Search results for ‘Subject term:"older people"’ Sort:
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There's no money in my meter
- Authors:
- LAW B., SEALY J., ELLIOTT C
- Publisher:
- Family Service Units
- Publication year:
- 1990
- Pagination:
- 60p.,tables,bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- London
Report examining the impact of change in fuel payment methods and the impact of electricity token meters on fuel poverty. Provides information on the changes in circumstances of 50 consumers who have used token meters for 12 months or more. User views are also presented. Also looks at the idea of gas token meters.
Older and colder: the views of older people experiencing difficulties keeping warm in winter
- Author:
- WRIGHT Fay
- Publisher:
- Help the Aged
- Publication year:
- 2004
- Pagination:
- 60p.
- Place of publication:
- London
The report seeks to examine the views, attitudes, perceptions and behaviour of older people who are in fuel poverty or who are concerned about heating their homes. The study offers an important new perspective on what should be done to ensure that older people in the UK live in warm homes during the winter months.
Beating the cold : the role of social workers
- Authors:
- ROBERTS S., BOARDMAN B.
- Journal article citation:
- Social Work Today, 19.1.89, 1989, pp.20-21.
- Publisher:
- British Association of Social Workers
What Social Services Departments can do to combat fuel poverty.
Fuel poverty and disability
- Authors:
- LAXTON Clare, PARCKAR Guy
- Publisher:
- Leonard Cheshire Disability
- Publication year:
- 2009
- Pagination:
- 37p.
- Place of publication:
- London
In January 2008 Leonard Cheshire Disability published the ‘Disability poverty in the UK’ report. The report examined the continuing links between disability and poverty and set out a broad definition of what disability poverty means, and how it can be tackled. The report found that disabled people are twice as likely to live in relative low-income as nondisabled people. The extent of disability poverty in the UK, combined with the anecdotal evidence from many disabled people that fuel costs are a particular problem, make a powerful case that it is necessary to investigate the links between disability and fuel poverty. Despite some recent reductions in the costs of fuel, the overall trend in recent years has been a substantial increase in fuel costs. This report draws together the evidence of the likelihood of experiencing fuel poverty, making the case as to why fuel poverty is a major issue for disabled people, and proposing some policy recommendations to help address it. It defines fuel poverty and highlights why disabled people in the UK are vulnerable. The study emphasises the link between disability and fuel poverty, and encourages the UK government to formulate an appropriate policy.
Coping with the cold – exploring relationships between cold housing, health and social wellbeing in a sample of older people in Ireland
- Authors:
- COTTER Noëlle, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Quality in Ageing and Older Adults, 13(1), 2012, pp.38-47.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
This study examined the experiences of older people in cold weather with a view to informing fuel poverty policy and service responses. A postal and online survey utilising an opportunistic sample of 722 older people living in Ireland and linked with a range of services was undertaken. Data were analysed in the context of socio-economic, health, and housing circumstances. Findings indicated that, during the period of extreme cold weather, half of the sample went without other household necessities due to the cost of home-heating. Overall, 62% of those surveyed worried about the cost of home-heating. Homes considered too cold were more likely to lack central heating and experience draughts. Staying indoors, keeping the heating on, and eating hot food/drinks were common responses to cold weather. Also, associations between living in a cold home and higher levels of chronic illness, falls and loneliness, and fewer social activities were noted. Implications for policy are discussed.
Our right to heat and eat: a huge and growing problem
- Author:
- AGE CONCERN LONDON
- Publisher:
- Age Concern
- Publication year:
- 2009
- Pagination:
- 6p.
- Place of publication:
- London
This briefing provides an overview of the problems many older and/or disabled people with regard to the costs of heating their homes and feeding themselves. It summarises the reasons for fuel poverty include low income, non-claiming of full benefit entitlements and the non-user friendly nature of many utility companies information and tariffs. Initiatives such as the government’s 'Warm Front' campaign grant scheme and utility companies’ social tariffs for lower income and vulnerable customers are highlighted. Suggestions for good practice in local authorities are also provided, such as a 'One Stop Shop' for benefits, energy efficiency, and home improvement/repair grant schemes.
Old and cold: older people and policies failing to address fuel poverty
- Author:
- WRIGHT Fay
- Journal article citation:
- Social Policy and Administration, 38(5), October 2004, pp.488-503.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Research, funded by the British Gas Help the Aged Partnership and carried out by the Institute of Gerontology, King's College London, explored the multidimensional issues of fuel poverty. A sample of older homeowners and private renters living in England, Scotland and Wales were interviewed in the Spring of 2003 to explore their experiences of keeping their homes warm in the preceding winter. It was found that almost half of the sample for whom full information was available were in fuel poverty. Government schemes failed to address some important issues. Grants were only available to those with “passport benefits”, excluding those who had minimal occupational pensions. Although most respondents had central heating, it was often old and ineffective, yet grants were not available to modernize them. Government schemes did not extend to paying for external and internal insulation for solid wall properties yet many older people live in such property. Several older people lived in rural areas not connected to mains gas. As mains gas currently provides the cheapest fuel, they faced high bills, yet government policies do not address the differential fuel costs in these areas. The culture of many older people in the study contributed to their living in cold homes. They lived frugally and usually turned heating off in daylight hours during winter. It was also a common practice to sleep in an unheated bedroom during winter and to keep the window open at night. Such practices are acknowledged to be unhealthy.
Cold comfort: fuel poverty and the winter fuel payment
- Authors:
- BRINKLEY Andrew, LESS Simon
- Publisher:
- Policy Exchange
- Publication year:
- 2010
- Pagination:
- 20p.
- Place of publication:
- London
This report describes how the Government is failing on its Fuel Poverty target. The number of households spending more than 10% of income on energy has risen steadily since the launch of the Fuel Poverty strategy. The Government’s own figures show that by 2007, the numbers of people in fuel poverty in the United Kingdom had risen to 4,000,000 from 2,500,000 in 2001. Even more worrying, they suggest that there may have been 6,500,000 by 2009 - and this despite spending of £20 billion. This report calls for a more honest approach from Government. The authors argue that if the Government wishes to use the Winter Fuel Payment funding to boost the incomes of older people, it should do so transparently through the pensions or benefits system. If, on the other hand, it is serious about helping people who struggle to heat their homes, the government should focus on improving domestic energy efficiency and effective approaches to tackling poverty.
Older people, decent homes and fuel poverty: an analysis based on the English House Conditions Survey
- Author:
- HELP THE AGED
- Publisher:
- Help the Aged
- Publication year:
- 2006
- Pagination:
- 28p.
- Place of publication:
- London
This new report from Help the Aged, which utilises the data of the English House Conditions Survey, reveals a strong link between people over 75 years, fuel poverty and poor housing conditions. Older people who live in rural areas, who live alone or are private tenants are also more likely to live in fuel poverty whilst people living in social rented housing were the least likely, The report highlights the danger of the 40% of older households who are spending 5-10% of their income on fuel (nearly double the proportion of younger households) falling into fuel poverty as prices rise. The report calls for a step change in efforts to improve housing quality and thermal comfort in older people’s housing, particularly in the owner occupied and private rented sectors.
Stop pensioner poverty now: older people - ignored and forgotten
- Author:
- HELP THE AGED
- Publisher:
- Help the Aged
- Publication year:
- 2003
- Pagination:
- 10p.
- Place of publication:
- London
Poverty comes in many different shapes and sizes. but by the government's own admission, and in spite of its claims of commitment to social justice, today's pensioners are very often poor not only in terms of the income they receive, and the quality of their neighbourhoods but also the opportunities available to them to take a full part in society. This document calls upon the government to match its publicly stated commitment to ending child poverty with similar energy on behalf of older people. Fundamental to this is the establishment of a decent universal basic state pension that will deliver basic needs. And there are also more focused reforms and initiatives that we believe will address some of the worst areas of pensioner poverty, that are urgently needed now. These are: bridging the huge gulf between entitlement and claim rates of pensioner benefits; radical improvement in the addition at age 80 to the weekly state pension, which currently stands at a derisory extra 25p: making work pay for poorest pensioners with a decisive increase in the earnings disregard, to £75 a week: ending, the indefensible anomaly whereby disability before age 65 brings a mobility benefit currently denied to those over the age of 65: preventing the scandal of over 20,000 winter deaths each year of older people that happen because we cannot manage the effects of winter cold: helping pensioners to take a fuller part in their neighbourhoods through initiatives such as improved street lighting and consistent free travel opportunities.