LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Findings released today from a new Humana Inc. national poll indicate the extent to which seniors’ health—and their values related to health—have been affected since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020. Overall, four-in-five seniors reported that their lives have changed since the start of the pandemic. For many, these changes may have a lasting effect on what they value going forward.
The national poll of 1,003 seniors aged 64+ was conducted in partnership with Kelton Global.
When it comes to seniors’ personal health, the social and mental aspects have taken the biggest toll from the pandemic, with one-in-two (51 percent) seniors reporting that they spend more time alone and 43 percent indicating that they spend less time doing the things that bring them joy. Senior women are more likely than their male counterparts to report that they feel sad more often (26 percent v. 15 percent) and feel less independent than ever before (21 percent v. 13 percent). Despite these feelings, when asked if they had met virtually with a mental health specialist during the pandemic, only 3 percent of seniors indicated that they had done so.
Seniors’ physical health has also been negatively impacted, with one-in-two (52 percent) seniors reporting that their physical activity level has decreased since March 2020, and one-in-four (26 percent) having experienced a decrease in the amount of sleep they get each night.
Despite preconceived notions that seniors tend to shy away from technology, such as telehealth and video meeting tools, the poll revealed the opposite: more than four-in-five (84 percent) seniors used technology to manage their health and wellness during the pandemic. Among them, one-in-three used telehealth to meet with their doctor during the pandemic.
“While we have known about the acute effects the pandemic has had on our nations’ seniors, this new data sheds light on many of the long-lasting effects that will impact how they live their lives going forward,” said Kathy Driscoll, MSN, RN, CCM, senior vice president and chief nursing officer at Humana. “Health plans should take particular notice, since it is critical to understand all the evolving needs of seniors—health, social and behavioral—as the industry increasingly moves toward models of ‘whole health’ senior care and coverage.”
Effects on values & priorities
The pandemic appears to have underscored the preciousness of time and the need to focus on what’s most meaningful. For many seniors, that includes family, friends, travel and getting vaccinated:
About 75% of them value spending more time in person with family and friends than before the pandemic. Some 67% say doing things they value and bring them joy will be at the top of their list following the pandemic, and 53% plan to prioritize travel at the end of the pandemic.
The pandemic also exposed social and economic inequities that have changed the way many seniors view the companies with which they do business. That’s especially true for Black seniors, with 42% preferring to give their business to companies that address issues of social equity and equality, compared to 19% of white seniors. Additionally, many more Black seniors than white seniors prefer to give their business to companies that positively impact their community’s health (40% vs 27%) and also consider a company’s values in purchase decisions (33% vs 24%).
“Whether it’s through investments that increase the supply of affordable housing, shoring up access to nutritious food, mitigating loneliness or addressing the digital divide, we are committed to closing health equity gaps, including those that affect too many of our nation’s seniors,” said J. Nwando Olayiwola, Chief Health Equity Officer at Humana. “Seniors have every right to expect that their health plan not only supports their personal health, but also the greater health of their community.”
New poll reveals significant changes to seniors’ lives since onset of Covid
Source: News Paper Radio
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