“Senior Citizens Have Very Little Resistance Power, and We Have Little Immunity from Coronavirus”: COVID-19 and the Health of Older Women in India

The COVID-19 pandemic ruthlessly punctured taken-for-granted notions about health, healthcare, and safety. Although vaccines provided some safety, older women with illnesses or disabilities remained at high risk of infection. This chapter explores the experiences of nine older women aged 60–78 from diverse socioeconomic and linguistic backgrounds in urban India during the pandemic. Narrative inquiry and the intersectionality framework were used to analyze the data. The chapter illustrates how gender in association with intersectional vulnerabilities such as poverty and financial dependence, singlehood, disability, and medical problems exacerbated feelings of loss, deprivation, and being adrift in older women. Participants struggled to adapt to new technologies and relied on others for everyday tasks and access to vaccines. The unavailability of routine medical care created worries about health, especially in the presence of chronic illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, physical disabilities, and other health conditions. The forced closure of places of worship caused acute loss and anxiety. This chapter provides valuable first-person accounts from a sample of older women in India. The findings highlight the need for interventions by mental health professionals, community workers, policymakers, and other stakeholders working with older adults. Addressing the health needs of vulnerable and marginalized older women must be a priority in pandemic response and recovery efforts.