Competing crises: COVID‐19 countermeasures and social isolation among older adults in long‐term care

While debate over the appropriate scope and goals of COVID‐19 lockdowns has raged, all public health agencies have been clear on one matter: older adults have the highest rates of mortality (Comas‐Herrera et al., 2020) and should be isolated (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2020). Older adults and individuals with complex health conditions are most vulnerable to the virus. Yet, social isolation contributes to the onset and intensifies depression, feelings of despair and, in older adults with dementia, further cognitive decline.