Jessica Chu

My thesis topic

My thesis project is about evaluating the impacts and effects of COVID-19 on the quality of life and mental health of older adults living in long-term care (LTC) homes. With the government mandated lockdowns and restrictions, it left many feeling isolated and lonely, which in turn will influence an individual’s mental health and quality of life. However, the older adult population was not talked about enough, especially those living in LTC homes. Mental health among older adults is a major concern as it often goes unnoticed or even misdiagnosed. Mental health has also been seen to have an effect on quality of life, which can result in negative health outcomes.

My thesis supervisors are Dr. John Hirdes and Reem Mulla.

Why did you do this project?

Over the course of my undergraduate degree, I have always had a keen interest in mental health. I was also interested in how we could better improve mental health in all age groups globally. With the COVID-19 pandemic, I felt like there was a lot of uncertainty and fear, which resulted in isolation. Mental health was hugely impacted during the pandemic and is a topic that should be talked about more often. Mental health often goes unnoticed and bringing more awareness to this topic can lead to the creation and implementations of programs to promote healthy aging and living.

What did you enjoy about it the most?

I enjoyed having the opportunity to work closely with Dr. Hirdes and Reem. I enjoyed working with them, and was able to receive a lot of feedback from two experienced researchers. This thesis allowed me to have the creative freedom to research a topic of interest. I also enjoyed being able to tie in my lived experiences with this topic.

How do you think it will help in the future?

I was able to learn and use the Statistical Analysis Software (SAS), and conduct qualitative reviews and literature reviews, which are all beneficial for future work in research and grad school. I gained a lot of experience from writing this thesis, which I can take with me whether I decide to pursue further education or enter the workforce. The thesis has also provided me with many new opportunities that I am excited to embark on.

I am extremely thankful to have had the support and opportunity to work with Dr. John Hirdes, Reem Mulla and their team. From this thesis experience, I hope to continuously bring more awareness to promoting better mental health for older adults and promoting healthy aging in place.