Meena Part 1 Reflective Exercise
Identifying people at risk
In Part 1 we would like you to consider what factors put people like Meena at risk of being cold at home.
As we get older there are many things that influence our health. The situations we live in and the context of our lives all impact upon our health and this worsens as we become frailer. Sometimes getting through the day is harder because of illness, poor mobility and failing eyesight. However, it is sometimes a lack of information and understanding which makes life more challenging. You may want to consider how people in the pen portraits will have been affected by changes to domestic life and the household during their lifespan and how this influences their behaviour.
Remember you can go back if you would like to play the video again or you can download the transcript.
Part 1 Question 1
Reflections on Question 1
You have probably identified the following things that put people like Meena at risk of being cold in their homes:
- Poor health
- Living in an old draughty house
- Inefficient central heating system
- Valuing privacy and not wanting support from services
- Relying on supplementary heating methods e.g. electric fire
As older people’s health deteriorates it can have major impacts on their day to day life, restricting mobility, limiting independence, making them lonely and isolated. Living in a cold home can also make some physical health conditions worse. Draughty homes and inefficient heating systems make heating homes difficult to manage. Relying on supplementary heating is not cost effective and difficult to maintain to a constant suitable temperature.
Some households are closely knit and value privacy. Their social connections are limited to others from similar backgrounds and cultures. This restricts their sources of information and they therefore rely on trusted services like their GP for advice on anything linked to their health.