Well Being

Well-being can be defined as a state of being comfort, healthy and happy which usually derives from having ones basic needs met such as food, warmth and shelter. Cold homes can affect an adult’s well-being by taking away their warmth which may lead to poorer health outcomes reducing their happiness and comfort.  A cold home breaks the chain of well-being as the adult’s basic needs are not being met.

Physical Health

The Marmot review states that those in the coldest homes are more likely to suffer from minor illnesses such as colds and flus and have increased risk of mortality from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Minor illnesses can impact on their daily tasks from bringing children to school, making meals or going to work. The adult population are the most productive in society and reduced productivity from this cohort trickles down to the economy as a whole due to lost days at work.

Mental Health

Depression and mental health is one of the biggest health issues surrounding those in colder homes. Many adults in cold homes develop multiple mental health conditions such as anxiety and different levels of depression. The longer an adult is out of work the increased chances they become isolated, have reduced income and are at greater risk of developing mental health issues.

Affects those with Pre-existing conditions

Adults with pre-existing conditions such as cardiovascular or circulatory disease, COPD or forms of arthritis are more likely to suffer during the cold weather. This may reduce their ability to maintain their daily lives and negatively damage their physical and mental well-being.

References:

The Health Impacts of Cold Homes and Fuel Poverty http://www.instituteofhealthequity.org/projects/the-health-impacts-of-cold-homes-and-fuel-poverty

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FUEL POVERTY AND HEALTH: A DISCUSSION PAPER: http://www.theclaymoreproject.com/uploads/associate/365/file/Health%20Documents/Full%20Document.pdf

The effect of cold homes on health: evidence from the LARES study. http://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/16832/1/16832.pdf