Age UK Southwark have created a fantastic new guide for older people in the borough as to how to keep warm and well this winter.

Full of tips and tricks to make your home energy efficient and keeping warm and reducing bills the guide can be downloaded at the link below.

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Cold homes have a significant impact on people’s health. One of the best ways of keeping yourself well during winter is to stay warm. Cold weather can lead to serious health problems such as heart attacks, strokes, pneumonia and depression.

The chances of these problems are higher if you are

vulnerable to cold-related illnesses and are:

• over 60
• on a low income (so cannot afford heating)
• have a long-term health condition such as heart, lung or kidney disease
• disabled

Every winter in the UK, 25,000–30,000 deaths are linked to the cold weather. Approximately four million households in the UK are in fuel poverty. This is when a household spends more than 10% of their income to keep warm.

There are many health impacts that can occur due to a cold damp home including:

• increased suffering
• problems caring for vulnerable people at home – reducing recovery from illness
• increased risk of relapse/reoccurrence
• heart attack
• stroke
• respiratory illness – bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma attacks, cold and flu, arthritis and rheumatism
• falls, accidents, mobility problems
• hypothermia
• mental health issues
• other health conditions affected by extreme temperatures

A chilling thought!

After a cold snap – your local hospital will gear itself up to deal with the following increase in illnesses triggered by the cold weather.

Over half of excess winter deaths are from cardiovascular disease. A third are from respiratory disease and 93% are those aged over 65.

Most of these health impacts are avoidable

 

Click here to download the guide