Red Cross COVID-19 Study Shows Vulnerable Seniors in Need of More Support

A four-month COVID-19 study from the Canadian Red Cross illustrated a clear need for policies and practices that better serve Canada's most vulnerable senior population, reports Globe Newswire . The Leger-conducted investigation monitored the pandemic's social and psychological effects on more than 2,000 Canadians 18 and older. Almost a third of vulnerable seniors consistently reported feeling that they lack people they could count on and could not get immediate aid if needed. Over 30 percent said they feel lonely frequently or every day, while just 57 percent reported positive feelings about themselves, and only half felt hopeful about the future. Moreover, vulnerable seniors were the only respondents to exhibit greater anxiety, restlessness, or unease in the three days prior to the survey. According to Canadian Red Cross Medical and Science Adviser Paul Hebert, the key finding is that institutional and social support systems must better serve vulnerable seniors in their homes during a pandemic.