«Staying at home, wearing a mask, bored and annoyed». Experiences and physical and emotional consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic for older adults in Barcelona

Abstract

With the return to a certain degree of normality after the pandemic, there is enough perspective to reflect on the lived experiences and impacts on specific social groups. Older adults were the most affected by this situation. This group includes a significant percentage of people with fragile health, as well as people who are economically and socially vulnerable. In Spain, one of the European countries with the strictest lockdown measures, these challenges were compounded by periods of isolation and loneliness. This article presents a qualitative study conducted with 38 participants living in Barcelona, characterised by an average age of 85, significant physical health and mobility issues, and often limited social networks. The study explored whether their experiences of loneliness and social isolation were an advantage for adapting to the conditions of the pandemic or whether physical distancing measures exacerbated their vulnerability and had physical and emotional consequences. The findings show a marked decline in physical and emotional health among participants due to the harsh conditions of the pandemic. However, family and community networks, in the case of having them, played an essential role in the day-to-day life of older people.