[Older adults in exceptional health situations (SSE)].

Abstract

Public health emergencies (PHEs) place a heavy strain on health care systems and pose a particular risk to older adults, whose complex vulnerabilities make their care more challenging. The article emphasizes that chronological age alone is insufficient to define or guide care during PHEs: a comprehensive assessment, taking into account frailty, independence, comorbidities, and cognitive function, is necessary. While only a minority of this population is "frail," excess mortality during public health emergencies stems from biological and organizational factors, as well as ageist biases during triage and resource allocation.