Isolation among the elderly during the holiday season may affect your loved one’s mental health

Isolation among the elderly during the holiday season may affect your loved one’s mental health

Response.

It's been made clear large family gatherings for thanksgiving are *not* recommended right now due to covid-19 this, of course, is in the name of protecting the most vulnerable.

Specifically the elderly population but this isolation can be hard on their "mental" health.

News 10's dominic miranda spoke with hamilton center officials today.

He joins us now live in our newsroom with more on what you can do to help your older relatives.

Covid-19 has thrown a wrench in many family's thanksgiving plans.

I know personally... both sets of grandparents won't be at the thanksgiving table this year.

Even though this is recommended in the name of protecting those most vulnerable to the virus... it without a doubt has an impact on the elderly population's mental health.

[take pkg incue: i spoke with outcue: **bite** how are you doing duration:1:08] pk} i spoke with chief clinical officer at the hamilton center mark collins.

He says the geriatric population is often the most overlooked when it comes to mental health.

This population is already most at risk for covid-19.... and now...they are the ones being told to isolate during a time meant to be spent with their families.

Collins says this isolation can certainly have an affect on their mental health.

"it's creating this excessive worry.

'oh my gosh, what if i get covid-19?

I'm trying to be safe.

What about am i ever going to see my family again?

When is this going to be normal?

When am i going to be able to get out and do something.'

This leads to agitation and fear."

Collins says all of this can lead to a recipe for depression or anxiety.

He says nothing can replace the face to face contact you have with the people you love... but there are some things you can do at home to help.

"frequent contact.

Virtual contact with zoom and the other platforms obviously.

Even phonecalls.

And increase in those contacts.

Let's say we touch base every week with my parents.

Well now we need to touch base daily.

Hey i'm thinking about you what's going on.

How are you doing?"

Collins says there are resources at the hamilton center and other agencies across the valley to help out during this holiday season.

You can find those on our website.

That's wthi tv dot com reporting live in the newsroom i'm dominic miranda news 10