Key summary pointsAim Covid-19 is a true gerontological pandemic, with frailty, multimorbidity and geriatric syndromes being of great importance.Finding There has been a lack of geriatrician involvement in planning and delivery of care for older people with Covid-19 in many arenas. Lack of mobilisation of geriatric expertise has led to inconsistent policy responses and ageism. The pandemic has shown that medical education and health systems have failed to align training, resources, and systems with current demographic and health usage realities.Messages We must take the specific needs of older people into account to position ourselves to provide better care for this group during Covid-19 and beyond.