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The Cost of Cold: Age UK's Campaign for Warmth and Wellbeing

Age UK presents a report to urge MPs and councils to address excess winter deaths, highlighting the impact of cold on individuals and the healthcare system. Learn about the preventable crisis and how improved housing and energy efficiency can save lives. Discover strategies to influence policy makers and communities, including behavior change initiatives and government collaborations. Find out how local authorities and partners can make a difference, prioritizing vulnerable older people and improving home insulation. Support the cause by contacting your MP and exploring further actions on www.spreadthewarmth.org.uk.

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The Cost of Cold: Age UK's Campaign for Warmth and Wellbeing

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  1. The cost of cold Age UK’s new report for MPs and councillors. Part of Spread the Warmth, making the case for why policy makers need to tackle the issue of excess winter deaths. A campaign tool to highlight the issue among the public and the media.

  2. Cold costs • Around 25,000 lives a year • £1.36 billion a year to the NHS • Substantial cost in social care • Personal tragedy for individuals and families

  3. This is preventable • Many much colder countries have lower mortality ratesWHY? • Warmer, better insulated houses • Cultural practices: people know how to keep warm

  4. Factors affecting exposure to cold Crisis Cost of energy Low income Energy efficiency Under-occupancy

  5. Who can we influence? • Older people themselves • behaviour change work – posters, recipe books, thermometers • partnership with the Met Office to let people know when cold weather is on its way • Local authorities • through local brand partners • National government • through individuals, partners • Asking MPs to influence nationally and locally

  6. How local authorities and their partners can make a difference • Use the new local health structures to make excess winter deaths and illness a priority • Improve the energy efficiency of vulnerable older people’s homes • Eg: Cheshire West & Chester Council • Ward-level mapping > problem greatest in rural areas > roadshows • Health and Wellbeing Board – winter deaths have been identified as a priority > funding for local projects eg Snow Angels, run by partnership including Age UK Cheshire

  7. National government • There has been progress: • Cold Weather plan (Age UK campaigned for this • in 2010/11) • Warm Homes, Healthy People funding, £20m this year • Public Health Outcomes Framework • NICE looking at developing guidance – but a long way off

  8. Home energy efficiency • Much more needs to be done to make sure older people live in warm, well-insulated homes • New policies including the Green Deal will not be adequate • Investment is needed • Average cost of insulating a home = £7500 • Average cost of a week’s stay in hospital = £1750 - £2100

  9. The Energy Bill Revolution

  10. What can you do? Email your own MP and call for action! Visit www.spreadthewarmth.org.uk and follow the links. Download a copy of the report to read. Look out for more actions coming soon.

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