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

Eimile Holton, Rachel Fitzpatrick, Rebecca Maguire, Seán Commins, Thomas Scharf, Brian Lawlor, Natalie Johnson, Caoimhe Hannigan and Joanna McHugh Power
Additional contact information
Eimile Holton: School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2 Dublin, Ireland
Rachel Fitzpatrick: Department of Psychology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland
Rebecca Maguire: Department of Psychology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland
Seán Commins: Department of Psychology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland
Thomas Scharf: Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle NE1 7RU, UK
Brian Lawlor: School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2 Dublin, Ireland
Natalie Johnson: ALONE, Dublin 8 Dublin, Ireland
Caoimhe Hannigan: School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2 Dublin, Ireland
Joanna McHugh Power: Department of Psychology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 6, 1-16

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.

Keywords: befriending; COVID-19; public health; grounded theory; older adults (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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