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. 2021 Apr 12:9:589244.
doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.589244. eCollection 2021.

COVID-19 and Quarantine, a Catalyst for Ageism

Nathalie Barth  1   2   3 , Jessica Guyot  1   2 , Sarah Anne Fraser  4 , Martine Lagacé  5 , Stéphane Adam  6 , Pauline Gouttefarde  3 , Luc Goethals  1   2 , Lauren Bechard  7 , Bienvenu Bongue  1   2   8 , Hervé Fundenberger  1   2 , Thomas Célarier  2   3   9
Affiliations

COVID-19 and Quarantine, a Catalyst for Ageism

Nathalie Barth et al. Front Public Health. .

Abstract

In February 2021, France had more than 76,000 deaths due to COVID-19 and older adults were heavily affected. Most measures taken to reduce the impact of COVID-19 (quarantine, visit ban in nursing home, etc.) significantly influenced the lives of older adults. Yet they were rarely consulted about their implementation. Exclusion of and discrimination against older adults has been accentuated during the COVID-19 pandemic. While many articles discussing COVID-19 also mention ageism, few actually incorporate the perspectives and opinions of older adults. Our research aims to assess the ageism experienced by older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted interviews with older adults (63-92 years, mean age = 76 years) in an urban area of France. Participants reported experiencing more ageism during the COVID-19 pandemic, including hostile and benevolent ageism from older adults' families. Despite reports of experiencing ageist attitudes and behaviors from others, however, older adults also identified positive signs of intergenerational solidarity during this COVID-19 crisis.

Keywords: COVID - 19; ageism; older adults; qualitative study; quarantine.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

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