The Swedish Panel Study of Living Conditions of the Oldest Old - SWEOLD Covid-19

Elderly people have been hardest hit during the covid-19 pandemic. Mortality is highest in the oldest age groups and specific restrictions restrict older people's room for maneuver. Among other things, they are urged to limit their physical contacts and a ban on visiting special homes has been introduced. This project is a unique opportunity to study how older people's living conditions have changed during the pandemic, such as physical and mental health, health-related behaviors and social relationships. We also study how older people have interpreted and followed the flow of health information and recommendations. The study structure and selection are taken from the established Survey on the living conditions of older people - SWEOLD. Via telephone interviews, both specific questions for the covid-19 pandemic are asked, as well as questions that are regularly found in the study. SWEOLD follows a large number of people over time, is nationally representative of the population aged 76 and older and includes both people living at home and those living in special housing. We focus on how the pandemic affects different groups with different conditions to handle their life situation. By comparing with data from previous years and we can analyze changes in living conditions during the pandemic. Results from SWEOLD covid-19 generate scientifically and socio-politically relevant data and thus constitute a good basis for planning in future pandemics and crises, not least from an inequality perspective. We focus on how the pandemic affects different groups with different conditions to handle their life situation. By comparing with data from previous years and we can analyze changes in living conditions during the pandemic. Results from SWEOLD covid-19 generate scientifically and socio-politically relevant data and thus constitute a good basis for planning in future pandemics and crises, not least from an inequality perspective. We focus on how the pandemic affects different groups with different conditions to handle their life situation. By comparing with data from previous years and we can analyze changes in living conditions during the pandemic. Results from SWEOLD covid-19 generate scientifically and socio-politically relevant data and thus constitute a good basis for planning in future pandemics and crises, not least from an inequality perspective.