Old and cold?

Back in the news this week, and reported in the Telegraph, is the topic of means-testing winter fuel payments; a timely re-appearance considering the cold weather dip that is forecast to start this weekend.

In the winter of 2011/12 19,500 deaths in the over 75 age group were directly caused by these pensioners being unable to afford to keep themselves warm enough. The problem is not new; similar figures apply to previous winters. Currently under debate is the thought voiced by Mr Burstow, the former care services minister, that money saved through paying WFP only to those eligible for pension credit would make it possible to pay for a cap on care costs for the elderly. Would this, however, mean more of our elderly who are ‘neither rich not poor’ moving into the fuel poverty category with its’ potential health hazards?

Out in the cold

Quality in Ageing and Older Adults features a group of articles on inequalities amongst older people in Ireland.  These include studies on the relationship between age and social exclusion in rural areas, the effects of recession on older people in Northern Ireland and the Republic and the relationship between cold housing and health and wellbeing.  A survey for Age UK found that "the number of older people owing money has risen sharply over the last year."  The latest figures on fuel poverty from the Department of Energy and Climate change recently reported a fall in numbers of households in fuel poverty for 2010, but predicted a rise for subsequent years.