Impact of social isolation on the elderly in the Covid-19 pandemic

• Autor(a) principal: Aguiar Lima Junior, Marcelo
• Data de Publicação: 2023
• Outros Autores: Rafael Bozoni Correia, Fabricio, Cristine de Oliveira Minharro, Michelle, Buchignani Maigret, Simone, Aparecida Prata, Rafaela
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Revista JRG de Estudos Acadêmicos
• Texto Completo: http://revistajrg.com/index.php/jrg/article/view/702
• topic: Idoso; Pessoa idosa; Abuso de idosos; COVID-19; Pandemia Covid-19; Aged; Elderly; Elder abuse; COVID-19; COVID-19 pandemic

The elderly, constituted one of the most vulnerable groups during the Covid-19 pandemic, social isolation had to be intensified at that moment, consequently changing the environment and routine in which they lived, even among those who were not infected. The objective of this research is to identify the scientific production on the impacts of social isolation on the elderly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methodology of this work is an integrative review, in PUBMED, MEDLINE, LILACS and BDENF, published in the period from March 2020 (period in which WHO declares a pandemic) to June 2023 (time of search) and organized in the PRISMA diagram model. A study in China pointed out that during social isolation, there was a significant increase in abuse and neglect in the elderly related to the number of children, income and religion. A study in the United States identified the prevalence of financial abuse of the elderly during social isolation, being related that the lower the income, the greater the risk of abuse. The main perpetrators were those closest to the elderly. Another study in China pointed to the prevalence of abuse in the elderly who experienced job loss and reduced income due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A study in South Korea identified that physical dependence, depressive symptoms, cognitive state were one of the impacts that social isolation brought to the elderly during the COVID-19 pandemic. In conclusion, the pandemic may have negatively affected the mental health of the elderly, such as their financial situation, in addition to the prevalence of cases of mistreatment and financial abuse. It is suggested that this information can help public policy managers to intensify training related to protective measures in the fight against abuse and in addition to programs to help the elderly population manage their financial situation.