NI Press Release: Low income and oil dependency major factors for fuel poor older people in Northern Ireland

Report highlights different challenges facing older people in keeping warm North/South

Rising levels of income poverty, a high proportion of older people living alone and reliance on oil-based central heating are notable features of fuel poverty among older people in Northern Ireland - according to new research launched today.

The research was carried out by a group comprising Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT), the Institute of Public Health in Ireland (IPH), Centre of Excellence in Public Health in Northern Ireland and Brunel University London and funded by the Centre for Ageing, Research and Development in Ireland (CARDI).

The report Fuel Poverty, Older People and Cold Weather: An All-Island Analysis features a review of national fuel poverty statistics relating to older people as well as an analysis of excess winter deaths among older people in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Principal Investigator Professor Pat Goodman said: “Winter mortality rates in both jurisdictions have decreased but there are still significant differences between winter and summer mortality rates in older people. Cold homes contribute to this phenomenon.  Previous analysis on cold-related deaths led by Dublin Institute of Technology showed that each 1 degree Celsius drop in temperature was associated with a 2.6% increase in deaths over the subsequent 40 days, the majority of these deaths occurring in older people.”

The research revealed a ‘dual burden’ for older people who are both more likely to experience fuel poverty and also vulnerable to considerable health and social harm as a result of this experience.

As well as a higher proportion of older people, Northern Ireland also has a higher proportion of older people living alone compared to the Republic. The research found a more significant rural/urban divide in fuel poverty in the North with rural dwellers in Northern Ireland especially vulnerable.

While older people in Northern Ireland were more likely to have central heating installed in both owner occupied homes and social housing, a significant 7.2% reported lacking central heating compared to 12.4% in the Republic.

Around three quarters of central heating systems in older people’s homes Northern Ireland relied on heating oil. IPH Senior Policy Officer Dr Helen McAvoy said “This pattern means that older home owners must negotiate issues of payment, minimum quantities and delivery of heating oil with local suppliers. When roads are impassable through ice or snow, it may be impossible to access an older person’s home to replenish the tank”

The report also presents findings from an exploratory survey of older people in the Republic of Ireland.  This aspect of the report which cannot be considered to be nationally representative presents results from an opportunistic sample of 722 older people accessed through a range of community and voluntary groups and health and housing service providers. It found that 51% of older people reported going without food or clothing to heat their homes and that 24% described their homes as too cold. This research also found that 62% of the older people were worried about the cost of heating their home.

IPH Senior Policy Officer Dr Helen McAvoy said: “ Although we identified some notable differences North/South, tackling fuel poverty among older people living alone, those over 75 and older people with chronic illness or disability is a common challenge for both jurisdictions”

CARDI Director, Dr Roger O’Sullivan welcomed the research. “Reducing fuel poverty is an important component in ensuring the health and well-being of older people across the island of Ireland. In this time of economic austerity, vulnerable older people, particularly those living alone, face many pressures on their household budgets but it is imperative that older people are able to heat their homes effectively and efficiently. This report underlines the importance of initiatives that upgrade the energy efficiency of all dwellings inhabited by older people.”

Research Partner Prof Frank Kee, Director of the Centre of Excellence for Public Health in Northern Ireland commented “This report emphasises the challenge to public health that fuel poverty represents in Northern Ireland, as recognised in the Annual Report of the Northern Ireland Chief Medical Officer published last week, and why we all must re-double our efforts to ensure its effects are mitigated.”

In Northern Ireland the strategy Warmer Healthier Homes was published earlier this year. Dr. McAvoy concluded by saying that while the NI Executive’s recent fuel allowance one-off payment to support older people is welcome in the short term, the research highlighted the need for on-going action on improving the condition of older people’s homes and improving the situation of older people living alone.
 
Explanatory notes

Fuel Poverty, Older People and Colder Weather: An All-Island Analysis is available at:  http://www.publichealth.ie/document/fuel-poverty-older-people-cold-weather
CARDI Briefing Paper available at: http://www.cardi.ie/publications/understandingfuelpovertyintheolderpopul...
Warmer Healthier Homes – A New Fuel Poverty Strategy for Northern Ireland is available at: http://www.dsdni.gov.uk/warmer-healthier-homes.pdf

Further information

Arlene McKay, IPH: (028) 9069 0058 / 0773 490 3944.