COVID-19 Updates
COVID-19 Updates
COVID-19 was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020. Understanding of COVID-19, also called coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, and novel coronavirus increases every day. Older adults are at particular risk for serious illness and those 50 and older, particularly with multiple comorbidities, are at higher risk of dying if infected. GSA continues to advocate for its members and older adults as the pandemic continues to disrupt systems of care, research, and education.
COVID-19 Vaccine Information
Many vaccines are in the process of being developed to prevent COVID-19. After healthcare workers and long-term care staff and residents, essential workers and older adults have been prioritized to receive the vaccine. GSA members can help build confidence in conversations with older adults about the vaccine, the providers administering the vaccine, and the process by which the vaccine has been developed. Several resources are included below to assist with those conversations.
- GSA COVID-19 Vaccine Information for Older Adults
- Championing Vaccine for Older Adults and Staff in Long-Term Care Settings
- CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Communication Toolkit
- Vaccinating America Against COVID-19: panel discussion
- FDA Emergency Use Authorization Updates
COVID-19 Task Force Resources
The GSA COVID-19 Task Force is monitoring the outbreak and will share resources as they are developed. The best source of information on current cases and guidance for healthcare professionals is the CDC website.
- Check out A COVID-19 DECISION AID: How Do I Choose When to Interact with People or Take Part in Activities Outside My Home During the Pandemic? (Also available in PDF format in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Mandarin.)
- View and share GSA's new infographic, Understanding Ageism and COVID-19 (Also available in Spanish)
- See GSA's new fact sheet, Aging and Immunity: Why Older Adults Are Highly Susceptible to Diseases Like COVID-19 (Also available in Spanish and Mandarin)
- Learn about Distancing: Physical Separation Without Social Isolation from the GSA National Adult Vaccination Program Workgroup (Also available in Spanish)
- Hear from GSA CEO James Appleby on navigating the weeks ahead in his recent blog
- Apply reframing aging principles to communications: This two-page tips guide illustrates the importance of how we talk to — and about — each other. Effective and inclusive communication is especially important during a time of genuine crisis. Check it out and sign up for a regular newsletter from the FrameWorks Institute, GSA’s strategic partner in the Reframing Aging Initiative.
- Contribute to the dialog: You can use the GSA Connect Community on COVID-19 to share your insights with others and for posting questions.
Information for Providers
Webinars from GSA
- Understanding Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), Influenza, and COVID-19: Preparing for the Fall (August 31)
- Geriatric Oral Health and COVID-19: Old Problems, New Challenges, Part 1: Issues and Research Opportunities (October 9)
- Geriatric Oral Health and COVID-19: Old Problems, New Challenges, Part 2: Case Studies (October 16)
- The Intersection of Aging and COVID-19 (October 20)
- Raising Adult Immunization Rates — Using Routine Vaccination to Prepare for COVID-19 (November 19)
Support for Nursing Homes
- COVID-19 Rapid Response Network for Nursing Homes
The Institute for Healthcare Improvement, with support from The John A. Hartford Foundation, is launching the COVID-19 Rapid Response Network for Nursing Homes to support nursing home leadership, staff, residents, families, and communities impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Rapid Response Network features a daily 20-minute National Nursing Home Huddle to provide real-time, pragmatic solutions that can be implemented in nursing homes today to solve many of the key problems brought about or exacerbated by COVID-19.
Calls are open to all. Register at the link.
Vaccines
- CDC COVID-19 Vaccine Information: storage and handling, administration, training, adverse events
- CDC US COVID-19 Vaccine Product Information
- COVID-19 Vaccination Communication Toolkit:This toolkit provides medical centers, clinics, and clinicians with a variety of communications tools that they can use to inform healthcare teams and other staff. It includes fact sheets, answers to FAQs, posters, slides, sample social media materials, and more. This toolkit will be updated regularly. Please stay tuned for a forthcoming Communication Toolkit for Long-Term Care Facilities.
- Reagan Udall Foundation for the FDA COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence Project: Provides straightforward, tested messages to help build confidence when speaking with vaccinees
- Vaccine factsheets in multiple languages:
Toolkits
- Delirium Prevention Toolkit (Hospital Elder Life Program with GSA member Sharon Inouye)
- COVID-19 Workforce Virtual Toolkit: Resources for Healthcare Decision-Makers Responding to COVID-19 Workforce Concerns (ASPR)
- Palliative Care COVID-19 Toolkit (CAPC)
- Coronavirus Preparation and Response Toolkit for Senior Living Communities (Argentum)
Clinical Guidance
- COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines (NIH)
- COVID-19 Guidance for Older Adults (CDC)
- Clinical management of COVID-19 (WHO)
- Strategies to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 in Long Term Care Facilities (CDC)
- Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Guidance for Long-term Care Facilities in the Context of COVID-19 (WHO)
- Clinical Guidance and Protocols (Infectious Diseases Society of America)
- COVID-19 Antibody Testing Primer (Infectious Diseases Society of America)
- Collection of MMWR Articles on COVID-19 (CDC)
CMS Guidance
- COVID-19 Long-Term Care Facility Guidance (CMS)
- Checklists and Tools to Accelerate Relief for State Medicaid and CHIP Programs (CMS)
- CMS Guidance for Infection Control and Prevention of Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Nursing Homes (CMS)
- CMS Frequently Asked Questions and Updates (CMS)
Ethical Frameworks from Partners
- Ethical Framework for Healthcare Institutions and Guidelines for Institutional Ethics Services Responding to the Coronavirus Pandemic (The Hastings Center)
- A Framework for Rationing Ventilators and Critical Care Beds During the COVID-19 Pandemic (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center)
Caregiver Resources from Partners
- Coronavirus (COVID-19): Tips for Dementia Caregivers (Alzheimer's Association)
- Coronavirus (COVID-19): Tips for Dementia Caregivers in Long-Term or Community-Based Settings (Alzheimer's Association)
- Resources on COVID-19 for Caregivers and Older Adults (National Alzheimer's Project Act/ASPE)
- Tips for Family Caregivers and COVID-19 (Caregiver Action Network)
Oral Health Resources from Partners
- Coronavirus Handout for Dentists Based on CDC Guidelines (ADA)
- #DentalER Awareness Campaign (Pacific Dental Services)
Special Populations Resources from Partners
- COVID-19, Alzheimer’s and Dementia: What You Need to Know (Alzheimers Association)
- Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Dementia: Tips for Public Health Community (Alzheimers Association)
- Q&A on COVID-19 and Down Syndrome (National Down Syndrome Society)
- HIV and Aging: COVID-19 Updates (Association of Nurses in AIDS Care)
Partner/Other Organization Landing Pages of Resources
- Information for Internists (American College of Physicians)
- Pharmacists’ Guide to Coronavirus (American Pharmacists Association)
- Updates on COVID-19 in PALTC Settings (AMDA)
- News and Resources (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine)
- GeroCentral COVID-19 Resources (American Psychological Association)
- Disaster Resources (ASCP)
- Coronaviruses Resources (National Foundation for Infectious Diseases)
- Over-the-Counter Medication Information (BeMedWise)
Information for Educators
From GSA and Its Members
- Explore GSA's Ageism First Aid,an online multi-module course designed to help change the common negative misconceptions and myths about aging by replacing them with facts that should be common knowledge. The course will support factual conversations about aging and spark widespread use of positive aging-related language among people in the health and helping professions.
- GSA opened up access to all section forums on GSA Connect, including the Academy for Gerontology in Higher Education (AGHE) community. Our members there are sharing tips for online teaching as many transition to virtual classrooms.
- AGHE Peer-2-Peer Sessions (virtual discussions to help educators prepare for the 2020 fall semester in light of the impact of covid-19)
- Clinical Placements: Exploring Virtual Options Slides (Session Recording | Session Slides)
- Service Learning: The Good, the Bad, and the Challenges in the Time of COVID-19 (Session Recording | Session Slides)
- Tips for Preparing to Lecture in Your Online Class (Session Recording | Session Slides)
- AGHE Teaching Briefs
- Open Educational Resources
- Links to Useful Information and Resources About COVID-19
- Links to Useful Information and Resources for Wrapping Up Your (Online) Course
- Adapting Your Final Exams and Assessments
- Teaching Tips for Online Instruction
- Starting the Conversation: Anti-Racist Pedagogy and Gerontology
- AGHE Biblio Briefs
From Partners
- Transforming COVID into a Learning Opportunity for Your Students (Simon Fraser University Centre for Educational Excellence)
- The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) has collaborated with member institutions and CITI Program to launch a complimentary course to train research faculty and team members, research staff, students, and other staff at medical schools and research organizations on COVID-19 safety as they return to campus this fall. The highlights of the course include a discussion of recommendations from NIH, CDC, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, as well as optional modules on specific research areas. Organizations may subscribe to this free course by October 1, and learners will receive a CITI Program completion report as evidence of successful training. Download a demo and learn more about the course here.
Information for Researchers and Policy Discussions
From GSA and Its Members
- Read COVID-19 content from the March 2020 issue of the GSA NAVP E-Newsletter for information on vaccine development. (This is an excerpt from the full issue.)
- Addressing Sensory Loss Checklist (Download for tips on how to account for the sensory needs of older adult study participants in your research during and beyond the pandemic.)
From Partners
- Department of Health and Human Services fact sheet explaining Operation Warp Speed
- NIAID Strategic Plan for COVID-19 Research (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)
- NIH Director's Blog
- Roadmap to Recovery: A Public Health Guide for Governors (National Governors Association and Association of State and Territorial Health Officials)
- Policy and Public Health Recommendations for Easing COVID-19 Distancing Restrictions (Infectious Disease Society of America)
- Building COVID-19 Contact Tracing Capacity in Health Departments to Support Reopening American Society Safely (National Association of City and County Health Officials)
- Capacity-Building Toolkit for Including Aging & Disability Networks in Emergency Planning (Administration for Community Living)
- COVID-19 Resources (ADvancing States)
- Office of Extramural Research "Open Mike" Director's Blog (NIH)
- COVID-19 and Older Adult Malnutrition (Defeat Malnutrition Today!)
- The Societal Experts Action Network (SEAN) links decision makers with social, behavioral, and economic science researchers who can provide evidence-based expert guidance that supports local, state, and federal policies and responses related to COVID-19. The network, an activity of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine that is sponsored by the National Science Foundation, responds to the most pressing questions and provides rapid, actionable responses.
Federal Funding Notices
- Information for NIH Applicants and Recipients of NIH Funding (NIH)
- NIH Frequently Asked Questions: COVID-19 Flexibilities (NIH)
- Notice of Special Interest: NIA Availability of Administrative Supplements and Revision Supplements on Coronavirus Disease 2019
Policy Updates and Resources
- Early Evidence on the Impact of COVID-19 and the Recession on Older Workers (National Bureau of Economic Research)
- Recommendations to Build a Dementia-Capable Workforce and System amid COVID-19 (Milken Institute Center for the Future of Aging)
- Policy Brief: The Impact of COVID-19 on older persons (United Nations)
- Issue Brief: Older Persons and COVID-19 (United Nations)
- HHS Announces Additional Allocations of CARES Act Provider Relief Fund (HHS)
- State Data and Policy Actions to Address Coronavirus (Kaiser Family Foundation)
- State of Play about Coronavirus Response Measures (Bloomberg Government)
- COVID-19 Related Advocacy (American College of Physicians)
- H.R. 6201, Families First Coronavirus Response Act — The committees of jurisdiction (Appropriations, Agriculture, Education and Labor, Energy and Commerce, and Ways and Means) have the following resources available on the bill:
- Social Security Administration Updates
Journal Articles
From GSA Journals
- The Journals of Gerontology, Series A
- Editorial
- COVID-19 through the lens of gerontology, by Editors-in-Chief David G. Le Couteur, MBBS, PhD, Rozalyn M. Anderson, PhD, and Anne B. Newman, MD, MPH
- A Frail Health Care System for an Old Population: Lesson from the COVID-19 Outbreak in Italy, by Stefano Volpato, MD, MPH, Francesco Landi, MD, PhD, and Raffaele Antonelli Incalzi, MD, PhD, on behalf of the Italian Society of Gerontology and Geriatrics
- Letter to the Editor
- APOE e4 genotype predicts severe COVID-19 in the UK Biobank community cohort, by Chia-Ling Kuo, PhD, Luke C. Pilling, PhD, Janice L. Atkins, PhD, Jane A. H. Masoli, MBChB, João Delgado, PhD, George A. Kuchel, MD, and David Melzer, MBBCh, PhD
- After the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Next Wave of Health Challenges for Older Adults, by Jennifer A Schrack, PhD, MS, Amal A Wanigatunga, PhD, MPH, and Stephen P Juraschek, MD, PhD.
- Assessing the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Accompanying Mitigation Efforts on Older Adults, by Peggy M Cawthon, MPH, PHD, Eric S Orwoll, MD, Kristine E Ensrud, MD, Jane A Cauley, DrPH, Stephen B Kritchevsky, PhD, Steven R Cummings, MD, and Anne Newman, MD.
- The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Disabled and Hospice Home Care Patients, by Tzyy-Guey Tseng, MD, Hui-Ling Wu, Hui-Chuan Ku, Chi-Jung Tai, MD
- Assessing the impact of the covid-19 pandemic and accompanying mitigation efforts on older adults, by Peggy Cawthon, MPH, PHD, Eric Orwoll, MD, Kristine Ensrud, MD, Jane A Cauley, DrPH, Stephen B Kritchevsky, PhD, Steven R Cummings, MD, Anne Newman, MD
- New preventative measures against coronavirus disease 2019 for home care aides in Taiwan, by Cheng-Chie Weng, MD, Yueh-Er Lin, Yu-Chin Lin, Wei Chen, MD, PhD
- Research Article
- Clinical characteristics and outcomes of older patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Wuhan, China (2019): a single-centered, retrospective study, by TieLong Chen, MD, Zhe Dai, MD, Pingzheng Mo, MD, Xinyu Li, MD, Zhiyong Ma, MD, Shihui Song, MD, Xiaoping Chen, MD, Mingqi Luo, MD, Ke Liang, MD, Shicheng Gao, MD, Yongxi Zhang, MD, Liping Deng, MD, Yong Xiong, MD
- Research/Brief Report
- A geroscience perspective on COVID-19 mortality, by Daniel EL Promislow, D.Phil
- Editorial
- The Journals of Gerontology, Series B
- Editorial
- Aging in Times of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Avoiding Ageism and Fostering Intergenerational Solidarity, by Liat Ayalon, PhD, Alison Chasteen, PhD, Manfred Diehl, PhD, Becca Levy, PhD, Shevaun D Neupert, PhD, Klaus Rothermund, PhD, Clemens Tesch-Römer, PhD, Hans-Werner Wahl, PhD
- Research Report
- We’re staying at home”. Association of self-perceptions of aging, personal and family resources and loneliness with psychological distress during the lock-down period of COVID-19, by Andrés Losada-Baltar, PhD, Lucía Jiménez-Gonzalo, MA, Laura Gallego-Alberto, PhD, María del Sequeros Pedroso-Chaparro, MA, José Fernandes-Pires, MA, María Márquez-González, PhD
- COVID-19 Worries and Behavioral Changes in Older and Younger Men and Women, by Sarah J. Barber, PhD, and Hyunji Kim, MA
- Age differences in COVID-19 risk perceptions and mental health: Evidence from a national US survey conducted in March 2020, by Wändi Bruine de Bruin, PhD
- Editorial
- Innovation in Aging
- Editorial
- Understanding and Addressing Older Adults’ Needs During COVID-19, by Laura P. Sands, PhD, FGSA, Steven M. Albert, PhD, FGSA, and J. Jill Suitor, PhD, FGSA
- Editorial
Call for Papers
- The Gerontologist Special Collection: Gerontology in a Time of Pandemic
- Journal of Gerontology: Series B welcomes brief Research Reports focused on the Covid-19 crisis and its implications for older adults. These submissions will be on a fast-track review schedule; accepted manuscripts will be published in a Virtual Collection in mid- to late-2020. Individual articles will be made available on a rolling basis via Advance Access. Reports may include the analysis of new or established data resources, evidence-based commentaries, or theoretical articles with a well-reasoned and novel perspective on the crisis. The maximum allowable word count is 2,000 words. The word count includes title page, abstract and text. The reference list is limited to no more than 30 entries, and up to 3 data elements. Queries should be directed to Deborah Carr (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) for Social Sciences, and Derek Isaacowitz (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) for Psychological Sciences. Manuscripts may be uploaded to JG: Psychological Sciences at mc.manuscriptcentral.com/jgps and JG: Social Sciences at mc.manuscriptcentral.com/jgss. We will accept submissions through at least June 15, 2020 for the rapid-review Virtual Collection. After that time, paper ideas should be sent to the editor before submission.
From Partners
- Journal Articles on Coronavirus and Related Topics (Oxford University Press)
- Journal Articles and Books on Coronavirus (Taylor and Francis)
- Expanded Articles on Coronavirus on PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Rapid Review Question Bank and Prioritization (Cochrane Library)
The Rapid Review Question Bank has been re-developed this week to clearly show reviews being done by Cochrane, those being done elsewhere, and open priority questions to be addressed. This list does not in itself act as title registration or a commitment from Cochrane to publish. It is a repository of questions submitted by stakeholders that is undergoing constant prioritization to identify which should be pursued within Cochrane. Showing those that are underway with key partners is not exhaustive and the main purpose is to prevent us prioritizing questions that we know are already being addressed.
Social Isolation, Mental Health, and Reframing Aging
From GSA and Its Members
- Apply reframing aging principles to communications: This two-page tips guide illustrates the importance of how we talk to — and about — each other. Effective and inclusive communication is especially important during a time of genuine crisis. Check it out and sign up for a regular newsletter from the FrameWorks Institute, GSA’s strategic partner in the Reframing Aging Initiative.
- Ageism in the Time of Coronavirus (Washington University with GSA Past President Nancy Morrow-Howell)
- Focus on Ageism, Aging, and COVID-19 (APA Division 20 with GSA member William E. Haley)
From Partners
- COVID-19 and Social Isolation Resources (Coalition to End Social Isolation and Loneliness)
- Manage Anxiety and Stress Due to COVID-19 Pandemic (CDC)
- A guide to preventing and addressing social stigma associated with COVID-19 (WHO)
- Mental health and psychosocial considerations during the COVID-19 outbreak (WHO)
- The Mental Health Consequences of COVID-19 and Physical Distancing: The Need for Prevention and Early Intervention (JAMA Internal Medicine)
News and Webinars
Articles from GSA and Its Members
- Covid-19 sickens seniors differently. Here’s why. (The Washington Post, op-ed by former GSA President John W. Rowe)
- The Importance of Long-term Care Populations in Models of COVID-19 (JAMA Network, authored by member Karl Pillemer)
- Want to slash coronavirus deaths? Start (really) caring about long term care (The Hill, authored by members Karl Pillemer and Mark S. Lachs)
- A Florida Gerontologist Shares Key Insights on Elder-Care Facilities During the COVID Pandemic (AARP, features GSA President Kathryn Hyer)
- Seniors With COVID-19 Show Unusual Symptoms, Doctors Say (Kaiser Health News, features members Camille Vaughan and Joseph Ouslander)
- Who cares for those most vulnerable to COVID-19? 4 questions about home care aides answered (The Conversation, authored by members Christian Weller, Marc Cohen, and Robyn Stone)
- Age Must Not be Used as Primary Criteria to Deny Treatment (The Hill, with CEO James Appleby)
- How to Help Loved Ones Who Have Regular Doctor's Visits During the Coronavirus Outbreak (Parade, with member Melissa O'Connor)
- COVID-19 Crisis Threatens Beleaguered Assisted Living Industry (Kaiser Health News, with Board of Directors member Sheryl Zimmerman)
- Many parts of America have already decided to sacrifice the elderly (The Washington Post, co-authored by member Jospeh Coughlin)
- Coronavirus Has Boomers Asking: Who Are You Calling Elderly? (Wall Street Journal, with member Thomas Cole)
- Preventing COVID-19 from decimating nursing home residents requires spending money and improving infection control (The Conversation, authored by GSA President Kathryn Hyer and members David Dosa and Lindsay Peterson)
- Stop calling them ‘elderly’: Talking to older adults about self-isolating (University of Michigan News, interview with member Geoffrey Hoffman)
- Don't lump seniors together on coronavirus. Older people aren't all the same. (USA Today, op-ed by members Karen L. Fingerman and Kelly Trevino)
- What explains Covid-19’s lethality for the elderly? Scientists look to ‘twilight’ of the immune system (STATNews, features GSA members George Kuchel and Janko Nikolich Zugich)
- The US Faces Two Disastrous Scenarios. There's a Third Option. (Washington Post, co-authored by Gordon Douglas, GSA NAVP Workgroup Chair)
- America's Seniors and COVID-19: City Talk (Manhattan Institute's City Journal, interview with member Stephen Golant)
Webinars from GSA and Its Members
- Reframing Aging: A Primer for Health Care Professionals (August 12, speakers: Patricia M. D'Antonio, Helen Fernandez, and Moira O'Neil)
- This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (May 22, American Federation for Aging Research, with members Nir Barzilai and George Kuchel)
- Using Technology to Assist Older Adults in Coping with COVID-19 (May 7, moderated by GSA member Gloria Gutman, hosted by the International Society of Gerontechnology)
- Focus on Aging - Supporting Older Adults in Emergencies: Preparedness, Response, and Recovery (May 13, speaker: GSA President Kathryn Hyer, hosted by the Administration for Community Living)
- Reframing the Response to COVID-19: Applying Reframed Language to Counteract Ageism (April 21, speaker: GSA staff Patricia D'Antonio)
- COVID-19 Meets Metabesity: Nexus Between Pandemics and Age-Related Diseases (March 27, speaker: GSA President Dr. Kathryn Hyer, hosted by Kinexum)
- The Coronavirus: What Age Has To Do With It (April 2, speaker: GSA Past President Nancy Morrow-Howell, hosted by Washington University)
Articles from Partners
- "COVID-19 Kills Only Old People." Only? (The New York Times)
- Now Is Not the Time to Sever the Ties That Bind Generations (Generations United)
- Social Distancing Saves Lives, But Only If It's Socially Responsible (City Limits)
- Why Coronavirus Hit Older Adults Hardest (AARP)
- Nursing Home Outbreak Spotlights Coronavirus Risk in Elder Care Facilities (Kaiser Health News)
- In Graying Japan, Many are Vulnerable but Few are Being Tested (The New York Times)
Webinars from Partners
- COVID in Assisted Living: Infection Control Interventions in a non-medical setting - Challenges and Opportunities (May 6, Washington Sociey for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine)
- Cochrane COVID-19 update from Dr Karla Soares-Weiser, Editor-in-Chief of the Cochrane Library (May 6, speaker: Karla Soares-Weiser)
- Mental Health and COVID-19: How the Pandemic Complicates Current Gaps in Care and What Can Be Done (Public Health Institute, May 6)
- Coronavirus Preparedness for People with Chronic Diseases: What are the Mental Health Implications? (April 17, hosted by National Health Council)
- The Science of Social Distancing: Part 2 (April 1, hosted by National Academy of Medicine and American Public Health Association)
- The Science of Social Distancing: Part 1 (March 25, hosted by National Academy of Medicine and American Public Health Association)
- "COVID-19 Global Effects on Older People” Virtual Town Hall (April 3, hosted by International Federation on Aging)