A campaign has been launched to try to reduce the number of deaths among the elderly in Liverpool this winter.
The 2016 Winter Survival scheme, organised by Liverpool City Council’s Healthy Homes team, was launched on Wednesday in the Radio Merseyside foyer on Hanover Street.
This was a drop-in event where a number of agencies provided information and guidance to help people cope during the cold weather, including Healthy Homes, Health Watch, Public Health, Fuel Poverty and Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service.
Healthy Homes is an organisation which provides information on how to keep warm and safe during the winter months.
Jane Kane from the Healthy Homes team told JMU Journalism: “One of the main concerns for the elderly during the winter is their heating as they cannot always afford to have it on which can make them cold and ill.
“The event here today is to show them that there are choices with energy efficiency. It’s to advise them to stay healthy by eating properly and moving around.’’
A number of roadshows and sessions will be held across the city to try to get the campaign to reach as many people as possible.
YouTube: JMU Journalism
Allerton pensioner, 72-year-old Sheila McGrath, attended the campaign launch. She told JMU Journalism: “Today has been very helpful – I’ve been given advice on my heating and electric bills and I’ll be getting a smart meter installed to tell me how much power I’m using in the house.”
Councillor Gerard Woodhouse, the Mayoral lead for Older People, said: “This is one of the most important initiatives we are involved in because, during the winter months, we have deaths which could be avoided and this campaign is aimed at avoiding that.”