With World Childless Week 2026 underway, AWOC UK trustee Alison Neves highlights our new evidence on the concerns of people ageing without children …
Surveys of older people often fail to reflect the differing experiences and needs of those of us ageing without children. To address this, AWOC UK launched a survey this spring to find out more about the current views and experiences of our community. The results highlight common concerns. Our community sees social connection, greater societal acceptance of our situation, and practical guidance and support as key to address these.
The survey was launched on our website and social media as well as being sent to our local groups and some partner organisations. We were pleased to receive 625 responses. The results are informing AWOC UK’s strategy review and priorities for the next four years.
While the overall findings will be published at end of October with our planned strategy, it seems relevant in World Childless Week 2026 to highlight the concerns we share as a community and ways forward.
“Ageing without children” (AWOC) covers a diverse group:
• some of us have not had children by circumstance or by choice;
• some of us have lost children;
• some of us are estranged from them;
• some of us have children who cannot provide support due to their own care needs or are living far away.
What we have in common is something services often do not recognise: there may be no trusted person to help us navigate these services or speak up for us when difficult decisions arise. Many of us also face social stigma, challenges and issues we did not expect.
As someone who describes myself as childless through circumstance, I felt very aware of the need to put plans in place for my future welfare. This has included making a will, appointing Power of Attorney, and considering housing arrangements. Greater numbers of us are reaching later life without an adult child who may support us, advocate or step in when we need it. We need to think about how much systems, especially, health and social care rely – often invisibly – on family members filling the gaps.
I also found, once I retired, questions around whether I had children became ones about grandchildren that were often uncomfortable. This is one of the reasons I got involved in the AWOC London local group and found others ‘like me’ there. Social connections and social stigma is an issue that came up in our survey.
The survey found that, however we find ourself AWOC, we share common worries about our futures. The most frequently cited concerns relate to lack of advocacy and support. It highlights how we feel when that support cannot be assumed.
It is not simply:
“Who will care for me?”
It is also:
“Who will speak for me?”
“Who will help me navigate the system?”
“Who will notice when something is wrong?”
“Who will step in if I become ill?”
“Who will make sure my wishes are understood?”
“Who will challenge decisions or ask difficult questions when necessary?”
This matters because those of us ageing without children should not be treated as an exception or expected to solve these challenges entirely through individual planning.
As one respondent explained:
“Being able to access services is not always enough. People may also need someone who knows them, understands their wishes and can speak up for them in a world dominated by and designed for families with children.”
A person who is AWOC may have a partner, sibling, or indeed a close friend, but the worry is that these may be of a similar age and have their own health issues and therefore not be able to provide the help we may need in a crisis.
Not having a trusted ‘someone’ is also a major issue for people when it comes to finances. More than half of survey respondents expressing concerns about managing money and financial matters as they age. As one person put it:
“Who will help me deal with my financial affairs if I can’t do it myself?”
We know that many in our AWOC community have experience of being a carer for a family member, and for them, this position has strongly shone a light on the question “But who will care for me?”.
One respondent told us that their mother is 87 and lives in a care home:
“I visit two to three times a week and find myself advocating for more person-centred and appropriate care weekly. This might be reminding the staff to put her hearing aids in (yes, I know I shouldn’t have to do this, but I do), buying and altering clothes that are to her taste and fit her well, liaising with the GP about her medication and treatment needs… Who will do this for me?”
For respondents currently having a caring role, there is the added concern around what happens if they themselves become ill – who will care for the person they support?
A key takeaway from the survey is that connection is part of the solution. People value being part of a community where others understand their experience. AWOC UK exists to ensure no one has to face their concerns alone. We can work as a community to do this. We are stronger together. Indeed, the survey shows that people who attend AWOC local groups value:
Better access to information
Reassurance and peer support
Opportunities to campaign for priorities affecting older adults without children
It is clear that we value meeting others who understand our lives – it makes a real difference. One of AWOC UK’s strengths is members supporting members and 4 new local groups have started in the past year.
It is vital that the AWOC UK strategy reflects the needs of our community. So the survey asked respondents to rank the services or support they would most like AWOC UK to focus on over the next four years. Three areas came out as very close in importance: focusing on practical guidance and support; normalising being an AWOC; and social connection.
One respondent made the point that they don’t see much targeted information coming from service providers. Campaigning to raise awareness and normalising being a person ageing without children in later life is seen as essential. Sharing our experiences also deepens public and professional understanding and acts as a way to improve services and support.
Most of the people who completed the survey were members of the AWOC UK Facebook or local groups. Many thanked us for the work we do and for being a great source of support for so many, particularly in raising awareness and providing a voice and a space where people who are AWOC do not feel alone. We’ve listened. The findings from the survey will shape what AWOC UK does next as an organisation that is valued not only for campaigning but also for building community, raising awareness, providing practical information, and helping people plan for ageing without the family support that many others take for granted.
Alison Neves
Alison Neves is an AWOC trustee and a member of AWOC London.
