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Background Methods Results Conclusions Many older adults in Colombia have lived through violent and stressful life events, particularly in areas of poverty. The aim of this qualitative study was to understand the impact of stressful life events on the mental health and wellbeing of older Colombians living in areas of relative poverty.Older adults (aged 60+) living in the Turbo region in Colombia were interviewed face-to-face between August and December 2021. Transcripts were coded in Spanish and English by at least two researchers, using inductive thematic analysis.Twenty-six older adults participated in the study. Four overarching themes were generated: Living in violent and dangerous communities; Disturbing gender violence and gender roles; Lack of mental health awareness; Coping mechanisms. Older adults experienced a long narrative of stressful life events. Younger generations appeared to disrespect older members of Society. Without any mental health support, older adults coped by accepting the extreme situations or seeking solace in their faith.The health system and Government need to build up trust and generate an awareness of mental health, as older Colombians will not approach psychological support otherwise. Intergenerational community-based interventions may provide a first avenue of mental health support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Older adults across the globe have been particularly affected by the novel coronavirus due to their increased susceptibility to the virus. With limited existing research, the aim of this study was to explore the psychological effects of COVID-19 public health measures on older adults in Uganda and their coping mechanisms. Thirty semi-structured interviews were conducted with older Ugandans (aged 60+) in June 2020. Participants were asked about their experiences of public health measures, and their effects on the lives of older adults compared to pre-pandemic. Three themes were identified: Impact on emotional well-being; Implications on physical well-being; and Coping mechanisms. Older adults experienced both psychological and physical effects, including upset, fear, and frustration about restrictions and the virus, as well as early signs of increased frailty, thus causing concerns for the long-term emotional and physical health of older Ugandans. Public health measures need to be considerate of the potential long-term implications on the well-being of older adults in low-, middle-, and high-income countries, and ensure the possibility for continued physical exercise and social connection. This can be particularly challenging for people from more disadvantaged backgrounds who may not be able to afford a smartphone or laptop, with older adults further requiring support in using digital technologies. Older adults need to receive adequate psychological support to cope with the mental health impacts of the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to explore whether social support and socio-economic status have an effect on primary care attendance in older adults (aged 65+). This study used data from the longitudinal North West Coast (NWC) Household Health Survey (HHS) from across 20 disadvantaged and 8 less disadvantaged neighborhoods. Data included the EQ-5D, social support, frailty-related measures, healthcare utilization, and the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD). Principal component analysis was used to derive a factor for social support. Poisson regression analysis was employed to explore the effects of frailty, social support, General Practitioner (GP) distance, education, IMD, living situation, and depression on the number of GP attendances in the past 12 months. 1,685 older adults were included in this analysis. Of those older adults who visited their GP (87.4%), most had visited their GP twice in the past 12 months. Having an educational qualification, higher levels of social support, and being physically fit reduced GP utilization. Being moderately frail, depressed, and living further away from the nearest GP increased attendance. Older adults living in the most disadvantaged neighborhoods were more likely to visit their GP. Increasing social support impacts to a small, but important, extent on reducing GP attendance in older adults. Future research needs to explore whether improving social support in old age can reduce GP utilization. Findings suggest a need for improving social prescribing in older adults to reduce some GP visits which could be avoided and might not be necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]