University of Regina researchers to share findings on how COVID-19 has impacted older Black adults in Saskatoon

COVID-19 severely and disproportionately affected older adults in Canada. The pandemic exposed the vulnerability of this population in relation to isolation, loneliness, and social connections. But a University of Regina research team decided to dig deeper: what about the experiences of minority groups in that age category? More specifically, what challenges and inequalities are being faced by older, Black Canadians?

A little over a year after launching their research project, researchers are inviting media to attend a workshop where the findings will be released to participants and supporters:

WHEN: Wednesday, October 19, from 10 a.m. to Noon

WHERE: Lakeview Church, 19 Glazier Rd, Saskatoon*

* Researchers and participants from the study will be available for interviews.

BACKGROUND:

Dr. Vivian Puplampu, a researcher at the University of Regina, says, in general, older Black adults already had limited social connection with mainstream Canadian society and were feeling isolated. The pandemic exacerbated the problem.

“COVID-19 had me concerned about the experiences that older Black adults were having and I wanted to do something positive to help,” says Puplampu. That’s why she connected with the Saskatoon Council on Aging (SCOA) – the main non-governmental organization responsible for older adults' positive aging in Saskatoon and area.

“I initially reached out to SCOA and proposed that we partner to identify some possible culturally responsive programs they could offer to support older, Black adults in Saskatoon,” says Puplampu, an assistant professor in the University of Regina’s Faculty of Nursing.

Puplampu, the principal investigator of the study, began interviewing Black adults in Saskatoon aged 55 and older. She also decided to look at how those who had been living in the city longer coped compared to those who were more recent arrivals.

“Our team interviewed two different groups to paint the most fulsome picture possible,” explains Puplampu. “We talked to those living in Saskatoon for more than 20 years and those in the city less than 20 years.”

The researchers found that while the two groups had different experiences, there were also similarities.

“All the participants reported that they follow COVID-19 restrictions to stay healthy. Eighty-six per cent in both groups were lonely, a smaller number – 27 per cent – reported having financial challenges, and 23 per cent said they were comfortable using technology. Nine per cent experienced racism,” says Puplampu.

One of the biggest findings was that the group of more recently arrived older Black adults was severely impacted by the pandemic. They also found that while both newly arrived and longer-term residents of Saskatoon reported having limited community involvement, those living in the city for more than 20 years had greater community involvement.

“The main support systems for both groups were family members, their church congregations and clergy, and others within their ethnic group,” says Puplampu.

The participants also identified a few different supports that they wanted to see, including a social drop-in space to get to know each other and classes to learn new skills, such as financial planning or how to use technology. Many of those we interviewed said they also needed home care and help with transportation to community events.

A People of African Descent and Friends Seniors Hub Club launched in Saskatoon on September 14, 2022 as a direct result of this study and Puplampu says it’s already had a positive impact on the community. “People are finding the Hub Club worthwhile. It’s somewhere they can socialize and meet new people,” says Puplampu.

The researcher says her team is now applying for more funding to support the Hub Club and to expand a similar club to Regina.

“We would also like to engage in more community programs, such as cooking for homebound older adults, engaging in intergenerational programming, such as shopping, snow shoveling, and teaching older adults to use technology to help break the isolation the group faces.

The project was funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, and the Saskatoon Open Door Society and the Global Gathering Place were part of the research team’s advisory group.

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