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.

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)

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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