Did older adults’ entry into nursing homes during the health crisis promote the emergence of traumatic symptoms?: Entry into nursing homes and COVID-19

Résumé 0

Our aim is to explore the possible emergence of traumatic symptoms and the identity-related repercussions of the restrictions on older adults who entered nursing homes during the COVID-19 health crisis in France. A total of 25 subjects institutionalized before the health crisis and 26 subjects institutionalized in nursing homes during the lockdowns completed scales assessing anxiety-depressive symptomatology, traumatic symptoms, and identity. Anxiety and depression symptoms were similar between the groups. Criteria D and E on the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), were significantly more prevalent among the group institutionalized during lockdown. Entry into an institution during the health crisis appears to have promoted the emergence of traumatic symptoms in the participants. Consideration of the ethical issues raised by this study could make it possible to offer more tailored support to older adults during their transition to a new home.