"Elders, Mental Quarantine Is Also Important"

Monitoring Conducted to Prevent Depression in COVID-19 Vulnerable Elderly Living Alone

Counseling therapy is being provided for elderly people living alone in Tongyeong City. (Photo by Tongyeong City)

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Kang Sharon] Tongyeong City, Gyeongnam Province announced on the 7th that starting from October 1st, it will conduct 'Depression Monitoring for Elderly Care Service Recipients' due to the expected increase in depression and suicide risk among elderly living alone caused by prolonged COVID-19, social isolation, and economic difficulties.

The depression prevention monitoring for elderly living alone is being promoted to alleviate the increase in depression caused by psychological pressure and economic hardship among elderly living alone, as village senior centers and major facilities such as welfare centers and senior restaurants have been closed due to the spread of COVID-19.

The city will utilize personnel performing the elderly customized care service to monitor about 1,280 elderly living alone among the elderly care service recipients through direct and indirect welfare checks and mental health counseling.

In particular, elderly living alone who complain of depressive feelings will undergo additional elderly depression tests. If the depression index is high, individualized case management and group programs will be provided through specialized services of the elderly customized care service, or they will be connected to the Mental Health Welfare Center for tailored counseling and, if necessary, linked to medical institutions to provide depression prevention and treatment services.

Kang Seok-ju, Mayor of Tongyeong City, stated, “I hope that the recovery of the elderly’s diminished mental health and their early return to daily life will be achieved as soon as possible due to the prolonged COVID-19 situation. We expect that by actively identifying high-risk mental health elderly and linking with the Mental Health Welfare Center, elderly living alone can become mentally and emotionally healthy.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.