Analysis by the charity Age UK shows that 3.7 million people in England aged 60 and over say that either they or others in their household have been unable to eat healthy and nutritious food during the coronavirus pandemic.
The analysis, released in March 2021, used Understanding Society Covid-19 Survey data from September 2020. Our questionnaire asked: “Thinking about last week, were you or others in your household unable to eat healthy and nutritious food?” 27.61% of people aged 60 and over responded ‘yes’ and 72.39% said ‘no’.
Using ONS figures that show there are 13,465,551 people aged 60 and over in England, Age UK calculated that around 3.7 million people (and/or members of the household) had not been able to eat healthy and nutritious food in the previous week.
Age UK also used English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) Covid-19 Sub-Study data to show that one in ten people aged 60 or over (1.4m people) have been eating less since the start of the pandemic.
Their own survey showed that:
- nearly half (49%) of people who already had difficulty going to the shops said this had become harder
- two in five (43%) older people said they felt less confident or much less confident going to the shops by themselves than they used to.
Age UK said that Covid restrictions increased older people’s isolation from their families, restricted their ability to go food shopping, and put many older people at risk of becoming malnourished.
Caroline Abrahams, Age UK’s Charity Director, said: “We really are worried about the number of older people who are now reporting they are not eating enough, and it’s vital that we all raise the issue of eating well and getting enough nutrients with our older relatives and friends, sensitively and supportively.”
Covid 19Health and wellbeing
