Age UK: Response to the Met Office’s Yellow and Amber weather warnings.
Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director at Age UK, said: “The plummeting temperatures, ice and snow we are now seeing are hazardous for older people, especially if they are living with serious health conditions or are generally frail. We urge anyone in this situation to take extra care of themselves and the general public to look out for any older person they know who could do with some extra support.
“Snow and ice can lead to slips and falls and while if a thirty-year-old takes a tumble they will probably just be bruised, an eighty year-old is much more likely to experience a fracture, resulting in a hospital admission and a lengthy period of recovery – if they are lucky.”
In a similar way, becoming very cold is unpleasant for all of us, but for an older person with heart and lung problems it can catalyse really serious health problems like a stroke, or chest infections leading to pneumonia. And of course, while the incidence of flu is thankfully now declining it hasn’t completely gone away.
“For all these reasons we urge older people to take care over the next few days. It is important to keep a close eye on any long-term health conditions and seek medical help sooner rather than later if you go down with a nasty winter virus like flu or norovirus and become increasingly unwell or concerned about your health for other reasons. Please do contact your GP or speak to a pharmacist – yes, the NHS is busy, but they really do want to hear from you.
“If you or an older person you know is having difficulty breathing, experiencing chest pain or becoming very confused then it is important to seek help immediately via 111 or, if it’s an emergency, 999.
“All of us need to look out for older people around us to who could do with a helping hand and some friendly support to stay well over the cold snap. You could make a real difference; for example, offering to bring in some shopping or collect a prescription may mean a frail older person avoids a damaging fall if it’s slippery outside.
“We also know that some older people worry so much about paying their bills that they keep their heating turned down too low, or off altogether. This is really bad for their health so we encourage any older person who feels in a tough spot financially to give us a ring, because extra help may well be available and we can help them to access it. Please call us on 0800 169 65 65, visit the Cost of Living hub on Age UK’s website.
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