The COVID Rehabilitation Paradox: Why We Need to Protect and Develop Geriatric Rehabilitation Services in the Face of the Pandemic

Authors and Disclosures

Stefan Grund¹, Adam L. Gordon^2,3, Jürgen M. Bauer¹, Wilco P.Achterberg⁴ and Jos M.G.A. Schols<sup>5

1</sup>Center for Geriatric Medicine, Heidelberg University, Agaplesion Bethanien Krankenhaus Heidelberg, Germany
²Division of Medical Sciences and Graduate Entry Medicine, Derby Medical School, Royal Derby Hospital, University of Nottingham, Derby DE22 3NE, UK
³NIHR Applied Research Collaboration-East Midlands, Nottingham, UK
⁴Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 Leiden, The Netherlands
⁵Department of Health Services Research, Focusing on Value-based Care and Ageing and Department of Family Medicine, Caphri - Care and Public Health Research Institute, Maastricht University, 6200 Maastricht, The Netherlands

Address correspondence to
Stefan Grund. Tel: 004962213191730; Fax: 004962213191513. Email: stefan.grund@bethanien-heidelberg.de

Declaration of Conflicts of Interest
None.

Sidebar

Key Points

• Older multi-morbid people are severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Older multi-morbid and frail persons have special rehabilitation needs.

• Although there is an increasing need for rehabilitation measures for these persons, rehabilitation capacities are declining.

• This development represents a COVID rehabilitation paradox.