Barriers to food shopping

Thursday, 19 July 2012

Age UK has just published a report about problems older people face when doing food shopping.

This is an important element in enabling them to live independently and healthily. It also offers a chance to get out and about, reducing the negative effects of isolation. Yet it is estimated that as many as one in ten over-65s living in their own homes are at risk of malnutrition.

The report looks at some of the barriers older people experience and some of the types of shopping services run by local Age UKs to help them surmount these barriers.

Older people may have difficulties with poor store layout, particularly narrow aisles and poor shelf signposting. Many older people also find that there is too much packaging on products, with 65% finding it hard to open their purchases.

The recommendations in the report are simple steps that retailers can take to make life easier for their older customers.

These range from things that can be done to make it easier for older people to get around the store, helping more older people to shop online and suggestions for working with local Age UKs in promoting their shopping services.

You can read the full report Food Shopping in Later Life