“How are You Doing?” on the Healthy Aging of the Community-Dwelling Oldest-Old in the Shadow of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Ka Lai Shirley Lo; Yat Wa Justina Liu; Daphne Sze Ki Cheung; Yueheng Yin; Siu Ying Ng; Pui Kin Kor; Lin Yang; Siu Kay Chan; Yiu Cho Kwan; Hong Paul Lee; Chung Lim Vico Chiang

doi:10.1177/01640275221100949

“How are You Doing?” on the Healthy Aging of the Community-Dwelling Oldest-Old in the Shadow of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Ka Lai Shirley Lo, Yat Wa Justina Liu, Daphne Sze Ki Cheung, Yueheng Yin, Siu Ying Ng, Pui Kin Kor, Lin Yang, Siu Kay Chan, Yiu Cho Kwan, Hong Paul Lee, Chung Lim Vico Chiang

School of Nursing

Research output: Journal article publication › Journal article › Academic research › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

Objective
Globally, the oldest-old population is growing rapidly. Little is known about the perceived well-being of the community-dwelling oldest-old, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study examined the oldest-old’s perceptions of aging well and the COVID-related impacts on them.

Methods
Semi-structured in-depth interviews with 22 adults aged 85 or above were conducted with purposive sampling methods. Transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis.

Results
Four main themes emerged: 1) sustaining functional ability; 2) staying active with a positive attitude; 3) feeling grateful for support from society and family; 4) COVID-19-related anxieties and policies destabilizing their well-being.

Discussion
This study provides direct evidence from the oldest-old on how they maintained their well-being. While they valued support from society and family, COVID-19-related measures disturbed their routines and prevented them from self-attaining well-being. The findings should be considered when developing interventions for this vulnerable group.

Original language	English
Journal	Research on Aging
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/01640275221100949
Publication status	Published - 18 May 2022

Keywords

Aging well
COVID-19
Healthy aging
Oldest-old

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Health(social science)
Geriatrics and Gerontology
Social Psychology

More information

10.1177/01640275221100949

Cite this

@article{86f166725f25400594641d85bd804479,

title = "“How are You Doing?” on the Healthy Aging of the Community-Dwelling Oldest-Old in the Shadow of the COVID-19 Pandemic",

abstract = "ObjectiveGlobally, the oldest-old population is growing rapidly. Little is known about the perceived well-being of the community-dwelling oldest-old, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study examined the oldest-old{\textquoteright}s perceptions of aging well and the COVID-related impacts on them.MethodsSemi-structured in-depth interviews with 22 adults aged 85 or above were conducted with purposive sampling methods. Transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis.ResultsFour main themes emerged: 1) sustaining functional ability; 2) staying active with a positive attitude; 3) feeling grateful for support from society and family; 4) COVID-19-related anxieties and policies destabilizing their well-being.DiscussionThis study provides direct evidence from the oldest-old on how they maintained their well-being. While they valued support from society and family, COVID-19-related measures disturbed their routines and prevented them from self-attaining well-being. The findings should be considered when developing interventions for this vulnerable group.",

keywords = "Aging well, COVID-19, Healthy aging, Oldest-old",

author = "Lo, {Ka Lai Shirley} and Liu, {Yat Wa Justina} and Cheung, {Daphne Sze Ki} and Yueheng Yin and Ng, {Siu Ying} and Kor, {Pui Kin} and Lin Yang and Chan, {Siu Kay} and Kwan, {Yiu Cho} and Lee, {Hong Paul} and Chiang, {Chung Lim Vico}",

note = "Funding Information: The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This study was supported by a Sik Sik Yuen Social Services Research Grant. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2022.",

year = "2022",

month = may,

day = "18",

doi = "10.1177/01640275221100949",

language = "English",

journal = "Research on Aging",

issn = "0164-0275",

publisher = "SAGE Publications Inc.",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - “How are You Doing?” on the Healthy Aging of the Community-Dwelling Oldest-Old in the Shadow of the COVID-19 Pandemic

AU - Lo, Ka Lai Shirley

AU - Liu, Yat Wa Justina

AU - Cheung, Daphne Sze Ki

AU - Yin, Yueheng

AU - Ng, Siu Ying

AU - Kor, Pui Kin

AU - Yang, Lin

AU - Chan, Siu Kay

AU - Kwan, Yiu Cho

AU - Lee, Hong Paul

AU - Chiang, Chung Lim Vico

N1 - Funding Information: The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This study was supported by a Sik Sik Yuen Social Services Research Grant. Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2022.

PY - 2022/5/18

Y1 - 2022/5/18

N2 - ObjectiveGlobally, the oldest-old population is growing rapidly. Little is known about the perceived well-being of the community-dwelling oldest-old, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study examined the oldest-old’s perceptions of aging well and the COVID-related impacts on them.MethodsSemi-structured in-depth interviews with 22 adults aged 85 or above were conducted with purposive sampling methods. Transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis.ResultsFour main themes emerged: 1) sustaining functional ability; 2) staying active with a positive attitude; 3) feeling grateful for support from society and family; 4) COVID-19-related anxieties and policies destabilizing their well-being.DiscussionThis study provides direct evidence from the oldest-old on how they maintained their well-being. While they valued support from society and family, COVID-19-related measures disturbed their routines and prevented them from self-attaining well-being. The findings should be considered when developing interventions for this vulnerable group.

AB - ObjectiveGlobally, the oldest-old population is growing rapidly. Little is known about the perceived well-being of the community-dwelling oldest-old, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study examined the oldest-old’s perceptions of aging well and the COVID-related impacts on them.MethodsSemi-structured in-depth interviews with 22 adults aged 85 or above were conducted with purposive sampling methods. Transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis.ResultsFour main themes emerged: 1) sustaining functional ability; 2) staying active with a positive attitude; 3) feeling grateful for support from society and family; 4) COVID-19-related anxieties and policies destabilizing their well-being.DiscussionThis study provides direct evidence from the oldest-old on how they maintained their well-being. While they valued support from society and family, COVID-19-related measures disturbed their routines and prevented them from self-attaining well-being. The findings should be considered when developing interventions for this vulnerable group.

KW - Aging well

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KW - Healthy aging

KW - Oldest-old

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DO - 10.1177/01640275221100949

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0164-0275

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“How are You Doing?” on the Healthy Aging of the Community-Dwelling Oldest-Old in the Shadow of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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