Britain’s over 60s are looking forward to putting their feet up and taking a break while the country is in lockdown and they must stay at home.
Instead of a bucket list of wild adventures booked for holidays and retirement, they are resigned to a less extravagant lifestyle, according to a new survey.
Top of their coronavirus social distancing wish list is spending more time reading, popular with 70% of the over 60s.
Next come the more mundane tasks of cleaning the house (64%) and tidying the garden (57%).
More than half want to change their diet by binning ready meals and cooking more (48%).
Stay healthy – but not by keeping fit
Spending quality time with a spouse or partner ranks high as well – with 44% of the over 60s.
Other top ranking pastimes include drinking wine (28%), watching streaming movies and box sets (30%) and keeping up with friends and family on social media (39%).
In general, the survey by over 50s finance firm SunLife revealed three out of four over 60s felt well prepared to see out the coronavirus crisis, and the majority (83%) are ready to follow government advice to stay healthy.
But not many intend to exercise – with only 16% planning to follow a keep fit regime and 7% planning to take up yoga.
Almost all (97%) follow the ‘keep calm and carry on’ mantra, while 69% believe the crisis positive with the revival of home-based crafts and skills.
Valuable advice for younger generations
Most older people feel that they will cope better than their children or grandchildren because they have a calmer and more positive approach.
Ian Atkinson, marketing director for SunLife said: “While we’re all adapting to new ways of living, the approach many older people are taking – to keep calm, support each other and try not to worry about things we can’t control – is really valuable.
“Their advice to try and find the positives in any situation – such as the potential revival of traditional home-based activities like baking, knitting, gardening and growing your own fruit and veg – is something that could help us all.”
