Saturday 18 October is World Menopause Day
It is a reminder to talk openly, listen carefully, and support one another through life’s changes.
Across the adult social care sector, hundreds of thousands of people are working through menopause, caring for others while managing symptoms that can be exhausting, unpredictable, and often misunderstood. From sleep loss and anxiety to physical pain and brain fog, the impact can reach every part of daily life. Yet, for something that affects half the population, it’s still something many feel they can’t talk about.
Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive of Care England, says:
When we talk about menopause, we’re really talking about people: our colleagues, our friends, the people who hold this sector together. Too often, menopause is treated as a private issue, something to quietly manage. But silence doesn’t help anyone. It’s time we recognise menopause for what it is, a natural stage of life that deserves understanding, not embarrassment.
That belief is what drives Care England’s work with Menopause Support, a national charity dedicated to education and empowerment. Together, they’ve launched a Menopause Support Hub for the adult social care workforce – a free, practical space offering:
- A five-part webinar series exploring symptoms, workplace wellbeing, brain health, and emotional resilience.
- Downloadable guides and resources for staff and employers, helping to shape compassionate and informed workplaces.
- One-to-one consultations with trained menopause specialists, available free of charge to anyone facing financial hardship.
Martin continues,
Our care workforce is built on empathy and humanity. We see people at their most vulnerable and respond with compassion every day. That same compassion must extend to one another. Supporting colleagues through menopause isn’t a ‘nice-to-have’; it’s part of creating fair, inclusive workplaces where people feel seen, valued, and able to thrive.
The conversation around menopause is changing, slowly but surely. But there’s still more to do. Many care workers describe feeling uncomfortable raising the subject with their manager or not knowing what adjustments they can ask for. That’s why initiatives like the Menopause Support Hub are so important: they don’t just share information, they build confidence.
What we’re really trying to do is make it easier for people to talk – to take away that hesitation, to give people the language and the reassurance that it’s okay to ask for help. When we do that, we not only improve someone’s working life, but we also strengthen the culture of care that defines our sector.
World Menopause Day is an invitation to reflect, to support, and to stand alongside the people who make social care what it is. By opening the conversation, we move one step closer to workplaces, and communities, where nobody faces menopause alone.
Explore the Menopause Support Hub, free webinars, and resources here: www.careengland.org.uk/menopause-support-for-the-care-workforce
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