A new analysis from the Center for American Progress looks at the growing population of aging and adults with disabilities and underscores why they must be included in future disaster planning.
Older and disabled people are at greater risk for complications from COVID-19, and their heightened risk to the most severe effects of the coronavirus is in part due to a failure of U.S. systems to provide necessary supports. As a group, adults over age 65 and people with preexisting conditions are less likely to have access to safe and stable housing; face more barriers to supporting themselves than the public at large; and often face discrimination when medical resources are scarce.
Key factors for policymakers to consider in planning for the next pandemic include:
“The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted how incredibly unprepared the United States is to support disabled and aging people through a widespread crisis,” said Valerie Novack, fellow with the Disability Justice Initiative at the Center for American Progress and author of the analysis.
“As it stands now, there is not adequate housing, medical equipment, or personnel to safely support these populations through this or future crises. For the past several months, policymakers have been scrambling to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, but in this era of growing global instability, it is essential that they take the long view and put into place basic supports to help disabled and aging adults weather the next crisis.”
