Help at hand for elderly to get ready for winter

Mark Branagan

CONCERN about rising fuel bills will drive a new campaign this winter to keep elderly people in York and Selby safe as temperatures plummet.

Age Concern in York is teaming up with North Yorkshire and York Community and Mental Health Services to help older people prepare for the practical challenges the winter months may bring. This year’s “getting ready for winter day” will take place at The Folk Hall, New Earswick, York on Monday from 10am until 12.30pm.

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Also there will be Older Citizens Advocacy York, Alzheimer’s Society, the Older People’s Assembly, The Energy Efficiency Saving Trust, York Link and the Carers Centre, York Blind & Partially Sighted Society and Resource for the Deaf, plus York Council.

Officials say that while research shows local pensioners are twice as likely to suffer falls over the winter there is also a particular concern this year that vulnerable people might put themselves at risk to save money on heating.

Age Concern York’s Chief Officer, Sally Hutchinson said: “We have discovered through our own experience and research that twice as many older people fall in the winter.

“Coupled with the many other worrying issues we are faced with this winter – especially rising fuel bills – we decided to work with North Yorkshire and York Community and Mental Health Services to encourage older people to prepare for winter so that they and their carers will be able to address any problems or worries they have before they are allowed to escalate.”

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North Yorkshire and York Community and Mental Health Services’ Falls Prevention Coordinator Adele Harvey said: “Through falls prevention we are able to not only improve patient care but also encourage independence for older people within the community.”

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