Project Title: Covid and the Elderly - The Impact
BASIS Advisor: Ms. Das
Internship Location: Visiting Neighbors
Onsite Mentor: Howie Square
Everyone has in one way or another been impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Over a year ago, the world came to a halt and people were told to stay home in order to avoid contracting the virus. However, some populations such as people 65 and older, were considered more vulnerable to serious symptoms. Nursing homes and senior living facilities began to shut down to outside visitors. Families could no longer visit their loved ones in person. Seniors who lived independently also had to change their way of living and hunker down for the unforeseeable future. This study will examine and compare the effects of isolation from the pandemic on the mental health of elderly individuals. Through a series of interviews, I will gather information to see the different responses based on where people live, and whom they live with. People rely on human interaction for positive mental health. These months without seeing family and friends has taken an emotional toll on people.
My Posts
Week 10: Final thoughts
Jun 22, 2021
Hi everyone, After 10 weeks of research and interviews, the senior project has finally come to an end. I write this final blog post feeling like I brought attention to such an important topic. Senior mental health. I remember watching the news months ago, hearing all about the children who are not in person for […]
Week 9: Examining data and putting together final product
Jun 18, 2021
Hi everyone! It is hard to believe that the senior project is coming to an end. It has been such a rewarding and meaningful experience for me to speak with seniors from across the United States. Many of the seniors I spoke with during my interviews lived alone, therefore had no spouse or partner. It […]
Week 8: Concluding interviews
Jun 10, 2021
Hi all, This was a little bit of a washed-out week for me. I was supposed to conduct two interviews, but they didn’t happen. I had reached out to my on-site advisor so he could help connect me to both people I was supposed to interview. However, we kept on missing each other, and then […]
Week 7: finalizing interviews and reviewing data
May 29, 2021
Hi all! I am still conducting interviews and am still so surprised by the incoming results of my project. I am seeing that seniors truly were not as impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic as initially expected. When I started doing preliminary research using the book Mental Health And The Elderly: A Social Work Perspective, I […]
Week 6: More interviews and comparing data
May 25, 2021
Hi everyone, This week I conducted more interviews. It has been so fascinating seeing the different responses from people and understanding what their experiences with the COVID-19 pandemic have been like. Everyone has their own experiences and their own unique stories. I have also begun comparing the results by looking at my initial expectations […]
Week 5: Conducting interviews
May 18, 2021
Hi everyone, This was another productive week for me! I was able to complete two interviews, and brush up on the results of the interviews. Since beginning my interviews I have realized that the answers and responses have to be made clearer from what is initially written down. As I am asking questions I have […]
Week 4: Finalized questions and conducted first interview
May 04, 2021
Hi everyone, This was a very productive week for me. I finally finalized all my interview questions! Also, noted that some of these questions will not be applicable to everyone I am interviewing. For example, the questions that are asked to someone living alone would be different than the questions I would ask a couple. […]
Week 3: Finalizing research questions and continuing research
Apr 21, 2021
Hi everyone, This week my schedule slightly shifted. While I initially intended to begin conducting and continuing to reach out to more people to interview, this was not the case. I spent the week really working to finalize my interview questions. I want to make sure these questions will answer questions about mental health, […]
Week 2: Interview preparation and continuing research
Apr 14, 2021
Hi everyone! This week, I spent most of my time working on preparing for my interviews. I also spent my time continuing reading, Mental Health And The Elderly: A Social Work Perspective by Francis J. Turner. While reading the book, I was able to take notes on the mental health of the elderly, and use […]
Week 1: COVID-19 Statistics and seniors in the United States statistics
Apr 05, 2021
For my research this past week, I focused on researching research statistics on elderly populations and current COVID-19 statistics in the United States. The research on COVID-19 statistics is not concrete, however, as the pandemic is an ever-changing situation. I also spent my time this week furthering my knowledge on elderly mental health through reading, […]
Week 0: Introduction to COVID-19 and Elderly Mental Health
Mar 30, 2021
Hi everyone! My name is Brett Gorman and I am a senior at Basis Independent Brooklyn. I have attended Basis since ninth grade and am really excited about pursuing the senior project. Firstly I wanted to welcome you all to my senior project blog, where I will provide updates and insight into my research through […]