Social Services for Elderly People: Quality of Life in Care Facilities during COVID-19
Social Services for Elderly People: Quality of Life in Care Facilities during COVID-19

Summary/Abstract: The paper presents the results of the opinions and evaluations of elderly people, users of social services for residential care, regarding the measures applied to control and investigate the COVID-19 infection with a focus on their quality of life in the institutional environment. The research interest has been provoked by the unprecedented restrictive measures introduced in social services with a view to preventing the wide spread of the virus and high mortality. The study was conducted at the home for elderly people in Veliko Tarnovo in September 2022, six months after the cancellation of the emergency epidemiological situation in Bulgaria. The results show that different strategies have been used to deal with the crisis: disinfection, testing, reduction of interaction, isolation, vaccination, etc. The imposed restrictive measures and work practices have ensured the continuity of care and have guaranteed the life safety and health of the elderly users. However, they have negatively affected the latter’s autonomy by cutting off their access to activities that bring satisfaction and meaning to their daily lives, and by limiting their contacts with relatives and friends. Nevertheless, they were satisfied with the characteristics of the inhabited residential environment; they highly evaluated the received timely care and support corresponding to their needs, as well as the access to treatment and health services during the pandemic. A balance has been achieved between safety and subjective well-being, resulting in the preservation of the quality of life of elderly people in the institutional setting.

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