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Older people’s early experience of household isolation and social distancing during COVID‐19

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  • Joanne Brooke
  • Maria Clark

Abstract

Aim and objective To explore older people's initial experience of household isolation, social distancing and shielding, and the plans they constructed to support them through the COVID‐19 pandemic. Background Public health guidance for those aged 70 or older was predominantly to undertake stringent social distancing within their household. Little is known about older people's experience of these measures. This paper explores changes experienced by those over the age of 70 during the first two weeks of household isolation, social distancing and shielding in the UK and the Republic of Ireland, and their early perceptions and plans to support them through the pandemic. Methods An inductive phenomenological study. University staff posted the study invitation flyer on social media, such as WhatsApp neighbourhood groups, the Nextdoor App and Twitter. Qualitative semi‐structured interviews were undertaken with 19 participants and repeated at 2‐week intervals for 10 weeks; further data collection is still in progress. This paper presents the findings from the baseline interviews, which showed older peoples’ early responses. The COREQ (COnsolidated criteria for REporting Qualitative research) checklist was adhered to in the reporting of this study. Results Three themes emerged from older people's early experiences of social distancing: protective measures; current and future plans; and acceptance of a good life, but still a life to live. Conclusion People over 70 adapted to household isolation, social distancing and shielding, by using social media and neighbourhood resources. Nurses and other professionals can develop holistic care for older people by listening to their experiences of what works for them, helping them link to local and distant supports. Understanding the holistic life view of older people, including death anxiety, is an important element of care planning; to help older people access the protective resources, they need to reduce the serious risks associated with coronavirus. Relevance to clinical practice Older people engage with social media, and during the current pandemic and beyond nurses can engage with this medium to communicate with older people. The importance of nurses to understand some older people consider quality of life to be more important than longevity, which may impact on their adherence to health advice.

Suggested Citation

  • Joanne Brooke & Maria Clark, 2020. "Older people’s early experience of household isolation and social distancing during COVID‐19," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(21-22), pages 4387-4402, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:jocnur:v:29:y:2020:i:21-22:p:4387-4402
    DOI: 10.1111/jocn.15485
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Tanskanen, J. & Anttila, T., 2016. "A prospective study of social isolation, loneliness, and mortality in Finland," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 106(11), pages 2042-2048.
    2. Julianne Holt-Lunstad & Timothy B Smith & J Bradley Layton, 2010. "Social Relationships and Mortality Risk: A Meta-analytic Review," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(7), pages 1-1, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Sabrina Cipolletta & Francesca Gris, 2021. "Older People’s Lived Perspectives of Social Isolation during the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Italy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-16, November.
    2. Heidi Igarashi & Maria L Kurth & Hye Soo Lee & Soyoung Choun & Dylan Lee & Carolyn M Aldwin, 2022. "Resilience in Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Socioecological Approach," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 77(4), pages 64-69.
    3. Yujie Zhang, 2023. "The role of victim sensitivity between anti-welfare dependence attitude and mental health of older adults in China," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-13, December.

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