‘Older people who have given all their lives to us are forgotten. It's a disgrace'

CORONAVIRUS: LEN GOODMAN ON CARING FOR THE ELDERLY

- Olivia Buxton

LEN GOODMAN has branded the treatment of Britain’s elderly during the coronavirus pandemic as a “disgrace”.

The former Strictly star, who celebrated his 76th birthday in lockdown, is shocked at how his pensioner peers have been neglected during the crisis when, like him, they have contributed so much towards the economy.

“I know it is important that we look after ourselves but I think it’s equally important to look after older people who have given their lives to our country and they are simply forgotten,” he says. “It is a disgrace. It’s like, ‘Well, they’ve had a good life, they’re 78 now, not to worry’. It’s like they don’t matter anymore.

“I think old people, especially in care homes, get neglected full stop. What I still don’t understand is why evidently the frail and elderly went into hospital when they were sick, caught coronavirus and were then taken back into care homes to die. It really is astonishing.”

Len, an ambassador for Age UK, is supporting its Coronavirus Emergency Appeal to raise funds for older people who are in desperate need of its support.

“They’ve had so many old people asking for help and emotional reassurance during this pandemic,” reveals Len.

“Although we might have been in lockdown for more than 12 weeks, there are a lot of old people who have been in lockdown for years, who live alone and can’t get out. It is so sad and we don’t really do anything about it.

“There are few elderly people that live in my road and during the lockdown I’ve put a card through their letterboxes with my phone number to see if they are OK.