Older adults' community participation, physical activity, and social interactions during and following COVID-19 restrictions in Australia: a mixed methods approach.
BMC Public Health
; 23(1): 172, 2023 01 25.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2214571
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
With the increasing age of the global population, key components of healthy ageing including community, physical, and social participation continue to gain traction. However, management of the COVID-19 pandemic aimed to protect older adults and reduce the spread of the virus, this restricted community participation and reduced the opportunities for social interaction.METHODS:
This mixed methods study investigates community dwelling older adults' community participation; physical activity and social interaction prior to, during, and following the COVID-19 lockdown in Adelaide, Australia. Twenty-six community dwelling older adults were monitored over three time-points between November 2018 and October 2020, with Global Positioning Systems, accelerometry and self-reported diaries. In addition, nineteen participants completed semi-structured interviews.RESULTS:
Community participation varied across the three time points, with significant reduction in the number of trips taken out-of-home (p = 0.021), social interactions (p = 0.001) and sleep quality (p = 0.008) during restrictions. Five themes were identified to explain personal experiences of community participation during restrictions (1) Reframing of meaning, (2) Redefining to maintain activities, (3) Revision of risk, (4) Reflection and renewal and (5) Future planning.CONCLUSION:
During COVID-19 the physical and social activities of community dwelling older adults changed. Services that support older adults to adapt their activities , considering their capacities and preferences, to facilitate community participation are required.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Social Interaction
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
/
Qualitative research
Limits:
Aged
/
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
Oceania
Language:
English
Journal:
BMC Public Health
Journal subject:
Public Health
Year:
2023
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
S12889-023-15093-0
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