Quality of life for different people may mean entirely other things. The basis to measure the quality of life has changed over the years. Rights over certain things have increased over the decades. For example, the right to access the internet was only declared integral a few years ago by the United Nations when no such right existed years prior. Data has become such a vital and powerful tool for globalization. Ideally, the right should be used to connect people better.
Now, however, the right to internet access is weaponized for scrupulous means. Access to the internet became even more critical due to the pandemic. Due to the nature of the virus, everyone is forced to do everything as contactless as possible. Activities such as banking, grocery shopping, and working must be done online. Minimizing contact with other people was the supposed barrier that can prevent the spread of the virus.
Quality of life has too many factors to consider. Elements such as living conditions, overall health, quality of education, economic security, and fundamental human rights are just a few known factors to improving the quality of life. Depending on a particular nation’s culture, these factors may differ. Overall health may different for urban and rural folks. Economic security might mean other things for metropolitan cities and provincial sectors of society. Calculating which factors changed through the pandemic ordeal might be difficult.
Regarding the quality of life, which elements did the pandemic drastically change?
Economic Viability
The rate of poverty increased over the pandemic. Millions became unemployed over the massive closures and layoffs implemented by large corporations around the world. Many of these businesses wanted to decrease their expenses. Demand was steadily decreasing while the supply was still constant.
For example, in the garments and fashion industry, the need for on-the-ground manufacturers declined heavily. Not a lot of people are out and about. Shopping decreased. As millions of people crossed the poverty line for the worse, the economic viability or the opportunity for further success of people indeed reduced.
The chance to better yourself economically is an integral element in your quality of life. Knowing when you will improve your conditions matters. Knowing when your life will improve for the better is vital for any person’s motivation.
Geriatric Healthcare
The older generations are the most vulnerable sector amidst the pandemic. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), older people are more susceptible to the COVID-19 virus. They are at greater risk of contracting the worst of the symptoms of the virus than others. They need to spend more effort and time not to get infected by it.
Even worse, younger generations seem to not care as much for the older generations. Geriatric healthcare is on the down-low in the entire duration of the pandemic. Quality of life degraded for the senior members of society. Taking care of the old became more expensive because of the health protocols in various home care agencies around the country. Thankfully, home service became more prominent at a time when older people are placed in bubbles.
Quality of Education
Kids are missing out on many things that people had when people were going to school physically. Online school has changed the landscape in terms of quality of education. Now that everything is learned through online schools, there is no telling whether the quality of what the children are learning is similar to before.
Education is always intermixed with the social interaction and learning aspects of schools, especially at a ripe young age. There is no telling whether the graduates’ quality will be lesser than those who did without any online schooling before the pandemic. One thing is for sure, however. The results will be entirely different down the road.
Limited Leisure
Leisure has become extremely limited in the age of the pandemic. A leisurely activity is an integral part of the life of any person. Having a leisurely activity to do that is not work-related and is of choice is one measurement for the quality of life. Because of the countless lockdowns implemented across multiple states, doing leisurely activities has become extremely limited. Everyone is forced to live and play by the book, similar to how a prison is run.
Now, people are just settling for just at-home activities to pass up the time. A person’s quality of life is hugely different when only presented with limited leisurely activities to choose from.
The ongoing global health crisis affected many things. Among them is how people live their lives. Because of this situation, many were forced to adjust. Understanding these factors can help people ensure that they can cope well.