Older Scots 'skipping meals and turning down heating' due to rising costs

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Older Scots are skipping meals and turning down the heating in their homes due to the ongoing cost of living crisis, a charity has warned.Food Train said pensioners were at risk of "falling dangerously ill" if they took the decision to eat less in a desperate attempt to save money on bills.The charity, which offers practical help to eat well, said that four-in-10 of over-65s it had questioned said concerns about the cost of living had forced them to change how they heat their homes.And half of respondents said they had changed the way they eat due to increasing costs, bringing with it a warning about malnutrition rising among the over-65s.Findings from research among 449 members of the charity emerged as average household energy bills are set to rise by 10 per cent this winter.It comes as the UK Government continues to face a backlash for making the Winter Fuel Payment means-tested - a decision the Scottish Government has replicated north of the Border.Jen Grant, a dietitian with Food Train, said: “There’s no doubt our members are once again worried about the winter ahead.

The heartbreaking fact is that some will unfortunately face difficult decisions as to whether they keep warm or properly fed.”“One of the biggest concerns is that the spending cuts they are making now, come on top of them having already cut back in recent winters - meaning problems could be deeper than they appear.”Food Train works with more than 3,000 older people across Scotland by helping them to eat well and live well in their own homes - mainly through its home shopping delivery services.Grant added: "We cannot afford to lose sight of the fact that people are in danger of falling seriously ill if they do not eat properly."Malnourishment among