THE cost-of-living crisis is having an enormous toll on many older people’s mental health and wellbeing, new research reveals, with 9.6 million over-60s worried about heating their homes.

Age UK’s research, carried out in January and published today, found that 60 per cent of those over the age of 60 were worried about paying their energy bills.

And 7.2 million, equal to 45 per cent, were worried about affording other essentials such as food.

Around half of the over-60s surveyed said that they were worried about the impact of energy bills on their health, rising to 62 per cent for those whose income is £20,000 per annum or less.

Jeanette, who is in her seventies and has several health issues after suffering a stroke a couple of years ago, has been struggling with the rising living and energy costs which are a constant source of worry to her, especially as the cold weather can worsen her health.

She said: “In the winter I’m not so mobile and I get lots more aches and pains because of the cold weather.

“I don’t really want to go out in the winter so then I sit here and I worry about the electric, how much it’s going to cost to survive.”

National Pensioners Convention general secretary Jan Shortt told the Star that she is “very concerned” about the impact of the current cost-of-living crisis on older people’s physical and mental wellbeing.

She said: “Not having enough income to pay your bills and put food on the table seems archaic in the 21st century, but this is the stark reality for many older people. 

“Older people have always had to make choices about what they spend their fixed income on, but right now those choices have multiplied.

“Heating your home, cooking a hot meal, paying your rent/mortgage, council tax all at inflated prices is a nightmare.

“Older people really struggle to cope with the worry of not being able to cover all the bills they should. 

“Yet, the basic state pension is the most inadequate in the industrial world and even with the triple lock increase in April is still well below average earnings.

“The government must get a grip of energy prices, look for better deals rather that tying us all to the highest rate.”