Resilience in Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Socioecological Approach

Abstract Objectives We examined sources of vulnerability and resilience among older adults early in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods We surveyed 235 respondents, 51–95 years old (M = 71.35; SD = 7.39; 74% female), including 2 open-ended questions concerning COVID-19-related difficulties and positive experiences during the past week. Using inductive coding, we found 9 final codes for difficulties and 12 for positives and grouped them into socioecological levels: personal, interpersonal, and societal. Results Difficulties were reported by 94% of the sample, while 63% described positives. Difficulties and positive responses were made at all socioecological levels and illustrated a dialectic between personal-level constraints and opportunities, interpersonal-level social isolation and integration, and societal-level outrage, sorrow, and social optimism. Discussion Respondents described sources of vulnerabilities and resilience that supported a socioecological approach to understand resilience during this pandemic. A notable example was resilience derived from witnessing and contributing to the community and social solidarity, highlighting the potential of older adults as resources to their communities during the global pandemic.

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A Social Ecological Model of Vulnerability and Resilience in Older Adults During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igab046.505 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 131-132

Author(s):

Carolyn Aldwin ◽

Heidi Igarashi ◽

Maria Kurth ◽

Hye Soo Lee ◽

Soyoung Choun ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Ecological Model ◽

Social Ecological Model ◽

Older Individuals ◽

The Past ◽

Social Ecological ◽

Personal Level ◽

Societal Level ◽

Positive Experiences ◽

Different Levels

Abstract Objectives We used a social ecological model to examine vulnerability and resilience among older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods We analyzed two open-ended questions included in a survey of 235 respondents, 51–95 years old (M = 71.35; SD = 7.39; 74% female), which asked about COVID-19-related difficulties and positive experiences during the past week. We identified three different levels for difficulties and positives at the personal, interpersonal, and/or societal levels. Results Fewer than half of the respondents reported on difficulties (41%) and positives (40%) just at the personal level. In terms of crossing levels, people were most likely to report events spanning the personal and interpersonal levels (14% and 18%, respectively). A few individuals reported difficulties and positives at the societal level. Discussion Older individuals were acutely aware of challenges and positives existing at all three levels, and contributed to resources at the interpersonal and community levels.

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Intergenerational Communication as Intervention: Social Isolation in Older Adults During COVID-19

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igab046.296 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 78-78

Author(s):

Laura Kirk ◽

Penny Kessler ◽

Stephanie Gingerich ◽

Sharon McGill ◽

Hanna Pryor

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Nursing Students ◽

Social Isolation ◽

Older Adult ◽

Student Attitudes ◽

Social Connectedness ◽

Opportunity To Learn ◽

Global Pandemic ◽

Adult Participants ◽

Student Reflections

Abstract Social isolation and loneliness are prevalent and impactful in the lives of older adult across care settings, and the emergence of a deadly global pandemic requiring social distancing and quarantining exacerbated these experiences significantly in 2020. A semester-long communication-focused clinical project was developed and piloted for sophomore bachelor of nursing science (BSN) students during fall 2020. Affording preclinical nursing students the opportunity to develop communication skills early in their program of study holds potential, and learning the story of older adults appears to be mutually beneficial; older adults serve as mentors and share their story, and preclinical nursing students have an opportunity to learn about their mentor’s life, challenging some prevalent stereotypes about aging. A pre- post-clinical survey of student attitudes toward older adults suggests a dramatic positive shift in perspective, and unsolicited, anecdotal comments in student reflections support this finding: “...it helped me feel much more open to working with older adults in the future”; “This conversation taught me that my assumptions about the older generation are not always correct”. Of older adult participants, 96% reported the experience enriched and enhanced their social connectedness, with 88% requesting to participate in the program again. Narrative comments from residents indicated that their involvement enabled them to feel engaged and purposeful: “I was a mentor”; “Conversations were so alive. Connections with curious young people fill my heart and soul.” Intergenerational sharing of life stories has the potential for both healing and growth and may provide an antidote to ageism.

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Reducing loneliness among older adults through providing free travel access: A population-based assessment of social isolation and free bus travel in older adults in England

10.31234/osf.io/qd4r6 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Sarah Jackson

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Logistic Regression ◽

Social Isolation ◽

Population Group ◽

Population Based ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Lower Odds ◽

The Past ◽

Frequency Of Use

Objective: To investigate associations of ownership and use of concessionary bus passes (CBP) with social isolation and loneliness among older adults in England.Methods: In 2012/13, participants (n=4,726, age ≥62y) reported whether they had a CBP and if yes, frequency of use in the past month (0/1-5/≥6 times). Social isolation and loneliness were assessed in 2012/13 and 2016/17. Logistic regression tested cross-sectional and prospective associations, adjusted for socio-demographics.Results: CBP ownership was cross-sectionally associated with reduced odds of social isolation (OR=0.68, 95% CI 0.55-0.84) and loneliness (OR=0.73, 95% CI 0.58-0.91). Among CBP owners, those who had used it ≥6 times had lower odds of being isolated than those who hadn’t used it at all (OR=0.73, 95% CI 0.60-0.89). Longitudinally, CBP ownership was associated with reduced odds of loneliness (OR=0.68, 95% CI 0.49-0.94) at four-year follow-up. A similar effect size was observed for social isolation (OR=0.69, 95% CI 0.46-1.04) but this did not reach significance (p=0.074). Frequency of use was not significantly associated with isolation or loneliness.Conclusion: The CBP scheme in England facilitates social interaction for older adults. CBPs may present a promising initiative for tackling social isolation which is currently a particularly prominent issue in this population group.

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Flourishing

How to Be Childless ◽

10.1093/oso/9780190918620.003.0006 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 81-96

Author(s):

Rachel Chrastil

Keyword(s):

Good Life ◽

The Good Life ◽

The Past ◽

Childless Women ◽

Personal Level ◽

Societal Level ◽

Flexible Framework ◽

Good For

Discussions about childless should engage a conversation about the fundamental purpose of our lives and how we flourish. On the personal level, the question is, How can lifelong childlessness be part of a good life? On the societal level, the question is, How can it be good for the whole if some people remain childless? Childless women of the past remind us that a good life encompasses a range of experiences. This chapter presents a flexible framework for exploring the lives of childless individuals: how they might thrive, the lacunas that they might need to fill, and how their experiences can help all of us—parents and childless alike—to expand our range of possibilities for the good life.

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Poor Acceptance of the Past is Related to Depressive Symptoms in Older Adults

GeroPsych ◽

10.1024/1662-9647/a000227 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 33 (4) ◽

pp. 246-251

Author(s):

Gozde Cetinkol ◽

Gulbahar Bastug ◽

E. Tugba Ozel Kizil

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Regression Analysis ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Death Anxiety ◽

Geriatric Depression ◽

Ego Integrity ◽

The Past ◽

Depressed Group ◽

Total Death ◽

The Relationship

Abstract. Depression in older adults can be explained by Erikson’s theory on the conflict of ego integrity versus hopelessness. The study investigated the relationship between past acceptance, hopelessness, death anxiety, and depressive symptoms in 100 older (≥50 years) adults. The total Beck Hopelessness (BHS), Geriatric Depression (GDS), and Accepting the Past (ACPAST) subscale scores of the depressed group were higher, while the total Death Anxiety (DAS) and Reminiscing the Past (REM) subscale scores of both groups were similar. A regression analysis revealed that the BHS, DAS, and ACPAST predicted the GDS. Past acceptance seems to be important for ego integrity in older adults.

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Social isolation and health in older adults

PsycEXTRA Dataset ◽

10.1037/e633872013-074 ◽

2003 ◽

Author(s):

John T. Cacioppo ◽

Louise C. Hawkley

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Social Isolation

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Addressing Social Isolation To Improve the Health of Older Adults: A Rapid Review

10.23970/ahrqepc-rapidisolation ◽

2019 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Stephanie Veazie ◽

Jennifer Gilbert ◽

Kara Winchell ◽

Robin Paynter ◽

Jeanne-Marie Guise

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Social Isolation ◽

Rapid Review

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Addressing COVID-19 Worry and Social Isolation in Home-Based Primary Care

10.31234/osf.io/483zv ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Rachel Elizabeth Weiskittle ◽

Michelle Mlinac ◽

LICSW Nicole Downing

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Older Adults ◽

Primary Care ◽

Social Workers ◽

Social Isolation ◽

Mental Health Providers ◽

Health Providers ◽

Home Based Primary Care ◽

Home Based ◽

Socially Isolated

Social distancing measures following the outbreak of COVID-19 have led to a rapid shift to virtual and telephone care. Social workers and mental health providers in VA home-based primary care (HBPC) teams face challenges providing psychosocial support to their homebound, medically complex, socially isolated patient population who are high risk for poor health outcomes related to COVID-19. We developed and disseminated an 8-week telephone or virtual group intervention for front-line HBPC social workers and mental health providers to use with socially isolated, medically complex older adults. The intervention draws on skills from evidence-based psychotherapies for older adults including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, and Problem-Solving Therapy. The manual was disseminated to VA HBPC clinicians and geriatrics providers across the United States in March 2020 for expeditious implementation. Eighteen HBPC teams and three VA Primary Care teams reported immediate delivery of a local virtual or telephone group using the manual. In this paper we describe the manual’s development and clinical recommendations for its application across geriatric care settings. Future evaluation will identify ways to meet longer-term social isolation and evolving mental health needs for this patient population as the pandemic continues.

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A Brief outlook on possible available solutions, therapies and suggestions for COVID-19

Coronaviruses ◽

10.2174/2666796701999200905094726 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 01 ◽

Author(s):

Rashmi Saxena Pal ◽

Yogendra Pal ◽

Pranay Wal ◽

Ankita Wal ◽

Nikita Saraswat

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Plasma Therapy ◽

Social Distancing ◽

The Past ◽

Antiviral Compounds ◽

Global Pandemic ◽

Case Count ◽

Current Scenario ◽

Hiv Drugs

Background: WHO declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. New cases are being added every day, as the case count in United States are to the maximum. No drugs or biologics are yet found to be effective for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19. Objective: To discuss the possibilities of available treatments available. Materials & Methods: Brief out-look is undertaken over the past issues available over the similar situations occurred with respect to the current scenario and prospectives. Results: There can be various possibilities in form of convalescent plasma therapy. The known drugs as HIV drugs, antimalarial medicines and antiviral compounds can serve as suggestive option. Conclusion: Till a confirm medicine or vaccine is sorted out for Covid-19, we need to take natural immune-boosters, along with precautionary steps, social distancing and other preventions as instructed for the benefit of everyone with an optimistic mind and attitude.

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