HONOLULU (KHON 2) — It’s been four years since COVID-19 shook the world, but our kupuna are still battling the virus and its impact on their lives and mental health.
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“We have a social isolation problem right now,” said Keali Lopez, AARP Hawaii state director. “Some people may live alone, some may not have family. They’re the so-called shut-ins. It’s important that we all take steps to stay involved.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control, it is estimated that 20% of people over the age of 55 experience some kind of mental health concern.
The most common symptoms include anxiety, severe cognitive impairment, and mood disorders such as depression and bipolar disorder.
A small shift in mindset can help motivate you to ask for help.
“When we think about the issue of depression, we often focus on all the things that are going wrong,” Lopez added. “Be really mindful and ask yourself, ‘Hey, what are the things I’m grateful for?’ and basically work to improve the way you think about yourself and the way you deal with things.”
While the stigma around seeking mental health care is easing for millennials and Gen Z, our generations grew up in a different time, and Lopez said there are ways to help them do so.
“A lot of our parents and grandparents grew up in a time when basically holding on and asking for or reaching out to others for help was seen as weakness,” Lopez says. “What’s important for family caregivers is to have that conversation with that person and say, ‘Tutu, I really want to help you, but it’s a lot of work, can I come and help you?'”
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It’s never too late to get started.
“It’s never too early to address your own mental health, and it’s never too early to have a conversation with a loved one before they need care.”
