A thoughtful and comprehensive response to COVID-19 with particular focus on the questions facing high-risk populations: older adults & persons with chronic illness

In this time of crisis of working to protect the health and safety of ourselves, families, and communities, it can be stressful by itself to process all the information coming at us from so many sources. In response to this, the University of Louisville Trager Institute is posting coronavirus updates and announcements to our COVID-19 Information & Resources Webpage.

Over the past several months, we’ve seen a dramatic increase in anxiety, depression, and stress amongst healthcare providers and caregivers, especially frontline & long-term care workers. The fact that we have not dealt with a global pandemic like this in over a century cannot be understated. It’s undoubtedly affecting all of us, however, it’s clear that our healthcare workers and caregivers are battling COVID stress in ways unique to their respective field.[1] The wellbeing and resilience of our healthcare workers are key to keeping our society alive and healthy as we battle the pandemic. However, without proper self-care, healthcare workers face a burnout like we’ve never seen before, which can turn into varying degrees of maladaptive coping, psychological crises, and PTSD.[2]

In troubled times “crooks/scammers/thieves” try to take advantage of unsuspecting individuals. They look and sound sincere, but they are capitalizing on our desire to protect ourselves. It is good to remind ourselves what NOT to do.

Physical isolation and social distancing have become the new normal amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and strengthening psychological coping is as important as staying physically well.

In this Q&A, University of Louisville Trager Institute and Republic Bank Foundation Optimal Aging Clinic Director of Wellness, Joseph G. D’Ambrosio, PhD, JD, LMFT, CSW, shares his thoughts on the human need for connectivity, and ways to improve mental health during this unprecedented time in our history. D’Ambrosio also is an assistant professor in the UofL School Medicine.