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kilkennyobserver.ie
The Kilkenny Observer Friday 28 January 2022
Your Money
Cigarettes still kill 6,000 of us a year BY JOHN ELLIS FINANCIAL ADVISOR
IRELAND, though a recognised global leader in tobacco control, still has an unenviably statistic that one in every two smokers will die from a tobacco-related disease, and, according to the HSE, nearly 6,000 people will die in Ireland each year from smoking-related illnesses. The Healthy Ireland Survey 2021, which represents a detailed insight of a time interval during which necessary Covid19 restrictions had a significant impact on the health and wellbeing of the people of Ireland, found 16% of the population smoke daily and 2% occasionally. And, for the first time, 45 to 54-year-olds are the most likely age group (24%) to smoke, with an increase of 6% since 2019. But it’s not all bad news. A total of 27% of those who attempted to quit in the last 12 months were successful and, overall, less people are smoking now compared to five years ago with the rates of smoking among 25 to 34-year-olds (20%) having declined by 6% since 2019. This was the age group with the highest prevalence of smoking in each previous survey.
Karen Gallagher, Interim Head of Proposition at Royal London, says:“Each year thousands of people throughout Ireland aim to give up smoking, with the beginning of a new year seen by many as the perfect time to jumpstart their health goals. While we all know that quitting smoking isn’t easy, the Healthy Ireland report shows the prevalence of smoking in Ireland is reducing as more people successfully go tobacco-free.” Beyond the physical health advantages of quitting there are significant financial benefits to be had as smoking can double the cost of life and serious illness cover. Look at this comparision table comparing smoker rates with non-smoker rates from Royal London as an example.
Let’s assume you are currently a smoker and will be 45 this year. You will pay over €18,000 more in premiums than a non-smoker will for the same level of cover — €300,000 over the next 25-years. And the cost of serious illness cover rises even more steeply with €68,000 more being paid than a non-smoker for €300,000 over a 25-year term. Speaking about the cost analysis, Ms. Gallagher says:“The price differential here is quite substantial. Our experience is that, while many people expect smokers to pay more in premiums, many don’t realise how much more it adds up to over the lifetime of the policy.” Imagine further that in 12
GP visits or phone calls, if I had only kept those Eircom shares that helped light the fire some years back. So, what can be done to ensure senior members of our society can continue to access the necessary support they require? You have guessed it in one …. We are going on line! Its is called Smart Care
So, what is Smart care? Smart care empowers seniors to live independent, healthy and active lives in their own homes as well as providing their families with peace of mind. Its smart because it: Provides services designed to meet the specific needs of each and every customer, combines homecare, healthcare and sensor enabled 24/7 remote assistance to provide better and more affordable support, when required. Uses technology to enhance the level of reassurance, whilst reducing costs at the same time. We explored a bit more to understand this new service. They provide a service called remote assistance that uses the latest smart home technology. It uses a small hub, a bit like a modem, that connects discrete smart sensors, placed in the home to their 24/7 Remote Assistance team. Included in their standard pack is the hub, 2 motion sensors, a door sensor and a wrist worn fall detector, which doubles as a panic button. The sensors notify their Remote Assistance team should any of their customers require immediate assistance. Should this occur they give their customer a quick call to check that everything is
months’ time you have not smoked and intend never to smoke again, this includes the use of e-cigarettes and nicotine replacement products such as patches or chewing gum and you have lifecover and/or serious illness cover in place you could potentially get a significant reduction in the cost of your policy premiums. Financial advisors find that many potential clients who have become non-smokers since taking out a policy have never had the plan reviewed regarding current levels of cover and premiums and so many were and are still losing significant savings each year. I recommend that you get in touch with your Financial Broker to see if you can avail of more competitive rates and start saving money on your life and/or serious illness plans immediately. This may entail a new application for lifecover, even a medical and a smoker test called a ‘cotinine test’ where they take a sample of your saliva and run a test to see if there is nicotine in your system. It will take a small amount of your time but it could add significantly to your bottom line. john@ellisfinancial.ie 086 8362633.
Community Group
‘Its life Jim but not as we know it!’ DURING months of ‘the Pandemic’ the way we went to the doctor changed dramatically. We didn’t get to see him face to face. No thermometer placed in your mouth and for us men no finger where the sun doesn’t shine! And that was the only welcoming relief. It seems science has now developed for your local GP
to look down your throat or feel the tummy down the telephone line! God be with the days you would get a big spoon of the syrup, a goodnight sleep and whatever was ailing yah was out of you like a shot the following morning. I’m sure we have all seen reports about how populations across the Globe are
ageing and that by 2031 the population over 65 in Ireland will have increased to over 1 Million (source: CSO 2018) This will ultimately lead to increases in demand for homecare and health care services. 71% increase in the number of people who will require homecare packages 38% increase in demand for
okay. If their customer tells them they are not okay, or if they don’t answer, they then contact a family member or another nominated person. The remote assistance service costs €9 per week and also includes the cost of the technology. And here comes the catch! Their service works a bit like a mobile contract, in that customers would need to sign up to an 18-month contract. Their remote assistance service works in tandem with their homecare teams to provide more comprehensive support. They say that by combining homecare and remote assistance, their customers often need less homecare hours so reducing how much customers would need to pay. In addition, all their customers also get priority access to their healthcare services provided by their teams of 24/7 GPs and Nurses, as well as appointments with Counsellors, Physiotherapists, footcare specialists and dieticians. Okay, we are having a little bit of fun about this Smart Care. But let’s be honest it is the future of our Senior Health care. So, you will have to get use to saying AWAHHH down the Phone to your GP from now! Its life Jim but not as we know it!
