COVID-19 and the implications of social and hospital isolation for older adults

Abstract Objective To investigate the human-environmental impacts of social and hospital isolation on older adults hospitalized for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) treatment. Method This is an exploratory, descriptive, and qualitative study conducted with 16 hospitalized older adults, who answered a sociodemographic questionnaire and a guiding question. Data were analyzed through textual analysis using the Interface de R pour les Analyses Multidimensionnelles de Textes et de Questionnaires (IRaMuTeQ) software. Results Social and hospital isolation, associated with the perceived loss of privacy, autonomy, and mobility, led to an overload of the hospital environment and intensified its role as a stressor. Conclusion Understanding the person-environment relationship can support interventions aimed at preventing psychological distress and promoting the mental health of older adults in hospital settings.