Coping With The Weather

Keep warm to keep the bugs away

Cold weather can affect everyone, but if you are an older person then you need to take special care to keep warm because you will be more vulnerable to illness. This is especially so if you are seriously underweight, disabled, suffer from bronchitis, emphysema or asthma, or have experienced a stroke or any kind of heart condition.

Simple steps to follow

By following a few simple steps, you can make sure that you keep warm during the winter and protect yourself from common winter illnesses:

• Keep your main living room at around 18°C or above, if you can, and use a room thermometer to monitor the temperature.
• Avoid sitting for long periods. Move around as much as possible - even doing the vacuuming will get your circulation going and warm you up. If you are unable to walk, just moving your arms and legs, as well as wiggling your fingers and toes, will help you to keep warm.
• Wear lots of layers of clothing, preferably of natural material or man-made fibres that breathe. Thermal underwear can help keep out the chill.
• If you can afford to do so, you might want to consider heating your bedroom throughout the night. Otherwise, warm the bedroom before going to bed - use a hot water bottle and wear warm nightwear. You may decide to invest in an electric blanket, although this should never be used at the same time as a hot water bottle.
• Eat hot meals and consume hot drinks.
• Don't go outdoors without warm clothing and sturdy boots or shoes.
• Keep your feet warm by adding insoles to your shoes.
• Always cover your head, hands and feet (even if you're indoors) - as you'll stay much warmer that way.

Eating properly means eating healthily

During the winter months, it is very important to eat food that will help you to build up your resistance. Hot meals and hot drinks will give you a feeling of wellbeing:

• Eat at least three times a day - including at least one hot meal.
• Eat at least five portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables each day. Fresh, frozen and canned fruit and vegetables can all count. A portion is generally around 80g. Unsweetened fruit or vegetable juice and smoothies can count as one portion, but the combined amount should be limited to 150ml a day.
• Have hot drinks throughout the day - including one before going to bed. In fact, you might want to keep a flask containing a hot drink by your bed in case you are cold during the night.
• You need protein, energy and vitamins and these can be found in bread (preferably wholemeal), milk, meat, fish, eggs, potatoes and beans (including baked beans).
• Try to keep in a stock of basic foods (dried, tinned or frozen) in case you have a brief illness or cannot shop because of the bad weather.

Even beyond the winter months, a healthy diet can protect our hearts, bones and eyesight, as well as providing some resistance against cancer, degenerative diseases such as Parkinson's, obesity and anaemia.

Remember to check with your doctor first if you are on a special diet of any kind.

Meals on Wheels

Many Meals on Wheels services have now been disbanded or contracted out to private companies due to funding cuts. There may be a number of private companies locally that offer either a hot meal delivery service or frozen meals. Contact your local council via www.gov.uk/find-local-council to check availability in your area.

Flu - the winter bug

Flu is common in winter and everyone over the age of 65 should have a free flu 'jab' from their doctor every autumn (from October to early November is ideal). Most GPs have stocks from around September onwards, so don't wait for a flu epidemic before you make enquiries. It is important to have the flu jab every year, as the virus changes and you may no longer be protected against the most recent strain of flu. If you are housebound, you should be able to have the jab at home - just ask your doctor's surgery about this.

Pharmacy Services

Many local pharmacies in the UK now offer services designed to make your life easier. In addition to collecting your repeat prescription for your GP on your behalf, they may also be able to deliver your medication to your home, or carry out basic health checks, such as checking your blood pressure or blood glucose levels. Ask your local pharmacy for more information about the services they offer.

Are you living alone?

If you are alone, try to make sure that someone - a friend, relative or neighbour - can help with shopping, collecting prescriptions, paying bills, etc., if you cannot get out either because of the weather or because you become unwell. Check your local pharmacies to see if any offer a home delivery service for prescription items.

Trusted Traders

Many local authorities in the UK now run a 'Trusted Traders' scheme. This means that they stringently vet traders such as builders, gardeners, electricians and plumbers, to ensure that they offer their customers the highest standards of service. For a company to become a 'Trusted Trader' takes a lot but helps to give customers the peace of mind that they can expect a good job for a fair price, without fearing rogue traders or doorstep crime. Your local authority will be able to give you details of 'Trusted Traders' in your area.

Help with saving energy

The best way to reduce energy bills and keep your home warm is to improve its energy efficiency wherever possible.

If you receive certain benefits you may qualify for a Cold Weather Payment. You could receive £25 for each qualifying seven-day period when the average temperature in your area is recorded as, or forecast to be, 0°C or below. Payments are made automatically if you are eligible. For full details, visit www.gov.uk and search for 'Cold Weather Payment'.

You may also be entitled to the Warm Home Discount, which provides a one-off £150 discount on your electricity bill. For winter 2026 to 2027 in England, eligibility includes people receiving certain means-tested benefits, such as Pension Credit, Universal Credit, Housing Benefit or incomerelated Employment and Support Allowance.

You must also meet the scheme’s other eligibility conditions, including the electricity-bill requirements. The qualifying date for the 2026 to 2027 scheme is 23 August 2026.

Most eligible households will receive the Warm Home Discount automatically from their energy supplier. If your eligibility cannot be confirmed automatically, you may receive a letter explaining how to contact the Warm Home Discount helpline.

You may also be able to access financial support through your local council if you are struggling to afford essential costs such as energy or food. Support available varies between councils, so contact your local authority to find out what help may be available in your area.

Energy-saving hints:

• Get your central heating checked at least once a year to make sure that it is working properly. Your gas or electricity supplier may offer free checks if you are aged 60 or over.
• Make sure that you know how your thermostat works, so that you can set the heating to come on and off at specific times and maintain a temperature of around 21C.
• Eliminate draughts and wasted heat by installing a draught seal around exterior doors. Cover letterboxes and key holes too. Try not to use loose draught excluders though, as these are easy to trip over.
• Fill in gaps in floorboards and skirting boards with newspaper, wooden beading or sealant to help stop heat (and money) being wasted.
• Energy-efficient lighting and good insulation can reduce energy use and may help lower your bills. Savings depend on your home, energy use and energy prices. Always turn lights off when you leave a room.
• Fit an insulating jacket to your hot water cylinder. Jackets only cost a few pounds and will pay for themselves within a few months, Fit one that is at least 75mm (3in) thick. By insulating your cold water tank, you can also protect it from freezing over during the winter.
• Insulate your loft. You may be able to get a grant to help with this.
• Look for the energy saving recommended logo when replacing appliances. Using energy saving appliances could save on your energy bills.
• Close curtains at dusk to stop heat escaping through the windows. Ideally, your curtains should go to the floor, although it's important that they don't drape in front of your radiators as they will direct the heat out of the window.
• Double glazing is very effective in cutting heat loss but it can be expensive. A cheaper option is to attach plastic film or sheeting to your window frame.

Winter Fuel Payment

The Winter Fuel Payment is to help you pay for your heating in winter.

The following information is correct as of september 2026.

To qualify you must receive Pension Credit or other means tested benefits and the following criteria must apply: you were born before the 27th June 1960 (for winter 2026 - 2027, this date changes every year), you lived in the UK throughout the week of 21st - 27th September 2026, then you are entitled to receive either £200 or £300, depending on your circumstances.

If you're eligible, you'll get a letter in October or November saying how much you will get.

If you don't receive a letter and think you may quality, then check with the Winter Fuel Payments helpline. See Useful Contacts/Organisations section.

If your total income is more than £35,000, HMRC will normally recover the payment.

If you receive the guarantee credit element of pension credit or on a low income then you may be eligible for the Warm Home Discount Scheme, which is a one-off £150 discount off your electricity bill. If you’re eligible, your electricity supplier will apply the discount to your bill. The money is not paid to you.

The deadline for you to make a claim for winter 2025 to 2026 is 31st March 2026. Claims for winter 2026 to 2027 open from the 21st September 2026.

At the time of writing (September 2026) We are not able to predict changes to the availability of services, benefits or entitlements in the next 12 months. We strongly recommend that you double-check any information given to find out what is the current situation.

Community Alarms and Telecare Services

If you are worried about having an accident or falling ill while you are in your own home alone, community alarms provide emergency access that is staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

The community alarm is connected to your telephone line and can be activated via a pendant worn around the neck or a wrist band. They provide reassurance to your family and friends that help, if needed, is only a touch of a button away.

Telecare systems are a range of simple sensors that either raise an alarm or act as a reminder to help to keep you safe and independent in your own home, they include items such as: door sensors, movement sensors, medication reminders and smoke, gas or flood detectors.

The housing department of your local council, Age UK and private companies provide this valuable service.

Stay Cool in the Summer

Hot weather can present a number of health problems for older people. Charities such as Age UK are keen to stress that by following a few simple steps, you can protect yourself or an older friend or relative from heat-related illnesses:

• Avoid going out at the hottest part of the day (11am to 3pm.)
• If you must go out, stay in the shade, wear a hat and loose-fitting clothes and plenty of high factor sunscreen.
• Make sure that you carry a water bottle at all times, particularly if you are travelling by car or bus.
• Keep outdoor activities like gardening to the cooler parts of the day or even the evening.
• When it is hotter outside than inside, keep windows closed and curtains or blinds drawn during the hottest part of the day. Open windows when the air outside is cooler, such as in the evening or overnight, if it is safe to do so.
• Apply cool, damp cloths to your neck, wrists or forehead to help regulate your body temperature.
• Drink lots of water and fruit juice, even if you don't feel thirsty. Avoid alcohol as this will dehydrate you.