Isolated and scared to death – OAPs on the impact of the cost of living crisis

‘I miss so much with the grandchildren growing up and I can’t do things I used to do – like getting cabs to see friends. The highlight of my week is when the supermarket delivery turns up.’

The cost of fuel is also affecting care bills. Maureen pays around £80 a month to have someone come in and wash her hair as her immobility means she is unable to do it herself. 

‘You get things going wrong as you’re getting older, and you deal with them,’ she says. ‘But when you have to pay for a bit of care, it’s another thing to worry about. It seems silly to pay that much but what else can you do when you can’t do it yourself and you don’t have a partner to help you?

‘You don’t think at 77 that you’re going to have all these problems. I’d imagined a retirement where I would be comfortable, warm, where I could see my kids and my grandkids. I’ve got none of that.

Recent statistics show that one in five pensioners – more than two million people – are already living in relative poverty in the UK, and with reduced support for energy bills on the horizon, things are looking bleak. Charity Age UK has warned this year that many older people are already choosing between heating and eating. 

Asda has stepped in to help with its cafe launching a £1 meal deal for over 60s with unlimited tea or coffee, but many pensioners have been forced back into the workplace to try and make ends meet.

Latest data by the Office for National Statistics show 1.46 million pensioners have taken on jobs – nearly one in eight of the 12.2 million total.

Last month, Yvonne Bailey suddenly realised that it had been three weeks since she had properly spoken to another human being. Once the 77-year-old has paid her bills, she has nothing left over from her pension credit for socialising. 

The retired receptionist from Oxfordshire says: ‘I went out last week for a coffee with my friend and she paid. But I can’t do that very often because I can’t repay the favour. A meal out or a trip to the cinema is out of the question. I have no choice but to avoid socialising. I hate it. What quality of life is it? Sometimes I sit here and cry.

‘Last week I heated the house twice for half an hour in the evening and I couldn’t believe it – it cost me £10,’ adds Yvonne, who is a widow. ‘I’m just wrapping up warm and wearing layers. I get so cold, I end up going to bed, which I have two duvets on.’ 

In constant pain from arthritis and fibromyalgia, she used to keep the heating on a low level. However, now she’s unable to afford that, she wears a jacket inside, and relies on hot drinks and soup to stay warm. 

She navigates the dark rooms of her bungalow using the torch on her phone, so she doesn’t have to turn the lights on. It’s a dangerous business; Yvonne has balance problems and is vulnerable to falls, something that has happened to her recently.

She tells Metro.co.uk that she had to wait hours for the ambulance and is now at home, immobile and on her own.

Like many in her generation, she has cut down on every conceivable spend. Yvonne begins every day with a milky coffee, as she can no longer afford breakfast. She’s lost more than 24lbs (11 kilos) over the last three months after going from three square meals a day, to one.

Roasts and bakes are not an option for Yvonne either; she cooks everything in an air fryer, which is much cheaper. She’s given up red meat and is worried about the price of chicken and fish. She hunts for bargains in the supermarket and keeps herself busy in the evening so she doesn’t have to think about the hunger. 

‘It takes me back to my childhood when I was always hungry, I was so thin, because we were four kids and there was never enough food,’ she remembers. ‘We were used to that then – it was post war. But it’s now the 21st century, and here we are. 

‘I have the constant worry of how I will pay for everything. I’ve worked since the day I left school at 16. As you get older, you should be able to expect warmth and comfort. I couldn’t wait to retire; I thought it would be a pleasant time. Instead, it’s been a nightmare. I feel like I’ve gone back in time. It’s like the Victorian days. I just despair.’

This panic is being felt across the UK, according to Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director at Age UK.

‘There is a very real undercurrent of fear among our older population, with millions forced into an impossible financial situation through no fault of their own, unable to afford the very basics in life such as food and warmth,’ she explains.

‘We are extremely worried about vulnerable older people risking their health this winter out of sheer desperation, by turning off the heating despite plummeting temperatures or by not eating properly.

‘We are urging anyone who is struggling financially to get in touch with Age UK for a free benefits check. A successful claim could make a huge difference to someone’s quality of life.’ 

Fran McSweeney, Head of National Services at Independent Age, says the charity is contacted daily by people who have to make desperate choices: ‘More and more, our helpline is hearing from people who can’t afford to eat properly or turn on their heating.’ 

Many older people do not receive all the financial support they are entitled to, adds Fran. For example, income top-ups like Pension Credit, can, on average, result in an extra £3,300 a year, and are a gateway to additional help like council tax reduction, housing benefit, free dental care and a free TV licence. One in three eligible people are not receiving it however. 

‘We want to ensure no one has to make sacrifices that could be damaging to their health because of rising costs.’

Sue, who doesn’t want her last name to be published, has found that a resourceful can-do attitude has helped her.

The 75-year-old widow from Bedfordshire lists the steps she has taken to combat the crisis: ‘The heating is not on yet, I wear fleece jammies, socks and slipper boots around the house. I’m in bed by 8pm with a hot water bottle, flask of tea, lighting by laptop and LED candles.

‘I cut down a pair of gloves to fingerless so I can use the laptop and cook. I put the hot water on an hour before I shower which I do only when going out, three or four days a week. 

‘I only use the washing machine once a fortnight and though I’ve always cooked from scratch I am now buying from cheapest supermarkets and only what’s on offer. I always plan car journeys to do everything I need in one trip.’ 

Sue adds, ‘Like everyone else over a certain age, I’m concerned about finances. I have a limited income. I’m on my own. But you cut your coat according to your cloth, and I am finding ways of doing things and getting around situations.’ 

No matter how upbeat Sue is, it’s a desperate situation. She suffers from heart and lung disease, and if she gets cold, she is more vulnerable, so is daunted by the winter. 

‘If I get cold into my lungs, then I can’t breathe,’ she explains. ‘That does affect me quite badly. I found that if I wear a face mask, I’m breathing in warm air. I will wear one around the house when it gets cold.’ 

Meanwhile, like so many pensioners, Yvonne admits she is finding it increasing hard to see any light at the end of the tunnel.

‘It is miserable, I’m on antidepressants. I don’t like my life being like this,’ she says.

‘I want to feel able to go out and live my life. But I’ve got bills to pay and I don’t want to have the bailiffs knocking on my door. It worries me sick.’