What does being at risk of covid-19 mean for older adults living at home?

Introduction Older adults are considered at greater risk of requiring hospitalization or dying if diagnosed with covid-19 and, therefore, have been invited to take increased precautions to protect themselves. The aim of this study is to explore how older adults living at home experienced their “at risk” status and the measures implemented during the Spring 2020 lockdown. Methods We conducted a qualitative study employing telephone interviews with 16 individuals aged 64+ , living at their home in Ticino, between Apr 2 and May 15, 2020. Interviews elicited their representation of the disease, the institutional measures and the stakeholders involved; how they managed their risk of covid-19; and their organization of daily living. Interviews were tape-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and thematically analyzed. Results Most participants were women (n=12), Swiss nationals (n=14), retired (n=18), resident in urban areas (n=14), and with a secondary school degree (n=14). The average age was 75 (SD=6.04; range=64-85). Most participants reported to be living alone (n=12) and in a flat (n=14). Participants reported a disruption of their everyday in terms of both time and space; tried to manage the measures in two main ways, i.e., a zero risk approach and a minimize-damage approach; and managed the uncertainty by building a new routine and searching for connectedness. Conclusions Our results suggest that covi-19 protective measures caused a biographical disruption in our participants’ lives, similarly to the major disruptive experience of being diagnosed with, and managing a chronic illness. We will discuss our study implications in terms of public health policy and communication.