The health of older people in Bolton has declined so rapidly during the pandemic that a local charity has run out of wheelchairs for short-term hire.
Age UK Bolton said it was struggling to meet demand as more locals try to get out and about in the new year.
It said the physicality of some older people had suffered a “substantial decline” due to reduced levels of activity, which has ramped up demand for wheelchairs.
“We hired all of our current stock out before Christmas and now have a backlog of older local people in need of a chair,” said Matt Fowell, premises manager of Age UK Bolton Ageing Well Centre.
The charity has 15 wheelchairs to hire out for free and a backlog of five people waiting, but the pressure it is facing could be part of a national picture.
Previous research from Age UK found one-in-three older people have less energy than before the pandemic, while one-in-four are unable to walk as far as they used to.
Laura Williams, a strength and balance coach at Age UK Bolton, said: “The pandemic has had millions of people confined to their homes. In particular this has affected our aging population. Due to lack of activity, many of our older people have lost confidence, become frailer and are at a higher risk of falls.
“It is vital that we are able to provide the adequate support. Resources like walking aids and wheelchairs can make a world of difference to a person with limited mobility. It increases a person’s independence and enhances their quality of life.”
Age UK Bolton said it had never before had the same level of demand and made an urgent plea for donations of wheelchairs in good condition. While the charity may have previously kept customers waiting a day or two for a wheelchair, they are now waiting up to two weeks due to longer hire times and the deep cleaning process when equipment returns.
The British Red Cross, the largest national provider of short-term wheelchair loans, also said wheelchair demand in December had risen – up seven per cent compared to the same period in 2019 – but that it was to be expected in the festive season.
While the charity has enough stock, it is unsure whether demand will rise as people continue to wait for elective surgery.
