From the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, older adults have been considered at risk of becoming very sick from the virus. If you are a senior or are a caregiver for an older adult, here is what you need to know about staying safe and healthy.
Are Older Adults More at Risk for COVID-19?
Data from the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that the chance of dying from COVID-19 increases with age.People aged 80 and over, as well as those with underlying health problems, have the highest risk of dying if they get the virus.
The risk of any infection, as well as potential complications, is higher if you do not have a strong immune system. Having a chronic illness or receiving medical treatment that dampens the immune system can make you susceptible.
Members of the elderly population are more likely than people in other age groups to have these risk factors, which increases the risks related to COVID-19.A person who was already unwell when they were infected with the virus will be more likely to develop serious complications than someone who was otherwise healthy when they got sick. Possible complications include pneumonia,blood clots, and sepsis.
How to Reduce Your Risk for Infectious Illness
Chronic Illness
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people with certain health conditions are more likely to become seriously ill or develop complications if they are infected with COVID-19, compared to healthy people.
Conditions That Increase COVID-19 SeverityHeart and cardiovascular conditions or disease: including a history of heart attack, heart failure, arrhythmias or irregular heart rhythms, peripheral artery disease, and high blood pressureLung disease: including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and pulmonary hypertensionDiabetes: including types 1 and 2 and gestationalObesity
Conditions That Increase COVID-19 Severity
Heart and cardiovascular conditions or disease: including a history of heart attack, heart failure, arrhythmias or irregular heart rhythms, peripheral artery disease, and high blood pressureLung disease: including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and pulmonary hypertensionDiabetes: including types 1 and 2 and gestationalObesity
People may also be at increased risk if they have conditions that affect their immune systems, such ascancerandHIV/AIDS. Additionally,organ transplantrecipients taking immunosuppressants andpeople taking biologicsfor the treatment of autoimmune diseases may also be higher at risk, since these treatments weaken the immune system.
Nursing Homes, Assisted Living, and Hospice
Elderly people also have certain risk factors that are related to their lifestyle.
What Seniors Can Do
Experiencing confusion, worry, and anxiety about your coronavirus-related risk is normal regardless of how old you are or your usual state of health. You may be feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, or helpless.
While you cannot control or know every factor that contributes to your risk, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself and your loved ones.
Talk to Your Doctor
If you are unsure of how your age or health status influences your risk, the best thing you can do is talk to your doctor. If you can’t go to the office for your appointment, you may be able to call, send a message through a secure patient portal, or even use a video chat service to have a conversation.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Doctor Discussion GuideGet our printable guide for your next doctor’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.Download PDFEmail AddressSign UpThank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up.There was an error. Please try again.
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How to Use Telehealth Visits During the COVID-19 Outbreak
Vaccinationis available to protect you from COVID-19 infection. The vaccine is recommended for most elderly adults, and it has been shown to be safe and effective. Vaccination reduces the risk of infection and lowers the likelihood that an infection will be serious.
In the event that you are exposed to the virus or experience symptoms, your doctor will be the best resource for information about getting tested and treated where you live.
How Is COVID-19 Diagnosed?
Limit Exposure
Don’t spend any time around anyone who has COVID-19, whether they have symptoms or not.
Talk to your doctor to get advice about how much you can go out around crowds or around other people who could potentially carry the virus. And it’s important to consider limiting people coming into your home, which can help reduce your risk of coming into contact with someone who is infected.
Practicing social distancing is important because you may come into contact with someone who does not feel sick, but has been infected with the virus and can spread it to you without realizing it. Likewise,youcould be infected and infect someone else.
Beware of ScamsDo not respond to phone calls, emails, or social media messages that ask you for personal information or money, or that offer you vaccinations, medication, or treatment for COVID-19.Remember that scammers can make a call or message look like it’s coming from someone in your community—or even a family member or friend.If you are not sure about who is contacting you and think it might be a scam, check the Federal Trade Commission’s list ofCOVID-19 scams.
Beware of Scams
Do not respond to phone calls, emails, or social media messages that ask you for personal information or money, or that offer you vaccinations, medication, or treatment for COVID-19.Remember that scammers can make a call or message look like it’s coming from someone in your community—or even a family member or friend.If you are not sure about who is contacting you and think it might be a scam, check the Federal Trade Commission’s list ofCOVID-19 scams.
Do not respond to phone calls, emails, or social media messages that ask you for personal information or money, or that offer you vaccinations, medication, or treatment for COVID-19.
Remember that scammers can make a call or message look like it’s coming from someone in your community—or even a family member or friend.
If you are not sure about who is contacting you and think it might be a scam, check the Federal Trade Commission’s list ofCOVID-19 scams.
Practice Proper Hand Hygiene
Correctly washing your hands is a habit that can save lives (yours and others)—and not just when there’s a global pandemic. Proper hand hygiene doesn’t just mean always washing your hands before you eat and after you use the bathroom; it also means that you wash your hands in the right way.
Sanitizing products can also be useful for wiping down objects and surfaces in your car and home, as well as things that you bring along when you leave the house, like your phone, wallet, and bag.
Take Care of Your Mind, Body, and Spirit
Do your best to continue doing all the things you normally do to stay healthy, like eating well, drinking water, getting enough sleep, and exercising.
Some tips for practicing self-care:
Tips for Caregivers
If you’re caring for an aging loved one, you may have questions about the risk of COVID-19. Many of the steps you’re taking to protect yourself and the people in your home will also benefit an elderly family member, but there are additional precautions you may want to consider.
Know Your Own Risk
If you are responsible for caring for someone else, you need to prioritize your own health and safety to ensure that you can be there for them. This encompasses everything from addressing your physical and mental wellbeing to assessing your own risk.
Taking steps to reduce your risk of exposure to COVID-19 helps you avoid spreading the virus to a vulnerable loved oneandreduces the risk that you’ll become sick yourself. These outcomes are of equal importance to ensuring that you, your family, and the people in your community are safe.
The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit ourcoronavirus news page.
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.World Health Organization (WHO).Report of the WHO-China Joint Mission on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)[pdf].U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.Older Adults. Healthy People 2020.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Are You at Higher Risk for Severe Illness?. National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), Division of Viral Diseases,1.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Preparing for COVID-19: Long-term Care Facilities, Nursing Homes. National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), Division of Viral Diseases.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Frequently Asked Questions about Hand Hygiene for Healthcare Personnel Responding to COVID-2019. National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), Division of Viral Diseases.Additional ReadingA Arbaje.Coronavirus and COVID-19: Caregiving for the Elderly. Johns Hopkins Medicine.Alzheimer’s Association.Coronavirus (COVID-19): Tips for Dementia Caregivers. Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Mental Health and Coping During COVID-19. National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), Division of Viral Diseases.Family Caregiver Alliance.Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources and Articles for Family Caregivers.The John A. Hartford Foundation.Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Resources for Older Adults, Family Caregivers and Health Care.
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.World Health Organization (WHO).Report of the WHO-China Joint Mission on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)[pdf].U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.Older Adults. Healthy People 2020.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Are You at Higher Risk for Severe Illness?. National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), Division of Viral Diseases,1.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Preparing for COVID-19: Long-term Care Facilities, Nursing Homes. National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), Division of Viral Diseases.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Frequently Asked Questions about Hand Hygiene for Healthcare Personnel Responding to COVID-2019. National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), Division of Viral Diseases.Additional ReadingA Arbaje.Coronavirus and COVID-19: Caregiving for the Elderly. Johns Hopkins Medicine.Alzheimer’s Association.Coronavirus (COVID-19): Tips for Dementia Caregivers. Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Mental Health and Coping During COVID-19. National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), Division of Viral Diseases.Family Caregiver Alliance.Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources and Articles for Family Caregivers.The John A. Hartford Foundation.Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Resources for Older Adults, Family Caregivers and Health Care.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
World Health Organization (WHO).Report of the WHO-China Joint Mission on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)[pdf].U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.Older Adults. Healthy People 2020.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Are You at Higher Risk for Severe Illness?. National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), Division of Viral Diseases,1.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Preparing for COVID-19: Long-term Care Facilities, Nursing Homes. National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), Division of Viral Diseases.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Frequently Asked Questions about Hand Hygiene for Healthcare Personnel Responding to COVID-2019. National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), Division of Viral Diseases.
World Health Organization (WHO).Report of the WHO-China Joint Mission on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)[pdf].
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.Older Adults. Healthy People 2020.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Are You at Higher Risk for Severe Illness?. National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), Division of Viral Diseases,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Preparing for COVID-19: Long-term Care Facilities, Nursing Homes. National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), Division of Viral Diseases.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Frequently Asked Questions about Hand Hygiene for Healthcare Personnel Responding to COVID-2019. National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), Division of Viral Diseases.
A Arbaje.Coronavirus and COVID-19: Caregiving for the Elderly. Johns Hopkins Medicine.Alzheimer’s Association.Coronavirus (COVID-19): Tips for Dementia Caregivers. Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Mental Health and Coping During COVID-19. National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), Division of Viral Diseases.Family Caregiver Alliance.Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources and Articles for Family Caregivers.The John A. Hartford Foundation.Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Resources for Older Adults, Family Caregivers and Health Care.
A Arbaje.Coronavirus and COVID-19: Caregiving for the Elderly. Johns Hopkins Medicine.
Alzheimer’s Association.Coronavirus (COVID-19): Tips for Dementia Caregivers. Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Mental Health and Coping During COVID-19. National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), Division of Viral Diseases.
Family Caregiver Alliance.Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources and Articles for Family Caregivers.
The John A. Hartford Foundation.Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Resources for Older Adults, Family Caregivers and Health Care.
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