Petition launched as fears rise for elderly

AGE Action has appealed to Dubliners to sign their
petition to help protect vulnerable older people this winter.

The group that fights for the rights of the elderly
made the appeal as new research revealed how over 1,200 older people die of
cold-related conditions each winter.

They are also urging the Government to reverse cuts to
the free gas and electricity units for pensioners, amid growing concern at the
severe hardship the most vulnerable of older people face this winter.

The older people’s charity launched the appeal for the
public to support its petition for the reversal of the cuts, which commenced in
September.

“This is literally a life and death issue for hundreds
of older people who will struggle to heat their homes to a safe level over the
coming months,

? Age Action spokesman Eamon Timmins said.

“While resources are
tight, we all have a responsibility to protect our most vulnerable citizens
from cuts which will cause harm and even death.
We are urging the public to show their concern by signing the petition.

?

Age Action used the launch to reveal new research on
the impact of cold weather on older people in Ireland.

Research on fuel poverty and older people by the
Dublin Institute of Technology and the Institute of Public Health that is due
to be published in the coming weeks shows that during the winter of 2006/7
there were 1,281 excess winter deaths. Of these, the vast majority were older people
(1,216 were aged over 65).

“These are older people who are dying of
cardiovascular and respiratory illness – cold-related conditions,

? Mr Timmins
said.

“These are people who are dying because they cannot afford to heat their
homes to a safe level.

?

The new research highlights the scale of the silent
suffering being experienced by older people. In response to a questionnaire
earlier this year, almost a quarter of respondents (24 per cent) said their
homes were

“too cold

? and more than half (51 per cent) went without other
necessities to pay their fuel bills.

“The Government’s decision to cut the free
gas/electricity units by between 20 per cent and 25 per cent is going to make
life much harder for the most vulnerable of older people,

? Mr Timmins added.

“In
particular, we are concerned about older people who live alone, on low incomes,
in older and poorly insulated homes, and who often have poor health or a
physical disability. If these people struggled last winter to keep well and
warm, what does the coming winter hold for them?

?

Age Action also used their petition launch to publish
their pre-Budget submission for the December Budget.

Fuel poverty is one of five key issues addressed.