Failure to prepare for winter ‘could kill thousands’

UP to 2,000 elderly people could die this winter due to exposure to the cold and lack of preparation for bad weather.

Age Action Ireland said 16,300 Irish pensioner households, or 7.5%, can’t afford sufficient fuel for heating.

Yesterday, Age Action called upon former Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald to launch a new booklet - Energy for Older People, which aims to help older people avoid hypothermia and use energy more efficiently this winter.