- The care coordinator of the hospital that manages the Ribera health group assures, in the context of World Mental Health Day, that the pandemic and its restrictions have accentuated the anxious-depressive component of patients
- He recommends families to be aware of their mood swings, if they stay in bed more than usual and for emotionally inappropriate behaviors. “It is very important to respect their autonomy and privacy as far as possible”
Almendralejo, October 11, 2021 – The Ribera Almendralejo Hospital warns about problems in the Mental Health of the elderly, which have been accentuated by the pandemic, and which can begin with the refusal of food and toilet, due to an excessive stay in bed (cliniophilia), due to sudden mood swings or emotionally inappropriate behaviors. "These are some of the symptoms that families and professionals who care for the elderly must control to find solutions," according to Dr. Sandra Araya and Mari Carmen Macías, care coordinator of the center, managed by the Ribera health group, in the context of World Mental Health Day, celebrated yesterday.
During the year and a half in which the restrictions on mobility and visits have been more intense, “the anxious-depressive component of the patients who suffer from this disease has been exacerbated. Fortunately, many are returning to emotional normality with the flexibility of visits," says Dr. Araya. In patients not diagnosed with depression, "we have detected a sad state of mind," adds Mamen Macías. “It must be taken into account that some of the most common emotions among the elderly during this pandemic are fear and loneliness, but also the feeling of sadness for not being more accompanied in what the final phase of their life presupposes,” he explains. the care coordinator in Ribera Almendralejo, who qualifies that "in some patients we can even talk about a feeling of abandonment, because they do not understand the need for restrictions."
The professionals at Hospital Ribera Almendralejo have extensive experience in caring for older patients and patients with chronic diseases. For this reason, through their assistance coordinator, they advise families to work with the elderly in their environment on health education, with control and promotion of adequate hygienic habits. "We must insist with them on the need to correctly use a mask in closed spaces, try to limit the groups of coexistence and, of course, recommend vaccination against Covid," says Dr. Araya. It is also important, she adds, "to promote an active lifestyle, taking into account all the precautions, but maintaining a reasonable activity, which involves moving and interacting with other people."
Pandemic or not, an older person needs to feel valued, loved and respected. “We consider it very important to respect their autonomy and privacy, as far as possible, to promote the maintenance of their social network, to listen to them, to know what their needs are and to make them feel understood”, she assures. And he adds: "We have to give them enough confidence to express their fears, concerns or doubts, in order to help them."
About the hospital and the Ribera group
Since January 2021, the Ribera group has managed the Hospital de Almendralejo, following the agreement with Cajalmendralejo, with the aim of turning this center into a first-rate hospital and socio-sanitary complex in Extremadura. The agreement with the Almendralejo City Council and the Extremadura Health Service make this hospital an example of public-private collaboration, to which the Ribera group offers its experience and proven excellence, after more than two decades of managing health centers in national projects and international. In Spain, Ribera is present in four Autonomous Communities and manages eight hospitals, four of them university, and more than 60 health centers in the Valencian Community, Madrid Community, Galicia and Extremadura. It has several international projects, as well as a purchasing center, Ribera b2b, a Futurs technology division and a Ribera lab division. Ribera's shareholders are the American insurance company Centene Corporation (90%) and Banco Sabadell (10%).
The Ribera group is working on the renovation of the infrastructures of the Ribera Almendralejo hospital, together with Cajalmendralejo, owner of the facility. Currently, the hospital has 60 professionals, but the health group's commitment to the project will mean the creation of new direct and indirect jobs, as well as involvement in the social, business and cultural fabric of the municipality, with initiatives focused on prevention and health education.
