The Challenges of Aging During COVID-19: Long-Term Care, Vaccination and Isolation

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the danger COVID-19 poses to older adults and people living in long-term care facilities has been of great concern. COVID-19 has claimed the lives of more than 125,000 long-term care residents and staff and 8 out of 10 COVID-19 deaths reported have been among adults aged 65 and older. Now with two authorized vaccines and the CDC recommendation of older adults for early vaccine access, there is hope, but there are still challenges with distribution. It is also necessary to address the pandemic’s mental health impact on older adults, particularly loneliness and isolation. While older adults have reported less loneliness than their younger counterparts during the pandemic, about one in four report anxiety or depression due to the pandemic. Speakers discussed:

• Overview of COVID-19’s challenges to long-term care and the future implications for nursing homes
• Vaccination and vaccine distribution challenges for older adults
• A health plan’s efforts to address pandemic isolation and loneliness