Older Users of a Befriending Service in Ireland and the Maintenance of Personal Autonomy during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Eimile Holton,Natalie Johnson,Caoimhe Hannigan,Rebecca Maguire,Rachel Fitzpatrick,Seán Commins,Thomas Scharf,Joanna Mchugh Power,Brian Lawlor

doi:10.3390/ijerph18062788

Abstract

In the Republic of Ireland (RoI), COVID-19 public health guidelines have been most restrictive for people aged 70 and over. Such individuals are most likely to avail of befriending services offered by a network of Irish organisations. The aim of this study was to explore the impact of COVID-19 guidelines on befriending service users, and to develop recommended adaptations to befriending services compatible with such guidelines. A qualitative constructivist grounded theory approach was taken to the study design and analysis, using semi-structured interviews to collect data from 11 participants by telephone between May 2020 and January 2021. Results show a grounded theory describing how older users of a befriending service maintained their personal autonomy in the face of strict government guidelines. Participants described living life as usual, often contravening guidelines, and how they chose to adapt to the situation, yielding both positive and negative outcomes. Some potential adaptations were discussed to the befriending service (including a preserved focus on the social and emotional functions of the befriending relationship, and the accommodation of collaborative decision making about communicative alternatives), but ultimately it was made clear that participants would tailor the services to their own preferences. Results have implications for befriending service design and delivery, and for public health officials who wish to support the health of older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Highlights

A constructivist grounded theory design was used [21]. This design is suitable when the aim is to understand how a sample responds to a challenge, such as that posed to the receipt of befriending services during the COVID-19 pandemic
Study aim; Sample specificity; Established theory; Dialogue quality; Analysis strategy
Our results indicate that befriending services play a critical and often practical role in the lives of older service users, and such services continued to be delivered during the pandemic on the basis of the relationship already formed between the service user and their befrienders

Summary

Introduction

In the Republic of Ireland (RoI), COVID-19 public health guidelines have been most restrictive for people aged 70 and over. Such individuals are most likely to avail of befriending services offered by a network of Irish organisations. In RoI, cocooning measures remained in place until 18 May 2020, and were re-issued in June 2020, October 2020, and again in December 2020. Such measures were introduced primarily to protect the physical health of people aged 70 and over.

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Discussion

Conclusion