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• Q: How do chronic wounds affect mental health for our kupuna?
Dr. Jason Laird, Internal Medicine, Maui Memorial Medical Center Wound Care and Hyperbaric Therapy: As people get older, they're more likely to develop chronic wounds -- wounds or sores that have a hard time healing or need special care. This can be due to a variety of reasons, including health conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular disease, as well as limited mobility and bedsores. While caregivers often focus on treating the wounds themselves, and reducing risk of complications like infection, many people overlook the mental and emotional impacts of chronic wounds on our kupuna.
Chronic wounds can affect mental health in a number of ways. Not only are they painful, they can limit the person's mobility or ability to engage in regular activities. Treatment can be time consuming, frustrating and uncomfortable. The physical discomfort and mental anxiety of having a chronic wound can disrupt sleep. Some people may feel ashamed of the way their wound looks or smells.
All of these factors can lead to increased stress, frustration, depression and social isolation. Unfortunately, these negative impacts can create a vicious cycle where they actually make it harder for the wound to heal. For example, stress and lack of sleep can weaken the immune system, increasing risk of infection, while depression can worsen eating habits, making it harder for the person to get the good nutrition they need for healing.
These are all reasons why you should seek treatment at a wound center if you or a loved one has a chronic wound. Wound centers have doctors and nurses who are trained in caring for nonhealing wounds, pressure ulcers, diabetic wounds and other challenging injuries. In addition to seeking care, you can support your healing by following your treatment plan, taking medications as prescribed, eating a healthy diet, staying hydrated and getting enough sleep.
Maui Health is proud to offer the community's first comprehensive wound care center, specializing in treating all kinds of difficult-to-heal wounds. Learn more on our website at mauihealth.org/woundcare.
• Q: I am an RN on Oahu and want to come help the Maui community during the fire crisis. Where can I volunteer?
Ernesto Noblejas, Director of Environmental Health & Safety, Maui Health: We've received an outpouring of support during this challenging time, and we appreciate your generosity and willingness to help our Maui community.
Maui Memorial Medical Center and other Maui Health hospitals and clinics are not currently a site for volunteers. We understand that everyone is trying to find a way to contribute and help where they can. Hawaii is an incredibly special place where our communities come together, and we all kokua to take care of our own, especially in times of crisis.
Our Emergency Management team is working with community partners to understand the overall medical needs and concerns of our community and is providing outreach medical care in two west side locations. We will continue to provide whatever support is needed in the short and long term.
For clinical/medical volunteer opportunities please reach out to the State of Hawaii's Medical Reserve Corps at https://health.hawaii.gov/prepare/mrc/.
If you are interested in assisting with other relief efforts that are nonclinical/medical, such as volunteering or making financial contributions, we have compiled a list of resources on our website at mauihealth.org/wildfire.
* Physicians, providers and administrative staff who practice at Maui Health hospitals and clinics answer questions from the public in Healthwise Maui, which appears on Thursdays. Maui Health operates Maui Memorial Medical Center, Maui Memorial Medical Center Outpatient Clinic, Kula Hospital & Clinic and Lana'i Community Hospital and accepts all patients. To submit a question, go to the website at mauihealth.org/healthwise.