Lived experiences of older adults during the first COVID-19 lockdown: A qualitative study

Abstract

Background and aim Public health measures used to mitigate the COVID-19 epidemic may have unintended, detrimental consequences particularly on older adults, whose voices and perspectives are often silent or silenced. The aim of this study was to explore the lived experiences of individuals aged 64 or older during the first COVID-19 lockdown. Methods We conducted a qualitative study in a convenience sample of 19 older adults (aged 64+) living at home in the Italian-speaking region of Switzerland during the first COVID-19 lockdown, between April and May 2020. Participants varied in terms of gender, education, age, nationality, and socio-economic status. We conducted semi-structured phone interviews to elicit emotions, expectations and hopes in relation to the present situation, and the post-pandemic world. We inquired about opinions on the enforced public health measures, including those specifically targeting older adults, and on the societal portrayal of older adults. Findings We found that the epidemic and the public health response to it had both generated a variety of resentments and a high degree of ambivalence at the individual, micro-, meso- and macro-social levels. We also found that labelling older adults as an at-risk sub-population inevitably contributed to public and self-stigmatization. Discussion We conducted an in-depth qualitative investigation of lived experiences of older adults during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in one of the most gravely hit region in Europe. Our findings on the complexity of unintended, detrimental consequences of outbreak responses on older adults have relevant implications for local adaptions of public health measures, and suggest that public health authorities should engage vulnerable sub-populations and promote bi-directional communication to inform and support communities.

Stress and Adjustment during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study on the Lived Experience of Canadian Older Adults

“…Many participants expressed disappointment and anger towards individuals who did not follow the prescribed safety measures, with a common focus on younger generations. This tension with noncompliant citizens and youth aligns with the aforementioned qualitative study in southern Switzerland, which reported anger towards those who did not respect COVID-19 prevention measures as well as the institutions that were not enforcing the rules [ 19 ]. This cohort of older adults also expressed anger towards the youth, perceiving a sense of ageism from this generation and a disregard for the lives of vulnerable persons [ 19 ].…”

“…This tension with noncompliant citizens and youth aligns with the aforementioned qualitative study in southern Switzerland, which reported anger towards those who did not respect COVID-19 prevention measures as well as the institutions that were not enforcing the rules [ 19 ]. This cohort of older adults also expressed anger towards the youth, perceiving a sense of ageism from this generation and a disregard for the lives of vulnerable persons [ 19 ]. In the current sample, greater concern for others’ wellbeing was emphasized among older adults, which is aligned with the notion that aging is associated with greater altruism [ 20 ].…”

“…However, the dialogue of systemic ageism during the pandemic has largely focused on nursing homes and older adults living in residential care, without considering the experiences of ageism among community-dwelling older adults. In a qualitative study of 19 older adults’ lived experience during the first COVID-19 lockdown in southern Switzerland, some older adults felt stigmatized in being portrayed as part of the vulnerable, and in some cases undesirable, population [ 19 ]. This sense of stigma was expressed in the current sample, with one participant not wanting to leave their house out of fear of being judged.…”

Embodied metaphor in communication about lived experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic in Wuhan, China

“…The results may not be generalizable to a wider population. Furthermore, the lack of face-to-face interviews might have prevented participants from freely expressing their possible frustrations during the pandemic [ 35 ].…”

Traditional Korean Medicine Home Care for the Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic in South Korea

“…In particular, it is the summation of the combined results of a survey conducted by local governments operating Community Care Pilot Projects implemented by the Korean government. Hence, this study provides evidence for effective implementation of TKM community care provision policy [ 27 , 28 ]. Remarkably, several TKM institutions ( n = 136) participated in this project, providing a TKM community home care program for a total of 598 people.…”