Charity reveals high rate of death among elderly during winter

Help the Aged have announced that more than 1,500 elderly people in Northern Ireland have died over the winters from 2000.

Around 290 people aged over 65 died between December and March last year, it was stated.

Duane Farrell, Head of Policy, Research and Communications at Help the Aged commented: "It is a scandal, in a country as developed as Northern Ireland, that any older person should die cold and alone in the winter months."

Help the Aged has compiled a table of mortality figures, which puts the winter death figures for 2004/5 for people over the age of 65 into context against a number of other causes of death in Northern Ireland.

The charity said avoidable winter deaths come seventh in this table - roughly equalling the figures recorded in 2004 for deaths from breast cancer and leukaemia, and is double that recorded for suicide and transport accidents.

Farrell added: "All deaths, caused by whatever reason, are sad and often tragic but deaths in winter are not only large in number but also often avoidable. Action needs to be taken now and continually throughout the year if this terrible toll is to be reduced."

Over the coming months, the Help the Aged Winter Deaths Campaign aims to raise awareness about avoidable winter deaths and ensure older people have information about how to prepare for winter and beat the cold.

Over the coming months the charity`s Winter Deaths Campaign will:

• Raise awareness about avoidable winter deaths



• Ensure that older people have information about how to prepare for the winter and beat the cold



• Challenge behaviour and attitudes about winter



• Challenge the Government and energy providers to ensure existing help is better targeted and to co-ordinate their approach more effectively

Their Energy Efficiency Project, funded by Northern Ireland Electricity, The Department of Social Development and the Energy Savings Trust, aims to tackle the problem by providing free fuel poverty proofing packages. They are available to older people living in both owner-occupied or privately rented accommodation which currently has no central heating or which relies solely on Economy 7 or solid fuel central heating systems.

Mervyn Kohler, head of Public Affairs at Help the Aged commented: "The most urgent need is for the Government to boost the cash available to older people through the winter fuel payment."

Anyone who thinks they might be eligible for the scheme is being urged to contact Help the Aged.

(DS)