Cold, lonely winter may cost 25,000 old people their lives
“Small things and a friendly face make all the difference to a family carer.”
Older people in the West Country are becoming increasingly isolated as neighbours fail to take notice of their basic needs.
According to a new report from the charity Age UK, one in four people aged 65 or more in the South West are not getting any help, support or companionship from people on their doorstep.
“It is a sad fact of life,” said Tom Williams, chairman of a Pensioners and 50-Plus Action Group in the region. “Times have changed and this has been happening more and more over the years. People are busy with their own lives and they don’t pop into each others houses any more.
He added: “We all know individuals who have children who live abroad, in America and Australia, and the chances are they aren’t coming back. These people are all right when they are living as a couple, but when one dies the survivor tends to get very lonely. It’s a real problem, but it’s hard to know what to do.”
Mr Williams, who is a keen advocate of over-50s getting more involved in their community, said older people were sometimes guilty of apathy themselves.
“It goes both ways. Older people need to get out more and be more vocal as well.”
Why We Love Our Library!
Explore your local library and discover a whole world of wonder!
[youtube]http://youtu.be/l1d7Rn2LuUM[/youtube]
The Norwich Community Learning Champions have made films celebrating the range of ‘relaxed’ learning that takes place in Norwich’s Millennium Library (but also, about the value of libraries in general). Explore your local library and discover a whole world of wonder!
Poorest families hit hardest by income squeeze
Carers struggle to survive and keep loved ones warm
Sunday 18 November 2012
The 10 per cent of UK households with the lowest income – £8,000 or less – have seen the biggest rise in the rate of inflation over the past year when the impact of soaring university tuition fees is stripped out, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Its research shows such households faced inflation of 2.49 per cent in the year to October, compared to just 2.1 per cent for the richest 10 per cent. This is because poorer families spend twice as much of their income on fuel, and four times as much on water, the accountant says.
