Supporting vulnerable people: guidance for care professionals
Source: gov.uk (2025-09-24)

Overview of the guidance for professionals on how to protect population groups most at risk from cold weather.

Guidance for professionals

Deaths during the winter months are significantly higher than at other times of the year and the reasons for this are complex. Cold weather can cause people to become unwell in various ways:

direct cold exposure can result in death or severe illness due to hypothermia, although deaths where hypothermia is the primary cause are rare

exposure to cold can increase the risk of blood clots forming in the body, in turn increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes

cold exposure can also increase susceptibility to chest infections, worsen breathing problems and increase the risk of falls

longer term effects include an increased risk of mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety

Cases of carbon monoxide poisoning among those living at home increase during the winter months. This is because people are more likely to use cooking or heating systems at home that worsen indoor air quality and are less likely to be able to ventilate their homes as they would during warmer weather.

Affected populations

Many people with care needs have underlying health conditions that put them at greater risk from cold.

People who are at higher risk of becoming seriously unwell include:
- people over the age of 65, including those who are frail or socially isolated
- people with underlying health conditions (particularly cardiovascular or respiratory conditions), including mental health conditions
- people with disabilities, learning difficulties or cognitive impairment young children and babies
- pregnant women
- people experiencing homelessness or who are rough sleeping
- people who are housebound or otherwise have low mobility
- people in a lower income households
- people living in poor quality housing
- people living in households experiencing fuel poverty
Other factors may increase risks from cold weather for people in the groups listed above.

Key resources for supporting vulnerable people:
- Supporting vulnerable people for care professionals
- Supporting vulnerable people: for healthcare professionals (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/supporting-vulnerable-people-before-and-during-cold-weather-for-healthcare-professionals)
- Supporting vulnerable people: for adult social care managers (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/supporting-vulnerable-people-before-and-during-cold-weather-for-adult-social-care-managers)
- Supporting vulnerable people: for those working with rough sleepers (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/supporting-vulnerable-people-before-and-during-cold-weather-for-those-providing-services-to-rough-sleepers)
- Supporting vulnerable people: for teachers and educational professionals (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/supporting-vulnerable-people-before-and-during-cold-weather-for-teachers-and-educational-professionals)
Additional resources
- Raising awareness of cold weather and it’s impact on health (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/raising-awareness-of-cold-weather-and-its-impact-on-health)
- Helping People Living in Cold Homes: an e-module on cold homes for health and frontline practitioners (NHS England elearning for healthcare hub) (https://www.e-lfh.org.uk/programmes/cold-homes/)