Conversations in Times of Isolation: Exploring Rural-Dwelling Older Adults' Experiences of Isolation and Loneliness during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Manitoba, Canada

Older adults have been described as a vulnerable group in the current context of the COVID-19 pandemic. In Canada, where this study took place, older adults have been encouraged to self-isolate while the rest of the population has been cautioned against in-person contact with them. Prior to COVID-19...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of environmental research and public health 2021-03, Vol.18 (6), p.3028
Main Authors: Herron, Rachel V, Newall, Nancy E G, Lawrence, Breanna C, Ramsey, Doug, Waddell, Candice M, Dauphinais, Jennifer
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adults
Aged
Autonomy
Canada
Coffee
Coronaviruses
COVID-19
Education
Humans
Loneliness
Manitoba - epidemiology
Older people
Pandemics
Public health
Quarantine
Rural areas
SARS-CoV-2
Social interactions
Social Isolation
Social networks
Urban areas
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Summary:Older adults have been described as a vulnerable group in the current context of the COVID-19 pandemic. In Canada, where this study took place, older adults have been encouraged to self-isolate while the rest of the population has been cautioned against in-person contact with them. Prior to COVID-19, social isolation and loneliness among older adults was considered a serious public health concern. Using a series of semi-structured interviews with 26 community-dwelling older adults (65+) living in rural Manitoba, we explore older adults' experiences of isolation and loneliness in the initial stages of the pandemic between the months of May and July 2020. Participants identified a loss of autonomy, loss of activities and social spaces (e.g., having coffee or eating out, volunteering, and going to church), and lack of meaningful connection at home as factors influencing their sense of isolation and loneliness. Although these loses initially influenced participants' self-reported isolation and loneliness, the majority developed strategies to mitigate isolation and loneliness, such as drawing on past experiences of isolation, engaging in physically distanced visits, connecting remotely, and "keeping busy." Our findings call attention to the role of different environments and resources in supporting older adults social and emotional wellbeing, particularly as they adapt to changes in social contact over time.
ISSN:1660-4601
1661-7827
1660-4601
DOI:10.3390/ijerph18063028