Dear members of the Working Group on Ageing,

COVID-19 and older persons

When we decided back in November to focus our next policy brief on older persons in emergency situations, no one would have imagined how pertinent the consideration of the specific needs of older persons in emergency planning, preparedness and response would be this year.

The COVID-19 pandemic has moved older persons to the centre of attention. Based on the evidence so far, people of advanced age are at higher risk than younger age groups of developing severe symptoms and dying from COVID-19. The measures implemented across the UNECE region to slow down the spread of the novel coronavirus through social distancing while increasing capacities of health care systems to treat the growing numbers of patients are essential for the protection of older persons.

Intergenerational solidarity has become more important than ever to ensure that social distancing measures do not lead to increased social isolation, loneliness and neglect and that access to essential services and support is maintained and enhanced. During this time of crisis, collaboration between countries, and between governments, private sector and civil society actors, as well as individuals is key to addressing the extraordinary challenges we now face. Solidarity and creativity in finding new ways of supporting each other give rise to innovative solutions, new forms of intergenerational and intragenerational support.

Let us use the regional platform that the Working Group on Ageing provides to share information and learnings during the current pandemic. We will be learning in real time. To start with, we have compiled a list of resources on COVID-19 and older persons developed by international organizations, research networks and civil society partners in the UNECE region that we will keep updating. You can access the resource list at https://tinyurl.com/covid19-olderpersons or simply via our homepage www.unece.org/population

Policy Brief No. 25 on Older Persons in Emergency Situations

Our next policy brief will deal with emergencies in general and we invite you to share good practices with us (deadline for submission extended to the end of April).

The preparation of this policy brief also provides us with the opportunity to reflect on lessons learnt from the COVID-19 pandemic. Let us know about the measures you are currently taken as part of your COVID-19 response for older persons along with other good practices relating to emergencies.

Please use the attached template to share your policy approaches or simply let us know by email.

Policy Seminar on Ageing 2020

Thanks to all those of you who have already sent us your ranking for the Policy Seminar 2020. We look forward to hearing from all of you by the end of next week. We will share the results with you after the deadline of 17 April 2020.

With best wishes from all of us,

Lisa

Lisa WARTH

Population Unit

Statistical Division
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

Email: lisa.warth@un.org
Tel:  +41 (0) 22 917 1113

Office C-442

Palais des Nations

8-14 avenue de la Paix

CH - 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland

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