Researchers Studying How Older Adults Are Coping with Social Distancing

Professor Heather Fuller at North Dakota State University's (NDSU) Human Development and Family Science Department is leading a study on how social distancing is affecting older adults during the coronavirus pandemic, reports the West Central Tribune . Fuller and fellow NDSU Professor Andrea Huseth-Zosel have completed about 20 interviews for the study, and she noted that prior research indicates "a lot of variability" among older adults' coping strategies. She expects to learn some are doing well and adjusting, while others are not — and these differences could help "tease apart" approaches that appear to help people endure or flourish while others might have difficulty. It also could lead to recommendations for family members and senior communities for better engaging seniors and keeping them connected during the pandemic. Fuller said the study is now actively recruiting and seeking volunteers who are at least 70 and live in North Dakota or Minnesota. Researchers are particularly interested in interviewing people in their 80s and 90s. Fuller added that the information collected will probably be shared with the general public before publication in a journal "since it is very relevant and important now."