1 Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario KIN6N5, Canada.
2 Department of Communication, Faculty of Arts, University of Ottawa, Desmarais Building, Ottawa, Ontario KIN6N5, Canada.
3 Université Jean-Monnet, France.
4 Department of Kinesiology, University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
5 Life Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
6 School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
7 Psychology of Aging Unit, University of Liège, Belgium.
8 School of Social Work, University of Sherbrooke.
9 National Public Health Institute of Quebec.
10 Faculty of Psychology, University of Strasbourg, France.
11 Faculté des sciences économiques, sociales, politiques et de communication, Université Catholique de Louvain, Belgium.
12 Social Psychology Department of Humanities, University of Naples "Federico II", Italy.
13 School of Social Work & Criminology, Laval University, Québec, Canada.
14 School of Social Work, University of Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada.
15 International Longevity Centre, Canada.
16 School of Readaptation, University of Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada.
17 Centre de Recherche et d'Expertise en Gérontologie Sociale (CREGÉS), Centre Intégré Universitaire de Santé et de Services Sociaux du Centre-Ouest de l'Île de Montréal, Centre Affilié Universitaire, Québec, Canada.
18 Concordia University, Montreal, Canada.

Ageism and COVID-19: What does our society's response say about us?

Age Ageing. 2020 May 06;:

Authors: Fraser S, Lagacé M, Bongué B, Ndeye N, Guyot J, Bechard L, Garcia L, Taler V, CCNA Social Inclusion and Stigma Working Group, Adam S, Beaulieu M, Bergeron CD, Boudjemadi V, Desmette D, Donizzetti AR, Éthier S, Garon S, Gillis M, Levasseur M, Lortie-Lussier M, Marier P, Robitaille A, Sawchuk K, Lafontaine C, Tougas F

Abstract

The goal of this commentary is to highlight the ageism that has emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic. Over 20 international researchers in the field of aging have contributed to this document. This commentary discusses how older people are misrepresented and undervalued in the current public discourse surrounding the pandemic. It points to issues in documenting the deaths of older adults, the lack of preparation for such a crisis in long term care homes, how some "protective" policies can be considered patronizing and how the initial perception of the public was that the virus was really an older adult problem. This commentary also calls attention to important intergenerational solidarity that has occurred during this crisis to ensure support and social-inclusion of older adults, even at a distance. Our hope is that with this commentary we can contribute to the discourse on older adults during this pandemic and diminish the ageist attitudes that have circulated.

PMID: 32377666 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]