Perception of older adults in long-term care institutions in the post-COVID-19 context

This study analyzed the post-pandemic perception of older adults in Long-Term Care Institutions (LTCIs) in Montes Claros, Minas Gerais. Considered a high-risk group, the elderly faced social distancing, subjective and objective losses, and many still struggle with institutionalization. The relevance of this study lies particularly in the lack of scientific literature directed toward the elderly population in LTCIs. In this sense, interpreting and analyzing the perceptions of elderly individuals in Long-Term Care Institutions will benefit the academic community and allow the voices of this vulnerable group to be heard, at least on some level. The exploratory and qualitative research used in-person interviews with seven participants, identified by the names of the Seven Wonders of the World. The analysis followed Bardin’s method, resulting in five categories: “Emotions in Social Reopening,” “Access to Information,” “Memory Lost in Time,” “Social Contact,” and “Social Reconnection.” The results show relief and gratitude for the end of the pandemic but also a persistent fear of physical contact. Despite this, there is a strong desire for interaction with people outside the institution. Although, this research presents some limitations, aspects of older people perception of the post-pandemic scenario were unraveled, taking into account elements such as the emotions triggered by the reopening and the process of (re)connecting socially, important perceptions for the management of professionals working with this group.