Older People in the Context of COVID-19: A European Perspective

Abstract

The Coronavirus pandemic and associated measures for the protection of the public have impacted differently on different parts of the population and across different nations. In many areas, COVID-19 has also either exacerbated already existing or created new inequalities in relation to specific parts of the population. Older individuals are one group in society that has been widely impacted, while social isolation/shielding measures have placed them in higher risk of loneliness, isolation, financial deprivation and mental health challenges, to name a few. This commentary reflects on such inequalities across four European nations (the United Kingdom (UK), Republic of Ireland, Finland, Spain) and draws attention to the critical role of Gerontological Social Work (GSW), while emphasizing the ways in which social work can intervene. First, we identify common concerns for the rights of older people that span across all four nations and second, we identify significant roles for GSW practitioners at the individual, community and policy levels and conclude with a call for GSW in these four nations to be reimagined in a time of global crisis.

Physical and mental well-being, risk and protective factors among older lesbians /gay women in the United Kingdom during the initial COVID-19 2020 lockdown

“…This initial lockdown lasted for several months with many people isolating at home, especially those who were "shielding," that is, at increased clinical risk and advised to stay at home full-time. 5 It is now well recognized that COVID-19 and national lockdowns have had a significant and often detrimental impact on older people (Pentaris et al, 2020). This article addresses their impact on the physical and mental wellbeing of older lesbians/gay women in the UK.…”

“…In the global north, deaths from COVID have been primarily among older people, and this is gendered, with more older men than women dying from COVID (Mallapaty, 2020), and more older women than men being affected by 'Long COVID' 1 (Sudre et al, 2020). The crisis, and associated lockdowns, are also having a profound broader effect on the mental and physical wellbeing of older people, associated with disruptions to social connections and support (Pentaris et al, 2020). Given that older people are the predominant users of costly health and social care resources, it is vital that we understand what promotes good health and mitigates poor health risks among all older people, including during a pandemic.…”

The covid-19 pandemic and care homes for older people in Europe - deaths, damage and violations of human rights

“…The adoption of a critical and radical approach to social work with care home residents is called for across Europe (Banks et al, 2020). Social workers need to reclaim their human rights mandate (Donnelly & O'Brien, 2020;Pentaris et al, 2020). It is time, and timely, that social workers, and their employers, respond to this call to arms for the sake of the lives and wellbeing of residents and their families and the professional credibility of social work with older people.…”

Responses to COVID-19 in Major Social Work Journals: A Systematic Review of Empirical Studies, Comments, and Editorials

“…Such acts reinforced a discourse of dependency and burden since they were regarded as helpless, frail, and at risk. It in turn promoted negative ageist messages rather than acknowledging the strengths, resources, and rights of older adults to make autonomous decisions (Pentaris et al, 2020). It also ignored the possibility of fostering productive engagement and intergenerational solidarity by gerontological social workers (Swinford et al, 2020).…”