Older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic – Forgotten and stigmatized?

Seifert, Alexander

doi:10.1177/0020872820969779

Cited by 11 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…When we were told to physically distance during COVID-19, many older adults were simply labelled as “at risk” which cemented stereotypical, ageist messaging [ 6 , 11 , 20 ]. In doing so, the social connectedness of many older adults grew smaller: “I am in the demographic that is at risk, being 70 and with a pre-existing heart condition, so only go out to walk and to local shops for groceries.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…When coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) took hold, the everyday voices of older adults were frequently forgotten about politically, socially and economically. People aged 65+ years were often grouped as a single at risk, homogeneous group with public policy messaging cementing ageist framing of older adults as frail and vulnerable [ 6 , 11 , 20 ]. Such positionings oversimplify the lived experiences of older adults thus ignoring the heterogeneous experiences of individuals during the pandemic as well as the adaptability, ability and autonomy of older adults [ 6 , 20 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Crafting During Coronavirus: participatory methods with older adults during COVID-19

Clarke

2023

Z Gerontol Geriat

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When coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) took hold, the everyday voices of older adults were frequently overlooked politically, socially and economically. The Crafting During Coronavirus creative, participatory project sought to explore the everyday role of crafting during COVID-19. It was imperative to conduct research with participants in a way that could be a source of positivity especially during a crisis. Using a combination of digital and tangible methods (diaries, photographs, emails and crafted postcards), this project aimed to create a space where participants could narrate, shape, revisit and reflect upon their experiences and their making at a time that suited them. Combining these approaches in a flexible manner, allowed data to be collected and pieced together with older participants to form a patchwork with breadth and depth of everyday narratives during COVID-19.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Crafting During Coronavirus: participatory methods with older adults during COVID-19

Clarke

2023

Z Gerontol Geriat

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“…Moreover, the characterization of older adults as a homogeneous, exceptionally vulnerable population (Petretto and Pili, 2020 ; Seifert, 2021 ) engendered negative self-perceptions of aging (Losada-Baltar et al, 2021 ; Seifert, 2021 ), which have been associated with loneliness and psychological distress among older adults (Losada-Baltar et al, 2021 ). Their homogenous representation and the resulting ageist narrative also led to feelings of anger, increased anxiety, and perceptions of loss of autonomy and individualism by this older population (Derrer-Merk et al, 2022a , b ).…”

Section: A Theoretical Framework To Understand Wellbeing and Coping S...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Older adults' experiences of wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic: a comparative qualitative study in Italy and Switzerland

Dones,

Ciobanu

2024

Front. Sociol.

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BackgroundParticularly at the beginning of the pandemic, adults aged 65 and older were portrayed as a homogeneously vulnerable population due to the elevated health risks associated with contracting the COVID-19 disease. This portrayal, combined with travel restrictions, closures of economic sectors, country-wide lockdowns, and suggestions by governmental authorities to limit social contact, had important implications for the wellbeing of older individuals. However, older adults are a heterogeneous population who relies on different resources to cope with stressful periods, like the COVID-19 pandemic. Simultaneously, countries also employed different measures to contain the virus. Research thus far has focused on the short-term consequences of the pandemic, but studies have yet to address its long-term consequences.ObjectivesWe explore older adults' lived experiences nearly 2 years after the pandemic onset. Moreover, we focus on the bordering countries of Switzerland and Italy, who employed contrasting containment measures. This paper analyzes (1) How the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the experiences of wellbeing of older adults in these regions and (2) How older adults coped with the stressors brought about by the pandemic, in particular social distancing.MethodsThe paper draws on 31 semi-structured interviews with 11 Swiss natives residing in Switzerland, 10 Italian migrants residing in Switzerland, and 10 Italian natives residing in Italy. Interviews were conducted from December 2021 to March 2022.ResultsCoping mechanisms of the three groups related to acceptance, hobbies, cognitive reframing, telephone use, vaccine use and social distancing. However, results show heterogeneous experiences of wellbeing, with Swiss natives sharing more positive narratives than the other two groups. Moreover, Italian migrants and Italian natives expressed the long-term negative consequences of the pandemic on their experienced wellbeing.

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“…These studies provide vital insights on the lives of older people during the pandemic. It must be pointed out however, that older persons oftentimes are assumed to be a homogeneous group in the scientific as well as in socio-political discourses, despite gerontological admonitions ( 9 , 10 ). In fact, older people are a most heterogeneous group that differs, among other things, due to different abilities and limitations, biographies, and lifestyles, as well as socio-economic resources and thus their possibilities for action.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Poverty in old age in times of COVID-19—Empirical results from Austria

Richter

Heidinger

2022

Front. Public Health

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Early in the pandemic, researchers were cautioning that COVID-19 and the associated health policy countermeasures would have an increased negative impact on groups that were already vulnerable before the pandemic. One of these groups are older people affected by poverty, who according to official figures make up 13.9% of older population in Austria. Even before the pandemic, their living situation was considered precarious. Not without reason, this group has been identified as a high-risk group of the pandemic, due to their increased likelihood of severe COVID-19 related illness and their limited monetary resources and thus lower chances of coping with the pandemic. Nevertheless, research on this group has remained sparse to date. Therefore, the aim of the study is to focus on older people (60+ years) below the poverty line and to compare them with non-poor individuals. Data from the SHARE (Survey of Health Aging and Retirement in Europe) project is used, combining data from the two SHARE Corona Surveys (summer 2020 and summer 2021) and the SHARE Corona Special Austria Survey (December 2020) to gain the most complete picture of life situation during the pandemic. Results demonstrate that older people in poverty were more likely to report poor subjective health before as well as during the pandemic yet were significantly more likely to refuse vaccination against COVID-19, despite adhering to other measures against the pandemic to the same extent as non-poor people. Restrictions in the health care system affected both groups equally and no significant differences in the frequency of social contacts could be found. However, older people below the poverty line were significantly more likely to rely on social support to obtain necessities during the pandemic and were less likely to use the internet. Together, these results point out that disadvantage exist for the older poor in some but not all areas of life during the pandemic. This paper is aimed at providing first insights into the lives of poor older persons during a taxing time and may perhaps inspire more in-depth study of this particularly understudied population.

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Older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic – Forgotten and stigmatized?

Cited by 11 publications

References 19 publications

Crafting During Coronavirus: participatory methods with older adults during COVID-19

Crafting During Coronavirus: participatory methods with older adults during COVID-19

Older adults' experiences of wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic: a comparative qualitative study in Italy and Switzerland

Poverty in old age in times of COVID-19—Empirical results from Austria

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