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COVID-19 Pandemic: The Lived Experiences of Older Adults in Aged Care Homes

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  • Shi Yin Chee

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused untold fear and suffering for older adults across the world. According to the World Health Organization, older adults in aged care homes are at a higher risk of the infection living in an enclosed environment with others. This article adopts a qualitative approach using Colaizzi’s phenomenological method to explore the lived experiences of older adults during COVID-19. Between December 2019 and June 2020, 10 in-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants aged 60 years and above in two aged care homes. The lived tension that has penetrated all participants’ stories in five themes of the meanings described as ‘disconnected in a shrinking world’ filled with uncertainties. COVID-19 has brought unprecedented challenges and disproportionate threat onto older adults’ lives, relationships and well-being. The overarching message was that older adults believe that ‘this too shall pass’ and regain their freedom that was lost during the pandemic.

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  • Shi Yin Chee, 2020. "COVID-19 Pandemic: The Lived Experiences of Older Adults in Aged Care Homes," Millennial Asia, , vol. 11(3), pages 299-317, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:millen:v:11:y:2020:i:3:p:299-317
    DOI: 10.1177/0976399620958326
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    1. Debra Jackson & Caroline Bradbury‐Jones & Diana Baptiste & Leslie Gelling & Karen Morin & Stephen Neville & Graeme D. Smith, 2020. "Life in the pandemic: Some reflections on nursing in the context of COVID‐19," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(13-14), pages 2041-2043, July.
    2. van Wijngaarden, Els & Leget, Carlo & Goossensen, Anne, 2015. "Ready to give up on life: The lived experience of elderly people who feel life is completed and no longer worth living," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 257-264.
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    2. Shaifali Chauhan & Richa Banerjee & Vishal Dagar, 2023. "Analysis of Impulse Buying Behaviour of Consumer During COVID-19: An Empirical Study," Millennial Asia, , vol. 14(2), pages 278-299, June.
    3. Domingo Palacios-Ceña & Rosario Fernández-Peña & Angela Ortega-López & Ana Fernández-Feito & Oscar Bautista-Villaécija & Olga Rodrigo-Pedrosa & José Arnau-Sánchez & Ángel Lizcano-Álvarez, 2021. "Long-Term Care Facilities and Nursing Homes during the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Scoping Review of the Perspectives of Professionals, Families and Residents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-13, September.
    4. Sandeep Jadhav & Ahmed Imran & Marjia Haque, 2023. "Application of six sigma and the system thinking approach in COVID-19 operation management: a case study of the victorian aged care response centre (VACRC) in Australia," Operations Management Research, Springer, vol. 16(1), pages 531-553, March.
    5. Kah Wei Gan & Poh Kiat Ng & Kia Wai Liew & Yu Jin Ng & Jian Ai Yeow, 2022. "The Conceptual Development of a Multifunctional Stepladder for Older People and Caregivers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-22, November.

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