Older adults have suffered more because of COVID-19 than any other population.  And the impact of the virus isn’t limited to just getting sick with it.

“The thousands of deaths among older people are unfortunately only the tip of the iceberg,” says Maura Marcucci, an assistant professor of medicine and Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact at McMaster.

“Health service interruptions, social distancing and refraining from seeking help for fear of infection can all have consequences on the physical and mental well-being of the elderly.”

Marcucci is leading an online discussion, hosted by the Socrates Project, on June 3 to explore how older adults are affected by COVID-19.

The talk will be from the perspective of a general internist, with interest in geriatric and perioperative medicine, and will use the example of the changes imposed by the COVID-19 contingency plan to the use of the operating rooms.

“We have the opportunity to know more about these consequences, and understand how we can avoid or face them in the recovery phase of this pandemic – and in similar future circumstances,” Marcucci says.

The talk will be moderated by Dr. Parminder Raina, Professor in the Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact as well as Scientific Director of the McMaster Institute for Research on Aging (MIRA) and Principle Investigator of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA).

The free online discussion will take place over Zoom from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 3. More information can be found on the Socrates Project website:

The Socrates Project is hosting this event in partnership with the McMaster Institute for Research on Aging and McMaster Alumni.