Older people finding life ‘incredibly tough’ as pandemic continues

A third of older people say they feel more anxious now than at the start of the pandemic, according to a new survey.

The survey for the charity Age UK found 34% reported feeling more anxious since the start of the crisis in the Spring.

And a similar number (36%) said they felt less motivated to do the things they enjoy.

Around two thirds (64%) said they felt less confident taking public transport, while 43% said they felt less confident going to the shops.

‘According to this research, as many as a third of all older people really are struggling and given the reluctance of this age group to admit their difficulties and ask for help we suspect that in reality the numbers affected are considerably higher – running into millions without doubt,’ said Age UK’s charity director, Caroline Abrahams.

‘Fear of the virus, loss of mental and physical capacity, loneliness and isolation, and an inability to grieve as normal for those they have lost add up to a potential public health emergency affecting many older people,’ she added.

‘Age UK was already committed to running a Winter Resilience Campaign to help our older population and as a charity we will certainly do everything we can, but this research emphasises how important it is that we all rally round the older people in our lives, and that they take steps to keep themselves as fit and well as possible too.’

Photo Credit – Congerdesign (Pixabay)