The temperature has really started to drop in the last few weeks! So, we thought we’d make a quick blog about staying safe, warm and well during autumn and winter. ❄️❄️❄️
🏠Keeping your home warm:
Your home should be heated to a temperature that is comfortable for you. Low indoor temperatures can have a serious impact on your health, especially if you are older or have a serious medical condition.
- Try to heat rooms to at least 18 degrees Celsius, keep windows closed, and use draught excluders to keep the heat in.
- Wear several layers of thinner clothing- this keeps you warmer than one thick layer, as warm air gets trapped between the layers.
- If you’re heading out, make sure you take some extra layers- even if you don’t need them immediately.
🍎Keeping healthy and active:
A bit of activity every now and then can help keep you warm across the day, as well as help maintain your strength and mobility. If you can, try not to sit still for more than an hour at a time- if you struggle with moving about, even stretching your arms and legs can help keep you warm.
In addition, try to have at least one hot meal a day and as many hot drinks as you can to stay warm. Try to keep a range of foods in your diet, including fruits and vegetables each day- frozen or tinned are just as good as fresh. A healthy diet is important to maintain during the winter in order to boost your immune system so you can fight off illness and colds.
In addition, make sure you have food and medicine stocked up, in case the weather changes rapidly, and it becomes unsafe for you to leave your home.
Even so, if you struggling with eating enough, eating what you want is still better than nothing at all- if you want a piece of cake, have it! If you are struggling or have lost weight without meaning to, visit the Malnutrition Task Force to find out why this might be and what might help. LINK
💉Get Vaccinated:
Respiratory viruses are more widespread in winter, so it’s especially important to get booster vaccines against flu and COVID.
You’re entitled to a free flu jab from the doctor or pharmacist if you:
- Are aged 65 or over
- Care for someone, such as a friend or family member
- Are under 65 and have a serious long-term health condition
- Live in the same house as someone who is immunocompromised
- Are in long-stay residential care.
When you get your flu jab, check if you’re also eligible for vaccination against pneumonia and shingles.
😷Stop the Spread of Germs:
On top of getting vaccinated, there are other simple measures to reduce the spread of illness, such as:
- Coughing or sneezing into your elbow, not onto your hands.
- Catch coughs or sneezes in a tissue and bin this immediately (Catch it, Bin it, Kill it)
- If you’re feeling unwell, wear a mask or face covering in busy indoor spaces
- Avoid close contact with people who are unwell
- If it’s not too cold, leave windows open when meeting people indoors, or at least open windows for a bit after they leave to let fresh air circulate
- Wash your hands with soap and warm water after coughing or sneezing, before you eat, and avoid touching your face and mouth.
- It’s a good idea to carry hand sanitiser with you when you’re out and about if you can’t access a sink or bathroom.
🪙Apply for financial support:
People in financial difficulty may find it more difficult to heat their homes sufficiently, and therefore are more susceptible to illness caused by cold exposure. If so, it’s worth researching the grants and benefits you may be eligible for.
You may be eligible to universal credit, pension credit or one-off cost of living payments if you are in financial difficulty. In addition, the government has various ‘Help to Heat’ schemes in place, to help make homes in Britain more energy efficient, cost effective, and better for the environment. It may be worth checking if your home is eligible for the extra funding.
As you will be aware, the Winter Fuel Payment for individuals over the state pension age has become means tested and one of the significant indicators of whether you are still eligible is if you are on Pension Credit. So, if you think yourself or a loved one may be eligible for the latter, it is imperative that you check and apply. It is estimated that up to 880,000 households are missing out on Pension Credit, which is worth on average £3,900 per year, as well as additional benefits like help with paying Council Tax and a free TV licence.
In addition to pension credit, you may be eligible for Cold Weather Payments and/or the Warm Home Discount Scheme. You can find all the information about these schemes on the Gov.uk website.
Many local Age UK’s also have their own scheme, called the Warm Homes Programme. There are one-to-one sessions that usually take place in your home, where a representative will provide support and advice surrounding benefits and the application process.
Last winter, their sessions identified over £59 million of unclaimed benefits- an average of £4200 per person.
Stay Safe This Winter!
