'One million pensioners to go hungry' this Christmas

Published by Julien Tremblin for 24dash.com in Housing and also in Health

One million pensioners living on their own will remain hungry during the festive season as they skip meals to pay for energy bills, the British Dietetic Association (BDA) has warned.

The association has just launched the ‘Mind the Hunger Gap’ campaign calling on the public to take action to make sure their older friends, relatives and neighbours don’t remain “hungry and unnoticed” this Christmas.

The BDA estimates that around one million older people in the UK are eating less than one square meal a day.  The figure does not include the elderly in a hospital or care homes, but those who decided to live in their own place.

Helen Davidson, Honorary Chairman of the BDA, said: “The Christmas period can be very hard for many older people living on their own in this country.  In addition to the understandable feelings of loneliness and isolation, among this group are one million older people going hungry.  Winter time can also make this situation even worse with many older people making the stark choice between keeping warm in their home or eating – fuel versus food.

“Many older people suffer in complete silence and are often too proud to ask for help.  I would urge as many people as possible to spare a little time over the Christmas holiday to drop in on friends, family members and neighbours to say hello and maybe take them a festive meal to enjoy.”

Many pensioners struggle to pay their bills in the winter. At a debate in the House of Lords on Wednesday, the Government has announced that cuts in winter fuel payment will leave 25,000 more pensioners in fuel poverty.