How Home Caregivers can Prepare their Seniors for Cold and Flu Season
What you need to know about the cold and flu
The common cold
According to the CDC, the common cold "can spread from infected people to others through the air and close personal contact," and "can happen when you shake hands with someone who has a cold, or touch a surface, like a doorknob, that has respiratory viruses on it, then touch your eyes, mouth, or nose." Symptoms of the common cold include:
- Sore throat
- Runny nose
- Coughing
- Sneezing
- Headaches
- Body aches
The common cold typically lasts 7-10 days, but people with weakened immune systems can go on to develop bronchitis and pneumonia.
The flu
Another CDC article covering the flu notes that "most experts think that flu viruses spread mainly by droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk," and can be spread to others up to 6 feet away. You're most likely to spread the illness 1 day before symptoms begin and up to 5-7 days after becoming sick. Common symptoms include:
- Fever (or feeling feverish/chills)
- Muscle/body aches
- Fatigue
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Runny/stuffy nose
- Headaches
"Complications of flu can include bacterial pneumonia, ear infections, sinus infections and worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes"
How to prepare and protect your senior from the cold and flu
As a home caregiver, there are several ways that you can make sure that your senior stays safe and healthy this season.
The flu shot
One great way to help make sure your senior doesn't get the flu (or prevent serious flu-related complications) is to get them and yourself vaccinated. If you think you may have come in contact with someone with the flu, getting tested early on can ensure that you keep others around you safe and get the necessary medical attention to prevent any worsening conditions.
The CDC also states that, because the cold and flu can lead to other illnesses, it's important to ensure that your senior's pneumococcal vaccine is up-to-date in order to prevent pneumonia from developing.
Preventative actions
In accordance with the CDC, there are multiple things that you can do on a daily basis that can help stop the spread of germs and viruses. These include:
- Steering clear of people who are sick.
- Covering when coughing or sneezing.
- Washing your hands frequently for 20 seconds (especially after coughing, sneezing, or contact with your face).
- Avoid touching your mouth, nose, and eyes with unwashed hands.
- Disinfecting high-touch areas often.
Try to stay healthy
A Healthgrades article lists a few ways to maintain a healthy lifestyle in order to build a strong immune system and prevent the contraction of illnesses. Some of these things include 7-8 hours of sleep a night, staying hydrated, getting regular, age-appropriate exercise, and maintaining a well-balanced diet. Also, remember to take their doctor-recommended vitamins, minerals and probiotic.
What to do if your senior contracts a cold or the flu
We can take all the precautions necessary, but there's no guarantee that your senior won't still contract the common cold or seasonal flu. Recognizing the symptoms early on will help stop the spread and help them feel better sooner. If you notice developing signs of the flu, it's important to contact their healthcare provider right away. There are antiviral drugs that can help with the flu.
There's no medicine that can be administered in an instance of the common cold. What can be done to start feeling better includes:
- Drinking a lot of fluids
- OTC medicine approved by their doctor
- Get a lot of rest
If conditions begin to worsen or symptoms last longer than 10 days, contact their doctor immediately as this could be a sign of a more serious condition.
When considering the health of your seniors, the cold and flu season is something you want to stay in front of! The best protection is preventative and, thankfully, there's a lot we can do to stop the spread of illnesses and viruses.
We're in the midst of the holiday season and with all the love and laughter this joyous time brings also comes the cold and flu season. If you're a live-in home care attendant and want to keep your senior safe this season, keep reading!
What you need to know about the cold and flu
The common cold
According to the CDC, the common cold "can spread from infected people to others through the air and close personal contact," and "can happen when you shake hands with someone who has a cold, or touch a surface, like a doorknob, that has respiratory viruses on it, then touch your eyes, mouth, or nose." Symptoms of the common cold include:
- Sore throat
- Runny nose
- Coughing
- Sneezing
- Headaches
- Body aches
The common cold typically lasts 7-10 days, but people with weakened immune systems can go on to develop bronchitis and pneumonia.
The flu
Another CDC article covering the flu notes that "most experts think that flu viruses spread mainly by droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk," and can be spread to others up to 6 feet away. You're most likely to spread the illness 1 day before symptoms begin and up to 5-7 days after becoming sick. Common symptoms include:
- Fever (or feeling feverish/chills)
- Muscle/body aches
- Fatigue
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Runny/stuffy nose
- Headaches
"Complications of flu can include bacterial pneumonia, ear infections, sinus infections and worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes"
How to prepare and protect your senior from the cold and flu
As a home caregiver, there are several ways that you can make sure that your senior stays safe and healthy this season.
The flu shot
One great way to help make sure your senior doesn't get the flu (or prevent serious flu-related complications) is to get them and yourself vaccinated. If you think you may have come in contact with someone with the flu, getting tested early on can ensure that you keep others around you safe and get the necessary medical attention to prevent any worsening conditions.
The CDC also states that, because the cold and flu can lead to other illnesses, it's important to ensure that your senior's pneumococcal vaccine is up-to-date in order to prevent pneumonia from developing.
Preventative actions
In accordance with the CDC, there are multiple things that you can do on a daily basis that can help stop the spread of germs and viruses. These include:
- Steering clear of people who are sick.
- Covering when coughing or sneezing.
- Washing your hands frequently for 20 seconds (especially after coughing, sneezing, or contact with your face).
- Avoid touching your mouth, nose, and eyes with unwashed hands.
- Disinfecting high-touch areas often.
Try to stay healthy
A Healthgrades article lists a few ways to maintain a healthy lifestyle in order to build a strong immune system and prevent the contraction of illnesses. Some of these things include 7-8 hours of sleep a night, staying hydrated, getting regular, age-appropriate exercise, and maintaining a well-balanced diet. Also, remember to take their doctor-recommended vitamins, minerals and probiotic.
What to do if your senior contracts a cold or the flu
We can take all the precautions necessary, but there's no guarantee that your senior won't still contract the common cold or seasonal flu. Recognizing the symptoms early on will help stop the spread and help them feel better sooner. If you notice developing signs of the flu, it's important to contact their healthcare provider right away. There are antiviral drugs that can help with the flu.
There's no medicine that can be administered in an instance of the common cold. What can be done to start feeling better includes:
- Drinking a lot of fluids
- OTC medicine approved by their doctor
- Get a lot of rest
If conditions begin to worsen or symptoms last longer than 10 days, contact their doctor immediately as this could be a sign of a more serious condition.
When considering the health of your seniors, the cold and flu season is something you want to stay in front of! The best protection is preventative and, thankfully, there's a lot we can do to stop the spread of illnesses and viruses.