Older adults’ experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative systematic literature review

Abstract

Objectives Relatively little is known about the lived experiences of older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. We systematically review the international literature to understand the lived experiences of older adult’s experiences during the pandemic. Design and methodology This study uses a meta-ethnographical approach to investigate the included studies. The analyses were undertaken with constructivist grounded theory. Results Thirty-two studies met the inclusion criteria and only five papers were of low quality. Most, but not all studies, were from the global north. We identified three themes: desired and challenged wellbeing; coping and adaptation; and discrimination and intersectionality. Overall, the studies’ findings were varied and reflected different times during the pandemic. Studies reported the impact of mass media messaging and its mostly negative impact on older adults. Many studies highlighted the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on participants' social connectivity and well-being including missing the proximity of loved ones and in consequence experienced an increase in anxiety, feeling of depression, or loneliness. However, many studies reported how participants adapted to the change of lifestyle including new ways of communication, and social distancing. Some studies focused on discrimination and the experiences of sexual and gender minority and ethnic minority participants. Studies found that the pandemic impacted the participants’ well-being including suicidal risk behaviour, friendship loss, and increased mental health issues. Conclusion The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted and impacted older adults’ well-being worldwide. Despite the cultural and socio-economic differences many commonalities were found. Studies described the impact of mass media reporting, social connectivity, impact of confinement on well-being, coping, and on discrimination. The authors suggest that these findings need to be acknowledged for future pandemic strategies. Additionally, policy-making processes need to include older adults to address their needs. PROSPERO record [CRD42022331714], (Derrer-Merk et al., Older adults’ lived experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review, 2022).

‘I am proud of how I handled it’. Exploring the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic and related restrictions on well‐being of adults with severe mental illness using qualitative methods

“…Many of the participants were unable to find and/or maintain a job due to their disability, and a considerable number of participants lived alone with a limited social network. Our results mimic findings among older‐aged adults, a group in which certain individuals also faced fewer changes and transitions during the pandemic due to pre‐existing living circumstances 42,43 …”

“…Our results mimic findings among older-aged adults, a group in which certain individuals also faced fewer changes and transitions during the pandemic due to pre-existing living circumstances. 42,43 The diverse effects observed within our study population can be attributed to several factors. First, the level of social and community engagement among our participants before the pandemic played a pivotal role in their experience of the pandemic.…”

Longitudinal association between frequency of Internet use and incident disability among community-dwelling older people during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…Second, a systematic review of the association between sedentary behavior and health suggests that Internet use increases sedentary time, which may increase the risk of obesity and cardiovascular disease in middle-aged adults, whereas Internet use may have a positive impact on cognitive functioning in older adults [ 41 ]. Because cognitive decline is a risk factor for developing disability [ 42 ], it is possible that Internet use may prevent cognitive decline in community-dwelling older adults and lead to a decrease in the risk of developing disability. This explanation supports our observed association between the frequency of Internet use and incident disability in people aged 75 and older: Because the risk of cognitive decline increases with age [ 42 ], the effect of Internet use on maintaining cognitive functioning may be greater for the old-old than for the young-old.…”

“…Because cognitive decline is a risk factor for developing disability [ 42 ], it is possible that Internet use may prevent cognitive decline in community-dwelling older adults and lead to a decrease in the risk of developing disability. This explanation supports our observed association between the frequency of Internet use and incident disability in people aged 75 and older: Because the risk of cognitive decline increases with age [ 42 ], the effect of Internet use on maintaining cognitive functioning may be greater for the old-old than for the young-old.…”

Unveiling Fall Triggers in Older Adults: A Machine Learning Graphical Model Analysis

“…A report from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in March 2020 also revealed that individuals aged 65 and above accounted for 31% of COVID-19 infections, 45% of hospitalizations, 53% of intensive care unit admissions, and 80% of deaths related to this infection in the United States [ 7 ]. Advanced age and immune-compromised conditions, especially in those with chronic health conditions, are associated with the severity and fatality of COVID-19, making older adults a vulnerable population and susceptible to the infection [ 8 , 9 ]. The social and physical distancing recommendations from the CDC have limited their physical activity level which, as a result, is likely to affect their physical functioning and lead to a higher risk of falling [ 10 , 11 ].…”