Co-operative Xest offer quick fixes to take the stresses out of having relatives to stay this Christmas

Christmas is the time of the year when our loved ones visit us from near and far.  A lot can happen to one’s health in a year, which is why many people are surprised to find relatives struggling to cope with everyday tasks we take for granted such as bending, reaching and steadying themselves.

Co-operative Xest has a wide range of stylish assisted living products that can be temporarily and easily installed before the relatives arrive and taken down at the same time that the Christmas tree and decorations get packed away.  Best of all, the products can be easily stored until your relatives visit again.

Top 5 tips to remember when prepping your home for older relatives this holiday season:

1. Older people often have trouble moving around the home and getting out of chairs.   The Folding Walking Frame (£59.92) makes getting out of chairs a breeze, it even folds for easy storage.   If relatives have trouble reaching the remote from the chair, the Handi-Reacher (£9.25) is just the ticket to make changing the channel easy as pie.  Please add in picture of the walking frame in use.                   

2. Slips and falls around the home are common injuries that can be avoided.

The Stick ‘N’ Stay (£27.95) grab rails provide instant support and safety in the home, and what’s more, no drilling required!  For those in the family who may need a little extra hand steadying themselves in the kitchen, or need a hand getting out of the shower or bath, these super-reliable rails with special suction cups are the answer.  They can be fixed to tiles, glass or smooth enameled surfaces, with a coloured indicator to show the rail is securely fixed to the surface. 

3. Bath times should be a relaxing time but are often made difficult for those with stiff joints or mobility problems. Bath steps and bath mats make climbing in and out of the bath much easier and provide a steady step for those who may need a helping hand.  The bath needn’t be a hurdle to accomplish with the Savanah Bath Step (£24.97), making climbing in an out a much safer and steady process. Whilst the Bath Mats (£7.81) offer a comfortable and secure surface to prevent slips and falls.  

For extra peace of mind, and to save you following your relatives around the home ‘just in case they fall or trip’, the Home Safety Alarm (£39.08) will allow them feel independent and help you relax a little more.  The wireless alarm system is easy to use, with call and panic buttons, so should they need your assistance, your help can be summoned quickly. – how does this fit into bath time?

4. Pulling shoes off and on can be difficult, for those with back problems.  Wintery walks are what Christmas is all about, especially after Christmas dinner; well the mince pies need to be burnt off somehow.  The Metal Long Reach Shoehorn (£9.65) makes putting on shoes a breeze.  When you think about the number of times you bend down to put shoes or boots on, the shoe horns will save the bending and worry of toppling over.

5. Turning knobs and taps is a painful and difficult experience for individuals suffering from arthritis or other joint mobility.  The Etac Universal Tap & Knob Turner (£16.92) provides an easy solution, and enables everyone to get involved with cooking the Christmas roast.  At the same time the Reflex Contoured Easy Grip Utensils (from £11.91) ensure you have maximum control when preparing food, the Carving Knife (£15.91) is perfect for carving the turkey.

Co-operative Xest has a wide range of stylish products for every area of your home that can be used to address most assisted living needs.  Every product is designed with quality and the user in mind so that you can rest assured that you are receiving the best products on the market.

For these products and other brilliant ideas to help you this festive season please go to:  www.co-opXest.com or call 0800-622-6001

18 August 2009

Christmas Gift Solutions from co-operative Xest

 London, Tuesday 18^th August 2009 – ‘Handy’, ‘nifty’, ‘clever’ and ‘functional’; however you choose to describe co-operative Xest products, the one thing they all have in common is that they make for fantastic Christmas gifts. So, no matter who you’re shopping for, co-operative Xest has just the product for you.

Technological Treats

Co-operative Xest’s range of user-friendly mobile phones are a no-nonsense way to keep in touch whilst out and about. doro PhoneEasy® mobile phones feature an easy to grip soft touch surface and a large keypad, making the range easy to use and see. The three direct memory buttons on the PhoneEasy® 338 mean the recipient of this gift can easily dial their most frequently used numbers. Or, for something even simpler, the doro® HandlePlus can feature your top four programmed numbers with the contact’s name featured alongside.  Starting from just £99.93, these phones are perfect for those seeking a mobile without the unnecessary gadgets.  

Christmas Stocking Fillers

Co-operative Xest have some fantastic functional stocking fillers with a difference. Their Knork® (£8.82) combination knife and fork is an example of just this; great for cutting food with only one hand, this is perfect for people of all ages from Christmas party-goers eating a buffet whilst circulating the room to elderly relatives seeking something to help make mealtimes a little easier.  Equally, at £16.94 Soapy Soles™ will make a fantastic gift for women who like to pamper their feet. Featuring suction cups that attach a foot shaped sole to the bottom of the bath or shower, Soapy Soles’ soft little nodules will wash, massage and generally give feet a treat this Christmas. What’s more, the Deluxe Chrome Long Handled Shoe Horn (£11.49) is set to be a best-seller this Christmas, helping to make putting shoes on as easy as kicking them off! Both attractive and practical, the Long Handled Shoe Horn can be used by any member of the family with any type of footwear from a favourite pair of brogues to a pair of winter boots, making bending to
put on your shoes a thing of the past.

Practical Presents

The Folding Fleece Cushioned Leg Rest is ideal for helping loved ones put their feet up this Christmas. At just £34.49, this clever three-in-one leg rest will raise weary feet for improved circulation whilst providing a cosy place to rest aching legs. Or, for really chilly evenings, the Electric Fleece Foot Warmer is ideal for warming cold feet. At £29.37, this mains operated foot warmer will make a wonderful gift for the cold winter ahead. Alternatively, for those seeking extra stability whilst up and about, the Carbon Fibre Folding Soft Grip Walking Stick is the perfect high-tech solution. At £34.94, this state of the art walking stick is the ideal present for grandparents this Christmas!

So, for clever Christmas gifts that will genuinely make a difference, look no further this festive season than www.co-opXest.com.  

6 July 2009

Co-operative Xest STLA:

Supporting Those Living With Alzheimer’s

Whilst ongoing research into dementia such as that recently revealed by the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease recommending three large cups of coffee a day to slow the progress of dementia, fulfills an important function in the study of the disease, co-operative Xest aims to offer the 700,000 sufferers in the UK and their carers additional practical support. With the number of people experiencing dementia across the UK set to rise to one million by 2025, co-operative Xest offers practical solutions for those affected by the disease.

Thinking, reasoning, learning new skills and even re-learning old skills are all actions to keep the mind alive and empower those experiencing unneccesary frustration and difficulties in the home. Co-operative Xest’s product offering aims to encourage the communication and mental stimulation needed to help people think for themsleves.

Andrea Dipple, Managing Director co-operative Xest said, “The co-operative Xest team understand the issues that may face those living with Alzheimer’s and also the family members who are their primary carers.  We at co-operative Xest feel passionately about making aids and information for people with Alzheimer’s readily available with the ultimate aim of returning dignity to the lives of those who live with the disease”.

Products available from co-operative Xest aim to help people make small changes to their lives that will ultimately make a big difference. Some of the products the brand recommends in the build-up to Dementia Awareness Week 2009 are as follows:

Talking Photo Album - £39.88

The Talking Photo album is a great addition for any home.  Record the 10 second message to accompany the picture, perfect for jogging the memory, putting names to faces and remembering places and happy events in the past.

Talking Watch - £39.08

A special 'talking function' means this attractive analogue watch tells you the time... literally! Great for those who have trouble remembering numbers or difficulty in telling the time, its voice function announces the time when pressed and equally helps users set the time when required.

Geemarc Clearsound® PHOTOTEL™ with Picture Buttons – £29.82

Thoughtfully designed for everyone who has problems remembering names and telephone numbers, this attractive phone features an integral amplifier and a quick dial pre-programmable facility. So instead of having to remember the numbers of your family and friends, you just press the appropriate photo identity button.

LCD Pill Box with Timer Reminder - £7.98

It's all too easy to forget to take your medication. So why not trust this neat little item to jog your memory?  With a flashing light and audible alarm that sounds for 1 minute when medication is due you will never have to worry about remembering to take your pills.

 26 June - 2 July 2009

Discreet easy living range to co-incide with Deaf Blind Awareness Week

The following products are available from Cooperative Xest to make life that little bit easier.

Geemarc WAKE 'N' SHAKE 4-in-1 Vibrating Alarm Clock £39.87

If you're hard of hearing or a very deep sleeper ordinary alarm clocks can be sadly inadequate. This one's different! Stylish and modern in design with a large digital display, it will rouse you with a volume-adjustable alarm, flashing strobe light or a vibrating pad placed under your pillow (very useful if you don't want to wake your partner). Easy to set, it can also be used to alert you to the telephone ringing.

 
Geemarc Clearsound ® 330 Telephone £59.87

For many of us with partial deafness high and low frequencies are the hardest to hear. This multi-function telephone solves the problem as well as providing a whole range of easy-hearing features. For example: touch every button to hear the number being spoken to you, caller identification, extra-large back-lit display, super-bright visual indicator, speaker phone, headset output, adjustable ringer volume, phone book and vocal confirmation of the number you've dialed.

Talking Atomic Watch £49.96

Designed in association with the RNIB, this talking watch tells you the time with split-second accuracy.  Very useful if you're long-sighted (there's no need to remove your specs), visually impaired or simply want to know time in the dark. And because it's radio-controlled via the atomic time signal, it adjusts itself for GMT/ BST and for local time abroad.

About co-operative Xest

co-operative Xest is a co-operative business, they can be trusted to do the right thing by customers, as customers own the business.

co-operative Xest has a mission, they want to:

•         Enable customers to live independent, dignified, more fulfilled and enriched lives

•         Change the way that people shop for those clever products that just make life easier

co-operative Xest have pledge to do the following:

•         Provide clear and full information about their products including customer benefits

•         Pictures that show you what the products are like in every day life

•         Committed to offering value for money

•         Providing products that offer great value for money

•         Returning products is a simple as possible

•         Cost of delivery kept to a minimum

•         Rapid service

Southern Co-operatives is an independent co-operative founded in 1873, with over 3,000 employees, 70,000 members and over 150 outlets. We operate our business according to the co-operative values of:

• Democracy
• Equality
• Equity
• Mutual self-help
• Responsibility
• Solidarity

As a society we believe in the ethical values of honesty, openness, social responsibility and caring for others.

Anyone over the age of 16 can apply for membership and become one of the owners of Southern Co-operatives, voting for the Board of Directors and helping to ensure that we remain accountable to our members.

22 June 2009

Co-operative Xest respond to Grandparents Plus report

“Cracker Generation” are 50% more likely to suffer from depression

Monday 22nd June 2009 12:00

Responding to a report published today by Grandparents Plus highlighting grandparents being caught in a poverty trap providing childcare for their grandchildren and elderly parents, co-operative Xest Managing Director Andrea Dipple said:

"Grandparents deserve more recognition for the pressures they face providing invaluable care, time and emotional support to both grandchildren and their elderly parents. We refer to them as the “Cracker Generation” for obvious reasons, they are being pulled in both directions which impacts not only their financial situation but also mental health. Some recent research carried out on our behalf highlighted some alarming statistics about the state of mental health of the Cracker Generation.

I believe passionately that it is time to speak out about the growing issues and ensure they have the support they need. In our study carried by hpi, among the 45-54 age group, 51% were likely to suffer from mild or moderate depression compared to the 40% for the nation as a whole. What’s even more alarming is that this issue gets worse not better as we age, with 61% of those within the 55-64% age group likely to suffer from mild or moderate depression.

We really want to open up the debate about the Cracker Generation and stop if from being a taboo subject that people feel embarrassed to discuss or ask for help. This issue is not going to get better unless action is taken. Our business if focused on helping to relieve some of those pressures but its clear that more needs to be done.”

Ends

About co-operative Xest
Co-operative Xest is a co-operative business; they can be trusted to do the right thing by customers, as customers ultimately own the business.

Co-operative Xest has a mission, they want to:
• Enable customers to live independent, dignified, more fulfilled and enriched lives
• Change the way people shop for clever products that make life easier

Co-operative Xest has pledged to do the following:
• Offer a 1 year no quibble guarantee
• Provide clear and full information about their products including customer benefits
• Use pictures that show you what the products are like in every day life
• Provide products that offer great value for money
• Keep the cost of delivery  to a minimum
• Provide rapid service

The Southern Co-operative, the parent company of co-operative Xest, is an independent co-operative society founded in 1873, with over 3,000 employees, 70,000 members and over 150 outlets primarily in food retailing.

As a mutual business we believe in the ethical values of honesty, openness, social responsibility and caring for others.

Co-operative Xest offers a discreet easy living range with no compromise on design and quality, for other similar products in the range please visit www.co-opXest.com Telephone:  0800 622 6001

For more information, images and samples please contact Rosanna@more2.com or call 0207 420 5091.

_________________________________________________________________

22 June 2009

Be Steady, Safe and Secure

Co-operative Xest supports National Falls Awareness Day

22^nd June 2009 – On the eve of National Falls Awareness Day (23^rd June), to highlight the urgent need to educate about fall prevention co-operative Xest decided to collate the latest statistics and reports about falls in the UK. As part of their Be Steady, Safe and Secure campaign, co-operative Xest want to raise awareness for the struggle faced by those who have suffered falls, to help them remain independent in their own home and to prevent further falls. In the UK, over 95% of hip fractures occur from a fall, and are unfortunately the leading cause of death from injury among people over 75, with costs to the NHS estimated at £15 million every year.

The Royal College of Physicians national clinical audit, showed that opportunities to prevent recurrent falls are being missed.

Andrea Dipple, Managing Director co-operative Xest said, “We are passionate about helping people stay independent in their own homes. One cannot underestimate the psychological and physical affects of a fall. At co-operative Xest, our main focus is helping people to make small changes to their daily life so they can continue to live with dignity and minimal intervention. The desire from the patient to stay in their own home cannot be forgotten in terms of aiding recovery and sense of wellbeing. We work hard to ensure our products meet the highest standards, are easy to install and affordable.”

Be Steady, Safe and Secure - Hints and Tips to prevent a fall

Falls result from many different factors but they are not an inevitable part of ageing.

Make sure you are aware of the following factors.

1) Be Steady on your feet. Medical research has highlighted that foot problems can increase the risk of falls. Ask your local chiropodist or GP about how to keep your feet healthy and check you are wearing the correct type of shoes.

2) Be Safe in your Home. Think carefully before standing on chairs to reach high places in the kitchen or bedroom. Even simple tasks like changing a light bulb can result in a hazardous fall. Take care on the stairs and make sure you have good lighting, and watch out for slipping on carpets if you are wearing slippers – take your time and don’t rush. Ask a neighbour or relative to help you rather than risk a fall. Talk to your GP if you have any concerns.

3) Be Secure every day. Some medicines have side effects that can make you dizzy and increase your risk of a fall. In the home it’s vital you don’t attempt things that put you at risk of falling or hurting yourself. If dizziness is one of the side effects of any medication you are taking, or if you take more than four different medicines, ask your GP or pharmacist for a medicines review.

Be Steady, Safe and Secure – 5 key products to help prevent a fall

1) HIPS® Hip protection system from co-operative Xest offers ongoing protection against injury from falls, plus they have been clinically proven to reduce fall-related hip fractures. HIPS®, are not a permanent fixture but are comfortable and discreet and designed ergonomically for men and women:  a safe solution to encourage you to be more active and confident and to lead a more independent life.  Priced from just £39.93, they are a small price to pay for peace of mind and protection against what could be a life changing occurrence.

2) Step Stool with Rail Reaching high shelves, cleaning windows, dusting pictures...in fact every time you need a little lift, stand on this sturdy stool. Made to last in chrome steel, the rail provides a reassuring handgrip while the legs are tipped with rubber feet for anti-slip safety. Product number: KD1063

http://www.co-opxest.com/Store/keyword-is-kd1063

3) Stick N Stay Grab Rails with Suction Instant extra safety in the bathroom or kitchen - that's the great thing about these super-reliable rails. Because they fix (like limpets) with special suction cups to tiled, glass or smooth enamelled surfaces, they're easy to install and simply to remove. Portable too, just pop one into a bag when you're visiting friends.

http://www.co-opxest.com/Store/keyword-is-BA1113

4) Handi-Reacher^TM If bending or stretching are things you'd rather avoid, reach for the Handi-Reacher^TM. The easy trigger action lets you use up to four fingers for maximum control. The jaw is rubber lined to grab and grip anything from a remote control to a jar of coffee, while an integral magnet picks up pins keys and paperclips. What's more, the jaw of this reacher rotates, so your wrist doesn't have to.

http://www.co-opxest.com/Store/keyword-is-LH1050-LH1051-LH1052

5) TGA Active Rollator Around the house or around the neighbourhood, the Active Rollator lets you take a comfortable stroll in your stride. Expertly designed for maximum support and safety, it's lightweight, easily manoeuvrable and has a host of user-friendly features to encourage you to step out with complete peace-of-mind.

http://www.co-opxest.com/Store/keyword-is-MO1012 

About co-operative Xest

Co-operative Xest is a co-operative business, they can be trusted to do the right thing by customers, as customers ultimately own the business.

Co-operative Xest has a mission, they want to:

•         Enable customers to live independent, dignified, more fulfilled and enriched lives

•         Change the way people shop for clever products that make life easier

Co-operative Xest has pledged to do the following:

•         Offer a 1 year no quibble guarantee

•         Provide clear and full information about their products including customer benefits

•         Use pictures that show you what the products are like in every day life

•         Provide products that offer great value for money

•         Keep the cost of delivery  to a minimum

•         Provide rapid service

The Southern Co-operative, the parent company of co-operative Xest, is an independent co-operative society founded in 1873, with over 3,000 employees, 70,000 members and over 150 outlets primarily in food retailing.

As a mutual business we believe in the ethical values of honesty, openness, social responsibility and caring for others.

Co-operative Xest offer a discreet easy living range with no compromise on design and quality, for other similar products in the range please visit www.co-opXest.com. Telephone:  0800 622 6001

For more information, images and samples please contact Rosanna@more2.com or call 0207 420 5091.

Other Sources:

NHS Confederation – National Audit of Falls Services for Older People are preventable

http://www.nhsconfed.org/Networks/AmbulanceService/Ourwork/News/Pages/Falls.aspx

Help the Aged – National Falls Awareness Day

http://www.helptheaged.org.uk/enb/AdviceSupport/HomeSafety/FallPrevention/NFAD/

NICE  - National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence free information booklet on falls for older people, their families and carers

http://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/index.jsp?action=byID&r=true&o=10956

*** Ends***

For further information please contact Rosanna at more2 PR:

Rosanna Head                                                                       

more2PR                                                                                             

rosanna@more2.com                                                                         

Tel: 0207 420 5091

_______________________________________________________________________

10 June 2009

New Statistics Reveal a Rise in Depression amongst Informal Carers in the UK

Startling new research reveals the mental torment of the nation’s informal carers

•         New research reveals the true picture of depression amongst informal carers in the UK, with over 54% of women classified as informal carers in the UK, being depressed.

•         Informal carers have double the likelihood of moderate depression (or more) than the general population (32% versus 16%)

•         The research also reveals that informal carers have three times the likelihood of moderately severe depression (or more) than the general population (16% versus 5 %)

London, 10^th June 2009 – According to new research out this week informal Carers in the UK are some of the most depressed in Europe.

Over 300 informal carers took part in interviews, undertaken by research company HPI for co-operative Xest, an informal carer is defined as; ‘Any person who provides a substantial amount of care on a regular basis for another individual aged 18 or over who has a long term disability or health condition, mental health problem, is frail due to old age, or unable to cope for other reasons, and is not in formal or paid employment for that role’

With an ageing population and more and more people being forced into the role of informal carer, we as a nation are becoming more and more depressed by the role.

Denise Robertson comments ‘I am concerned at these levels of depression amongst informal Carers in the UK .  It is clear from the survey findings carried out on behalf of co-operative Xest, that they need more support.  I am proud to be associated with this ground breaking research and I applaud co-operative Xest for understanding the importance of these unsung heroes’

___________________________________________________________ 

8 May 2009

Make your kitchen a haven of ease

Not everyone’s Jamie Oliver in the kitchen and a clean organised kitchen may be the ideal but sometimes we do struggle, stirring the soup, cutting the bread, opening that wretched pickle jar whilst balancing a phone between the chin and shoulder!

co-operative Xest are offering timeless products you’ll wonder how you ever did without to save you not only time and energy but will make those kitchen moments a little less tedious.

The iSmart No-Touch waste bin will become the focus of your kitchen.It may even get the kids to tidy up after themselves, as they’ll love the automatically opening and closing lid. Genius!

As the summer months are finally here, long days in the garden are just what we need, but cold tea and coffee can sometimes put a dampener on long summer evenings outside. The Insulated Stainless Steel Tea and Coffee pots are wonderful vessels to keep your favourite Columbian coffee and Earl Grey tipple hotter for longer.

Sliding tea cups on trays are a thing of the past with the amazing Non-Slip Mats which also double up as jar and bottle openers, perfect for those hard to open jam jars, a well needed accompaniment with your afternoon tea and scones.

__________________________________________________________

8 May 2009 

HIPS® Hip Protection System Falls Awareness in the UK

In the UK, over 95% of hip fractures occur from a fall, and are unfortunately the leading cause of death from injury among people over 74, with costs to the NHS estimated at £15 million every year.

Co-operative Xest recognises that small measures can be taken to minimise the seriousness of falls in people over the age 65. Suffering a fall can have a major impact on an older person’s physical and mental state, therefore the HIPS® Hip protection system from co-operative Xest offers ongoing protection against injury from falls, plus they have been clinically proven to reduce fall-related hip fractures.

HIPS®, are not a permanent fixture but are comfortable and discreet and designed ergonomically for men and women:  a safe solution to encourage you to be more active and confident and to lead a more independent life.  Priced from just £39.93, they are a small price to pay for peace of mind and protection against what could be a life changing occurrence.

________________________________________________________________________________________________

20 April 2009

co-operative Xest becomes the latest addition to DLF’s growing band of supporters

The Disabled Living Foundation (DLF) is pleased to announce co-operative Xest as the latest company to come on board as a sponsor of its groundbreaking new website 'Living made easy' (www.livingmadeeasy.org.uk). Co-operative Xest joins the ever-growing group of companies who have come together to support DLF’s vision of releasing its unique advice and information onto the internet free-of-charge for the public benefit.

As part of their partnership DLF has also developed a customised version of its award-winning online tool AskSARA for co-operative Xest, to help their customers find suitable products from their extensive range while at the same time obtaining the best possible advice from DLF’s team of occupational therapists.  For their part, co-operative Xest were able to share with the DLF the outcome of useability studies to help improve the overall ease of use of AskSARA.

Chris Shaw, DLF’s Chief Executive, says "We are delighted to be working with a company with the co-operative values of co-opeartive Xest. Our aim as a charity is to ensure that people receive appropriate support to help them make the right decisions about products that can help them in their daily lives. By working with companies like co-operative Xest we can help them provide invaluable impartial advice to their customers."