Carin Lennartsson has been granted funding of SEK 2 500 000 from FORMAS to collect data and research materials linked to the COVID-19 pandemic. The project is entitled “The Swedish Panel Study of Living Conditions of the Oldest Old – SWEOLD COVID-19”. Duration 2020-2021.

The project provides a unique opportunity to study changes in several aspects of living conditions, such as physical and mental health, health-related behaviours and social relations. The Swedish Panel Study of Living Conditions of the Oldest Old – SWEOLD will be used to carry out a telephone-based interview study related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Questions directly related to the COVID-19 pandemic will be asked, as well as questions regularly included in the study. An analysis of how older adults have perceived and adhered to the flow of information and specific recommendations will also be conducted.

The study is longitudinal and nationally representative of the population aged 76 and above. With a sample covering all parts of Sweden, including both those living at home and those living in care homes as well as different socioeconomic groups, particularly vulnerable groups can be identified. Results from the SWEOLD COVID-19 generate knowledge that is scientifically relevant, informative for social policy and generalisable to the older population, thus useful for future pandemics and crises – not least from an inequality perspective.

Researchers participating in the project:

Lena Dahlberg, Neda Agahi, Janne Agerholm, Johan Fritzell, Josephine Heap, Erika Augustsson

More information about the project

Read interview with Carin Lennartsson on KI’s website.