Yalnız Yaşayan Yaşlı Yetişkinlerin Pandemi Deneyimleri: Nitel Bir Araştırma

Öz

Yalnız yaşayan yaşlı yetişkinler hem yaşlı hem de yalnız olmaktan kaynaklı dezavantajlara sahip olduklarından pandemi döneminde nüfusun geneline göre daha fazla zorlukla karşılaşmışlardır. Bu çalışma yalnız yaşayan yaşlı yetişkinlerin pandemi dönemi deneyimlerini ortaya koyarak pandeminden nasıl etkilendiklerine dair bir kavrayış geliştirmeyi amaçlamaktadır. Bu amaç doğrultusunda amaçlı örneklem tekniğiyle seçilen yaşamına yalnız devam eden 35 yaşlı yetişkinle yarı yapılandırılmış derinlemesine görüşme gerçekleştirilmiştir. Analiz sürecinde tümevarımsal tematik analiz tekniği kullanılmış ve dört temaya ulaşılmıştır. Bu çalışmanın sonucunda katılımcıların pandemi sürecinde yalnızlaştıkları ve maruz kaldıkları damgalamadan ötürü öfke ve kızgınlık duydukları görülmüştür. Pandemi sürecinde korku ve kaygılarının arttığı anlaşılmıştır. Yoğunluktan ötürü kamu hastanelerinden hizmet alamadıkları, olağan kontrollerinin aksadığı ve özel sağlık kuruluşlarından hizmet almak durumunda kaldıkları ortaya konmuştur. Son olarak pandemi döneminde yakınlarına yük oldukları kanaatinde oldukları anlaşılmıştır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Yalnız yaşayan yaşlı yetişkinler
• pandeminin yaşlı yetişkinler üzerindeki etkileri
• pandemi ve yaşlılık
• yaşlılık

Pandemic Experiences of Older Adults Living Alone: A Qualitative Study

Öz

Older adults living alone faced greater challenges than the general population during the pandemic because of the combined disadvantages of older age and living alone. This study aims to provide an understanding of how the pandemic affected older adults living alone by exploring their experiences during this period. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 35 older adults living alone who were selected through purposive sampling. The data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis, resulting in four themes. The findings showed that participants became more isolated during the pandemic and experienced anger and resentment due to the stigma they faced. Their fear and anxiety also increased during this period. In addition, overcrowding in public hospitals limited their access to healthcare, disrupted their routine check-ups, and led them to seek care from private health institutions. Finally, participants felt that they had become a burden on their relatives during the pandemic.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Older adults living alone
• pandemic effects on older adults
• pandemic and old age
• old age

Kaynakça

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