Health and Support in Times of Corona, 2020 - Study Description

Abstract

The study Health and Support in Times of Corona was conducted during May to June 2020 to examine the recent changes in health, support systems, and wellbeing of middle-aged and older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany. Given many of the mitigation measures revolved around physical distancing to reduce the spread of the virus, the specific objectives were to assess: 1) Health Care: The extent to which individuals’ access to and utilization of health and formal care services have been interrupted due to the corona pandemic. 2) Support: Individuals’ abilities to provide informal care, whether those in need receive enough support, and perceived stress associated with changes in the organization of support. 3) Psychological wellbeing: Individuals’ experience of loneliness, satisfaction with intimate relationships, and the role of new communication technologies for maintaining social contacts despite physical distancing. 4) Social inequalities: based on gender, socioeconomic status, migration background. 5) Perspectives of stakeholders: Insights of health professionals and government officials on the challenges of meeting the needs of vulnerable populations, including but not limited to community dwelling and nursing home resident older adults, people with lower socio-economic background, migration background, or disabilities.