Health repercussions of COVID-19: perceptions of the elderly

ABSTRACT

Objective: to reveal the perceptions of the elderly about the repercussions of COVID-19 on the elderly. Method: exploratory, descriptive study with a qualitative approach. Twenty elderly residents in Santa Catarina, Brazil participated in the study. Data collection took place through semi-structured questions, through video call on WhatsApp due to the pandemic. For the organization and analysis of data, content analysis was used. Results: two categories emerged 1) Feelings of the elderly awakened in the face of COVID-19;2) Experiences of the elderly in the pandemic context. Conclusion: the pandemic situation aroused feelings of sadness, loneliness, anxiety, homesickness and fear in the elderly, in addition to difficulties in adapting to isolation, in the face of physical distancing from family and friends, with interruption of leisure, work and physical activities. However, technologies were allies in maintaining contact with other people, despite the difficulties in handling.