5th January 2023 • The HERALD • Page 51 v SAY YOU SAW IT IN THE HERALD v WE CARE, YOU CARE is is shaping up to be a true winter from hell for many older people, because of the multiple threats to their health and wellbeing. COVID-19 and other nasty winter bugs are circulating widely and the cold winter temperatures, at a time when we know lots of pensioners have been trying to reduce their energy usage in order to control their bills. With so many problems to worry about, Age UK is appealing to the public to keep supporting the older people in their lives and to stay in touch to ensure they are managing to keep warm and eat well, despite soaring prices. Age UK’s most recent research into how people aged 60 and over were feeling about the winter showed: • 54% of older people (8.8 million) say the cost-ofliving increase will a ect their health and care needs. • 52% of older people (8.5 million) are concerned or very concerned about winter. • 57% (9.3 million) are worried about very cold weather In particular, of the people who took part in the survey: • 20% of older people (3.3 million) are worried that they will not be able to eat enough. • 45% of older people (7.4 million) are worried that they won’t be able to heat their home enough. With energy bills rocketing it is understandable that many older people might think they have no option but to turn their heating o this winter. In fact, polling showed that 62% of older people have had to cut back on heating or powering their home recently to make ends meet. However, prolonged exposure to cold temperatures can have a substantial impact on older people’s health. As we get older it becomes harder for our bodies to regulate temperature, and it takes longer to warm up as we lose muscle mass. Our immune systems become weaker, and symptoms of health conditions such as asthma, diabetes and arthritis can be worsened by the cold. e cold also impacts on the heart and circulatory system increasing risks of heart attacks and strokes. People with mental health conditions or dementia, which may reduce a person’s ability to look a er themselves, can also be at more risk from the cold weather. Caroline Abrahams, Age UK’s Charity Director, said: “We know that rising energy prices will put nearly a third of older households in fuel poverty this winter, meaning older people in approaching 3 million homes will be worrying about how to keep warm. Unfortunately increases in the cost of living are coming hard on the heels of the pandemic, which severely undermined the health and wellbeing of many older people. And now some are telling us they simply don’t know how they will get through the difficult months to come. This really is shaping up to be a winter from hell. During the winter older people are likely to spend more time at home than other age groups and are much more susceptible to the effects of the cold, particularly if they have pre-existing medical conditions. That’s why it’s so important that they can adequately heat their homes, helping them to stay well. The winter can have an adverse impact on older people’s mental health too. Darker, shorter days and less socialising place older people at greater risk of loneliness and isolation, which in turn can cause new mental health conditions like anxiety and depression to develop, as well as exacerbating any existing ones. So as winter bites it is important to take action to protect yourself if you are an older person, and it’s a reminder to the rest of us to look out for the older people in our lives.” Age UK received some of the heart-breaking responses to the survey where older people said: • “I don’t turn on lights or heating. I sit in the dark at night. This will have a marked effect when the weather gets colder, and the nights get longer.” • “Honestly. My hot water is linked to my heating, and I have been without hot water for the last two months. I wash up in cold water, take a quick shower once a week and have no heating. I really worry about putting the heating on, although I’ve been cold. I’ve stayed in bed some days... all day, just to keep warm.” • “I need and would like to have help but can’t afford it. I need and would like to buy food to help me with my medical problems but can’t afford it. I need and would like to go to a lunch club but can’t afford the transport or other expenses involved.” Top tips for looking after health this winter: Over winter it can be harder to look a er your health. Supporting the older people in your life to stay well can make a big di erence. • Everyone aged 50+ is eligible for a COVID-19 and u jab this winter so make sure you get yours as soon as you are o ered. Also check which other vaccines you may be eligible for such as shingles (65+) or pneumococcal (70-79). • Support and encourage the people in your life to keep moving around at home or take up simple indoor exercises, especially if they can’t get out and about as usual. Keeping moving is a good way of keeping warm too. For advice for all abilities visit: www.ageuk.org.uk/ information-advice/health-wellbeing/exercise/ • Eating well is important to keep someone’s strength Age UK Calls on Everyone to Look Out for their Continued on page 52
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