With Britain gripped by sub-zero temperatures, hospitals have been dealing with a constant stream of fall injuries and a sharp increase in the number of patients suffering from fractures as a result of slipping on ice. Elderly people are particularly vulnerable to such injuries, so were advised against venturing outside in the Arctic weather. This has left many housebound. 

But for residents at Letchworth’s Howard Cottage Housing Association, the freezing conditions outside were not a cause for concern, largely because of the warmth and community spirit shown by staff.  

Howard Cottage Supported Housing Manager Helen Cairns explains: “Through our five Sheltered Housing Schemes we support more than 200 elderly people, many of whom have disabilities, to live independently. We also provide floating support to a further 40+ owner occupiers within the Letchworth community. This Home Support Scheme is funded by the Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation.

“As soon as the snow started falling, just before Christmas, all the scheme managers recognised that our residents were frightened of venturing outside onto the icy pavements, which made it very difficult for them to obtain essential supplies. So we decided to take a proactive approach, which we maintained throughout the cold snap.”

Senior Scheme Manager Frances Satterthwaite explains: “We have been in daily contact with residents in our sheltered schemes to ensure they have everything they need and have been making regular trips to town on their behalf, to buy everyday items like milk and bread, and to collect their prescriptions. One of our scheme managers even brought in a massive pot of home-made soup, to ensure that residents had access to a warm, nutritious meal.”

Residents have been amazed by the efforts of the Howard Cottage team. Mrs Doris Medcalf, 89, who was cutting up Christmas cards to make gift tags for the Howard Cottage Social Club Fund when we spoke to her, said: “Frances has been very good. She has called every day personally to ask if there’s anything I need, and to find out how I’m feeling.”

Mrs Patricia Newberry, 75, said: “I’m partially sighted and have a walking disability, so it’s been far too dangerous for me to get out and about during the cold weather. Frances speaks to me every day, to check if I need anything from the shop. I used to live in sheltered accommodation in another area, where if you couldn’t get out, you couldn’t get out, and that was that. I can’t get over all the help we do get here, it’s marvellous.”

Mrs Margaret Illsley, 83, added: “The support that Frances provides gives me a lot of security, because I don’t have to worry about going out and risking a fall on the icy pavements and breaking my bones. It’s also very comforting for my family to know that I’m being so well looked after. The flats are very warm and comfortable, too, so we’re never worried about getting cold indoors.”

The Arctic weather has also left many residents on Howard Cottage’s Home Support Scheme feeling isolated and housebound, so Home Support Worker Debbie Horne has been visiting them regularly, calling in to have a chat, offering to get shopping and giving essential advice about how to keep warm during the extreme weather conditions.

Home Support Scheme beneficiary Mrs Felicity Mercia, 80, said: “It’s always so lovely to have Debbie calling in to check that all’s okay and to find out if there’s anything I need. And if ever I do ask her for help, she addresses the problem immediately. Nobody else seems to do that for elderly people these days; there’s no community any more. She’s always very vivacious and cheerful so I really look forward to her visits – they are an enormous help!”

What a heart-warming example of how warmth and generosity of spirit have helped vulnerable individuals to survive the bleak mid-winter.