A Framework for Aging-Friendly Services and Supports in the Age of COVID-19

ABSTRACT

COVID-19 has revealed gaps in services and supports for older adults, even as needs for health and social services have dramatically increased and may produce a cascade of disability after the pandemic subsides. In this essay, we discuss the perfect storm of individual and environmental risk factors, including deconditioning, reductions in formal and informal care support, and social isolation. We then evaluate opportunities that have arisen for strengthening person-centered services and supports for older adults, through in-home acute and primary medical care, aggressive use of video telehealth and social interaction, and implementation of volunteer or paid intergenerational service.

KEYWORDS:

• Aging
• long-term care
• policy
• telehealth
• intergenerational programs
• healthy aging
• informal caregiving

Key Points

• COVID 19-related sheltering-in-place will decondition and socially isolate older adults;

• A cascade of disability may ensue and overwhelm the health and long-term care systems;

• In-home care, virtual care and connection, and intergenerational exchanges are indicated

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.