Older women's well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic: individual, community, and contextual factors

COVID-19 has exposed the inadequacy of systems at different levels in meeting the needs of older women and promoting their well-being during emergencies. At the individual level, there is a need to support older women's livelihoods and educational opportunities. Despite limitations on social interactions during COVID-19, access to social gatherings and interactions supported older women's well-being. However, this was hampered by fear of contracting COVID-19 and the limitations in public transport that compromised their mobility to access services and visit people. A more extensive analysis of individual, community, and contextual factors should identify factors that support or compromise the well-being of older women during emergencies or shocks. There is a need for information about what livelihood strategies during and/or post shocks, or critical events such as COVID-19 could sustainably support older women's well-being.