Keep the cold at bay

Simple steps to keep the winter blues at bay (Age Concern)

A staggering 45,240 more people are dying in England in winter than in summer* from cold related illnesses and flu. And it is older people who are frequently the most isolated, living in the coldest homes and on the lowest incomes, without enough money to pay for adequate heating.

With these shocking facts in mind, Age Concern England is calling on older people to follow three simple steps to get through the winter safe, warm and healthy:

1. Get vaccinated against the flu
2. Check out entitlement to money benefits, and
3. Find out if grants for help with heating are available.

More information on the three steps and a whole range of advice offering on heating, money and health is available in Age Concern England's free winter information pack. The pack contains:

• Age Concern's factsheet on Help with Heating, with tips on keeping warm and cutting fuel bills at home
• The Department of Health's Keep warm, Keep Well guide to staying healthy in winter, produced in association with Age Concern and others
• The Doctor Patient Partnership's Helping You Help Yourself leaflet on getting the most out of the NHS over the Christmas and New Year holidays
• Age Concern's Top Tips leaflet full of advice on winter issues.
  
  To get your copy of the pack, simply ring 0800 00 99 66, 7am-7pm. Lines are open seven days a week.
  
  At the same time, Age Concern organisations up and down the country are once again gearing up to reduce the risks to older people during winter with a range of emergency services, advice and support.
  
  Services include home visiting, lunch clubs, day care, face-to-face advice on claiming benefits and grants for home improvements, emergency heater loans and advice on repairs in case the heating breaks down.
  
  Gordon Lishman, Director General of Age Concern England, said:
  
  "Winter can be a difficult time for thousands of older people, many of whom are isolated and are at risk from cold weather. In addition to the help given by Age Concern groups and organisations across the country, we hope the winter information pack will provide practical advice and information to solve problems which come around as soon as temperatures fall."
  
  
• * There were 45,240 excess deaths in the winter of 1998/9 in England according to provisional figures from the Office of National Statistics.
• Age Concern England's winter information pack is available to members of the public on freephone 0800 00 99 66.
• Details of local Age Concerns can be found in the Yellow Pages or obtained through contacting the Age Concern Information Line on 0800 00 99 66.