Assisted living resident experiences during the Covid-19 pandemic: a qualitative exploration of social engagement and well-being

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to report on two research studies that explored how older adult residents in assisted living facilities in the United Kingdom (UK) experienced changes to their social activity and well-being during the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative design was used and combined interview data from 13 residents across five assisted living facilities in the UK. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Findings Four themes were developed. The first theme “being locked in” explores the reduction in social contact and feelings of imprisonment experienced by assisted living residents. The second theme “keeping everyone safe” discusses the ways in which isolation was rationalised by older adults through drawing on narratives around safety and protection of others. The third theme “finding new ways to connect” illustrates how learning new skills enabled assisted living residents to maintain connections with others and highlights the novel opportunities for connection presented by communal living. The final theme “keeping a positive outlook” underlines how positive thinking and hope for the future enabled residents to cope with isolation. Originality/value The findings from this study present a novel insight into the experience of assisted living residents during Covid-19 restrictions. While it is known that isolation during lockdowns had negative well-being implications for community-dwelling older adults, this study highlights some of the ways that communal living was protective for assisted living resident well-being.