Campaigning
Bobble Day 2012 at Age UK West Sussex
The figures below are taken from a survey we carried out in summer 2011. For a more detailed look at the findings, download our report – click here
- a quarter of older people in West Sussex wear outdoor clothing inside to keep warm
- over one in ten people 65 and over stay or live in just one heated room of their house
- 55% of older people across West Sussex feel having their heating on as much as they need without the worry of the cost, would make a huge difference this winter
- a third (33%) of people 65 and over worry about keeping warm at home this winter
- a quarter of people 65 and over would turn their heating off to save money
- 51% of older people are feeling concerned about paying for their heating bill this winter and are more likely to go to bed early to save on heating costs
- 53% of people in later life rely on the Winter Fuel Payment to afford or lower their heating bill.
Get Your Woollies Out
February 10 is Bobble Day. This year it promises to be bigger, brighter, warmer and woollier than ever.
It’s fun and easy to get involved – and every penny raised helps prevent needless suffering this winter as part of Age UK’s Spread the Warmth campaign.
To show your support, get your woollies out and sign up for Bobble day 2012. Sign up today to get a free pack brimming with fun ideas.
Sign up for Bobble Day 2012 now
How to get involved
Get your woollies out
Here’s how you can help. Dig out your favourite woolly - or your silliest! Donate £2 to wear it for the day. And your woolly will help keep someone older warm this winter too!
Work that woolly!
It’s simple – if you want it to be. But why not go wild and express yourself? Team your pinstripes with neon legwarmers. Top off your little black dress with a bobble hat.
Accessorise your Jimmy Choos with stripey socks. Wear your dad’s jumper as a dress. Or tog out your toddler in a twinset.
Be a knit wit
Let your imagination run wild. You could organise a woolly swap with your colleagues: choose a colour or theme for your team or class, or wear your knitwear in new unconventional ways. So sign up today and support Bobble Day!
Get involved with Bobble Day 2012!
Why we run Bobble Day
Bobble Day is part of Age UK's Spread the Warmth campaign, our campaign to reach 350,000 older people and ensure they're warm, safe and healthy this winter.
Download our Bobble Day leaflet (PDF 3MB)
Spread the Warmth
Help to keep West Sussex warm and cosy this winter
Winter is upon us and it isn’t everyone’s favourite season. There’s no doubt that the cold weather can be a worry for those of us in later life. But with a little preparation, and by following some simple suggestions, you can help you to stay healthy, safe and as comfortable as possible this winter. Keeping warm both inside and outside your home can help reduce your risk of serious health problems. Some older people find it difficult to pay their heating bills and keep their homes warm enough. They are having to make difficult choices between daily basics like heating and eating.
During the winter months, we are running our Spread the Warmth campaign in conjunction with the national charity, that aims to tackle the problems that winter brings and make it easier for those older people in need to manage during the colder months.
These simple tips can help you keep warm, save money on heating bills and make your home more energy efficient:
* Staying healthy – keep moving, eat well and have your seasonal flu jab
* Keeping warm indoors and out – wear several thin layers of clothing, wear warm clothes in bed and wear boots with non-slip soles and a warm lining
* Making your home energy efficient – draught-proof doors and windows, loft insulation and cavity-wall insulation, find out whether you are eligible for a grant to insulate your home and check your current energy tariff and shop around to see if you can get a better deal
* Keep your home warm - keep your home at the right temperature (main living room is around 21 and the rest of the house should be heated to at least 18 , draw curtains at dusk and fit with thermal linings and sleep with your windows closed
* Socialise with friends, family or neighbours – keep in contact with a friend or neighbour, share a chat over a pot of tea, visit one of our activity centres to meet new friends and take part in an array of activities
For more helpful tips and advice for staying warm and healthy this winter, download our Winter Wrapped up guide – click here.
Staying active is not only essential for your general wellbeing and fitness – it also generates heat and helps to keep you warm.
National Cold Weather Plan
This year, the Spread the Warmth campaign is working with the Met Office and Department of Work and Pensions as part of the national Cold Weather Plan to provide targeted information to the older people who are most at risk, when a cold snap is imminent. Every year, more than 25,000 older people die from preventable causes over the winter months. The Met Office has teamed up with the Department of Health to provide a cold weather alert service to pinpoint when winter weather will impact on people’s health. These alerts will be issued if mean temperatures are below 2 for 48 hours or longer, if there is heavy snow or widespread ice and will operate in England from 1 November to 31 March.
Age UK’s partnership with the Met Office continues and we will be sharing information with you about Cold Weather alerts throughout the winter. Luckily, we have been experiencing a fairly warm winter so far, but as December arrives, it is likely the temperature will drop.
The latest forecast from the Met Office is there is a low chance of a national cold weather alert in December. There is a higher likelihood in two regions: South East England has a 60% chance, and East of England has a 50% of a cold weather event in December.
Watch this space for further cold weather alerts.
What is the problem
Depression is the most common mental health problem in later life. Of the third of older people with depression who discuss it with their GP‚ only half are diagnosed and receive treatment.
This means that only about 15 per cent of all older people with clinical depression receive treatment.850‚000 out of 1 million people don’t.
Depression is an illness that blights the lives of many older people. It is not “one of those things”. It is not “what you can expect at your age”. It is not an inevitable part of ageing.
It is an illness that can be treated: if older people seek help‚ are diagnosed‚ and receive appropriate treatment.
The scandal is that for many older people this doesn’t happen. Many do not seek help. For those who do‚ ageist attitudes among health professionals can prevent diagnosis. And for the lucky ones who are diagnosed‚ access to the full range of treatments may be denied because of their age.
Older people with depression deserve better.
Ignoring the problem is not an option: if not identified and treated‚ depression ruins people’s quality of life‚ increases the risk of other illnesses‚ and can even lead to suicide.
What we want
We are calling for older people with depression to be correctly diagnosed and receive effective treatment.
