More than half of older people 'going without food or clothing to pay for heating'

New research on fuel poverty has shown 51% of older people have had to go without food or clothing to pay for home heating.

Of the 722 older people surveyed, almost a quarter (24%) described their dwelling as "too cold".

The 'Fuel Poverty, Older People and Cold Weather: An All-island Analysis' report was carried out by DIT, the Institute of Public Health in Ireland, Brunel University London and The Centre for Excellence in Public Health in the North.

Previous research showed that a temperature drop of just one degree Celsius was associated with a 2.6% rise in cold-related deaths, primarily among older people.

Minister for Public Expenditure Brendan Howlin announced recently that the Fuel Allowance is to be reduced, with the eligible season falling from 32 to 26 weeks for new and existing recipients, resulting in savings of €51m next year.

Spokesperson for the Institute of Public Health, Dr Helen McAvoy, says the so-called "heat or eat" phenomenon is getting worse.

"Well, the Government has published its first Affordable Energy strategy," she said. "And I think it's very important that the findings of this (fuel poverty) report would be considered within it, and that particular provision is made for older people living alone, those over 75, and in particular older people who have an existing chronic illness or disability, because those groups emerged, in our research, as being particularly vulnerable."

The survey found that 8% even used the oven for additional heat during cold snaps.

Principal Investigator Professor Pat Goodman said: "Winter mortality rates in both jurisdictions have decreased but there are still significant differences between winter and summer mortality rates in older people, and cold homes can contribute to this phenomenon".