'Our electric kettle has been nearly banned as it could be boiled 30 or 40 times a day'

From “nearly banning” the use of the electric kettle to having to cut back on day trips, the 1428 Retirement Club has had to introduce a range of measures to cope with soaring prices.

Like households and businesses across Ireland, the Harbour Street club has had to look at ways to keep its running costs at a manageable level, while still ensuring that the level of service provided to members remains consistently high.

Speaking to the Westmeath Examiner manager Debbie Daly says the cost of keeping Club 1428’s doors open five days a week have gone up significantly in the past 18 months.

“There has been a massive increase in the cost of heating. In the first quarter of 2021 a fill of oil was €540 and there has been a large increase every time we have filled it since. Our last fill was almost €1,500.

“Electricity has gone up. Day to day expenses such as groceries have really increased and as we have so many people in and out we notice it even on tea and coffee. Coffee prices have almost doubled. A big jar was €6 before the summer and it’s €10.99 now (per jar). Butter, sugar, milk, flour – basic staples that we use on a daily basis have all increased.” In a bid to keep costs down, Debbie and her colleagues have taken a number of measures.

“We are more conscious about turning lights off in areas not in use and only turning them on when needed. Our heating is on a timer rather than on all day long and we are shopping around for special offers on groceries, utilities and other costs.

“Our electric kettle has been nearly banned, as it could be boiled 30 or 40 times a day. Our Burco water boiler has worked out a much cheaper option for us.”

The government have not introduced supports to help charities and community groups such as the 1428 Club with energy costs. Debbie says the club would welcome any support they can get from the state.

“We do not receive any operational funding so are solely responsible for all overheads and associated costs. We are lucky in one sense that we own building outright – bought from fundraising – so only have to worry about utility bills and maintenance.

“We are expecting more service users for longer periods of time over the coming cold months, as they can sit in a warm, safe environment with their peers, enjoy hot refreshments, thus saving them having heating on for extended periods at home.

“I hope that if support is available for groups that everyone that actually needs help will be given it. There were huge supports for some sectors in the last couple of years – unfortunately, we weren’t among them.”

From having to endure one of the strictest lockdowns in the world and the fear of contracting Covid through to the current cost of living crisis, the last few years are beginning to take their toll on older people, Debbie says.

“We are seeing an increase in mental health issues in older people, physical issues have also risen all of a sudden. We have members who were able to, and did, walk everywhere who now have difficulty walking short distances. Members who are suffering with breathing difficulties – all of those issues were not a gradual decline as would be normal with getting older, but have occurred in the last six or seven months.

“We have a couple of members who have been given notice to leave their rented accommodation as landlords need to sell. Granted, they have got months to find alternative accommodation, but what is the alternative? There is no accommodation available. We also have a member who is living in a mobile home as there is no housing available.

“It looks like it’s going to come to heating or eating, but not both. We’ll be back to the old days of throwing the top coats on the bed. Members have told us that they changed from open fires to pellet stoves and pellets are almost €10 a bag as opposed to €5 last year. Solid fuel has risen a lot too, €20 per bag last year, €27 earlier this year and now almost €40.

“Grocery costs for the average member in the club would have been €60-70 before the summer, but now the same shopping is costing more than €100.

“I think that the impact on everyone, especially older people, won’t be seen until the really cold weather comes and they will need to have heating on, being in their houses more with dark evenings, and when you add grocery costs to that, people are going to find it hard.

“The only thing is, older people have lived through recessions before.

“They were brought up on shoestring budgets and reared families with very little, so I’m sure with a little help and support, they will soldier through.

“They are worried about their families’ about grandchildren, and what they are going to face in the future, though.”