Shopping

Being able to buy food is an important part of good and independent aging. We support older people to control the food they buy with our grocery delivery and accompanying shopping services.

Escorted services

They are suitable for older people who are mobile enough to go out, but need extra help with transport to and from food stores. These shopping services can be one-on-one or in which staff assist a single client with shopping, or alternatively, in group shopping.

In addition to helping with shopping, they give older people, especially those who live alone, a chance to get out and interact with others.

Some elderly people are tied to the house and cannot shop for themselves. MinuteNurse works with the elderly person to create a shopping list, and their groceries are then delivered to their home.

Why is shopping difficult for the elderly?

One in five (19%) people aged 80-84 say they have difficulty buying groceries. This increases to 60% for those over 90. Our research shows that older people face numerous obstacles when buying food:

Difficulties in getting to food stores, especially for those living in rural areas with long commutes and those who do not drive a car.
The layout of stores can be difficult due to high or low shelves and the lack of suitable rest rooms
Difficulty carrying goods to and from the supermarket.

Some people struggle with shopping online and/or value the social interaction of shopping in person.
Age UK runs local food shopping services which have a number of benefits for older people, including preventing malnutrition, reducing social isolation and enabling them to be independent and stay in their own homes for longer.