This archive report was first published on 9 May 2020.
As the UK government considers easing the lockdown, a growing concern among the elderly is that they will be left behind and forced to stay at home indefinitely.
According to Jan Short, general secretary of the National Pensioners Convention, decisions based on age alone constitute discrimination and should be no more acceptable than for any other characteristic, including gender, race, and religion.
With over a million elderly people in the UK already living in isolation and loneliness, which are major causes of ill health, both mental and physical, the fear is that easing the lockdown will only exacerbate the problem.
However, those who lead an active daily life, as many older people do, enjoy better health and contribute to the economy of the country.
“Older people are the glue which keeps families and communities together,” said Ms Short. “Charities are very clear that without older people volunteering, they could not operate effectively.”
As the lockdown continues, many elderly people are finding ways to stay engaged and active, including puzzles and games.
One such puzzle is the Nonagram, where players are given nine letters with one key letter and must find as many words as possible containing the key letter.
Meanwhile, in the courts, the lockdown has resulted in some lighter moments, including a judge who listened in as a colleague congratulated a lady barrister on her new hairdo.
