Changes in grocery shopping behaviors of community-dwelling older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic

In order to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic influenced older adults’ grocery shopping behaviors, semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with 23 older adults using the Social-Ecological Model (SEM) as a framework. Interviews were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. Data were analyzed using deductive content analysis. Results revealed that the pandemic affected grocery shopping behaviors of community-dwelling older adults in response to factors at the organizational level of the SEM. Findings from this study provide useful information for nutrition educators as they help older adults establish shopping behaviors for safe and less stressful store environments, virtual shopping environments, and home environments.