“I Was... Put in a Cage”: The Experience of COVID-19 Home Confinement among Older Adults Living Alone in Portugal*

São José, José; Timonen, Virpi; Teixeira, Ana Rita; Amado, Carla; Santos, Sérgio Pereira dos; COELHO, PATRICIA

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.1/19013

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Authors

Santos, Sérgio Pereira dos

COELHO, PATRICIA

Abstract(s)

This article presents findings of a qualitative study reporting older adults' experiences of solitary home confinement during Portugal's first COVID-19 lockdown in 2020. Home confinement was marked by negative experiences, with the exception of one participant who had a particularly favorable combination of resources and circumstances. Negative experiences involved losses in several areas, such as being deprived of out-of-home activities, independence and face-to-face social interactions. Losing out-of-home activi-ties and independence promoted a sense of imprisonment, while losing face-to-face social interactions triggered a feeling of physical loneliness. Considering the potential negative implications of these losses, it is crucial to create innovative solutions that can mitigate them in future lockdowns.