Providing quality end-of-life care to older people in the era of COVID-19: perspectives from five countries

COVID ‐19 and suicide in older adults

“…5 In addition to fuelling active self-harm, there has been speculation regarding links between the pandemic and increased requests for voluntary assisted dying. 7,8 These reports suggest that such requests have been driven by anxiety about dying, fears of loss of control, and inability to access help for distressing symptoms. This is not unfounded, given the complexity of providing appropriate palliative care to older patients who are dying, particularly to those in nursing homes, ever more so during the COVID-19 pandemic.…”

COVID-19, Aging, and Mental Health: Lessons From the First Six Months

“…It is also noteworthy that there is relative consistency in reported observations and findings across the world. 22,23 In conclusion, we recognize that much remains to be learned, and the response of geriatric psychiatry, and indeed all of healthcare to COVID-19 and its broader impact will change considerably over the next few months and indeed years. However, the early lessons learned so far and initial reported observations and findings will serve as a foundation for the field to broaden and deepen its fund of knowledge.…”

Advocacy for the human rights of older people in the COVID pandemic and beyond: a call to mental health professionals

“…Additionally, the costs in terms of resources, of nuanced support for autonomy and giving voice to will and preferences at the end of life, have also been prohibitive beyond blanket policies of getting people "signed up" as soon as possible with advance care plans. This has culminated in precipitous and sometimes non-competent advance care planning undertaken with older people and their families who have not had opportunities to discuss and reflect on wishes and preferences for end-of-life decisions (Lapid et al, 2020). This has been further complicated by impaired cognition and delirium associated with COVID-19 or other incidental illnesses in older people which affect capacity, as well as missed opportunities for supported decision-making in such circumstances (Peisah et al, 2013).…”