Why Black Aging Matters during COVID-19
In the contemporary world, being black and old culminates into a deadly combination with the outbreak of the covid-19 pandemic. For instance, the black American community is perishing quietly and in agony as most are suffering and dying in apartments, hospitals, and nursing homes. The majority of the old, chronically ill black individuals are falling into depression. This has been due to a lack of capital and access to proper medical attention. Racism has played a massive part in the discrimination of the old Black Americans who have been given little attention since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. Protestors across the U.S have led a campaign titled Black Lives Matter due to the negligence and increased rates of police brutality towards African Americans.
It is vital to address depression looming across the black community, as most feel that the Covid-19 pandemic is due to ill-minded individuals who are about population control. With medical experts engaging in extensive research to develop a vaccine, the Covid-19 pandemic continues to raise havoc and destroy the livelihood of the aging black community (De, 2020). Subsequently, the widespread lockdowns and other preventative measures to curb the spread of the pandemic have affected the global economy. These measures have limited access to the old Black community's mental and physical well-being, who are left with no choice but to fight for their lives.
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Additionally, when individuals talk about the race disparity relating to the Covid-19 mortality rates, they tend to include matters of age, the social background of those affected by the pandemic. The measures put in place to fight the Covid-19 have brought about adverse effects on the lives of the old and chronically ill black community. Although the use of advanced technological platforms, such as social media sites, Facebook and Twitter, continue to create awareness of the injustices happening across the world. This gives people the power to champion their rights and come together to shun the various acts of impunity towards the old and chronically ill people of color.
Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Various data collected across the world depicts the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the aging population. The Kaiser Health News analysis of multiple data emanating from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows the magnitude of the vulnerability of the aging population. The investigation found out that Black Americans aged between 65 and 74 have a five times chance of dying from the Covid-19 pandemic than their white counterparts (Ahmed, 2020). Also, those aged between 75 and 84 years and are black have a 3.5 times greater chance of dying from the Covid-19 pandemic. Noteworthy is that those above 85 years of age and above tend two have twice the probability of succumbing to the Covid-19 pandemic than the whites.
However, the Hispanic speakers have been seen to have a high death rate compared to the Whites and Blacks. Due to advancements in age, the gap between blacks and white death rates narrowed over time. However, over 80% of the Covid-19 related deaths are individuals aged above 65 years. It is essential to highlight the plight of the Covid-19 pandemic across the world and its widespread within the aging population (Ullah, 2020). The provision of critical information that will aid people in winning the fight against the pandemic should be given from trustworthy sources such as the Centre for Disease Prevention, among other governmental and non-governmental institutions.
The following table illustrates the week ending on February 1 towards August. The information provided is the best, although breakdowns by age and race were not dependably reported (Graham, 2020). The chart highlights the plight of the aging Non-Hispanic blacks, the Latinos, and the non-Hispanic white community.
Erosion of Trust with Health and Human Service Providers
It is important to accord the aging population effective health care service delivery to show a duty of care. With the development of vaccines, older adults should be among the first individuals to receive the jab for their wellbeing. In line with racism, the economic and social demerit tends to play a substantial role in the uncertainties that are affected chiefly the black community. The African Americans continue to complain of deprived rights and freedom and access to appropriate health care. Poor access to medical conditions does affect not only the aging population but also their descendants, who might suffer the same agony.
Additionally, chronic conditions such as kidney failure, obesity, diabetes, and hypertension tend to put the black community at elevated risks of turning out to be seriously affected and succumbing to the Covid-19 pandemic. Much blame is on the side of the government institutions, those which have neglected taking care of the aging black community. The impact of the pandemic can well be mitigated by government agencies coming into partnerships with other non-governmental agencies in finding amicable and desirable solutions to end the uncertainties associated with the Covid-19 (Haq, 2020). According to the American Psychological Association, there are various physiological and psychological impacts of racism and discrimination among African American societies. Stress, anxiety, and other health disparities form the context of the problems associated with the Covid-19 pandemic. An Intervention such as creating awareness of the stigma brought about by racial discrimination is essential to form the basis of finding amicable solutions to the unending uncertainties.
Future Integration
In times of unpredictable challenges in terms of heath, shifting climate conditions, emerging infectious ailments, or the subsequent microbe that advances into drug resistance, one specific phenomenon is the effect on the aging population. Life expectancy across the world continues to fluctuate due to various life uncertainties. The old, chronically ill black community continues to suffer due to racism and other varying uncertainties. This community is to be protected by the government and other non-governmental agencies to aid in mitigating problems associated with the aging population.
This project is essential as it augments the urge for peaceful and conducive co-existence among individuals. This area is of interest, as it depicts the menace of racial discrimination and the importance of changing the narrative. The African American community continued to suffer due to pre-existing poor access to adequate medical service delivery and their mental and physical wellbeing (Lee & Ahmed, 2021). Depression among the aging black community has escalated in recent years due to changes in their healthcare service delivery. Although the enduring state of depression can have adverse side effects on all individuals, the exceptional psycho-social and contextual influences, precisely the shared and prevalent exposure to racism and discrimination, engenders an additional daily stressor in the blacks community.
In the future, I tend to create more awareness using social media and mobilize the people surrounding me to make more efforts to safeguard the interest of the aging population. I want to engage in a helping profession that champions marginalized groups such as the old, children, women, and people living with disabilities. Helping others overcome challenging situations has been a childhood dream that I would wish to bring into reality. I believe that one is blessed in the event of helping others and also in participating in charitable events. Health care services that progress human development are essential to better the lives of individuals. Everyone is vital in this life, and every life is worthy of being protected and safeguarded.
References
Ahmed, M. H. (2020). Black and minority ethnic (BAME) alliance against COVID-19: One step forward. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities , 7 (5), 822-828. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-020-00837-0
De, S. (2020). Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on global education. COVID-19 Pandemic update 2020 , 84-94. https://doi.org/10.26524/royal.37.6
Graham, J. (2020). Why Black Aging Matters Too. KHN Race and health . https://khn.org/news/why-black-aging-matters-too/
Haq, M. N. (2020). Impact of covid 19 on the global economy. COVID-19 Pandemic update 2020 , 208-213. https://doi.org/10.26524/royal.37.20
Lee, I. J., & Ahmed, N. U. (2021). The devastating cost of racial and ethnic health inequity in the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of the National Medical Association , 113 (1), 114-117. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnma.2020.11.015
Ullah, N. (2020). The world after Covid -19. COVID-19 Pandemic update 2020 , 248-253. https://doi.org/10.26524/royal.37.25
