As the days shorten and the weather starts to turn colder, care services are stepping into a season that always brings extra challenges. The NHS has already begun stress-test exercises and local health boards are finalising winter plans designed to manage spikes in illness, hospital demand, and emergency care needs.

Autumn and winter tend to hit people living with dementia harder. Shorter daylight, cold indoor environments, and changes in routine all can increase anxiety or confusion. Alzheimer’s charities remind us that keeping rooms warm, keepings familiar routines, and ensuring people get enough natural light or gentle activity are particularly important this time of year.

What’s happening now in the NHS?

Here are some of the steps being put in place ahead of winter 2025-26: 

• Local NHS leaders are running regionally led winter “stress test” exercises this month to see how well their plans hold up under surges in demand.

• Vaccination campaigns are being expanded, especially for flu, COVID-19, and respiratory diseases, aimed at older adults, people with long-term conditions, and care home populations.

• Trusts are reviewing discharge pathways so people can leave hospital when ready without delay and ensuring community care and social care are linked up to avoid bottlenecks.

How this matters in care settings

Cold weather and increased winter illness put extra pressure and strain on both service users and staff. For people with dementia, the risks of hypothermia, low mood, and worsening confusion rise. For teams, that means more frail admissions, more complex care, and greater need for vigilance.

Here are steps care providers can take:

• Make sure indoor environments are warm, well-lit, and comfortable.

• Encourage safe outdoor or daylight exposure when possible or at least arrange communal areas near windows for natural light.

• Review rotas and staffing levels with winter surges in mind so there’s capacity when demand strikes.

• Support vaccinations and promote them among staff, service users, and families.

• Keep routines consistent and allow flexibility for those who may struggle with changes in daylight or cooler temperatures.