The first year of the COVID-19 pandemic had a profound impact on everyday life in Australia despite relatively low infection rates. Lockdown restrictions were among the harshest in the world, while older adults were portrayed as especially vulnerable by politicians and the media. This study examines the perceptions and experiences of the pandemic and lockdowns among 31 older Australians. We investigated how participants perceived their own vulnerability, their attitudes towards lockdowns and protective behaviors, and how the pandemic affected everyday life. We found that participants were cautious about COVID-19 and vigilant observers of physical distancing. Despite approving of public health guidelines and lockdowns, participants raised concerns about weakening social ties and prolonged social isolation. Those living alone or lacking strong family ties were most likely to report increased loneliness. Most participants nonetheless regarded themselves as “fortunate”: they perceived older age as affording them financial, emotional, and relational stability, which insulated them from the worst impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. In their views, financial independence and post-retirement lifestyles helped them adapt to isolation and the disruption of lockdowns.

尽管感染率相对较低，但 COVID-19 大流行的第一年对澳大利亚的日常生活产生了深远的影响。封锁限制是世界上最严厉的限制之一，而政客和媒体将老年人描绘成特别脆弱的群体。这项研究调查了 31 名澳大利亚老年人对疫情和封锁的看法和经历。我们调查了参与者如何看待自己的脆弱性、他们对封锁和保护行为的态度，以及大流行如何影响日常生活。我们发现参与者对 COVID-19 持谨慎态度，观察者对保持身体距离保持警惕。尽管批准了公共卫生准则和封锁，但与会者仍对社会联系减弱和社会隔离长期存在表示担忧。那些独居或缺乏牢固家庭关系的人最有可能感到孤独感增加。尽管如此，大多数参与者仍认为自己是“幸运的”：他们认为年老可以为他们提供经济、情感和关系的稳定，这使他们免受冠状病毒大流行的最严重影响。在他们看来，经济独立和退休后的生活方式帮助他们适应隔离和封锁的破坏。