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COVID-19 and older adults in Israel – common challenges and recommendations

Jiska Cohen-Mansfield (Department of Health Promotion School of Public Health, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; Minerva Center for Interdisciplinary Study of End of Life, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel and Igor Orenstein Chair for the Study of Geriatrics, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel)

Quality in Ageing and Older Adults

ISSN: 1471-7794

Article publication date: 26 November 2020

Issue publication date: 12 December 2020

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Abstract

Purpose

The impact of COVID-19 has most dramatically affected the older population, and nursing homes have become infection hotspots. As a response, governments have ordered isolation of older adults in geriatric institutions owing to the high risk of critical illness and mortality. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the potential impact of current policies on nursing homes and community-based care and provide suggestions for improvement in care.

Design/methodology/approach

Taking the situation in Israel as an example, the author discussed major systemic problems pertaining to long-term care facilities and to community based care; the neglect of mental health; systemic deficiencies in end of life care; and the need to revise communications concerning COVID-19.

Findings

Within each of the identified areas, recommended changes in strategy, policy and practice can help mitigate the dramatic impact of COVID-19 on the living experience of the older population.

Originality/value

Drawing on the Israeli experience, this paper presents current shortcomings in the policy response to COVID-19 regarding nursing homes and community-based care and provides recommendations that are applicable to other contexts as well. Although some of these have been suggested or even practiced in some locations, many continue to be neglected and have not been discussed even as COVID-19 continues to infect societies around the globe.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Minerva Foundation.

Citation

Cohen-Mansfield, J. (2020), "COVID-19 and older adults in Israel – common challenges and recommendations", Quality in Ageing and Older Adults, Vol. 21 No. 4, pp. 209-216. https://doi.org/10.1108/QAOA-09-2020-0043

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited

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