PACOVID, a population-based survey on the effects of the lockdown and the pandemic on the elderly: Preliminary results

Based on three ongoing epidemiological studies on aging, the PACOVID telephone survey was set up in the Bordeaux region a few days after the start of the first lockdown, with the aim of investigating the psychological and social repercussions of this pandemic on the elderly. This article presents the preliminary results. The most frequent response to the question "What are the main difficulties you are encountering during this period?" was "none." Regarding the potential consequences of the pandemic, the participants were more worried about their loved ones than about themselves. Engaging in leisure activities and maintaining daily routines and activities were the most common coping strategies. Only a small number of respondents reported "poor" perceived health, and the most frequent responses to the items on sadness, loneliness, and depression from the CES-D scale were "never" or "very rarely." One in four participants presented significant anxious symptomatology. Almost 90 percent felt socially supported, with around thirteen weekly phone calls, and almost 21 percent used a digital tool to communicate. The majority were aware of the causes and symptoms of COVID-19 and the protective measures, and displayed a positive attitude toward vaccination. Thus, contrasting with certain preconceived ideas, a growing number of studies, including PACOVID, have highlighted the potential resources and resilience capacities of the elderly, including those at a very advanced age, as well as demonstrating that they are well informed and aware of the pandemic threat. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved) Abstract (French) Adossee a trois etudes epidemiologiques, l'enquete telephonique PACOVID a ete mise en place quelques jours apres le debut du premier confinement avec pour but de connaitre les repercussions psychologiques et sociales de cette pandemie chez les personnes agees. Cet article presente les premiers resultats. A la question de savoir quelles etaient leurs difficultes, la reponse la plus frequente a ete << aucune . Interroges sur les consequences de la pandemie, les participants se montraient plus inquiets pour leurs proches que pour eux-memes. L'engagement dans des activites de loisirs et le maintien des routines et activites quotidiennes etaient les strategies de coping les plus frequentes. Une minorite a fait etat d'une << mauvaise sante perc ue, et les reponses les plus frequentes aux questions sur la tristesse, la solitude et la depression de l'echelle CES-D etaient << jamais ou << tres rarement . Un participant sur quatre presentait une symptomatologie anxieuse. Pres de 90 % se sentaient soutenus, avec environ 13 appels telephoniques hebdomadaires et pres de 21 % ont utilise un outil numerique. La majorite connaissait les causes et symptomes de la Covid-19, les mesures de protection, et manifestait une attitude positive envers la vaccination. Ainsi, contrastant avec certaines idees preconc ues, plusieurs etudes, dont PACOVID, mettent en evidence les ressources et capacites de resilience des personnes agees, y compris a un age tres avance, alors meme qu'elles se montrent informees et inquietes de la situation. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)