Loving Our Elderly Neighbor During the Coronavirus

Earlier this month in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advised that those older than 65, and those with serious chronic medical conditions, such as heart or lung disease and diabetes, have a higher risk of complications from the virus and thus should practice social distancing. This was no idle advice; 80% of the deaths in China were attributed to those 60 years and older. Those are do not fall into the category of being high risk or elderly can still infect those that are, so social distancing is a critical prevention strategy.

Social distancing can be negative for all of us, but older persons are more at risks for the side effects of shutting themselves off from the rest of the world. A 2019 study found that when older adults interacted with people outside of normal friendship and family circles, they “were more likely to have higher levels of physical activity, greater positive moods, and fewer negative feelings.” The effects of social distancing – loneliness and isolation – can have the opposite effect, and for older Americans whose families are distant, or who live alone, social distancing can feel especially isolating.

Here are a few suggestions for keeping our elderly family and friends safe during this time:

• At the individual level, elders and those in their kinship circles can create schedules to help them stay in contact with family, friends, and community.
• Encourage older Americans who must stay home to stay active if possible.
• Take an inventory of the older adults in your web of relationships and identify their needs.
• Recognize the importance of faith and religious practice to the well-being of older Americans.
• Remember that elderly Americans may need help utilizing digital tools and navigating the online world.
• As they move out of the public eye, we must be intentional about moving closer to older Americans through other means that do not necessarily involve physical contact.

See Naomi Cahn & Amy Ziettlow, Loving Our Elderly Neighbor During the Coronavirus, Institute for Family Studies, March 16, 2020.

Special thanks to Naomi Cahn (Harold H. Greene Professor of Law, George Washington University School of Law) for bringing this article to my attention.