You’re not ALONE: exploring the impact of Covid-19 on loneliness and social isolation: a cohort study of ALONE service users in South Tipperary

This research looks at the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on a small cohort of older people in South Tipperary in terms of loneliness and social isolation. Primary research was carried out with five service users of the ALONE Good Morning South Tipperary service to ascertain their views of the pandemic and how it has affected their everyday lives. The interviews took place over the phone and the qualitative data was recorded on a dictation device. The epistemological positioning applied to this research is constructivism and the theoretical perspective is from an interpretivist lens. A full review of the literature on the impact of Covid-19 on older people was carried out as well as a comprehensive review of the literature on loneliness and social isolation. This dissertation was completed as part of the UCC Community-Academic Research Links initiative (CARL) in conjunction with ALONE. The qualitative data collected was analysed using thematic analysis. The themes highlighted in the findings include: the impact of Covid-19 on ALONE service users, loneliness and social isolation, activation and socialisation programmes, the importance of the ALONE Good Morning South Tipperary service, and future development of ALONE services in Tipperary. All research participant’s noted that Covid-19 has been especially difficult for people over seventy and has led to an increase in loneliness and social isolation among this age cohort. Participant’s reported feelings of frustration with the closure of day centres, family resource centres, community education classes and coffee shops in their communities. Research participants were highly complementary about the Good Morning South Tipperary service and look forward to availing of other specialist ALONE services when the restrictions ease. In the final chapter, this researcher makes a number of concluding remarks and recommendations on the future development of ALONE services in Tipperar