Psychosocial impact of COVID-19 on Malta’s elderly

Abstract

A global pandemic raises concerns among each human being. However, this is a more pressing reality among vulnerable groups, such as the elderly. It is the scope of this study to investigate the potential psycho-social risks that COVID-19 presents to the elderly in Malta, with a particular focus on their holistic mental health status. Public data, gathered and published by Richmond Foundation Malta, a local NGO, was analyzed during an eleven-month period (2020/2021) during eight different time-points. Two findings were highlighted: first, the roll out of vaccines is still not a room for complacency. This pandemic experience has been, and still is, a learning experience especially to authorities on how to respond to the needs of society, particularly the vulnerable groups. Secondly, results show that generally, a healthy life-style was maintained among most elderly in this study. However, virtual contact with family and friends declined over time, virtual religious programs were maintained, while social isolation increased. This study addressed the importance of attending to the holistic wellness of the elderly during critical times like the pandemic, be they the physical, social, emotional, and religious realities of this population. Furthermore, closing the digital divide was found as a truly relevant realm that calls for more serious considerations. Hopefully, this assists the elderly both in self-care and their concerns about other-care as well. A number of practical recommendations were presented.