University of Aberdeen study finds 520,000 older Scots face fuel insecurity

A study from the University of Aberdeen suggests that approximately 520,000 older adults in Scotland may be experiencing fuel insecurity, defined as the inability to heat homes adequately or falling behind on energy bills. The research, published in the European Journal of Public Health, argues that the cost-of-living crisis should be viewed as a significant public health issue rather than strictly an economic one.

Using 2023 data from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, the study examined multidimensional poverty, looking at overlapping hardships. Findings indicated that 58% of respondents experienced fuel insecurity, 28% faced food insecurity, and 22% struggled with financial insecurity. Notably, 11% of adults reported experiencing all three forms of insecurity simultaneously. The researchers noted that lower-income, middle-aged, and older adults are particularly vulnerable, and they have called for more robust and inclusive support measures from the Scottish Government.