Cold Prevention and Remedies for Senior Adults and Caregivers

Although the symptoms of a common cold are milder than those of the flu, they can still interfere with a person's everyday activities. When it comes to seniors, a cold can be more serious than it is for other adults. If left unchecked, it can lead to pneumonia or exacerbate other conditions like asthma, emphysema, or COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). So, it makes sense to prevent seniors from catching a cold. Caregivers experiencing cold symptoms who care for senior adults can take certain steps for cold prevention.

Cold Remedies for Symptom Relief

The common cold is caused by a virus, and there are no medications that can cure it. However, there are certain steps a caregiver can take to mitigate symptoms. This will also prevent the cold from turning into something worse, like bronchitis or pneumonia. These steps include:

Drinking a lot of fluids: This can include soups, herbal tea with honey and lemon, and, of course, water. Drinking warmer fluids feels better on the throat than colder ones.
Avoiding alcohol and caffeine: Drinking alcohol or caffeinated beverages can result in dehydration.
Resting: Caregivers should try to get as much sleep as they can. The human body needs the rest to fight off the virus.
Salt water gargle: Gargling with warm salt water a few times a day can help with a sore throat.
Taking medication: A nasal spray can relieve stuffiness. Take acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or aspirin to relieve some cold symptoms.
Using a humidifier: This helps to spread moisture in the air which can relieve stuffiness.

Cold Prevention for Seniors

Since there is no cure for the common cold, it's best to prevent seniors from catching one in the first place. Fortunately, there are a lot of precautions that can help, including:

Washing hands: The cold often spreads by touching someone else or interacting with a surface a sick person also touched. So, it makes sense for the caregiver and the senior to wash their hands with soap a few times during the day.
Use sanitizer: This is a good option for caregivers who are on the go and seniors who have mobility or balance issues that prevent them from reaching a sink to wash their hands.
Cover your nose and mouth: It's best to sneeze into a tissue or elbow because sneezing into hands aids the spread of germs.
Disinfect: Use disinfectant wipes to clean surfaces that are used often. This will kill the germs on those surfaces.
Use disposable plates and cups: Plates and cups used in the kitchen might end up transferring germs to the senior. Instead, use disposable ones while sick. Also, switch from cloth towels to paper towels for the time being.

Although there is no vaccine for the common cold, consider getting your senior vaccinated against the flu and pneumonia.

Hiring a Caregiver to Avoid Spreading a Cold

Caregivers who have a cold and want to avoid spreading it to seniors who live in Geneva, Aurora, Plainfield, or Oswego can also consider hiring a professional caregiver from Senior Helpers Aurora-Geneva. Our caregivers can help seniors with their everyday activities, perform some chores around the house, remind seniors to take their medication, and keep them company. More importantly, they can relieve family caregivers of their duties, allowing them to rest up and heal from their colds.