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Reducing winter deaths

 

Each year in England and Wales, many thousands of people aged 65 and over die needlessly in the winter months. This is often because older people can't afford to heat our homes and they are more susceptible to illnesses caused by cold and damp. Age UK is campaigning to reduce the number of excess winter deaths.

In the following short film produced for Sport Relief, two older people talk about living in fuel poverty:

Two older people talk about living in fuel poverty Two older people talk about living in fuel poverty - In this short film produced for Sport Relief two older people share their own experiences of living in fuel poverty talking about whats it like to feel constantly cold and worried about how to afford heating To support Age UKs campaign to tackle the shocking fact that 1 in 4 pensioners in the UK live in fuel poverty visit wwwageukorgukreducingwinterdeaths

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Spread the warmthThe latest figures show that last winter (2010-11) there were almost 22,000 additional deaths among people over the age of 65 in England and Wales. 

The cost to society is enormous. For every additional winter death, there are also around 8 admissions to hospital, 32 visits to outpatient care and 30 social services calls.

This is a national tragedy. Many of the deaths and much of the ill health are avoidable. Age UK is campaigning to change this. We want MPs to take action to ensure that their older constituents know the risks that cold weather represent to their health and that they receive the information and support they need when they are most at risk during the winter.

Pledge to tackle winter deaths


Age UK’s Spread the Warmth campaign is working to reduce needless suffering in the winter.

What Age UK is doing

The Spread the Warmth campaign is calling for change. We, with your help, are asking MPs to sign our winter pledge.

By signing up to the Age UK pledge MPs are committing to:

  • Raising awareness of the dangers to health of cold weather and cold homes
  • Working with his/her local Age UK to tackle the local priorities for older people
  • Challenging energy providers to produce simple tariffs to make it easier for people to lower their bills.
  • Promoting preventative measures that older people can take before a cold spell
  • Encouraging all sectors of the local community to make tackling excess winter deaths a priority
  • Ensuring that all his/her constituents are prepared for winter

What you can do

You can send an email to your MP to ask them to sign Age UK's Winter Pledge.


We are photographing all MPs who have signed Age UK's Winter Pledge. Visit Age UK's Flickr page to see if your MP has taken action to reduce winter deaths for older people in your area.

Other campaigns against poverty in retirement

Protecting attendance allowance

Campaigning to make sure that what is good about attendance allowance is kept when the way care services are provided is changed.

Carer's allowance and older carers

Many of us care for someone with health problems. We are calling for improvements to carer’s allowance and for greater support for older carers.

Claiming all benefits: More money in your pocket

Many of us in later life are missing out on benefits each week because we don’t claim what’s rightfully ours.

Your Age UK

Set your location to see what Age UK offers in your local area.

Call Age UK:
0800 169 8787
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Care in Crisis

We are calling on the government to reform the care system, to ensure that people in later life receive high quality care and support.

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