Brown, L, Mossabir, R, Harrison, N et al. (3 more authors) (2020) Life in lockdown: a telephone survey to investigate the impact of COVID-19 lockdown measures on the lives of older people (≥75 years). Age and Ageing. ISSN 0002-0729
Abstract
Background
In response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the UK government introduced social distancing measures and identified specific populations at high risk from the virus. People ≥70 were deemed ‘Clinically Vulnerable’. Distancing measures were introduced to reduce the risk of contracting COVID-19. However, these may have a negative impact on older people who are vulnerable to social isolation and may have challenges accessing services and provisions.
Objectives
To investigate the impact of COVID-19 lockdown measures on the lives of older people.
Study design and setting
Cross-sectional telephone survey.
Participants
Community-dwelling older people, 76–97 years.
Outcomes
Health anxiety; General health (RAND Short-form 36 Survey); Physical activity; Depression (PHQ-8); Anxiety (GAD-2); Loneliness; Access to services; Challenges, concerns and positive experiences.
Data analysis
Counts (%), means (SDs). Thematic analysis was used to identify themes from open questions.
Results
n = 142. 52% did not worry about their health; 76% rated their health as ‘good’, ‘very good’ or ‘excellent’; <10% met the criteria indicative of depression (PHQ-8), or anxiety (GAD-2); 42% were less active than before lockdown; and 27% were lonely at least some of the time. Over half of participants identified positive aspects.
Conclusions
Most participants reported good health with low levels of health anxiety, anxiety and depression. Many were able to identify positive aspects to lockdown and may be better equipped to deal with lockdown than anticipated. Strategies may be required to ameliorate the negative impact of loneliness for a minority of older people, and help some resume previous activity levels and pursuits.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Geriatrics Society. This is an author produced version of a journal article published in Age and Ageing. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Keywords: | anxiety; physical activity; depressive disorders; hypochondriasis; telephone; loneliness; older adult; health anxiety; illness anxiety disorder; data analysis; covid-19; physical distancing |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Medicine and Health (Leeds) > School of Medicine (Leeds) > Leeds Institute of Health Sciences (Leeds) > Academic Unit of Elderly Care and Rehabilitation (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 23 Feb 2021 14:33 |
Last Modified: | 10 Nov 2021 01:38 |
Status: | Published online |
Publisher: | Oxford University Press |
Identification Number: | 10.1093/ageing/afaa255 |
Related URLs: | |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:171443 |