Challenges Faced by the Elderly during COVID-19

Authors

  • Beng See Lim Centre for Foundation and General Studies, Infrastructure University Kuala Lumpur (IUKL), Unipark Suria, Jalan Ikram-Uniten, 43000 Kajang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
  • Juliana Rosmidah Jaafar Open University Malaysia, Menara OUM, Blok C, Kompleks Kelana Centre Point, Jalan SS7/19, Kelana Jaya, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
  • Kee Shing Ngu Sekolah Sukan Bukit Jalil, Kompleks Sukan Negara 57000 Kuala Lumpur Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37134/esss.vol4.2.5.2023

Keywords:

elders, COVID-19, challenges, financial, experience

Abstract

The COVID-19 has tremendously impacted the lifestyle of Malaysians in 2020 and the elderly has no exemption to that situation. The virus threats affected their routine activities and lifestyle. This study aimed to explore the challenges among the elderly in Seputeh, Kuala Lumpur during pandemic of COVID -19 by interviewing ten (10) participants aged 60 years old and above. This is a qualitative research method with thematic analysis was used to explore in-depth experience of the elderly. Based on the interview, the findings revealed six challenges that were faced by the elderly during pandemic: (1) Maintaining physical health; (2) Maintaining mental and psychological health; (3) Restricted accessibility to healthcare service; (4) Financial strain; (5) Adopting technology; and (6) Ensuring environmental safety. The implication of this study suggested the importance of social support from family and community, as well as financial security among elderly during the period of health crisis like pandemic. Social support could be promoted via intervention strategy to recognize and address the risk of social isolation and loneliness among elderly. It could involve self- monitoring via telehealth and understanding the barriers faced by elderly in learning technology. Future study could explore on the coping strategies by the elderly to overcome the challenges faced in the pandemic.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Akarturk, B. (2020). Mental Health of the Older People During Covid-19 Pandemic. European Proceedings of Health. https://doi.org/10.15405/eph.20101.7

Ashaari, M. F., Norhisham, N. A. S., & Rasit, R. M. (2021). Sorotan Kajian Penggunaan Media Sosial dalam Kalangan Warga Emas di Malaysia. BITARA International Journal of Civilizational Studies and Human Sciences, 4(2), 1-12.

Aziz, N. A. B., Mustapha, S. Z., Hassim, N. H., & Shaari, N. F. (2021). Improving Social Security among Older Persons In Malaysia During Covid-19 By Applying Best Practices from other Countries. International Journal Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 11(8): 1568–1578. https://doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v11-i8/10685

Baldwin, R., & Di Mauro, B. W. (2020). Economics in the time of COVID-19: A new eBook. VOX CEPR Policy Portal, 2(3).

Barnes, S. J. (2020). Information Management Research and Practice in the Post-COVID-19 World. International Journal of Information Management, 102175. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2020.102175

Cesari M., Vellas B., Hsu F. C., Newman A.B., Doss H., King A.C., et al. (2015). A Physical Activity Intervention to Treat the Frailty Syndrome in Older Persons- Results from the LIFE P Study. Journals Gerontology - Ser A Biol Sci Med Sci, 70(2), 216–222.

Czeisler, M. É., Lane, R. I., Petrosky, E., Wiley, J. F., Christensen, A., Njai, R., Weaver, M. D., Robbins, R., Facer-Childs, E. R., Barger, L. K., Czeisler, C. A., Howard, M. E., & Rajaratnam, S. M. W. Mental Health, Substance Use, and Suicidal Ideation During the COVID-19 Pandemic - United States. Morbidity And Mortality Weekly Report, 14;69(32), 1049-1057. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6932a1

de Paiva Santos, R., Gonçalves, A. M., Pereira, B. C., Caliari, T. M., Araujo, W. C. T., Pereira,

D. S., & Weeks, L. E. (2019). Elderly People Living Alone. Fisioterapia Brasil, 20(3), 448-459.

Gopalakrishnan, N., David, B. (2018). Quality of Life in Older Ages. British Medical Bulletin, 85, 113–126. https://doi.org/10.1093/bmb/ldn003

Goswami, S., & Deshmukh, P. R. (2018). How “Elderly Staying Alone” Cope Up With Their Age and Deteriorating Health: A Qualitative Exploration from Rural Wardha, Central India. Indian Journal of Palliative Care, 24(4), 465.

Hall, G., Laddu, D. R., Phillips, S. A., Lavie, C. J., Arena, R. (2021). A Tale of Two Pandemics: How Will Covid-19 and Global Trends in Physical Inactivity and Sedentary Behavior Affect One Another? Program Cardiovasc, 64, 108-110. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pcad.2020.04.005

Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam. (2021). Definition of senior citizens in Malaysia. Diakses pada 22 Ogos 2021, dari http://www.jpapencen.gov.my/english/senior_citizen.html

Ju, H., Shin, J. W., Kim, C.-w., Hyun, M.-h., & Park, J.-w. (2013). Mediational Effect of Meaning n Life on the Relationship between Optimism and Well-Being in Community Elderly. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 56(2), 309-313. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.archger.2012.08.008

Khan, M. A., Khor, S. C., & Ramendran, C. (2021). Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Financial Well-being among Older Adults in Malaysia. International Journal of Management, Economics and Social Sciences, 10(2-3), 140 – 155. https://doi.org/10.32327/IJMESS/10.2-3.2021.9

Khetrapal, S., & Bhatia, R. (2020). Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Health System & Sustainable Development Goal 3. The Indian Journal of Medical Research, 151(5), 395–399. https://doi.org/10.4103/ijmr.IJMR_1920_20

Kissler, S. M., Tedijanto, C., Goldstein, E., Grad, Y. H., Lipsitch, M. (2020). Projecting the Transmission Dynamics of Sars-Cov-2 Through the Post pandemic Period. Science, 368, 860-868. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abb5793

Kucharski, A. J., Klepac, P., Conlan, A. J. K., Kissler, S. M., Tang, M. L., Fry, H., Gog, J. R., & Edmunds, W. J. (2020). Effectiveness of Isolation, Testing, Contact Tracing, and Physical Distancing on Reducing Transmission of Sars-Cov-2 in Different Settings: A Mathematical Modelling Study. Lancet Infection Disease, 20, 1151-1160. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(20)30457-6

Lam, K., Lu, A. D., Shi, Y., Covinsky, K. E. (2020). Assessing Telemedicine Unreadiness among Older Adults in the United States during the COVID-19 Pandemic. JAMA Internal Medicine, 180(10), 1389-1391. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2020.2671

Laporan Program Pembangunan Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu (2020) Diakses pada 15 Ogos 2021, dari https://www.undp.org/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/2023-02/UNDP-RBAP-The-Onset-of-a-Pandemic-2022.pdf

Liat, A., Alison, C., Manfred, D., Becca, R. L., Shevaun, D. N., Klaus, R., Clemens, T., & Hans Werner, W. (2021). Aging in Times of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Avoiding Ageism and Fostering Intergenerational Solidarity. The Journal of Gerontology, 76(2), 49-52. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbaa051

Lucchetti, G., Góes, LG., Amaral, S. G., Ganadjian, G. T., Andrade, I., Almeida, P., do Carmo, V. M., & Manso, M. (2021). Spirituality, Religiosity and the Mental Health Consequences of Social Isolation during Covid-19 Pandemic. International Journal Social Psychiatry, 67(6), 672-679. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020764020970996

Martinez, E. Z., Silva, F. M., Morigi, T. Z., Zucoloto, M. L., Silva, T. L., & Joaquim, A. G. (2020). Physical Activity in Periods of Social Distancing Due To Covid-19: A Cross-Sectional Survey. Cienc e Saude Coletiva, 25, 4157–4168.

Martins, V. J. (2020). The Effects of COVID-19 among the Elderly Population: A Case for Closing the Digital Divide. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 11, 1-7. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.577427

O'Sullivan, R., Lawlor, B., Burns, A., & Leavey, G. (2021). Will the Pandemic Reframe Loneliness and Social Isolation?. The Lancet Healthy Longevity, 2(2), e54-e55.

Rafee, H. (2021). Cover Story: Steady growth in Seputeh. The Edge Malaysia, August 31, 2021. Diakses pada 15-April 2020 dari https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/cover-story-steady-growth-seputeh

Richardson, D. L., Duncan, M. J., Clarke, N. D., Myers, T. D., & Tallis, J. (2021). The influence of COVID-19 Measures in the United Kingdom on Physical Activity Levels, Perceived Physical Function and Mood in Older Adults: A Survey-Based Observational Study. Journal of Sports Science, 39(8), 887–899.

Shrestha, N., Shad, M. Y., Ulvi, O., Khan, M. H., Karamehic-Muratovic, A., Nguyen, U. S. D., .. & Haque, U. (2020). The impact of COVID-19 on globalization. One Health, 11, 100180, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.onehlt.2020.100180

Tyrrell, C. J., & Williams, K. N. (2020). The paradox of social distancing: Implications for Older Adults in the Context of COVID-19. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 12(S1), 1-4.

Zaninotto, P., Iob, E., Demakakos, P., & Steptoe, A. (2020). Immediate and Longer-Term Changes in the Mental Health and Well-being of Older Adults in England During the COVID 19 Pandemic. JAMA Psychiatry, 79(2), 151–159. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2021.3749

Downloads

Published

2023-12-31

How to Cite

Lim, B. S., Jaafar, J. R., & Ngu , K. S. (2023). Challenges Faced by the Elderly during COVID-19. Evaluation Studies in Social Sciences, 4(2), 51–65. https://doi.org/10.37134/esss.vol4.2.5.2023

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 2 (2023): Evaluation Studies Social Sciences

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2024 Beng See Lim, Juliana Rosmidah Jaafar, Kee Shing Ngu

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.