Keeping Warm in Worthing this Winter
The cold weather is a serious issue for the elderly, and making sure your relative stays warm can help to avoid discomfort and illness. With temperatures starting to drop, here are some options for helping with additional costs during winter and also some tips and resources in Worthing on keeping warm.
Cold Weather Payments
Find out whether you qualify for cold weather payments at the Gov.uk site. These start in November and last until the end of March, and you will get a £25 payment for every seven-day period of especially cold weather.
Winter Fuel Payments
Anyone of pensionable age qualifies for a payment from £100 to £300. See the Gov.uk section on the Winter Fuel Payment for more information.
Get Help from Adur and Worthing Council
The council is a good place to find out about your rights and benefits when the cold weather hits. It also provides some good tips on staying warm during the winter.
Anyone over 50 can get a free home visit, which is part of the ‘Warm and Well’ campaign, and you can find out more about this here. They will come around and help you to get the most from your budget, as well as providing you with other tips. The government also has a ‘Keep Warm Keep Well‘ leaflet that you can download.
Last year, the Davys Street Residents’ Association handed out ‘Keep Warm’ packs, as reported in the Worthing Herald, so be on the lookout for any local schemes going on that could be helpful.
Get a Temporary Heater if Yours Breaks
If the boiler breaks in your relative’s home, contact West Sussex Wellbeing and they may be able to provide a temporary heater. It can also provide confidential financial advice if you need help paying the bills.
Get Free Advice
The Energy Saving Trust is an excellent resource for free advice about a wide range of issues, and you can call them any time.
Steps You Can Take in the Home
As well as using the above resources, you can also take some steps to keep your relative warm. Firstly, you may want to consider getting them onto a better energy tariff. Check their bills and use a comparison site to find out whether they could be paying less, then help them to switch if necessary.
You may also want to install insulation in their home. Loft insulation can make a big difference, and it is relatively inexpensive. Blocking drafts can also help to make the home warmer, and it is a very affordable solution.
Also make sure they have plenty of blankets and a thick quilt on their bed to keep them warm at night. Now is also a good time to get a Gas Safe engineer to check their boiler and heating system if you have not already done so.
Make Sure Your Relative Stays Warm
Talk to your relative regularly and make sure they tell you if they are cold or in any way uncomfortable. If they have a care worker, this is something that they will take into account, and our care workers will always look out for signs that they are suffering in the cold weather. They can also help by shopping, carrying out basic tasks around the house and helping to cook warm meals, as well as keeping them comfortable when the weather gets cold.
