Age Scotland research reveals impact of Covid-19 on older people

Although the majority of legal Covid-19 restrictions have been lifted in recent weeks, Age Scotland says it’s vital to fully reflect on the toll the pandemic has taken on the older population.

Findings from the charity’s ‘Big Survey’ provide an effective snapshot of what was an incredibly challenging period for thousands of older people across Scotland, revealing the difficulties they faced in day-to-day life.

The survey was distributed in February through to mid- March 2021, soon after Scotland entered a second national lockdown, and sought to establish the impact the pandemic had had on respondents and on their interactions with family, friends and health professionals.

At the beginning of the first lockdown period, 46% of respondents were sufficiently concerned about their health and safety that they chose to shield themselves and limit their interaction with others despite not being advised to do so by health professionals. A further 15% shielded following advice.

Respondents were also asked about the difficulties they had experienced during the pandemic:

Two thirds of respondents (68%) cited access to friends and family as an issue.
30% had difficulty accessing a GP consultation and 24% had accessing another healthcare professional consultation.
A quarter (25%) cited difficulties with their mental health and well-being or that of someone else in their household. For 27% of respondents living on their own, mental health and wellbeing had been an issue.
17% had difficulty accessing supermarket home deliveries.
11% found it difficult to access cash or other banking services.

The first experience of lockdown in 2020 gave many older people an insight into what to expect going forward. For example, 25% or respondents agreed that they felt more confident about asking for help and assistance in the future, while 48% of respondents agreed that they were now better prepared for online communications. However, 51% said that entering a second period of national lockdown in 2021 made them feel even more anxious about the future.

Since restrictions have eased, Age Scotland is concerned that older people have been dealing with anxiety and lack of confidence in regaining contact with others, as well as the longer-term impact on mental health and wellbeing as a result of sustained periods with little to no interaction.

As recovery continues, the charity says it’s vital that older people have access to necessary resources and support to meet their needs and ensure they are able to play a full and active role in society once again.

Age Scotland’s Telephony Manager, Laura Stenhouse, said:

“Lockdown and shielding during a health emergency in which so many older people in Scotland lost their lives has resulted in unprecedented levels of anxiety and loneliness.

“A year and a half on from scaling up our helpline, it’s clear that many existing concerns and needs have been exacerbated.

“There is no quick-fix or way to snap back to what life was like pre-pandemic. Instead, we can all take steps to make sure no older person feels they are going through this extended period of recovery alone.”

Chief Executive of Age Scotland, Brian Sloan, said:

“Covid-19 has taken a devastating toll on Scotland’s older population, and this new research puts into perspective what daily life was like for older people during the pandemic, as well as the longer-term impact of this period.

“The move beyond level 0 will have impacted everyone in different ways, and we’d urge everyone to continue being considerate of how their actions may affect others and to look out for older friends, relatives and neighbours who may still be in need of support, assistance or just a friendly chat.

"We were glad to hear that over half of our survey respondents had received offers of help from neighbours or others in their local area during the pandemic, and hope to see this sense of community spirit continue.

“It’s difficult to think of any aspect of the pandemic as positive, but at the same time it’s worth reflecting on what we have learned, both about ourselves and society and about the measures needed to ensure mistakes are not repeated.

“As Scotland’s recovery continues, it’s vital that those most impacted by the pandemic are supported to play a full and active role in society again, at a pace which is comfortable to them.”