Aging in Place During a Pandemic: Neighborhood Engagement and Environments Since the COVID-19 Pandemic Onset

Author:

Finlay Jessica M12ORCID,Meltzer Gabriella3,Cannon Melissa4ORCID,Kobayashi Lindsay C2ORCID

Affiliation:

1. Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

2. Center for Social Epidemiology and Population Health, Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

3. Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, School of Global Public Health, New York University, New York, New York, USA

4. Gerontology: Aging and Older Adulthood Department, Western Oregon University, Monmouth, Oregon, USA

Abstract

Abstract Background and Objectives The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may fundamentally change neighborhood environments and ways of aging in place. This research aimed to investigate perceptions of and engagement in neighborhoods since the pandemic onset among aging Americans. Research Design and Methods Data were from the COVID-19 Coping Study, a longitudinal cohort study of health and well-being of U.S. adults aged 55 years or older during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the present analysis, we conducted a qualitative thematic analysis of responses to an open-ended survey question about how respondents felt that COVID-19 has affected their neighborhood and relationships with neighbors. The survey data were collected June–September 2020 and analyzed for a random-stratified subsample of 1,000 study participants. Sampling quotas for age, gender, race/ethnicity, and education aimed to match the U.S. population aged 55 years or older (average age: 67.7 years). Results We identified 4 overarching themes: altered neighborly social interactions, support levels, and community environments; and no observed changes. Geographic factors that affected neighborhood engagement included age structure, sociopolitical diversity, urbanicity/rurality, and walkability; while individual factors included age, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, political orientation, health status, duration of residence, lifestyle, and personality. Discussion and Implications The results highlight resilience among aging adults and their neighbors, sources of individual and community vulnerability, and opportunities to strengthen social infrastructure to support aging in place since the pandemic onset.

Funder

Michigan Institute for Clinical and Health Research

National Institute on Aging

Publisher

Oxford University Press (OUP)

Subject

Geriatrics and Gerontology,Gerontology,General Medicine

Reference40 articles.

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