Mayor co-hosts Older Londoners Food Summit
To mark the International Day of Older People, which takes place every year on 1 October, the Mayor of London today co-hosted an Older Londoners Food Summit with Sustain, the charity alliance for better food and farming.
The event, chaired by the new Chief Executive of Age UK London, Abigail Wood, launched a new GLA report on Experiences of Food Insecurity amongst Older Londoners before and during COVID-19. The report draws on interviews with older Londoners to understand the causes of food insecurity and malnutrition and the impact of COVID-19 on their experience of accessing food and wellbeing. It also explores the extent to which older Londoners discuss diets and where they access nutritional information and support.
The summit also marked the launch of Sustain’s publication Meals on wheels for the 21st century: A report exploring meals on wheels services in London before, during and after COVID-19.
“These reports tell us COVID-19 has exacerbated the issues older Londoners’ had with accessing food, in particular food that is appropriate for their specific health and cultural requirements.
"The research also shows the extent to which older Londoners offered vital support to their neighbours and local community, began making preparations well before lockdown and demonstrated incredible resilience and adaptability under unprecedented circumstances.
"Throughout the coronavirus crisis, the Mayor has worked in partnership with local authorities and Voluntary and Community Sector organisations to respond to increased levels of food insecurity, oversee the establishment of Community Food Hubs in every borough and distribute food supplies to those needing support, including older Londoners.
"Today also sees the World Health Organisation’s Decade of Healthy Ageing 2020-2030 focus attention on actions we can all take to ensure everyone can live a long and healthy life. As we move from responding to the pandemic to recovery from it, the Mayor and I have an ambition for all Londoners to have access to healthy, culturally appropriate and sustainable community food provision. Older Londoners must be at the heart of this.”
Deputy Mayor, Dr Debbie Weekes-Bernard