Blog: The Chasms in Our Society & COVID-19
The John A. Hartford Foundation's Maryama Diaw, BA, and Marcus Escobedo, MPA, have released a blog on, "The Chasms in Our Society & COVID-19."
In the blog, they discuss the injustices that are being revealed under COVID-19 and note that for some, “the injustices that are being revealed are not new, and in fact, they represent an everyday reality. When we think about what it means to social distance, keeping six feet apart from individuals not in your household is difficult, if not impossible, to adhere to if you’re a merchant at a market in Harare or a black older adult working an essential job in Detroit.”
Systematic failings in the U.S. have become more evident, the authors note. They discuss health disparities, for instance, "In Louisiana, the black population represents approximately 33% of the state and yet, black people make up 60% of coronavirus deaths," and note that, "The impact of COVID-19 is made even more profound on older adults of color and we must use these challenging times to remind the world why it is imperative to proactively improve health systems."
“Through our advancement of Age-Friendly Health Systems and Age-Friendly Public Health Systems, we are working to meet the needs of older adults and in particular, to reach low-income communities and communities of color, such as those served by community health centers. Through another Foundation initiative, the Diverse Elders Coalition has conducted groundbreaking research on the needs of family caregivers in diverse population...As we continue to navigate this pandemic, we must learn from the past and what is currently enfolding today to ensure that age-friendly movements address structural racism and center on immigrants and communities of color at the core."
To read the blog, click here.
