Millions of older people live in homes that are making them sicker

MILLIONS of substandard homes are making older people sick, a damning report has warned.

- Giles Sheldrick

Analysis lays bare the scale of Britain's poor quality housing, with one in five living in accommodation that could be making existing health conditions worse.

The Centre for Ageing Better said 4.5 million people aged 50 and over with a condition aggravated by the cold reside in a home with one or more serious problems.

This figure includes 2.8 million aged between 50 and 70 and 1.7 million aged 70 and above, it was said.

The charity warned that the NHS cannot function efficiently while the crisis intensifies.

Dr Carole Easton, Centre for Ageing Better's chief executive, said: "Our latest research shows that our poor quality housing crisis is putting people with health conditions in their 50s, 60s and beyond in harm's way.

"This is obviously terrible for those individuals who live in homes that carry a very real risk of making them sick, particularly when winter comes around.

"But it is also very bad news for the country.

Older workers living in homes that are making their health conditions worse are going to be less likely to be able to work and help grow the economy.