THE AGE OF ANXIETY..
Terrible toll of pandemic on 4m elderly laid bare in report
MILLIONS of older people are suffering “devastating” anxiety due to the pandemic, which has left them feeling “frightened, depressed and very much alone”, research reveals.
Studies by Age UK, published to mark the start of its Winter Resilience Campaign, outline the devastating toll of Covid-19 and the first lockdown on the over-60s.
Of around 12.2 million over-60s in the UK, 34% – 4.2 million – have felt more anxious since the Covid crisis began, the research found.
Some 36% felt less motivated to do things they enjoy and 26% felt less confident being with family.
It has also taken a physical toll, with 26% unable to walk as far and 18% less steady on their feet.
In the Kantar poll of 1,364 over60s, 20% said they found it harder to remember things and 64%, felt less confident on public transport.
Age UK said Covid-19 had “hit the fast- forward button on ageing”, with people left “frightened, depressed and alone”. Age UK’s Caroline Abrahams said:
“This pandemic is tough for everyone, but older people have the added anxiety of knowing that for them the risks of catching Covid-19 are higher.
“We have rightly heard a lot about the enormous problems facing older people in care homes, but this new research reveals that life is extremely challenging for many cooped up for month after month in their own homes too.” Age UK, which also did a survey
on social media, said a “sizeable minority” of older people were finding life incredibly tough, with “increased and sometimes devastating” levels of anxiety, too afraid to go out because of the virus.
Months of reduced exercise had led to muscle weakness and mobility problems, while cognitive decline is believed to have been worsened by the forced isolation.
Significant numbers reported feeling deeply apprehensive about how they will cope over winter. Ms Abrahams added: “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 older people.”
Labour peer Lord George Foulkes, who chairs Parliament’s cross-party group on ageing and older people, said: “This report is a devastating revelation of how the pandemic is affecting older people in a more tragic and upsetting way than we had realised.”
Shadow Care Minister Liz Kendall said: “This research shows just how important it is that the Government improve the advice and support for older people who are shielding or isolating.”
A Department of Health and Social Care spokeswoman said: “NHS services have adapted to remain open throughout this time so those most in need continue to receive high quality care. We also provided £10.2million to national and local mental health charities.”