Winter Support for Older Adults Living Alone in Ireland: How Home-Share Helps

January, February and March can be some of the quietest and most difficult months for older adults living alone. The days are short, the evenings long, and the cold weather naturally keeps people indoors. For many older people, these early months of the year can lead to increased loneliness, disrupted routines, and a dip in overall wellbeing. For families - for adult children - this time often brings a familiar, lingering worry about how their parent is coping on their own as winter stretches on.

Early winter can be a difficult time not only emotionally but physically, too. Older adults often feel their confidence drop when going outside, meals can become irregular, and energy levels tend to fade. For those living with mild cognitive changes, the long dark evenings can heighten confusion or anxiety. For families, it becomes harder to shake the worry that Mum or Dad might be struggling more than they admit.

Bringing a home-share companion into the home during these first months of the year can be an ideal way to introduce warmth, connection and stability. The natural “fresh start” of a new year gives space for new routines to take hold. A companion can help create gentle structure - sharing a cup of tea, chatting in the evenings, encouraging simple routines that make life feel steadier and more supported. Even small daily interactions can help someone feel grounded after weeks of quiet, dark evenings.

“Bundled up for a winter walk and outing to local cafe she enjoys the company and reassurance of her home-share companion.”

For those experiencing cognitive changes, a reassuring presence in the home often brings a noticeable sense of calm. The familiar sound of someone else in the house, a friendly conversation after dinner, or simply knowing another person is nearby can reduce the restlessness or evening anxiety that winter so often amplifies. Families frequently tell us that their parent becomes noticeably more at ease once a companion is in place.

Winter and early spring are also the months when fall risk tends to increase. Inside the home, reduced mobility, low energy, and the natural stiffness that comes with cold weather can contribute to unsteady moments. One of the greatest fears families share is the thought of a parent falling during the night.. A home-share companion is not a carer, but having someone in the home who can respond quickly can make the difference between immediate assistance and a dangerous situation where an older person may remain on the ground for hours. The consequences of a prolonged fall can be serious, ranging from hypothermia and dehydration to long-term loss of mobility and confidence. Simply having someone close at hand greatly reduces these risks.

It’s also important to recognise the value of layered social support. Alongside home-share, many families choose to connect their parent with ALONE’s Befriending Service, a wonderful nationwide initiative that offers regular check-ins and meaningful companionship through trained volunteers. For older adults who enjoy conversation and social connection, the combination of a home-share companion and a befriending volunteer can bring warmth, confidence and more engagement in the weeks when social life tends to slow down most. Saoirse the Founder of Elder Home Share who home shared herself for several years ads. The weekly visit from the Alone volunteer was a welcome event during the week for the homeowners I lived with I would hear chat and cheer coming from the living room and I could see how the homeowners I lived with really got a lot out of the visit.

Families who have welcomed a home-share companion into their parent’s home often describe how much lighter they feel once the match settles in. The constant background worry softens, and their relationship with their parent becomes more enjoyable again. Instead of daily fear or guilt, there is a sense of reassurance—knowing someone is there in the evenings, noticing changes, offering comfort, and simply bringing life back into the home.

Many people who participated in the Elder Home Share scheme past and present share similar sentiments:

“A shared coffee and chat — small moments of companionship make the winter months feel brighter.”

“I did a homeshare with this company. I had a great experience — the family were lovely. Saoirse is very professional and always available for any queries. Excellent. Couldn't have worked out better.”— Johanna Wickham

“I had a very good experience with Elder Home Share. It’s a super service that benefits all parties involved. It’s very well run and a very personal service.”— Orla Brennan

For adult children a home-share companion offers “eyes and ears on the ground,”

If your elderly parent is living alone in Dublin or across Ireland, now may be the ideal time to explore whether home-share could support them as the new year begins. A gentle introduction in January or February can help establish a comforting routine that carries through the rest of the year.

You’re very welcome to reach out for an informal chat—no pressure at all. Sometimes a simple conversation can help clarify what may work best for your parent and ease some of the worry you’ve been carrying. To view companion profiles click here and see how Elder Home Share can bring transformation to your parents home.