Open AccessPandemic Dementia Scarce Resource Allocation
Author(s) -
Eric E. Smith,
Philippe Couillard,
John D. Fisk,
Zahinoor Ismail,
Manuel MonteroOdasso,
Julie M. Robillard,
Isabelle Vedel,
Saskia Sivananthan,
Serge Gauthier
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
canadian geriatrics journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.682
H-Index - 21
ISSN - 1925-8348
DOI - 10.5770/cgj.23.457
Subject(s) - medicine , dementia , pandemic , covid-19 , contingency plan , disease , task force , medical emergency , task (project management) , intensive care medicine , infectious disease (medical specialty) , pathology , computer security , public administration , computer science , political science , economics , management
Hospitals and intensive care units are straining to provide care for a large surge of patients with coronavirus disease 19 (Covid-19). Contingency plans are being made for the possibility that resources for lifesaving care, including mechanical ventilators, will be in short supply. Covid-19 is more severe and more likely to be fatal in older persons. Dementia is one of the commonest severe comorbidities of aging. Persons with dementia are vulnerable and often need the support of others to make their voices heard. This commentary, created by a task force commissioned by the Alzheimer Society of Canada, provides guidance for triaging persons with dementia to scarce medical resources during the Covid-19 pandemic.