The European Union’s Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) has published its third bulletin on the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic in the context of rights, examining the actions taken by EU Member States. This edition of the bulletin specific addresses a number of issues which have impacted upon the rights of older people, including:
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Right to life – the death rate among older people has been much higher than among other age groups – particularly in institutional settings
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Access to healthcare – as national healthcare systems have come under pressure, doctors were forced to decide who to treat, with some EU countries using patient age as a criterion for prioritising treatment
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Lack of testing – testing of care home residents and staff has been lacking
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Stricter restrictions – many EU countries had stricter rules for older people than for the general population
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Isolation – lack of social contacts took a toll on the physical and mental well-being of older people
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Healthcare delays – many countries suspended non-urgent treatments, which affected many older people who have existing health conditions.
In addition, the bulletin identifies that EU countries need better data to understand how the pandemic has affected older people to help governments make evidence-based decisions for the future. Furthermore, the FRA recommends that as societies reopen, governments should specifically address the needs of older people, as the move towards new societal norms will likely be slower and more difficult for them. You can access the full report at:
https://fra.europa.eu/en/news/2020/respect-older-peoples-rights-when-exiting-covid-19-pandemic
