Rising Inflation and Escalating Prices Threatens Standard of Living for Older People

Age UK Leicester Shire & Rutland believes rising inflation and escalating prices are now threatening the standard of living for many pensioners on low incomes, creating uncertainty and anxiety as winter begins to bite.
With around one million older households across the country already living in fuel poverty and tens of thousands more teetering on the brink, the charity is extremely concerned that rising energy prices and living costs will lead to some of the poorest pensioners, including those across Leicestershire and Rutland, rationing their heating this winter in order to afford higher energy bills.
Commenting, the Executive Director Anthony Donovan, said:
“It is clear that, as things stand, some older people will have to choose between cutting down on food or turning down their heating, once the cold weather sets in. Doing either is a potential risk to their health, especially if they are living with serious underlying health conditions. That’s why we need the Government to do everything possible to safeguard the health and wellbeing of pensioners on low fixed incomes during periods of extreme cold weather”.