OAPS forced to skip meals and not heat home

Cost-of-living crisis putting elderly at risk

- CHRIS MCCALL

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 to save money on bills.

The charity, which offers help to eat well, said four in 10 of over-65s 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 among the over-658.

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.