The COVID-19 Pandemic Struggle of Older Adults' in Ethical Perspective: A Qualitative Research

Abstract

ABS TRACT Social stigmatization and deprivation of human rights on the axis of ageism and social exclusion emerge as a common way of suffering for older adults during the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The research aims to define the psychosocial adjustment experiences of older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic, the phenomenon of stigmatization within the context of age discrimination and social exclusion. A qualitative study was conducted with 25 elder people in 2020 using the phenomenological de-sign and purposeful sampling method. Data were analyzed using Reflective Lifeworld Research, a phenomenological approach. The research data were analyzed under 5 main themes; anxiety, stigma-tization, coping strategy, adaptation to change experience, ı ntergenerational solidarity experience and 19 sub-themes under these themes. According to the results of the research, it was determined that older adults were exposed to social stigma as part of ageism and social exclusion during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to these data that make it difficult for older adults to cope with the process and their psychosocial adjustment processes, the strengths of the aging process and examples of intergenerational solidarity are also revealed. In the light of all these data, it is thought that social stigma-tization of older adults will adversely affect the health and well-being of society and increase morbidity and mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic process. For this reason, it is thought that global authorities should develop new strategies, taking into account the heterogeneity in aging and changing needs in individuality, instead of providing a uniform directive, taking into account the need to improve the public's perception of risk