When was the last time you wore a mask? Do you still keep a bottle of hand sanitizer in your car or by your front door? For some people COVID is over, but for others, especially older adults, COVID is still a very real threat. Older adults are more at risk of catching COVID than the general population. Research shows that older adults (age 65+) “make up 17 percent of the U.S. population, but they have accounted for three-quarters of all COVID deaths.” Adults age 65 and older are hospitalized at 11 times the rate of their younger counterparts. Older adults are now in a position where they have to weigh the risk of catching COVID with the negative effects of continuing to isolate.
How COVID is affecting older adults
- Isolation, as older adults were more likely to observe lockdown/quarantine.
- Anxiety, anger, and frustration as they miss out on events and opportunities.
- Feelings of hopelessness and feeling like they are wasting their remaining years.
- Decreasing overall health if older adults avoid the doctor for preventative health visits.
- Increased risk of cognitive decline (Due to isolation).
- Difficulty finding in-home care.
Finding info
- Check current COVID levels for your county at COVID.gov
- Click here for the Washtenaw County Health Department’s page on COVID.
Get vaccinated
- Click here for information from the Center for Disease Control about COVID vaccines.
- Use the CDC’s COVID Vaccine Locator to find vaccines near you.
- Need to get to and from a vaccine appointment? Get in touch with AARP Ride @ 50+. They’re offering free transportation so people can get their shots (see flyer below)
