Steve Chadwick: Senior citizens struggle with cost of living

Are you one of those people who are caught in the middle?
I have no option but to keep pointing out that it is those in the middle who are struggling to get by. Yet people seem to think that either this is not the fault of this Government or, if it is, then the Government is forgiven.
When will we as a country wake up and see that the decisions made in New Zealand by National are why those in the middle (among others) are struggling?
Even Winston has abandoned his natural constituency of older Kiwis to announce a "bring home our kids" policy by writing off student loan debts.
But not for me. Today I am going to focus on the issues that affect older people. I have attended seven Grey Power meetings across the country and several consistent messages have emerged.
The cost of living is always at the top of the list and the price of even small items are raised. The flagbearer, currently in the news, is the question: "Why is the price of milk so high?"
It's a long list for senior citizens and some of these you will recognise - the high cost of batteries for hearing aids, food items now a distant memory, such as cream on cake, fresh milk, fruit and vegetables, chocolate treats, the cost of parking when visiting the big hospitals if one is still lucky enough to have a car. And the cost of petrol is always raised every time.
Worst of all for senior citizens is the cost of keeping warm, especially with the vicious cold snaps we have been having nationwide lately.
I recently attended a meeting in Tokoroa on a freezing day warmed only by the generosity of those who arrived with a pot-luck plate for a lovely shared luncheon.
Even so, there were some who could not afford this and they came later to have a cup of tea and participate. One participant talked about the cost and the best method of home insulation.
Consumer confidence in products and suppliers is becoming more and more of an issue that requires information and advocacy for those living on their own.
This all arises because we now have ever-increasing income inequality, which is another dimension of the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer. Age Concern produced a paper in 2011 showing that the slippage means that some people are unable to cover a basic standard of living.
These older people are often too humble to speak out due to their pride and nature. When people ask them how they are, they always answer politely and say they are fine thank you because they are of a previous generation who acknowledge that they are aware that others may be worse off than them.
That is simply not good enough for a country that should value how we treat the vulnerable.
Labour believes that removal of tax on the first $5000 income will be a huge boost to those struggling, as will the removal of GST on fresh fruit and vegetables.
These costs largely impact when one is living at home. The next stage is when the decision has to be made about supported living or moving into the residential environment. This choice is vital and families also need to be a part of this decision.
Labour and the Greens held a year-long inquiry last year into aged care and we will be announcing our policy soon. The recommendations of this inquiry have been ignored by National. Is it really only the top earners who matter?