Older Adults and Healthcare Gaps: Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed serious gaps in healthcare for older adults across Europe. A recent study dug into this issue, using data from two large surveys conducted in 2020 and 2021. The research focused on older adults who missed out on medical care due to fear of infection, postponed appointments, or were denied treatment.

Key Findings

The study found six distinct groups based on their healthcare experiences:

• No unmet needs
• Persistent barriers
• Improving situations
• Worsening situations

This shows that the pandemic's impact on healthcare was not uniform.

High-Risk Groups

The study highlighted several high-risk groups:

• Women
• People with lower education
• Those facing financial hardship
• Individuals with multiple chronic conditions

These groups were more likely to have unmet healthcare needs, suggesting that existing inequalities were exacerbated during the pandemic.

Additional Factors

The study also looked at factors like:

• Age
• Living arrangements
• Rural/urban residence

These details help paint a clearer picture of who was most vulnerable. For example, people living in rural areas or those with poor self-rated health were more likely to face barriers to care.

Policy Implications

The findings offer valuable insights for policymakers. By understanding which groups were most affected, targeted interventions can be developed. This could help address healthcare disparities during future crises.