The new Winter Care & Wellbeing Stays offer older people warmth, companionship and professional care through the colder season, while giving families space to explore their options with confidence.
For many families, winter brings a familiar worry: is Mum or Dad managing as well as they say? Darker evenings, slippery paths and keeping the house warm can make everyday life harder, particularly for someone living alone. Relatives may find themselves checking in more often, taking on extra tasks and wondering whether more support is needed.
Greensleeves Care has launched its new Winter Care & Wellbeing Stays to respond to those concerns. Available at ten selected homes, the six, eight or ten-week stays offer support through some of the toughest weeks of the year, without families having to settle every question about the future before taking that first step.
The stays include a personalised Winter Care & Wellbeing Assessment based on observations and progress during the stay, to help plan next steps around the resident’s needs and wishes. Throughout the stay, families can also access expert advice on returning home, funding longer-term care or making a smooth transition to permanent care.
The launch comes as NHS England’s winter plans emphasise early support for people most at risk and better coordination between health and social care, including when someone leaves hospital. For families, concerns about warmth and health can sit alongside a quieter worry: how much time an older loved one is spending alone.
Greensleeves Care’s own research found that 62% of adults in England felt more concerned about an older loved one’s welfare during colder months, and nearly half increased the assistance they provided. Health, loneliness, mobility and keeping warm were among their main concerns.
Shona King-Abraha, Director of Business Development at Greensleeves Care, said:
“Families often come to us with a very immediate concern: ‘How do we help Mum stay safe and well this winter?’ They may not yet know what support she will need in the longer term, and making a permanent decision can feel like a lot to take on.
“We’ve created Winter Stays to meet families at that point. Someone can have the care and company they need now, while everyone has time to understand what helps, experience care together and prepare for what comes next.
“As a not-for-profit care provider, we want to make asking for support feel easier. A winter stay can be a positive step in its own right, whether someone returns home afterwards or decides that care home life suits them.”
Susan, whose mother Anne lives in a Greensleeves Care home, recognises the reassurance that the right support can bring:
“We worried about Mum being cold or falling on the ice. Now she is safe in a home that is always warm, and the social interaction helps keep her mind active.”
Winter Stays form part of Greensleeves Care’s Warmth of Care annual initiative, which offers free information and guidance to help families recognise changing needs, begin conversations and feel more confident about care.
The stays include £100 off weekly fees, offering savings of up to £1,000 for a ten-week stay, with discounts running until 31 March 2027.
Click here to explore Winter Care & Wellbeing Stays and find participating care homes near you.