Impact of COVID-19 on mobility and participation of older adults living in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada: a multimethod cohort design protocol

Abstract

IntroductionThe novel COVID-19 required many countries to impose public health measures that likely impacted the participation and mobility of community-dwelling older adults. This protocol details a multimethod cohort design undertaken to describe short-term and medium-term changes to the mobility and participation of older Canadians living in the community rather than retirement facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods and analysisA longitudinal telephone (or online)-administered survey is being conducted with a random sample of older adults living within 20 km of McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, identified from census dissemination areas. Baseline data collection of community-dwelling older adults aged 65 years and over began in May 2020 with follow-ups at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. The Late-Life Function and Disability Instrument and global rating of change anchors are the primary outcomes of interest. A subsample of respondents will participate in open-ended, semistructured interviews conducted over the telephone or through video-conference, to explore participants’ lived experiences with respect to their mobility and participation during the pandemic. Descriptive statistics and quantitative approaches will be used to determine changes in mobility and social and personal participation, and associated personal and environmental factors. For the interviews, qualitative data will be analysed using descriptive phenomenology.Ethics and disseminationApproval was obtained from the Hamilton Integrated Research Ethics Board of McMaster University (2020-10814-GRA). This study may inform the design of programmes that can support community-dwelling older adults during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and conferences focused on ageing.

Loneliness and resilience are associated with nutrition risk after the first wave of COVID-19 in community-dwelling older Canadians

“…(von Elm et al, 2007). This study was a prospective longitudinal cohort study administered via phone survey to a random sample of older adults starting on May 12, 2020 (Beauchamp et al, 2021); the analysis described in this paper is based on the cross-sectional baseline data. A sample of public phone numbers in the greater Hamilton area was selected based on being ≤5, 6-10, 11-15, and 16-20 kilometres from McMaster University (Beauchamp et al, 2021).…”

People with COPD have greater participation restrictions than age-matched older adults without respiratory conditions assessed during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…A random sample of older adults was identified using 2016 census data and a sampling company that provides representative samples of publically available phone numbers [ 14 ]. These participants had been recruited for a longitudinal tele-survey looking at the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mobility and participation of community-dwelling older adults who were not suffering from COVID-19 [ 15 ]. Postal codes were selected based on the distance from McMaster University in Hamilton and the ratio of older adults (≥ 65 years) within the dissemination area.…”

Factors Influencing Mobility During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

“…Details of the protocol have been published elsewhere. 16 Briefly, participants were recruited through consecutive phone calls made to a list of random phone numbers obtained from ASDE Survey Sampler. Any individual living in the community and equal to or over the age of 65 years was eligible to participate.…”

“…Additional details can be found in the protocol. 16 Briefly, on March 11, 2020 the WHO formally declared COVID-19 a pandemic. 17…”

“…For all models, we tested for linear regression assumptions and multicollinearity. All analyses were conducted using StataIC (v. 16), using a level of significance of 0.05.…”