Almost one million older people lack adequate heat for the winter

With the high cost of gas and electricity, combined with the weak economy and ongoing reduction in benefits, millions of older people struggle to stay warm. Research and studies from groups such as Age UK as well as the Campaign for Warm Homes indicate about 30 per cent of older people will struggle this winter, and many blame the government.

Not only are the prices of fuel bills soaring, but many older people still live in inefficient homes that are both hard and expensive to heat. Many private properties are just poorly insulated. Results from the study indicate that many people do not think the government has done enough to improve the efficiency of homes, and this is another gripe of older people across the UK.

This lack of affordable heat for our older population is a major problem for the government. Not only will some people not be able to stay warm, but the issue is much worse. It is life threatening for many seniors, especially those that are ill or lack family or friends to care for them. Every winter, Age UK reports that an older person freezes to death or has a medical condition caused by lack of heat, and one person will dies every seven minutes because they can’t stay warm.

Many people are calling on the government to upgrade more homes in less time. This can help individuals stay warm, as living is a home that will meet higher energy efficient standards will help people save money each month on their bills. It is an effective solution for this national crisis, which Age UK even calls a scandal due to the lack of effort by the government to address the problem.

While upgrading would be a major project to undertake and cost money, it can also help the government save over the long term too. A more efficient home would reduce illness and death among older people, so this would save the NHS money in their budget. It could also create jobs, and therefore allow more people to get a job and to get off of welfare. So there are some benefits to investing in more energy efficiency homes for the elderly.

There are also charities joining the effort to help the elderly in fuel poverty. Organisations such as the Norfolk Community Foundation partner with Age UK to raise money for people that can’t heat their homes, and there are many other groups that do this as well, as there are over 35,000 older people in Norfolk that can’t heat their homes.

Fuel poverty is a major, and growing problem, across the UK. While survey results from the Campaign for Warm Homes report on this issue for older people, there are also millions of children living in fuel poverty that also struggle to stay warm. This is a long-term problem impacting many families, and it is not going away due to rising energy prices, the stagnant economy, and the aging of the population. The government needs to take the lead to help the vulnerable, and will charities can assist as well, they do not have the funding to take on this problem on their own.