Thanks to the hustle and bustle of the weekly shop, we can often forget that for some older people, visiting the local supermarket to pick up groceries can be an overwhelming and stressful experience.
Now UK supermarkets have been urged to introduce ‘slow lanes’ for the elderly, reports The Independent, helping to make shopping a more enjoyable experience for all ages.
The recommendations come from a new report into online food shopping, which has called on the government, local councils and supermarkets to make changes.
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Researchers at the University of Hertfordshire said that the popularity of online food shopping has increased isolation of the elderly, and said more should be done to improve older shopper’s experience of supermarkets, particularly because they provide a valuable social outlet for those at risk of loneliness.
Older people ‘stressed how much they valued the opportunity for social interaction that comes with a trip to the supermarket or local shops’, the authors added.
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The scientists also urged stores to target promotions at elderly people, introduce 'shopping buddy' schemes and use special offers to encourage over-60s to shop at quieter times of the week.
(Main image: Getty)
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