As the 2019 pandemic of the Coronavirus Disease continues to adversely impact not only the population of the world but also the economy, there has been several findings. Among seniors, this infectious disease can be lethal. The fatality rate for individuals aged 80 and over, for instance, is 15 percent. This concerning mortality rate illustrates why further efforts have to be taken to avoid the infection of our aging loved ones by COVID-19. The following underlying factors make them more susceptible to this viral disease.

Immune System

Your body’s immunity becomes weaker as you age. The body does not have the normal power and energy to combat pathogens, leaving it vulnerable to diseases. This explains why older people fall victim to COVID-19 and some have, sadly, succumbed to this contagious viral illness. In order to mitigate the spread and death of COVID-19, seniors should maintain substantial insurance. To help them fight pathogens like the coronavirus, they should be exposed to a diet that will surely increase their body’s immunity.

Pre-Existing Medical Conditions

A large number of older individuals have medical problems that are pre-existing. They suffer from conditions like cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic respiratory disease, hypertension, and diabetes. The normal functioning of the body’s immunity is impaired by these medical conditions. With weaker body immunity, once they catch the coronavirus, it becomes too easy to become seriously ill. In order to seek care for these chronic illnesses, older loved ones have to be admitted to the hospital. In the United States where the coronavirus is prevalent, is putting stress on the health care system. Unfortunately due to overcrowding, some seniors can’t be seen for routine preventative care, and therefore succumb to complications from those pre-existing conditions.

Congested Nursing and Senior Living Homes

By coming into contact with an infected person or surface, the coronavirus disease is transmitted. This means that crowded close environments provide a medium for this lethal virus to spread. Also, congested facilities like nursing homes or senior living centers are exposing this pandemic not just to their caregivers but also to the seniors. Seniors who have a compromised immune system and also pre-existing medical conditions can easily spread the virus. These types of places have been a breeding ground for Covid.

In order to survive this pandemic, the decongestion of our senior living facilities and nursing homes would help. We should also make sure our elderly loved ones are practicing good hygiene and safety precautions in senior living communities.

Poverty

When battling infectious diseases such as COVID-19 among the elderly, poverty has presented a challenge. Some have been abandoned and live alone in poverty in their homes. Due to their income, they are unable to receive adequate medical care, a balanced diet, or stay connected with a smartphone, TV, radios, etc. Being cut off from the world and daily knowledge about how to avoid the spread of the coronavirus puts them at risk of contracting this viral illness.

Mobility Challenges

With weakened bones, aging comes along with many other health challenges. This is why some seniors have to use mobility aids, such as wheelchairs and walkers. But it’s not a guarantee that they can travel freely from one location to another in order to gain access to vital resources that they need, such as medicine or a balanced diet. When infected with coronavirus disease, access to the appropriate care becomes an issue. Some end up succumbing to the disease because of the difficulties of mobility.

Misinformation

In the aftermath of COVID-19, a variety of COVID-19 preventive steps were recommended by various health agencies, experts, and governments in different countries. But problems such as the lack of sufficient means of communication have jeopardized the transmission to certain individuals of this essential information. The elderly are the most affected, given that a large population of seniors lives in poverty. They need to rely on data that comes from the people around them. This poses a serious challenge as some individuals depend on the myths and misconceptions of coronavirus disease on whom they rely. Some seniors don’t know how COVID-19 actually spreads, or its signs and symptoms, due to misinformation. If seniors get sick they may delay asking for help and if their health problems get too bad, it may be too late to give them medication that will save them.

Mistakes Made By The Government

Governments across the globe have a responsibility to protect their people in the best possible way. They have to make sure citizens have basic needs. The government needs to ensure that its seniors are well secured in times of a crisis, such as an outbreak of a disease. Sadly, in many nations, this is not the case, and COVID-19 has shown just how inept certain governments are. There have been no steps enforced to protect those most vulnerable to this infectious disease—the elderly. A number of seniors have lost their lives to COVID-19 with the burden exerted on health care services in countries with unreliable policies.

Bottom Line

The elderly have been adversely affected by this new pandemic. The seriousness of this illness rises with age, according to the coronavirus disease fatality rate for each age group. Several factors have led to the troubling death rate among seniors, as discussed above. Consequently, to help flatten the curve, states, health agencies, individuals, and other related authorities should take this matter seriously.

Senior Affairs is committed to reporting the latest findings and researching new products to help prevent the spread of this infectious disease among the elderly.