❅
❅
❅
❅
❅
❅
❅
Winter Wise
Top tips to help you through the cold snap
❅
❅
❅
❅
❅
❅
❅
❅
❅
❅
❅
❅
❅
Introduction Older people are particularly vulnerable during the winter as cold weather increases
the risk of illnesses such as colds, coughs, flu, heart attacks, strokes, breathing
problems and hypothermia.
It’s important to keep room temperatures higher but with the huge jump in prices
that the major energy retailers have brought in, this can be expensive. With more
older people feeling the strain financially, this could lead to some cutting back on
other basics and taking risks with the cold.
That’s why we’ve put together Winter Wise. This small pack contains some top tips
on help that’s available to you, ideas to help keep your energy costs down, plus a
checklist of some items it might be worth stocking up on before the cold weather
really sets in. We’ve even included some a few recipes that can be created, at low
cost, from some of these items.
About Independent Age
For 150 years, the charity, Independent Age, has been helping older people fight
poverty and loneliness. Across the UK and Ireland we befriend people over 65,
advising them about benefits, entitlements, form-filling and assessments, as well as
about social, hospital and residential care.
You can speak to one of our advisers for free and impartial advice on home care,
care homes, NHS services, housing and other issues. Contac out advice team on
0800 319 6789.
Lines are open Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm, email advice@independentage.org
We have a range of free guides and publications, including our Wise Guide series:
1. Advice for later life – support and entitlements for over-65s
2. Extra help at home – essential advice for over-65s to live independently
3. Healthy, happy, connected –support and advice for older people living alone.
To order copies, or for any information about our free befriending services, call
0800 31906789, or visit independentage.org
Updated February 2014
2
Help and services
Stay Winter Wise with our top tips on the help and services available to you, which
may be of use through the winter months.
1. Ready for flooding? The Environment Agency have produced a useful Ready
for Flooding booklet on how to prepare for a flood and what to do during and
after the event.
Call the Floodline on 0345 988 1188 or 0845 988 1188 to listen to recorded
flood warning information for your area or speak to an operator for advice 24
hours a day.
Contact your social services department or your local council for advice on
housing issues, particularly if you are vulnerable and need support.
2. Winter Fuel Payments If you were born on or before 5 July 1951, whatever
your income, you are entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment of between £100 and
£300, depending on your age and circumstances. You receive the money
automatically before Christmas with your state pension or benefit. The Winter
Fuel Helpline is 0845 915 1515.
3. Warm Home Discount You qualify for a £135 discount on your electricity bill
if on the ‘qualifying day’ (20 July 2013) your supplier was part of the scheme,
your name (or your partner’s) was on the bill and you were either:
75 or over and getting the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit
(even if you get Savings Credit)
• under 75 and only getting the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit
(you won’t qualify if you also get Savings Credit).
•
You should receive a letter telling you that you qualify by January 2014. To
find out more, call 0845 603 9439, or visit gov.uk/the-warm-home-discountscheme/overview
4. Free Boiler Scheme If you receive Pension Credit (or you are below the
qualifying age for Pension Credit but get certain other benefits), and your
boiler is old or faulty or you don’t have central heating, don’t miss this
opportunity to apply for this free scheme! It offers free boiler repairs or
replacement and free central heating installation, and it also covers
insulation. There are lots of suppliers providing this service, so find out more
at Energy Saving Trust (0800 512 012, energysavingtrust.org.uk).
3
5. Grants and deals For information about grants and deals for older people,
including free insulation and money for heating improvements, contact the
Energy Saving Trust (0800 512 012, energysavingtrust.org.uk). Other
sources of advice are: your council, Citizens Advice, the Home Heat Helpline
(0800 33 66 99, homeheathelpline.org.uk), the charity Shelter (0808 800
4444, shelter.org.uk), and if you live in housing association or council
housing, your housing officer.
6. The Priority Services Register If you are pensionable age, have a disability
or are chronically sick, you can apply to be included in your energy supplier’s
Priority Services Register. This is a list of people who could be in need of
special care and attention if their gas or electricity supply was cut off. It
means you’re entitled to things like a password, so that if someone from your
energy supplier is visiting you at home or telephoning you they can be easily
identified, and a bill nominee scheme where you can get a relative or friend
to oversee your bills. Call the Home Heat Helpline on 0800 33 66 99, or visit
homeheathelpline.org.uk to find out more.
7. Help if your in debt with your energy supplier If you are a pensioner,
have long-term ill health, are disabled or have severe financial problems you
may also have extra protection from being disconnected. If you have been
disconnected or are threatened with disconnection, call the Citizens Advice
consumer helpline (08454 04 05 06, adviceguide.org.uk).
8. The Fuel Direct scheme This allows you to have your energy payments
taken directly from your benefits. Contact the Pension Service on 0800 99
1234 to find out if you are eligible.
9. Telephone grocery shopping You are probably already aware that you can
do your food shopping online with most supermarkets, but did you know that
Sainsbury’s will also take your order by telephone and deliver for a small fee?
Call them on 0800 328 1700 - you’ll need to give your postcode and to pay
with a debit or credit card.
10.
Cold Weather Payments You can receive a payment of £25 whenever
the weather falls, or is predicted to fall, to 0˚C for seven consecutive days in
your local area. To be eligible you must be receiving Pension Credit, Income
Support, income-based Job Seeker’s Allowance or income-based Employment
Support Allowance, or Universal Credit. The money should be paid into your
account automatically. Contact your local Jobcentre Plus office or visit
gov.uk/contact-jobcentre-plus for more information.
4
Save energy and reduce your bills
Older people need to keep their room temperatures higher than younger people to
stay healthy so don’t skimp on heating. Here are some practical tips to help you
save energy and keep your bills down.
1. The Energy Savings Trust can give you a home energy check. Just answer some
simple questions about your home and they’ll give you a free, impartial report
telling you how you can save up to £250 a year on your household energy bills.
You can complete the questionnaire online at
energysavingtrust.org.uk/homeenergycheck/ or call them on 0800 512 012.
2. Heat your home to the right temperature. Your living room should be 21˚C (70˚F)
and your bedroom should be 18˚C (65˚F). This will keep your home warm and
may lower your bills. Any warmer, you may waste money.
3. Turn off or turn down radiators in the rooms you don’t use very often and keep
the doors to these rooms closed, so you only have to heat the main rooms in
your house.
4. Get your heating system and cooking appliances checked and keep your home
well ventilated.
5. Take practical steps around your home, such as keeping your radiators clear,
putting draft excluders around the doors and windows and using heavy or
thermal curtains to stop heat escaping from the windows.
6. Save energy by filling up the washing machine, tumble dryer or dishwasher one full load uses less energy than two half loads.
7. Only boil as much water as you need (but remember to put enough in to cover
the elements if you're using an electric kettle).
8. A dripping hot water tap wastes energy and in one week wastes enough hot
water to fill half a bath, so fix leaking taps and make sure they're fully turned
off.
9. Use energy saving lightbulbs. They last up to 10 times longer than ordinary
bulbs and can save you around £45 over the lifetime of the bulb. This saving
could be around £70 over its lifetime if you're replacing a high wattage
incandescent bulb or one used for more than a few hours a day.
10. Switch your account to another energy supplier to find lower prices. You can
check with comparison companies: USwitch (0800 051 5493, uswitch.com),
Energy Helpline (0800 074 0745, energyhelpline.com), Simply Switch (0800 011
1395, simplyswitch.com), the Energy Shop (0845 330 7247,
theenergyshop.com).
5
Look after yourself
If you’re older, cold weather can mean you being stuck indoors for prolonged
periods of time, so it’s really important to be prepared for this.
1. Avoid isolation If you live alone, think about how you can manage the
additional risk of feeling lonely and isolated. Talk to your family, neighbours or
friends and ask them whether they’d be able to visit or call more frequently if
the weather is particularly bad. If you think you might like an Independent Age
telephone buddy who can phone you once a week, or volunteer visitor who can
pop in regularly, call us on 0800 319 6789. If you feel isolated and need
someone to talk to over the Christmas period or any other time, call the 24-hour
Silver Line helpline on 0800 4 70 80 90.
2. Get a flu vaccination If you’re over 65 or have a medical condition, it’s a good
idea to get a flu jab. Your GP will usually provide these every autumn.
3. Don’t go hungry Stock up on tinned and frozen foods so you don’t have to go
out if it’s cold or icy. See the next section for good ideas of what to stock up on
for winter.
4. Keep warm Drink hot drinks and eat hot meals to maintain your body
temperature.
5. Stay indoors During the coldest weather it’s best to stay at home. If you do
need to go out, wear layers of warm clothing and choose warm shoes with a
good grip on them. Take a walking stick if it’s slippery.
6. Keep active Move about when you’re at home – exercise gently or spread your
chores out throughout the day to ensure you’re not sitting still in one place for
too long.
7. Sleep well Use a hot water bottle or electric blanket to warm your bed at night
(but not both). Make sure your electric blanket is tested at least every three
years. Your local fire service, council trading standards department or Age UK
office may provide a testing service.
8. Look after your health Keep a supply of over-the-counter medicines at home
for common ailments like colds, coughs and sore throats and order repeat
prescriptions in plenty of time, especially if bad weather is forecast. Some
pharmacists may deliver prescriptions to your home. And, if you start to feel
very unwell, call NHS Direct (111 or 0845 4647) or your GP for advice.
6
Winter wise larder list
You can now do your food shopping online with most supermarkets, but just in case
the weather really takes a turn for the worse and you are worried about getting
out, or about deliveries being able to get to you, it may be worth filling your
cupboards now with items that will keep. We have put together a checklist of food
items to have at home and which will keep you going should you have to do
without new supplies for a few days.
Tinned items:
• baked beans
• soup
• tinned pulses such as chickpeas,
kidney beans and lentils
• tinned sweetcorn
• tinned tomatoes
• tinned tuna, mackerel, sardines,
salmon and anchovies
• tinned carrots
• rice pudding
• custard
• tinned fruit.
Bottles, jars and cartons:
• olive/vegetable oil
• mayonnaise
• vinegar
• jam
• tomato purée
• ready-made tomato sauce such
as passata
• long-life milk
• peanut butter.
Dried goods and packets:
• egg noodles, pasta
• dried pulses
• vacuum-packed/part-baked
bread or wraps
• rice
• risotto rice
• cereals – porridge, muesli,
weetabix
•
•
•
•
nuts
cous cous/bulgur wheat
dried fruit
crackers
Flavourings and extras:
• herbs and spices
• stock cubes
• garlic pureé, garlic cloves
• black pepper
• Worcestershire sauce
• soy sauce
• pesto.
For the fridge:
• eggs
• yoghurt
• milk
• potatoes and vegetables
• mature cheese.
For the freezer
• frozen fruit and vegetables –
beans, peas, cabbage, sprouts
and mixed berries
• fish, fish fingers, Quorn, tofu,
milk
• chicken, turkey, beef mince,
bacon pieces
• crumpets, currant buns,
teacakes
• sliced bread, bread rolls, pitta
breads.
7
Winter wise storecupboard recipes
To save yourself a trip to the shops in the cold snap, here are a few meal ideas that
you can create, at low cost, using some of your storecupboard ingredients.
Storecupboard soup
This recipe can be made up using whatever leftovers you have lying around. Here is
a basic recipe which can be adapted to whatever you have at home.
Heat 1 tbsp vegetable or olive oil in a pan. Add 1 chopped onion and cook on low
until the onion is soft. Add any leftover vegetables and cooked meat (chopped)
which need using up, 1 can of chopped tomatoes, some dried herbs, black pepper,
a dash of Worcestershire sauce and a handful of dried red lentils. Cover with stock,
stir well and simmer for 20 minutes or until the vegetables are soft and the lentils
are cooked. Add a drop more stock if the soup is too thick. Pureé if preferred and
serve with crusty bread.
Storecupboard fish pâté
This pâté will keep for three days and can be frozen for up to a month. You’ll need:
1 tin sardines in oil (120g/4oz)
1 tin anchovies in oil (50g/2oz)
1 tin tuna in oil (185g/6½ oz)
Juice of 1 lemon
175g/6oz soft butter
1 small handful of fresh parsley
12 sprigs of dill
Ground pepper
Discard the oil from the tuna. Put the tuna into a food processor with the contents
of the tins of sardines and anchovies (including the oil), butter, lemon juice, parsley
and half of the dill. Process until smooth. Season with pepper and salt if you think it
needs it. Garnish with the remaining dill. Cover and chill.
Speedy tuna and sweetcorn pasta
This is one of the quickest and easiest pasta sauces you will ever make. Drain a can
of tuna in springwater and a tin of sweetcorn. Flake the tuna into bowl and add the
drained sweetcorn, 1 tbsp of light mayonnaise, and 30g mature grated cheese. Mix
well and stir into some cooked, drained hot or cold pasta for a quick and tasty
meal.
Risi bisi
Risi bisi translates from Italian as rice and peas. This is a simple but tasty dish that
can be made with or without the bacon pieces. This recipe will make enough to feed
six. You will need:
8
50g/2oz butter (or margarine)
1 onion
300g/11oz bacon pieces, chopped small
450g/1lb risotto rice
1litre/2 pints chicken stock
175g/6oz peas
25g/1oz Parmesan cheese (or other hard cheese)
Melt the butter in a pan. Add the onion and bacon and fry for 5 minutes. Add the
rice and stir to mix well. Pour in about a third of the stock and simmer until it has
been absorbed. Add another third and continue the process until all of the stock has
been used and the rice is cooked and tender. Stir in the cheese.
Bachelor’s pie
This dish is so simple - it requires no educated measuring of quantities. It’s a dish
of chopped potatoes layered with a purée of carrots and topped with either melted
cheese or a cheese sauce depending whether there is milk in the fridge! It can be
made more glamorous by the addition of crispy fried bacon bits and or Californian
raisins to get a sweet and sour finish. Serve with baked beans or peas and you are
soon up to three portions of veg!
Omelette ramekins
These are great when you have leftovers that need using up – whether courgettes,
carrots, sweet potatoes or even meat. You can adapt this recipe to use whatever
you’ve got. For the base mixture, which will make four ramekins, you will need:
6 eggs
1 tablespoon milk
2 teaspoons plain flour
240g/8½ oz vegetables, cut into small cubes (1cm) (Whatever looks good, or
is leftover in the fridge!)
¼ tsp nutmeg
250g/9oz frozen spinach, thawed
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan (optional)
Chunk of mozzarella (optional)
This simple sauce goes with it – tomato and red wine, or mushroom and tarragon
works well.
Whisk together the eggs, milk, flour, Parmesan and nutmeg. Squeeze excess liquid
from the spinach and add to the mixture. You want the consistency to be fairly
thick, well mixed and not watery. Cook the vegetables to go in the middle – you
could either steam them if you’d prefer it plain, or roast them in a bit of olive oil
with garlic and rosemary.
Grease four ramekins. Pour the spinach mixture in until it is a couple of centimetres
short of the rim. Spoon the vegetable mixture into the centre of each one (allowing
it to sink). If you’d like mozzarella, then pop a small cube in the centre. Pour a little
more spinach mixture over the top. Cook in a moderate oven (170°C/gas mark 3)
until set. Leave for a couple of minutes before turning out.
9
Independent Age
6 Avonmore Road
London
W14 8RL
T 020 7605 4200
E charity@independentage.org
www.independentage.org
Advice line 0800 319 6789
View our page on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter @IndependentAge
The Royal United Kingdom
Beneficent Association
Independent Age is the operating
name of the Royal United Kingdom
Beneficent Association
Registered charity number 210729