As we head deeper into the colder months, it’s a good time to check in on how warm, dry and safe your home feels — especially if you’re supporting someone living with dementia | mate wareware.

Cold, damp homes are more than just uncomfortable — they can affect your health and wellbeing. In Aotearoa, over 265,000 households struggle with cold homes in winter, and many worry about dampness and mould. For older people, or those with other comorbidities, these issues can increase the risk of respiratory problems, infections and other preventable illnesses.

Simple Steps to Keep Warm and Well

Insulate first: Insulation helps keep warmth inside and reduces heating costs. If you live in an older home, consider retrofitting insulation if you can.

Choose the right heater: Heat pumps, wood burners, and flued gas heaters are usually more efficient and safer than unflued gas heaters. Heating only the rooms you’re using can also help save money.

Let the sun in: Open curtains during the day to bring in warmth, then close them before sunset to keep the heat inside.

Reduce dampness: Try to dry clothes outside or in a separate space like a garage, use extractor fans in kitchens and bathrooms, and keep furniture slightly away from walls to prevent mould.

Keep your home safe: Watch out for tripping hazards like loose rugs and cords, wipe up spills quickly, and check outside areas for moss, which can become slippery.

Help May Be Available

If you’re a homeowner on a lower income, you might be eligible for support through the Warmer Kiwi Homes programme.

This grant can cover:
• 80–90% of the cost of ceiling and underfloor insulation in your home. In some areas, community funding may cover even more
• Up to 80% of the cost of an approved heater for your main living area — including heat pumps, or efficient wood or pellet burners (with a maximum grant of $3,450, including GST).

These grants are available for homes built before 2008 that don’t currently have insulation or an efficient heater — and for people with a Community Services Card or who live in a qualifying low-income area.

🔗 Check your eligibility and apply at EECA.

If you’re in a multi-generational home, with tamariki or rangatahi living in your home, you may also be eligible for support through the Healthy Homes Initiative (HHI). This programme focuses on making homes warmer, drier and safer for whānau — particularly where there are health concerns.

Anyone can refer themselves or their whānau for support — and health providers can also refer on your behalf. Of course, there are a range of eligibility criteria but even if you’re
unsure whether you meet the criteria, it’s still worth reaching out — the team may be able to offer other advice or support.

🔗 Find out more: https://www.hhi.org.nz/want-an-hhi-visit/

You can also contact the Healthy Homes Initiative, led by Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora.