2024 was full of significant challenges for older people.
Many faced financial insecurity, extreme weather, difficulties with mental health and loneliness – and these were issues Age UK focused on and provided support for throughout the year.
As we enter 2025, many older people continue to face challenges including severe winter conditions, reduced access to the Winter Fuel Payment, and a health and care system under immense strain. But while these challenges show little sign of easing in the near future, Age UK has resources available to help.
Finances and the cost of living
The financial stress on older people is far from over as we step into 2025. Many older people are facing considerable financial strain, exacerbated by the ongoing rise in living costs. In some cases, financial insecurity has led to older people making difficult choices, such as deciding between heating and eating during the colder months.
Financial pressure is likely to remain a key issue for older people in 2025 – and one that Age UK will continue to challenge and address. There are still considerable numbers of older people who aren’t claiming the benefits and other financial support that they’re entitled to. We know that there is a strong link between finances and people’s health, and health and care professionals are often in a great position to direct people to more information around their finances if they’re struggling.
Support with finances
Our benefits hub for professionals has useful information to make sure that no older person misses out on money they're entitled to.
The pressure of winter weather
Winter weather has long posed significant challenges to older people, with increased risks of falls, hypothermia, and exacerbated long term conditions. Staying warm is very important for older people’s health, but we know that thousands of older people have been impacted by the changes to the Winter Fuel Payment. We also know that vaccination rates have been falling in recent years and flu and COVID-19 rates continue to be an issue going into the start of 2025.
While there is still work to be done to get through the current winter, we’re already thinking about the following winter and where we can support older people to be as ready, healthy and prepared as possible. Our winter hub provides lots of advice on proactive things people can do throughout the year to build strength, resilience, and support long-term condition management – all of which can help older people stay well during winter.
Support during winter
Winter can be a difficult time of year, especially for older people, but we have resources that can help.
Taking care of mental health and tackling loneliness
Last year we launched two reports highlighting issues around mental health for older people: one looking at older people’s experiences and another looking at the issue as a whole and the current policy around it. In addition, we also published a report examining loneliness in later life.
Despite neither of these being new issues for older people, the pandemic and the cost of living crisis have meant that both mental health and loneliness have gained increasing attention over the past few years. There is a clear link to older people’s health and finances – often, when someone’s physical health or financial situation is impacted, so too is their mental health.
As we head into 2025, the importance of addressing loneliness and mental health in older people remains critical. There’s a growing recognition that mental health services need to be more accessible to older people, with a focus on creating supportive communities and social networks to help address loneliness.
Support with mental health
Low mood isn't part and parcel of getting older. We've pulled together useful information for older people who aren't feeling like themselves.
Looking forwards
While the challenges faced by older people remain pressing concerns as we move into 2025, there is hope for positive change. The NHS 10 Year Plan seeks to address some of the issues that the NHS is currently facing. While we know this won’t fix things overnight, the current direction of travel that focuses on care in the community and looks at prevention rather than cure is a positive one for older people, who would rather stay out of hospital and get access to health and care where and when they need it. There has also been an announcement for a commission on social care, which is a positive step forwards.
Age UK remains committed to supporting older people and ensuring they receive the help they need. We will continue to explore ways to improve the ageing experience, enabling people to take proactive steps to manage their health and wellbeing and to change how they age. Health and care professionals will play an essential role in meeting these challenges too – and we’re dedicated to providing them with ongoing guidance and resources throughout the coming year to enhance their ability to support older people effectively.
