getting better.

“I have had absolutely no sense of taste for 14 months. It’s the longest I’ve heard of anyone losing it. I still feel fatigued and cannot do nearly the level of physical activity I used to be able to. It pains me that people aren’t taking it seriously. The doctors I have gone to afterwards have been perplexed by the fact that my sense of taste is still gone.

I sincerely hope that the symptoms will go away but I am starting to realize that they may not

“I created a local support group for people that have had or otherwise been affected by COVID. I sincerely hope that the symptoms will go away but I am starting to realize that they may not. I have days where I feel more fatigued than others. The feelings I’m met with have been mixed. Some don’t believe me when I say I don’t have any sense of taste.

“I wake up every morning and tell myself to stay strong. The support group I’ve created has played a massive role in getting my head right. I know that we will one day wake up to normal times again, and I long for that day.”

Julia Emmanuelle has been living long COVID for over 18 months

She caught COVID in April 2020, just as the country was plummeted into the first lockdown.

While the initial COVID symptoms subsided, Julia developed long COVID with her main symptom consisting of severe chest pains. Alongside this, she has been suffering with extreme fatigue and headaches.

“My experience with long COVID consisted of chest tightness, fever, and exhaustion. The inability to breathe properly was scary. After the first two weeks, the stabbing pains in my chest started to get worse. During the third week, I had a chest X-ray. Through private healthcare, I was sent for a lung CT and lung functioning tests in weeks four and five. About eight weeks after, the stabbing chest pain came back, and I was referred to a cardiologist for an echocardiogram and a cardiac MRI. I was diagnosed with pericarditis, which is an inflammation of the heart wall, as a result of COVID.”

In terms of treatment, Julia joined TenClinical’s COVID Recovery Programme. Despite the diagnosis, none of the treatment had a significant impact, and the pain persisted. Her treatment with TenClinical has been focused on cardiovascular training and strengthening the muscles around the heart.

“As a result of my treatment with TenClinical, I can walk faster and complete more intense exercises while keeping my heart rate below 120bpm,” says Julia. “Which is in the safe zone. Being able to do exercise again makes me feel better, despite the frustration of having had pericardial pain for over a year.

… trying all sorts of natural supplements for the inflammation (such as magnesium, turmeric and omega 3) has been a big element in me trying to alleviate my symptoms

“From a medical perspective, I took Colchicine for over eight months, as well as having two rounds of steroid treatment and high doses of aspirin. I tried to get referred to the NHS Long COVID Clinics, but was told they only focus on pulmonary rehab, as they have no specialists for cardiology issues.

“Playing with my diet and trying all sorts of natural supplements for the inflammation (such as magnesium, turmeric and omega 3) has been a big element in me trying to alleviate my symptoms.”

In terms of NHS treatment for long COVID, Julia feels much the same way as Cheryl.

“The support from the NHS has been zero; if I didn’t have access to private coverage, I wouldn’t have had anyone to look after me. I already changed cardiologists once, and also consulted cardiologists overseas in Canada and Europe. Very few understand my case…

“I fell pregnant in February 2021, and I’ve been a guinea pig as a long COVID patient having a baby. I managed to get through the pregnancy without further complications, but I’m still suffering from some chest pain post-delivery of my baby boy at the beginning of November.

It’s common to see people thinking that they are fully recovered, do high intensity exercise, and then getting even worse

“The key piece of advice when it comes to getting better is to follow the medical advice, and be patient and persistent. From the physiological point of view, it’s important to listen to the body and make sure that whatever we do it’s not going to make the symptoms to get worse so it’s essential to identified reg flags and thresholds.

“We have often seen regressions when it comes to exercise and symptoms. It’s common to see people thinking that they are fully recovered, do high intensity exercise, and then getting even worse than when they got COVID for the first time. That’s why it’s important to identified the red flags and thresholds mentioned above and work from there. Set a recovery plan and start achieving little goals and get better.

“You never know how your body will react to COVID, or any other illness. So much of it is a mental game – meditation and positive thinking can massively improve the day-to-day impacts of physical illness.”

Interviews edited for clarity
For more information about long COVID head to the Your COVID Recovery site

Carly Pepperell

Carly gets to do everything under the sun, including writing, editing, taking photos, creating stories, and swanning around at launches. She can down a glass of Prosecco without pausing for breath, and aims to be the youngest Pulitzer winner ever.

The post The emerging impact of long COVID – where is the care? appeared first on Silver Magazine.