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Does it seem like COVID just won’t go away? Though vaccines have worked wonders to reduce the number of deaths and hospitalizations from COVID, the coronavirus is still out there, circulating among the public and especially impacting seniors.
According to the CDC, over 53% of all deaths from COVID occur in those over the age of 75; that’s twice as many deaths as among those aged 65 to 74. These numbers account for three of every four Americans who died as a result of COVID since 2020.1
It seems as though Americans are accepting COVID as a part of everyday life – much like the flu – but that could lead to serious problems for older adults.
The Kaiser Family Foundation reports that during the last week of 2023 and the first few weeks of 2024, about 4,810 people aged 65 and older died as a result of a COVID infection; during that time, deaths from the flu reached 1,201 and deaths from RSV stood at 126 seniors.2
A Decline in Vaccination and Treatment
There’s no doubt that COVID is much more of a danger than the flu or RSV combined. So why aren’t seniors getting the updated vaccines? Only about 43% of older adults over the age of 65 have gotten the booster this year, according to the CDC.
Some experts attribute that decline in vaccination to pandemic fatigue. Put quite simply, we’re all tired of this and prefer to ignore it and move on with our lives.
When seniors do get sick, many aren’t being treated with life-saving antivirals as soon as they get a positive COVID test. A study by Medscape found that doctors who didn’t prescribe or offer Paxlovid to their elderly patients were worried about drug interactions. However, the drug interactions usually included statins – a medication that can be stopped during the course of Paxlovid with no ill effects – and was actually a problem in only 10% of seniors who were diagnosed with COVID.
In the end, it turns out that only about 20% of seniors who contracted COVID in 2023 were prescribed Paxlovid to help ease the severity of the disease.
Now is a good time to note that at any time in a senior’s life, an alert system for elderly adults can be a lifesaver. A COVID infection, for example, can get worse very quickly, leading to a serious medical emergency. A panic button at your fingertips can ensure you’re prepared for anything.
Vaccinations and proper treatment options are more important now than ever. That’s because now that pandemic fatigue has set in, the guidance about avoiding COVID is about to change. And that change is not a good one for seniors in the United States.
New CDC Guidance
The CDC has regularly updated their guidance on how to protect yourself from COVID and other respiratory ailments. There is plenty of buzz about upcoming new guidance that reflects the government’s belief that the worst of the pandemic is over and COVID is now part of daily life.
The tentative proposal says that those who test positive for COVID don’t have to quarantine as long as they are fever-free for 24 hours and their symptoms are mild and improving. Those who test positive but are asymptomatic don’t have to quarantine at all.
Though this guidance hasn’t been made official yet, it’s expected that it will be approved. Very similar measures were approved and implemented in Oregon and California over the past year.
The problem is that this guidance can be dangerous for seniors. Though someone might be asymptomatic or show mild symptoms, they can still be contagious during that time. This leaves the more vulnerable populations – the elderly, those with compromised immune systems, or those with underlying medical conditions – open to a higher possibility of COVID infection.
Why might the CDC adopt this new guidance?
The isolation requirements right now can make life very difficult for those who can’t afford to be out of work for several days. The requirement can also disrupt the school year for teachers and students. That’s especially true for those unfortunate folks who get COVID more than once in a season.
Remember that while COVID is still circulating and disproportionately affecting the elderly, public health guidance often focuses on the greater good of the larger population – and as attitudes toward COVID change, so does the pressure to alleviate the precautions.
Many healthcare professionals are pushing back. They believe that public health can benefit from treating COVID differently than the flu, especially for elderly populations, because of the much higher risk of death and serious complications from COVID. There is also the risk of developing long-term complications, including the muscle aches and brain fog commonly associated with Long COVID.
How to Protect Yourself Against COVID
Now that COVID has become a part of everyday life, what can seniors do to protect themselves? There are still several options.
· Get vaccinated. The Washington Post reports that the updated coronavirus vaccines are 54% effective in preventing symptomatic infection in adults, and those who do show symptoms will usually have a much milder case of COVID than those who weren’t vaccinated or boosted at all. However, the latest numbers show that only 22% of adults in the United States have gotten the boosters, despite the fact that 20,000 people are hospitalized and about 2,300 people die each week from COVID infections.3
· Be aware of the symptoms. COVID can run the gamut from no symptoms at all to the worst illness you’ve ever felt. But for the most part, symptoms include chills, muscle aches, severe headache, runny nose, sore throat, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, and a loss of smell or taste. You might also notice trouble breathing, particularly if you haven’t been vaccinated.
· Get immediate treatment. If you think you might have COVID, take a test to determine if you have it. And if you do, get in touch with your doctor right away. Paxlovid, an antiviral medication, works very well for COVID as long as you take it early on in the illness. It can reduce the severity of symptoms and reduce the length of the infection.
· Wear a mask. Though most people don’t bother to wear a mask anymore, it’s still an excellent idea for many, including those with chronic conditions or compromised immune systems. Be sure to wear a high-quality KN95 mask, as these have been proven to be more effective against COVID and other respiratory illnesses.
· Wash your hands. When it comes to keeping germs off your hands, don’t let down your guard. The vast majority of illnesses we contract from others in public comes from touching a surface that has germs on it and then touching your face. By washing your hands, you can dramatically reduce the virus particles and other germs on your hands. Wash with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use hand sanitizer if you are away from soap and water.
· Use a medical alert device. Medical alert technology can be a true lifesaver if an emergency strikes. If you contract COVID and begin to feel the symptoms, pay close attention to make sure they aren’t getting worse. Your health can quickly deteriorate when COVID comes calling. A medical alert pendant puts help right at your fingertips, so you don’t have to worry or wonder what to do – the trained professionals at the monitoring center stand ready to help you, no matter the hour.
· Keep distance while in public. Social distancing might not be taken as seriously as it once was, but it’s still a good idea, especially during the winter. If there is a rise in COVID cases in your area, change your routine a bit by avoiding public transportation, staying at home when you can, and keeping a distance of six feet between you and someone else when you are out and about.
· Know when to isolate. Talk to your doctor about when you should isolate yourself from others. This will likely occur if you’ve been in contact with someone who tested positive for COVID or had symptoms in the previous two weeks, or if you have a new cough, fever, and shortness of breath. Any symptoms of COVID, influenza, or RSV should send you to the doctor to get checked out. If you have any of the three, go right back home and take good care of yourself, following all your doctor’s instructions to feel better.
Remember that CDC guidance is meant for the health of the broader public but doesn’t take into account individual situations. Your doctor’s guidance, however, is specifically tailored for you.
If you are told it’s best to quarantine after exposure or stay in for 10 days when you get the virus, pay attention! The rules your doctor asks you to abide by during a COVID infection are not only to assure the best medical outcome for you, but also to help protect others in your community who might be vulnerable to severe consequences of a COVID infection.
As COVID becomes part of day-to-day life, remember that there are many things you can do to protect yourself. One of those is to use an emergency button alarm. Having a wireless medical alert system at your fingertips can provide you with peace of mind. In any emergency (medical or otherwise), you can get the help you need right away.
Having a system like this is one of the important ways you can protect yourself from COVID and related problems, but you can also use it for other medical emergencies, household accidents, and falls. No matter what, Alert1 is standing by 24/7 to help you.
