Rural resilience in a post-pandemic landscape

Earlier this year, John Pickering was awarded funding from Simon Fraser University's Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) Kickstarter Grant.

The project “Rural Resilience in a Post-Pandemic Landscape: Exploring Social Isolation, Loneliness, and Healthcare Access Among Older Adults on Northern Vancouver Island” aims to address critical aspects of life for older adults in rural settings, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our research is not merely academic; it has real-world implications for enhancing the lives of older adults in rural communities.

Dr. Andrew Wister, the grant holder, is renowned for his extensive research on resiliencein older adults, particularly focusing on social isolation and loneliness. Leading the study is Dr. John Pickering, whose expertise also lies in understanding the social isolation and loneliness of older adults. Shawna Hopper, a PhD candidate in the Department of Gerontology at SFU, serves as the research assistant, bringing a robust mix of qualitative and quantitative research skills, alongside her experience in studying the social isolation and loneliness of older adults.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted and exacerbated existing social and healthcare challenges, particularly for older adults in rural areas. Our study focuses on understanding these challenges from the perspective of the people most affected, such as the older adults living in Port Hardy. By engaging with them through in-depth interviews, we aim to gather insights into their experiences of social isolation and loneliness, and access to healthcare during and after the pandemic. 

The importance of this research lies in its potential to influence future interventions and policies. By identifying the factors contributing to social isolation and loneliness, and the barriers to healthcare access, we can inform more effective strategies tailored to the unique needs of rural older adult populations. For instance, our interviews will explore not just the state of healthcare and social networks but also personal resilience and community dynamics, providing a comprehensive understanding of the lived experiences of our participants.

Key areas our research will impact include:

1. Deepened Understanding of Rural Challenges: Our findings will help elucidate the specific challenges faced by older adults in rural areas—both in terms of social engagement and healthcare. We will explore how these challenges have shifted in the post-pandemic world, which is crucial for developing targeted support mechanisms.
2.  Informed Policy Making: By directly capturing the voices of rural older adults, our study will provide valuable data to policymakers designing interventions to mitigate social isolation and improve healthcare accessibility. This could lead to more robust support networks and healthcare services that are attuned to the needs of rural communities.
3. Community Empowerment: Empowering communities through knowledge is a cornerstone of our research. By understanding their experiences and needs, communities like Port Hardy can better advocate for themselves and influence changes that directly improve their quality of life. We hope this will be reflected intheir continued pursuit of grants to fund their ongoing programs to support older adults in their senior centre.
4. Foundation for Future Research: This study will also set the stage for more extensive research projects. With a deeper understanding of the issues, subsequent studies can expand on our findings to explore additional dimensions or test specific interventions.

The generous FASS Kickstarter grant not only facilitates this crucial research but also underscores the commitment to understanding and improving the lives of one of the most vulnerable segments of our population - older adults in rural settings. Through this project, we aim to contribute meaningful insights that will lead to tangible improvements in their social and health outcomes.

Originally published in the SFU Gerontology Research Centre's June 2024 issue of the GRC News.