5000 Additional Pensioner Deaths Caused By Cold Weather

[pdq1]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2298246/UKs-coldest-spring-1963-claims-5-000-lives-Pensioners-worst-affected--experts-say-final-toll-horrendous.html?ito=email-homenewsletter-20130324

Couldn't some of these deaths be alleviated if we had TV appeals like you see for those children dying in Africa? We have Age UK but what do they achieve. Is it because our governments neglect the old and prefer to spend £bns on overseas aid rather than looking closer to home?

[rockyracoon]

I have no idea, but what I do keep on reading is that an awful lot of pensioners don't apply for benefits that they are entitled to.

[daisya]

Old an easy target? They'd rather get rid of them to save money maybe?

[factor-fiction]

It needs more families/neighbours to go round and check on them too.
I'm not sure a charity can do much, but charities that look after the elderly are free to put out appeals if they want

[daisya]

Rocky, maybe some are too proud and some don't know how to apply or have no one to help them...lots of reasons I guess and it's not helpful to the government imo because they will have to pay more out.

[dave50]

Part of the problem is rising energy prices and part of this problem is the politicians obsession with so called climate change and the extra charges piled on our bills to try to combat this non existent threat. Why do they hang onto every word these environmental nut cases say? Closing down perfectly good coal powered power stations in the depths of winter just because some green fanatics in the EU say we should when China opens one every week! It's absolutely ludicrous.

[Gromit]

Cold weather affects older people more and if we have more cold weather we get more deaths.

It isn't anything new. It has always happened, and always will.

http://www.ageuk.org.uk/health-wellbeing/keeping-your-body-healthy/preventing-winter-deaths/

If we have more days of cold weather each winter then we will have more deaths.

[pdq1]

Rather than wait to be notified because they are too proud to ask for it why not employ more social workers who could do the rounds and report any pensioners in financial trouble or are the social services not fit for purpose.

[daisya]

I agree pdq but in the end it all comes down to money available and also of course if pensioners will allow people in to do that sort of thing.

[Gromit]

The Government pay hundreds of pounds for extra winter fuel. But some old people do not spend it on keeping warm. It is not a problem at throwing even more money at it would solve.

The overseas aid budget is a completely unrelated matter.

[FredPuli43]

What's the medical evidence that any of these deaths are caused by cold weather?

[youngmafbog]

i have to agree with gromit. Money is not the answer and neither would more social workers. Many see social workers as busy bodies or a sign of their own weakness. Majority of pensioners are proud and will reject any help.

[Booldawg]

are they calling this the coldest spring since 63'? I thought Spring only officially started last week, wouldnt have thought they'd have the average figures to spout off 'coldest this' or 'wettest that'.

[dollie65]

sad to say theres no family unit anymore and families dont keep an eye on their elderly relatives ....im a pensioner and i have family living close by but they are always too busy so i dont bother asking for help anymore...it makes me angry all the years i was there for them and now im on my own i have no one!!!!

[emmie]

rocky, if you are in receipt of any benefits, they are often incomprehensible to start off with, the paperwork alone can put many off, i know believe me, so if you are elderly, don't know where to start, or don't think you are eligible then you won't make a claim. I had to find and fill in some of these forms for a relative, one was over 60 pages long...

[emmie]

spring started 21 March i believe, however we are experiencing longer and wetter winters...

[Old_Geezer]

Helping those desperate abroad out not affect the duty to our own citizens. I do think there should be a 'drains up' regarding what we are trying to fund and why we don't seem to be able to fund that which past generations managed. Might be a clue there as to what has gone wrong.

[sp1814]

Why don't their families take responsibility for looking after their elderly relatives?

This is something you notice with certain immigrant families - when granny is too old to care for herself properly, then she comes and lives with one of the kids.

I remember it used to be that way with Brits, up until the 70s, but it sort of died away.

Perhaps we need to stop thinking of the state being responsible, and take up the responsibility ourselves?

[Canary42]

The Government is too busy rewarding their Banker Cronies who pay vast amounts into Party Funds.

[emmie]

sp the difference is that many kin live a long way from the parent, unlike the 70's when family tended to live not far from one another. If you want to uproot gran, or elderly mum from her friends fine and she doesn't mind, however i can see all sorts of problems, not to mention the level of disability the person has, as no one i know could cope with an elderly relative who has severe dementia, alzeheimers. They need 24 hour care and unless you are a saint, and have expertise then it just isn't possible.
Add it most folk work, that is both mum and dad, often with children, how are they going to manage full time work, a family, just isn't possible either.
As to the fact that many

[emmie]

sp, do you have elderly relatives and can look after them ?