Estratégias de suporte social e manutenção da qualidade de vida de pessoas idosas durante a pandemia da COVID-19: revisão integrativa

Abstract

Objective: to analyze evidence on social, community, and remote strategies used to preserve social ties, well-being, and quality of life among older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: integrative review guided by PICo, with a PubMed/MEDLINE search (2020–2026) and complementary retrieval of Brazilian studies from SciELO on September 26, 2026. One reviewer conducted selection and critical appraisal using design-appropriate JBI tools and thematic synthesis. Results: 23 original studies were included. Proactive phone calls, facilitated virtual groups, peer support, neighborhood networks, and continuity of community services supported contact and perceived support; some trials found reductions in loneliness or depressive symptoms. Observational studies reported unfavorable associations with more frequent video calls, suggesting that digital contact volume does not capture relationship quality. Conclusion: remote strategies can maintain support and social participation when combined with family and territorial networks and accessible options for digitally excluded older adults. Methodological heterogeneity and the non-exhaustive search limit generalization.