Negative Consequences of COVID-19 Pandemic on the Life of the Elderly: A Qualitative Study

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a pandemic disease that has caused long-term social, economic and psychological effects. This disease is spreading rapidly all around the world and has led to a great deal of fear and anxiety among the people due to the unknown, complex and different behaviors of COVID-19. The elderly seems to be one of the special groups who experience this fear and anxiety largely, because they are highly vulnerable to COVID-19 and this disease appears to be more dangerous for them and leads them to experience various consequences. Hence, the present study aims to investigate the negative consequences of COVID-19 outbreak on the life of the elderly. This was a qualitative study of phenomenological type. The study sample consisted of 15 elderly people in Rafsanjan, Iran, selected by purposive sampling method and interviewed using an in-depth semi-structured. Data were analyzed using Colaizzi method. The results obtained from the analysis of the interviews indicated thatthe outbreak of COVID-19has had negative consequences for the elderly, which can be categorized into six components. These components included psychological problems, feeling of fear caused by hearing/reading COVID-19-related news, the reduction or absence of referral to health centers, weakening of the economic status, complete cessation of sports activities and obsession in observance of health issues. Therefore, the prevention and management of such problems are of great importance. Moreover, special attention should be paid to the elderly in performing psychological and other interventions, and special plans are needed to reduce their problems.

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