Table 2.

Key principles for the care of older people in the COVID-19 pandemic

Older living at home

Proactive assessment by a general physician or family nurses to evaluate

Development of typical COVID-19 symptoms and of atypical symptoms, such as sudden changes in cognitive status, onset of behavioural disturbances or decline in functional status which may lead to suspect infection

Caregiving

Treatment of chronic diseases

If COVID19 is suspected provide visit at home

Performing rapid swab test

Start pharmacological treatment and evaluate oxygen need

Evaluate frailty, multimorbidity, geriatric syndromes, and side effects of treatments

Educate family members to manage isolation and protect the patients

Assess the need of hospitalization

Older in hospital

Establish patients’ prognosis on admission and define the need of low, medium or high intensive care

Implement protocols for the prevention and treatment of delirium, manage behavioural and functional complication, provide supportive and palliative care

Plan the care after discharge

Older living in long term care facilities

If typical or atypical symptoms of COVID19

Perform confirmatory tests

Isolate positive cases

Provide specific and supportive treatment

Evaluate the need of hospitalization for the (by assessing the life-expectancy, the general health status, the cognitive and functional status, and the severity of symptoms) as well as the LTC ability to accomplish the goals of the care

Involve patient family in therapeutic choices

Provide PPEs and monitor the COVID-19 presence among care professionals