Keeping houses warm

The hazards of a cold home can affect any age group but elderly adults are especially vulnerable.

There are lots of reasons for this. Partly, it’s because advanced age affects how well we can regulate our body temperature.

Another factor is the fact that older adults are more likely to be living with underlying medical conditions which make them more susceptible to cold temperatures.  Also, some of these conditions can become more serious – even life threatening -when it’s cold.

What’s more, the cold can also suppress our immunity and make us more vulnerable to serious chest infections.

It can also affect mobility and increase the likelihood of falling over or suffering a serious accidental injury.

Finally, conditions like dementia can affect how well someone can respond safely and adequately in the face of cold weather eg using heating appliances and wearing appropriate clothing.   Safety is so important because many energy sources carry a fire risk or could cause carbon monoxide poisoning.

Health experts recommend that during cold weather spells, and for people aged 65 years or more, a healthy home  – day and night – should be at least 18 degrees centigrade  although, in living areas, a higher temperature of 21 degrees centigrade might be more comfortable.

Indoor temperatures below 16 degrees centigrade can make us more prone to chest infections.

Prolonged indoor temperatures (lasting more than two hours)  between 9-12 degrees centigrade can cause core body temperature to drop, blood pressure to rise and increase the risk of serious blood circulation problems.

When the indoor temperature is 5 degrees centigrade or lower, there is a significant risk of developing hypothermia.

There is plenty you can do to prepare for winter conditions. This is a helpful checklist from Cadent Gas which covers some of the main things to think about such as getting your boiler and other appliances serviced, joining the priority services register, reducing any risks from carbon monoxide, and insulating pipes.

Often a home is cold because the householder is more concerned about paying the energy bills than about staying warm. This is especially the case for many pensioners, and is becoming more common due to the rising costs of living and energy.

But some homes are more difficult to keep warm. Older people might be living in older buildings which are especially difficult or expensive to heat and maintain. They might be poorly insulated, damp, or not connected to the main gas grid.

Help with the cost of living

Our information on grants and financial support will help you identify any grants or benefits which you or yours household might be entitled to.

Help with heating and fuel bills

Fuel costs are considerably high at the minute, but there are plenty of organisations who can provide support to help heat the home most efficiently.   The offers of support are changing rapidly but the Government maintains an up to data site focusing on energy costs and heating the home.

The advice is different across the home nations:

For properties in England & Wales see here

For properties in Scotland see here

For properties in Northern Ireland see here

It is also worth contacting your Local Council.  The available support varies, depending on local arrangements and partnerships with energy companies and installers, but there are often grants available to help with boiler upgrades, insulation or other measures to make your home warmer or cheaper to heat.

Help from your gas or electricity network operator 

There are different operators in different parts of the country. You can find your gas and/or electricity operator by typing your postcode in to this form.

These networks are different to the energy suppliers who charge you for your energy and who you will pay your bills to.  The government requires networks to provide support to the homes they serve, especially vulnerable households.  This support includes;

• The priority services register
• Free gas connections for homes which are “off grid”
• Help with home energy savings
• Advice and support relating to carbon monoxide safety
• Keeping you safe and warm at home and in warm hubs

Two of the largest gas networks are Northern Gas Networks and Cadent  – you can find the support they offer through their websites.

Specialist tailored support

If you would prefer to speak to someone then Citizen’s Advice provide free benefits checks and detailed energy advice and support.

You can also contact Green Doctors which – working with the environmental charity Groundwork – aims to increase warmth and wellbeing among vulnerable households. They help by providing home visits during which experts install energy and water saving devices, offer advice around grants, rebates and utility switching and promote behaviour change around energy and water use.

Other sources of help

You might also find the Ofgem site helpful. The information for consumers section explains the various heat and energy related benefits and support available including how to get a smart meter or get connected to the mains.

Energy suppliers – the companies who charge you for gas or electricity –  are also expected to provide support to vulnerable customers.  The nature of that support varies between companies and often relates to your own financial or “vulnerable” circumstances  so you will need to contact them to find out what they can do.   You might be able to access discounts, free benefit entitlement checks, debt assistance, energy advice, or smart meters.

The energy saving trust also has some helpful information about saving energy at home.

According to energy experts, Cadent you can save energy – and cut down energy bills – in the following ways:

• Use a washing up bowl to use less energy. It only takes around 95 seconds to fill a washing up bowl with enough water to clean your dishes
• Take shorter showers. Spending just one minute less in the shower can save £25 a year in a typical household – and uses far less energy than taking a bath. If you are on a water meter you could save an additional £17 a year
• Sticking to 4-minute showers could save a typical household £95 on energy bills and around £60 on metered water bills every year
• You can save even more money by replacing an inefficient shower head with a water-efficient one, reducing your yearly gas bill by £45. If you have a water meter as well you can save another £25 – that’s a total saving of £70 each year
• Use energy-friendly LED light bulbs. Replacing all the light bulbs in your home with LEDs can save around £65 a year
• Dry your clothes naturally. Appliances that heat things use a lot of energy, so you can save on average £70 a year on your electricity bill by line drying clothes instead of using a tumble dryer when the weather allows.
• Only run your dishwasher when it is full to reduce the amount of water you use. Reducing your dishwasher use by one run per week for a year could save you £17

The current cost of living crisis, combined with rising energy costs, has launched a number of “warm hubs” or “warm spaces”.   These community venues can help to reduce the costs heating at home and provide company.  They are especially helpful for older people living alone. They are often very sociable and serve cheap (often free) hot food.   You can read more about the warm hub initiative in one county here and find a warm space in your own area using this “warm spaces” interactive map.

Power cut?

Call 105. It’s free and connects you to your local network company. If you’re in Northern Ireland, call 03457 643643. In the Republic of Ireland, call 1850 372 999.

Gas leak?

If you smell gas or are worried about gas safety, call 0800 111 999. In Northern Ireland call 0800 002 001 and in the Republic of Ireland call 1850 20 50 50.