What is our place in this topic? How do we exist in the bigger picture? What groups are already helping?
According to theCenters for Disease Control, adults over the age of 60 are at higher risk for developing more serious cases of coronavirus, so it recommends they stay home as much as possible to reduce the risk of getting sick. However, isolating themselves can lead to loneliness, anxiety or depression; in addition to lack of socialization, there are concerns about food insecurity because they do not have access to senior center services due to the shutdown. Due to outbreaks at nursing homes, visitors are often not allowed.
While some of these seniors are relatively healthy, a significant portion of them are not. Outside of nursing homes,15% of America’s 65-and-older population (more than 7 million seniors) is frail, a condition that greatly reduces their ability to cope with even minor medical setbacks.Sixty percent have at least two chronic conditions, such as heart disease, lung disease or diabetes, that raise the chance that the coronavirus could kill them. But the virus is far from the only threat older adults face. The specter of hunger and malnutrition looms, as sites serving group meals shut down and seniors are unable or afraid to go out and shop for groceries. An estimated5.5 million older adults were considered “food insecure” — without consistent access to sufficient healthy food ― even before this crisis.
The pandemic has brought awareness to a demographic that historically has been cast aside as they’ve aged, now we have the opportunity to honor our senior citizens by engaging them in conversation and making sure they have adequate resources like food and supplies.