The COVID-19 pandemic has caused untold fear and suffering for older adults across the world. According to the World Health Organization, older adults in aged care homes are at a higher risk of the infection living in an enclosed environment with others. This article adopts a qualitative approach using Colaizzi’s phenomenological method to explore the lived experiences of older adults during COVID-19. Between December 2019 and June 2020, 10 in-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants aged 60 years and above in two aged care homes. The lived tension that has penetrated all participants’ stories in five themes of the meanings described as ‘disconnected in a shrinking world’ filled with uncertainties. COVID-19 has brought unprecedented challenges and disproportionate threat onto older adults’ lives, relationships and well-being. The overarching message was that older adults believe that ‘this too shall pass’ and regain their freedom that was lost during the pandemic.

中文翻译：

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COVID-19大流行：老年护理院中老年人的生活经历

COVID-19大流行给世界各地的老年人带来了巨大的恐惧和痛苦。根据世界卫生组织的资料，在养老院中的老年人与他人一起生活在封闭环境中的感染风险较高。本文采用Colaizzi现象学方法进行定性研究，探讨了COVID-19期间老年人的生活经历。在2019年12月至2020年6月之间，在两个养老院中对60岁及以上的参与者进行了10次深度，半结构化的访谈。围绕着所有参与者故事的生动的紧张气氛贯穿五个主题，这些主题被描述为“在不断缩小的世界中脱节”，充满不确定性。COVID-19给老年人的生活带来了空前的挑战和不成比例的威胁，关系和福祉。最重要的信息是，老年人相信“这也将过去”，并重新获得大流行期间丧失的自由。