To Look After Our Elderly In Winter

[Jahulaye]

Wouldn’t it be a great idea if the government gave the elderly extra money as part of the “heating allowance to buy sleeping bags, scarves, thermals and ski suits in case of boiler failure.

[fiction-factory]

On top of the existing rather generous winter fuel payment? Would all pensioners get these?

[Mamyalynne]

Yes.

[Jackdaw33]

What a silly idea.

[dannyk13]

I think maybe a step too far.

[fiction-factory]

Are you suggesting pensioners should buy ski suits etc just in case of a boiler failure- or should they just keep the extra few hundred pounds to one side and nip out to get one if their boielr breaks down? Apologies if you were joking and I missed the joke

[Mamyalynne]

I haven't got a boiler, can I still have a ski suit.

[Jahulaye]

Fiction factory

“if the government gave the elderly extra money“

I was just reading a post about someone’s boiler being broken and wondered what would happen if someone elderly went through the same thing and were alone, had no means of contacting anyone or were in a place where it was hard if not impossible to reach because of nightmarish winter conditions which isn’t really a joke at all when you read my link.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/news/12015735/Winter-deaths-soar-as-elderly-suffer-in-cold-weather.html

[Jahulaye]

“There were almost 44,000 “excess deaths” between December and March last year (2014)

Scary especially seeing that we’ve had a few mild winters and we would be caught unawares if we suddenly got an arctic winter which some people are predicting.

Let’s hope not.

[Old_Geezer]

Even the elderly keep extra layers for winter. Especially if they intend keeping the heating low to reduce the bill.

[fiction-factory]

Still a no from me. Most old people can make sensible decisions themselves about how to spend their money. Have you thought about how the housebound oldies would get measured up for a ski suit?

[Mamyalynne]

Could I just have one ski? It would burn for a while.

[fiction-factory]

For these 40000 deaths were they all pensioners and how many were due to boiler breakdowns and how many of these had no thermals in the house? Do you have any figures that might help make a case?

[Jahulaye]

Unfortunately that didn’t help the 44’000 people who perished in 2014 og.

Surely that should have given the government a wake up call?

Or maybe they were oblivious to it all as they lorded it up on tropical islands on our tax money/their expenses?

[Jahulaye]

“Do you have any figures that might help make a case?”

It’s just an idea from a nobody on the internet and I’m not in a position to pass a law in the commons.

[Baldric]

I'm in my mid-sixties, my Wife early seventies, we are both well aware of how to survive if the power goes off and do not need patronising by a presumptuous newbie thanks.

[Baldric]

///There were almost 44,000 “excess deaths” between December and March last year (2014) ///

Last year was 2016

[Old_Geezer]

Those that perished didn't do so through lack of layers, but being one of the unfortunates who were getting confused with no one checking in on them.

[dannyk13]

Balders, glad to see that you young'ns know how to look after yourselves :-)

[hellywelly4]

I agree with Baldric.

[Tilly2]

I don't want a ski suit or a sleeping bag. I could do with some more long johns though, for when I'm out walking the dog. My legs do get cold.