ABSTRACT

This paper attempts an ethical evaluation of the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the elderly and the care they receive. Medical records on the Covid-19 pandemic mortality note that the elderly were the most affected by the pandemic and the largest number of elderly deaths was from care homes. This death toll in care homes has elicited several reactions from scholars across disciplines. My focus here is to examine the phenomenon of leaving the care for elders to care homes vis-a-vis caring for them at home in a family setting. Using the Care ethics as a theoretical framework, the paper contends that the new normal on care giving for the elderly post pandemic should be centered on the family. Care giving ought to be reciprocal. For instance, when today’s adults were younger, they were cared for by parents and family therefore, when yesterday’s care givers become old of age they should be cared for in like manner. This resonate the interdependency of humans argued by care ethics. I submit that in the attempt to improve our humanity post pandemic the elderly should be comforted in homes.