Developing age-friendly communities since Covid-19 lockdown: experiences from older people and service providers

Blezard, Eve; Clark, Andrew; Ahmed, Anya; Groves, Vanda; Elder, Bernadette; Haynes, Dave

Abstract

This paper will present new insight into the ongoing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on older people’s social connections. The work is part of a larger project exploring how age-friendly initiatives can better support older people to remain socially connected to the places where they live, particularly in light of experiences of Covid-19 and reduced opportunities for face-to-face connectivity during the pandemic.

This presentation will outline findings from participatory community mapping with older people and focus groups with voluntary and public sector service providers. The data reveals a multifaceted picture of ageing post-pandemic in the UK. Although there has been a formal end of lockdown restrictions, this is not the end of people's experiences and concerns; some older people are still self-defining as vulnerable with an ongoing impact affecting what they feel is less or riskier to engage in. The provision of support services continues to be affected in terms of older people's confidence to return and the availability of suitable spaces, services and resources. Due to restrictions in indoor spaces, there has been a re-discovery of outdoor and green places, the use of which continues beyond lockdown. There is also evidence of adaptability by rapidly engaging with new technology. Whilst regular online activities are continued and appreciated by those who can attend them, the digital exclusion of older people remains of concern. The presentation will conclude with a consideration of the implications for ‘age-friendly’ policy and practice as older people and service deliverers strive to understand ‘a new normality' in a post-pandemic context.

Citation

Blezard, E., Clark, A., Ahmed, A., Groves, V., Elder, B., & Haynes, D. (2023, June). Developing age-friendly communities since Covid-19 lockdown: experiences from older people and service providers. Paper presented at People, Place and Policy (PPP) Annual Conference 2023, Sheffield Hallam University

• Presentation Conference Type: Conference Paper (unpublished)
• Conference Name: People, Place and Policy (PPP) Annual Conference 2023
• Conference Location: Sheffield Hallam University
• Start Date: Jun 21, 2023
• End Date: Jun 21, 2023
• Deposit Date: Aug 4, 2023
• Publisher URL: https://sites.google.com/view/ppp-conference-2023/programme
• Related Public URLs: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1rzEOHYNTTcd95eNixI8wNTIb-MeUQis0/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=118067522817899821804&rtpof=true&sd=true