Stress and depression levels have risen significantly among older people during the COVID-19 pandemic, a major new study has shown.

Researchers at the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) at Trinity College Dublin (TCD) looked at the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on 4,000 people aged 60 and older.

They looked at topics such as compliance with COVID restrictions, delayed medical care, physical activity, stress, depression and loneliness.

The participants were surveyed between July and November 2020 and the findings are published in a new report.

According to the findings, compliance among the over-60s during the pandemic was high in 2020, with 80% adhering to public health advice, 80% not visiting their friends at all, and 62% not travelling to visit family members.

Some 5% of the participants had caught COVID-19 and 5% had lost a family member or friend to the virus.

When it came to mental health, the results were stark. Some 21% of participants reported potentially clinically meaningful levels of depressive symptoms - double the prevalence of depression seen before the pandemic.

Some 29% reported high stress levels, while 11% reported moderate to severe anxiety levels. According to the researchers, this represents a significant increase compared to before the pandemic.

The study also found that 30% of older adults felt lonely at least some of the time. The researchers pointed out that loneliness is linked with a poorer overall quality of life, as well as poorer mental and physical health. They said that increased loneliness and isolation due to the pandemic has had a negative effect on the wellbeing of the population.

Meanwhile the study also found that 30% of adults aged 60 and older delayed seeking medical care or did not get the care that they needed during the pandemic. Some 43% delayed dental care, while 31% postponed a GP appointment. This is likely to have a serious impact on the health of these people now and in the future, the researchers said.

The study also found that 15% of those aged 60 and older cared for someone during the pandemic, compared to 6% in 2018. Most of this care was provided to people's spouses.

According to the lead author of the report and senior research fellow at TCD, Dr Mark Ward, the lives of older adults have been "severely affected" by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"As we near the anniversary of the arrival of the virus in Ireland, it is essential that we understand how people's lives have changed and what these changes mean for their health and wellbeing," he commented.

He noted that TILDA research has consistently shown the importance of social activities for the wellbeing of older adults.

"Now however, opportunities for social interactions have been denied. This report shows the extent of the changes older adults have made to their lives, including limiting social interactions, postponing medical appointments, and taking on new caring responsibilities.

"We also show how these changes have led to greater levels of loneliness and poorer mental health. Our hope is that the information in this report can contribute to our recovery from the pandemic and continue our efforts to make Ireland the best place in the world to grow old," Dr Ward said.

Meanwhile, according to TILDA principal investigator, Prof Rose Anne Kenny, it has been clear since the start of the pandemic that COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted upon the health, circumstances and wellbeing of older adults worldwide.

"Aside from the greater susceptibility to severity of COVID-19 infection faced by older adults, the pandemic has led to a significant rise in stress, anxiety, loneliness and depression, and unveils the huge sacrifices older adults have had to make," she commented.

She added that TILDA's report gives a "thorough and accurate account of the scale of this impact on older adults living in Ireland, to support Government and health authorities to see and address the negative impacts of the crisis".

For more information on TILDA, click here.