Care for the Elderly Population during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Introduction: The risk of death from COVID-19 increases with age, as most deaths occur in the elderly. The elderly are highlighted in the COVID-19 pandemic, largely because they present changes resulting from senescence or senility. Despite the aging population, unfortunately there is little visibility and appreciation of this part of the population. Objective: In view of the problem, the objective of the study was to evaluate the management of health care for the elderly population during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: This is a literature review in different databases, using the terms “health management”, “health care for the elderly” and “COVID-19”. A total of 1241 articles were found, which underwent a selection of reading titles and abstracts, resulting in the selection of 164 articles, which were read in full, where 12 articles were selected for the final review. Results: Studies have shown that the management of care for the elderly population is not only linked to physical health, but also to mental health. Knowing the psychological precepts is essential to ensure that this population receives care during the pandemic. The construction and updating of possible scenarios for the spread of the virus was the main reference for preparatory actions and the basis for the formulation of response plans to prevent infection by the elderly. Conclusion: The pandemic moment reinforced the need for care, requiring care actions for the elderly, respecting plurality and envisioning both the present and future scenarios.