Advertisement
Become a member of the Big Issue community
JOIN
Health

'This will only intensify': Millions of pensioners at risk of serious illness due to UK heatwaves

The Centre for Ageing Better has warned that the country must not accept 'loss of life as inevitable'

older man in heatwave temperatures

Temperatures could be set to remain high in September. Image: Centre for Ageing Better

Millions of older people in the UK are at risk of serious illness, hospitalisation or death due to heatwaves, new research shared exclusively with the Big Issue reveals.

The Centre for Ageing Better has found that the poor quality of the nation’s housing is a significant factor in harming people’s health during extreme weather.

Temperatures in September are forecast to remain well above average across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and at least slightly above average in Scotland, according to the Met Office.

There were more than 4,500 heat-related deaths in the UK in 2022, according to government figures, but this number is expected to triple within the next 30 years.

Four days of heatwave in the UK in July 2022 led to more than 1,000 excess deaths for those aged over 65 in England, while a heatwave in 2003 caused deaths among those aged over 75 living in London to increase by 59%.

The Centre for Ageing Better has warned that the government must not accept “increasing loss of life as inevitable”.

Advertisement
Advertisement

Around than three million people aged 65 and above are living in properties aged between 45 and 80 years old. These are properties which are most likely to overheat in a summer heatwave.

There are also more than three million people who are aged 65 and above living with cardiovascular and respiratory conditions and are statistically more likely to have their health impacted by a heatwave.

Millie Brown, senior evidence manager for homes at the Centre for Ageing Better, said: “Climate change and heatwaves are here to stay [in the UK], but that does not mean that we should passively accept the damaging effects and assume increasing loss of life as inevitable.  

“As a country we’re experiencing more extreme heat on a more regular basis throughout summer months, and this is only going to intensify in the future. We need to do more in terms of prevention and preparation in readiness for our changing climate, our growing ageing population, and our faltering housing stock. Inaction is not an option.”



A total of 4.5 million people have been so hot in their home that it has made them ill over the last 12 months, recent research from Warm this Winter showed.

That is nearly one in 10 people facing what has been dubbed as “hot house syndrome”, and the campaign group agreed with the Centre for Ageing Better that it is a result of poor housing stock in the UK.

Fiona Waters, a spokesperson for the Warm this Winter said: “Hot house syndrome is a real problem caused by the UK’s appalling housing stock and affects the poorest and the vulnerable the most. The same people who suffer from damp, mouldy homes in winter are stifled in summer when the sun comes out.

“That’s because the solutions to keep us warm in the colder weather are the same as keeping us cool in summer. Better insulation, ventilation and even heat pumps that can operate in a cooling mode can all help. But the public need financial support to upgrade their homes.”

Around one in six (15%) of all living rooms and one in five bedrooms (19%) in English homes overheat in summer.

National figures show that than 488,000 households headed by someone aged 65 and above report their home overheating, and a total of 1.9 million households have at least one room in their home which gets uncomfortably hot.

This puts pressure on the NHS. Figures from the Office for National Statistics released in 2022 show that warm weather caused an additional 12,000 hospital admissions each year since 2012.

Research also shows that people from minority ethnic households, babies as well as people living in mobile homes or high-rise buildings are also at heightened risk during a heatwave.

The Centre for Ageing Better is calling for greater support in helping people make improvements to their home which might make that property better suited to cope with extreme temperatures. 

It urges the government to establish ‘good home hubs’ in local areas which would off advice on home repairs and adaptations, including where to find trusted tradespeople, identifying what work needs to be done, how to finance repairs and improve energy efficiency.

Brown said: “To help ensure that homes do not exacerbate the threat of heatwaves, we need a national housing strategy and a national network of ‘good home hubs’ to ensure people have better opportunities to improve their homes.”

Do you have a story to tell or opinions to share about this? Get in touch and tell us more. Big Issue exists to give homeless and marginalised people the opportunity to earn an income. To support our work buy a copy of the magazine or get the app from the App Store or Google Play.

Advertisement

Become a Big Issue member

3.8 million people in the UK live in extreme poverty. Turn your anger into action - become a Big Issue member and give us the power to take poverty to zero.

Recommended for you

View all
One million people in England who weren't smokers now vape – but it's not as alarming as it sounds
Vaping

One million people in England who weren't smokers now vape – but it's not as alarming as it sounds

How Everton football club is easing strain on the NHS by taking on heart health
Former Everton midfielder and club ambassador Graham Stuart receives his breathlessness test at the Everton in the Community hub
Health

How Everton football club is easing strain on the NHS by taking on heart health

Starmer wants a 'dramatic reimagining' of the NHS. What does that mean for you?
NHS

Starmer wants a 'dramatic reimagining' of the NHS. What does that mean for you?

Disabled people's health is 'shockingly neglected' in UK, research finds as Paralympics begins
disabled people sport
Disability rights

Disabled people's health is 'shockingly neglected' in UK, research finds as Paralympics begins

Most Popular

Read All
Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits
Renters: A mortgage lender's window advertising buy-to-let products
1.

Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal
Pound coins on a piece of paper with disability living allowancve
2.

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
3.

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over

Strike dates 2023: From train drivers to NHS doctors, here are the dates to know
4.

Strike dates 2023: From train drivers to NHS doctors, here are the dates to know