The pandemic has exacerbated loneliness and fear for one group of vulnerable Americans: the 4.3 million older adults with mental health problems who live alone.
As the coronavirus continues to claim more lives and consume others, researchers led by UC San Francisco want services and support made specifically for older adults who are living alone with memory issues, which suffer from extreme loneliness, and which are open to misinformation about the virus and its barriers. access to medical care.
In their qualitative study, researchers interviewed 24 San Francisco Bay Area residents who had an average age of 82. Of these, 17 were women, and 13 were either monolingual Spanish speakers or in Cantonese; 18 were widowed or divorced; 10 were dependent on the personal care of their family, only eight on personal home care assistance and six on both family and support staff. Results will pop up The anthropologist on January 6, 2021.
Among the worst emotions expressed was a desire by a few participants for the coronavirus to take their own lives “until they finally end their struggles.” One participant said they were “seven tired of the life I was given” and the second, who struggled with a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, said they would welcome the virus as an “escape plan.”
One third of those with mental health problems live alone. This is a demographic at high risk for loneliness and distress, as well as negative health outcomes, even before the pandemic. Public health recommendations that mitigate the spread of COVID-19, including shelter of their place and physical distance, reduce access to those facilities that had offered support to older adults. “
Elena Portacolone, PhD, MBA, MPH, First Author, UCSF Institute for Health & Aging
Some study participants lived in scarce or unstable accommodation and reported feeling “locked in their own homes.” Most of them were unable to do so. seek companionship at church services, old establishments, restaurants or interactions with neighbors.
“I was very concerned about the loneliness of the participants,” Portacolone said. “Some participants were particularly upset, two had been thinking about suicide before the pandemic, but received little support for their mental health.”
For some, long lines are reminiscent of war, famine
Because the participants lived alone, their fears were alone. Some feared death from the virus, despite having little contact with the outside world, and some reported long lines outside grocery stores. in their memory past experiences of war or famine. Others were concerned about racist attacks and riots that led to George Floyd’s death.
Incorrect information about the virus was evident in many interviews. One participant from WhatsApp, the messaging app, learned that a gargle with salt water would handle the virus; another said there was a doctor on TV who could not get the vaccine. Other participants said they would face a $ 400 fine or jail time without face cover.
Many participants had difficulty accessing their medical provider. Some were worried that they would be put at a clinic at risk for COVID-19, and one partner with diabetes said he was sorry about the phone job offered, because “No i even answer my phone … (and) i’m on a poor mind. “Another participant said it took them three or four months to arrange an appointment with their ophthalmologist after they were told that services were not available.
Although participants with family support reported less harassment, home care support was identified as providing companionship, as well as assistance with food preparation and work. But unlike other Western countries, the United States only covers home support costs for those with very low-income medical needs, Portacolone noted.
“Well-trained and state-subsidized home care aid is the lifeblood of the support system for older adults with brain impairment living on their own. A reliable person has a regular presence to ask questions, get nudges and instrument support, as well as valuable company. “
Home care supports should be at the heart of a “medical alliance” offering specialist services and support from social workers, case managers and mental health services if needed, she said.
“These services are vital to maintaining the health and wellbeing of older adults living alone with brain damage,” said lead author Julene K. Johnson, PhD, of the UCSF Institute for Health & Aging and The Center for Aging in Multiple Communities. “Stronger financial support is needed for home care support.”
Source:
University of California – San Francisco