Abstract
This literature review provides an overview of various reports and studies on the state of long-term care facilities (LTCFs) across the world, especially in the context of COVID-19. One thread uniting all the studies are the widespread experience of ageism and neglect older persons face daily. This kind of neglect is deadly as older persons in LTCFs make up “more than 40% of deaths related to COVID-19” with “figures being as high as 80% in these facilities in some high-income countries.”(1)
This literature review first explores the World Health Organization’s Global report on ageism and the studies this report cites. However, as commendable as it is, the WHO report leaves out some important country studies which are also pertinent to this issue. In fact, through a further review of studies, Gray Panthers NYC found that no matter how economically developed or underdeveloped a country is, long-term care facilities across the world require urgent legal regulation, shift to people-centered (instead of profit-centered) care, and better trained and better paid staff, as evident in many issues of neglect resurfacing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Moreover, urgent attention to mental health of older persons in long-term care facilities is required, as well as eradication of ageism older persons experience everywhere—from Germany to Ghana, to U.S., to Canada, to Australia, to U.K., South Africa, India, Chile, Romania, Japan, MENA (Middle East and North Africa), and many other countries and regions. This review also offers some further reading and action steps (page 6-7).
Download Literature Review: Rights of Older Persons Around the World
in the Context of COVID-19 and Long-Term Care
Comments