Abstract
Older adults over 60 are at a higher risk of getting severely sick and
dying from COVID–19. Sri Lanka has one of the fastest aging populations
in South and South–East Asia. In addition to having a rapidly aging
population, Sri Lanka is a developing country with limited resources to
accommodate the older population that can be significantly affected by
COVID–19. Statistics up to date shows that older adults are at a much
higher risk of dying from COVID–19. Older adults being at a much higher
risk of contracting and dying from COVID–19 has important implications
for the way in which public health and clinical responses should be
developed. These implications have been largely overlooked in both high
and low and middle–income countries when providing guidance and
implementing regulations, which can have a greater impact in low and
middle–income countries. Preparedness of the healthcare systems to
respond to the pandemic with a lack of facilities, resources (i.e.,
ventilators) and staff in the healthcare system, specifically in
hospitals, intensive care units and long–term care homes is a concern
that should be taken into consideration when clinical responses are
developed. Challenges around protecting community–dwelling older adults
who are caregivers to grandchildren, receiving informal care from
children in the same household, living in living in remote areas, or
living alone or dependent on others need to be taken into consideration
when developing public health responses.