Waltham Forest Older People's Collaborative Website

As we get older, it becomes harder to keep warm. Our thermo-regulatory systems become less efficient and we may be cold but unaware of it.

If the body's core temperature is lowered due to exposure to cold, a condition known as hypothermia can set in.

Why Keeping warm matters

About half of all extra deaths in winter are due to coronary heart disease or stroke. About a quarter are due to respiratory disease. A drop in body temperature contributes to these deaths. Blood thickens in cold conditions and makes circulation more difficult; and persistent exposure to cold reduces resistance to chest infection. Where there is bronchitis, asthma, emphysema, a previous stroke or other chronic heart and lung disorder already present, the risks are greater. This applies also with diabetes and other diseases affecting major organs. There is also the increased risk of injury from falls. Icy and wet surfaces are one hazard but, if your body is cold, your muscles react more slowly which will make you more likely to fall.

The best way to combat winter is to keep warm. Countries with much colder winters than ours experience only slight increases in death rates because more care and effort goes into keeping warm and safe, at home and outside. Winter needn't be dangerous, if you take the right steps.

More people get ill in winter, and the number of deaths rises. There is a direct link between cold weather and a higher death rate, especially amongst older people and others in at-risk groups.

How warm is warm

It is essential to keep warm at home. The general principle is that you should keep the temperature in the rooms you are using at around 21°C(70°F). A room thermometer will help you to check that you have the right temperature.

Warm clothing

Outdoors, take care to dress for the weather and wrap up warmly. Exposure to cold and wind produces physiological changes that make the blood more likely to clot, increasing the risk of heart attack or stroke:

Wear a hat to keep warm

Cllr. Simon Wright, Cabinet Member says: I have lots of different hats for winter including ones to wear under cycle helmets. They are my most important item of clothing when I am outdoors in winter, even more important than a good coat.

Cllr. Liz Phillips, LBWF Older People's Champion says: I love wearing hats and what a wonderful excuse to wear one in the cold winter month. Keep warm this winter. Wear a hat.

Cllr Narinder Matharoo, Chair of LBWF Scrutiny Commission says: I wear my turban all year round, of course. But this year I had a bypass operation and the surgeon told me that he wished everyone wore this kind of headgear as it kept my body temperature much higher during the operation and when recovering.

A good diet

What you eat makes an important difference to your health. Healthy eating will reduce the risks of developing heart disease, some cancers, constipation, obesity and tooth decay. Eating properly plays a big part in keeping warm and well. During cold weather, hot meals every day and regular hot drinks will give you extra warmth and energy.

Try to eat some food from each of the first four groups every day, varying the actual food to get all the different nutrients and to keep variety in your diet. Foods with fat and sugar add extra variety and flavour, but should not be eaten too often or in large amounts. It's a good idea to have a hot drink before bedtime and prepare a thermos of a warm drink to keep by the bed at night.

Exercise

Physical activity increases appetite and reduces the risk of heart disease, sleeplessness and several other conditions. Therefore, try to keep as active as possible. Any kind of activity will do - from walking to the shops to dusting and cleaning a room. Half-an-hour's exercise is recommended.

Sitting down for long stretches should be avoided; get up and move around at regular intervals. And if you have difficulty walking, just moving your arms and legs and wiggling your fingers and toes will help.

Stop smoking

You're never too old to benefit from giving up smoking. The evidence shows that there are health benefits, no matter how old you are. For confidential advice and support with giving up smoking, there is a Freephone helpline: The NHS Smoking Helpline - Freephone 0800 169 0 169.

Hypothermia - signs and symptoms

Without treatment people with hypothermia can rapidly become very ill, lose consciousness and die. There is also an increased risk of stroke or heart attack due to blood clots forming.

It is important to treat the signs of hypothermia as a medical emergency and to judge the symptoms rather than what a person says about their own condition. Hypothermia kills people every year - older adults especially may not notice that their body temperature has fallen, their rooms are too cold, or they can't move about very well. Always contact the emergency services and get urgent medical assistance.

Influenza Immunisation

It is very important that everyone aged 65 and over should be immunised against the influenza (flu) virus. Flu can be very serious in older adults, because complications such as bronchitis and pneumonia are more common in this age group.

Other adults who should be immunised include those who suffer from heart, respiratory or renal disease, diabetes mellitus and those with an impaired immune system. Ask your GP if you are not sure if you should have the immunisation.

The vaccine does not contain any live virus and therefore, cannot give you the flu but, if all older people are protected, then the risk of a flu epidemic will be much reduced. Sheena Dunbar, Director of Age Concern Waltham Forest said "After a series of mild winters, it is easy to be complacent about the threat of flu - but few realise that between 3000 and 4000 deaths are attributable to the complications of flu every year. We are urging those at risk to get a flu jab even if they had one last year. The flu virus is always changing, so last year's vaccine won't protect you".

Contact your GP to make an appointment to be immunised and be protected throughout the coming winter.

Falls Prevention

A third of people aged over 65 in the UK have experienced a fall. A fall can be very traumatic and can affect confidence, cause injury and lead to reduced independence. Falls are associated with a loss of motor skills - strength, balance and co-ordination - and are often linked with a combination of medical and environmental factors.

It is particularly important to take care in the winter months. Many winter accidents in older people occur as a result of slipping on ice or pavements covered with fallen leaves.

For further information about falls prevention, please contact Jorge Lagos or Christine Bateson on 020 8558 8716.

Winter Fuel Payments 2005-2006

The Government is making Winter Fuel Payments to people aged 60 or over to help with the costs of keeping warm this winter.

If you made a claim last year and your circumstances have changed, such as change of address, new bank account details, or if you are now in one of the groups that cannot get a Winter Fuel Payment, please write to the Winter Fuel Payments Centre at the following address:

Winter Fuel Payment Centre
Southgate House
Cardiff Central
Royal Mail
Cardiff
CF91 1ZH

If your claim last year was unsuccessful and your circumstances have changed, you can make a claim for this winter.

If you are not sure if you need to claim, you can check by calling the Winter Fuel Payment Helpline on 08459 15 15 15 (0845 601 5613 for text phone users). Lines are open from 8.30am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday. Charges are the same as for local calls.

If you got a Winter Fuel Payment last winter, you should automatically get a winter Fuel Payment for this winter as long as your circumstances have not changed.

All automatic Winter Fuel Payment should be made by Christmas 2005. If you have not had your Winter Fuel Payment by then, you should call the office that pays your benefit or the Winter Fuel Payment Helpline on 08459 15 15 15 (0845 601 5613 for text phone users). If you have an access to the internet, you can get a claim form from the website at http://www.thepensionservice.gov.uk/winterfuel.

The Pension Service will make the Winter Fuel Payment by Christmas for successful claims they receive by 23rd September 2005. You can still claim after that but it may mean that you don't get your before Christmas. If you make a successful claim for a Winter Fuel Payment this winter and remain eligible, you should get your payment automatically in future, as long as you let Pension Service know about any changes in your circumstances.

Pension Service must receive all claim forms for winter 2005/2006 by 30 March 2006.

Extra Money This Winter

The One off 70+ Payments
An additional payment will be paid this year. This is a one-off payment, which will be made to each eligible household with someone aged 70 or over. To be eligible for this tax free payment, you have to be normally living in Great Britain or Northern Ireland on any day of the week of 20 to 26 September 2004 and have reached the age of 70 on or before 26 September 2004. This money will be paid automatically with the Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2004/2005.

You can telephone Age Concern Waltham Forest's help-line if you need any further information about winter fuel payments or other benefits on 020 8558 5512 Mon-Wednesday-Friday (between 10am-12noon).

Keeping warm in winter

Winter advice for older adults