HEALTH IMPACTS OF FUEL POVERTY

Living in a cold, damp home can have a negative impact on people's health Outlined below are some of the well-documented health impacts of living in cold, damp housing. In contrast, living in a warm, dry home can not only reduce the risk of mortality, but also reduce physical and mental illness, promote faster recovery from illness, reduce rates of contact with GPs, prevent unnecessary hospital admissions, support timely discharge and maximise independent living.

The well-documented health impacts of living in cold damp homes include:

• Increased risk of hypothermia – Older people, and those that are less mobile or in wheelchairs, are particularly at risk.

• Increased respiratory illness, worsening asthma and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) – Damp leads to growth of mould that can increase respiratory illnesses and the cold impairs lung function. People with asthma are two to three times more likely to live in damp homes.

• Increased risk of heart attack and strokes – Low temperature increases blood pressure thus leading to an increase risk of heart attack and strokes. An increase in accidents in the home – finger strength and dexterity decrease in cold weather. Symptoms of arthritis, particularly pain, become worse among people who live in cold, damp homes.

• Underweight infants – children living in cold damp homes are more likely to be underweight.

• Social isolation – People become socially isolated as they don’t invite friends around due to living in a cold damp home, leading to mental illness and a reduced quality of life.

What you can do now

Frontline staff working with vulnerable people have the greatest opportunity to identify people living in cold, damp, draughty homes and to refer/signpost them for support. For more information, visit our how to identify those struggling to keep their home warm page.

Fuel poverty support services make a real difference to people’s lives. They improve people’s living conditions by making homes more energy efficient through installation of insulation or a more efficient heating system; and help to maximise people’s income by helping to deal with high fuel bills and access benefit entitlements. For more information on how to refer people for support visit our support with fuel bills and heating homes page.

One householder who received Changeworks support said:

“The advice to contact you was from the Stroke Advisor …she was the first visit I had had after my stroke some 9 weeks before. Changeworks was the best advice we had and since contacting you we have had our loft insulated and new central heating and both have made a great difference to our lives plus the fact that both our electricity and gas bills are less and when on a pension that is a great help… All I can really say is thank you, and it is a big thank you.”