A million elderly people skipping meals because they find eating alone too lonely, charity reveals
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By Gabriella Swerling
Almost a million elderly people are skipping meals or relying on ready meals because they find eating alone too lonely.
New research, commissioned by The Royal Voluntary Service (RVS) and published today, said that the loneliness epidemic among Britain’s elderly community was to blame for these eating habits.
The charity found that 11% (or 955,464) people aged 70 and over in the UK confess to relying on ready meals and convenience foods to keep them fed with nearly a quarter (23%) saying they skip their daily meals at least three times a week.
Over one in five over 70s (22%) stated they ate all their daily meals alone each week, rising to over a quarter (26%) of people over 80. Of those who eat most of their meals alone, 38% admit they miss having company at meal times.
The study also found over one fifth (21%) cook less than four meals a week from scratch, with 17% saying they miss having someone to cook for (rising to 24% of females) and 8% saying they lost ...
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