Tranzo, Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Tilburg University, P.O. Box 90153, 5000 LE Tilburg, The Netherlands.
HIVA-Research Institute for Work and Society KU Leuven, P.O. Box 5300, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Mar 15;19(6):3468. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19063468.
During the COVID-19 outbreak in March 2020, restrictive measures (e.g., prohibiting physical visits and group activities) were introduced in nursing homes to protect older residents. Although the importance of social contacts and social activities to fulfill social needs and avoid loneliness is known, these were challenged during the pandemic. This qualitative study specifically focused on how residents, close relatives, and volunteers in nursing homes experienced the restrictive measures in retrospect and gained insights into the impact of the restrictive measures on social needs and loneliness, and the lessons that could be learned. Thirty semi-structured, face-to-face interviews with residents and close relatives, and one online focus group with ten volunteers, were conducted. Recruitment took place at psychogeriatric and somatic units in the Northern, Eastern and Southern regions of the Netherlands and Flanders, Belgium. The interviews and focus group were transcribed verbatim, and an open, inductive approach was used for analysis. Alternative ways of social contact could not fully compensate for physical visits. Generally, participants reported that it was a difficult time, indicated by feelings of loneliness, fear, sadness, and powerlessness. A great diversity in loneliness was reported. The most important reasons for feeling lonely were missing close social contacts and social activities. The diversity in the impact of restrictive measures depended on, e.g., social needs, coping strategies, and character. Restrictive COVID-19 measures in nursing homes resulted in negative emotions and unmet social needs of residents, close relatives, and volunteers. During future outbreaks of the COVID-19 virus or another virus or bacterium, for which restrictive measures may be needed, nursing homes should actively involve residents, close relatives, and volunteers to balance safety, self-determination, and well-being.
在 2020 年 3 月的 COVID-19 疫情期间，养老院采取了限制措施（例如禁止探访和集体活动），以保护老年居民。尽管人们知道社会联系和社会活动对于满足社会需求和避免孤独的重要性，但在大流行期间，这些活动受到了挑战。这项定性研究特别关注养老院居民、近亲家属和志愿者如何回顾性地体验这些限制措施，并深入了解这些限制措施对社会需求和孤独感的影响，以及从中吸取的教训。研究共进行了 30 次居民和近亲家属的面对面半结构化访谈，以及一次有 10 名志愿者参加的线上焦点小组访谈。招募工作在荷兰北部、东部和南部地区以及比利时佛兰德斯的心理老年科和躯体科病房进行。访谈和焦点小组的内容都进行了逐字记录，并采用开放式、归纳式方法进行分析。替代的社交方式无法完全替代身体探访。一般来说，参与者报告说这是一段艰难的时期，表现为孤独、恐惧、悲伤和无力感。报告显示存在着很大的孤独感差异。感到孤独的最重要原因是失去了亲密的社会联系和社会活动。限制措施的影响差异取决于社会需求、应对策略和性格等因素。养老院的 COVID-19 限制措施导致居民、近亲家属和志愿者产生负面情绪和未满足的社会需求。在未来 COVID-19 病毒或其他病毒或细菌爆发期间，可能需要采取限制措施，养老院应积极让居民、近亲家属和志愿者参与进来，在安全、自主和福祉之间取得平衡。
