Nursing home residents aren’t the only sub-population of older adults at high risk for contracting COVID-19.
The nearly 7 million older adults who live in their own homes and apartments and struggle with respiratory illnesses are at high risk for contracting COVID-19, according to an April 21 blog by Marc Cohen, co-director of the LeadingAge LTSS Center @UMass Boston.
“Part of what makes this population so vulnerable is that they have multiple additional risk factors in addition to their respiratory problems,” writes Cohen in the blog, which was published online by the Center for Consumer Engagement in Health Innovation at Community Catalyst.
In addition to experiencing health issues like asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and emphysema, these elders are more likely to be unmarried, live alone, live below the poverty line, and report that their health is fair or poor, according to an analysis Cohen conducted with Jane Tavares, an LTSS Center research fellow.
These elders are also 1.6 times more likely to need long-term services and supports in their homes, and 2.9 times more likely to have 4 or more chronic conditions, than people without respiratory issues.
Cohen underscores that physical distancing is an essential measure to protect medically vulnerable older adults from the coronavirus. However, he writes, such distancing “is certain to aggravate other health issues for this population.”
To prioritize the safety and care of all groups who are at heightened risk for COVID-19, Cohen recommends:
- Increased testing to determine who has the virus.
- Proactive assessment of underlying medical and social conditions that pose a higher risk of death should older adults contract COVID-19.
- Enhanced social support to combat isolation and loneliness.
- Home delivery of essential food and medicine to avoid potential exposure during shopping trips.
- Added protections for home care workers.
“Even amidst the mounting reports of catastrophic transmission and fatality clusters within institutional settings, we must be proactive in monitoring and caring for the millions of older adults with pre-existing respiratory disease living on their own in the community,” concludes Cohen.