Abstract
The pandemic due to the SARS-CoV-2 virus challenges all of us in the many areas of
life. Our health systems are tested for their sustainability and load capacity. SARS-CoV-2
virus-infections will become part of our lives, but they mainly threaten vulnerable
and multimorbid older adults. Older people with a frailty-syndrome are challenged
not only in physical, but also psychological and social domains. Adapted caring structures
are required and the pandemic will introduce important ethical discussions. As examples,
distribution of limited resources, requests for more Advance Care Planning as well
as balancing between infection protection versus the drawbacks of long-lasting social
isolation should be named. This article therefore focuses on ethical questions for
older adults in times of the SARS-CoV-2 virus pandemic.
Die SARS-CoV-2-Virusinfektion bedroht ganz speziell vulnerable, meist multimorbide
ältere Menschen, die nicht nur physisch, sondern auch psychisch und sozial betroffen
sind. Dies erfordert eine angepasste Veränderung der Betreuungsstrukturen und damit
den Umgang mit limitierten Ressourcen, mehr Advance Care Planning und die Abwägung
zwischen Infektionsschutz vs. den Gefahren langfristiger sozialer Isolation.
Schlüsselwörter
Corona-Pandemie - SARS-CoV-2 - COVID-19 - Geriatrie - Immunoseneszenz - Multimorbidität
- intrinsische Kapazität - Ethik
Key words
Corona-pandemic - SARS-CoV-2 virus - COVID-19 - geriatrics - immunosenescence - multimorbidity
- intrinsic capacity - ethics
