In this second episode of our COVID-19 mini-series, we begin to explore health disparities and discrimination related to the pandemic. Because there is so much to talk about on this issue, we will be examining COVID-19 health inequities across multiple episodes in the mini-series. Today we focus on ageism. Lindsey shares evidenced-based research to help explain exactly why older adults are disproportionately affected by COVID-19. Rachel learns about the surprising superpower of supercentenarians. And, Rachel and Lindsey discuss ageism embedded in the news and social media, and even in vaccine trials related to COVID-19.
Stay tuned for our next episode on COVID-related health disparities in racial and ethnic minorities, where we dive deeper into the intersection of chronic disease, mental health, racism, poverty, and trauma.
Resources discussed in today’s episode:
Stokes, E. K., Zambrano, L. D., Anderson, K. N., et al. (2020). Coronavirus disease 2019 case surveillance -- United States, January 22-May 30, 2020. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 69(24), 759-765. Accessed at https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6924e2.htm#suggestedcitation
CDC Provisional COVID-19 Death Counts by Sex, Age, and State: https://data.cdc.gov/NCHS/Provisional-COVID-19-Death-Counts-by-Sex-Age-and-S/9bhg-hcku
COVID in United States Nursing Homes:
CMS COVID-19 Nursing Home Data: https://data.cms.gov/stories/s/COVID-19-Nursing-Home-Data/bkwz-xpvg
Mueller, A. L., McNamara, M. S., & Sinclair, D. A. (2020). Why does COVID-19 disproportionately affect older people?. Aging, 12(10).
APA on Ageism and COVID-19: https://www.apa.org/topics/covid-19/research-ageism
Ageism in the media:
Older adults and COVID-19 vaccine trials:
University of California San Francisco’s Geriatrics Department of Medicine “Resources for Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic”: https://geriatrics.ucsf.edu/patient-care/covid-19/resources-older-adults-during-covid-19-pandemic