The impact of COVID‐19 on the quality of life of older adults receiving community‐based aged care
Open Access
- 8 March 2021
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Wiley in Australasian Journal on Ageing
- Vol. 40 (1), 84-89
- https://doi.org/10.1111/ajag.12924
Abstract
Objective To investigate the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on the quality of life and social networks of older adults receiving community care services. Methods Quality of life and social network questionnaires were completed by older adults (n = 21) receiving home care services at three time points (2018, 2019, and during the first Australian COVID‐19 lockdown in 2020). Additional questions about technology use were included in 2020. Results Older adults’ quality of life significantly decreased during the pandemic compared to the prior year. During the pandemic, over 80% used technology to maintain contact with family and friends, and social networks did not change. Conclusion Government messages and support initiatives directed towards technology adoption among older adults receiving home care may assist with maintaining social connection during COVID‐19. Our findings add to the relatively limited understanding of the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on the socio‐emotional well‐being of older people.Keywords
This publication has 16 references indexed in Scilit:
- The psychological impact of quarantine and how to reduce it: rapid review of the evidenceThe Lancet, 2020
- The co‐design of timely and meaningful information needed to enhance social participation in community aged care services: Think tank proceedingsAustralasian Journal on Ageing, 2019
- Observational cohort study investigating cognitive outcomes, social networks and well-being in older adults: a study protocolBMJ Open, 2019
- Levels of depressive symptoms may modify the relationship between the WHOQOL-BREF and its determining factors in community-dwelling older adultsInternational Psychogeriatrics, 2015
- Depression and Quality of Life in Older Persons: A ReviewDementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders, 2015
- Ageing and the epidemiology of multimorbidityEuropean Respiratory Journal, 2014
- Stress and Psychological Distress among SARS Survivors 1 Year after the OutbreakThe Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 2007
- Performance of an Abbreviated Version of the Lubben Social Network Scale Among Three European Community-Dwelling Older Adult PopulationsThe Gerontologist, 2006
- Modelling valuations for health states: the effect of durationHealth Policy, 1996
- EuroQol - a new facility for the measurement of health-related quality of lifeHealth Policy, 1990