COVID-19 resources relating to older people
This page aims to signpost to COVID-19 related resources and materials from different sources that particularly relate to older people and their human rights. Please note that a number of these resources are being updated regularly as the situation develops. For general ongoing updates, please consult the main WHO page on COVID-19, available in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.
Resources from the World Health Organisation (WHO)
A guide to preventing and addressing social stigma associated with COVID-19
Mental health and psychosocial considerations during the COVID-19 outbreak
Information Note on COVID-19 and Non-Communicable Diseases
Addressing Human Rights As Key to the COVID-19 Response
Resources from the UN Secretary General
UN policy brief ‘The impact of COVID-19 on older persons’
UN policy brief ‘COVID-19 and Human Rights: We are all in this together’
Resources from UN DESA
Relevant UN System Resources on COVID-19 and Older Persons
Issue brief: Older persons and COVID-19
Resources from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
COVID-19 and its Human Rights Dimensions
Resources from other UN bodies
Information from the UN system
Implications of COVID-19 for Older Persons: Responding to the Pandemic – UNFPA Global Technical Brief
COVID-19 – Recomendaciones generales para la atencion a personas mayores desde una perspectiva de derechos humanos UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (Spanish only)
Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Preparedness and Response: UNFPA Regional Technical Guidance Note on Older Persons – UNFPA Asia Pacific
Living with the Times: A mental health and psychosocial support toolkit for older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic – Inter-Agency Standing Committee Reference Group on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings
Resources from other stakeholders
The World Hospice Palliative Care Alliance resource website
Potential Impact of COVID-19 on Human Mortality (PICHM) Tool in LMICs
Statement of the European Geriatric Medicine Society
Clinical Ethics Recommendations for the Allocation of Intensive Care Treatments, in Exceptional, Resource-limited Circumstances – Italian College of Anasthesia, Analgesia, Resuscitation and Intensive Care (SIAARTI)
International Long-term Care Policy Network – Resources to support community and Long-Term Care responses to COVID-19
GAROP resources
GAROP COVID-19 Guide – January 2021 English French Spanish
GAROP statements and letters
GAROP World Elder Abuse Awareness Day statement – 15 June 2020
GAROP Open Letter to the UN Secretary-General – 5 May 2020
NGO joint letter to the UN Secretary-General (supported by GAROP) – 3 June 2020
(and the UN Secretary-General’s response – 15 July 2020)
GAROP letter to the WHO Director-General – 20 April 2020
(and the WHO Director-General response to GAROP – 12 May 2020)
Statement from GAROP Steering Group about COVID-19 and the human rights of older persons – 7 April 2020, World Health Day
GAROP letter to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights – 6 April 2020
Statement from GAROP about the cancellation of the 11th Open-ended Working Group on Ageing session – 19 March 2020
Resources from GAROP members
‘It’s About Rights’ toolkit (HelpAge International)
Discussion paper ‘Time for a UN convention on the rights of older persons. How the COVID-19 pandemic has shown the need to protect our rights in older age’
AGE Platform Europe COVID-19 website and focus on the human rights of older persons and COVID-19
Alzheimer’s Disease International COVID-19 website
HelpAge International COVID-19 website
International Association for Hospices and Palliative Care (IAHPC) resource page
International Federation on Ageing COVID-19 resource library
Statement by Human Rights Watch on COVID-19 and older persons
Briefing Note: Palliative Care for Older Persons infected with COVID-19
Position Statement on COVID-19 from the International Longevity Centre Global Alliance (ILC-GA)
COVID-19: The impact on the human rights of older people in the UK (Age UK)
Position paper on the rights of older people in residential care homes (BAGSO) German only
Statements and analyses on human rights and COVID-19
EU Trio Presidency Declaration on Ageing
Independent Expert report ‘Impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons‘
Statement by the UN Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older people
Joint statement from UN human rights experts
Statement by the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
Statement by the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
Statement from a group of UN experts on the rights of women and girls
Statement by the Group of Friends of Older Persons in New York
Human Rights Dimensions of COVID-19 Response – Human Rights Watch
Joint statement on the Human Rights of Older Persons During Pandemic – German and Polish National Human Rights Institutions
Statement from the European Commissioner for Human Rights (Council of Europe) on older persons
Online statement from the EU Commissioner on Equality on COVID-19 and older persons
Statement by the EU Fundamental Rights Agency
Analysis of COVID-19 responses and European Convention on Human Rights requirements
Amnesty International reports on ways in which the COVID-19 response has failed older people in care homes UK Belgium (French only) Spain
GAROP is not responsible for the content of external websites and the inclusion of a link on this page does not necessarily imply endorsement of the site or content.