Coronavirus (COVID-19)

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> More news, resources and good practices are to be found below on this page

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As the coronavirus COVID-19 is spreading across Europe and worldwide, national authorities and EU institutions do their utmost to address the pandemic. Their key objective is to ensure that across the European Union, hospitals and health care professionals will maintain their capacity to provide intensive care to all who need urgent medical attention.  

With this webpage, we wish to contribute to the general effort by providing reliable information on the pandemic and the challenges it raises to older persons and to all of us as a society. You will also find recommendatios, good practices and initiatives from our members and other partners.  
  

Coronavirus-photo_by_Lucrezia_Carnelos-Unsplash-cropped2Solidarity as the best response

While EU countries seek to coordinate their efforts and pool resources and knowledge to address the pandemic, many EU countries have taken containment measures to slow down the spread of the virus and prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed with too many very severe cases. Yet, public authorities efforts will only pay off if each of us takes action and acts responsibly. 

No one is invincible: we are all at risk of getting infected by the virus. But older persons, persons with disabilities, or persons with pre-existing medical conditions might suffer much more severe consequences. Respecting the containment measures are an act of solidarity with those at risk of most serious outcomes and with the health and care professionals that are on the frontline.

“This is a time when we need to help each other within our families, neighbourhoods and communities. We need to rebuild solidarity and social fabric that are so important when a crisis of such magnitude strikes. To fight the virus, greater solidarity and respect for each other are needed from all of us!”.

Anne-Sophie Parent, AGE Secretary General

  
Physical distancing should not mean social distancing

Containment measures often imply distancing (often called ‘social distancing’) ensuring that individuals will stay physically away from one another. If physical distancing is required to constrain the virus spread, it should not not break our social bonds. There are many alternative ways to stay connected remotely with our dear ones, e.g. through telephone, regular post, internet and social media.
While the current time of quarantine shows how digital technologies can help connect people, they also remind us, perhaps more blatantly than ever, of the inequalities that exist in accessing them. Using internet and virtual communication means may be a challenge for older persons who do not use them in their daily lives. 
  

COVID-19 and human rights in older age

Older persons have the same rights as others, and these must be equally protected during the pandemic.

COVID-19_&_human_rights_concerns_for_older_persons-April20-coverAs evidence collected from our member organisations and external experts demonstrate, the coronavirus pandemic poses distinct threats to the equal enjoyment of human rights by older persons, namely in terms of access to health and social care, discrimination and social exclusion. We are particularly concerned by the situation of older people in residential settings, those who live alone and older persons who receive care at home. In our publication COVID-19 and human rights concerns for older persons we explain why older persons needs particular attention to ensure their rights are equally protected during the pandemic.

Learn more about the human rights implications of COVID-19 for older persons on our dedicated webpage
  

Initiatives and good practices about COVID-19 

Below you can find the list of the main news we published in relation to COVID-19. Most of them have been developed thanks to the input collected from our member organisations. We thank them for their time and for the tremendous job they are doing on the ground!

This list is regularly updated. If you are aware of inspiring initiatives taking place in your region, please share it with us: anne.melard@age-platform.eu
  

> Good practices and initiatives to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic

> Some news and initiatives from AGE members

 

Useful resources

COVID-19 general information:

 
Guidance for individuals:

  
Guidance for healthcare professionals:

  
Other guidance or recommendations:

  
COVID-19 and older persons:

  
COVID-19 and Human Rights:

​More resources can be found on our dedicated page on COVID-19 and human rights of older people.

  
Positions of AGE member organisations:

Civil society statements in relation to:

 

This website is developed with the financial support of an operating grant of the Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme of the European Commission. The contents of the articles are the sole responsibility of AGE Platform Europe and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Commission.