The diploma thesis deals with the impact of the coronavirus on the social networks of elderly people and the connection of their social networks with their general well-being. The theoretical part of this thesis includes the role of social work during the epidemic, old age and social work with the elderly. Research shows that the social network of elderly is very important and that there is a strong link between social networks and the general well-being of the elderly. The general well-being of older people has worsened due to epidemiological measures such as social distancing, because people have not been able to socialize and meet with their family. This was however of great importance to the social networks of the elderly people.
In the empirical part of the diploma thesis, we did a qualitative research with the help of a partially structured interview. The sample includes six women over the age of 65 who lived at home during the epidemic, either alone, with partner or family. We wondered if the epidemic affected the general well-being of elderly, whether people were lonelier than before the epidemic, whether they experienced depression or loneliness during the epidemic, whether their social network narrowed due to the epidemic and how they got to the information about the epidemic.
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