Madonna captioned the post, “Love from family and friends is the best Medicine. One month out of the hospital and I can reflect”.
“As a Mother you can really get caught up In the needs Of your children and the seemingly endless giving……….. But when the chips were down my children really showed up for me. I saw a side to them I had never seen before. It made all the difference”.
The Material Girl singer continued, “So did the love and support from my friends. If you zoom into this Picture I am holding You will see A Polaroid taken by Andy Warhol of Keith Haring wearing a jacket with Michael Jackson’s face painted on it”.
“A perfect triangle of Brilliance. Artist who touched so many lives including my own. I sobbed when I opened this gift because I realised how lucky I am to be alive”.
Madonna closed off by adding, “And how fortunate I am to have known these people and so many others who are also gone. Thank you @guyoseary for this gift! And Thank you to all my angels who protected me and let me Stay to finish doing my work!”.
Many fans of the ‘Queen of Pop’ flooded the comments section with supportive messages.
“You are loved, Madonna. You have touched the lives of so many with your artistry, your authenticity, and your fearlessness”, penned one fan.
A second fan said, “Such strong words from you. It is so good to see you in good health, full of strength and energy”.
“So glad you are recovering, love you and the kids”, a third commented.
After falling ill last month, Madonna had to postpone her world tour. Her current plan is to reschedule the North American leg of the tour to a later date, and begin touring in Europe in October.
If you’re looking for make-up inspo then look no further than Rimmel London’s latest brand ambassador, Maya Jama. She is one of the most talked about celebrities of the moment and we’re not surprised – her beauty looks are to die for.
Maya has you covered with her top tips and fav products from the UK’s No.1 make-up brand, including the brand new Lasting Finish35 hour foundation (£10.99 / €11.99, 30ml) and Scandaleyes Exaggerate Eye Definer (£4.99 / €6.99.)
Create the ultimate Maya Jama-inspired summer beauty look thanks to a few must-have products. Maya’s holy grail products include bright red lipstick and winged eyeliner – her two make-up bag heroes.
As well as loving a bold red lip like Lasting Provocalips Kiss the Town Red (£9.99 / €11.49.) or Lasting Finish Lipstick Alarm (£5.99 / €7.49) at night-time, she’s also a huge fan of the 90s lip look and overlining too and recommends Rimmel London’s Lasting Finish 8Hr Lip Liner in shade 90’s Nude (£3.99 / €4.99.) or Cappuccino (£3.99 / €4.99) for the perfect daytime lip.
Maya Jama has the most perfect base thanks to her skincare regime. Her flawless skin is complemented by the long-lasting foundation formula in Rimmel London’s brand new Lasting Finish35 hour foundation (£10.99 / €11.99, 30ml) which delivers UNBEATABLE hydration and up to 35HR wear. Maya’s fav thing about this foundation – it lasts all day – even if she’s out until 4am! Maya commented: ‘I love that it has a flawless finish to it, and that it’s so buildable – you can apply it in the morning when going about doing your everyday, then refresh it during the day and it lasts right into the night and doesn’t crease!’
This game-changing foundation with Hyaluronic Acid and 2% Niacinamide delivers an unbeatable hydration boost. The unique, breathable formula also cares for and protects the skin’s barrier against damage from urban and digital aggressors, like pollution and blue light. The coverage blurs imperfections, giving a gorgeous natural-looking finish and healthy-looking skin.
The secret to better skin lies in the blend of hard-working ingredients:
Hyaluronic Acid supercharges the skin with moisture, leaving it hydrated and plump for a dewy, healthy glow.
2% Niacinamide improves uneven skin tone, softens fine lines and wrinkles, diminishes dullness and strengthens a weakened skin surface.
Vitamin E offers antioxidant properties to help defend skin from pollution and external aggressors, leaving skin looking fresh and feeling soft.
Rimmel is all about celebrating beauty, diversity and individualism, which is why the foundation comes in a vast, fully-inclusive palette. Choose from 34 shades, ranging from #1 Pearl to #700 Ebony, that are designed to match virtually every skin tone. Look out for the full range in sleek, new-look glass bottles that are topped with an easy-to-use pump and distinctive bright red cap.
Rimmel London products are available in all leading pharmacies, grocery and department stores including Boots, Lloyds Pharmacy and Dunnes Stores. Also, online at Cloud 10.
Overdue a catch-up with your besties? New research reveals just one hour and 49 minutes is the perfect amount of time we need to spend catching up with friends to have the most significant positive impact on our well-being.
According to plant-based Califia Farms Cold Brew Coffee, who commissioned the research, two-thirds (72%) agree that quality time talking is the most essential part of get-togethers. Even a shorter 24-minute chat can benefit people’s mental health as much as a bubble bath.
Catching up over coffee is ranked as the top bonding experience shared with friends (51%), followed by taking a walk (46%) and having dinner out (43%). The research comes as Califia Farms partners with singer Rachel Stevens and her best friend to show how a refreshing Cold Brew coffee can fuel a nourishing heart-to-heart this summer.
Singer Rachel Stevens
Indeed, 41% prefer to catch up in the comfort of their own home over a restaurant or bar, while one in four (24%) believe a one-hour caffeine-fuelled catch-up is more valuable than an entire night out, with popular reasons including price (32%), convenience (30%) and noise levels (26%).
in the context of rising sobriety, over half (55%) prefer to ditch the alcohol and instead connect with their friends over a coffee, saying that it allows for richer conversation (34%), greater connection (31%) and a further 31% citing the cost benefits.
Rachel Stevens comments, “Since spending time in LA, I’ve fallen in love with a smooth Cold Brew coffee over ice – which I think started as a Californian trend and has now firmly hit UK shores! Alongside catching up with Nikki, it’s one of my favourite things. Even when I don’t have much time, I cherish our ritual of coffee and conversation at home. We block out time, ensure the children are entertained and settle down in one of our houses so that we can sit back, relax and have a good natter. It’s quality over quantity for us.”
Top five bonding experiences for connecting with friends:
Catching up regularly over coffee (51%)
Taking a walk (46%)
Having dinner out (43%)
Catching up over an alcoholic drink (36%)
Attending music / sporting events (23%)
Califia Farms Cold Brew coffee continues the brand’s plant-based mission, championing a future where plants replace dairy without compromising taste. Made with the highest quality ingredients from whole food plant sources, Califia Farms offers healthy and great-tasting plant-based alternatives.
XX Espresso Cold Brew Coffee:
Smooth and velvety almond drink blends with a little XXtra of our 100% arabica coffee for a bold coffee with a sweeter, less acidic taste. In a convenient grab-and-go bottle, it’s the perfect plant-based pick-me-up. Coffee with a little XXtra.
Mocha Cold Brew Coffee:
Velvety almond drink and real cocoa expertly blended with smooth arabica coffee. A perfect start to your day, afternoon pick-me-up, or base for a rich coffee cocktail. Always plant-based and always delicious.
Oat Caramel Cold Brew:
Real indulgent caramel swirls with smooth oat drink and coffee made from 100% arabica beans. This is your new favourite treat for any time of the day, ready to pour straight from the fridge. 100% plant-based and oh so easy to love.
Califia Farms Cold Brew XX Espresso, Mocha and Caramel Oat 750ml products (RRP: €3.89) are available nationwide in major supermarkets, including Dunnes Stores, SuperValu and Tesco and convenience stores nationwide.
An Irish woman has passed away after competing in a triathlon in France.
48-year-old Sarah Fagan, who was from Dundalk in Co. Louth, took part in the Alp D'Huez triathlon over the weekend.
On Friday, Sarah was competing in the swimming portion of the competition when she got into difficulty in the water and went into cardiorespiratory arrest. She was airlifted to Grenoble University Hospital, but she was sadly pronounced dead on Saturday.
Tributes have since started to pour in for the beloved Louth woman, including from the Setanta Triathlon Club, which Sarah was a member of.
“It is with profound sorrow and shock that we have to announce the passing of our friend and club-mate Sarah Fagan,” the group said in a statement on social media.
The club went on to describe her as “an integral member”, and how she was always eager to volunteer her free time, and to get involved in any event she could.
“Sarah stood out among her peers as she was always smiling, enthusiastic, and willing to help others,” the group penned.
“All her club-mates are devastated at Sarah's passing, and our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam dílis,” they added.
Credit: Lionel Royet / Alp D'Huez
The Cuchulainn Cycling Club, which Sarah had been a member of since 2010, also paid tribute to their friend by writing: “Sarah lived life to the full, she was passionate, she had such a positive attitude to life, and had such a huge circle of friends within the club.”
In a statement published to the triathlon’s website, the organisers of the event expressed their sympathies to Sarah’s loved ones.
“Our thoughts are with the family of the victim, who was a member of our community," triathlon director Cyrille Neveu wrote, adding that Sarah's loss is “very difficult to accept”.
An investigation is now underway to determine Sarah’s precise cause of death.
Today, Charlotte Tilbury Beauty launched a multifaceted collection, celebrating 10 magical years of Charlotte Tilbury Beauty and 100 years of Disney. Showcasing specially created products, content, technology, experiences and an all-new animated short produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios, the collaboration brings together global talent to create a bespoke digital experience that honors innovation of the two iconic brands. To complement the milestone, a new dedicated online virtual store, limited edition products and 10 new makeup looks inspired by beloved Disney characters were revealed.
This campaign will come to life in an all-new mixed-reality short produced in collaboration with both the Walt Disney Animation Studios and Charlotte Tilbury herself. Charlotte visited the Walt Disney Animation Studios in Los Angeles to meet with lead animator, Eric Goldberg and special products producer, Dorothy McKim to help create the vision behind her character and develop this bespoke short for beauty lovers, Disney fans and beyond.
“Bringing Charlotte into the world of animation and having her fly alongside Tinker Bell has been magical,” said Special Projects and 2D Animation Producer at Walt Disney Animation Studios, Dorothy McKim. “Charlotte's enthusiasm and her love of Disney animation especially Peter Pan has been infectious for all of us working on the project.”
The short sets the scene for new limited-edition collectibles to commemorate the collaboration. Discover the magic as Charlotte’s award-winning beauty secrets are reimagined with a limited-edition Tinker Bell adorned design. Glide on Charlotte’s world-famous Beauty Light Wands – in shades Spotlight, Pink and Gold – for cheekbones that glow forever, and be transported to where magic skin dreams come true, with the icon that started it all, Charlotte’s award-winning, best-selling Magic Cream, loved by experts and stars for immediate skin revival! Hold all your beauty dreams and secrets safe inside Charlotte’s new limited collector’s edition Beauty Wishes Makeup Bag – created in the brand’s iconic night crimson hue and embellished with a magical Tinker Bell design.
Be the first to discover Charlotte's new 10 iconic makeup looks inspired by the spirit of 10 beloved Disney characters as she reimagines her original iconic 10 looks to make everyone, everywhere feel and look their most beautiful, confident self!
To celebrate this collaboration, Disney and Charlotte Tilbury have created four exclusive new Charlotte Tilbury Pin Badges – highly covetable for Disney and beauty fans alike. The limited-edition pins will be available through gift with purchase or through completing tasks in Charlotte’s dedicated virtual store on CharlotteTilbury.com while stocks last.
Finally, this special collaboration will come to life in a dazzling takeover of the iconic Selfridges Cornershop in London – the very location that Charlotte Tilbury Beauty first began 10 years ago! Against a backdrop of stars, clouds and gold dust, everyone is invited to experience the magic of Disney100 x Charlotte Tilbury. Step inside from July 31st to make your beauty dreams come true!
This collection sees the beauty giant take its first step into the world of media entertainment and deliver a truly 360’ collaboration that supersedes traditional brand collaborations.
The Disney100 X Charlotte Tilbury collection is available now on CharlotteTilbury.com and in Brown Thomas and Arnotts nationwide.
Meghan Trainor is celebrating her newborn son turning one month old.
The Made You Look singer welcomed her son, Barry, into the world with her husband Daryl Sabara at the beginning of July. The couple are already proud parents to two-year-old Riley.
Now that Barry is a month old, Meghan has shared an adorable video compilation of the first few weeks of his life to her 17.8M Instagram followers.
The adorable footage has delighted fans as it shows sweet moments between Riley and Barry, as the toddler looks out for his newborn sibling.
Between giving Barry lots of hugs and kisses as well as feeding him, waving at him and giving him gentle ‘boops’ on the nose, Riley has definitely settled into his role as big brother.
Trainor captioned the cute post, which is set to the moving song I Get To Love You, “I blinked and Barry is a month old. Riley is so in love! We are all so in love with you sweet boy #newborn”.
Many fans of the All About That Bass singer flooded the comments with supportive messages, sharing how much they love the bond between the two young brothers.
One fan said, “He loves his brother, you’re doing so great Meghan”.
“SO precious! Riley is the sweetest big brother and y’all are the cutest family!”, penned a second commenter.
A third added, “You can really see how much Riley is loving being a big brother. Thank you for sharing such sweetness”.
When announcing Barry’s arrival into the world, Meghan revealed he was born on her and Daryl’s seven-year wedding anniversary.
Posting photos from the hospital after Barry was born, the 29-year-old wrote, “He was a big boy at 8lbs 7oz…and sideways (transverse), but we had an amazing, successful c-section, and I finally got my skin to skin time!”.
“Thank you to all of the incredible doctors and nurses who took such great care of us”.
“I will miss my friend forever. I will miss singing with him, recording with him, talking with him, being on stage together,” Lady Gaga penned at the beginning of her lengthy tribute, adding that their friendship “wasn't an act”.
The 37-year-old old went on to admit that she had been “grieving the loss of Tony for a long time.”
“Though there were 5 decades between us, he was my friend. My real true friend. Our age difference didn’t matter– in fact, it gave us each something neither of us had with most people,” she gushed.
Lady Gaga further added how Tony’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis affected him.
“Losing Tony to Alzheimer’s has been painful but it was also really beautiful. An era of memory loss is such a sacred time in a person's life. There's such a feeling of vulnerability and a desire to preserve dignity,” she explained.
“All I wanted was for Tony to remember how much I loved him and how grateful I was to have him in my life. But, as that faded slowly I knew deep down he was sharing with me the most vulnerable moment in his life that he could–being willing to sing with me when his nature was changing so deeply. I'll never forget this experience. I'll never forget Tony Bennett,” the Born This Way singer promised.
The 31-year-old simply captioned the post, “03/06/23 I married my soul mate”.
The gorgeous photos unveiled Leigh-Anne’s fairytale wedding dress for the first time. The breathtaking white gown consists of a lace bodice, sheer sleeves and a full ball gown-style skirt, along with a long, flowy train and veil to match.
Andre looked dapper in a white suit jacket, white shirt, black trousers and a matching black bowtie.
The Don’t Say Love singer’s bridesmaids donned pretty blue satin dresses and wore their hair slicked back into buns.
The setting for the destination wedding was simply stunning as the couple exchanged vows on the beach, right by the sea, with lovely flower displays surrounding them and a huge palm tree covered in white roses.
Many fans and famous pals flooded the comments with complimentary messages for the first look into Leigh-Anne and Andre’s big day.
Pinnock’s former band member, Jade Thirlwall, wrote, “Love you and your beautiful family”.
“This is the most beautiful thing i’ve ever seeeeen omg”, penned singer Mae Muller.
Love is Blind star Tiffany Pennywell Brown added, “You looked absolutely stunning! Congratulations to you two! Wishing you many years of happiness together”.
The singer had been keeping details of the wedding private, but a week after getting married, Leigh-Anne sent her fans a newsletter to talk about the big day.
“First of all… I’m a married woman! Eeeek! Andre and I had the most incredible wedding surrounded by love in a place that’s so special to both of us. Thank you all for showing us so much love & support”.
Charlotte Dawson has given birth to a beautiful baby boy.
Congratulations are in order for Charlotte and her fiancé Matthew Sarsfield as they have welcomed another baby boy into their family.
The former Ex on the Beach star has now announced the adorable name of her bundle of joy with the world, as well as detailing her pain relief- free birth story.
Sharing a collection of hospital photos, taken soon after her newborn’s arrival, Charlotte opened up about her labour in the caption on the post to her 1.3M Instagram followers.
Dawson wrote, “He’s here… our little rainbow Jude Dawson Sarsfield came into the world on the 30th July at 02:13am weighing 8lb 8oz. He made his speedy entrance in an hour of us getting to hospital”.
“I was adamant for a section but his head came out on the theatre table with no chuffin pain relief guys !!! everybody did warn me saying your second baby flies out… hahahaha I wish I did listen”.
The reality TV star continued, “Well my birthing plan went completely the other way.. I pushed nearly a 9 pounder out but our little judey baby is a dream come true, happy & healthy and we are so in love”.
“I can’t wait for Noah to meet him & be the best big brother.. special they had the same hats on when they were born, massive thank you to Blackpool midwife’s, nurses & doctors for being amazing & listening to me scream the hospital down”.
Charlotte closed off by sweetly adding, “Love you all thank you for all your messages, currently in our little baba bubble crazy to think I was having contractions this time last night.. but thought it was another false alarm, deffo wasn’t HES CHUFFIN ERE our boyo @matt_sarsfield our family is now complete.. the 4 musketeers”.
Many fans and famous faces alike rushed to the comments to congratulate Charlotte and Matthew on Jude’s arrival.
Geordie Shore’s Holly Hagan penned, “So proud of you!!! He looks just like Noah when he was born”.
“Congratulations darling”, added former Coronation Street actressHelen Flanagan.
Former The Real Housewives of Cheshire star Christine McGuinness added, “Congratulations! sending lots of love”.
Charlotte and Matthew are already parents to two-year-old Noah. Dawson announced she was expecting again in February of this year, almost a year after she suffered a heartbreaking miscarriage 10 weeks into her pregnancy.
When revealing her pregnancy with OK!, she explained, “Obviously this one is a rainbow baby. I feel very blessed and very happy that I’ve managed to get pregnant again”.
“We were absolutely heartbroken about the miscarriage last year. It came as a shock when I found out last April”.
We’re already at the start of a new month which means we have lots of new movies and TV shows to look forward to on Netflix.
As we head into August, Netflix will be adding plenty of thrilling films and captivating shows to keep us entertained for the coming weeks ahead. Whether you’re looking for a romcom, an action-packed movie or an insightful documentary, Netflix has plenty of new titles landing on the streaming platform this coming month.
So, grab your favourite snacks and prepare to put your feet up in your favourite spot on the couch as we share the wonderful bits being added to Netflix this August.
TV series
The Lincoln Lawyer: Season 2 Part 2- coming August 3
As Lisa's trial approaches, Mickey faces doubts, setbacks and unexpected revelations. Lorna and Cisco plan for their big day, while Izzy makes big moves.
Heartstopper: Season 2- coming August 3
With exams, a school trip to Paris and prom on the horizon, Nick, Charlie and the gang must navigate the next stages of life, love and friendship.
Fatal Seduction: Volume 2- coming August 4
The dark and mysterious erotic thriller series from Steven Pillemer returns for a new season of lust, longing and betrayal.
Painkiller- coming August 10
A fictionalised retelling of events, Painkiller is a scripted limited series that explores some of the origins and aftermath of the opioid crisis in America, highlighting the stories of the perpetrators, victims, and truth-seekers whose lives are forever altered by the invention of OxyContin. An examination of crime, accountability, and the systems that have repeatedly failed hundreds of thousands of Americans, Painkiller is based on the book Pain Killer by Barry Meier and the New Yorker Magazine article ‘The Family That Built the Empire of Pain’ by Patrick Radden Keefe.
At Home With The Furys- coming August 16
Undefeated heavyweight champion Tyson Fury retires from boxing to embrace the eccentricities of family life in this hilarious and heartfelt docusoap.
The Upshaws: Part 4- coming August 17
A working-class Black family in Indiana strives for a better life and a happy home while juggling everyday struggles in this comedy series.
The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On: Season 2- Ep 1-8 coming August 23, Ep 9-10 coming August 30
Five different couples on the verge of marriage- one partner is ready to get married, the other isn’t quite as sure. An ultimatum is issued – and in just over eight weeks, they must commit to marriage, or move on. In the meantime, each will choose a new potential partner from one of the other couples, in a life-changing opportunity to get a glimpse of two different possible futures.
Ragnarok: Season 3- coming August 24
With the lines between good and evil blurred, Magne's fortitude is about to face its ultimate trial in an epic final battle of gods against giants.
Who is Erin Carter?- coming August 24
A British expat's tranquil life in Barcelona spirals out of control when an armed robbery at a supermarket exposes her secret and violent past.
One Piece- coming August 31
Based on Japan’s highest-selling manga series in history by Eiichiro Oda, One Piece is a legendary high-seas adventure unlike any other. Monkey D. Luffy is a young adventurer who has longed for a life of freedom since he can remember. Luffy sets off from his small village on a perilous journey to find the legendary fabled treasure, One Piece, to become King of the Pirates! But in order to find the ultimate prize, Luffy will need to assemble the crew he’s always wanted before finding a ship to sail, searching every inch of the vast blue seas, outpacing the Marines, and outwitting dangerous rivals at every turn.
Movies
Soulcatcher- coming August 2
A military contractor hired to seize a weapon that turns people into savage killers seeks revenge when his brother falls victim to the device.
Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead- coming August 3
Bullied by his boss, worked around the clock, he's nothing more than a corporate drone. All it takes is a zombie outbreak for him to finally feel alive!
Heart of Stone- coming August 11
Gal Gadot is Agent Rachel Stone, an intelligence operative for a shadowy global peacekeeping agency races to stop a hacker from stealing its most valuable — and dangerous — weapon. Also stars Jamie Dornan, Alia Bhatt and Matthias Schweighöfer.
Love, Sex and 30 Candles- coming August 18
In the year they all turn 30, four best friends navigate relationships, heartbreak and a shocking development that threatens to tear them apart.
You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah- coming August 25
Best friends Stacy and Lydia are both planning epic bat mitzvahs. But it all unravels when a popular boy — and middle school drama — threaten to ruin everything. Idina Menzel, Jackie Sandler, Adam Sandler, Sadie Sandler and Sunny Sandler star in this smartly edgy coming-of-age comedy.
Choose Love- coming August 31
Cami Conway has it all until she comes face to face with a kaleidoscope of tempting but tough choices. What she chooses depends wholly on you, the viewer. But be careful! Things don’t always play out like you think!
As Philadelphia unveils its latest campaign aimed at promoting friendship, it comes to light that approximately 11% of Irish adults reveal they do not have someone they identify as their closest friend. The new campaign from the brand seeks to foster meaningful connections and address the challenge of individuals feeling without a best friend. This launch coincides with the emergence of a new formula from world leading friendship expert Professor Robin Dunbar, who says we only need 9 minutes per day to nourish friendship.
According to research, Irish individuals typically have between one to three close friends, with around three-quarters of them maintaining contact at least once a week. Additionally, nearly two-thirds of Irish adults are in touch with another 1 to 4 friends on a weekly basis. However, despite the importance of these friendships, meeting up in person has become challenging due to busy work schedules, family obligations, and an increase in time spent at home.
The significance of close friendships cannot be overstated. Recent medical studies* have highlighted that the quantity and quality of these connections serve as the most reliable predictors of both mental and physical health and overall well-being. It underscores the vital role friendships play in promoting a happier and healthier life.
The way people spend their time together is also crucial. Research demonstrates that whilst people maintain friendships in a variety of ways, including digitally (for example by phone, text and social media), food and drink play by far the most important role, with 80% of people surveyed believing that sharing food and drink is the best way to bond with each other as it creates little moments of connection.
Inspired by its origins in the Greek word ‘Philia’, which means ‘the love friends feel towards each other’, deliciously and comfortingly creamy Philadelphia is marking the launch of its new brand platform You’ve Got a Friend in Philly by working with leading friendship expert Professor Robin Dunbar. To encourage people around the world to spend time with those closest to them, Dunbar has calculated that only 9 minutes a day, or just over an hour a week if combined, is required to sustain each close friendship.
Furthermore, Dunbar’s calculations show that for every 9 minutes missed, the quality of that close friendship diminishes by 1%, meaning that great friends can soon become ‘just friends’. Dunbar's calculations show that after 100 days with little to no contact that the emotional connection of close or best friendships would then be lost.
Robin Dunbar, friendship expert and evolutionary psychologist, comments: “In modern life, which increasingly pulls us and our relationships in different directions, it’s more important than ever to nourish close friendships. Many of us are time-poor, but maintaining friendships doesn’t have to be a time-intensive exercise. By spending just 9 minutes consciously prioritising everyday moments together, we’ll stay close and connected with friends – and benefit from greatly enhanced wellbeing and happiness”.
Carla Reynolds, Philadelphia Brand Manager at Mondelez Ireland adds: “Our research emphasises that it's the small, meaningful moments of connection that truly make a difference in sustaining and enhancing relationships with close friends. Whether it is getting together for a quick and easy snack, or sharing delicious recipes, Philadelphia is the perfect accompaniment to sit down with friends and catch up.’’
Research was conducted to celebrate the launch of Philadelphia’s brand-new platform – You’ve Got a Friend in Philly – which recognises the importance of spreading friendship and firmly cements Philadelphia as a dependable and delicious, friend in your fridge. For more information visit the Philadelphia website here.
There will be elderly relatives in most families. These can be grandparents, uncles and aunts, or even your parents if you’re a middle-aged adult. As people age and enter the senior stages of life, their needs will change significantly. For example, most elderly people will have finished working and will be able to enjoy the extra free time that comes with retirement. This time can be well spent by cultivating some meaningful and enjoyable hobbies, travelling or learning a new skill. However, some elderly people see the abundance of free time as a burden rather than a pleasure, especially if they live on their own and are at risk of becoming lonely and isolated. Consider the circumstances of your elderly relatives and think about ways that you can help to improve their quality of life so they enjoy every day. This article describes two unique ways that you can help.
Regular visits
Recent research indicates that approximately a million elderly people in the UK experience feelings of loneliness on a regular basis. This may be because they’ve lost their life partner to illness or natural causes due to old age and now live alone. In addition, they may have a smaller circle of close friends and family members living nearby as some may have moved away.
Over time, loneliness can dramatically impact on an elderly person’s mental health and can make conditions such as depression and anxiety more common. It’s of paramount importance that you stay in regular contact with elderly family members who are in danger of becoming isolated. Aim to visit them once a week if they live a short distance from you so they continue to feel connected to the outside world. If they live a long distance away, make sure you stay in regular contact by phone. If your elderly relative is reasonably competent with technology and has a smart device or computer, consider contacting them by video call. This will allow you to have a face-to-face conversation with them and is a more personal way of staying in regular contact if they live far away from you.
When mobility and health declines
For many elderly people, later life is when mobility and general health levels start to decline. This is a normal part of the ageing process, but their home situation needs to be reassessed if they begin to suffer from regular falls or need ongoing help with specific health needs. If your elderly relative is beginning to struggle in their home, it’s beneficial to consider if their quality of life would be improved in an assisted living facility. High-quality assisted living facilities such as those that can be found at assisted senior living in Nashville can dramatically improve the quality of life of their residents.
Such establishments offer freshly prepared, nutritious meals that are cooked by in-house chefs, ensuring that the elderly receive a high-quality, balanced diet. In addition, assisted living facilities will offer their residents a range of social activities and fitness plans to help them form friendships with others and remain in good physical shape.
