To remind you to look out for the elderly in this cold weather

[stretto]

Not an AIBU - I just want to get this reminder out to lots of people.

An old man (mid-80s) I was acquainted with, died in the early hours of Tuesday morning in appalling circumstances. It was absolutely freezing that night, and he left a heater on for himself overnight (I'm guessing it was a convector or something like that). It caught fire, and he died when he fell down the stairs in his effort to escape.
I didn't know him very well, but I keep welling up in tears every time I think about it or try to talk about it. I am in tears as I type.

So if you have an elderly relative or neighbour, please check on them to see that there is no risk of this kind of thing happening.
Thank you.

[KurriKurri]

That is a dreadfully sad story stretto and your post is a very timely reminder.

I would add another cautionary tale - my 90yr old mother has taken to having two hot water bottles to cope with the cold, the other night she filled them and muddled the stoppers, - both of them leaked in her bed. She was very fortunate that she wasn't badly scalded, just had a soaking bed and had to sleep in chair.

But I think older people sometimes are trying to keep warm and use potentially dangerous methods. (By which I mean if you factor in frailty, confusedness and tiredness, accidents can happen)

[MissSparrow]

That's made me well up Stretto - what a tragic thing to happen. A very unmumsnetty hug to you.

[Pandemoniaa]

My mother died of hypothermia, three years ago on one of the coldest weekends of that year. I wouldn't wish this on anyone so please, do keep an eye out for elderly friends, relatives and neighbours. Even if they are bolshy and determinedly independent (yes, dm, I am talking about you) you might be able to help keep them alive.

[minouminou]

Bloody hell, Stretto, how awful. I'm not surprised you're upset.

Yeah - old people and severe cold.

Offer to make them a flask of a hot drink of choice in the evening.

Have a quick look at any heating devices they're using to make sure they're safe - no convector heaters near a duvet/blanket/curtain and so on.

Offer to look at heating bills with them when they come in - a lot of older people will skimp on heating for obvious reasons. Maybe they could set up a monthly DD if they haven't already.

Good filling food - lots of good fats in. Offer to take something round or make something up for them.

Make sure they're drinking enough - dehydration tends to increase when someone's cold, and this won't help older people at all...lots of knock-on effects.

Poor old guy. It sounds such a Dickensian way to go.

[minouminou]

Oh no, Pandemoniaa. That's awful. When I was little, my mum used to visit an elderly lady down the road, and would call in twice a day in winter, as the woman had a habit of leaving her gas fire off! She'd insist she'd turned it off just minutes before my mum had arrived....but she hadn't. It's a tough thing to deal with if someone knows best.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Very stretto.
I work in NHS (mainly older people) and some of the home visits I do are to people living alone, maybe a carer coming in morning and night (lunch Meals-on-Wheels or carer)
Some of them will sit right beside a gas fire with blamkets .I can sometimes smell the blankets or soft furnishings burning (and I move them)

Also a risk is tripping over wires or cables.

Age Concern will advice (especially things like heating benefits) I know alot of older people are unable to heat more than a room at a time due to expense.

Some of them don't take kindly to "interference" though no matter how well intended it is.
But yes, when things go wrong, it can be tragic.

[stretto]

Thanks for your messages. It's so distressing - it's the most awful end to a life, and so avoidable.