# Prioritizing Protecting Oneself Over the COVID-19 Virus Versus Other Health and Social Needs Among Older Adults Living Alone: A Qualitative Study

## TL;DR

This study explores how older adults living alone balanced protecting themselves from COVID-19 with other health and social needs during the pandemic.

## Contribution

The study reveals diverse prioritization patterns among older adults living alone regarding health and social needs during the pandemic.

## Key findings

- Some older adults prioritized limiting contact and activities to protect themselves from the virus.
- Others did not consistently prioritize virus protection, and their priorities changed over time.
- There was significant variation in how older adults balanced health and social needs during the pandemic.

## Abstract

People aged 65 and older, deemed most “vulnerable” by public health, were targeted by the coronavirus disease 2019 protection measures, which sought to minimize physical contact and social activities. Older adults living alone were particularly affected by these measures. However, such measures meant to protect the older population may not have necessarily reflected older adults’ individual prioritization choices. This study therefore aimed to understand how protecting oneself over the virus was considered in the prioritization of other health and social needs of older adults living alone during the pandemic.

This study adopted a qualitative design. A total of 17 semistructured interviews were conducted between May 2021 and June 2022 with older adults living alone. All interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. A reflexive thematic analysis as defined by Braun and Clarke was performed.

Our analysis showed 2 forms of prioritization across 2 themes. This first theme focused on participants who reported prioritizing protecting themselves over the virus by limiting in-person contact and activities. The second theme showed that although several participants reported that protecting themselves over the virus was important to them, the prioritization of this need was not shared by all and, in some cases, evolved over the course of the pandemic.

Our study demonstrated heterogeneity in the prioritization of older adults needs. Future public health recommendations should consider these variations in the needs and priorities of older adults when determining public health measures.