Purpose: To qualitatively describe experiences of chronic disease management and prevention in older adults (age ≥65 years) during COVID-19.
Approach: Qualitative descriptive approach.
Setting: Data collected online via telephone and video-conferencing technologies to participants located in various cities in British Columbia, Canada. Data analyzed by researchers in the cities of Vancouver and Kelowna in British Columbia.
Participants: Twenty-four community-living older adults (n = 24) age ≥65 years.
Methods: Each participant was invited to complete a 30-to-45-minute virtual, semi-structured, one-on-one interview with a trained interviewer. Interview questions focused on experiences managing health prior to COVID-19 and transitioning experiences of practicing health management and prevention strategies during COVID-19. Audio recordings of interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed thematically.
Results: The sample's mean age was 73.4 years (58% female) with 75% reporting two or more chronic conditions (12.5% none, 12.5% one). Three themes described participants' strategies for chronic disease management and prevention: (1) having a purpose to optimize health (i.e., managing health challenges and maintaining independence); (2) internal self-control strategies (i.e., self-accountability and adaptability); and (3) external support strategies (i.e., informational support, motivational support, and emotional support).
Conclusion: Helping older adults identify purposes for their own health management, developing internal control strategies, and optimizing social support opportunities may be important person-centred strategies for chronic disease management and prevention during unprecedented times like COVID-19.
Keywords: COVID-19; chronic disease prevention and management; motivation; older adults; qualitative research; self-management.