Professor Des O’Neill (TCD) explains why we need to protect our longevity dividend during the Covid-19 crisis

Desmond O’Neill is Professor of Medical Gerontology at Trinity College Dublin and one of the co-organisers of [ Framing Ageing ]. His research centres on gerontology and the neurosciences, with a strong emphasis on the humanities. He was awarded the All-Ireland Inspirational Life Award in 2010 for advancing the cause of older people in Ireland.

In this article for the Irish Medical Journal (Vol 113; No.4) he explains why we need to protect our longevity dividend during the Covid-19 crisis.

The task of responding to Covid-19 in Ireland has been immense, and has in general displayed strength, resourcefulness, solidarity and political will. These qualities have been less notable in terms of Ireland’s response to the needs of older people. We need to ensure that the lessons of COVID-19 will ensure that equity and appropriately high clinical response will apply equally to us as we age, and all older people, for this and future catastrophic health
crises.

Read the article here.