The treatment of the elderly in times of Covid-19: attempts at protection or a new form of ageism?

The recent pandemic of Covid-19 had a very strong impact on the elderly, under different profiles. The essay aims to highlight some of the aspects that mainly influenced the overall condition of the elderly and, in particular: the use of the age criterion in triage decisions; the proposals for selective lockdown for the older persons periodically advanced in several States; the new forms of “ageism” that emerged during the pandemic, based on the assumption that the aged are no longer perceived just as unproductive, but even as detrimental to the recovery of economic activities; the problems of the elder care, both “in place” both in nursing homes. In spite of the contingency of the phenomenon, the pandemic - which has affected all the nations of the world – has been the litmus test for evaluating the problems that involve the growing category of the elderly. At the same time, it could be considered a starting point from which rethinking the protection of the elderly on the basis of equality with the rest of the population, while avoiding excessive generalizations, that could lead to new forms of social discrimination.