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It’s not overstating things to say that COVID changed the world. For many months in 2020 and beyond, the pandemic caught everyone by surprise and led to drastic changes in our day-to-day lives.
In the face of a raging illness that no one quite understood and no government knew how to handle, lockdowns became the answer. Keeping people inside while officials figured out what in the world to do meant that millions of people were suddenly isolated at home. They were warned not to see friends and family, visit their favorite places, or even go to the grocery store.
It was frustrating for everyone, but perhaps especially sorrowful for seniors, who are often already lonely and isolated to begin with.
A report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine found that one-third of adults over the age of 45 would describe themselves as lonely, and nearly one-fourth of those over the age of 65 are considered socially isolated.1
Both social isolation and loneliness were constant companions during the COVID lockdowns. But now that the lockdowns are lifted and life is mostly back to normal, many seniors are still feeling the effects of that isolation.
Lockdown is Still Changing Lives
The lockdown was especially important for seniors, as COVID seemed to target them at alarming rates. The problem was clear from the start of the pandemic in 2020, but the Kaiser Family Foundation reports that even a few years later, seniors were still at the greatest risk. In September 2022, seniors accounted for a whopping 88% of deaths from COVID and the resulting complications. And by October of 2023, the University of Minnesota reported that seniors made up 90% of COVID deaths.2
That fear might be part of the driver for the long-term changes seniors have faced. A new study published in Wellbeing, Space, and Society found that even four years later, more than half of seniors still spend more time at home and less time socializing with peers in public. Fear of infection is still a big reason why they choose to stay home; for many, the risks of getting infected outweigh the desire to go out in public.3
Though it might make sense that someone doesn’t want to go out into a crowded area for fear of infection – for instance, someone might choose to avoid a crowded holiday party in an indoor venue – the effects of lockdown stretch much further than that.
The study of almost 7,000 seniors over the age of 55 stretched across every state in the nation. Researchers pulled their information from annual surveys that asked open-ended questions about how people spend their time now that the pandemic is considered over. The results were sobering:
· 60% of seniors spend more time in their homes today than they did before the pandemic.
· 75% are dining out less than they used to.
· 62% visit cultural centers and art venues less than they did pre-pandemic.
· Over 50% said they no longer attend church or go to the gym as frequently as they used to.
· More than 50% reported other changes in their routine had stayed in place even though the pandemic has passed.
However, there are some positive points.
About 10% of seniors are exercising more outside than they did before the pandemic, possibly thanks to creating new routines during the time of COVID. Since exercising in a gym was inviting the risk of illness (and many gyms were closed during that time anyway), seniors had to find new ways to exercise. The great outdoors was one of the few places considered safe during the pandemic.
But overall, the lack of social interaction has researchers concerned. The fundamental changes could spell problems for the overall health of seniors, including declines in their mental, emotional, and physical health. It’s also well-known that a lack of social interaction can lead to problems with cognitive health, which is often a concern as a person grows older.
If you have chosen to stay home more since the pandemic began, remember that you can still have help right at your fingertips if you need it. If you suffer a fall, household accident, or medical emergency, you can reach out for help with a medical alarm from Alert1.
It’s Not Just Fear of Infection
Worries about getting infected with COVID make a lot of sense, especially now that the CDC has said that most precautions – such as social distancing and wearing masks – can be set aside. Now that there are effective vaccines, COVID is falling into the same category as the flu.
But worries about hostile interactions are also a factor.
In a sense, the pandemic brought everyone together despite the lockdowns – that’s because we were all in the same boat. Almost everyone struggled with the sudden change in life. We were all united in a time of fear and uncertainty.
But since the lockdowns lifted, things changed. The debates about wearing masks raged, as did pushback against any other kind of protections against COVID. That anger has spilled out into discourse in day-to-day life. Now it’s not unusual for someone who chooses to wear a mask in public to receive dirty looks, annoyed sighs, or even angry comments.
Who wouldn’t want to avoid that sort of unpleasantness? The study found that many seniors feel so strongly about avoiding hostile discourse that they isolate themselves further, choosing to stay inside rather than run the risk of a confrontation.
What Can Be Done?
There are some ways that seniors can overcome the social isolation that they’ve become accustomed to since the worst of the COVID days.
The study found that many seniors are taking more advantage of online opportunities. This includes online classes where they can interact with peers and professors, message boards where they can chat with others who have similar interests, meetings on a variety of topics, and even watch concerts from the comfort of home (this is even better if you have a very large television involved).
Some seniors find comfort in prayer fellowship, including online church services. These became common during the lockdowns and upon seeing how successful they were, many churches have continued the trend.
Even going to the movies has changed, as now you can stream new movies within weeks of their release – or even on the day of – and enjoy them at home. No, it’s not the same experience as the massive screen and the popcorn with plenty of that mysterious butter, but it’s still a good time. Many streaming services now allow for “watch parties” where you can invite others to watch the movie with you virtually.
One of the biggest advantages of the lockdowns is that seniors tend to get out in nature more often now than they used to. This can be quite healthy, as it gives plenty of fresh air and exercise, exposes you to new experiences and vistas, and generally provides more exercise than you might have gotten otherwise.
When you do get outside, make sure you have some safety and security to back you up. An alert for elderly adults and seniors can get you out into the world with confidence, knowing that you have a safety net if anything goes wrong.
But with all of that being said: Getting out of the house and back into your old day-to-day life could be a very good thing. Taking the right precautions, including masking up and avoiding crowded areas, are prudent for those who are at greater risk of infection.
Dealing with Hostile People
When it comes to the difficulties of dealing with a hostile environment, it might help to have someone with you when you step out. That means that if you choose to wear a mask at the grocery store, you have someone there with you to serve as a buffer.
Someone who wants to argue often finds it easier to do so when it’s just one person they are facing – when it’s more than one, they are outnumbered and might think twice about starting up a hostile conversation.
No matter what others say, however, remember that your health is what you should be concerned with and truly, your decisions are no one else’s business. While it can be tough to let nasty comments roll away like water off a duck’s back, it’s a skill that will be good to practice in this post-lockdown world.
No matter where you roam, make sure you have the safety and security you need. That might mean wearing a mask or staying away from crowded public places. It might mean asking visiting friends to wash their hands before they sit down to talk with you. It might mean wearing a button alert to keep you safe in the event of emergency. It might mean finding new ways to get out and about, such as visiting friends in parks or hitting the road to venture to new places on a road trip with a loved one. And remember, medical alert devices aren’t just for physical issues. They are also there to use anytime you feel unsafe in this new normal of post-COVID life.
