Impact of COVID-19 on the Mental Health of the Elderly

The elderly have always been considered to be people at risk, due to the various physical and psychological health problems they present. However, during this time of pandemic these health problems have been exacerbated due to isolation, negative thoughts, and deaths of family members, among other factors. This has led to depressive episodes, anxiety, insomnia, stress, and suicidal ideation. The objective of this review is to analyze how COVID-19 has impacted the mental health of the elderly, through various publications between 2020 and 2022. After conducting a search in the following databases: SCIELO, EBSCO, Pubmed, REDIB, Science Direct, Redalyc, Proquest, and Dialnet, 18 articles were found that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Finally, it was found that the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected the mental health of the elderly, which is why some authors state that it is very important that the countries of the world have strategies or programs to support adults to be able to face this pandemic adequately and thus be prepared for similar situations that may occur in the future.