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.

The booklet, which contains sections on energy efficiency, suitable appliances, electricity safety, keeping your home safe from fire, and payment for electricity, has many helpful hints from Age Action on usingregistered electrical contractors, ensuring that older people get their entitlements, and avoiding hypothermia.

The booklet also contains useful contact numbers.

Unlike in Scandinavian countries, where seasonal variations in mortality are not great, in Ireland there are about 1,500 to 2,000 excess winter deaths.

Age Action spokesman Paul Murray said: “This, by implication, can be attributed to Ireland’s lack of preparedness for bad weather, unlike in Scandinavian countries where there are few seasonal variations.”

The organisation said the public should be aware of heating needs of elderly people during the coming months.

Heating, and fuel poverty, can be increasingly relevant as we get older, the booklet states, describing fuel poverty as “an inability to heat one’s home to an adequate, safe and comfortable temperature, owing to low income and poor, energy inefficient housing”.

While the highest incidence of fuel poverty is found among lone parents, the next social group most affected is the male lone pensioner, Age Action said.

The new booklet is a joint venture between the ESB and Age Action, and includes information.

Some 50,000 copies of the new booklet are available from Age Action charity shops in Dublin’s Camden Street, as well as in Castlebar, Co Mayo, and Galway city. Copies can also be requested by ringing the information service at 30-31 Lower Camden Street, Dublin, 01 4756989, or the ESB.

Age Action Ireland is the national network on ageing and elderly people. It promotes better policies and services for all elderly people, especially those who are most disadvantaged and vulnerable.