[We were told "everything will be all right", but we were afraid]

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Psychology

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately affected older adults, identifying them as a vulnerable population.
• Understanding the lived experiences of seniors during this unprecedented health crisis is crucial for targeted support.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the experiences of individuals over 65 years of age during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To assess health, activities, healthcare interactions, and psychological well-being in older adults.

Main Methods:

• An online questionnaire was distributed to members of the Italian Pensioners' Union of the CGL Lombardy.
• The survey collected data on health status, daily routines, medical consultations, and psychological conditions.

Main Results:

• 1480 older adults responded, generally reporting good health and education levels.
• Half maintained their routines; two-thirds experienced no change in psychological well-being, with a positive future outlook.
• Despite stress symptoms (64%) and significant feelings of isolation (60%), the primary unmet need was family contact.

Conclusions:

• Older adults demonstrated psychological resilience during the pandemic, contrary to initial concerns about heightened risk.
• Findings suggest that while isolated, this demographic did not experience widespread psychological distress.
• Further research should explore factors contributing to this resilience and address specific needs like social connection.