SUBJECT: Winter Warmth Project Underway For Older People

Three local agencies are working together to make the coming winter as healthy as possible for older people in Canterbury.

The “Winter Warmth Project for Older People” is the focus of an inter-agency partnership between Age Concern Canterbury, Community Energy Action and Canterbury District Health Board.

The project focuses on vulnerable older people who are more than 70 years of age, have at least one chronic health condition that could be made worse by the cold, and are suffering financial hardship.

Assistance provided by Age Concern varies according to each client's needs but can include help with the power bill to prevent disconnection, assistance with reconnection, firewood, heaters, bedding, warm clothing, food and referral to other agencies.

“I know from the cards, letters and phone calls we have received that this made a huge difference to many older people last winter and has prevented many hospital admissions,” Age Concern Canterbury Chief Executive Andrew Dickerson said.

Bede Martin, Chief Executive of Community Energy Action, said his focus was on securing adequate funding to make cold unhealthy homes healthier by retrofitting insulation. “We put a great deal of time into raising funds and have secured significant support from Charitable Trusts, Contact Energy and Partnership Health Canterbury. Last year this was used to assist 114 households of older people. This year is already tracking along similar levels and by mid-winter we will need significantly more funding to meet the need.” Martin said he thought existing government subsidies for insulation were only part of the solution and assistance with energy efficient heaters was needed by many.

“There are thousands of poorly insulated Christchurch homes and many of these are occupied by older people who fear their power bill and suffer the cold. We are changing that for some and would love to do more.”

“People don't always realise how many diseases and conditions are made worse by cold damp indoor conditions,” Health Promoter Ann Currie of CDHB’s Community and Public Health division said. “These include asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, coronary heart disease, stroke, falls, and arthritis. It also takes longer to recover from an illness if you are cold. The Winter Warmth Programme is cost effective and has the potential to lessen the degree and length of illnesses” Currie said.

“By providing extra insulation, more suitable heating and financial assistance where appropriate, we can increase the ability
of the recipients to achieve heating levels more in line with the World Health Organisation standard.”

For more information about assistance available through the Winter Warmth Programme, call Age Concern at 366 0903.

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