Concerns and coping strategies of older adult Veterans in Canada at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic, including associated public health measures such as travel restrictions, cancellation of elective surgeries, and the closure of public spaces and retail services (full list available at: https://github.com/jajsmith/COVID-19 NonPharmaceuticalInterventions), has resulted in risks to the health and well-being of Veterans, including disruptions to health care, loss of income, social isolation, and viral infection and mortality. Although a few studies are ongoing to better understand who may be at greatest risk,1-3 little is known about how Veterans experienced the pandemic and what coping strategies they employed at the outset. This infographic summarizes national cross-sectional survey responses collected from 210 Veterans aged 55 years and older who participated in the Canadian COVID-19 Coping Study between May and June 2020 (Women’s College Hospital Research Ethics Board REB # 2020-0045-E). The average age of Veterans who participated was 72 years; 29% were female, 93% completed the survey in English and 84% were retired. This population is older and more likely to be female than the general Veteran population.4 None of the Veterans included in this study had been diagnosed with COVID-19 at the time of study. A total of 11% had a family member or friend with a diagnosis or symptoms, and less than 5% had a family member or friend who was hospitalized or died as a result of COVID-19.