How your support helped older people last year

Last year Spread the Warmth helped provide support for more than 300,000 people in later life.

Below are just three examples of how your support helped these vulnerable people...

Heating help 

Mr F, who is 84 years old, lives alone with his small dog for company. His nearest relative lives 300 miles away. He suffers with arthritis, type 1 diabetes and the early stages of dementia. He is only able to get out of his house with the aid of a mobility scooter.

When the December temperatures were -6°C during the day and -12°C during the night, Mr F telephoned us because his heating had stopped working. We contacted Care Network, who sent a plumber, but as Mr F’s heating system is old and virtually obsolete, the plumber advised that it may take time to obtain a part.

The co-ordinator visited Mr F, as he had been unable to shop. We also supplied two electric heaters and blankets until his heating was repaired.

We made daily phone calls to check that he was OK and, as he couldn't get out to walk his dog, we arranged a local dog walker volunteer.”

Fire and falls 

“Mrs L’s central heating had broken down and she was very cold. Mrs L lives downstairs, as she has mobility difficulties. Her cousin, who lives some way away, had called a heating engineer, but the high demand meant it would take some time; she then called the local Age Concern. 

We found that Mrs L had an electric bar heater, as well as central heating, but was frightened to use this as she once fell in front of it and could have been badly burned had it been on. 

We supplied her with a safer heater which she was happy to use and ensured that it was set up safely and kept the room warm enough. Mrs L’s heating was fixed after a week; however she wanted to keep the heater we gave her as she was worried about future problems. We were able to agree to this.

After some persuasion Mrs L agreed to a falls prevention check to try and reduce the chances of her falling again, as well as a link to the Fire Service for a home fire safety check. Mrs L says that she now feels much safer in her own home.”

Draughtproofing

“Mrs B contacted us because her property needed repair - it was old and draughty, the boiler was broken and the radiators not working - and she had been living in layers of jumpers and coats with just a small open fire in her living room.

She was worried about using her gas stove to cook due to the high cost of gas and was using a microwave instead. We sent an advocate who arranged for a heating engineer to fix the boiler and check the radiators, while our Handyperson also put in some draught excluders. 

The advocate also contacted utility companies to get Mrs B onto the best rate for her in her area.

Mrs B was pleased to have warmth at home to help her through the cold spell and to have regular gas payments to spread the cost of her gas usage throughout the year.”