CHE 327 Week One Forum
Part I
I think outbreaks of disease among the older adult populations can have serious implications. First, older people are at elevated risks of mortality as well as severe disease whenever there is an infection outbreak, mainly because of underlying conditions, which place them at severe impacts such as in the case of COVID-19 (United Nations, 2020). Also, I think that older people may experience age discrimination on matters regarding medical care, triage, and the therapies necessary to save a life. Global inequalities imply that older persons in the developing world may not access essential health services. Pandemic such as COVID-19 may cause scaling back of essential services that are not related to the disease, further heightening risks to older persons’ lives.
Second, a disease outbreak may lead to additional vulnerabilities as well as neglect. Adult populations, especially those living in care homes or institutions, may face neglect and mistreatment. Likewise, older people who are either quarantined in centers for caregiving or with members of the family can be abused, neglected, or exposed to instances of violence (United Nations, 2020). Older people in unsafe situations such as dwellers in informal settlements, prisons, and refugee camps are at risk because of overcrowding, limited health service access, and challenges in accessing humanitarian assistance.
The last real-world implication for adults is threatened by social networks, jobs, and pensions. Adults receiving home care may have to live alone or be affected by long distances. However, such adults may have to be digitally included in health care.
Part II
Damani Phillips
Indeed, increased vulnerability appears to be a significant challenge for the older adult populations in outbreaks (Hutchins et al., 2009). Therefore, preventing the populations must be a significant concern for governments, for example, in the case of highly contagious diseases. Are there possible public health emergencies that can be used to reinforce the need for preparedness as well as a practical response among vulnerable populations? What kind of preparedness would enable the older adult populations to respond appropriately when there is a pandemic?
Michael A
Thank you, Mike, for the perspective on how older adult populations impact work environments in many countries. You have surely supported your claims with the case of Italy’s advancing age. Based on the recent Coronavirus pandemic, would it be appropriate for governments to cap the age that people can be informal employment?
References
Hutchins, S.S., Truman, B.I., Merlin, T.L., & Redd, S.C. (2009). Protecting vulnerable populations from pandemic influenza in the United States: A strategic imperative. Supplement, 99(S2), S243-S248.
United Nations (2020). Policy brief: The impact of COVID-19 on older patients. Retrieved from https://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/un_policy_brief_on_covid-19_and_older_persons_1_may_2020.pdf