This study uses data from elderly populations in China and South Korea, employing the PSM-DID method to reveal the impact of pandemic lockdown lifting on the health of the elderly. The results show that, compared to Chinese elderly (control group), the overall health level of South Korean elderly (treatment group) experienced a statistically significant but small increase.
The end of the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on physical and mental health. According to Huang et al.'s research, COVID-19 survivors often experience long-term sequelae such as fatigue, muscle weakness, sleep disorders, depression, and cognitive impairments after discharge [37][38]. Brooks et al.emphasized the long-term psychological impact of isolation in their study, including post-traumatic stress symptoms, confusion, and anger [39]. After the epidemic, the gradual recovery of public health is an important phenomenon [40–42]. However, the psychological stress and anxiety accumulated during the epidemic may have a longer-lasting impact on the elderly population [43], which requires attention from all sectors of society.
What's important is that the impact of the lockdown lifting on the health of various elderly groups is not consistent. Women, younger, lower-income, and elderly with chronic diseases experienced a greater treatment effect from the lifting.
With the closure of daycare centers and schools, parents working from home or on leave have taken on over 40 additional hours per week of childcare (including teaching) activities. Most of this extra work has been completed by women, exacerbating gender inequality during the pandemic [44]. The role overload experienced during the lockdown will end with the lifting of the pandemic restrictions, which will alleviate the pressure and burden on women.
According to Baltes' life-span development theory, younger elderly are already in the best period of their old age life cycle [45]. They have higher social and social support needs compared to middle-aged and older elderly, and the lifting of pandemic restrictions helps improve younger elderly's perception of their health and health expectations.
The pandemic significantly intensified the pressure on global healthcare systems. Hospitals faced a surge in patient numbers, leading to shortages of critical medical supplies such as Personal Protective Equipment, ventilators, and ICU beds [46]. Additionally, the psychological and physical burdens on healthcare workers increased, with reports of burnout and mental stress rising [47]. The pandemic led to significant disruptions in routine medical services, including delays in elective surgeries, regular check-ups, and chronic disease management [48]. The swift shift to telemedicine as a response to the pandemic provided an alternative way to access medical services. While telemedicine increased accessibility for some, it also created digital barriers, affecting those unable to access the necessary technology [49]. All these factors exacerbated the health impacts on low-income populations during the pandemic, hence the higher treatment effects observed in these groups post-lockdown.
During the pandemic, the health of elderly with chronic diseases was more severely affected. Studies indicate that prolonged social isolation and limited medical resources had adverse effects on the physical and mental health of the elderly, especially those with chronic diseases [50]. These individuals may have been unable to access necessary medical services during the pandemic, including regular health checks and chronic disease management [51]. Furthermore, prolonged home isolation may have led to reduced physical activity among the elderly, exacerbating chronic conditions [52]. These factors could explain why patients with chronic diseases experienced significantly higher treatment effects following the lifting of pandemic restrictions.