Who Is To Blame For 25,000 Older People Dying Due To Cold Weather

[gordiescotland1]

I was really upset to read in the Daily Express that 25,000 older people die a year because of issues related to the cold. Who is to blame is it energy companies, government or the failure of society to look after it's elderly

[youngmafbog]

Is there a link to facts and figures? For instance last year was mild, did that have any affect?

[janbee]

It's a combination of all those things I suppose. I hope this winter will be as mild as last year

[Baldric]

Gordie, do you have a Link to substantialise those figures please?

[ll_billym]

http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/subnational-health2/excess-winter-mortality-in-england-and-wales/2012-13--provisional--and-2011-12--final-/stb-ewm-12-13.html

[ummmm]

Some of the younger people can't afford heating or enough food....they just have age on their side, so I can't see how it can be made a problem of society.

Does the winter payment not help?

[bazwillrun]

I remember reading some numbers(cant recall where) and for every degree over and below certain temps for x % of people in certain age groups mainly very old and very young, there is an increase in mortality rates...so 25,000 as a % of the population doesnt actually seem that wrong.

A fair amount of blame has to fall on the price of fuel but theres all sorts of other demographics of the 25,000 that need to be looked at.

[youngmafbog]

The figures in that link are worse than useless. Thanks for posting a link though.

[jackthehat]

Many elderly people live in completely energy inefficient housing; and they end up trapped in cold, damp houses that they can't afford to heat.

Many are too proud/ashamed/embarrassed to actively seek out schemes and strategies for coping with bad weather.

[ll_billym]

If you check out the 'data section' from the link I posted there is a spreadsheet that contains all the demographics you speak about and much historical data.

Not sure how you say it's useless, it's extremely comprehensive.

[gordiescotland1]

Here is a link
http://www.express.co.uk/comment/expresscomment/534263/Express-comment-on-Elderly-Prince-Charles-and-tea

[Baldric]

Have checked the Express Site, there's an article there dated Nov 2013

[ll_billym]

It's pretty depressing reading but it does give the following information:

Excess winter deaths and five-year central moving average, England and Wales, 1950/51 to 2012/13

Mean number of daily deaths each month and mean monthly temperatures, England and Wales, August 2012 to July 2013

Excess winter deaths and average winter temperature, England and Wales, 1999/2000 to 2012/13

Weekly deaths from all causes and RCGP influenza-like illness (ILI) consultation rates per 100,000 population, England and Wales, 1999–2013

Excess winter deaths by sex and age group, England and Wales, 2010/11 to 2012/13

Excess winter mortality for regions of England, and Wales, 2010/11 to 2012/13

Excess winter mortality by sex, age group and underlying cause of death, England and Wales, 2009/10 to 2011/12

Excess winter mortality by age group, region and country of usual residence, England and Wales, 1991/1992 to 2012/13

Excess winter deaths for local/unitary authorities in England and Wales, 1991/92 to 2011/12

Number of deaths by month, sex, age group, region and country of usual residence, England and Wales, 2012

[Baldric]

Cheers Gordie. x'ed posts, not on the pages I saw!

[Gromit]

The Government provide extra money for older people to keep themsrlves warm in winter. But they cannot force older people to spend it on extra heating.

Age Concern provide support and advice to anyone who needs it.

Last winter was exceptionally mild.

So I don't think anyone is to blame for the deaths. Older people are more vunerable in cold weather and unfortunately it kills some of them.

[anotheoldgit]

Perhaps we should turn over the billions we spend on overseas aid to home aid?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2832328/David-Cameron-s-foreign-aid-pledge-bizarre-says-Philip-Hammond.html

[ToraToraTora]

"The Government provide extra money for older people to keep themsrlves warm in winter. But they cannot force older people to spend it on extra heating. " - very true gromit so instead of giving them money they should give it directly to their gas/electric supplier.

[Gromit]

Tora,
The problem appears to be that it is a universal benefit and that it is paid in cash.
Perhaps the household could get 50% off their fuel bills paid by The Government if their useage goes up over 25% in November-February, compared to the rest of the year. If the household qualified, their bill would automatically be reduced by the supplier, who then redeemed the money from the Government.
That would ensure the money was being spent only on extra heating. As well as making sure the money was not claimed for periods when old people are not home (in hospital, visiting friends, on holiday) like it is now.

[Old_Geezer]

There should be no need to provide extra handouts when the weather gets cold. The standard pension ought to cover it and if it does not then it should be raised. That would be a scandal otherwise.

As for not forcing folk to spend their money on heating, well it isn't difficult to achieve if some of the pension was paid direct top the energy company of the pensioners choice. Or alternatively paid in kW vouchers to use at the supplier of choice.

Allocating blame, rather than responsibility to put things right, is a near worthless procedure. Just gets folks' backs up. I think the first thing is to analyse to see exactly where the problem lies, and then take steps to prevent it.

I wonder if part of the problem is bereavement of a life partner leaves folk on a fixed low income having to heat a residence just for themselves. Not a good situation, one is bound to be tempted to skimp on the heating to ensure enough for any emergency call on their cash.

[Svejk]

They don't cut old people off, anyway. Whether older people realise or would take advantage of that is another matter.