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. 2021 Mar;69(3):572-580.
doi: 10.1111/jgs.17035. Epub 2021 Jan 26.

Promoting Healthy Aging During COVID-19

John A Batsis  1 , Kathryn Daniel  2 , Elizabeth Eckstrom  3 , Kady Goldlist  4   5 , Halina Kusz  6 , Douglas Lane  7 , Julia Loewenthal  4   8 , Patrick P Coll  9   10 , Susan M Friedman  11
Affiliations

Promoting Healthy Aging During COVID-19

John A Batsis et al. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2021 Mar.

Abstract

Older adults have been markedly impacted by the coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic. The American Geriatrics Society previously published a White Paper on Healthy Aging in 2018 that focused on a number of domains that are core to healthy aging in older adults: health promotion, injury prevention, and managing chronic conditions; cognitive health; physical health; mental health; and social health. The potentially devastating consequences of COVID-19 on health promotion are recognized. The purpose of this article is multifold. First, members of the Healthy Aging Special Interest Group will present the significant difficulties and obstacles faced by older adults during this unprecedented time. Second, we provide guidance to practicing geriatrics healthcare professionals overseeing the care of older adults. We provide a framework for clinical evaluation and screening related to the five aforementioned domains that uniquely impact older adults. Last, we provide strategies that could enhance healthy aging in the era of COVID-19.

Keywords: COVID-19; healthy aging; older adults.

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Conflict of interest statement

JAB holds two patents on an instrumented resistance bands. He holds equity in SynchroHealth, LLC. PPC is on the Board of Directors of the American Geriatrics Society. SMF is on the Board, and serves as Director of Clinical Studies of Rochester Lifestyle Medicine Institute, a non‐profit organization with a mission “to establish Lifestyle Medicine, especially the adoption of Whole‐Food Plant‐Based nutrition, as the foundation for health and the healthcare system.”

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Healthy aging framework around national prevention strategy in the era of COVID‐19.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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