| Abstract [eng] |
Job title. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the well-being of pensioners. Research Problem: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected many population groups. With the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus worldwide since end of 2020 SARS-CoV-2 outbreak December 16 caused more than 71 million cases worldwide (WHO, 2021), and by the 2021 more than 120 million people were infected with it, and the death toll was more than 2.5 million (Worldometer, 2021). Retirees were more likely to have severe illness, hospitalization or rehabilitation (Rocard et al., 2021). Such rates have meant that older adults have become one of the most important risk groups and the focus of government COVID-19 regulations. It is also clear that in the context of this crisis, the concern for personal well-being has increased even more, and with it the role of social policy. The consequences of the pandemic have affected the employment of individuals, mutual communication, economic and social environmental systems, which also affect the well-being of an older person. In recent social studies, the relevance of research into the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on personal well-being is noticeable, but about what is a good life or well-being, what factors influence it at retirement age, whether it can be promoted by means of social policies, how it is affected by crises arising in society – these are modern challenges that, in the context of the aging of society, encourage us to raise questions about the need to look at the situation from the perspective of the pensioners themselves. The purpose of the study is to reveal the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the personal well-being of people of retirement age. Research tasks: 1. To analyse the scientific literature in order to reveal the concept of subjective well-being and the factors determining the well-being of a person of retirement age. 2. To discuss social policy measures during the COVID-19 pandemic and their impact on the well-being of pensioners in the context of the EU and other countries around the world. 3. Using qualitative research methods to reveal the subjective experiences of people of retirement age during the COVID-19 pandemic in different regions of Lithuania. 4. In the course of empirical research, to identify the assessment of social policy measures and improvement opportunities. Research methods: analysis of scientific literature, partial operationalization of the research object, qualitative research. Research participants: 41 people of retirement age from the regions of Kaunas, Vilnius, Naujos Akmenė and Kelme took part in the research. Key findings: the results of the study revealed that during the COVID-19 pandemic, individuals, both living in the city and in the regions, actualized negative and positive experiences. The essential challenges identified by the research participants included limiting trips, increased fear of dying, negative evaluation of information in the media, limited opportunities to communicate with others. The research participants also experienced the loss of loved ones and encountered difficulties using smart devices. Sharing positive experiences, they noted that during the pandemic, informants' computer literacy improved, physical activity improved, old and new activities were remembered, and the unification of scientists in order to create vaccines was positively evaluated. Employment, remote communication, mutual support of family members and the opportunity to get vaccinated helped the persons who participated in the study to overcome the pandemic the most. |
