Voices: My elderly mother lives alone and can’t afford heating – and there are many more like her
Voices: My elderly mother lives alone and can’t afford heating – and there are many more like her
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In its bid to plug the £22bn ‘black hole’ in public finances, the Labour government has let down vulnerable, elderly people like my mother, writes Becky Bowden. I urge them to rethink their stance on the winter fuel allowance. After a damp and drizzly start to the year, the weather in the UK has taken a dramatic turn and we’ve firmly entered the first real cold snap of 2025 – which not only prompts concern for our own health and safety, but also the wellbeing of our more vulnerable loved ones.
Even the most independent pensioners are finding the current conditions challenging. My 73-year-old mother is no stranger to tough times; she found herself widowed after losing my dad to a gruelling battle with cancer and suffers from debilitating rheumatoid arthritis herself. She’s a powerhouse of strength and is fiercely stubborn, so it came as a shock when she recently told me how worried she was about heating her home this winter and her health fears during this severe cold snap.
Living alone in a privately-rented flat and having had her winter fuel allowance reduced has been a real cause of concern for Mum – and now, more so than ever, it’s starting to weigh heavy on her mind. I worry that as a result of these freezing temperatures and the additional stress, Mum’s condition may worsen, affect her mobility, and impact her overall quality of life. Living in cold or damp conditions could cause arthritis flare-ups and other physical or mental health issues, so the fact that she’s worried about heating her home due to rising energy costs is incredibly concerning.
