THE IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON OLDER ADULT EXPERIENCES WITH HEALTHCARE: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Healthcare professionals need to understand the patient experience in order to implement person-centred care. During the recent COVID-19 global pandemic, the patient's experience was significantly impacted as healthcare systems adapted to provide safe care. This research described the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on community-dwelling older adults’ experiences with healthcare, so as to provide recommendations for personcentred care. A systematic review using thematic synthesis was completed with 16 studies of qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods evidence. Three main themes described care experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic: i) experiences of accessing healthcare services and providers, ii) experiences of virtual care, and iii) experiences of receiving care. In these care experiences, older adults described emotional and physical distress, as well as care and support from providers. These findings are discussed in the context of person-centred care with relevant recommendations for healthcare providers.