Overview:
Senior citizens are especially vulnerable during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is due in large part to the fact that the risk of severe illness (e.g. hospitalization, intensive care, need for a ventilator or death) increases with age. As a result, 80 percent of COVID-19 related deaths in the United States have been adults aged 65 years and older. This elevated risk emphasizes the need for seniors to socially distance and take precautions to protect themselves. The increased isolation brought on by the pandemic, along with the economic hardship, puts seniors at a greater risk for food insecurity. Seniors are reluctant to venture out to secure groceries and the congregate feeding programs for seniors supported by the Older Americans Act (OAA) are closed for social distancing concerns.
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