Student Article Series

Cost of living

Over the past few years, many of us will have noticed the cost of daily living has increased rapidly. Food prices, energy bills and housing costs have all become more expensive, leading to an increased number of people experiencing fuel poverty and food insecurity.

Fuel Poverty

Fuel poverty is a major issue in the UK, with 13% of households unable to afford to keep their home adequately heated. Cold, damp homes are linked to a number of health problems including respiratory conditions and poor mental health, and those with existing disabilities or health conditions are especially vulnerable.

Food Insecurity

Food insecurity has also increased across the UK due to the rising cost of basic food items. Food insecurity is a term used for when individuals don’t have access to enough food, or adequately nutritious food, to meet their basic needs.

Those with a disability or long-term physical or mental health condition are disproportionately affected by food insecurity. In June 2024 nearly a third of households with an adult limited a lot by disability experienced food insecurity, and individuals with a mental health condition are over twice as likely to experience food insecurity than those without.

What’s the impact?

The cost of living crisis negatively impacting people’s living conditions, diet and mental health can mean that they need to access health services more often. Together with increased expenditure on fuel, energy and goods necessary to provide healthcare, this can put an extra strain on the NHS and means that providers have to work hard to cut costs without impacting patient care.

Allied Health Professional Role

Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) are ideally placed to support people through the cost of living crisis. AHPs often work in the community and can pick up on early warning signs that someone may be struggling, and can ensure they are signposted to the appropriate services to obtain help.

Dietitians

Rising food prices alongside financial pressure from housing and energy and housing bills has made it increasingly difficult for people to eat a healthy, balanced diet. The cost of a typical weekly food shop has increased by over 27% since 2022, and this rise in price is felt even more severely by those already on a tight budget.

Dietitians have the knowledge and the skills to help individuals reduce food bills whilst eating a healthy, balanced diet. For example, dietitians may provide advice on :

• how to safely store food to minimise waste
• adapt recipes to utilise more cost-effective appliances such as microwaves and air fryers
• advise alternatives to expensive health foods and supplements

Special diets for specific health conditions or allergies can be expensive and limiting, for example a strict gluten free diet can be up to 35% more expensive than a regular diet. Working with a dietitian can help patients to reduce food bills through education about food labelling and allergen-free alternatives, and signposting to charitable organisations and support groups.

Poor nutrition is a huge contributor to long term poor health, which comes at a cost to both patients and the NHS. By helping people eat a healthy balanced diet, dietitians can help reduce the cost to individuals and the NHS further down the line.

Occupational Therapists

Occupational therapists (OTs) help people to maintain independence and take part in the activities that are meaningful to them in everyday life.

Poor mental health and financial troubles can be closely linked. Worrying about money can exacerbate feelings of anxiety and depression, and poor mental health can make managing a budget much more difficult, leading to a vicious cycle.

OTs working in mental health can help individuals develop skills around:

• managing finances
• developing budgets
• working with individuals to identify steps to take when they feel out of control with finances

Modifications to homes to improve accessibility after injury or illness can be expensive. OTs can help by suggesting low-cost modifications to homes and workplaces to improve accessibility, creatively repurposing objects that may already be in the home to use as mobility aids or supports.

Promoting independence at home can save money for both patients and the NHS, reducing reliance on costly care packages and incidence of accidents or falls that result in long hospital stays.

Physiotherapy

Musculoskeletal (MSK) injuries are injuries to a person’s bones, muscles, joints and connective tissues. These can be acute injuries such as fractures and sprains, or long-term conditions that cause inflammation, stiffness and chronic pain. Musculoskeletal injuries are one of the most common reasons for sickness absence from work in the UK, with chronic joint pain and osteoarthritis affecting over 8.75 million people.

Pain and loss of mobility can make it more difficult to work, which can have a significant impact on finances alongside negatively impacting mental health and wellbeing.

Physiotherapists work with patients to restore and improve movement and function after illness or injury, assessing and diagnosing issues and providing advice on how to manage MSK pain and regain strength and mobility in affected areas. Providing physiotherapy in community settings such as gyms and leisure centres makes it easier for communities to access services, and reduces the burden of travel to hospital for patients.

Physiotherapists have a key role to play in preventing illness and injury through supporting individual and community access to physical activity, building healthier and more resilient communities in the long-term.

Art, Drama and Music Therapists

Financial worries often cause stress, anxiety and depression. AHPs such as Art, Drama and Music Therapists can help individuals to reduce stress and work on the resilience and emotional skills required to deal with difficult situations.

Creative activities such as art, dance and music can be carried out as individual or group sessions in schools, care homes and rehab centres and can help to foster a much-needed sense of community when times are tough.

Research has shown that using creative therapies for patients with neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinson’s Disease can help improve emotional wellbeing and life satisfaction, and even reduce frequency of visits to other healthcare staff, leading to less financial burden for both patients and the NHS.

The impact of cost of living on AHPs

Allied Health Professionals are not immune to the impact of the cost of living crisis. Many professional bodies for AHPs provide support to their members to help them to secure fair pay and conditions at work, support through any legal action, and promote and provide funding opportunities for research.

Funding is also available for those who wish to complete further study or training to become an AHP, providing support with Further and Higher education, and help with costs of accommodation and travel during clinical placements.