Critically ill senior patients often face cognitive challenges as they recover from COVID-19. Among the reported symptoms are “brain fog,” or the inability to focus and concentrate, and loss of memory.

“Many older patients are having trouble organizing themselves and planning what they need to do to get through the day,” Dr. Zijian Chen, of the Center for Post-Covid Care at Mount Sinai, New York, told Kaiser Health News.

Seniors are also struggling to regain strength and stamina while coping with post-COVID-19 muscle and nerve damage. The emotional toll of the dreaded disease is also wreaking havoc with their health, say experts.

Another after effect of the disease is delirium. While most of the data says that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, primarily attacks the lungs, according to The New York Times, half of the patients report neurological symptoms such as headaches, confusion, and delirium. With older patients, delirium is associated with fear of losing independence or dying, according to Kaiser Health News. The good news is that, according to data provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, just 28% of those over the age of 85, the highest risk group, die.

“What we’re seeing with COVID-19 and older adults are rates of delirium in the 70% to 80% range,” said Dr. Babar Khan, at Indiana University’s Center for Aging Research. Khan told Kaiser Health News that he expects “an increased prevalence of ICU-acquired cognitive impairment in older COVID patients.”

Experts said that these patients should have extensive therapy when they return home including physical therapy, speech therapy, and any other services needed to assist in mental, physical, and emotional recovery.