OLDER people will face the real possibility of not being able to heat their homes or even afford food, as the cost-of-living crisis intensifies, warns local Carmarthenshire charity.
Care & Repair Carmarthenshire supports thousands of older homeowners in the county and have raised the alarm for what they describe as an “escalating situation”.
Care & Repair Carmarthenshire Chief Officer, Mark Warren said: “We believe that everyone deserves to live independently for as long as they’d wish to. Yet, with the cost-of-living rising, the situation is becoming desperate. So, with the local elections taking place, we’re calling on newly elected local councillors to do everything they can to ensure our older residents aren’t forgotten.”
Latest figures for the county show that it now costs up to £1,455 every year on average to heat our homes. Even before the cost-of-living crisis, 16% of our over 65’s were already in poverty. With few options to offset this increase in cost, it is older people who will often struggle the most with the sudden rise in bills.
With the cost-of-living so high many will turn off their heating altogether, yet evidence shows that living in a cold home worsens health conditions associated with later life, such as Alzheimer’s and respiratory conditions.
Rising costs of materials are making repairs harder, and some households have put off repairs in recent years because of Covid. The condition of a property impacts on the well-being of those who live there, with a cold and damp house likely to cause significant health issues.
For vulnerable older and disabled people, there is support available. Care & Repair Carmarthenshire’s Caseworkers can visit older people at home and provide free advice and support on home energy saving techniques and housing improvements. They also run a Handyperson service for the county’s older residents.
Home Maintenance Officer, Richard Leahy, said: “We see a lot of older people who are afraid of being scammed by rogue traders or simply don’t know where to go for help with small repairs and adaptations. It’s a very rewarding job as people are always very grateful for our help’’.
A Care & Repair client from Llanelli, recently said: “I have had a stair rail fitted today, and can I just say how courteous and efficient the gentleman was. I believe in praise when you get staff like this. I felt very comfortable and at ease with him in my home. Also, my 21-year-old son was very impressed with him and said, ‘top man he is mam’! So, Thank You.”
Care & Repair Carmarthenshire can often help with the cost of works using funding received from Welsh Government, Carmarthenshire County Council and other sources, accessed by the Agency on behalf of their clients. During the 2021/22 financial year, the Agency helped over 2,000 older people complete vital repairs and adaptations so that they could continue to live safely and independently at home. These repairs and adaptations cost over £1 million, carried out by both local contractors and the ‘in-house’ Practical Services Team.
A major piece of advice being given by Care & Repair to older people is to make sure to claim the benefits they are entitled to. According to the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales, over £200 million of Pension Credit went unclaimed in Wales last year. Each year, Care & Repair Carmarthenshire help hundreds of older people claim the benefits they are entitled to, raising around £380,000 extra income per year for their clients.
If you or an older loved one needs repairs, adaptions or help with keeping the home warm, contact 01554 744300 or visit www.careandrepair.org.uk/carmarthenshire.
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