Suspension of Portugal’s ‘universities for seniors’ has caused “anxiety and sadness’

The suspension and closure since January of classes in universities for seniors has provoked ‘anxiety and sadness’ in scores of elderly people, Renata Benavente of the Order of Portuguese Psychologists has said today – clearly hoping classes can resume from next week under the third stage of Portugal’s deconfinement. Lusa heard that it is “fundamental” that seniors have three kinds of stimulation in life: “social, cognitive and physical”. Said one elderly pupil desperate to restart classes in motricity and biodance at the Campolide senior university in Lisbon “If we don’t die from the virus we will die from loneliness and anxiety… this is affecting us all a great deal”.