Elderly 'facing winter poverty'

Mr Trustum said the cold weather came at a time of rising cost Some Guernsey pensioners are facing a stark choice between heat and food in the cold weather this winter, Age Concern has said. Vice-chairman Roy Trustum said it was caused by the weather, high fuel costs and low interest rates on savings. He said: "A lot of them are really, really suffering now because of the rising cost in things and pensions haven't gone up." The 2010 budget saw duty rise on property, tobacco, fuel and alcohol. Mr Trustum said: "There are a lot of them who are frightened to speak up. We tell them if they need any help, that's what we're here for."

(from BBC)

This is so wrong, please everyone who has an elderly neighbour near them, just ask them if they are ok...

the heating costs have gone up with a huge rise in electric and coal .i hope they will be getting extra in a fuel allowance as i would hate it if anyone was freezing cold .
if anyone has problems i am sure age concern will help where ever possible

with the fire fighters getting a double figure pay rise i guess the proverbial oap will have to put another jumper on..

its always the same in guernsey the people to suffer most are the elderly,disabled and infirm.the rises in costs dont affect our states members so why should they bother about the affect these increases have on the ordinary peeps in the street

I would prefer the word 'hardship' instead of poverty.

Unless you have been to somewhere like Africa, as I have, you can have no concept whatsoever of poverty.

I agree entirely that the elderly and infirm are being very unfairly treated in respect of many things, but poverty it ain't.

Well done.Let's keep it REAL.