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Suddenly at risk: Older adults’ changes in everyday life early on during the COVID-19 pandemic

Fristedt, Sofi LU ; Carlsson, Gunilla LU ; Kylén, Maya LU orcid ; Jonsson, Oskar LU orcid and Granbom, Marianne LU orcid (2022) The World Federation of Occupational Therapy 2022 Congress
Abstract
ABSTRACT:
Introduction / Rationale: From the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, social distancing was recommended for adults 70 years and older (70+) in Sweden. From an outside view, they then became deprived of possibilities to engage in meaningful activities. However, as meaning is highly subjective, we need to listen to older adults’ voices to really know.

Objectives: To explore how adults 70+ experienced and managed changes in everyday life due to the COVID-19 pandemic and how those changes affected wellbeing at the beginning of the virus outbreak.

Method / Approach: Eleven women and six men, (mean age 76 years), living in ordinary housing, participated in remote semi-structured interviews in April and June 2020.... (More)
ABSTRACT:
Introduction / Rationale: From the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, social distancing was recommended for adults 70 years and older (70+) in Sweden. From an outside view, they then became deprived of possibilities to engage in meaningful activities. However, as meaning is highly subjective, we need to listen to older adults’ voices to really know.

Objectives: To explore how adults 70+ experienced and managed changes in everyday life due to the COVID-19 pandemic and how those changes affected wellbeing at the beginning of the virus outbreak.

Method / Approach: Eleven women and six men, (mean age 76 years), living in ordinary housing, participated in remote semi-structured interviews in April and June 2020. The interviews were analysed with qualitative content analysis.

Results: An overall theme Suddenly at risk – “…but it could have been worse” and four categories emerged from the data analysis. The participants had to accept some changes summarized in the first category; my world closed down. They described continuous negotiations, adaptations and prioritizations to manage staying at home in the second category, but they also experienced contextual barriers and facilitators to sustain occupational participation as the third category elucidate, where e.g. the shift of seasons facilitated social activities. Their experiences of health and wellbeing varied and are captured in the fourth category, considerations about my own and other’s health and wellbeing.

Conclusion: The participants questioned previous conceptions of meaning in relation to habitual activities, likely leading to consistent occupational changes, potentially affecting health and well-bring also beyond the pandemic.

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author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to conference
publication status
published
subject
conference name
The World Federation of Occupational Therapy 2022 Congress
conference location
Paris, France
conference dates
2022-08-28 - 2022-08-31
project
The At-Risk Study – Older adults´ health, wellbeing, and daily life during the COVID-19 pandemic
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
20b220c2-2463-4195-9d46-816877f5746f
alternative location
https://www.xcdsystem.com/wfot/program/bzxHrTN/index.cfm?pgid=2300
date added to LUP
2023-03-31 18:26:39
date last changed
2023-04-03 08:07:14
@misc{20b220c2-2463-4195-9d46-816877f5746f,
  abstract     = {{ABSTRACT:<br/>Introduction / Rationale: From the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, social distancing was recommended for adults 70 years and older (70+) in Sweden.  From an outside view, they then became deprived of possibilities to engage in meaningful activities. However, as meaning is highly subjective, we need to listen to older adults’ voices to really know.<br/><br/>Objectives: To explore how adults 70+ experienced and managed changes in everyday life due to the COVID-19 pandemic and how those changes affected wellbeing at the beginning of the virus outbreak.<br/><br/>Method / Approach: Eleven women and six men, (mean age 76 years), living in ordinary housing, participated in remote semi-structured interviews in April and June 2020. The interviews were analysed with qualitative content analysis.<br/><br/>Results: An overall theme Suddenly at risk – “…but it could have been worse” and four categories emerged from the data analysis. The participants had to accept some changes summarized in the first category; my world closed down. They described continuous negotiations, adaptations and prioritizations to manage staying at home in the second category, but they also experienced contextual barriers and facilitators to sustain occupational participation as the third category elucidate, where e.g. the shift of seasons facilitated social activities. Their experiences of health and wellbeing varied and are captured in the fourth category, considerations about my own and other’s health and wellbeing.<br/><br/>Conclusion: The participants questioned previous conceptions of meaning in relation to habitual activities, likely leading to consistent occupational changes, potentially affecting health and well-bring also beyond the pandemic.<br/><br/>}},
  author       = {{Fristedt, Sofi and Carlsson, Gunilla and Kylén, Maya and Jonsson, Oskar and Granbom, Marianne}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  title        = {{Suddenly at risk: Older adults’ changes in everyday life early on during the COVID-19 pandemic}},
  url          = {{https://www.xcdsystem.com/wfot/program/bzxHrTN/index.cfm?pgid=2300}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}