Resource List for COVID-19: How Retailers and Others are Responding to Help Older Adults

As the COVID-19 outbreak continues to affect our daily lives, various retailers, companies, and restaurants are responding by taking steps to help create a more comfortable and safe shopping experience for older adults or people with underlying health issues—a segment of people believed to be most vulnerable to the spread of the coronavirus.

Here is a growing list of resources for you.

• According to Forbes, Walgreens and CVS are waiving delivery fees on prescription medicine(s) in support of older adults during the COVID-19 crisis.
• Washington, DC restaurant Medium Rare is offering meals to people over age 70 in the DMV who are quarantined. The owner, Mark Bucher, has “thought of a simple way he could help those in the community who need food.”
• Target is also reserving their first hour of shopping each Wednesday to support vulnerable consumers, including older adults and those with underlying health challenges.
• Whole Foods, starting on Wednesday, March 18, is allowing customers who are age 60 and older to enter its  U.S and Canada stores an hour before the stores open to the rest of the public. The company said the change was to ensure customers would have a comfortable shopping experience in a less crowded environment.
• All Dollar General  stores are dedicating their first hour to older shoppers, and are closing an hour earlier than their regular business hours for restocking and ensuring the health of their staff.
• Macy’s, Walgreens, and Home Depot are other major brands making changes to their store hours .
• Safeway stores and other Albertsons Companies are  reserving  time for ” vulnerable shoppers who must leave home to obtain their groceries, unless otherwise locally mandated.” The designated shopping hours for older adults and other vulnerable populations are from 7 to 9 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

This is an expanding list! Please let us know if you know of other store updates by leaving a comment.​