Lifestyle Challenges among Older Adults during Pandemic

Identification of lifestyle challenges is essential in assessing the overall health of an individual. The presence of a pandemic can contribute to the occurrence of these challenges which may either be recognized, ignored or unidentified but all must be addressed. This research determined the lifestyle challenges experienced by older adults during pandemic utilizing quantitative design, in which results are categorized in terms of the physiological, psychological, socio-cultural, spiritual, and developmental subsystems based on Dr. Betty Neuman’s Systems Model. Moreover, the respondents’ physical, mental, social, spiritual, and developmental health were determined based on the lifestyle challenges documented. Using correlational method, the relationship between the initial findings and the respondents’ health was discovered. The data obtained shows that older adults generally feel happy, calm, peaceful and full of vigor despite the pandemic. They were physically active in daily chores but challenged in other areas of physical productivity and contact to social network through the digital platforms. Negative social support is present although few. They are firm in their spiritual beliefs and carry them into their other dealings in life. The developmental subsystem findings showed that the respondents consider the conditions of their lives excellent having acquired the important things they want in their lives. Significant direct and indirect correlations were revealed between the lifestyle challenges and their health.

Keywords – health, lifestyle challenges, older adults, pandemic