Helping older cancer patients with the challenges presented by COVID-19

R. Sean Morrison, MD, is a leading voice in geriatric medicine and a pioneering palliative care researcher. He joined the TheoryLab podcast to talk about the steps Mount Sinai Hospital is taking to help patients and what we can all do to lower risk for cancer patients and older adults. He also emphasized the importance of doing things every day to lift our spirits and provide each other with social support. R. Sean Morrison, MD, is an American Cancer Society Clinical Research Professor. He is the Ellen and Howard C. Katz Professor and Chair for the Brookdale Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine at Mount Sinai. He is also the Director of the Lilian and Benjamin Hertzberg Palliative Care Institute and the National Palliative Care Research Center. 2:27 – What he would say to people who think coverage of COVID-19 has been overblown and exaggerated 3:40 – How Mt. Sinai Hospital has reorganized to confront the pandemic 5:25 – The two subsets of people who appear to be at higher risk for complications from COVID-19 infection 8:44 – What we can all do to reduce risk 11:20 – What patients living with cancer should do 13:09 – On the importance of keeping your anxiety and worry at a manageable level 15:53 – How older adults can maintain social support during this time 20:50 – Where older adults should turn to for up-to-date information 22:45 – What we can all do to make things safer for cancer patients and survivors