Your COVID-19 stories making a difference

At Independent Age we’ve spoken to older people throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, listened to the key problems affecting them, and used these stories to help inform our conversations with government and the NHS.

Some shared unexpected positive experiences, including having more regular contact with friends and family and getting to grips with new forms of technology. But there’s no getting away from the fact that the pandemic has been incredibly tough for many.

At Independent Age we’ve been working with a range of other charities and organisations to ensure some of the key problems have been addressed.

• In May almost 2,000 people told us about their problems accessing food. We used this evidence to inform parliamentary committees and spoke to the government directly about the issues. Thanks to our collaborative work, we persuaded the government to provide support to more people, rather than just those who were shielding. If you are still finding it difficult to book a delivery slot and are worried about going to the shops, you may be entitled to priority phone or online delivery slots. Just contact or call your local council to find out what’s available.
• When giving evidence to MPs in parliament, we shared our estimate that up to 98,000 people in later life have been bereaved of a partner during the first COVID-19 lockdown. We conveyed the impact this has had on people’s lives and what people had shared about the COVID-19 grieving process. Our research featured in more than 100 national newspapers and we’re keeping the spotlight on the need for people to have access to bereavement support. If you feel you need support, you can contact Cruse Bereavement Care at cruse.org.uk or by calling 0808 808 1677.
• We know the pandemic has negatively impacted many people’s mental and physical health with less opportunities to go outside, exercise and to connect with friends and family. We’ve been regularly making the case to the government and the NHS about the importance of people in later life having the same access to treatment as every other age group. We know from speaking to people in later life that this hasn’t always been the case, but we’re determined to ensure people of all ages are supported to recover from physical and mental health problems.
• We’ve spoken to the government and the media about the need for more support for the social care system; both those who rely on it, and those who work in it. This has included activity to convince the government to allow friends and family to visit care homes during the pandemic, and to provide more personal protective equipment (PPE) and testing for care workers. We will continue to call for improvements to the care system, including larger reform, so that everyone who needs care gets the support they require.
• In October 2020 we helped set up a webinar with the government Minister responsible for loneliness so that she could speak to people in later life about their biggest challenges during the pandemic. This was a really powerful session with attendees sharing the impact on unpaid carers, the lifeline local community groups have provided, and how the digital divide has become even more stark. The testimony shared has helped us draft recommendations for the government to improve people’s connection with others as the pandemic progresses.

We couldn’t have done any of the above without people sharing their stories. Thanks to everyone who has trusted us with their experiences so far. We’re pleased the government has taken action on some of the issues we’ve raised, but the challenges of this pandemic are far from over. Independent Age will continue to work with you to highlight problems and work on solutions in the months and years ahead.