Specially protected or stereotyped? How persons older than 65 years experienced the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Background: In the COVID-19 pandemic, in Switzerland people aged 65+ years were categorized as a high-risk group, as they are at higher risk of severe COVID-19 due to higher rates of underlying health conditions. This focused attention on older adults, mostly with respect to frailty and helplessness. What is lacking is older adults’ subjective views, including their state of mind and their experiences. Objective: This study explores the subjective view of older adults and aims to examine their everyday coping during the pandemic, particularly the concrete impacts on their lives, their self-assessment as a vulnerable group, and fears about COVID-19. Material and methods: The longitudinal study was conducted from April to June 2020 using a mixed methods design comprising both closed and open-ended questions. We conducted guided biweekly interviews by telephone with 40 people (22 were women) aged 65–90 years. The quantitative data included descriptive analyses. The qualitative data were evaluated by structured content analysis with inductive category formation. Results: The respondents reported little change in their everyday lives. Overall, a good mood was reported. Social restrictions were experienced as a great burden. The respondents perceived their classification as a risk group as undifferentiated and arbitrary. Fear or worry about contracting the coronavirus was low. Discussion: Respondents appear to have coped much better with the crisis than public discourse suggested. Activities and routines as well as support services may have been protective as strategies in everyday life. The homogeneous classification of older adults as an at-risk group ignores their resources and promotes both negative stereotypes and ageism.