Voluntary sector organisations, older people and healthy ageing during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

‘Healthy ageing’ is described by the WHO as ‘the process of developing and maintaining the functional ability that enables wellbeing in older age’. Voluntary sector organisations (VSOs) have been at the forefront of healthy ageing for many years but the COVID-19 pandemic has presented a major challenge. This chapter draws on a case study of the Leeds Neighbourhood Networks (LNNs) to explore these challenges and their implications. The LNNs are independent voluntary organisations that aim to support older people to remain living independently and to participate in their communities through a range of activities and services provided at a neighbourhood level. During lockdown, the requirement that vulnerable older people ‘shield’ from human contact necessitated a focus on meeting needs while other aspects of healthy ageing took a back seat. As the pandemic evolved, the LNNs brought other elements of healthy ageing back by finding innovative ways to maintain relationships with and between their members and supporting them to stay active and mobile. Moving forward, the experience and learning from the pandemic will have a profound effect on how LNNs and other similar organisations support healthy ageing in a post-COVID world.