The Elder organization has launched a national survey to gather the opinions of families regarding winter care concerns.

Elder, the UK’s leading care home care platform, has launched its Winter Care Concerns National Survey on Thursday 13 November, 2025. This survey aims to capture key insights from families with elderly loved ones about their greatest anxieties as winter approaches.

In the previous winter season of 2024-25, record levels of flu hospitalisations were reported in the UK, while Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) remained a significant cause of hospitalisation and death among older adults. The NHS also estimated that 10% of excess winter deaths (EWD) were caused by fuel poverty and 21.5% by cold homes.

With over two million people in England over the age of 75 living alone, the risks of isolation, illness, and injury during winter increase significantly for this vulnerable population.

Having facilitated more than 15 million hours of home care, Elder’s survey findings will be used to inform care practices, shape policy advocacy, and better support older people to remain safe, warm, and connected in their own homes.

Pete Dowds, Elder’s Founder and CEO, stated that the survey would serve as a timely reminder to local communities, councils, and the government about the realities faced by older adults and their families during winter.

“We hope this survey sparks a broader conversation about what winter truly feels like for families and their elderly loved ones, many of whom live alone and unassisted,” he said. “It’s a reminder that keeping our elders warm, connected, and cared for takes a whole-community effort, one that extends far beyond the care sector.”

Families with elderly loved ones can participate in the survey by clicking on the link provided on Elder’s website. The contributions will directly inform Elder’s advocacy, research reports, and service improvements for winter care. All answers will remain anonymous to protect the privacy of participants.