Making Meaning of Integrated Care during a Pandemic: Learning from Older Adults

The aim of the current study was to investigate meaning-making in 57 older predominantly female adults (M = 72.68) required to temporarily cease attending a university-affiliated integrated care clinic in Australia with a focus on exercise and well-being due to COVID-19 restrictions, specifically regarding consequential grief, loss, hopelessness, and loss of purpose.

Quantitative and qualitative data were collected by telephone interviews and an online survey.

Results indicated that most participants valued attending the Clinic, and experienced a number of physical, social and emotional benefits from attending, including a sense of meaning. Specifically, some participants developed social connections, learned to cope more effectively with mental health conditions, and regained strength following stressful or traumatic events through their attendance at the clinic.

Throughout the pandemic, most participants retained their resilience and continued to derive meaning from various sources, including their families, careers, interests, and attitude toward life.

Older adults may experience enhanced physical, emotional and social health from engaging in community-based programs focused on exercise and overall wellness. Furthermore, meaning-making has the potential to buffer the harmful effects of stress and traumatic events on the physical, emotional and social health of older adults.