Small acts of resistance – community-dwelling oldest old reclaiming autonomy during a pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted societies and social lives worldwide, leading to wide research interest in its consequences across age groups. This paper investigates the ways in which older adults strived to maintain autonomy during the confinement measures and age-based restrictions. The study draws on empirical data collected as part of the Cardiovascular Risk factors, Aging and Dementia (CAIDE85+) study. Data include qualitative interviews with 15 older persons (aged 80 years and older) living in eastern Finland conducted via telephone between August and December 2020. The transcribed data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings show that interviewees performed small acts of resistance , manifesting rebelliousness, defiance, and opposition towards restrictive measures imposed by authorities, close family, and friends. Some of the acts were found to be hidden forms of resistance, while others openly challenged official restrictions and recommendations. Also, the refusal to conform to the role of a vulnerable old person indicated indirect resistance towards negative stereotypes. The study contributes to recognizing the different ways in which older adults maintain their sense of autonomy, act as active agents capable of making decisions regarding their own health and well-being, and challenge ageist practices in their everyday lives. The findings highlight the need to challenge age-based categorizations and the perception of all older adults as vulnerable and in need of protection. Greater efforts are needed to include older adults as active participants in decision-making regarding their everyday lives. • Doing things yourself and on your own terms is an important way of maintaining autonomy in older age. • Small, mundane acts can be significant in the formation of agency and a sense of autonomy. • Seeing older adults as “a vulnerable group” can reinforce negative ways of structuring ageing. • Greater efforts are needed to include older adults in decision making regarding their own lives.