Community Bonding: Experience Report of Online Groups with Elderly People
In times of social isolation necessary as a sanitary measure to prevent wider spread of the coronavirus, the elderly were particularly affected. This article aims to detail an internship experience in creating and facilitating online reflexive groups open to elderly who were previously regulars in an institution linked to the city hall, that had its physical space transformed into a screening center for coronavirus patients. These groups happened via whatsapp, and each had about 8 meetings. Our original goal was to create and maintain strong bonds between peers, healthcare providers and the institution itself. The groups had mostly positive feedback and themes discussed varied, ranging from gender issues, ageism, technology, intergenerational bonding, the pandemic, grieving and loss.
