The coronavirus pandemic has had an enormous impact on our lives – we have experienced challenges and limitations most of us have never faced before.
Some of us have adapted well to “the new normal”, but many still feel uneasy and are concerned about the health and well-being of our loved ones. We worry about our elderly, for whom this time has been particularly difficult, especially for those living alone and isolated from their families.
Age UK has recently published a report that shows just how difficult the past year has been for millions of older people living in the United Kingdom.
The research has found that many have struggled with high levels of anxiety, low moods, loss of hope as well as deteriorating health and growing pains from untreated conditions. Months of home confinements have led to muscle weakness, increasing the risk of falls, and worsening cognitive abilities.
Over a quarter of respondents in the Age UK study admitted they were unable to walk as far as they used to, 64% felt less sure about taking public transport and 43% were less confident about going to shops.
How can retailers help?
The packaging that retailers choose for their products plays an important role in facilitating access to food and ensuring its safety. Reclosable food packaging, such as Reseal-it® by Macfarlane Labels, comes with features that can help elderly customers, including:
- Ease of opening – Our dexterity declines with age, which can make it difficult to open packaging and even lead to injury. A study by Bupa Care Services involving 1,500 people over the age of 60 in the UK found that opening jars or packaging was one of the top tasks we struggle with as we get older.
Food packs with a build-in resealable closure are easy to open and do not require items such as knives or scissors to retrieve the contents. This ensures convenient access and limits the likelihood of packaging–related injuries.
You may also be interested in reading: Don’t let hard-to-open packaging undermine your brand reputation
- Portion control – Customers often live a more frugal life in uncertain times and according to research by VoucherCodes.co.uk, they can save up to 50% when buying multi-packs. Those who live alone, however, may find it difficult to consume all the contents before its expiry date, which can result in overeating and food waste.
The Age UK’s Later Life in the United Kingdom report has found that 3.8 million people over the age of 65 live alone, of which nearly 60% are over 75. Food packs that can be easily opened and re-sealed multiple times help maintain smaller portions and extent product life.
You may also be interested in reading: Control portions with resealable packaging
This leads us to another benefit of resealable packaging…
- Keeping food fresh – This is a particularly important feature of resealable packaging during Covid-19, as it allows customers who are anxious about leaving home reduce visits to the store.
It is true that during the pandemic many people have chosen to shop online, and this also applies to the older generation. In fact, over 65s are likely to drive eCommerce growth in the future, according to Mintel. Not everyone, however, knows how to do their shopping online and at times getting home delivery slots has been impossible.
You may also be interested in reading: 4 Reasons for Reseal-it – Reason 1: It keeps food fresh
Reseal-it® by Macfarlane Labels is an innovative, resealable labelling solution that enables packs to be opened and closed up to 25 times, ensuring product freshness and pack integrity. It is used on a wide range of products globally, across 500 million packs.
To find out more, visit: www.resealit.com