Older peoples’ sacrifice during COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Purpose This paper aims to reflect on the roles that are socially attributed to older people in the COVID-19 pandemic. Design/methodology/approach A discourse analysis of World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations for older people and news articles to explore their concepts about this population during COVID-19. Findings The author’s interpretation suggests that the WHO provides a restrictive model of action for older people in the pandemic. The history of these people is not valued, and their actions are limited to the maintenance of biological life. This restriction can lead to sacrificial behavior models depicted in the news, demanding a reconceptualization of the notion of older people. Originality/value The public model of older people is dangerous for this population during COVID19. The care for older people in this pandemic demands that we co-construct an active role with them for this crisis.

“To go crazy, to snap and that's it…” coronavirus pandemic and nursing homes in Croatia

“…Posljednje izjave ciljaju u središte problema koji su iznjedrile stroge mjere zaštite od zaraze koronavirusom u domovima za starije i nemoćne u Hrvatskoj. Unatoč, kako je već ranije navedeno, nesumnjivo najboljim namjerama da se učini što je moguće više kako bi se zaštitili životi štićenika domova -koji su, kako statistika svjedoči, zbog dobi, često pridruženih bolesti i života u kolektivu, uistinu bili česte žrtve pandemije (WHO 2020d) -evidentno je da stroge mjere prevencije zaraze zrcale ageistično poimanje korisnika tih institucija u kojemu su oni svedeni na pasivne primatelje pomoći, to jest na tijela kojima treba pomoći kako bi se održala na životu (Fernandes 2020). Ta tijela, međutim, imaju različita imena i prezimena, različite životne povijesti i iskustva (koja bi, možebitno, bila korisna i u osmišljavanju kvalitetnih ali čovjeku naklonjenijih mjera zaštite), različite medicinske kartone, različite izvore sreće i tuge itd.…”