Historically high human longevity has resulted in a large population segment aged 75 to 100 in developed countries when the COVID-19 pandemic started in 2020.  Since this later life phenomenon is unprecedented, the characteristics of this stage, its role and its status in society are still being socially constructed.  However, the pandemic is affecting the public perception of the age group 75 and over as frail, unproductive, consuming valuable health resources and unfairly economically privileged resulting in their being undervalued and misrepresented in public discourse. Thus, the value of life is becoming age dependent and ageism more acceptable.  Whether their role and status in society will be altered or enhanced will depend on the social construction process during the months of recovery, so this paper promotes a nuanced discussion to more fairly consider impacts that were specific to them, either in character or in intensity as well as their societal contributions during the pandemic. How countries individually and collectively manage the post pandemic recovery will determine if the later life stage will be impacted negatively or if they will share equally in positive generationally sensitive recovery outcomes.