Elderly prepare for winter
14/12/2011
With a chill well and truly in the air, Lianne Lodge, an associate with leading legal, financial and property specialists Pagan Osborne, outlines her top tips for preparing for winter,
Lianne, who is a member of Solicitors for the Elderly, says there are many things people can be doing now to ensure they are not caught short when the bad weather strikes. She said:
“Last year’s winter was atrocious and caught many of us unaware. And unfortunately, we look set to be hit with more bad weather. Rather than get caught out again, there are things we can do to make things a bit better and easier.”
· Power of Attorney (PoA): A PoA allows someone else to handle your affairs on your behalf should you be unable to do so. That can be if you are no longer able, through illness or incapacity, or simply if you are away for a long period or, as in the case of the weather you are unable to get to where you need to be.
You can appoint anyone to be your PoA, a friend, relative, carer or even your solicitor. They can deal with matters such as paying bills, dealing with bank accounts, signing documents and collecting prescriptions on your behalf.
It is particularly timely to put one of these in place ahead of the winter months. It may be you are unable to travel if the weather gets bad but your daughter for instance has a 4x4 vehicle and can get out, or it’s too cold and slippery to risk doing yourself injury but your grandchildren can pop to the bank for you to pay your bills.
· Energy suppliers and efficiency: With energy bills soaring, ensuring you are getting the most from your money has never been more important when it comes to powering and heating your home.
Most people are on the wrong energy tariff and could be paying too much. Use a comparison website to see what is on offer. Or contact your supplier and explain your circumstances, they may be able to move you to another of their tariffs. Don’t be afraid to switch suppliers. This can be a slightly difficult process but in the end, it can make you significant savings.
There are also a number of things you can do to be more energy efficient. Insulating your home can save hundreds of pounds. The Scottish Government’s Energy Assistance Package provides these services for free and many groups are eligible for support.
· Health: Flu jabs are being administered now and doctors strongly recommend older people and those with underlying medical conditions get the flu jab.
It’s also important to think how you could continue to get prescriptions if the bad weather hit. Many doctors operate a delivery service through local chemists so it may be worth setting this up.
· Practicalities: The small things make all the difference if you’re snowed in. Ensure there are tinned goods in case you can’t get to the shops for food, that torches have batteries and you have an extra heater that is working should the pipes freeze.
· Finances: Winter is a good opportunity to review your finances. Direct debits can save money and hassle and having your savings in an account that is working for you can make a significant difference to your finances.
Lianne said:
“Now is the time to act to get prepared for a turn in the weather. I know we’re all keeping our fingers crossed we aren’t hit as hard as we were last year but it makes sense for everyone to put in place things that can make life that little bit less stressful.”