Question

The Covid-19 pandemic has turned our world upside down. The impact on the global economy has been felt on many levels; individuals, families, and businesses small and large. Notwithstanding the impact on the healthcare system and first line responders, the greatest impact of the coronavirus might be on the elderly. During the early days of trying to understand the virus transmission and progression, it was known that the elderly were extremely susceptible to the virus. The implementation of sheltering in place for the elderly, at home or in a senior care facility, became a call to action. Moreover, the use of a face mask outside of the medical setting, came about because of its impact to help prevent transmission to the elderly. Good or bad, this generated some push back by those expressing alarm about loss of freedom to those expressing a lack of compassion towards the elderly population.

Express your thoughts on whether this focus on the elderly exacerbated 'ageist' thinking and how. Did it perhaps amplify and address the real threat and challenge of our aging planet? And, if so, in what way was this communicated?

Answer 1

The focus on the elderly exacerbated 'ageist' thinking is now changed as COVID 19 not only affects the elderly or old age but also the vulnerable. Elderly people were at a major focus as Frailty in older adults brings in the risk of various infections and decrease in all forms of immune response. In addition elderly people have multiple comorbidities and increased hospitalisation which increases the chance of contracting the infection during this COVID 19 pandemic.
In my view the planet is tired of all the pollution, violence, deforestation, excessive mining, exploitation of natural resources and so on and so forth. So this out break keeps the survival of the fittest in this living world and reduce the burden on mother earth. COVID 19 pandemic amplifies and has addressed the real threat and has challenged our aging planet in what way that it has brought the whole world to a standstill and given a warning to all mankind to bring about compassion, social distancing and there by trying to bring back a greener Earth.