photo-Saskatoon Council on Aging website

Each age demographic had its own challenges dealing with the COVID pandemic and older adults were no exception.

The Saskatoon Council on Aging and the University of Saskatchewan have released the “Beyond the Pandemic” report.

More than 400 people were surveyed between the ages of 55 and 93. Another 49 participated in special focus groups to talk about their experiences.

The report found there were positives and negatives. Many seniors were impacted by the loss of volunteering, reduced access to physical activities and worrying about contracting COVID.

There were several silver linings resulting from the pandemic, such as a slower pace of life, spending more time on hobbies, being able to access healthcare by phone or computer and improving their on-line skills.

CJWW’s Neil Billinger spoke to Jane McPhee, the co-chair of the project. The interview audio is below: