Who are the Most At-Risk Older Adults in the COVID-19 Era? It’s Not Just Those in Nursing Homes

TitleWho are the Most At-Risk Older Adults in the COVID-19 Era? It’s Not Just Those in Nursing Homes
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2020
AuthorsCohen, MA, Tavares, J
JournalJournal of Aging & Social Policy
ISSN Number0895-9420
KeywordsCOVID-19, home care workers, respiratory illnesses, seniors, social isolation
Abstract

ABSTRACTCOVID-19 has taken a terrible toll on the nursing home population. Yet, there are five times the number of seniors living in the community who are also extremely vulnerable because they suffer from respiratory illnesses. Using the 2018 wave of the Health and Retirement Study we analyze this group of roughly 7 million seniors living in the community and find that they have multiple risk factors that make them particularly exposed. We also show how current strategies for protecting this population may be exacerbating risks and suggest concrete steps for better protecting this group.

Notes

PMID: 32418475

DOI10.1080/08959420.2020.1764310
Citation Keydoi:10.1080/08959420.2020.1764310