The effect of COVID-19 Pandemic on older people´s well-being in Sweden. : A qualitative study investigating professionals’ views on how COVID-19 affected older people’s well-being in Stockholm, Sweden.

Abstract: This qualitative study aimed to explore the perspectives of social health professionals concerning the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the well-being of older individuals in Stockholm, Sweden. The study used the social support theory. A purposive sampling method was used to select health/social work professionals who had the experience of supporting/caring for aged individual(s) during the COVID-19 pandemic and can therefore contribute to the research topic. Semi-structured interviews with open-ended questions were conducted using Zoom with three social health workers and were transcribed for thematic analysis. The findings of the study demonstrate that the data analysis revealed three major themes with sub-themes related to dealing with professionals’ views on how COVID-19 affected aged people’s well-being: (1) challenges encountered during COVID-19 and working with aged people; (2) adapted practices to support the well-being of aged people; and (3) impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the well-being aged people. The result showed that COVID-19 had impacts on the aged people in Stockholm, Sweden including battling loneliness, fear of death, anxiety and seeking constant medical check-ups, and openness concerning existing health conditions. Moreover, professionals faced challenges such as lack of preparedness, limited care staff, lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) and tiredness towards supporting the well-being of the aged people. The outcomes of this research may be useful for policy development and intervention strategies aimed at addressing the specific needs of aged individuals in times of public health crises, ultimately promoting their well-being and enhancing their overall quality of life.