Release date: 29
October 2014
UK’s enabling environment can still be improved, says TV Doctor.
A respected TV Doctor has commended the UK for improving its
enabling environments for older people, but warned that there is still work to
be done to support over 14 million people over the age of 60.
Doctor Hilary Jones is welcoming figures from the recent
Global AgeWatch Index, which states that the UK is the third best country in
the world for providing older people with an enabling environment, behind only Sweden
and Austria, respectively. But as the UK braces itself for housing an expected
19 million people aged 60 or over by the year 2050, Dr Hilary Jones, who
recently teamed up with specialist seating manufacturer Repose to fine tune its
service offering for older people, is warning that there is still work to be
done.
Dr Hilary explained the implication of the report further: “The report is incredibly encouraging and
shows that the UK is really striving towards offering older generations a positive
living environment, however whilst the findings at present are cause for
celebration, it is now important we don’t become complacent.
Dr Hilary continued:
“People are living longer, and as such we need to ensure we continue to provide
an enabling environment for future older generations. Misconceptions still
exist which incorrectly view growing old as a process which takes elderly
people away from their home environments, but this isn’t always true. Home
adaptations are just one way in which older generations can continue to live in
an enabling environment. Whilst it may seem daunting to adapt a whole home,
smaller steps can be taken which will make a huge impact;, sitting in
comfortable chair, which offers correct support, is one such step that enables
older people to live comfortably within their own homes.”
The Global AgeWatch Index, which is published every year,
ranks the UK 11th out of 65 countries for the way it supports
residents with health issues and while the nation ranked well for income security,
personal capability, and health, it has been particularly praised for its
enabling environments. The category of enabling environment assessed a number
of factors including social connectedness and national aging polices, such as
the lifetime homes standard. The lifetime homes standard calls for all new
buildings to adopt a range of design criteria in order to make homes that focus
on adaptability, encouraging better living conditions.
And Dr Hilary Jones is pointing to specialist furniture
manufacturers as a major catalyst for improving the country’s enabling
environments. One such manufacturer, Repose Furniture, provides specialist
seating for both home and residential care environments, has invested £250k in research and development over the past two
years and this has resulted in a sales increase of over 20% in the last year
alone.
Repose manufacture a wide range of seating solutions which
positively impact on a number of age related issues from arthritis, to posture
care. Every chair is manufactured to the individual measurements of the user,
and places increased comfort and functionality at its core.
Lisa Wardley Managing Director at Repose said: “At Repose we continually invest in a range
of research methods to ensure our products positively contribute to providing
better living conditions for older generations. This is something we feel
increasingly passionate about, at Repose and so by working closely with Dr
Hilary and a number of other healthcare professionals we have been able to
develop our products and services which place functionality and comfort at
their heart. For us, an enabling environment is built specifically for each
individual person and that is why we manufacture our chairs to bespoke
specifications, rather than releasing a one-size-fits-all solution.”
- Ends -
Editor’s Note:
Repose
Furniture Limited is based in Cradley Heath, West Midlands, and designs and
manufactures high quality specialist seating solutions, with a strong emphasis
on practicality and performance.
Specialising
in chairs for the healthcare and home sectors, Repose offers a range of
products in both traditional and contemporary designs, but the strength of the
business is in the provision of bespoke design and manufacturing to suit their
clients’ specific requirements. Each chair can be made in a range of
sizes, with different materials and fabrics, and a variety of multi-functions
and accessories, with the emphasis on comfort and providing health benefits
such as relieving pressure points.
Repose
is a family business which has over 100 years combined experience in
manufacturing mobility and specialist rise and recliners and complementary
furniture.
For
further information, please contact:
Nicola
Pittaway, Bridge PR on tel: 024 76 520025, email: nicola@bridgepr.co.uk or
Keith
Fairhurst, Repose on tel: 01384 263363, email keith@reposefurniture.co.uk