Currently it is estimated that between two and 14 per cent of older Australian experience abuse in any given year and during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is being indicated by a number of peak bodies and advocacy organisations that these disgraceful numbers are worsening. Read the article from Dr Kay Patterson AO, Australia’s Age Discrimination […]

In collaboration with INTERDEM, the International Psychogeriatrics Association (IPA) brought together international speakers including Capacity Australia’s Prof. Carmelle Peisah in a live, 90-minute webinar focusing on geriatric mental health, the impact of social distancing on social health and functioning of the elderly. Click the links below to view the webinar and a number of additional resources […]

In May 2020, The United Nations released “Policy Brief: The Impact of COVID-19 on older persons”. The brief outlines the immediate and long term responses needed for action and recommendations against the range of particular risks presented to the older population. Ensuring that difficult health-care decisions affecting older people are guided by a commitment to […]

“This is the first pandemic to occur since the global population consisted of more people aged over sixty-five than under five” – Andrew Scott, co-author of The 100-Year Life. With a focus on the elderly within media, social media and COVID-19 health care guidelines, the narrative of what it is like to be elderly during […]

INTRODUCTION: Oluwatoyin (Deji) Sorinmade is a Capacity Australia collaborator and Old Age Psychiatrist from the UK. HIGHLIGHTING SOME OF THE CHALLENGES COVID-19 HAS POSED TO THE EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS (ECHR) Highlighting some of the challenges COVID-19 has posed to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). Oluwatoyin A. Sorinmade, Consultant Older Adults Psychiatrist, […]

On May 6 the UN Secretary-General announced that fatality rate for COVID-19 for people over 80-years-old being five times the global average. A new policy initiative was also announced to address challenges faced by the elderly during and after the pandemic. “Pervasive gerontophobia, the fear of age-related self-degeneration and death, nurtures prejudice against older people, […]

IDuring the COVID-19 pandemic ageist attitudes have been surfacing. Read the response from EveryAGE Counts for their “campaigning for a world without ageism, where all people are valued, respected or connected regardless of age or functional ability”. Source: Ageism in the time of COVID-19 2020, EveryAGE Counts, viewed 4 April 2020, <https://www.everyagecounts.org.au/ageism_in_the_time_of_covid_19> Image source: EveryAGE Counts MORE READING

Introduction A call for action to come back and join the fight against COVID-19 has been issued to retired doctors around the world (CBS News, 2020). Many have responded to this call and have returned, or will return to the workforce. Conversely, some late-career doctors who are in practice are anxious about their risk and are […]

Limitations on visitors to aged care facilities announced in response to the threat of COVID-19 and additional “voluntary lockdown” restrictions many aged care facilities have imposed can do more harm than good, cutting older people off from family and social connections. Read the full article about some of the hidden ramifications of lockdowns and the […]

While those with dementia are not at a greater risk for COVID-19, dementia-related behaviours, increased age and the common health conditions that accompany individuals with dementia may increase their risk.  Diseases like COVID-19 have guidelines and instructions from various health organisations within each Australian state and world-wide departments recommending increased hygiene practices such as hand […]