COVID-19 and older adults in Africa: Social workers' utilization of mass media in enforcing policy change.

Tracy Be Omorogiuwa

doi:10.1177/0020872820941748

Abstract

Dominating headlines in the last few months, global attention has been fixed on the coronavirus pandemic given its rampaging impact on social events and human affairs. More than any other groups, older adults have been disproportionately affected by the deadly contagion. This situation poses legitimate concerns to the social work profession, whose mandate is to liberate vulnerable people and promote social development. Although the COVID-19 pandemic has continued to take a devastating toll on older adults in the short-term, its long-term consequences may be far more profound unless urgent attention is directed to mitigate this situation. Given the promulgation of social distancing and shutdowns among a number of African countries, many social workers have found it increasingly difficult to address the difficulties faced by older adults. This article canvasses for the utilization of the mass media in initiating policy response to the challenges of older adults throughout the continent.

Highlights

Commanding features over the most recent couple of months, worldwide consideration has been fastened on the coronavirus pandemic, given its rampaging sway on social events or get-togethers and human issues
Before considering how social workers can ‘activate’ this powerful but often overlooked tool, we examine the grievous effects of the pandemic on older adults in Africa
Given the biopsychosocial focus of the social work profession, many practitioners would be instrumental in this regard (Amadasun and Omorogiuwa, 2020). It is against this background that social workers must be at the vanguard of promoting policy change in the context of the challenges faced by older adults in Africa, through the instrumentality of the mass media

Summary

Introduction

Commanding features over the most recent couple of months, worldwide consideration has been fastened on the coronavirus pandemic, given its rampaging sway on social events or get-togethers and human issues. Keywords Community-based, COVID-19, mass media, older adults, policy change, social work In spite of the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic has kept on negatively affecting older adults, its long term impacts might be far significant except if critical consideration is taken.

Results

Conclusion