COVID-19 and Mental Health of Elderly

Abstract

Epidemics and pandemics have been shown to have substantial social and environmental impacts. The paradigm shift is seen in emerging infectious disease patterns, from predominantly epidemic to predominantly pandemic. Infectious disease pandemics present major problems for public health planning and practice. Large mortality shocks and the resultant demographic shifts have been linked to major social and environmental disruption in both pre-modern and modern pandemics. Changes in traditional healthcare practice models to new preventive health care models have emerged from developed economies to developing economies. This has resulted in an aggressive adoption of the evidence-based discipline of preventive medicine, incorporating strategies of resilience development through social distancing and non-pharmacological initiatives of public health aimed at moderating preventive medicine-based etiologies. Changes in the health system models in the new normal are also based on previous epidemic and pandemic experiences by adopting best practices available from the history of preventive medicine healthcare models, which are more feasible and continue to be adapted to allow a more comprehensive approach to emerging infectious disease prevention and reduce morbidity and mortality. The review aims to highlight pieces of evidence from past pandemics, changing health care models, socio-cultural factors, stressors, resilience, and coping skills affecting the mental health of the elderly.