{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,17]],"date-time":"2026-10-17T22:16:12Z","timestamp":1792275372044,"version":"4.4.0"},"reference-count":44,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,9]],"date-time":"2025-07-09T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1752019200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Public Health"],"abstract":"<jats:sec><jats:title>Introduction<\/jats:title><jats:p>The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted civic life, particularly for older adults at increased risk for severe morbidity and mortality. Yet, little is known about the longer-term impacts on their daily routines and how this may affect health and wellbeing.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title><jats:p>This qualitative study utilized data from older US adults who participated in the COVID-19 Coping Study\u2019s three-year follow-up online survey, conducted in April\u2013May 2023. The primary aim was to understand <jats:italic>how<\/jats:italic> and <jats:italic>why<\/jats:italic> daily routines have changed among older Americans (<jats:italic>N<\/jats:italic>\u202f=\u202f1,309).<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results<\/jats:title><jats:p>Participants had an average age of 71 years, with approximately 74% female and 93% identifying as Non-Hispanic White. We conducted content and thematic analysis of open-ended survey responses to identify five key reasons for still-altered routines 3 years after the pandemic onset: (1) COVID-19 risk and exposure, (2) altered access, (3) broader life circumstances, (4) emotional health, and (5) physical health.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Discussion<\/jats:title><jats:p>These findings highlight the enduring impacts of the pandemic on older adults\u2019 routines and underscore the importance of integrating public health strategies that prioritize routine stability to enhance mental, physical, and social health. To support older adults\u2019 wellbeing during and beyond public health emergencies, we recommend strengthening community-based programs, improving access to health and social services, and designing adaptable interventions that help individuals rebuild and maintain meaningful daily routines.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2025.1573302","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,10]],"date-time":"2025-07-10T05:45:17Z","timestamp":1752126317000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":6,"title":["\u201cIt just isn\u2019t the same\u201d: altered routines among older Americans three years after the COVID-19 pandemic onset"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"13","author":[{"given":"Rebecca A.","family":"Milan","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mallory A. 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