Open Access‘Make the Most of the Situation’. Older Adults’ Experiences during COVID-19: A Longitudinal, Qualitative Study
Author(s) -
Emily Brooks,
Somayyeh Mohammadi,
W. Ben Mortenson,
Catherine L. Backman,
Chihori Tsukura,
Isabelle Rash,
Janice Chan,
William C. Miller
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
journal of applied gerontology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.857
H-Index - 50
eISSN - 1552-4523
pISSN - 0733-4648
DOI - 10.1177/07334648221105062
Subject(s) - pandemic , contentment , covid-19 , social isolation , qualitative research , gerontology , psychology , pleasure , longitudinal study , aging in place , quality of life (healthcare) , older people , developmental psychology , social psychology , sociology , medicine , disease , psychiatry , social science , pathology , neuroscience , infectious disease (medical specialty) , psychotherapist
The COVID-19 pandemic restrictions have been associated with increased social isolation and reduced participation in older adults. This longitudinal qualitative study drew on life course theory to analyse data from a series of four sequential semi-structured interviews conducted between May 2020-February 2021 with adults aged 65+ ( n = 12) to explore older adults' experiences adjusting to the COVID-19 pandemic. We identified three themes: (1) Struggling 'You realize how much you lost' describes how older adults lost freedoms, social connections and activities; (2) Adapting 'whatever happens, happens, I'll do my best', revealing how older adults tried to maintain well-being, participation and connection; and (3) Appreciating 'enjoy what you have', exploring how older adults found pleasure and contentment. Engagement in meaningful activities and high-quality social interactions supported well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic for older adults. This finding highlights the need for policies and services to promote engagement during longstanding global crises.