Why the coronavirus hits older black people particularly hard

old. Chronic illness. black.

Those who fit this description are more likely to die of COVID-19 than any other group in the country.

They are quietly dead out of sight in homes and apartments, nursing homes, nursing homes, hospitals and more. Extremely poor, Brittle And after enduring the life of illness, racism and its attendants Adverse health effects..

Still, older Black Americans have received little attention, as protesters claim that black live matter and experts rushed research on coronaviruses.

“People are talking about racial disparities in COVID deaths, they are talking about age disparities, but not how races and age disparities interact. I’m not talking about black adults,” said Robert Joseph Taylor. , Director of the Black American Studies Program at the Institute of Social Research, University of Michigan.

KHN analysis Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data Emphasize the degree of their vulnerability. We found that African Americans aged 65 to 74 died of COVID-19 five times more often than whites. In the 75 to 84 year old group, black mortality was 3.5 times higher. At age 85 and older, blacks die twice as often. Hispanic mortality was higher than whites and lower than blacks in all three age groups.

(The gap between blacks and whites narrows over time as aging itself becomes an increasingly important shared risk. 80% of deaths from COVID-19 Anyone over the age of 65. )

Data are from the week of February 1st to August 8th. The breakdown by race and age is not consistently reported, but it is the best information available.

Distrust of outsiders

The social and economic disadvantages strengthened by racism play a major role in unequal outcomes. Throughout their lives, blacks have Inadequate access to healthcare And they receive a lower quality service than the average person. From middle age, tolls become clear: more chronic medical conditions, Gets worse over time, And earlier deaths.

Several conditions — especially diabetes, chronic kidney disease, obesity, heart failure, pulmonary hypertension — Endanger senior blacks Being severely ill with COVID-19 and dying.

However, many vulnerable older black people have deep distrust of governments and healthcare, complicating efforts to mitigate the effects of pandemics.

The study of the infamous Tuskegee syphilis, in which African-American participants in Alabama were not treated for their illness, remains a shocking and indelible example of racist medical testing. Just as important, a lifetime experience Racial discrimination in medical practice -Symptoms were alleviated and necessary treatment was not given-Mental scars remain.

Catholic Community Services in Seattle African American Elders Program, Serves approximately 400 frail seniors at home each year.

“Many black elders in the region were victims of many racist practices that emigrated and grew up from the South long ago,” said Margaret Body, 77, who directs the program. “With the pandemic, they are afraid of outsiders coming and trying to tell them what they think and what they should be. They think they are targeted. There are a lot of paranoia. “

“They don’t open doors or even talk to people they don’t know,” complicates efforts to send social workers and nurses to provide assistance, Bodie said.

In Los Angeles, Karen Lincoln He leads advocates for African American elders and is an associate professor of social work at the University of Southern California.

“Health literacy is a big problem for older African Americans because they were educated when they were young,” she said. “My maternal grandmother, she was educated in the 3rd grade. My grandfather, he did it in the 5th grade. For many, understanding the information output is especially Is often changed, and difficult if people really don’t understand why.”

As Lincoln suggested, this population needs “help from the people they can interact with”, ideally executives of African-American community health workers.

Amid growing suspicion, older blacks are protecting themselves and avoiding health care providers.

“Test? Marder Reed, 80, who lives in Pasadena, California and participates in Lincoln’s program, said: “Are you taking a vaccine (for a coronavirus)? That’s almost what I know. It doesn’t happen to people. They don’t trust it, and I don’t.”

Leads include hypertension, anemia, arthritis, thyroid and kidney disease, all well controlled. Due to COVID-19, she rarely goes out. “I’m just scared to be around,” she admitted.

Other factors contribute to the increased risk of older blacks during a pandemic. They have less financial resources to use and less community assets to rely on during adversity, such as grocery stores, pharmacies, transportation, and community organizations that provide aging services. And housing conditions can contribute to the risk of infection.

In Chicago, 78-year-old Gilbert James lives in a 27-storey high-rise home, with 10 apartments on each floor. However, only two of the three elevators in the building are in constant operation. Despite the “two people per elevator policy”, people are crowded in elevators, making it difficult to maintain social distance.

James said in COVID-19, “This building doesn’t keep us updated on how to keep things clean and people sick or dead.” There is no effort to track COVID-19 in housing for the elderly, Infection control required..

Many old black people also live Intergenerational household, Other adults, many of them are at risk of essential workers getting in and out of work and being exposed to the coronavirus. When children return to school, they too are a potential vector for transmission.

“I try, but never arrive.”

recent years, American Psychological Association Cautioned against the effects of racism-related stress in older African Americans — yet another source of vulnerability.

This toxic stress comes back every time racism becomes manifest, with detrimental consequences for physical and mental health. Even racist acts committed against others, Important stressor..

“This old generation experienced a civil rights movement. Separation. Their children got on the bus. They grew up with their knees on their necks.” Keith Whitfield, Professor of Wayne State University, African American Aging Specialist. “For them, it was an ongoing battle. But there is a lot of resilience that should not be underestimated.”

This year, for some elders, violence against blacks and heavy COVID-19 victimization of African American communities has been a painful trigger. “The level of stress has definitely increased,” Lincoln said.

During normal times, it is an indispensable support for families and churches, providing practical support and mental upbringing. But during the pandemic, many older blacks were quarantined.

In her capacity as a volunteer, Reid called a senior in Los Angeles. “For some of them, I’m the first person they talked to in a couple of days. They talk about how they have no one. African-American elders who have never been married and have no children. I didn’t know that there are many,” she said.

Meanwhile, social networks are becoming weaker for older people, who continue to feel connected to others.

“A particularly difficult thing for elders is the turmoil of an expanded support network, such as neighbors and people you see in churches,” said Taylor at the University of Michigan. “Is it “Hey, how are you? How healthy is your child? What do you need?” Interaction. That type of compassion is so pleasing and no longer there. “

In Brooklyn, New York, 77-year-old Barbara Apalicio has a Bible discussion with a group of church friends on the phone each weekend. Apparicio is a breast cancer survivor who had a stroke in 2012 and walks with a cane. Her son and his family live in an apartment on the second floor, but she rarely sees him.

“The hardest part for me [during this pandemic] I couldn’t do what I liked or meet the people I usually see,” she said.

In Atlanta, Celestine Bray Bottoms, 83, living alone in an affordable upscale residential community, relies on her faith to survive a very difficult time. This month, Bottoms was hospitalized with chest pain. She underwent dialysis three times a week and survived leukemia.

“I don’t like the way the world is going. It’s terrible now,” she said. “But every morning when I wake up, the first thing I do is to thank the Lord another day. I have a strong belief and I feel blessed because I am still alive. And I’m doing everything I can’t do to get this virus because I want to stay here for a while longer.”

Kaiser Health News Data editor Elizabeth Lucas contributed to this article. KHN is a national health policy news service. It is an editorial independent program of Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation Not related to Kaiser Permanente.

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