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Elderly people on the state pension are heating just one room of their homes and avoiding buying new clothes to save cash, new research has revealed.

Older and Bolder, a coalition of elderly support groups, found many struggling pensioners were feeling the pinch of the recession and managing on a week to week basis.

The body claimed slashing the €230 a week old age pension in the Budget would be a cruel blow to those already unable to save or cope with unexpected expenses.

Patricia Conboy, Older and Bolder director, said: “Through the 18 case studies in the report we can see that older people are getting by on fixed pension incomes through a combination of tight budgeting, individual coping strategies and a stoic determination to make do.

“Coping mechanisms include heating and living in one room in the house, shopping for discounted and cheaper food and fuel products, avoiding purchase of new clothes and furnishings and minimising use of their cars.”

Of the 18 pensioners quizzed for the Feeling the Pinch study, half were on the old age pension and the remainder on an occupational pension.

While the common worry for those on the state pension was heating, those on occupational payouts were concerned about long-term care as well as being able to afford health insurance and home support.

“Many pensioners are managing on a week to week basis,” Ms Conboy said.

“Some are tenaciously holding onto big ticket items such as private health insurance, car ownership, help with home and garden maintenance, but they are stretched to the limit to do this and worried that they will not be able to sustain the costs in the future.

“The older people interviewed in the research were also very concerned about the difficulties they would face if they needed nursing home care or expensive medical treatment in the future.”

Ms Conboy said the study reflected the findings of the CSO’s Survey on Income and Living Conditions results for 2008, published last week, highlight the risk of poverty for older people.

It found that before state payments such as the pension, fuel allowance and household benefits, some 96% of older people living alone are at risk of poverty.

Older and Bolder’s members are Active Retirement Ireland, Age and Opportunity, Alzheimer Society of Ireland, Carers Association, Irish Hospice Foundation, Irish Senior Citizens Parliament and the Senior Help Line.