key: cord-0884390-pjjomjn8 authors: Lim, Jae-Young title: Challenges and Opportunities toward the Decade of Healthy Ageing in the Post-pandemic Era date: 2021-06-28 journal: Ann Geriatr Med Res DOI: 10.4235/agmr.21.0064 sha: b62754e4473910e8e90fb95ca0a7c41040505015 doc_id: 884390 cord_uid: pjjomjn8 nan pandemic late in 2021, other countries will not. How can we overcome the crisis in healthy aging during the pandemic? The need to insulate older adults from COVID-19 and optimize their overall health must be balanced. The Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia has made relevant recommendations. 2) The American Geriatric Society Healthy Aging Special Interest Group has also provided guidance to geriatric healthcare professionals; the suggested strategies would enhance healthy aging even in the era of COVID-19. 5) Despite the World Health Organization's concerns about the effects of the pandemic on the health of older people, we must renew the Decade of Healthy Ageing project. 6) The pandemic will continue to present serious challenges worldwide for many years. However, the crisis has forced governments, businesses, and societies to change rapidly, and some of these changes are positive. Many participants noted that the pandemic afforded an opportunity to re-set the current long-term care model, thus rendering it more person centered, with a focus on healthy aging. Furthermore, we have a unique opportunity to advocate for policies that invest in a long-term care model that views older people as vital contributors to healthy communities rather than simply the cost that society must bear. The provision of person-centered, non-discriminatory, accessible, integrated primary health and social care should be increased. Communities should be supported in terms of developing or maintaining the capacities of older people, both during the pandemic and beyond. Scale up of integrated care for older people will also require investment in and reinforcement of health systems. 7) Alternative models of care are urgently needed during the pandemic. Telephone or video visits are also valuable. An information and communication technology-based integrated service model has been developed to provide effective management, enable consultation with distant professionals, and share medical information between acute care hospitals and long-term care institutions. 8 Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare temporarily allowed telephone-based consultation and prescription at the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak. Community-or home-based medical care, including patient education, discharge care planning, and homebased monitoring, has also become crucial. 9) Essential medical care should continue during strict social distancing and when older adults cannot visit healthcare facilities. Telemedicine and telerehabilitation are developing rapidly as alternative models of care. 2) Geriatric care professionals assist patients and families to optimize health by referring them to digital resources whenever possible. While such resources were available before the pandemic, almost all have been extensively improved because it has become essential to interact in a virtual world. 5) More personalized and inclusive services will more effectively meet the needs of older adults, reduce the demand for hospital beds, and lower the risks of morbidity and mortality. Thus, clinical evidence and healthcare systems supporting such types of services should be developed via well-designed high-quality studies. Annals of Geriatric Medicine and Research welcomes innovative research results of the professional geriatric community on healthy aging in the post-pandemic era, which will stimulate informative discussions. Future studies should continue to explore unprecedented challenges imposed by the pandemic and develop new interventions against another global pandemic impacting the health and social functioning of older adults. As we have entered the Decade of Healthy Ageing, governments, businesses, and community organizations worldwide must rise to the challenge. Everyone should be able to enjoy healthier, happier, and longer lives. Editorial: Geriatric medicine in Italy in the time of COVID-19 COVID-19 and older people in Asia: Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia calls to actions Self-reported impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on nutrition and physical activity behaviour in Dutch older adults living independently WHO's proposal for a decade of healthy ageing Promoting healthy aging during COVID-19 Healthy aging in the time of corona pandemic The road to renewal: five priorities for health and care UK: The King's Fund Development of health-RESPECT: an integrated service model for older long-term care hospital/nursing home patients using information and communication technology Care inequality among older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic The author claims no conflicts of interest.