Half of UK residents aged 50 and above had trouble keeping their homes heated this past winter, according to a national survey conducted by YouGov and commissioned by Age Care Bathrooms.
The data underscores the impact of increasing energy costs on older generations — particularly those with health vulnerabilities or fixed financial resources — as they face greater difficulty staying warm during cold months.
The survey found that 25.4% of people in this age group reduced their use of heating due to cost, and 24.7% resorted to alternative methods like isolating heat to specific rooms or layering up indoors, often to the detriment of their overall comfort.
“Behind these statistics are real people — older adults skipping baths, layering up in cold homes, or sitting in unheated rooms to keep energy bills down,” said Sam Davies, founder of Age Care Bathrooms. “We’re talking about a generation that should be able to feel safe and warm at home, yet too many are forced into energy-saving tactics that can impact their well-being.”
Coping Mechanisms Older Adults Are Using
The results reveal the creative — but difficult — steps people have taken:
- 60.9% reported wearing additional clothing inside
- 35.6% used heating timers to reduce usage
- 22.5% avoided baths or showers
- 3.4% visited public buildings for warmth.
Hardship Not Spread Evenly
The research showed marked differences by region. Wales recorded the highest levels of hardship, with 35% reducing heating and only 45.3% unaffected. In Scotland, 27.9% of over-50s cut back. By contrast, the East of England experienced the least impact, with 53.1% facing no difficulty and only 21.6% reducing heating.
“These regional differences tell a wider story — about inequality in infrastructure, local energy support, housing conditions, and income levels,” Davies noted. “Older adults in some parts of the UK are much more vulnerable to winter hardship than others.”
Improvements Older Adults Want
Asked what upgrades would improve their comfort in colder months, the responses focused strongly on energy efficiency:
- 30.2% highlighted modern heating systems
- 21.9% wanted better insulation. Together, these options show clear demand for long-term home improvements.
An Urgent National Concern
The cost of heating, coupled with limited government support, is emerging as a long-term public health challenge for older people.
“This isn’t just a winter issue — it’s a public health concern,” Davies warned. “Cold homes can trigger or worsen respiratory problems, increase the risk of falls, and lead to isolation and poor mental health. We need to treat this with the urgency it deserves.”
Age Care Bathrooms is calling on leaders to:
- Reassess support policies for heating
- Make grants for insulation and heating more accessible
- Inform more people about available aid.
“No one should be sitting in a cold house because they’re afraid to put the heating on,” added Davies. “There’s a growing number of people silently struggling behind closed doors — and unless we act, those numbers will only rise.”Survey Overview
Conducted in March 2025 by YouGov for Age Care Bathrooms, the online survey sampled 1,008 UK adults aged 50 and over. Results are weighted to reflect the wider population.
