Today, 1 October, is National Older Veg*ns Day – an opportunity to recognise the experiences of older vegans and vegetarians and consider what we can all do to help people feel connected, respected and valued.
Growing older can bring many changes. Friends and family may move away, mobility can become more difficult, and everyday activities that once felt straightforward can require more planning. For some people, these changes can contribute to loneliness and social isolation.
For older vegans and vegetarians, there can be additional challenges.
Finding suitable food may become harder if someone can no longer travel easily to shops or cook for themselves. Local shops may have limited options, while eating out or accessing suitable food in care settings can sometimes be difficult. And when veganism or vegetarianism has been an important part of someone's life for decades, being unable to follow those choices can affect much more than what is on their plate.
Veg*nism is about more than food
VfL's research with Bournemouth University explored the experiences of vegans and vegetarians aged over 60 living in the UK.
Participants described a range of practical challenges.
One person explained that living some distance from a supermarket meant carefully planning shopping trips and deliveries to make sure fresh fruit and vegetables were available.
Another described having a small local co-op but very limited vegan options:
“My challenge mainly is that we have a small co-op in the village where I live, but they sell very limited amounts of vegan food.”
For another participant, eating out could be particularly frustrating:
“Eating out is a nightmare.”
These experiences illustrate how something as everyday as getting a suitable meal can become more complicated with age.
But the issue goes beyond convenience.
Our research found that veganism and vegetarianism can be closely connected to people's identity, ethics and values. Being unable to uphold those beliefs later in life can therefore affect a person's dignity, wellbeing and sense of self.
Connection matters too
Loneliness and social isolation can affect anyone, but older people can face particular risks of becoming disconnected from their communities.
Research published in Nature found that people experiencing both loneliness and social isolation spend significantly fewer years free from physical disease and mental health conditions than people experiencing neither.
That is why National Older Veg*ns Day isn't simply about raising awareness. It's about encouraging practical action.
Sometimes that action can be very small.
A conversation with a neighbour. A phone call to someone who lives alone. Making sure a local community group knows how to accommodate vegan and vegetarian members. Speaking to a care home about suitable food. Or simply helping someone find opportunities to connect with other people.
How you can help
At V for Life, we work with individuals, care services, caterers and policymakers to improve food provision and uphold dignity, choice and wellbeing for older vegans and vegetarians.
But we can't do this alone.
One way you can help is by becoming a VfL Champion. Champions help spread the word about our work and the support available to older vegans and vegetarians in their local communities.
You could also:
Small actions, meaningful change
National Older Veg*ns Day is a reminder that staying connected should not depend on age, mobility or where someone lives.
For an older vegan or vegetarian, being offered a suitable meal can mean more than simply having something to eat. Being listened to and having their choices respected can reinforce their dignity and sense of identity. And a friendly conversation or regular phone call can help someone feel that they still have a place in their community.
This 1 October, we’re asking people to think about what they can do – however small – to help an older vegan or vegetarian feel seen, respected and connected.
Become a VfL Champion
If you'd like to help spread the word about support for older vegans and vegetarians, you can become a VfL Champion and get involved in your local community.
Together, we can help make later life more inclusive for older vegans and vegetarians.