No abstract

Background: For a population at increased risk of experiencing loneliness, exploring the effect of lockdown measures on stroke survivors is of paramount importance.Objective: The paper explores the personal experiences of loneliness among stroke survivors during lockdown in the COVID-19 pandemic and the lessons that can be learned from these experiences.Methods: 17 stroke survivors from across the UK (10 females, 7 males; 45–83 years old; Mage = 63.47, SDage = 11.14) participated in semi-structured interviews. Reflexive thematic analysis was employed in the interpretation of the data.Results: Interview data and subsequent analysis created four overarching themes: the meaning of loneliness to stroke survivors after lockdown, the impact of lockdown measures, the importance of technology during lockdown and life after lockdown. These themes explore survivors’ experiences of loneliness generally post-stroke and how this loneliness was assuaged with online video conferencing and other technological solutions, but also chronicle how these feelings have changed during lockdown and survivors’ feelings regarding society returning to ‘normal’ and the associated apprehension and anxiety this brings.Conclusions: We recommend a focus on creating accessible peer support options for all stroke survivors, maximising the newfound confidence survivors experience with technology, as an important step for alleviating loneliness in this population