Grey Power November 2015

24
NATIONAL GREYPOWER MAGAZINE » NOVEMBER 2015
Are you giving your
feet a fair go?
Advertorial
We are good at looking after our faces and even our
hands. But what about our feet – so important for
keeping us mobile and independent?
Parking wars: Seniors
claim superiority
A recent Canstar Blue survey looking at Kiwis’ satisfaction
with their car tyre retailer, reveals the country’s best selfproclaimed
parkers are the over 70s.
Having feet checked
by a podiatrist
once a year
and ensuring adequate
circulation to
feet and legs are just
two important aspects
of foot care as we age.
Checking feet once
a day for abrasions
means minor problems
can be noticed
and treated before
they cause trouble.
Foot care is always
important but when you
are a diabetic it is of high
priority.
Foot problems are a
complication of diabetes,
often with serious
consequences - but with
care can be avoided.
It is estimated that
more than a quarter of
people with diabetes
may not meet the basic
requirements of foot
care to avoid the risk
of future amputation.
Maintaining good circulation
in the feet is a key
factor to avoiding loss of
feeling, slow healing of
sores and ulcers and loss
of mobility.
Footcare and good
circulation, whether you
have diabetes or not,
becomes more important
as we age because
circulation tapers off.
The walls of the blood
vessels harden and lose
elasticity. The heart has
11681
• Diabetic foot care
• Relieving arthritic pain
• Reducing swollen ankles
• Improving joint flexibility
to work harder to pump
the blood. Blood flow decreases
and blood pressure
increases.
Naturally, we are less
active as we age, making
it even harder to maintain
good blood supply
to feet and legs. Tissue
The Aircycle is
an inexpensive
circulation
booster
for seated
exercise,
helping you
maintain good
blood flow
to feet and
strengthen
legs.
and bone may not be
adequately nourished,
causing achy muscles
and joints.
Accumulation of fluid
may result in ankle
swelling. Hands and feet
may be cold, wounds
slow to heal, ulcers may
develop, toes become
numb as nerve endings
lose sensitivity.
Any type of movement
benefits circulation
Find activities you enjoy.
If strenuous exercise
circulation booster
Helpful for:
• Strengthening muscles
• Cramps & restless legs
• Stroke rehabilitation
• Parkinson’s & MS
is not possible, try something
gentle like tai chi,
a seated exercise programme
or work hands
and feet with an Aircycle
while you watch TV.
Exercise can help
you sleep better, reduce
stress, swollen ankles,
cramps, pain and stiffness,
improve muscle
strength, balance and
mobility.
The Aircycle exercises
are designed to help with
all of these.
Exercise is antiageing.
Even at 90 you
can still improve your
circulation and muscle
strength. So keep moving
- even while you sit -
watchingTV, in the office
or the car.
The Aircycle is an inexpensive
circulation
booster for seated exercise,
helping you maintain
good blood flow to
feet and strengthen legs.
It is helpful for anyone
with diabetes, arthritis,
Parkinson’s, aching legs,
sore feet and hands, for
stroke rehabilitation,
convalescing and travelling.
It’s an easy to post
Christmas gift.
Aircycles are available in
pharmacies, online www.
aircycle.co.nz , call 04 569
5013 or post $39.90 to
Aircycle, PO Box 45105,
Waterloo, Lower Hutt,
5042.
• Painful fingers & wrists
• Aching legs/sore feet
• Cold hands and feet
• Travelling (DVT)
Post $38.90 to: Aircycle, PO Box 45 105, Waterloo, Lower Hutt. 5042
available in pharmacies, at www.aircycle.co.nz or Ph. 04 569 5013
More than 90 percent of senior
citizens believe that they are
pretty good at getting themselves
into a tight spot, even in reverse.
Those under the age of 30 showed the
least amount of confidence in their parking
and parallel parking abilities of all the
age groups, says Canstar New Zealand,
general manager Jose George.
“There is a nationwide feeling of confidence
in our parking skills with 82 percent
of New Zealanders stating that they
consider themselves to be good parkers,
parallel parking included.”
The majority of men think they are
good parkers (88 percent) while just under
three quarters of women think the
same (74 percent).
TYRE MAINTENANCE
More than three quarters of Kiwis (76
percent) check the condition of their tyres
before undertaking a long trip, with Wellingtonians
(82 percent) the most safety
conscious when it comes to pre-drive
checks.
According to AA New Zealand looking
after your tyres will not only save you
money - on tyres and also on fuel - but
they are an essential safety feature of
your car, says Jose.
“One fifth of Aucklanders don’t know
how to check if they need new car tyres
and 30 percent don’t know what the correct
air pressure of their tyres is meant to
be, meaning that there is a need for more
awareness and education. If you don’t
know what to look for, see what Tyre
Safety NZ has to say.
Women are more likely than men to
be unaware if they need new tyres, with
a quarter saying they don’t know what
to look for compared with 13 percent of
men.
Women are also more likely to be unaware
of the correct pressure (41 percent)
while just 20 percent of men said they
were unsure. The same can be said for the
younger generations; 45 percent of under
30-year-olds don’t know the correct air
pressure and 35 percent don’t know how
to check if they need new tyres.
“You can find the correct pressure for
your vehicle on a plate inside the driver’s
door, the fuel flap or in your vehicle
handbook,” says Jose.
“Tyres lose air pressure naturally so
you should be checking the pressure at
least once a month and before long journeys.”
But they’re so expensive…
Despite the majority of Kiwis being
aware of the safety issues surrounding
car tyres, nearly half (46 percent) are
putting off buying new tyres for as long
as possible and those under the age of 30
are the most likely to delay the expensive
purchase (55 percent).
One in five New Zealanders would pay
more money for a great pair of shoes or
a hi-tech gadget than a great set of tyres.
Aucklanders are the most likely to prioritise
other purchases over an expensive
necessity like car tyres, compared to just
14 percent of people in Otago and the Bay
of Plenty.
READY AT CRUNCH TIME
But Kiwis are prepared for the worst.
An encouraging 92 percent of adults have
at least one spare tyre, and only 15 percent
have continued to drive on a spare
tyre because they couldn’t afford a new
one. Seventeen percent of New Zealanders
have called roadside assistance to
change a tyre on their car.
A TRUSTY MECHANIC
Close to three out of four New Zealanders
(74 percent) rely on the recommendations
of their retailer when purchasing
new car tyres – so it’s important
you find a mechanic whose knowledge
you can trust, says Jose.
“Consumers rated point of sale service
as the biggest driver of satisfaction (25
percent) when choosing a car tyre retailer,”
he says. “It’s clear that when looking
for tyres a range of factors make for great
customer satisfaction and value for money
isn’t the top consideration.”
The survey asked respondents to rate
their car tyre retailer across eight variables:
1. Value for money
2. Range of brands
3. Point of sale service
4. After sale service
5. Tyre fitting speed
6. Tyre quality
7. Store location
8. Overall satisfaction
This year Tyrepower has won the Canstar
Blue Award for Overall Customer
Satisfaction, achieving five-star ratings
across the majority of categories.
They were the only retailer to score five
stars for point of sale service and speed of
fitting tyres, which were rated the number
one and two drivers of satisfaction by
consumers, says Jose.
“Tyrepower clearly has their model
right, pleasing their customers with their
service as well as providing a cost effective
solution for what is considered an
Continued on page 31
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Become a member to help legalise medically assisted dying
for the terminally ill or those with unbearable suffering.
Go to our website www.ves.org.nz to find
more information and join a branch in your area.
Central office: Telephone (09 215 4964)
PO Box 89046, Torbay, Auckland 0742.
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Kelly 03 579 2991 or 027 877 6279
email speckledhen67@yahoo.co.nz
10541