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- Title
Older adults' community participation, physical activity, and social interactions during and following COVID-19 restrictions in Australia: a mixed methods approach.
- Authors
Gough, Claire; Barr, Chris; Lewis, Lucy K; Hutchinson, Claire; Maeder, Anthony; George, Stacey
- 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.
- Subjects
ADELAIDE (S. Aust.); AUSTRALIA; COVID-19 pandemic; COMMUNITY involvement; OLDER people; PHYSICAL activity; SOCIAL interaction
- Publication
BMC Public Health, 2023, Vol 23, Issue 1, p1
- ISSN
1471-2458
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1186/s12889-023-15093-0