COVID-19: What Do Older Adults and People with Disabilities Need to Know?
For Immediate Release: March 10, 2020
Contact Person: Pamela Mahn,
Director, Senior Services, Oak Park Township (708) 383-8060
The website for the Administration for Community Living (ACL) https://acl.gov/ provides advice on the following:
What do Older Adults and People with Disabilities Need to Know About COVID-19/Coronavirus?
Early data suggest older people are twice as likely to have serious COVID-19 illness. This may be because immune systems change with age, making it harder to fight off diseases and infection. Older adults also are more likely to have underlying health conditions that make it harder to cope with and recover from illness.
In addition, people of all ages, with or without disabilities, seem to be at higher risk for more serious COVID-19 illness if they have severe chronic medical conditions like heart, lung or kidney disease.
Reducing exposure is especially important for people at higher risk of complications!
If you are at higher risk, CDC recommends that you:
- Stay at home as much as possible.
- Make sure you have access to several weeks of medications and supplies in case you need to stay home for prolonged periods of time. CDC has great resources to help you plan.
- When you go out in public, keep away from others who are sick, limit close contact and wash your hands often.
- Avoid crowds, especially in poorly ventilated spaces.
- Stay up to date on CDC Travel Health Notices.
- Plan now for what you will do if you, or people you rely on for support, become ill
In addition, ACL recommends following the guidance issued by state and local health departments, and watch the CDC website for the latest national information.
Dial 1-800-889-3931 or email DPH.SICK@ILLINOIS.GOV to have all your COVID-19 questions answered.