^sounds good, might give it a crack! How much to rent one of these lovely Spanish or French beachfront resorts?

The “joys” of pensioners living in Australia.

 

Page 7 today’s Sydney Tele...

 

 

Price of power is freezing to death

 

ELDERLY people are dying in their cold homes or being rushed to hospital because they can’t afford to put the heater on.

More than 130 people were admitted to NSW emergency departments last winter with cold-related problems including hypothermia, a 34 per cent increase from 10 years ago.

Over the same period power prices have increased by 117 per cent.

Emergency Department specialist professor Gordian Fulde said a growing number of patients were suffering from hypothermia because they couldn’t afford to turn their electric heaters on at home.

“A few weeks ago it was a very real problem when it was cold and the elderly are our most vulnerable,” the former director of emergency at St Vincent’s Hospital said.

“To be dramatic, old people get found dead in their flats and apartments, and though we don’t know what caused it, we know getting cold is a big stress (on their health).”

NSW Health Data released in May reveals 137 people went to emergency departments as a result of cold-related problems during June, July and August last year. This was the highest since that figure peaked in 2015 with 173.

A Monash University study in Victoria revealed there were 217 hypothermic emergency presentations between July 7, 2009 and September 1, 2016 to Alfred Health.

The study by Dr Michelle Ananda-Rajah showed more than half of the patients who presented to a hospital with hypothermia lived alone and had few social supports, while almost three-quarters were on a pension.

“A similar trend in NSW would be expected, especially in the cooler southern or highland parts, even metro Sydney can get very cold in winter,” she said. “(Elderly people are) highly vulnerable, especially when partnered with poor clothing protection, many may under-estimate how cold it really is, poor housing stock and an inability to afford adequate heating.”