Six go cocooning.

Abstract

“Age is just a number” a familiar quote used by many including Joan Collins who suggested that; “age is just a number, unless you’re a good wine.” However, where the Corona virus is concerned the age 70 is when you must stay home and avoid human contact! This is far from ideal and does not correlate to the concepts of successful ageing. In fact, the cure in this case may be worse than the disease. One 70-year-old recently told me “that Cocooning is a blunt instrument and should not be applied to all over 70s, nobody asked us, and the negative impact is not being considered.” As a researcher, currently ‘exploring the motivations of older outdoor adventurers in Ireland’ and my own experience of trekking, scuba diving and of ‘older’ sea swimmers, I had to agree with my Cocooning friend. All of the over 70s that I have observed through my research are fitter and healthier than many of the younger people I know. Their passion and interest in their leisure activity is a driving force for them to maintain health, fitness and social engagement.