9 ELDERLY PEOPLE DIE EVERY HOUR OF THE COLD.

[ivanhoe]

THOUSANDS of pensioners died from cold-related illnesses last winter as heating bills soared and temperatures plummeted, official figures reveal.

The number of deaths linked to the cold between December and March reached 25,400 in England and Wales, with another 2,760 in Scotland.

The figures are equivalent to nine deaths every hour.

The total gave Britain the highest winter death rate in northern Europe, worse than much colder countries such as Finland and Sweden.

There are fears the death toll could increase this year following energy price rises which may frighten elderly people into not turning on their heating.

Michelle Mitchell, of Age UK, said: ?It?s unacceptable that tens of thousands more older people die in this country every winter from the effects of the cold weather.

The fact that the UK has one of the highest winter mortality rates in Europe makes it clear this is very much a home-grown problem.

That's an appalling number, you're right. But is there any deeper analysis as to exactly why the numbers haven't substantially changed despite the introduction of Winter Fuel Allowances, subsidised heating equipment and free home insulation for the over 65s? Resist the temptation to say 'because the state pension isn't high enough' for a second.

Why do you want a deeper analysis ?.

Factually the basic State pension is simply not enough to live on.

I worked with older people as a social worker and two died from hypothermia, and other complications (long story).Although sometimes it is not because they cannnot afford fuel. It is simply because they really should be in a residential home and someone should be looking after them. Older people are sometimes afraid to leave the heating on. They have a right feel to feel afraid, because even with the winter fuel allowance they cannot afford to pay the bills.

Quite a few older people have memory loss/dementia, which is undiagnosed, they forget to pay the bills and the electricity comapny turns the electric off. This happened to one of my clients. The companies simply don't realise the customer is old, and may have simnply forgotten to pay. I believe many companies now have list of older people so that they don't just 'cut off' supply, when bills are not paid. (I hope So).

Many older people live alone, become confused and this leads to disconnection or they simply forget to turn the heating on.

Many have no family, and their plight goes unnoticed, unless they have caring neighbours/freinds.

Some older people need sectioning when they cannot look after themselves, feel depressed and are a danger to themselves. Social workers are reluctant to do this, and this can result in the death of an older person.

Pensioners really worry about paying the bills, are proud and don't like to seek help.

I'm glad you've contributed complimentary. The point I was trying to make is that there may be a bigger story than simply lack of cash - although poverty clearly plays a part.

Chili1234. It is not as clear cut as money, as I say. I will say this, if you have seen the plight of some older people as I have, you would be shocked. Quite a few suffer from malutrition, some won't open the door to meals on wheels for days, if they like you as a social worker, they befreind you. I then can get hot food for them at the nearest cafe, I've done this on a few occasions. What worries me is that I always did things out of my remit as a social worker. Some would not do that, there is no legal requirement for Social Workers to make sure the client opens the door to MOWs, and that the client eats, only your conscience.

I feel that a full investigation/inquiry needs ot be carried out by this Government into why older people are dying at this rate. If we are truly a caring society, we must look after the most vulnerable. Find out what the problem is and at least try to fix it. I'm pleased IVANHOE has raised this issue.

complimentary, This issue has been ongoing since the 80's, but neither the BBC tv media, or the politicians want to talk about.

In short, older people / elderly people have been brushed under the carpet.

//////////The point I was trying to make is that there may be a bigger story than simply lack of cash///////

Your point is wrong. The State pension is simply too low at £97 a week.

Take a look at my original posting, in detail.

//////I worked with older people as a social worker and two died from hypothermia, and other complications (long story).Although sometimes it is not because they cannnot afford fuel. It is simply because they really should be in a residential home and someone should be looking after them. Older people are sometimes afraid to leave the heating on. They have a right feel to feel afraid, because even with the winter fuel allowance they cannot afford to pay the bills.

Quite a few older people have memory loss/dementia, which is undiagnosed, they forget to pay the bills and the electricity comapny turns the electric off. This happened to one of my clients. The companies simply don't realise the customer is old, and may have simnply forgotten to pay. I believe many companies now have list of older people so that they don't just 'cut off' supply, when bills are not paid. (I hope So).

Many older people live alone, become confused and this leads to disconnection or they simply forget to turn the heating on.

Many have no family, and their plight goes unnoticed, unless they have caring neighbours/freinds.

Some older people need sectioning when they cannot look after themselves, feel depressed and are a danger to themselves. Social workers are reluctant to do this, and this can result in the death of an older person.

Pensioners really worry about paying the bills, are proud and don't like to seek help.///////

AN EXCELLENT POSTING. Pensioners are too proud to be means tested for government andouts.

All that im writing here is happening today throughout our society, but we British have been so brainwashed into self interest, we dont even smell the stink anymore.

You're missing the point. Some pensioners are too proud to seek help. But others, despite having plenty of cash, are dying in the cold because, as complimentary points out, they're simply forgetting to pay the bill. So the measure for utility companies not to cut off old people actually saves more lives than giving those people more money. If the state hands out extra money and thinks that solves the problem (a failing of the last government) the danger is it misses the real problem.

Of course it is an issue of money. We have more pensioners living in poverty than does Romania.

Great posts by complimentary. Why aren't the caring, sharing socialists making more noise about the plight of our pensioners? Is it because they are old and vulnerable?

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1202378/Our-elderly-worse-Romanias-British-pensioners-poorest-Europe.html

///////Why aren't the caring, sharing socialists making more noise about the plight of our pensioners? Is it because they are old and vulnerable?//////

What socialists ???????

exactly. I should have said socialist imposters or progressives as they like to call themselves now.

The problem with saying

Your point is wrong. The State pension is simply too low at £97 a week.

is that it does not take into account the wider issues.

It is true the state pension is too low. It does not follow that it is also true that it is because the state pension is too low that old people are dying from the cold.

It will be the case for some people, but it is used as a blanket explanation so that people don't have to consider the wider issues of how we treat people with dementia / confidence problems etc that can afford to pay energy bills but for whatever reason don't.

We can blame the government because they should give old people more money and because we have found someone to blame we no longer have to question our own culpability as members of a society that fails to take care of its elderly.

What percentage of old people die of cold because they have dementia and what percentage die out of fear of the heating bills that help pay fat cats' bonuses?

The government (but hopefully not this new one) would love you to think that it is the fault of society, just as some people blame the unemployed for not having jobs, while people are being laid off in droves and businesses are failing. It's all our fault, they say, nothing to do with fat cats flipping their homes.

They are supposed to represent the people - people who have paid into the system all their lives, and then find out that they are worse off than pensioners in most of Europe, when we are one of the richest countries in the world.

////////What percentage of old people die of cold because they have dementia and what percentage die out of fear of the heating bills that help pay fat cats' bonuses?

The government (but hopefully not this new one) would love you to think that it is the fault of society, just as some people blame the unemployed for not having jobs, while people are being laid off in droves and businesses are failing. It's all our fault, they say, nothing to do with fat cats flipping their homes.

They are supposed to represent the people - people who have paid into the system all their lives, and then find out that they are worse off than pensioners in most of Europe, when we are one of the richest countries in the world.///////

Bang on mate, bang on.

They even tell us that the financial crisis is our fault. If only we hadn't borrowed. It had nothing to do with those clever highfliers who will pack up and leave the country if we don't gratefully pay them their bonuses.

It's never the fault of those in charge, and so it carries on regardless. Plus ca change.

////////They are supposed to represent the people - people who have paid into the system all their lives, and then find out that they are worse off than pensioners in most of Europe, when we are one of the richest countries in the world.////////////

Yes, and what do we British do ?, sweet F.A.

How many of those died due to cold as a result of not being able to afford heating/transport/other financial reasons, and how many died as a result of things connected to the cold but which are unavoidable such as the increased rate of diseases in the population, falls on ice etc?

How much worse are we than Finland and Sweden per capita?

I guess you would try and justify the Holocaust.

No, I would just like to quantify the size of the problem.

ivanhoe and gabby loggon - separated at birth?

Older people are dying through basic lack of care by social services. Some are so lonely they just give up. Day Centres are closed down right, left and centre. Clients with strokes were left alone all day in their flats, with the only person visiting being those who delivered MOWS.
Clients who could not make it to the lift, were left at home, when the ambulance drivers could not carry them down a flight of stairs (for health and safety reasons).
One client was not diagnosed with a brain tumour, even tho I had told them he did not suffer from dementia. Another woman (in residential care) was made to have a young male carer give her a bath, the woman was 87, ffs. I was told she was screaming in the bathroom, I had to intervene to make sure she had female carers. This client had no family. I shall not go on, as I'm sure plenty of MNs have elderly relatives in similar situations. Sometimes death is a release for an older person.

terrible stuff, it is shameful. Amazing that old people have so little voice and those in charge do so little for them.

Claig. I could tell more, but do not want to depress you or me before I go to bed. Suffice to say that Ivanhoes concern over the pension and lack of money, does not go nearly far enough in explaining the terrible plight some of our pensioners find themselves in. If you are old, poor and have no family in this coutry, you really are in the shite.

Night.

goodnight, complimentary.
You must tell us more another time. You have seen it firsthand. You make great posts in many subjects and are not restrained by any politically correct straightjacket.