Welcome to Telecare Choice’s monthly news round-up. This month we take a look at the Winter Olympics, the chaos left behind after three storms hit the UK, and a new study suggesting our brains stay sharp until we’re 60.
Two Winter Olympics Medals
This year marked the 25th Winter Olympics. They took place in Beijing, China, fortunately avoiding any delays at the hands of the pandemic. It was a tense time for Team GB, and by the end of the games we came away with only two medals: a gold and a silver in women’s and men’s curling.
Whilst a disappointing outcome in some ways, it remains a time for celebration for the talented teams.
Team GB face tough competition at every Winter Olympics. Very rarely do they make it into the top ten on the medals table. Throughout all the Winter Olympics games, Great Britain have achieved a total of twelve gold medals, ranking number 18 out of 46 countries.
Three Storms in a Week
February has ended with chaos, as not one, not two, but three storms battered the UK. These powerful storms swept in from the Atlantic, damaging buildings and flooding streets. Amongst the damage caused by the second, in particular, was the tearing of part of the O2 Arena’s roof.
Across the country, fences were felled and shed roofs removed. Unfortunately, lives were also lost due to falling trees and windswept debris.
More than one million homes were left without power, and train journeys were cancelled. Winds were even strong enough to push people off their feet. Flooding has also been reported from Scotland to the East Midlands. We hope the end of February marks the end of this chaotic weather.
If your home has been damaged by the storms this month, you may be wondering whether you are covered by your home insurance. Fortunately, Confused.com have a guide on storm damage and insurance.
Brains Remain Sharp Until 60
It has long been assumed that our mental speed takes a downward turn once we turn 20. A recent study, however, has determined that our brains remain sharp throughout middle age.
The study, carried out by researchers at Heidelberg University in Germany, tasked the participants with placing images into one of two categories. This task was accomplished simply by pressing buttons. It was found that people over 20 took longer to complete the task, but that the speed of processing information did not slow until 60.
Caution, it claims, is what slowed down middle-aged participants. People under 18 were less cautious, preferring speed to accuracy; people aged between 18 and 65 took more time to ensure their answers were accurate.
So next time someone says it’s all downhill after 20, tell them that your brain remains sharp until you’re at least 60.
Our Mission
At Telecare Choice, we are dedicated to helping the elderly, frail, and disabled remain confident and independent in their own homes. By purchasing one of our personal alarm plans, you will benefit from 24/7 coverage, 365 days a year. In an emergency, simply press the button on your pendant and help will be arranged.
We also offer fall detector and GPS packages for additional peace of mind.
To find out more about our personal alarm service, call our helpful team on 0800 635 7000 or use our contact form.
