With constant news about the COVID-19 outbreak, it’s hard to know what information matters most. We’ve gathered the following guidance to help adults age 65 and older stay calm and safe.
Know your risk level. Older adults are more likely to become more seriously sick with the COVID-19 respiratory illness than younger adults, says the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.
Why is your risk higher? Our immune systems change as we age. This simply makes it harder for our bodies to cope the challenge of disease. Aging also makes the lungs more vulnerable to this particular illness. Finally, older adults may have other health conditions like heart disease, lung disease or diabetes that can make it harder to fend off and recover from COVID-19.
What can you do to protect yourself?
Practice good hygiene:
Avoid others.
Plan ahead.
Get a flu shot.
Beware of scams. Unfortunately, some are using this situation to tout false cures via email, and some are even claiming to be sending this information from the CDC. There are no cures or treatment for COVID-19 anywhere – do not trust or respond to these emails. Instead, trust information from reliable sources, including:
If you are sick
If you are sick or if you’re worried about COVID-19 and an underlying condition you have: Call your health care provider for advice.
There’s no doubt these are difficult, uncertain times, and we want to do all we can to help you through it. Keep an eye out for more information the upcoming days and weeks, and we wish you good health.
Sources:
CDC:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/specific-groups/high-risk-complications.html
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/specific-groups/high-risk-complications/older-adults.html
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/prevention.html