New research released by leading not-for-profit care provider Greensleeves Care has shown that nearly 1 in 2 adults in England (47%) increase the assistance they provide their older relatives during the colder months. The figures, released on Wednesday 17 January 2024, also reveal that around 14% of those say their support ‘significantly increases’.
The research, conducted online by Opinion Matters between 22 December 2023 and 2 January 2024, surveyed 1686 adults over the age of 18 across the country. It adheres to the MRS Codes of Conduct (2010) in the UK and ICC/ESOMAR World Research Guidelines.
The top areas of assistance reported by those surveyed include help with shopping (50%), paying social visits (46%), and support with household tasks like cleaning (40%). This is followed by cooking and organising meals (35%), transport (32%), assisting with mobility (24%), and offering financial support (21%).
The increase in assistance comes as 62% of respondents reported feeling more concerned about the welfare of their older loved ones in the colder months compared to other times of the year. The top areas of concern this season include health issues (40%), loneliness (38%), mobility (35%), keeping warm (34%), and safety (33%).
The worries about the wellbeing of older loved ones are having a significant impact on individuals and families, with 35% reporting increased stress and anxiety, 30% experiencing changes to their routine, 25% limiting their personal activities and leisure, and 21% having trouble sleeping. Women also reported feeling more of the emotional impact, with 41% reporting increased stress and anxiety compared to 28% of men.
These figures come at a time when adult care providers, like Greensleeves Care, often see a spike in enquiries. In fact, the not-for-profit provider, which operates 27 residential, dementia, and nursing care homes across England, saw a 27% increase in enquiries during the colder months in 2023 compared to the preceding period.
One daughter of a Greensleeves Care resident, Suzanne, shared her experience, saying, “Mum’s health was a special concern during winter. We struggled to get her to attend medical and flu vaccination appointments. Healthcare professionals would ring her up and she’d cancel often as she didn’t want to leave the house, or had forgotten. We were also concerned about the house. We’ve had to deal with burst pipes and heating issues in the past. It was quite stressful. Now I don’t have to worry about any house issues, and Mum doesn’t have to worry either. And I know that she’s up to date with all her vaccinations and she’s being kept safe and warm.”
Greensleeves Care has launched a new campaign, the Warmth of Care, which offers free information and support for families worried about their older loved ones this season. The campaign aims to help families identify changing support needs, approach the subject of care with loved ones, and make confident choices for their future.
Chief Executive of Greensleeves Care, Paul Newman, stated, “These new figures show clearly that many families worry about their loved ones more in winter and often escalate their support, which can lead to them feeling stretched and overwhelmed. We see this often through our work, and our message to families feeling concerned is that they are not alone.”
He added, “At Greensleeves Care our goal is to ensure that more older people can access high-quality and person-centred care. This starts by helping them and their families identify the level of support they need, have successful conversations around care, and explore their options in good time. That is what our Warmth of Care campaign is all about. Winter is a prime opportunity to spot for changes in the care needs of our older relatives and friends. Organizations like us can help anyone feeling worried to start thinking about, and planning for, care support well before reaching crisis point.”
The Warmth of Care resources and support are available at: www.greensleeves.org.uk/WarmthOfCare.
Greensleeves Care is a leading UK not-for-profit care home organization that offers award-winning person-centered residential, dementia, and nursing care across 27 care homes. The organization has been named in the Top 20 care home groups in the country for six consecutive years and is working to change the process of moving into a care home from a daunting decision to an empowering choice. This includes through its unique ‘Home for Life’ financial assurance and the satisfaction that care fees go in full towards delivering high-quality care and supporting a decades-long charitable mission.
The Greensleeves Care family of homes includes:
– East of England: Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, and Suffolk
– Greater London: Bromley, New Malden, Tooting, Acton, and Barnes
– South East: Berkshire, Buckinghamshire
