Supporting Older People During the COVID-19 Pandemic is Everyone’s Duty

Womenscorner Desk
September 29, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic is impacting the worldwide population in drastic ways. In many countries, older people face the foremost threats and challenges at this point . Although all age groups are in danger of contracting COVID-19, older people face significant risk of developing severe illness if they contract the disease thanks to physiological changes that accompany ageing and potential underlying health conditions.

“Supporting and protecting older people living alone within the community is everyone’s business,” said Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, addressing journalists at a virtual press briefing today. “I am reminding governments and authorities that each one communities must be supported to deliver interventions to ensure older people have what they have . All older people should be treated with respect and dignity during these times. Remember, we leave nobody behind.”

In his opening statement, Dr Kluge gave key figures associated with the event of COVID-19 within the population of older people. “Older adults are at a significantly increased risk of severe disease following infection from COVID-19. this is often a crucial observation for the ecu Region: of the highest 30 countries with the most important percentage of older people, about one (Japan) are our Member States in Europe. The countries most suffering from the pandemic are among them.”

Over 95% of those deaths occurred in those older than 60 years. quite 50% of all fatalities involved people aged 80 years or older. Reports show that 8 out of 10 deaths are occurring in individuals with a minimum of one comorbidity, especially those with disorder , hypertension and diabetes, but also with a variety of other chronic underlying conditions.

Together with a panel of experts – Manfred Huber, Coordinator, Healthy Ageing, Disability and Long-Term Care at WHO/Europe; Catherine Smallwood, Senior Emergency Officer at WHO/Europe; and Alana Officer, Unit Head, Demographic Change and Healthy Ageing at WHO Headquarters – Dr Kluge answered questions on the challenges faced by the older population and people who support and look after them within the context of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Support for older people, their families and their caregivers is an important a part of the countries’ comprehensive response to the pandemic. During times of isolation and quarantine, older people need safe access to nutritious food, basic supplies, money, medicine to support their physical health, and social care. Dissemination of accurate information is critical to making sure that older people have clear messages and resources on the way to stay physically and mentally healthy during the pandemic and what to try to to if they ought to fall ill.

The panelists’ responses highlighted the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle while in self-quarantine or in isolation. Older people are often hooked in to the support from communities and carers in maintaining daily routines, staying active, and eating nutritious, balanced meals. psychological state during anxious times is also a key consideration. Finding ways to remain well-connected is even more important for this age bracket as many don't have quick access to digital platforms. Dr Kluge conveyed a special message to younger viewers: “If keeping your grandparents safe means you can’t visit them face to face , ask them a day in order that they don’t feel alone. Physical distancing isn't social isolation.”

Health and social care workers play a critical role in providing long-term care to older people. “Already before the COVID-19 pandemic, they worked in challenging conditions, whether within the community or in home facilities the present situation may be a painful reminder to not cut budgets for essential services,” Dr Kluge emphasized. “Our heroes, frontline people like nurses and health care workers, give the simplest of themselves a day – we must provide them with the proper information, training and private protective equipment”.

In closing, Dr Kluge summed up his 3 key messages underscoring that combating COVID-19 may be a collective responsibility:

While older people are at highest risk from COVID-19, all of us, in the least ages, got to act in solidarity to stop further community spread of the virus.
It is crucial that we support all health and social care workers equally and provides special attention to those that provide nursing and social care services for older people. Supporting and protecting older people living alone within the community is everyone’s business.