Help us to raise a smile among older vegans & vegetarians

Help us to raise a smile among older vegans and vegetarians

V for Life (VfL) was launched to ensure no one is forced to give up their veganism or vegetarianism (veg*nism) in later life.

People rarely envision themselves needing care. Yet 410,000 people – about the population of Bristol – live in UK care homes today. Veg*ns are in the minority here. VfL is working to ensure that they can be catered for well and ethically.

Improving veg*n catering in care homes

Over 1,500 homes have signed up to VfL’s UK List of veggie-friendly care homes so far. Becoming a List member is free and means the care home will receive sample meal plans, caterer training, ongoing publications in the post, and more. They also get a certificate and window sticker, and free promotion on our website, showing that they are leading the way in inclusivity for older veg*ns.

In 2018, one of our colleagues was approached by a vegan care worker, who saw VfL’s stall at an event. She saw first-hand how appallingly vegans can be treated in care settings. A paralysed resident arrived at the care home where she worked, who was said to be ‘fussy about eating’. It transpired that this resident was ‘fussy’ because she was refusing to swallow meat, because she was vegan. She was extremely lucky to have been found by this vegan care worker, who brought her meals from home for the last few weeks of her life.

Sadly, this story is not an isolated one – as a recent Parliamentary group report shows. This is not good enough.

VfL wants veg*nism to be as well respected as halal and kosher meal requirements – and this extends to the issue of dementia. If a Muslim or Jewish resident with dementia requested pork, usually there would be great reluctance

to provide it. While veg*nism is not a religion, for many veg*ns it is the strongest belief they have.

Yet veg*ns living with dementia are typically given meat or dairy products when they ‘ask’ for them; and care staff may even offer these, unasked. Staff often give the resident meat with good intentions, thinking they are being compassionate by providing residents with a ‘treat’. But if the resident or their family realises what’s happened a few days later, it can be highly distressing.

Making care settings a safe space for older veg*ns is currently one of VfL’s biggest projects. But older veg*ns who live independently can also face issues when it comes to mealtimes.

“My husband and I really enjoyed our first lunch club. We look forward to participating regularly. I noticed on the Zoom meeting today that my husband could speak more easily than when we participate in Zoom events tailored specifically to the needs of his condition. I think what made the difference was that he was more fully engaged with something he feels passionate about and it probably made him feel more part of everyday life.”

Support… for life

VfL has a grants scheme for older veg*ns in financial difficulty, which might also fund organisations that support them. VfL has also produced ‘Dinners to your Door’ – a completely vegan meal-delivery guide.

A recent government survey reported that over 24% of over 60s say they feel lonely. Loved ones pass away, mobility decreases, and many older people find it difficult to meet new people.

Nowadays this is often done online – and the COVID-19 pandemic has further heightened this trend.

In a bid to combat loneliness among veg*ns in later life, VfL introduced a pen- and phone-pal scheme. Many older people don’t know any other vegans or vegetarians and having the opportunity to speak with someone who shares your belief can be empowering. Older vegans and vegetarians across the UK can connect and form new friendships.

Why volunteer for VfL?

Friends of VfL are veg*n volunteers, helping to raise awareness of the charity and its work. Their brief is varied and interesting because they come in contact with both individuals and care establishments.

You can really help us to make a difference to someone’s life! Here are a few ways that Friends can help:

l Visiting local care homes and encouraging them to become UK List members. l Alerting VfL head office to local news stories that concern the diet of older people or relate good and bad examples of how care establishments cater for older veg*ns. l Distributing VfL posters and flyers to places where they will be noticed, such as doctors’ surgeries, farmers markets, health food shops, and lunch clubs. l Speaking to local groups and organisations to find out if they would like to have a VfL staff member come and talk to them about the charity’s work. l Helping us to run stands at exhibitions, fêtes, and fairs. l Write about your own experiences on our blog. l Handwrite a message to a veg*n care home resident to make them smile.

If you would like to help VfL but don’t wish to volunteer, there are various ways you can donate. Visit vforlife.org.uk/donate for more information or call 0161 257 0887.

“I suffer with mental health problems, mainly due to isolation, but this is where VfL stepped in with the pen-pals scheme.”

“Very impressed with your pack and how organised you are... I have friends that have died or friends that only communicate through email, so this is really nice... it's nice to get a letter.”

“I would be so pleased... I feel like I'm on an island and I don't know any more vegan people.”

To become a Friend of VfL please fill out the form below, or contact VfL on 0161 257 0887. Thank you.

First name

Date of birth Address City

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Last name

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What particular areas of our work interest you? How would you like to be involved?

Writing to care home residents Visiting care homes local to you to encourage them to join VfL’s UK List Distributing leaflets Speaking to local groups and organisations about VfL’s work Helping represent VfL at events Writing about your experiences as a veg*n for our blog Data Protection VfL collects the data you have submitted so that we can inform you of relevant information, in accordance with our privacy statement. VfL may wish to send you information about future services that may be relevant to you; this will not involve your data being passed to any third party. If you are happy for VfL to use your personal data in this way, please tick the box.

I consent to receiving emails and postal correspondence about VfL’s services.

Please return the completed form to: Vegetarian for Life, 83 Ducie Street, Manchester M1 2JQ or info@vegetarianforlife.org.uk V for Life is a charity registered in England and Wales, number 1120687