Journal Article

COVID-19: Pandemic Risk, Resilience and Possibilities for Aging Research

Wister, Andrew, Speechley, Mark

2020

Overview

The COVID-19 global crisis is reshaping Canadian society in unexpected and profound ways. The significantly higher morbidity and mortality risks by age suggest that this is largely a “gero-pandemic,” which has thrust the field of aging onto center stage. This editorial emphasizes that vulnerable older adults are also those most affected by COVID-19 in terms of infection risk, negative health effects, and the potential deleterious outcomes on a range of social, psychological, and economic contexts – from ageism to social isolation. We also contend that the pathogenic analysis of this pandemic needs to be balanced with a salutogenic approach that examines the positive adaptation of people, systems and society, termed COVID-19 resilience. This begs the question: how and why do some older adults and communities adapt and thrive better than others? This examination will lead to the identification and response to research and data gaps, challenges, and innovative opportunities as we plan for a future in which COVID-19 has become another endemic infection in the growing list of emerging and re-emerging pathogens.

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Subject: Adaptation / Adults / Age / Age discrimination / Aged / Ageism - ethics / Ageism - prevention & control / Ageism - psychology / Aging / Aging - physiology / Aging - psychology / Baby boomers / Betacoronavirus / Canada - epidemiology / Chronic illnesses / Coronavirus Infections - epidemiology / Coronavirus Infections - psychology / Coronavirus Infections - therapy / Coronaviruses / COVID-19 / Disease / Geriatrics - methods / Geriatrics - trends / Health problems / Humans / Infections / Institutionalization / Long term health care / Mental health / Morbidity / Mortality / Needs Assessment / Older people / Pandemics / Pandemics - ethics / Pathogens / Pneumonia, Viral - epidemiology / Pneumonia, Viral - psychology / Pneumonia, Viral - therapy / Resilience / Resilience (Psychology) / Risk Factors / SARS-CoV-2 / Social isolation / Social Marginalization - psychology / Social Stigma / Society / Vulnerability / Vulnerable Populations