Objective:

To analyze the articles dealing with the care for the elder-ly during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil published by the three main newspapers in this country.

Materials and methods:

Documentary, retrospective, exploratory, and descriptive study under a qualitative approach. The data were collected from open access articles published from January 1 to May 31, 2020, in the online version of the newspapers O Globo, O Estado de S. Paulo, and Correio Braziliense.

Results:

A total of 2,147 news items on the topic of elderly care in Brazil during the COVID-19 pandemic were identified. From these, a sample of 25 articles was selected. The analysis enabled the creation of four categories: i) elderly population and risk of death by COVID-19; ii) hospitalization and health system in the face of the pandemic; iii) fear and measures adopted by the population during the pandemic; and iv) health professionals and the fight against COVID-19.

Conclusions:

Based on the news examined, it was identified that information about the care for elderly with COVID-19 was mainly related to the fear that the disease would lead them to an ICU and, possibly, to death, despite the efforts made by health professionals to ensure patients' care and avoid the collapse of the health system.

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