Keep warm and well over winter

Keep Warm Keep Well (KWKW) is a national campaign which aims to reduce cold-related illnesses and deaths during winter. The campaign offers advice and guidance on how you can keep warm and well this winter, as well as providing you with information on financial assistance, such as grants, that are available to you.

Getting ready for winter

A key step in keeping you warm and well throughout the winter period is preparing your home. Insulating your home not only helps you to keep it dry and warm, it should also help to keep your heating costs down.
Energy saving tips may seem obvious, but they can make a big difference when it comes to reducing your fuel bills. You could for example, set your heating to come on just before you get up and switch off after you've gone to bed.

Financial help to heat your home

If you're struggling financially to keep your home warm, you could get a grant to make your home more energy efficient, or repair or install a new heating system. If you don't qualify for some benefits, you may qualify for others. And even if you've been turned down for benefits in the past, you may find that you now qualify for some means of support.
The Warm Front Scheme provides grants to help people on income or disability-related benefits to fit insulation and heating improvements in their home. You may get a grant for insulation and heating improvements for your home worth up to £3,500, or up to £6,000 if your home needs oil central heating or a new low carbon technology. You can also get advice on energy efficiency to lower your energy bills. For more information about the scheme call 0800 316 2805 (8am-6pm Mon Fri and 9am-5pm Sat), or visit www.warmfont.co.uk
If you do not qualify for a Warm Front grant because you do not receive the relevant benefit but you are over 60, you may be able to claim up to £300 to pay for the installation or repair of a home heating system. To find out more about this, call 0800 316 6012.
Other ways you can get financial assistance to help you keep your house warm include the Cold Weather Payment and asking for assistance from your energy provider.
Cold Weather Payments are made during periods of very cold weather to help people pay for extra heating costs. To find out if you are be eligible for a Cold Weather Payment contact Jobcentre Plus or visit www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk
Energy suppliers provide grants for free home insulation and other energy efficiency measures. They also provide a range of further help including reduced or 'social' tariffs, energy efficiency advice and the Priority Service Register, which gives extra assistance to customers with disabilities or long-term health conditions. Customers who are over 70 or living on a low income can also apply. You should contact your energy supplier to find out if you are eligible for assistance.

Living a healthy lifestyle

Keeping yourself as fit and healthy as you can is important all year round, but your lifestyle can make even more of a difference when it comes to keeping well in winter. Eating regularly and keeping your diet as varied as possible, including plenty of hot food and drinks, is a great way of keeping your energy levels up during cold spells. Also, physical activity, even if it's just moderate, will help you to generate heat and keep warm.

Help and advice

For more information on staying warm and well through the winter, look out for the Keep Warm Keep Well leaflets in your GP's surgery, local pharmacy or Council offices. You can also view all the information online at: http://campaigns.direct.gov.uk/keepwarmkeepwell

2m pensioners live in poverty, says ONS

Latest figures show number of pensioners living below the breadline has fallen by nearly 1 million in 10 years, but income inequality increased over the past 30 years. guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 27 January 2010

The number of pensioners living in poverty in the UK fell by nearly a third in the 10 years to 2007/08, official figures showed today, but there were still an estimated 2 million living below the breadline.
Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed the number of pensioners in poverty had fallen from 2.9 million in 1998/99, but that 2 million were still living on less than 60% of the median UK income after housing costs.
The Liberal Democrat's shadow work and pensions secretary, Steve Webb, said changes to the pension system had failed to help many older people. "It is still the case that pensioners who are forced to rely on the state pension and Labour's complex and undignified system of means-tested benefits are more likely to live in fuel poverty," he said.
"The basic state pension is simply too little to live on for the millions of pensioners who have no other income."

Statistics are a stark reminder of the need to be vigilant for our older neighbours
AFTAID is constantly reminded by applications for help, but the following statistics, published in the Second Annual Age Audit of 2006, remind us all that society needs to be able to assist those most vulnerable in our communities.
These are the stark facts from the very latest Age Audit and since 2006 life has got much more expensive!

Winter mortality
In 2004-05, 31,600 people aged over 65 in England and Wales died as a result of the cold; an increase of 9600 on the previous year and the highest level of winter deaths for five years.
Office for National Statistics

Health and well-being
1.8million men and 3.2million women aged 65 and over (37% of all pensioners) suffer a long-term illness that restricts their daily activities.
Office for National Statistics

Diet
1.1m (10%) people over 65 in the UK are malnourished. One in 10 nursing home patients lose 5% of their body weight within a month of admission.
Malnutrition Advisory Group 2006

Social exclusion and isolation
21% men and 33% of women aged 75 and over say they have difficulty getting to the shops.
English Longitudinal Study of Ageing 2002, UCL

More info: Message from the Trustees
More info: Case Studies

Do you want to know about grants?
A number of individuals do write directly to us for help. But more elderly people in need 'make do', often being too proud to ask for help. Consequently most of the grants we make come as a result of an approach from other Charities, Social Services or Support Groups none of which are able to help as we can and do.
We can only make grant aid available to UK residents who are of pension age and on low incomes. The process of applying is made as easy as we can.
Full story...
More info: How we help
More info: Apply for grant
More info: Useful Links

We are proud to receive
the generous support of
the British public
and recently benefit
from socially aware
companies such as:

and

Our vital and unique place
among chairities offering
assistance to elderly people
in the UK relies on you all.
Please give your help
to enable us to offer
continued assistance.

THANK YOU